NGD 1995 D-55

[Br1ck]

I have had four very good techs look at my Texan. It has a pronounced ski jump from the body joint to the sound hole. Gets buzzy from the 12th fret. Consensus was, if you have other guitars,I do, leave it alone. My mandolin developed a hump after about two years. It is a common thing. I leveled the frets on that one myself. Heck it was a pice of cake since I built the thing.

 

[twocorgis]

Thank you that's definitely something to consider. As it is now, it's okay as long as I stay 12th fret or lower. The neck angle itself looks about right w straight edge and it certainly plays fine except for upper 13th + frets. I might take it somewhere I'm pretty close to Merritt island where the westerly plant worker is but I've never been there before

Definitely take it to Tom Jacobs if he's anywhere near, or even if he isn't. He'd be the best man for the job for sure.

 

[milhous1978]

I might reach out to him. Hopefully he isn't too busy w a long wait to see

 

[milhous1978]

I have had four very good techs look at my Texan. It has a pronounced ski jump from the body joint to the sound hole. Gets buzzy from the 12th fret. Consensus was, if you have other guitars,I do, leave it alone. My mandolin developed a hump after about two years. It is a common thing. I leveled the frets on that one myself. Heck it was a pice of cake since I built the thing.

Yeah quite a few guitars develop that ski jump. Every time I've brought that problem to a guitar tech they've always leveled upper frets. I had that w a 1993 F512 brought it to Mouradian (well known Boston area) and he leveled frets and it was perfect. Liek you said, other techs said "just leave it alone, especially on a 12 string you don't play up there anyways"
Mouradian didn't say anything like that, he just fixed it. I always liked that he just did it without questioning it.

 

[MLBob]

Looks like a great D 55. If you don't play way up the neck, a fret level up there should do the trick.
Beautiful rosewood on that back. Enjoy!

 

[Boomstick]

Wow, nice score! That thing looks brand new! (Are you sure it's a 97? lol)

 

[Curlington]

Very nice

 

[Boneman]

HNGD! Good looking D55 with that black pickguard

 

[jciampa]

My brother in-law's 1997 D-55 is one of the best guitars I've ever played. I prefer it quite a bit over his D-18V.

 

[milhous1978]

It is actually a 1995.

***UPDATE!!****:

After much deliberation, I decided to return this one back to GC. I really was torn because:

A. It sounds really good
B. The price was extremely good
C. I always wanted a Westerly D55

But, after having it for a 5 days, I noticed some red flags that I am really quite embarrassed I didn't check for in my haste and excitement.

It has a very visible belly and there is bridge lift on both corners.
Also had the upper frets buzz/deadness that I discussed earlier.


Instead of getting involved in possible laundry list of repairs I decided to return it. Someone will probably scoop this up fast, because of the price. I don't think the GC I had it shipped from in Arizona had it even a full day.

THEN I decided to revisit that 1977 Guild F50 that I had originally returned to them. The tech must have fixed something because all of the problems that were there when I first played it were now gone.
I think he put a new saddle on it and maybe some other adjustments.
I played it for 45 minutes just to make sure I still wanted it. I did and now it's home w me!!

 

[GGJaguar]

I played it for 45 minutes just to make sure I still wanted it. I did and now it's home w me!!

Woohoo, another NGD report forthcoming! Congrats!

 

[wileypickett]

Just threw this together real quick. Playing in upper registers like past 12th I realized there is significant dead spots due to hump where neck meets body. .probably just needs a fret level on that upper reg kind of a bummer but not too worrisome

If you have a luthier near you with a Plek machine, consider having it Plek'd.

I was skeptical, but was a believer after having my guitar done.

Unlike a fret level, the Plek machine only removes material from the frets (or portions of frets) that need it.

The secret of the PLEK machine - Strange Guitarworks

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