Does Anyone Own a D-60?

[banjomike]

I really don'tnow very much about Guilds.
I remember the D-60 from the 1980s though, mostly because Johnny Cash played one so often.
I know they are more scarce than the D-55, but is there some big difference between the 2 models?
Which one is most preferred?

Tell me something about them, please. Or something about the F-65 or any of the others in that guitar series. Thanks!

 

[beecee]

Guild D-60-NT For Sale

Guild D-60-NT Guitar for Sale.

rareguitargallery.com

Seems to sum it up pretty well. Good description.

There is one for sale ar Guitar Center as well with a no fuss return policy.

You mentioned "F" 65. Not familar with that model but an F would be a different shape, orchestra or jumbo v. a dred.

EDIT: Oh my!!!!! I re-read the description in the ad....they call out maple AND rosewood back and sides. And it is Kim Walker...not Walger. Sorry but not unusual when sellers describe Guilds

 

[Stuball48]

Rare Guitar Gallary gets descriptions mixed up more often than most but I have talked personally with them and they sent requested pictures of the guitar in question. They listed the guitar in question as having maple back and sides in their descriptions but it was clearly Mahogany. But nice folks.
Tom has a D60 I think and he will have answers along with others.

 

[davismanLV]

Well, best to not generalize too much about Guild models and names. Unless you like being wrong all the time. LOL!! If you meant ME, I have a D65S. Which is a custom or limited edition of the G-45 or the Hank Williams dread, with the neck of a D55. #11 of 20 made. It's an arched-back maple dread. As far as I know, the D60 has always been a rosewood dread. And now I sit and wait patiently for me to be proven wrong. Which is no surprise..... and yes, it was a Kim Walker model. Now someone can correct me on that bit as well.....

 

[davismanLV]

And then just to prove my lack of knowledge, here's two links that prove us all wrong. Or maybe we're all right. Apparently it's both. It's no wonder we all get confused.....

D-60

D-60 (also)

 

[awagner]

There are 2 different Guild D60 models. One is a Gruhn era rosewood dred with diamond fretboard inlays, originally named the D66 and later renamed the D60, and a 1990s arched maple-backed D60, a dred with D55 appointments.

 

[beecee]

I would love to try a maple D60/66

 

[Stuball48]

Tom:
My apology for subtracting 5 from your D65. I will do a little research next time.
Both guitars are beautiful.

 

[FNG]

I would love to try a maple D60/66

1985 Guild D64 Amber Designed by George Gruhn & Kim Walker | Reverb

This was the first Guild D64 built in 1985 in Westerly, Rhode Island . According to Serial Numbers- 1985 began with SN KC100051. This model was designed by George Gruhn and Kim Walker hoping to combine attributes of their favorite Martin and Gibsons! Incredible 5A figured maple back, sides,...

reverb.com

 

[Stagefright]

I have a Gruhn era D60 rosewood dred.

 

[Stuball48]

I have a Gruhn era D60 rosewood dred.

Beauty Stagefright

 

[GGJaguar]

Nice! Those notched diamond inlays make the Gruhn era guitars unique.

 

[GAD]

I have one. Actually I don’t remember if it’s a D60 or a D66. Oy.

 

[GGJaguar]

Actually I don’t remember if...

I'd laugh, but I do that with my G&Ls, especially with features. I just pulled one from the case and totally forgot that it had a vibrato tailpiece. Oy, is right.

 

[banjomike]

Wow- thanks, folks!
All the info is very much appreciated. I've been a player for a long time, and I really enjoy learning more about good guitars I've overlooked these days, much more than talking about other guitars that are very familiar to me.

Guilds are still pretty hard to find in my neck of the woods. They're around, but they seldom come up for sale, and few dealers and others seem to know very much about them. This forum and Gad's blog are real treasure troves for someone like me.

 

[banjomike]

I have one. Actually I don’t remember if it’s a D60 or a D66. Oy.

Hi,GAD...
The only dreadnought I saw on your blog was a D46, which was a very interesting guitar to me; swamp ash isn't normally even thought of in the acoustic guitar world as a body wood.
I sure admire your thorough reviews on your blog. Really great guitars are always a combination of many small elements that have come together in just the right proportions. Understanding the small details really helps understanding the basic nature of the guitars.

But it's not surprising that Guild would try the wood out on some guitars. The company has done that once in a while, it seems- no one but Guild ever used pear for body wood either.

...and why was I not surprised to learn there was a Hank Williams model that used maple for the body? Hank's favorite guitar was one he didn't own; Lefty Frizell's Gibson J-200. Hank played that guitar any time he had the chance to use it, and Lefty always let him willingly. Apparently, they were good friends, as Lefty also let Hank borrow the guitar for some recording sessions.
All of Hank's own guitars were dreadnoughts, not jumbos, and they all had mahogany or rosewood bodies. That Guild would make him a maple guitar makes sense, considering Guild's commotion to Merle Travis at that time.
Those country cats all hung together pretty tightly in the 1950s.

 

[beecee]

I have a Gruhn era D60 rosewood dred.

Now that's a burst!!!

 

[banjomike]

Now that's a burst!!!

Yes it is!

 

[banjomike]

Well, I found a very clean-looking D60 on eBay, an internet joint I swore I would never use again 20 years ago, got the seller to knock off $1,000 off the asking price, and tripped the trigger.

I think this is the very first time in my life when my cash changed hands before I've played the guitar. And I broke two of my strongest self-imposed limits; this Guild will cost me more than any other guitar I've ever purchased, and I used eBay to buy it.

There were 30 others looking at it, so I was quite surprised the seller took my offer, but I was also surprised at the massive amount of GAS that guitar gave me. I just never get the syndrome any more, and I've always been content to pass up an instrument I thought was too expensive.

It's supposed to arrive pretty quickly- probably in 4-5 days, and I'm now worried about it being shipped in such cold weather, but I know how to avoid weather-checks, and I'm as patient as a rock, so letting it warm up before I see it won't be a problem.

I'll post afterward and let you all know what my first impressions are. No returns, so I hope it isn't busted up on arrival. I can handle anything else.

This Guild D60 dreadnought acoustic guitar was made in the Guild's Westerly, Rho | eBay

This Guild D60 dreadnought acoustic guitar was made in the Guild's Westerly, Rhode Island factory. Rosewood back and sides,Mahogany neck,Solid Spruce Top, this dreadnought has a full and loud tone, but with out all the mud and "woofiness" that a lot of other dreadnoughts can have.

www.ebay.com

 

[GAD]

I have one. Actually I don’t remember if it’s a D60 or a D66. Oy.

I'd laugh, but I do that with my G&Ls, especially with features. I just pulled one from the case and totally forgot that it had a vibrato tailpiece. Oy, is right.

I just looked. It’s a D66.