2005 Tacoma D 55

[richardp69]

I recently bought this one from a fellow LTGer. It's a really fine sounding guitar in very good condition.

I've lost track. Can somebody tell me if a 2005 D 55 from Tacoma has a Red Spruce or a Sitka Spruce soundboard??? I don't really care either way, I'm just curious.

 

[chazmo]

Sitka, Richard. Red spruce braces, probably. Not sure about that.

 

[richardp69]

Sitka, Richard. Red spruce braces, probably. Not sure about that.

Thanks much Chaz!!!!

 

[ReevesRd]

Red Spruce or a Sitka Spruce soundboard?

The 2004 catalog says solid-select spruce top with spruce scalloped X-bracing. The 2006 catalog says AAA solid spruce top. GAD doesn't have the 2005 catalog.

Tacoma used a lot of red spruce tops. It seems that they would have used one on the D-55. The 2006 catalog says red spruce top and bracing on the D-50 and D-40. So, I'd say that you are looking at a AAA solid Sitka Spruce. Not sure about the bracing.

 

[Westerly Wood]

I find Adirondack spruce to be over powering. Too much greatness is not always great, of course depending on playing style. Sitka is nice and tight and more controlled, which might be better for recording or even on stage.

 

[valleyguy]

I have a 2005 D55 from Tacoma, a Sitka top. I also have a 2008 Tacoma D50 with Adirondack top. Each is sweet in their own way. The D55 with wonderful overtones and harmonics, the D50 is more defined and sweet. Adirondack can be overpowering, I’ve played some Martins that were just that, but Guild seems to have gotten it right.

RP69, you’ve got a nice guitar there with that D55.

 

[adorshki]

The 2004 catalog says solid-select spruce top with spruce scalloped X-bracing. The 2006 catalog says AAA solid spruce top. GAD doesn't have the 2005 catalog.

2004 catalog was still Corona. (And D55's were always AAA tops)

Tacoma used a lot of red spruce tops. It seems that they would have used one on the D-55.

Nope, sitka, as noted, as was the F50. I believe they used adi bracing on everything though, but sometimes it's only ever explicitly stated on the spec sheets as opposed to price lists/catalogs. That was the case with the Havens D40 for example, sitka top but adi bracing.
Also while reviewing just now, noticed both '05 price lists on GAD's site appear to reflect Corona production. Makes sense because Tacoma didn't actually start building guitars until July '05.

The '06 list and catalog are good for Tacoma.

The 2006 catalog says red spruce top and bracing on the D-50 and D-40. So, I'd say that you are looking at a AAA solid Sitka Spruce. Not sure about the bracing.

Those were explicitly the "Bluegrass" models, denoted by their Adi tops, and there was no sitka-topped D50 at the time, although there were 2 versions of the D40.

Thanks much Chaz!!!!

Yep, 99% sure red spruce braces but can't find confirmation right now. Google search for actual Fender spec sheet yielded crud, but sometimes sellers'd cut'n'paste 'em for their ads. A giveaway was when they included the string specs for L350's, some Tacoma sheets still showed an .025 G after they'd already switched suppliers and were using an .024.

Obscure, I know, but that was always a hot button about original L350's for me so it kind of stuck as an errata when I first saw it. Somewhere around the same time I'm sure I saw a ref that all bracing in Tacoma was adi, but as mentioned, can't confirm it at the moment.

 

[Rayk]

I find Adirondack spruce to be over powering. Too much greatness is not always great, of course depending on playing style. Sitka is nice and tight and more controlled, which might be better for recording or even on stage.

Not necessarily true . It’s all in the build ( yes you’ve heard that saying before ) but it’s true . So Adirondack can rock out when you push but it can also sing a sweet mellow song . We know that each similar piece of wood can offer , most often slightly to heavily tonal differences.

I’m going to go out on a limb by thinking that on a D55 a Adirondack top vrs a Sitka top will not be like a night and day difference simply because of every D55 I’ve heard has had a very distinct level tone between the years . Not saying there can’t be exceptions .

Of course you like as we all like certain tone so I can understand your point but what are the comparisons ? Just curious drilling you by any means . Lol

“ To much Greatness is not always great “ true that ! Adi isn’t always great sometimes it’s Sitka or redwood or cedar etc .

I’m guilty of Adirondack being my favorite top wood though but man I love the Hog tone if OM120 and I love the tone of the CV-1 Sitka and my other guitars . Lol

I’m pretty impressed with this harp guitar tone talk about a weird wood to use . What exactly is Topical Silkwood ? Lol

 

[davismanLV]

Could it be Tropical Silkwood. Unless it's used as the top, then I suppose you could call it Topical.

 

[6L6]

I did solo gigs for years with my former 2006 Tacoma-built D-55NT. I'm quite certain the top was sitka, not adi. It was a fabulous guitar and I was a fool to eventually sell it. My recent purchase of a '93 D-72NT HG helps make up for that though...

 

[chazmo]

^ You must've been goofy to sell that, 6. I know you loved that guitar.

 

[Rich Cohen]

Not necessarily true . It’s all in the build ( yes you’ve heard that saying before ) but it’s true . So Adirondack can rock out when you push but it can also sing a sweet mellow song . We know that each similar piece of wood can offer , most often slightly to heavily tonal differences.

I’m going to go out on a limb by thinking that on a D55 a Adirondack top vrs a Sitka top will not be like a night and day difference simply because of every D55 I’ve heard has had a very distinct level tone between the years . Not saying there can’t be exceptions .

Of course you like as we all like certain tone so I can understand your point but what are the comparisons ? Just curious drilling you by any means . Lol

“ To much Greatness is not always great “ true that ! Adi isn’t always great sometimes it’s Sitka or redwood or cedar etc .

I’m guilty of Adirondack being my favorite top wood though but man I love the Hog tone if OM120 and I love the tone of the CV-1 Sitka and my other guitars . Lol

I’m pretty impressed with this harp guitar tone talk about a weird wood to use . What exactly is Topical Silkwood ? Lol

I'm with Rayk on this one. The D-55 is rather consistent over time. It's just a humdinger whenever it's built.

 

[Rayk]

I'm with Rayk on this one. The D-55 is rather consistent over time. It's just a humdinger whenever it's built.

Hmm typos galore . Lol can’t fix them for some reason edit option gone

 

[fronobulax]

Hmm typos galore . Lol can’t fix them for some reason edit option gone

There is a time limit to reduce vandalism. @GAD can tell us the exact number but basically after X minutes you cannot edit your own post. This is a response to people who have gotten mad at LTG and either edited every post they made so that it contained obscenities or just edited and deleted all of the content.

 

[Rayk]

There is a time limit to reduce vandalism. @GAD can tell us the exact number but basically after X minutes you cannot edit your own post. This is a response to people who have gotten mad at LTG and either edited every post they made so that it contained obscenities or just edited and deleted all of the content.

Ah ok in my case then I just plead Ray speak . Lmao Oh and long love Ray Speak ! Hahaha