Tacoma D-40 scouting report

[Nigel Wickwire]

I was paying a visit to my local music store and Guild dealer, yesterday to chat up their guitar tech. He wasn't back from lunch yet, so I went into their acoustic guitar room to pass the time. After I waded through a *bunch* of Taylor's, I discovered a lone D-40 hanging on the wall without so much as a GAD to keep it company.

Naturally, I took it down to look her over and noticed something interesting. The serial number was TJ271001 ( I think). That not only made this guitar a Tacoma built model, but one from 2006! Talk about stepping into a WAYBAC machine.

I played it for a bit. Like most guitars hanging in stores, she was filthy and needed new strings. She still sounded good, though and looked great. Price listed on the hang tag? $2099. One other thing I noticed was that the Adirondack top appeared measurably thicker than the Sitka top on my '08 Tacoma DV-6. Also as has been mentioned elsewhere, the grain on the D-40 was quite wide compared to the dense grain of the Sitka top.

As far as I know this D-40 would have a full warranty to whomever purchased it.

Just thought I'd pass it along.

~nw

 

[chazmo]

Yeah, that's 2006. A long time on a shelf, for sure. It seems like stores like this are the ones that really don't move much merchandise. I know a Guild dealer (or at least used to be) that as recently as a year ago still had a NOS Westerly on his shelf. These are the same guys that tend to be appointment only... I guess you have to make these kinds of choices as a retailer to define your demographics. I, apparently, am not the kind of shopper they're looking for.

That guitar would've been marked down and sold at 20% off (or way more by now) at the shops I go to. And, I don't even consider myself a hard-core bargain hunter; must be my New York upbringing.

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

A long time on a shelf, for sure. It seems like stores like this are the ones that really don't move much merchandise.

Agreed. I thought it remarkable that they'd have a guitar on the shelf for this long and not have marked it down. You'd think someone in the accounting department would be getting nervous about it :?

If the Guild dealer network were to be *adjusted*, as has been speculated about here,to suit NH factory output, a dealer like this might be on the short list to be relieved off their Guild dealership.

Just for the record, I didn't attempt to negotiate with them on the price of the D-40. They might be willing to deal, who knows. For that kind of money though, I'd probably be sending a PM to Two Dogs about now, if I were in the market.

~nw