Played a $9K D55 (Brazillion) yesterday

[yettoblaster]

#1 of 50, from the Corona factory (NOS "50th Guild Anniversary"). '53 - 2003?

Awesome back and sides. Cool center stripe on the back.
In most other ways it was like most D55's, except had a gold badge on the trussrod cover.

Played and sounded great (but so does my D40, so I decided to be happy with what I already have). :wink:

$8995 may seem steep, but it comes with a hard case too. I didn't bother to ask what the "street price - to me" might be, as I can't see myself in that market even if I had won the Lottery (which ya got the same chance of winning whether you play or not, I figure).

I was already aware Guitar Showcase, Bascomb Ave., San Jose CA had this piece, but I had neglected to look in the glass case before. So when I was over there on brief business yesterday I found the door of the glass case open, so had to try her out! Naturally a store dude showed up instantly as soon as he realized someone was playing it. I was just fingerpicking with no belt buckles or zippers, so he didn't say anything. :mrgreen:

I have always loved the big G bound headstock and ebony boards on Guild's flagships, but I'd probably be less intimidated to be seen with a D50 if'n I wanted a rosewood dread! 8)

Not sure I could tell the difference between Brazillion and East Indian rosewood (in sound).

Actually, not sure my old blown ears could tell the difference in sound between my old D4-NT and the D50, but my eyes could, and I like ebony. 8)

Someday...

 

[Dubbaround]

$8995 may seem steep, but it comes with a hard case too....

LMAO!! :mrgreen:

 

[onewilyfool]

AND a free set of strings!!!

 

[adorshki]

$8995 may seem steep, but it comes with a hard case too....

LMAO!! :mrgreen:

Ditto. I can remember when it was only 5 grand, around the time I got my D40. No doubt at least 5 grand of the current price is sheer speculative profit. I don't know what they listed for new, and IIRC there were a couple of specila build tweaks (like the Bras wood), but it's all about being a limited special edition for that guitar. Too bad it aint gettin' any play, 'cause in fact I think guitars NEED to get played and opened up, I don't actually think it's good for 'em to sit around unplayed.
I don't think they'll negotiate on the price either or it would have sold years ago. I think they put more value on it for display purposes and the price is the minimum it'd take for 'em to give up what they consider to be its promotional value.

 

[West R Lee]

Not bad price for a Brazilian player guitar. It does play itself, right.....like a player piano?

Insane.

West

 

[davenumber2]

Brazilian is overrated. EIR does me just fine.

 

[yettoblaster]

...I can remember when it was only 5 grand, around the time I got my D40. No doubt at least 5 grand of the current price is sheer speculative profit. I don't know what they listed for new, and IIRC there were a couple of specila build tweaks (like the Bras wood), but it's all about being a limited special edition for that guitar. Too bad it aint gettin' any play, 'cause in fact I think guitars NEED to get played and opened up, I don't actually think it's good for 'em to sit around unplayed.
I don't think they'll negotiate on the price either or it would have sold years ago. I think they put more value on it for display purposes and the price is the minimum it'd take for 'em to give up what they consider to be its promotional value.

This one was $5K?
Wow. I think they're probably hurting enough in this economy to haggle some. They must be waitin' for a foreign tourist to fly in on their way to Vegas.

I wonder what the deal is on it? They must figure on putting it in their museam case with the $15K benedetto, et al...

 

[6L6]

I remember playing that guitar when it first arrived at Guitar Showcase. It is a beautiful piece and a tribute to the Custom Shop guys/gals who built it.

I do recall seeing the price as low as $4000 on it at one time, but there were obviously no takers. Tone wise I could hear nothing that made me want it more than the 2006 D-55 (EIR) I bought.

I think Gary is just holding onto it for his fabulous collection. He was very close friends with former Fender CEO Bill Shultz. Bill always gave Gary first shot at cool new guitars and that's how he got #1 of 50. And, as a side note, Gary is the guy who started Guitar Player Magazine. Cool guy!

For you folks coming to San Jose for any reason, if you haven't been to Guitar Showcase you need to check it out!

Home Sweet Home:

http://www.vormedia.com/images/high_plains_drifter_02.jpg

6

 

[adorshki]

This one was $5K?
Wow. I think they're probably hurting enough in this economy to haggle some. They must be waitin' for a foreign tourist to fly in on their way to Vegas. I wonder what the deal is on it? They must figure on putting it in their museam case with the $15K benedetto, et al...

I remember when the Benedetto was only $10,000.00 !! :lol: :lol: In fact I thought they DID sell it 'cause sit wasn't there last time I was in, unless it's a different one. The one I saw was blonde. The deal? As 6L6 says I don't think the intent is to actually sell a lot of those guitars. I think it's more like when Dodge Vipers first came out, they were more valuable as showroom traffic generators for the dealers who actually got one. I was at Stevens Creek Dodge when they got one of the first Vipers: $53k list and $200k dealer markup. I ain't s-----n' ya!

 

[twocorgis]

I think it's more like when Dodge Vipers first came out, they were more valuable as showroom traffic generators for the dealers who actually got one. I was at Stevens Creek Dodge when they got one of the first Vipers: $53k list and $200k dealer markup. I ain't s-----n' ya!

Pretty good for a basically POS car with bad brakes! Just ask anyone that's had one out on the track.

 

[adorshki]

I think it's more like when Dodge Vipers first came out, they were more valuable as showroom traffic generators for the dealers who actually got one. I was at Stevens Creek Dodge when they got one of the first Vipers: $53k list and $200k dealer markup. I ain't s-----n' ya!

Pretty good for a basically POS car with bad brakes! Just ask anyone that's had one out on the track.

Ugly too! And decidedly hard to see out of or even get ergonomically comfortable in. But at least it sounded like a Baja Bug.

 

[6L6]

But at least it sounded like a Baja Bug.

To me they sound more like a UPS truck. Not very inspiring in the sound department...

6

 

[adorshki]

But at least it sounded like a Baja Bug.

To me they sound more like a UPS truck. Not very inspiring in the sound department...
6

The only guy allowed to drive it around the lot or take customers for test drives was the Service Departmemt Manager. He liked to rev it up. THAT's how I realized they sound like Baja Bugs. Don't get me wrong, I think that's even more annoying than a UPS truck. :lol:

 

[twocorgis]

But at least it sounded like a Baja Bug.

To me they sound more like a UPS truck. Not very inspiring in the sound department...
6

The only guy allowed to drive it around the lot or take customers for test drives was the Service Departmemt Manager. He liked to rev it up. THAT's how I realized they sound like Baja Bugs. Don't get me wrong, I think that's even more annoying than a UPS truck. :lol:

Did it have "valve ping" like a lot of overused and abused veedub engines of the day? :lol:

 

[adorshki]

To me they sound more like a UPS truck. Not very inspiring in the sound department...
6

The only guy allowed to drive it around the lot or take customers for test drives was the Service Departmemt Manager. He liked to rev it up. THAT's how I realized they sound like Baja Bugs. Don't get me wrong, I think that's even more annoying than a UPS truck. :lol:

Did it have "valve ping" like a lot of overused and abused veedub engines of the day? :lol:

Nah, just that percussive "blat" of many tiny cylinders striving to compensate for lack of size with with an overly long stroke.... :lol: