Guild D-55

2008 Model Antique Sunburst

Sounds as good or better than my friends 1981 D-45 [Indian Rosewood] and impressed me enough to sell my Gibson Songwriter Deluxe and D-35 and then bought the "Holy Grail" of acoustic guitars . I know of nothing out there in this price range that can stand up with this guitar . You play one and you will buy one. Its that simple

Fit and Finish is same as a high end Taylor or Martin you will be impressed! The paint job is spectacular . What you expect to see on a $4000-6000 guitar..........

None of the big three will ever have the durablity of this Guild it is very solidly built and just feels "rugged"

This I cant comment on .............. I have no experence with them.

I have found a lifelong pardner in this guitar and even though I have had alot of acoustics in the past I have slowly sold them all off always looking for that would ever sound like an old antique Gibson Southern Jumbo I played 20 years ago and have never been able to find one until now ............ the search is over!

First of all this guitar was produced in 1985, and I am amazed the finish is in such great condition 23 years later not one finish check anywhere. Natural top, no electronics, 1 11/16 nut (wish a bit wider), grovers, love the neck feel and radius of the fingerboard. No fancy inlays on this one

I have two other dreads a seagull s6 and a tacoma dr28. The guild has it all over them in terms of warmth depth, clarity. The Tacoma looks very similar to the D55 but seems fragile in comparison in terms of build and sound.

The action was a tad higher than I liked when I received it so I carefully scrubbed about .015 off the saddle and now I love it up and down the neck. Saddle is still at about .155 so I will have to see a pro for anymore future adjustments.

Built like a tank, seems to weigh a ton compared to the others I own. I'm sure it will last my lifetime and one of my kids is sure to have to wrestle it away from their siblings at the point of my demise. It sleeps most of the time in it's original case when not in my hands.

It's 23 years old... Who cares.

I have been playing for about 15 yrs off and on. I am so happy I decided to buy this guitar, my wife's first comment to me upon hearing it was "wow your playing sounds great". This was after her seeing the hang tag which showed the price (I forgot to hide the little tidbit about being a $1500 setback). I thought she would kill me at 1st but I think seeing the joy I have with it in my hands put aside any desire to punch me in the head during these rough $ times. In the end you can spend a whole lot more, but I'm sure that you will stampede upon the law of diminishing returns if you do.

My Guild D55 was made 4/10/2008 according to the serial number. I bought it new in Houston Texas for $1750 on May 21 st 2008.
This guitar has the Ice Tea Burst nitrocellulose gloss finish and no electronics of any kind.

The fret board is ebony and has stunning genuine mother of pearl and abalone inlays that are impeccably done.

The neck is 3 piece mahogany/maple/mahogany and has gold Grover tuners.

Factory setup on the neck was very nice right out of the factory cardboard box. It finger picks sweetly and you can flat pick blue grass vigorously without any buzz. I would say the features on this Guild D55 are outstanding and one of the best kept secrets among acoustic pickers. It came with a very high quality hardshell case that is attractive looks like it will stand the test of time.

Sound. As beautiful as this guitar is to look at, the sound is what sold me. Rich full even tones from low to high. A satisfying crunchy bottom with base notes you can feel in your belly. Bell like ringing mids and sparkling highs- yet none overpower the other-BALANCE is the best way to describe the sweet sound of a D55. Versatile-enough bass for Bluegrass and enough balance for recording and singing vocals in the studio.
I'm giving this guitar a 9 but it is brand spanking new-I'm sure it will open up and be a 10 very soon. The solid Adirondack Red Spruce top should just get sweeter and sweeter.

Factory setup is a subjective thing The factory action is quite good though not outstanding. Finger-style play is just fine and she flat picks country and bluegrass without buzz. I'll have her set a wee bit lower by a luthier here in town.

Fit and Finish? ----> FLAWLESS! I actually got reading glasses and a magnifying glass, couldn't find a flaw anywhere-neck-bridge-inlays-tuners-back-sides-top-finish. Perfect.

Guitar is brand new-looks to built with pride and like a tank.
Just haven't owned it long enough to address durability. But I'm not at all worried.

Lifetime warranty. Doubt I'll need it.

I've been playing 45 years and I've owned Gibson ES 175's, Gibson SG's Yamaha acoustics (The venerable FG 300 and FG 180's) Eko 12 strings, Daions, Alvarez, played Gibson J45's Martin D28's D35's Taylor 310-810's you name it. I must have played 200 guitars in the last month and 75 in the store where I purchased this particular D55. I went in after a Gibson Hummingbird or a Martin D28. I BOUGHT the Guild D55 because it was incomparable.

This guitar has many features that cost literally thousands more from Martin, Gibson, Taylor and so called boutique guitar makers.

The solid Adirondack red spruce top, breathtakingly beautiful iced tea burst nitrocellulose lacquer finish,Natural Mother-of-Pearl and Abalone Position Inlays,
Bound Ebony Fingerboard,
Abalone Rosette,
Tortoise Shell Pickguard make the Guild D-55 more than a match for anything offered by the big three.

The sound is ethereal-almost heavenly it's so rich and sweet and full.
Fingerpicked delicately it's a dreadnaught songbird with rich lows,vibrant bell like mids and tinkling highs. Flat picked with any degree of firmness and she quickly turns aggressive pumping out crunchy bottom tones that embarass Martins D-28's, D-35's and absolutely shame Gibson J-200's without losing any balance and keeping it's resonance. Sustain all the way into next week. From Folk to Country to Bluegrass, this guitar can do it all!

Absolutely flawless! I thought no one could touch Gibson when it came to "pretty". Guild knows how to build beautiful guitars. Pride in workmanship shows on D-55's.

Guilds are known for their tank like construction and endurance.
Mine is only 10 days old but is solid!

No experience in this area. Doubt I'll need it.

I've been playing 45+ years I've played everything from Martin,Gibson,Taylor,Larrivee,Red label Yamahas,Daion,Eko's,Ovations,Collings, you name it.

This is the end of my lifelong search for THE one. Guild D-55.

Mine is a 2007 Tacoma built D55 in sunburst with the DTAR pickup/preamp system. These are relatively simple guitars so it is not over run with features - which is a good thing in book. I didn't want the star ship enterprise installed on the top of the body! For me this guitar gets a 10 for being all solid woods, amazing inlays, grover tuners, great pickup, TKL case, in sound hole volume & tone controls - and for being the coolest acoustic guitar I have ever seen!

I bought this guitar untried via the internet from a guitar store I have no prior knowledge of in Boston USA, may not seem like much of a risk until you consider that I am all the way over in England. I had to like this guitar when it finally arrived.

Well acoustcially the sound blew me away on the first strum. Full, rich, creamy, plenty of bass but enough top end to cut through as well. Very importantly it sounds great both strummed and picked.

Plugged in it sounds great. I don't have a great acoustic amp or PA so I can't judge it properly but I enjoy the full rich tone which it delivers very easily - and with absolutely no piezo quack!

I am using the guitar for playing acoustic rock and country covers and it fits the bill perfectly.

When this guitar arrived in the UK (after a 10 day journey by sea in the middle of winter) I was amazed to find it in almost perfect tune when I took it out of the box. The action was (and remains) perfect although I did have to make a minor truss rod adjustment after it had settled in. The quality of the finsh is pretty much flawless to my eyes. The inlays (as mentioned under features) are particularly nice (especially against the sunburst finish). I don't think I can fault it at all. Gorgeous.

I can't really score this as I have only owned it for 3 months. What I can say is that I have now gigged with it 4 times (the first being a drunken unplanned 4 hour completely unplugged acoustic session in my local pub) and it absolutely withstands playing live - no problem at all. I only take a back up for alternative tunings.
This is the heaviest acoustic guitar I have ever held (way heavier than any Gibson I have experienced) and it feels like it will last a life time (which is the plan). The finish seems pretty tough to me and has already withstood the order knock without marking.

No experience so far.

I have been playing for 25 years, I currently have a small selection of Teles/Strats, the D55, an (excellent for the money) Simon & Patrick as well as a couple of Mandolins. This is by far the best acoustic guitar I have ever owned. Previous to this I had a Gibson J45 - it was a complete dog. Either I bought a bad one or the J45 is the most over rated guitar in history! Before the J45 I had a very nice Taylor 414 (which I sold to buy the J45 and regretted immediately). The Taylor was a great finger picker but it did not like being strummed at all. A good friend of mine has a good collection of Taylors, Martins and Gibson acoustic - some old some new. His prized (and highly valued) J200 is his personal favourite -it doesn't come close to the D55 in my honest opinion. Hell this guitar even smells nice when you open up the case!

I spent a year or two trying to work it out which quality acoustic to buy and gambled on this purchase in the end (Guilds are expensive and relatively hard to get hold of in the UK). Happily I made a great choice - it's a keeper. I LOVE THIS GUITAR!

After playing, owning and selling numerous high end guitars over the past 10 years Ive actually owned this Guild D 55 for a whole year! No small feat. This 2005 natural finish model with Fishman pick up is as close to perfect as Ive ever seen in an acoustic guitar. It is a full size dred with Gold hardware. I wish it had chrome since the gold does wear and look crappy after only two years( typical in my experience.) Solid wood guitar and the finish seems much less resistent to polish sworls and light scratches then the Gibsons Ive owned. Beautiful inlay work which I personally like alot.Great features for very reasonable price. The guitar is very heavy compared to Taylors, Martins, Santa Cruz. About the same as Gibsons, Froggy Bottoms and lighter then Gallaghers. Feels very solid in my opinion.

Nothing short of amazing. Unlike Taylors the overall tone is not bright or shimmery on high end. I would describe the tone of this guitars as perfectly balanced from string to string, and more importantly, fret to fret. Very nice low, mid and treble balance. The factory action is very low. I am a light flatpicker and the high E string is a tad to low. For Bluegrassers or loud strummers the factory low action would not work. Everyone talks about the proverbial acoustic cannons which are nice for playing to crowds. This D 55 is the second loudest guitar Ive ever owned. The Gibson Advanced Jumbo was the loudest and I had a Takamine that was close.

Although the acoustic tone is heavenly the Fishman system really makes this acoustic sound great amplified. Please note that I run my guitar through the Fishman dred pedal followed by AFX delay and reverb pedals into a Fender Passport. The guitars sound is as good as Ive heard locally. My system is no pendulum system but it certainly sounds good enough. For a long time I tried to only use condenser mics but the feedback issues are too frustrating for me to deal with. I also tried just about every acoustic amp including AER, Schertler, Ultrasound, Fishman, Roland but vocals always sound crappy. My current set up is great however it does lack power for any large crowd or noisy background event. This Fishman system is really very adequate

Guitar is set up fairly low which is great for some but will require adjustments by others depending on playing styles and pick gauges. The top has a very noticeable seam which may bother certain folks. The bookmatching is very similiar although Ive seen some poor bookmatchings that actually seem to add character. The frets were cut and sanded very well. I would give this fit and finish category a 10, especially considering price and exceptional tone. I still like Bill Clinton even though he is a proven liar:) Perhaps this guitar also has alot a charisma which de-sensitize me from noticing flaws.

Two years w/o adjustment necessary. No problems whatsoever. My Taylors would go out of whack constantly. I like problem free. I have been looking for another D 55 in case strings break while Im playing. Alot cheaper to just change the strings but I really like the ice tea finish and am curious about DTAR?? It sounds like a planet from a Star Trek episode.

?????

In order of cost Ive owned a Froggy Bottom, a half dozen Taylors including a 915CE/ciny vine inlay, Santa Cruz, Breedlove, half dozen Gibsons, 5 Larrivees, 3 high end Takamines, 4 alvarez Yairis and many others. I currently own a Guild GAD, Gallagher, Larrivee and this D 55. Ive played the other guitars about 10 time while Ive owned this D55. I really could not see living without this D55. I actually will usually plug it in when I play since I can fool around with the great Fishman AFX delays and reverbs. With the Fishman goodies this guitar sounds better plugged in which is remarkeable to me. Any comments or questions are welcomed since I love talking acoustic guitars, acoustic amplification and golf!!

Without doubt this guitar is the best value Ive had to date. Plus, since Im so happy with this guitar Ive got more money for golf and my coin collection.

1977 Westerly made Guild with the usual specs except for jumbo fretwire (now quite low because of several dressings) and Shaller gold tuners. The neck is fuller than current necks, but probably more comfortable. Around 1990 the braces were "voiced" by a well regarded luthier.

The tone is very balanced between bass and treble. The overall tone is bell like in quality. The bass is extremely mellow and deep, but the trebles are very clear and distinct. Although the guitar has wonderful depth, it is not really boomy. Even though the guitar has good volume, its not the loudest acoustic I have played.

This guitar was 29 years old when I got it and I had to do some remedial repair to get it up to snuff. The nut slots and some of the frets were worn, and the truss rod needed some tweaking. With new strings, the guitar came back to life. I had intended to turn it around, but have decided to keep it.

Structurally, the guitar is in fine shape with just some dings and scratches. Even after 29 years the guitar is still only about half way to neck set city.

This sucker is a tank. The guitar is extremely heavy and Guild used enuff wood in the neck and tail blocks to make two guitars. But it has held up better than most 29 year old Martins I have known.

Never needed 'em

I have owned about every quality acoustic known to man and this guitar stands right up there with about any of them at a fraction of the price.

please see the other reviewers for these . i say it is top of the line all the way . impeccable!

now let's talk rich,creamy,booming and presence . strum a chord sitting down and your whole body resonates with this guitar . the first time i played this guitar was after playing a room full of martins,taylors,breedloves,gibsons,alvarez and santa cruz guitars . for some reason i kept looking at this d55 and saying to myself " i'll play that one later because it looks so pretty..." then finally i picked it up and played....reaction? wow! chords , fingerpicking and single note pick solos were heavenly . i have played for more than 25 years and have owned the best along the way . this guitar was like a ray of light in a dark room . full deep resonant sound from your fingers to the top of your head to your toes . i own a martin d35 and a custom shop hummingbird from montana . the hummingbird beats this d55 slightly . but the hummingbird was $1500 more . like everyone says here...why spend the money? mine is a carona california model . i have not had the pleasure of playing a rhode island factory guitar but i can't imagine it to be so much better than this one . this guitar makes me want to play well . sound is on par with custom shop pieces from other companies , and believe me taylor's top of the line guitars don't touch this california d55 no way , i know because i have played them .

flawless in every way period .

i bought this one with a crack on the back which way from a drop . fixed with a kleat inside . hey it was $1300 . well below other new guitars that sounded like crap in my opinion . everything else is amazingly well built .

can't comment never had to use them

Guild D-55 - 1968 ( do i need to say more )This was the first year for this guitar- I bought this in 1976 (used) from an add hanging outside of a college book store- was going to search for a D-50 , which was pretty much the same guitar but didnt have all the glitz.

used it to play college coffee houses, latter at local restaurants- one of the brightest sounds Ive ever heard- guess you can say the first time I saw her, it was love--today the sound is more mellow than ever- have played newer Guild D-55,s - just to let newer buys know, they only get better with time- If you love it now , youll wish you could take it to heaven with you when you die !

Hard to say how this was set up at the factory, since i bought it used when it was 8 years old- The top on this baby is perfectly bookmatched Bear claw spruce-- I have a few guitars with master grade tops and this is one of them - dont think the new ones are this nice, but the one i played yesterday was decent ! The binding on the fretboard as well as the Craftsmanship of the instrument is phenominal-

Well, this is where she gets a 200 out of 100, shes been around since 1968- no serious problems- have played out many times with her- shes strong and shes a lady ! and shes better with age !

N/A since i bought it used from a private person.

Ive made mistakes in my life as we all do, but this guitar has never been one of them- it makes me feel good every time i play it, and has given me great joy for the past 29-30 years- and its worth a whole lot more than i paid for it- thou I would never sell it- youll have to hunt down my widow when i kick the bucket - if shes smart shell keep this one for my childrens children- Yes i would definitely buy it again- When I was in my twentys most of my friends told me that Guilds were not as good as Martins ,and that i made a big mistake by spending every penny i had on a Guild-( even thou it cost about one half of what a martin did ) - many years latter most of them have traded in their Martins , one of my friends recently told me secretly that they wish they bought a Guild back when I did because it was a better value than their Martin and that they had all kinds of problems with it, such as the Neck warping etc- So much for whats popular eehh !!

Heh, it says up here, "Be critical! Superficial, glowing reviews will not get published!" Yet it seems like almost every review on here, about anything, is either raving about how great something is or how much it sucks. I'm afraid this will be no different. I will tell you right away that I believe this may be the best guitar I'll ever own.

Well, anyway...

My baby is a natural finish Guild D-55. I bought her from Stan and crew at Mandolin Brothers on Staten Island, New York, August 2001 (a few weeks before 9/11). It was a blemish model. Stan wasn't sure what the blemish was. After owning the guitar since 2001, I've come to the conclusion that the blem is actually a little spot on the top binding on the treble side of the upper bout. It looks like the black bled a little into the white with a teensy dot that ruins the otherwise straight line. Does that even make sense when I describe it? It's not noticible unless you either squint really hard from 2 inches away or poke your eye out with the bottom-right corner of the neck (yeah, I've done both). Other manufacturers (um, like Fender) would likely not have even considered it a blemish.

It's one of the last Westerly, Rhode Island D-55s. I think it's either a 2000 or a 2001. I kinda wanted a sunburst, but I wasn't gonna argue with a great deal. And this way the wood's aging will be obvious when she and I grow old together. :) Although Guild does a beautiful sunburst which still shows the gorgeous wood grains.

As far as a rosewood/spruce dread goes, it's got what you'd want. The features have been listed a zillion times. Impeccable ebony fretboard... sublime two-piece back (not arched)...

The only things keeping it from elusive and impossible-to-define perfect is that the binding is probably a white plastic (some prefer this to wood). I had something else to say, but I forgot already.

Unfortunately, it has yet to find my soulmate for me. Oh, that's not a documented feature anyway, though.

No electronics.

Perfection is different for everyone; that's the point I'm trying to make. A feature here or there--what's that? I see no reason to deny this guitar a 10. It's not a friggin' toaster. It's even got fancy decorative crap. Toasters don't have abalone. It's more beautiful and featured than a Martin D-45, and it cost a fair price rather than an absurd one. You do the math. (Sorry--I'm just not a fan of overpricing.)

What do you want to use it for? The dreadnaught has turned out to be a pretty vertsatile shape, I think. It is a jack of all trades, a master of none. This dreadnaught in particular, however, comes close.

I've honestly never heard a better lead acoustic guitar sound than this. As far as strumming, it will give any Martin D-28 a run for bass boom, yet it's balanced enough that the bass will never drown the rest out (in my opinion--some have accused my guitar of being too bassy, but I think they're just used to Takamine, tinny crap). It will give any Gibson a run as far as chunky mid-range and treble, yet, again, it is balanced.

The bass booms. The midrange jingles. The high-end rings like a bell.

Can one guitar have it all? I don't know, but if it were possible, it would be embodied in this rosewood dreadnaught.

Tone is a personal choice. I, personally, would never be able to find a guitar whose sound I deemed "better" than this. I played J-200s, Martin HD-35s, Rainsong jumbos, Taylor 800s, boutique guitars...

Is this guitar better than a Martin HD-35? Maybe, maybe not. Is it cheaper? Yes. Does it have more character? Yes.

Stack any guitar in the world up against this one. I dare you. You may be able to find a better guitar for something specific--a Martin 00-18 for fingerpicking, a jumbo for strumming (incidentally, if you're in the market for a jumbo, Guild does these as well as anyone else, too). You'll never find anything that can do it all as well as this guitar, though. If anything else can, it will likely cost twice as much.

Match this guitar against anything in its price range, and it will mop the floor. Match it against instruments costing twice as much, and it will still hold its own. You can't go wrong with a Guild D-55.

The action, in my opinion, was a little high when I got it. I set it up with mediums and got a luthier friend to play with the action, and now it's like butter. It didn't lose any of its tone.

The appearance of the guitar? I'm out of adjectives to describe it. Guild takes (took?) great pride in their guitars, from the bottom to the top, but the D-55s are above even that. In the lower-end, you may find teensy blobs of glue. So what? Yet on the D-55, you won't even see that.

Everything about this guitar is perfect (other than the aforementioned blem).

Even though the action was a little high for me, I'm going to give this category yet another 10. I think it is understood that the set-up of a guitar is a personal choice and that nearly every guitar will need some set up work done. If anything, it's the cheaper guitars that need less set up (they come with low-action for beginners, who are likely just gonna hack away at first). The expensive ones need to be personalized.

Others have described their D-55s as being priceless works of art that hardly leave the living room or the humidified, temperature-controlled case. Guilds are made to be played, though, and while I'm not planning to check my D-55 as baggage on an airplane anytime soon, not even in the best of cases, I would not hesitate to tote it around with me. I gig with it. I use it when I see fit. It's a tough guitar. Guild makes tough guitars, and this one is no exception. Honest to God, it's still as flawless as the day I bought it. I've been careful with it, but it isn't as if it's never left the house either. It's my main guitar, and I treat it as such.

I don't bring a back-up. I should, really. Who knows what one might break a string? But I don't, and she's never failed me yet. Not once.

I firmly believe this guitar will outlast my own body. After this guitar and I grow old together, I'll pass it on to someone else.

I'm not saying that because it's a delicate, priceless treasure. Who wants a treasure that you have to baby? I'm saying that because it is, simply, a great guitar. It will last. It will perform.

I actually have no warranty. That was part of the stipulation when I bought it at a huge discount. I haven't had a single problem with it, though, nor do I expect to. If I do have a problem, I'll get someone to fix it. I have the utmost confidence that this material object will last at least 100 years. I also believe it's far more deserving than the stuff Gibson and Martin are putting out. I'm not saying those Martins and Gibsons aren't neat guitars. They are... They just cost 4 times as more.

No rating here, as I do not have a warranty and have had no dealing with Guild other than playing this wonderful guitar they created and I bought. Guild is now under Fender, so I suppose whatever people have to say about Fender applies here as far as service.

Take everything you hear with a grain of salt, though (even my unabashed love for my D-55).

This was a deal when I got it. I don't think Guild has ever made a guitar that wasn't worth the money. I actually just bought another Guild, a used JF-30, and my first quality guitar ever was a Guild DCE-1. I honestly think I may never buy anything ever again that is NOT Guild.

The Fender buy-out of Guild saddens me. I wish they'd've been able to continue as a stable, independent corporation. Guild no longer really exists. The intruments they made exist, though, and, that said, their designs still exist, whether they're made in California or China. If you want a guitar like this, and can't get a used one, you'll have to go with either the Chinese Guilds or the Fender American Guilds. The Americans, for now, are built in the Guild custom shop in California. This includes the D-55s, F-50s, and F-50Rs (I believe).

The Chinese Guilds are still amazing... A Chinese Guild D-50 would compare to my D-55, as much as people hate to admit it (and as much as even I hate to admit it).

Play everything, but never overlook these marvelous designs.

Long live Guild.

Guild guitars were, and still are, even built in China, probably the best value in the world. Really.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Please don't flame me or try to change my opinion, though.

Solid rosewood sides and back, spruce top, high gloss finish with Fishman AGP-2 preamp. Pretty much everything you'd want in a acoustic.

Amazing tone with great volume. You have to play it to appreciate it. I can't believe anyone would need an amp with this guitar but the Fishman came with it. I've yet to plug it in.

The sixth string (low E) had a slight buzz which was noticable only when I used the flatpick. Seemed like it was coming from the bridge. Took it back to the music shop and it's fixed. Otherwise action is fine.

Appears to be a solid instrument. It feels heavier that other dreadnaughts I've played especially the neck. I bought it as a demo which means it was used in the shop for music lessons and recording. Other than some minor bumps and bruises it has held up well.

Guitar had some buzzing, returned it and the shop had it repaired in no time with no charge.

I haven't been playing very long but when I played this guitar I knew this was the sound I was looking for. I plan on handing this instrument down to one of my children some day and I'm sure they'll enjoy it as much as I do.

Made in 90's, Westerly Rhode Island, USA
Solid AAA Sitka spruce
Solid Rosewood dreadnaught body, 3-piece Mahogany neck with edge-slice stiffener
"Piano-like" flawless high gloss finish
Ebony bridge with Abalone topped pins
Gold Grover tuners that fade little if wiped after use
I would call the neck somewhat "fast" very comfortable

I bought my first guitar in 1965 and have seen, heard, handled and played nearly everything since. Ampegs, Moserites, Black Widows (electrics) and nearly all older and newer acoustics. Regarding acoustics, the ONLY other similar toned (but less robust??) instrument was a beautiful, flawless, vintage, $900 Yairi. I say weaker because the D55 has this hard to describe fullness of tonality at volume. Your phrasing and strumming style changes can pull stuff out of this guitar that I HAVE NEVER--EVER--heard before. I simply can't believe this is not a "custom." In fact I can't think of any acoustic styles this guitar would be less than great for (unless you need a cutaway). I think a big part of the secret to it is the 4" bout top to 5" bout bottom taper. Here we do need a rating scale of "12" I think.

Action was slightly high up the neck when purchased, but I remedied that easily. I understand that these were set up intending to appeal to alot of open and lower barre chord players? But the design is quite flexible and my action is somewhat low now and "fast" for a dreadnaught (spelling?). Entire finish is flawless, woods are spectacular, inlays, bindings ditto. I can't find a negative and I'm eccentrically particular about craftsmanship.

I am convinced that if kept properly humidified (like you should any worthwhile instrument) this guitar, and many others as well, will last decades or longer. Assuming such an instrument is initially constructed with "noncrystallizing" adhesives that humidity is the only damaging variable, short of your wife or someone falling onto it. As for using it without a backup, I'd only be interested in another D55 as a backup and don't think it would be needed. Whatever nice guitar you own though, if you live near or above the Mason Dixon Line, GET A HUMIDIFIER AND USE IT!! You won't be sorry.

Never needed since purchase, but I do suppose I could call em and chat about this heirloom.

Been playing since mid-sixties and I'm old now so I recently gave two of my six guitars to two nephews; one a 50's Strat, the other a Gibson Nighthawk. I still have my Epiphone semi-hollow with 2 Gibson P90's, a Schecter elec./acoustic, a Seagull Artist/Maple acoustic, old Yamaha classical, and my "dreambox" D55. Like no other! Looking to settle into learning classical style before I head for the big jam in the sky. I won't bother with more flattering blather, except to tell anyone serious about looking for a fine steel string a little advice. First I'm sure there must be something out there that equals the sound of this guitar, maybe even near the same price, I've never seen or heard it, but just maybe. Either way if you are serious about playing let me save you a lot of lost time, money, and wear and tear on your feet, ears, and auto--buy one of these because if you sing, your voice rides on this sound, and if you have ANY real performing potential this guitar will match it. I'll bet you'll decide to die with it one day like I plan too. I do wish I had one more D55, just cause ya never know.

D-55 from 1998. Made in Westerly. Natural finish. The most elegant, beautiful guitar I ever laid my eyes on!!
See other reviews for specs.

In my opinion this guitar has no comparison in sound. I own a Martin 000-28EC and D-28, a Gibson j-200 and I must say that, though I love all of my guitars, the Guild D-55 is the best. It's simply superior in all aspects of sound. The highs, the mids, the bass, resonance.....it's incredible. This is a "sure-to-be-classic" guitar.

I bought my D-55 private. The action was simply perfect as I received it. Only been adjusted one time back in 2000. Been playing it for a year now.....the action is still flawless!!! You will find no instrument with more playing-pleasure than from this fantasic instrument!!!
The finish is spotless.

As I stated the guitar is six years old. Owned it for a year. Steady as a TANK!

I've been playing for 20 years and have had the chance to play all the great classic acoustics out there Santa Cruz, Martin, Taylor, Gibson...and owned some of them. This guitar is.....and will be the one acoustic that will follow me to the grave. It's superiorety is amazing. I will not bring economy to this review....'cause I'll choose this guitar over any other....anytime! But just whisper at the top of my longues....BUY THIS GUITAR, if you have the chance.

I have a 1978 D-55 made in Westerly, RI. It was purchased at the Chicago Guitar Gallery, 216 S. Wabash in September 0f 1978. I went to the store because at the time it was one of the premiere guitar shops in Chicago. I had every intension of purchasing a Gibson of Martin brand. Between playing several Gibson?s and Martins I played this D-55 and never returned to the other brands. Around 1985 the wood took on a more resonate tone and in '88 I made an oath to myself to never let go of this guitar. It is 2004 and the tone is still sweet as ever.

I collect, shop and play both electric and acoustic guitars. Every time I pick up a D-55 it is remarkably the same instrument in sound and feel. I did this just yeaterday @ Buffalo Brothers in Carlsbad, CA. Two years ago I compared a Westerly and Corona models at Bizzare Guitars in Arizona. The only difference I note amoung new D-55's is in age and string type. Remarkably the new Corona made D-55's, if anything, are more exactly replicated to spec.

I originally chose the D-55 for the lower string, bass response. I think it's best characteristic through age is even volume balance for all six strings.

As a player the tone is only partially appreciated. The guitar projects to other listeners with a sonic quality that still receives random compliments from both non-players and players.

The original set-up is was great. From Chicago to California humidity changes the guitar needed adjustment several times.

It is almost too valuable to gig this guitar in a non controled venue. I would not think twice about playing it out where it will not get kicked or speared by someones headstock.

Originally a 5 year warranty. Never had a problem beyond set-up adjustment.

Compared to Martin D-45, D-35 and Gibson J-30

Sans the investment return , I would definetly buy a replacement D-55 over the Gibson's, Martins or Taylors if I it was lost or stolen.

I wish I could score a D-55 with factory electronics.

I am a D-55 fan. I consider it to be a quintessential dreadnaught

I own a 1995 "PRE-FENDER" D-55 guild acoustic. It's flat awesome. I sold my gibson J-200 for it. The J-200 had the frets popping out and after 3 returns (RA), I sold the friggin' thing. This D-55 has played and aged flawlessly for 9 years. I installed a Martin thin line p/u under the bridge. Killer sound. I don't believe in the "comes with electronics" jazz. All that extra plastic crap just completely disrespects the nice all wood guitar...I'd rather pee on a spark plug than to play a hybrid guitar. The neck, fit, finish, fretboard, body...everything...no kidding around here...came Knock Down Dead Perfect and Gorgeous. It's still about 95% today. I had one fret job; I installed a bone nut and saddle; some custom abalone pins from M/F. This D-55 has the sweetest sound, or a huge F***in' "KARANG." I've been offered $3000.00 cash...honest..remember, Westerly doesn't make them anymore...NO SALE! The keys are Grovers...still perfect. The case has held up over world travel and I play the Hell out of this thing. I do keep extra ordinary care of it though...it's absolutely like new...just not brand new.

I play John Prine, John Denver; Arlo Guthrie, Eagles; Bob Seager; Bob Dylan; Belamy Brothers, and a bevy of other artists including my own. I plug it through a Marshall acoustic amp and through a huge Carvin P.A. The sound through both are stellar. It is by far the richest sounding acoustic I've ever played...35 years now...ya! Woodstock...the 1st one! Bare Naked Ladies music...Hootie and the Blowfish...easy. Honestly, I like the conventional guitars. This thing is built by real artisans. There is NOTHING I dislike about it period. I might sell it when the offer hits around $10,000.00, but I doubt it. I couldn't replace it!

The action was perfect. I changed the strings right away though. I use D'Angelica's 12's. Every single joint, the top, back, and sides are perfect. I'm a music stores nightmare. I'm a royal pain in the ass AND balls! I took a micrometer to it: So did the Westerly Guild folks when they painstakingly built this piece of art. If you own one and sell it for anything less than $3K, you either stole it, or are stupid. Don't go by what you read on ebay...that's the price everybody looks at and then sells, or buys according to what they saw...SHEEPEOPLE!!!

Well, what can I say? I've had it for over 9 years going on 10. It's still perfect. My strap button was replaced by the Martin thin line jack. The gold finish rubs off of the Grovers and neck strap button. I have a backup acoustic: a Martin D45...only in case I break a string. I haven't broken a string in 6 years since I changed the nut and saddle to bone (real ivory). I'd sell my Martin before my Guild!

Guild in Westerly, Rhode Island was excellent. Fender is ok, but they don't have anywhere near the customer service Guild did. I know a couple of Fender reps: they feel like the popularity of a Fender is huge. One, or two customers won't make or break them. They won't tell you that to your face, but I've been to the NAMM show. Give these guys a few martinis and they run their mouth. Yep...running on a name...too bad. Based on the old Guild...10...Fender...6. Hell, 1/2 the time Fender can't find their ass! I've had to research the part numbers for them. I sent them a bill for services rendered...of course, they laughed until I sent them a copy of my attorney's law suit against a doctor who kept him waiting...the attorney won in small claims court...Fender sent me all kinds of neat stuff for (free) my services rendered.

I've been playing guitar since 1969. I used to get beat up for playing a violin...until Charlie Daniels became famous. If someone ever had the balls to steal my guitar I'd nail his balls to a stump and push him over backwards. I would look for another one immediately. I love the entire guitar; there is nothing about it I don't like. I own several other guitars. This has nothing to do with price, or WOW. It has everything to do with old world craftsmanship, value, true excellence. I'm buying them below $2K right now...I'm reselling them here in Ca. for over $3K...worth every cent!! Don't be stupid and sell yours for under $2K. Don't forget, they don't make them anymore...Fender does...and they don't make the Valencia period...

purcahsed from Guitar Center Indianapolis when they open on the 1st week.paid $1800 for it with case.Brand New.

I had unlimited funds to buy anything I wanted.I picked up Gibsons
and Martins well over $4000 and choose this out of the bunch.I could have bought vintage as well.There was something about the >even-ness<
of the tone that was way above everthing else that I played.The high
end on it is stellar.It right like a bell thru from low to high and
doesnt have any high or low spots in the tone,its just very "even" across the board..

action is very low and the frets are small ones.I am used to 6100
on EVERYTHING I play..but not on this one.its much better with small
frets.I use light strings on it as well.10-42.I play Metal and Hard rock with my other stuff and this was just what I was looking for to
compliment the rest of my stuff.The finish on it is amazing..so much so I lifted off the pickguard on it.( very carefully) to reveal the
maple top on it and polished the shit out of the top so it looks like it never had a guard..it improved the tone as well.the guards are only held on with rubber cement anyway..so it took alot of rubbing
and it came off ..looks amazing right now..I dont know why they put those stupid ass things on there anyway...

dont know I dont play out with this one..but Its build like high quality instrument should be..its WAY to nice to wack around on stage.
I would get a takamine or something else to do that with..

dont need it..If it went south on me..( which I cant imagine why it would).I would take to Grhuns or a friend of mine who is an expert..
there is really nothing that could screw this up..get your self a
JDB Bridge Doctor and you will never have any bridge lift or any of that BS..its the best $40 you can spend on an acoustic..no more pins problems and it will only sound better..you can get them thru Stew-Mac and takes about an hour to put in...keeps evernthing where it should be..

30 years at this I have proably over 20 guitars from Parkers to Strats to Les Pauls..It wont get stolen..you would have to get into my house..( which aint happening. LOL..)nothing on it I dislike..would be again in a heartbeat.best $2K I spent on a acoustic
I have looked up others D-55 on ebay and I amazed at what I see..there
all about the same level..you CAN NOT go wrong with one of these..
Mine was built in Rhode Island..I have heard that Fender now owns them,..I cant tell you what a new one is like..but mine is amazing..

Made in 2003 in the Fender factory. It included a Dampit humidifier, polishing cloth, owners manual and an excellent hard shell case. I wish it came with a bone nut and saddle.

The sound is stunning and is simply the sweetest tone I've heard from any new guitar. It is very rich and full, well balanced and loud as hell. It is so loud it can actually be a little annoying when you are playing in a small room, excellent!!!

The guitar was constructed perfectly. I could not find a single flaw anywhere. For a guitar that has this many inlays and binding it is simply amazing. I could not believe the construction quality. There were no glue runs or bracing gaps.

The action was horrible but I think that was due to the shipper loosening the truss rod before shipping, or he didn't know what he was doing. I got the factory specs off of Guild's website, tightened the truss rod to the correct relief and everything was great. No abnormal buzzes or dead spots. Since I've NEVER bought a guitar that was set up the way I prefer or even to factory specs, and the fact that I don't think this problem was due to the manufacturer I give this category a ten. It is simply build perfectly! Wow!!!

The structure of the guitar is extremely sturdy. Unfortunately the finish is very brittle and it chips/cracks easily. My Les Paul also has a nitrocellose finish and doesn't chip at all, it only dents. The gold plated tuners oxidize easily but that is to be expected.

My Guild was shipped from Carolina to Taos New Mexico, which is a huge climate change. It developed a thin finish crack on the underside of the neck joint and a 1/8" deep gap between the back of the bridge and the soundboard. Both of these issues were caused by climate change. I use a humidifier but it is so dry here I'm constantly having to refill it.

Overall, the structure of the guitar is rock solid and I haven't experienced anything that would indicate that this guitar would not be reliable. The finish is beautiful but is very delicate.

I've never used Guilds' customer support. The website is very informative though.

I bought this guitar from ebay, which is always a risk. I got an incredible deal and the guitar was practically untouched. It had the protective plastic over the pick guard, the tag hanging from the tuners, and all documentation still sealed in plastic. The guitar and case were packed in the original factory cardboard box. I wouldn't recommend buying a guitar sight unseen, especially in this price range. The fact that I could save almost $1000 was too tempting to pass up and the risk payed off. However, be warned that buying expensive guitars off of ebay is risky. Make sure you talk to the seller and make sure they have a high rating.

I've been playing guitar for about ten years. I haven't owned an acoustic for a couple of years. Since I bought this guitar my electrics have been collecting dust. I also own a Gibson Les Paul Premium Plus and a Fender Custom SHop Classic player Strat.

I love this guitar because it is simply a joy to play. The tone is incredible and the guitar is beautiful. It is an easy Dreadnought to play and has a fairly slim neck. I've played many other acoustics Martins, Gibsons etc. and this is simply the best sounding, most beautiful and LOUDEST one.

I have played a late Seventies Guild D-55 and I was thinking of buying it. I can honestly say that the build quality is comparable. Sure the design has changed a little and the tone isn't as mellow as an aged guitar but there simply wasn't any flaw in this new Guild, not even a scratch. I'm glad I bought a new one. I don't have to worry about damaging a vintage guitar with regular use. I bought this guitar to play the hell out of it. I plan to own it for the rest of my life.

Having said that I can't believe that a guitar in this price range doesn't have a bone nut and saddle. I can't wait to replace them and hear how the tone improves (not like it needs a whole lot of improvement).

If this guitar were stolen I would definitely buy another. Before you buy a high-end acoustic MAKE SURE you try the Guild D-55.

2003 Guild D-55 in a beautiful sunburst finish. It's one of the new Fender built Guilds. See other reviews for features.

I recently completed my search for the "lifetime" acoustic when I played this D-55. I had a Gibson Hummingbird previously and I really liked the tone but it didn't have enough volume. This is where the Guild excels. For me it seemed to have the best elements of Gibson, Martin and Taylor acoustics and slap them all into one guitar. It has a wonderful tone with a strong bass and midrange and lovely highs.

perfect action straight from the factory.

It's built like a tank and I'm sure it'll outlive me (i'm 24) and I'll be passing it on the grandkids.

haven't dealt with yet.

I recently purchased a beautiful sunburst Guild D-55. I tested every major guitar maker out there (Gibsons, Taylors, Martins,etc). Forget the D-28s, HD-35s, Hummingbirds, J-200s,etc.
The D-55 outshines them all in tone, projection and playability, not to mention value. The tone and action are wonderful and it sustains for days on end. Fear not purists the new Fender built Guilds are just as good as their predecessors...Oh and this guitar usually runs around $2000 (musiciansfriend.com, music123.com). This guitar is easily worth that much and more. It outplays even guitars costing thousands more (Fender better not get any ideas though). But if you search around on the net you'll be able to find a few places that have them for cheaper.

Made in 2003, made in USA, all solid wood guitar, rosewood back and sides, with spruce top. Nothing electric. Big dreadnaught box. Came with case. Smooth fretwork, large frets. Finish is nitrocellulose. I never give tens on ratings, there is always room for improvement.

Rockabilly, original material played in no one else's style. Thunderous volume, and the older it gets the better the tone. Lively, musical sound all over the range, no tinkle or nasal overtones. All through the sound register, tonally accurate. sustain for a lot better overall sound than the Taylors I tried, and the Martins. It is at least a match for tone and playability for the one Santa Cruz I tried, and it was $900 more. I personally dislike gold hardware, it wears off too quickly.

Action was very good for the style I play. There is one small finish defect at the neck heel, caused by excess glue.

This guitar is built as all Guild guitars are. They are built to be here for the long haul. Good finish, only one minor flaw, finish is a wee bit to the thick side. I find it has better workmanship than a comparably priced Gibson. It has the nitro finish instead of the poly raz-ma-tazz that is on Taylor. It is my opinion that the Nitro finish is the only finish for a guitar that will improve with age. It is hard enough to crack at temperature extremes, and the polyrazzmatazz is too pliant to let the sound of a naturally vibrating piece of wood to come thru unscathed. I would use it without any back up. ( other than some spare strings...)

Answered questions quickly. Limited lifetime warranty. You got to keep them watered, and adjusted to temperature.

Been playing for over thirty years. I own several acoustic and electric guitars from Gibson, and Epiphone, with a Heritage guitar thrown into the mix. Maybe even a Seagull and a Yamaha or two. Fender Amps. Peterson Virtual Strobe tuner. ( Absolutely the best tuner!) I compared this to Taylor, Gibson Hummingbird or either of the sloped shoulder J 45 Gibson models, Martin, & 1 Santa Cruz. I determined this to be the best production acoustic guitar for me. It lacks nothing but some honest playing time, and a few years to further mellow and mature into the sound spectrum that only time will bring. I would replace it in a heartbeat with the same model. The only thing that would could ask for would be a lower price. It still skins the competition at 300 to 900 buckaroos more !!

its an absolutely beautiful guitar it was made in CA unlike the older version that was made in rhode island. ive played a few of both verisons and i cant really find a difference. mine is antique burst and its a beaute. it has a fishman matrix pickuppign siystem that pickups up off the sound board giving it a clear acoustic tone.it has beautiful gold grover tuning machines. it came with a hard case and a humidifier. it has amazing wood. spruce top, and indian rose wood, it has atleast 8 grains per inch making it an amzingly well built and accesorized instrument

its sound kicks ass its tone is absolutely amazing the d55 is probably the best soundign acoustic ever made. It is guilds flagship model and its easy to tell with just one strum. it blows most guilds and all other brands away. this guitar will ring out clearly with sutain far surpassing any martin, taylor, or gibson

ive had this guitar for about a month now and havent had to mess with it. the action was perfect ( i like it pretty low) i have problems playign most gibsons becoz there action is usually high. there was no messy glue or scratches, the pickups worked fine and it looked more beautiful then i ever imagined a guitar could.

ive heard in other ratings that it is built like a tank but ive only had it a month so i cant comment but it looks sturdy enough to me

never used it

ive been palying five years and i own a prs santana se that im going to sell and a prs custom hollowbody, i have a guild jf 30 and a jf 65 both jumbos. i also have a guild d4o and a d100. my 2ns acoustic was a d4 and even tho it wasnt great compared to most guilds even it was awesome compared to other brands. i would like to get a s4cehg but im a little short on cahs at the moment hence the fleet of guitars and the fact that im only 17

The D55 has solid everything - no cutting corners on this awesome dreadnought. Spruce, rosewood, ebony, abalone...it's just an awesome set up. The others have filled out the details and you can see for yourself at Guild's website.

This D55 blows every other dreadnought I have ever played. Seriously. The only thing that rivals this is another Guild. Martins sound sooooo flat and lifeless. I picked up thei famous D28 and it sounded like it had been kept in the barn for years. No projection, dead sound, no boom. This Guild, however, rings with a deep, deep bottom, booming projection and a resonant mid and high section. I strum it and I feel the guitar come alive. I think the solid, heavy construction adds to the resonance - there's something that Guild has done with this D55 that produces such an "anointed" sound.

This Corona made D55 came to me in perfect condition. No flaws whatsoever. Mine has a beautiful sunburst finish. I saw the D55 on the website and I knew I had to have that exact finish. I can still smell the wood each time I open up the case. This is a delight to play every time I pick her up.

This is my fourth Guild. I'm sold on Guild as one of the best kept "secrets" out there. Again, Taylor, Martin and Larrivee seem to get all the press, but Guild is the darkhorse - it will probably bolster Fender's reputation as well. I know of Guild's quality - although they've been known to develop some cracks and top swelling just south of the bridge. No sign of anything like that on this one, though. I'm keeping it moderately humidified and kept in the case to protect it. This Guild should last long after I'm gone.

I've had no need to contact them yet.

I love this guitar. This is the dream guitar I always wanted and plan to keep all my life. My job, profession and calling are the same - I'm a worship pastor and I rely on good quality tools of the trade just like any musician. Everyone I know seems to think that Taylor is the way to go. They make an excellent product - but so does Guild. I will "evangelize" others to "see the light" in Jesus AND in Guild! I pity those who fork out $3000-4000.00 for a Collings, Santa Cruz or Goodall...why waste good money on something that won't even sound as nice as this Guild.

Bought in 1976 - a magnificent guitar that was played hard on the road for 12 years - at least 4 times a week for up to 5 hours a night. Was set up by a guy who used to work for Maton in Australia ( Maton is a lovely guitar - The Aussie Martin but nicer to play) Had a bridge pickup installed by Maton about 1978 and its still perfect - the bindings on the neck had to be replaced and this was done by Fretted Instruments in Melbourne about 10 years ago. The guitar just gets better and better. Its loud - its got such a nice tone. I had a lovely Martin d28 1976 which I hardly ever played because the Guild is just so nice. The shell inlays in the neck are some sort of shell from New Zealand ( kauri?)) and are a kaleidoscope of color. Gold Grovers and an action that has always been flawless make this a dream machine. The guitar has been used in extremes of climate from winter in Sarajevo to tropical humid Darwin - Guild is a killer guitar that gave me a lifestyle and gave me thousands of hours of fun.

I play Celtic - Folk - Folk Rock

Was great but needed attention from an expert a few years out - after that it was perfect and has been so since.

It looks and sounds better every year - its a classic

never had to use

playing 35 years plus - anybody who hears or plays this guitar is changed :)

This model is one of the new "Fender" Guilds, manufactured in Corona, CA. I have had the opportunity to play vintage Guild acoustics, and I must say that this transition model is faithful to the originals in every way. Spruce top, nicely grained Indian rosewood and somewhat figured mahogany comprise the main materials used in constucting the guitar. Add in the beautiful abalone and shell inlays (Sorry, I'm a sucker for abalone), multi-ply binding and flawless ebony fretboard, and you've got a guitar that is equal in looks as it is tone and playability. The nitrocellulose finish is a nice touch for us vintage fans, and I look forward to the beautiful natural aging process that accompanies said nitro finish.

After falling in love with the full, rich sound of most Martin guitars, the Guild was a no-brainer. Huge bass, full mids and fairly bright highs. This is how a dreadnaught should sound. I encountered a little fret buzz at first, probably a function of sitting alone unchecked in a music store, rather than a manufacturer's defect. A quick tweak fixed the problem, and my guitar rings clean and true in any position. Not nearly as bright as a Taylor, but that's not what I wanted. The D55 eats Taylors for lunch tonally.

As I had mentioned before, a set-up was needed to bring the guitar into its true character. However, most guitars sitting on the shelf at a big-box music machine need a set-up after months of unfavorable climactic conditions, staff apathy and "customer" abuse. I, in no way, believe the manufacturer to be at fault. There was a small ding in the finish on the back. Again, a function of time spent being molested at a large, high-traffic store. The workmanship is flawless. Major concerns, such as frets, bookmatching, finish, gluing, etc., are not a concern at all. Minor concerns, being aesthetic appointments (inlay, binding) are masterfully done. I would prefer a thinner pickguard, a la Larrivee, to allow the top to ring out more. However, one strum puts this concern away.

I have yet to use this guitar on a gig. However, it has seen many hours of playing since I bought it, replacing my electrics (Gibson LP Standard and Music Man Axis Sport) as my main house guitar. It seems to enjoy my robust picking style, and hasn't shown any signs of wear under the (ab)use that I inflict upon it daily. It feels solid, more so than any other high-end acoustic I have auditioned over the years. The neck finish does tend to get sticky after playing, but hey, so does my Gibson. I welcome the opportunity to use it on a gig, but I have no plans to install a pickup at this time. Most pickups do no justice to the character of a finely crafted acoustic, and dreadnaughts tend to feedback when amplified (in fact, if anyone has any suggestions as to a good acoustic pickup with minimal installation hassles, I would welcome the opinion) I bought this guitar with the intention of having a lifetime friend, and I have no doubts that my D55 will fufill these intentions.

Haven't had to contact anyone yet. I do fear the hassle of calling the 900-pound gorilla that is FMIC, but i don't believe that it will be an issue with this guitar.

I have worked for MI retailers for over 4 years now, and have had the opportunity to play everything. I mean everything. The current situation with my current employer, Mars Music, is sad, but represents a rare opportunity to pick up an instrument at below cost prices. I cannot belive that the Martins and Taylors flew out of my store faster than this Guild. I'm lucky to live in an area populated by name-brand-obsessed amateurs with more money than ears or ability. I'm very lucky to have picked up a dream acoustic for a ridiculous price, especially in comparison to comparable models by other manufacturers. This guitar is mine, mine, mine, and will only see a new owner when it is inherited by a fortunate relative after my demise (hopefully many years from now, as I can't wait for this baby to open up and really show me something). Smart money is on the Guild D55, or any other Guild acoustic. I urge anyone even remotely interested in a finely crafted American acoustic guitar to compare the Guild models against the other well-known vendors' models. My search for the lifetime acoustic is over.

OK - this is one of the new Corona built D55's in a beautiful sunburst finish - I've only had it a month, but have played long enough to know what a good guitar features - this is a great guitar...I'm feeling so fortunate to have one of these in my possession! I've played the Rhode Island Guilds and have owned a couple - and I believe the woods and materials are imported from back east and brought here in Southern California. I honestly can't tell the difference in terms of quality and workmanship from the older D55's. In terms of features - it has the top of everything - no cutting corners...AAA spruce top, bookmatched solid East Indian rosewood back and sides, three piece neck, abalone inlays, etc. This is a killer guitar.

One note of difference - the bridge pin is thinner and will not accomodate a Fishman Matrix II thin pickup - you will need to figure out another electronics configuration like the Baggs i-beam or Fishman rare earth soundhole pickup. I don't know why they made it thinner - the older Guilds had the wider bridge pin. Nonetheless, the thin, bone material is perfect. I installed the Fishman Rare Earth Blend pickup and it suits me fine.

This is the MAIN REASON I BOUGHT THIS GUITAR - the sound is beautiful, thick, authoritative and sweet. I play it with a medium pick and medium strings and whether I do a ballad or lay it down with a heavy, sustained set of songs - the guitar stays right along with me. The resonance lasts for days with a clear midrange and deep bass you'd expect from the rosewood.

I did a lot of research comparing the D55 to the Martin D28, Larrivee D10, Taylor 810, Tacoma DR38 - and this Guild is superior in terms of presence, resonance, sustain, and volume. I say this as a Guild enthusiast, but also as a careful shopper who didn't want to invest in something I couldn't honestly stand behind. I suspect that there are hundreds of Martin owners who look with envy at the quality and power of the Guild D55's sound and tone.

The action and playability fo this guitar is great. The action is very low - almost too low when it came to me. I replaced the lights and mediums and the action has been perfect ever since. I feel sorry for my guitar sometimes because I definitely play it hard - but the Guilds seem like one of the few guitars that can take it.

I forgot to mention to weight of this guitar - it's slightly lighter than the Rhode Island Guilds - so it's not a tank as it once was, but it's still a chunk and is considerably heavier than the Larrivees. I really like the solid feeling of these Guilds.

Oh yes, the antique sunburst finish - this is worth mentioning. Just like the pictures of the D55 on the website, this D55 has that beautiful finish (the natural look gets boring!). I have this sense of peace and joy every time I look at her.

The only negative was that the black pickguard wasn't cut perfectly round - and so a part of it covered up the nice abalone soundhole inlays.

I've owned four other Guilds and know that the guitars have been able to withstand the heavy punishment I've put them through. The dents and scratches will come with any guitar - they're ineviteable. Having said that, this Guild will serve me well for years to come and I have full confidence that this will accomplish that for which it was created - to make music.

I have a friend who works at Fender and have felt treated very well. The Fender company tends to get bad press by people who think they've gotten too big for their own good. I don't know...all I know is that this Guild is a work of art and the big transition from Westerly to Corona has proved, at least to me, that quality control was a high priority for them. It translates clearly to me and my D55!

I've been playing for over twenty years and serve as a worship pastor for a church. I'm heavily into music every week and have needed reliable tools such as the Guild to assist me and my ministry. I have found the dreadnought of my dreams and cannot see ever parting with it. I know that my beliefs forbid me from worshipping idols - I've got to be careful with this Guild D55 - it's almost divine! I can't say enough about how good it feels to own and play a great instrument. It makes what I do that much funner.

Natural finish D-55 purchased in 2000 with Gold Grover tuners. Ebony neck has stunning abolone and mother-of-pearl markers and large Guild headstock. I've played for over 30 years now and this beauty is among the best I've seen or heard.

It's heavier than other similarly sized dreadnaughts and has spectacular ringing high notes which is probably why John Denver played Guilds for many years. All I can say is that I went out looking for the 'Martin' sound and came home with a Guild because it stood up against every other guitar I played, including some high-priced vintage Martins. I'm constantly amazed by the balanced sound and the clarity of the highs without missing any of the lows.

Out of the box there were no flaws adjustment problems. Had to tighten the neck about a 1/4 turn after a month of South Florida humidity, but the neck action is still great. Added a piezo bridge pickup without any problems.

Can't speak for this particular guitar, but have a friend with exactly the same model made in the 70's and it plays and sounds just about like mine (a little yellower on top and maybe a tad warmer). It's just a solid as mine and the appointments are still in perfect shape after all these years.

Life-time warranty but can't say that I'd ever send it back to the factory since I'd rather work with a local technician. However, my friend contacted the factory about 2 years ago to check on his models serial number and thinks he must have talked to the guy who actually made his guitar...don't know about warranty support, but it sure speaks well that they keep their people around.

The only thing I wish is that Guild would make a wider neck version of this classic since it's a bit tight for fancy finger picking work. But then, my fingers have gotten wider over the years so guess I shouldn't expect the guitar to compensate for that! In any case, both Martin and Taylor have wider neck models and think Guild could learn from that. Keep the sound...just widen the neck!