How long have you owned the D-50: According to the serial number, mine is a 1980. I got it in 1981 as a college graduation gift from my mother. I wanted a Martin, but the guy at the guitar shop (Focuss II in Commack, Long Island) showed me the Guild and after playing it I never even gave the Martin a second thought. Plus, Rhode Island wasn't toooo far from Long Island in case it needed repair.
Year & specific model: 1980 D50 Antique Sunburst
Purchased new or used: New
Price paid: $850, with the case
Owners rate 1 (least appreciated) to 10 (most appreciated) in following categories with comments as desired:
Build quality: 10. What else??? It is made to be played!
Looks: 10. Of course. It is a beautiful guitar and I will never get rid of it!
Projection: 10. It's awesome, especially with new strings
Bass: 10. It has a deep tone and holds the sound.
Mids: 10.
Highs: 10, esepcially with new strings. It has a very bright sound
Sustain: 10. See "Bass"
Playability/comfort: 10. I have been playing it since 1981 and it fits me like a glove.
Dependability: I have been playing it since 1981. Need I say any more?
Fingerstyle: I am getting better at playing more Lindsey Buckingham style. I also like blues leads
Flatpick: The way I have mostly played over the years, when not...
...Strumming
Condition (Mint/Excellent/Good/Fair/Poor): Excellent. My D50 is in nearly new condition. Very slight wear to the top finish where my arm rests. There are no dents or scratches and the finish is awesome: top, back, sides, and neck. There is some yellowing of the white trim, but that is normal for a guitar of this age and gives it some character. The only "issue" is on the back of the neck in the curve near the body. It happened when I had the frets worked on (from the guys clamp). It really pissed me off, but it has zero effect on the playability or sound, plus it is not noticable unless pointed out.
Favorite Strings (one selection only): I have mostly used Guild Phosphor Bronze (light guage) strings, but now they are hard to come by and I have switched to D'Addario Phosphor Bronze medium guage strings - fantastic strings! I'm going back to light guage strings on my next change.
Would you buy another if lost/sold: Without hesitation. I recently bought an Epiphone Masterbilt acoustic/electric as a second guitar. Nice guitar, but not a Guild. But then, nothing else is a Guild!
Overall Assessment: I love my Guild D50! It is a nice, all solid, well-made and heavy guitar.
Most Appreciated Characteristic: The sound that comes out of the round hole on the top. Also Made in USA.
Least Appreciated: The times when I am not playing it.
Favorite D-50 Story/Moment: My wife likes it when I play for her while she is taking a bath
Other observations/comments: When looking for a second acoustic guitar recently, I could not find ANYTHING that came close to my Guild. I hope to buy another "Made in USA" Guild in the near future. I'm really not interested in GAD's or any other Asian-made Guitar. I know - the Epi is made in Asia, but that will go when the next Guild comes. I almost bought a Taylor, but in the $600-$700 price range, the Taylor's are Asian-made and constructed of laminates. I wanted a solid construction, not a laminate guitar and the Epi met my critereia (except the Made in USA one). It sounds surpisingly good (but not a Guild).