Need your help! Possible Braz from the Tacoma Factory?
- Thread starter Derr5151
- Start date
Hi, Randy here, the owner of the D55 in question. I’ve enjoyed the commentary—learning a lot here.
My wife won the guitar in the raffle at Merlefest in 2005. They made a big deal about the Brazilian rosewood and valued the guitar at $5000—a standard D55 at that time sold for $2500.
I have sent a request to a friend at Merlefest to see if we can track down a record of the raffle items. Will post my findings if and when.
My wife won the guitar in the raffle at Merlefest in 2005. They made a big deal about the Brazilian rosewood and valued the guitar at $5000—a standard D55 at that time sold for $2500.
I have sent a request to a friend at Merlefest to see if we can track down a record of the raffle items. Will post my findings if and when.
Welcome to LTG, Randall!!!!! Any pictures or info you can post about that cool D-55 would be nice to see.
Westerly Wood
Venerated Member
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What are the dark marks in the Braz?
That's mineral deposits in the wood, Woody. Typical of Brazilian.
What are the dark marks in the Braz?
Westerly Wood
Venerated Member
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I was going to say termite homes.
I don't think so, Woody. But, I'm not 100% sure about that. That and some green streaks are pretty tell-tale for Brazilian. Having said that, there's plenty of Braz out there that doesn't have that.
Thanks! Derrick has the guitar right now, and I think he posted a handful of pictures.
West R Lee
Venerated Member
Call the wood scratch/sniffer! It's beautiful!
West
West
I really appreciate the input from this group. The guitar is posted for sale for $5500 at
www.casinoguitars.com
More pictures available at the site.
FYI, in spite of the comments here to the contrary, MerleFest put this in their raffle in 2005 saying that it was a special edition made especially for the MerleFest raffle with Brazilian rosewood back and sides, hence their valuation at that time of $5000. It plays like a dream with a big bottom end. In excellent condition overall. I'm selling it because arthritis has made it very difficult for me to play at all. Someone should be enjoying this guitar. I certainly have!
2005 Guild D55 with Brazilian Rosewood
FYI, in spite of the comments here to the contrary, MerleFest put this in their raffle in 2005 saying that it was a special edition made especially for the MerleFest raffle with Brazilian rosewood back and sides, hence their valuation at that time of $5000. It plays like a dream with a big bottom end. In excellent condition overall. I'm selling it because arthritis has made it very difficult for me to play at all. Someone should be enjoying this guitar. I certainly have!
Thanks for the follow-up, Randall! Good luck with the sale!
I still have my Bourgeois Country Boy, which doesn't sound as big as the Guild, but it is a bit smaller and somewhat easier to play. As for Arthur, I find that rubbing Voltaren on my arthritic left thumb helps quite a bit when I sit down to play.
Oh, that's tough when it's in your hands, Randy. Good luck!
adorshki
Reverential Member
I was one of those early skeptics, but the 2 earlier known F47's (even though one was a Corona Masterbuilt model) and the new-to-me F30 Brazilian have convinced me yours is legit. For one thing all 3 Tacomas (including yours) share the lack of any ID of Brazilian rosewood, almost like "you had to be there or be an expert" to know it's Braz. I kinda like it from that perspective.
And who knows, maybe they were already seeing issues with Brazilian and proving a guitar's wood wasn't illegally harvested? Maybe they just wanted to keep it on the down low?
(Not saying I think it was illegal Braz, just that providing proof might have been burdensome from a paperwork point of view, and potentially only relevant in international border crossings. )
Hey, Randall, your ad with Casino Guitars doesn't mention that this special guitar was built for Merlefest or that it was definitely one of the very first guitars to come from the Tacoma factory. I think that would help you provide provenance/history to the sale and maybe justify the high price. I suspect people are going to question the Brazilian business and the price when looking at it. Since it's a one-off, it might be good to raise interest especially considering the rarity.
mavuser
Enlightened Member
why can't I win any raffles like that???
None of Guild's Brazillian RW was "illegally harvested." Guild still had plenty of Brazillian RW at least until the NH factory closed in 2013, and they probably still have it. What they have not had since probably the late 60's or early 70's...is permits to use or sell any of it. To get those permits is outlandishly expensive, that is why when you see a brand new Brazillian Martin or something like that, it can be $10,000 or more (sky is the limit I suppose). Now when Fender bought the Guild brand...Fender had the money for the permits. That is why Guild buit an occasional Brazillian RW acoustic following the Fender takeover. I am curious if the raffle at Merlefest was for some sort of charity- if so, it may have been easier for Fender to a) obtain those permits, and b) write off the whole entire thing as a tax write off. The back on the subject guitar in this thread sure looks Brazillian to me, in the photo posted here at LTG, but I would *definitely post better photos on that casino guitars website. The photos posted there now are way too dark, especially given the Brazillian situation, and asking price. but even for any guitar, people want to see some nice photos, that really show the grain. You are going to need a better light source, or best bet the outdoor sunlight. good luck!
None of Guild's Brazillian RW was "illegally harvested." Guild still had plenty of Brazillian RW at least until the NH factory closed in 2013, and they probably still have it. What they have not had since probably the late 60's or early 70's...is permits to use or sell any of it. To get those permits is outlandishly expensive, that is why when you see a brand new Brazillian Martin or something like that, it can be $10,000 or more (sky is the limit I suppose). Now when Fender bought the Guild brand...Fender had the money for the permits. That is why Guild buit an occasional Brazillian RW acoustic following the Fender takeover. I am curious if the raffle at Merlefest was for some sort of charity- if so, it may have been easier for Fender to a) obtain those permits, and b) write off the whole entire thing as a tax write off. The back on the subject guitar in this thread sure looks Brazillian to me, in the photo posted here at LTG, but I would *definitely post better photos on that casino guitars website. The photos posted there now are way too dark, especially given the Brazillian situation, and asking price. but even for any guitar, people want to see some nice photos, that really show the grain. You are going to need a better light source, or best bet the outdoor sunlight. good luck!