Welcome aboard, GrahamDaddy.
Yep, second that.
Wow, that's very exciting. I'm not sure what the date for your DV-4 is, but if it's Westerly then it's *at least* 17 years old or something like that. They closed Westerly in 2000-2001 if memory serves.
For sure they were shipping out completed stock all the way to December of 2001 (when my F65ce was shipped out) but they stopped new construction in September, "If
I Recall Correctly", LOL!
Graham, the s/n charts stop at or sometime in '97 and DV-4's appeared after that, that's why it's not showing up, if you were looking at this:
http://guildguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/history_of_your_guild.pdf
Those are pretty rare in fact, I think they were only made for a couple of years before Guild finally brought back the much-better recognized "D40" model name very late in the Westerly years.
Seems like Guild couldn't decide what to call their flat-backed mahogany-bodied dreadnaught for a while there, because they also offered the DV-6 and the DV-25 during that period, and the DV-25 and DV-4 both shared that "AD40xxxx" s/n sequence with the D40 when it was finally "reintroduced".
I always like to say "read between
those lines" when I see an overlap like that.
The same thing happens with D25's and D4's which are
arch-backed models that
share identical basic construction but vary a little bit in cosmetic appointments like headstock logos, finish, and binding.***
I suspect the DV-4 was originally introduced to be an economy version of the DV-6 which was same basic construction, but was dropped during that '97-'01 period..
The "DV" prefix itself stood for "Dreadnought Vintage" and there were construction upgrades associated with that prefix:
Necks and endblocks specially selected for strength and lightness, sanded sides and backs for added resonance, and AA rated sitka tops (and btw, even Guild's
standard tops were pretty impressive at the time due to their wood selection and buying methods); and depending on the model, shaved or scalloped braces.
Note that in the '01 price list the D40's showing the top and bracing details, and you had to move up to the DV52 (rosewood body) to get scalloped braces.
http://www.westerlyguildguitars.com/files/Guild2001.pdf
So all in all you got a
scream of a deal.
Personally I'd say you bought that for $200.00 and got the Epi for free.....and if it's in Very Very Very Good ("VVVG") condition or better, with a case, I'd say that's easily a $600.00 piece or more.
I consider 'em to be a D40 by another name, maybe varying only slightly in cosmetic appointments.
I'm curious if it has a full gloss finish and a Chesterfield logo on the headstock? (I don't think it will, where the D40 usually did, but I think I've only seen one actual pic of a DV-4 in ally my time here and can't recall)
In fact I only recall one other member, Plaidseason, ever mentioning owning one, from
Westerly.
The model name was reintroduced in Tacoma but your Westerly label proves it's a Westerly.
***I should also point out that late in the game, the arched back D25 and D4 were showing that same prefix too, so by then it might simply have designated 'hog-bodied dreadnoughts.