D-50 and D-55

[KCGuildPicker]

Went with a buddy to check out a few guitars at a local shop today - as he was doing his thing, I came across a D-50 sunburst from New Hartford. This was a looker and a player for sure. Am I right to assume that the D-50 has the same specs as the D55 but without the bling? I really want a D55 but I gotta say the sunburst on the D-50 makes up for a lot. I don’t know if I can mention the actual price here but it is less than the used D-55 on reverb and on par with the D50’s. Any help with regards to similarities and/or differences between the two models would be helpful.

 

[fronobulax]

Went with a buddy to check out a few guitars at a local shop today - as he was doing his thing, I came across a D-50 sunburst from New Hartford. This was a looker and a player for sure. Am I right to assume that the D-50 has the same specs as the D55 but without the bling? I really want a D55 but I gotta say the sunburst on the D-50 makes up for a lot. I don’t know if I can mention the actual price here but it is less than the used D-55 on reverb and on par with the D50’s. Any help with regards to similarities and/or differences between the two models would be helpful.

Except in a thread where an LTG member is offering their guitar for sale, price discussions are OK.

I'd say that if you close your eyes you can't tell the difference between a D50 and a D55 but there may be subtle differences, besides bling, that I am not aware of.

Edit: That opinion no longer seems like a good or informed one but as long as it started something that yielded good answers, I'm happy.

 

[KCGuildPicker]

Thanks for the information!

 

[SFIV1967]

Am I right to assume that the D-50 has the same specs as the D55 but without the bling? Any help with regards to similarities and/or differences between the two models would be helpful.

The New Hartford made D-50 has an Adirondack top vs. the Sitka Spruce top on the D-55. The D-50 is called "Bluegrass Special" as she is supposed to be "more powerful" compared to the D-55 which is more controlled. I liked the D-50 "more" when playing both next to each other. (those I compared were also New Hartford made guitars).

D-50 in 2010 catalog:


D-55 in 2010 catalog:



Ralf

 

[KCGuildPicker]

Hmm - so Adirondack top plus the burst? I may have to rethink this! Thanks for the info.

 

[valleyguy]

The D50 and D55 are two very different guitars. The D50 has more string to string articulation, less overtones compared to the D55. I own both from this period. Of course both are marvelous. The D50 is better for flat picking and leads, the D55 sounds like a chorus of angels. You can't go wrong with either guitar.

What style do you play?

 

[rscottmurray]

how would you compare the D60?
a friend of mine has one from the late 80s and it's about the biggest and best sounding flattop I've ever played.
I recently acquired my first Guild, a D50 which I love... but man, that D60!

 

[adorshki]

Hmm - so Adirondack top plus the burst? I may have to rethink this! Thanks for the info.

Only the Tacoma and New Hartford versions of D50 got adi tops.

Prior to '69 there's a good chance a D50 would have a Brazilian rosewood body. Examples with mixed EIR/Braz sides have been seen as late as '74.

The first D55's were actually D50 Specials ordered by Tommy Smothers. They were D50's with F50 necks. After being seen on the show requests began to come in and Guild officially called it the "Television D55" in '68, listing it as a special-order only model.

Bracing is another area where differences may have existed. I've seen both models listed with scalloped braces at times, and not spec'd at others. The D50 may have been given scalloped braces at certain times only, but I suspect the D55 may have received them as standard from the beginning ('68" ). This may explain why the D50's usually described as "bold" when compared to the D55, usually described as "refined".

how would you compare the D60?
a friend of mine has one from the late 80s and it's about the biggest and best sounding flattop I've ever played.
I recently acquired my first Guild, a D50 which I love... but man, that D60!

The (first version) D60 actually replaced the D55 for a short time. There were 2 versions of the D60. The first one, flat-back rosewood body, was used by Johnny Cash. The later version was a maple archback.

 

[Bill Ashton]

I think of them as: The D50 is a flatpicking/bluegrass style guitar/the D55 is a singer-songwriter guitar, very balanced in tone and at home with either fingerpicking or flatpicking (but not bluegrass).

Hope that helps

 

[adorshki]

The D50 and D55 are two very different guitars. The D50 has more string to string articulation, less overtones compared to the D55. I own both from this period. Of course both are marvelous. The D50 is better for flat picking and leads, the D55 sounds like a chorus of angels. You can't go wrong with either guitar.

What style do you play?

It should be noted in your case if that '05 D50 is a Tacoma (which an '05 would be), it's got an adi top, compared to the sitka on the D55.

 

[Guildedagain]

The New Hartford made D-50 has an Adirondack top vs. the Sitka Spruce top on the D-55. The D-50 is called "Bluegrass Special" as she is supposed to be "more powerful" compared to the D-55 which is more controlled. I liked the D-50 "more" when playing both next to each other. (those I compared were also New Hartford made guitars).

D-50 in 2010 catalog:


D-55 in 2010 catalog:



Ralf

The price, wow, $3550 in 2010 = $4877 today.

 

[KCGuildPicker]

Thanks for all the information . . . Definitely gives me a better understanding of the two guitars. All things being equal (which of course, they are not), it looks like I maybe better suited to the D-50 as I do like Adirondack tops, and I I have long ago given up disturbing the peace with my "singing" voice! Thanks again.

 

[adorshki]

Thanks for all the information . . . Definitely gives me a better understanding of the two guitars. All things being equal (which of course, they are not), it looks like I maybe better suited to the D-50 as I do like Adirondack tops, and I I have long ago given up disturbing the peace with my "singing" voice! Thanks again.

Note New Hartford D50 Standards got sitka tops. Only the "Bluegrass Special" models got adi. "Standards" didn't get a chesterfield on the headstock, for quick visual ID.

 

[richt54]

Went with a buddy to check out a few guitars at a local shop today - as he was doing his thing, I came across a D-50 sunburst from New Hartford. This was a looker and a player for sure. Am I right to assume that the D-50 has the same specs as the D55 but without the bling? I really want a D55 but I gotta say the sunburst on the D-50 makes up for a lot. I don’t know if I can mention the actual price here but it is less than the used D-55 on reverb and on par with the D50’s. Any help with regards to similarities and/or differences between the two models would be helpful.

That’s a nice find. What condition and price? And if it is a traditional or BG Special it will have an Adi top. They are wonderful guitars.

 

[SFIV1967]

Note New Hartford D50 Standards got sitka tops. Only the "Bluegrass Special" models got adi. "Standards" didn't get a chesterfield on the headstock, for quick visual ID.

Good point Al! I always forget about the Standard series as the 2009 and 2010 catalogs didn't show them. However the 2011 catalog shows them! So @GuildEastmanGuy needs to double check which D-50 he played! (With or without Chesterfield on the headstock.)



Ralf

 

[SFIV1967]

The price, wow, $3550 in 2010 = $4877 today.

Well they got much more expensive over time, the 2014 catalog showed for the D-50 and D-55 already:



Sweetwater shows today a street price of $3,899 but a MSRP of $4,875 for a normal D-55 NAT, which was $1,000 less in 2014...

The D-55E NAT is now:

And the D-55E ATB:


Ralf

 

[SFIV1967]

how would you compare the D60?
a friend of mine has one from the late 80s and it's about the biggest and best sounding flattop I've ever played.

The (first version) D60 actually replaced the D55 for a short time. There were 2 versions of the D60. The first one, flat-back rosewood body, was used by Johnny Cash. The later version was a maple archback.

Oh yes, those snakehead D-60 Rosewood were nice! Here are nice pictures, just disregard the wrong specification of "Maple back and sides" and they took the specs from the later maple model. The text however is correct I'd say.

Guild D-60-NT For Sale

Guild D-60-NT Guitar for Sale.

rareguitargallery.com

Ralf

 

[KCGuildPicker]

The more I learn about the D-50 from these posts, the more the plot thickens. As far as the headstock goes, it did not have the Chesterfield logo. It was just the plain Guild script like on D-25's from the 1970's.

The price was 1,800 which is/was right in the middle of the current "Reverb Window" for used D-50's. The condition is another point where the plot thickens. To my eyes, there were no obvious issues. Straight neck, good saddle, bridge, action . . . No dings. To my ears, it was a typically great sounding Guild. However, for some reason the shop does not have it on it's web site (I don't know the forum's policy about naming shops, so I will leave the shop's name out.) and I didn't think to ask more questions because I was assuming I would find it on the web site once I got home. So, I don't know if the shop would say "excellent" or "very good" etc. i also did not ask many questions in the shop because it is on consignment and I am currently waiting on a few things to roll my way before I can go all in on a guitar.

 

[SFIV1967]

As far as the headstock goes, it did not have the Chesterfield logo. It was just the plain Guild script like on D-25's from the 1970's.

I wasn't sure if there were D-50 Standards in Antique Burst, but obviously there were! So they had a Sitka Spruce top like the D-55.

Guild USA D-50 Standard | Reverb

Reverb is a marketplace bringing together a wide-spanning community to buy, sell, and discuss all things music gear.

reverb.com

Ralf

 

[KCGuildPicker]

Nice - the burst on the one I played was a tad more subtle or not as bright. That said, the one you linked is a mighty proud looking guitar!