Need your help! Possible Braz from the Tacoma Factory?

[Derr5151]

Hey team, we had a friend of our shop bring in his 2005 Guild D55 to sell and from the eye it looks to be Brazilian Rosewood. He won this guitar in 2005 at Merlefest and it was said to be Brazilian Rosewood at the Raffle. Nothing on the guitar or case to note anything special from the build. I figured the tam here would know if any were ever made out of the Tacoma factory. I saw some anniversary builds from 2003 but this has none of that. This guitar will be for sale here soon, just wanted to establish a line of history if there is any.

Cheers,
Derrick

 

[chazmo]

Derrick, that guitar was built on Jan 7th, 2005, and might very well be the first production D-55 (or any Guild guitar) out of Tacoma.

That sure looks like some wild Brazilian to me. Maybe stump wood? And, that back barely looks bookmatched even! It has a lot of the characteristics of Brazilian, and in no way can I fathom that that's East Indian rosewood, in any case.

As far as I know, no Brazilian was used for any special models in 2005 or, for that matter, in Tacoma at all. As you said, the 2003 anniversary guitar was a documented use of Brazilian (IIRC), but 2005?

I'm guessing this was some flagship built by Tacoma using leftover Brazilian wood from either Corona or possibly a stash they might've had in Tacoma. I've never heard anything about this.

Very cool, regardless.

@SFIV1967 Ralf, do you know anything about this guitar.? The label is completely innocuous except for that (very) early production date for Tacoma...

 

[GGJaguar]

and might very well be the first production D-55 (or any Guild guitar) out of Tacoma.

It's not. I know of several others with lower serial numbers.

 

[chazmo]

It's not. I know of several others with lower serial numbers.

interesting! This is a mystery then.

 

[HeyMikey]

I was going to guess the same, Brazilian stump wood or mixed stump/wide grain, just from the looks of it. If it was indeed some sort a special or flagship build one-off that might make sense. Very curious to know if there is a story to this guitar. I did have a 2007 F47 Custom that had more straight grained Brazilian, so it is entirely possible they still had some reserved stock.

 

[GGJaguar]

Maybe it's "wild grain" Indian rosewood?

 

[chazmo]

I was going to guess the same, Brazilian stump wood or mixed stump/wide grain, just from the looks of it. If it was indeed some sort a special or flagship build one-off that might make sense. Very curious to know if there is a story to this guitar. I did have a 2007 F47 Custom that had more straight grained Brazilian, so it is entirely possible they still had some reserved stock.

They used Brazilian in 2007 too, Mike? Are you sure?

 

[jeffcoop]

If that's the first D55 off the Line in Tacoma, it could be understandable that they'd want to do something special. It's odd that, from the label, it seems to be "in disguise" (though it's hard to disguise that wood grain).

 

[Westerly Wood]

Is "stump" a lesser form of wood? I mean is Braz stump wood less desirable than non stump Braz?

 

[bobouz]

I would lean towards it not being Brazilian, primarily because the label gives absolutely no indication that it is. Brazilian’s rarity has been understood for decades, and builders seemingly always highlight it’s use in some way since value is significantly impacted for both the seller and the buyer.

 

[HeyMikey]

Is "stump" a lesser form of wood? I mean is Braz stump wood less desirable than non stump Braz?

My rudimentary understanding is that stump wood (from the stump area?) is visually more open and flowing compared to straight grained, but in general is considered less desirable in terms of tonal qualities. That being said, I have no doubt this is not a hard and fast rule, and there are many exceptions.

 

[HeyMikey]

If that's the first D55 off the Line in Tacoma, it could be understandable that they'd want to do something special. It's odd that, from the label, it seems to be "in disguise" (though it's hard to disguise that wood grain).

Remember that Corona had produced the 2003 50th? Anniversary D55’s made with Brazilian just a few years prior. It’s not a stretch to assume Tacoma still had a small left over stockpile.

Tacoma reportedly produced several one-off custom guitars for various purposes or persons. Here is an example built in 2008 said to be Brazilian:

2008 GUILD F-30 Special Reserve Brazilian > Guitars Acoustic | Matt Umanov Guitars

Here is a very rare opportunity to own an absolutely top, top Guild guitar, which I will call unique since as far as I know only two were ever made and the location of the other, if it even exists,...

www.gbase.com

That Umanov F30R was about identical to my 2007 F47, which had a plain label. Both were thought to be predecessors of what eventually morphed into or influenced the New Hartford GSRs.

I had my local luthier (also a builder) inspect the F47 when I left it for some work, and he said it was definitely Brazilian.

I don’t think anyone can say for sure unless they have the piece in their hands. However, I think it is entirely likely that Tacoma still had and occasionally (rarely) used Brazilian on a few special pieces.

 

[Rocky]

It's my understanding that Brazilian rosewood was cut higher on the trunk than most trees due to the wild grain at the base of the tree. Years later people harvested the stumps when demand went up.

 

[SFIV1967]

@SFIV1967 Ralf, do you know anything about this guitar.?

I don't.
But FMIC was a sponsor of Merlefest and they had always prepared a special guitar.
Donnie Wade was at Merlefest 2005 and 2006, that is all I know.

Remember that one from 2013? :

https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/new-orph-at-gc.197610/post-1821239

Ralf

 

[chazmo]

But FMIC was a sponsor of Merlefest and they had always prepared a special guitar.

Gotta be this, Ralf.

No, I didn't remember that Orpheum, but yeah it makes sense. This D-55 has no insignia that I saw.

Tacoma reportedly produced several one-off custom guitars for various purposes or persons.

Didn't remember that at all, Mike. Very cool.

 

[SFIV1967]

Didn't remember that at all, Mike. Very cool.

You posted in the thread...

https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/2008-brazilian-rw-guild-special-reserve-f30-8000-on-gbase-from-matt-umanov.190112/

Ralf

 

[Derr5151]

I am going to try my contacts over at the Fender Custom Shop, maybe they have some historical data they can pass along. Hopefully we can find the details and a new home for this one! Maybe I'll do a demo video and post it up for everyone to hear.

 

[chazmo]

Derek, ,I just approved the fellow who owns this guitar for membership here. Let's hope we can hear more from the horses' mouth.

For the record, as I said, I can't see that that's EIR on that guitar... It definitely looks like Brazilian and I'm not sure what else it'd be coming from Tacoma... Maybe cocobolo? I don't think so.

 

[Derr5151]

Derek, ,I just approved the fellow who owns this guitar for membership here. Let's hope we can hear more from the horses' mouth.

For the record, as I said, I can't see that that's EIR on that guitar... It definitely looks like Brazilian and I'm not sure what else it'd be coming from Tacoma... Maybe cocobolo? I don't think so.

Perfect, I was gong to link him into the thread so he could observe the great community we have here. Glad he's gettin in as a member!

 

[Rich Cohen]

What a lucky find. It looks BR to me.