The mysterious Guild D5 BK-E

[MrMajstyk]

Well, after years of trying to find info on this guitar, I was finally successful, so I thought I'd share it!

It is a Guild D5 BK-E. I bought it new in 97 or 98 at GC, but no one knew much about it except it was the last one left, and you could plug it into an amp or p.a. (no volume or tone controls though). They gave me a great deal, and off I went. Played it here and there, still do actually, and its a fine guitar!

However, a few years ago when I was updating my insurance, I couldn't find any info on it at all, not even thru Guild. The guitar was a complete mystery.

Then, a few days ago, I started looking again and found a posting here describing a guitar sort of like mine, a D5 with gold tuners, but without the transducer. So..I contacted Guild again, and to my surprise I received a reply within HOURS! Here's what they said:
____________________________________________________________________________

"Steve,…the D5E was an FSR (Special Run) of just 50 guitars for Guitar Center in 1997.
Basically a D4E in Black.

Model Name: D5 E
Model Number: 350-1705-(Color#)
Category: Traditional Dreadnought Guitars
Body Style: Dreadnought
Scale Length: 25 5/8"
Top: Solid Spruce Top
Bracing: Standard
Back: Arched Mahogany Back (Laminated)
Sides: Solid Mahogany Sides
Neck: Mahogany
Width at Nut: 1 11/16"
Fretboard: Rosewood
Bridge: Rosewood
Hardware: Chrome
Electronics: Fishman Power Jack
Finish: High Gloss Finish
Colors: (006) Black
Unique Features: Dot inlay
Case: Includes Standard C4500 Hardshell Case pn#3501075204 (MSRP $150.00)
U.S. MSRP: $999.99
Specs: Prices and Specifications Subject to Change Without Notice
Strings: Phosphor Bronze L350 pn# 350-0350-000, Gauges .012, .016, .025, .032, .042, .053
Source: U.S.
Introduced: 1997
Discontinued: 1997
Best Regards
Bob Willocks
Fender/ Guild Consumer Relations
__________________________________________________________________________

So, there it is...mystery solved. I just thought I would post this so that the other 49 guys don't have the same trouble I had trying to find info on this rare guitar!

--Steve

heres MY 1997 Guild D5 BK-E (one of only 50 made!)

 

[micklevanon]

Way cool. Always fun to find limited runs. And Hans now has more info for volume 2!

Thanks for the post
m

 

[hansmoust]

Well, after years of trying to find info on this guitar, I was finally successful, so I thought I'd share it!

It is a Guild D5 BK-E. I bought it new in 97 or 98 at GC, but no one knew much about it except it was the last one left, and you could plug it into an amp or p.a. (no volume or tone controls though). They gave me a great deal, and off I went. Played it here and there, still do actually, and its a fine guitar!

However, a few years ago when I was updating my insurance, I couldn't find any info on it at all, not even thru Guild. The guitar was a complete mystery.

Then, a few days ago, I started looking again and found a posting here describing a guitar sort of like mine, a D5 with gold tuners, but without the transducer.

Hello MrMajstyk,

Welcome! First thing that would help you a lot to get around on this board is learning how to use the 'search' function!

http://www.letstalkguild.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23375&p=253076&hilit=D5#p253076

and Hans now has more info for volume 2!

..........and by the way, the 'one of 50' information coming from Fender is not correct!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[MrMajstyk]

Hello Hans!

Delighted to hear from you, as you are well-regarded as THE Guild expert! Thanks for popping in on this!

Yes, I do know how to use a search function...I finally saw your posting after using the search function and NOT selecting what I thought was the logical category of "acoustic/acoustic electric" sub-forum (like we are in now!). To find your post I have to go to search...put in "D5" and NOT select a sub-category. (Which I thought was odd until I realised that the original poster didn't ask his question in this sub-category, he chose "Miscellaneous"!)

And I did mention your post in my original posting... "Then, a few days ago, I started looking again and found a posting here describing a guitar sort of like mine, a D5 with gold tuners, but without the transducer."

However, his guitar is a little different than mine. His had no transducer under the bridge and his has gold tuners, which mine do not.
You spoke of MY guitar in the last sentence of your post... "There was also a version with a Fishman Powerjack built in, but I believe that's a slightly later edition than the one that you have." And then that was all I could find about MY guitar...naturally I wanted to know more!!!

So...I'm thinking...that perhaps the D5 with the gold tuners and no jack (of your 2011 posting) were of one specialty run in 95, and that the D5 BK-E was another run of 50 for Guitar Center in 1997. And perhaps there were other specialty runs of this guitar in other years? I asked that question of Bob Willocks after receiving my first reply and I am awaiting his response.

Its just information that I think others with this guitar would like to know and I am happy to share whatever I can, as I know you do too!

Cheers!

 

[jazzmang]

..........and by the way, the 'one of 50' information coming from Fender is not correct!

:lol:

 

[hansmoust]

So...I'm thinking...that perhaps the D5 with the gold tuners and no jack (of your 2011 posting) were of one specialty run in 95, and that the D5 BK-E was another run of 50 for Guitar Center in 1997. And perhaps there were other specialty runs of this guitar in other years?

Yes, there was more than one issue of the D5 and they were different from each other, depending on the price-point they negotiated. My comment about the 'one of 50' information not being correct refers to that fact.

The 1997 issue was thought up to fill the gap between the D4, which retailed for $ 699.00 ( $ 849.00 with the transducer) and the D25, which was $ 1099.00 ( $ 1249.00 with the transducer).
However the D25 price included a hard case, which would have been an extra $ 120.00 if bought together with the D4.

The D5-BK-E package allowed them to offer an instrument with a high gloss finish that was a little closer to the D25 with a transducer, but still under a thousand dollar retail.

Obviously the 'real' price that you had to pay depended on when you would have bought the instrument and your negotiating skills!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[MrMajstyk]

Thanks Hans!

In reply to my follow-up emails, Bob Willock from Fender/Guild Consumer relations wrote:
"A little more digging shows 228 units in total in 1997. None were sold to any other retailers."
That's a TOTAL of 228 D5 BK-E's in the 1997 run. So you were right-on-the-money Hans!

Then I asked him about the earlier run of D5's, and he replied:
"There was a run of 135 in 1995/1996 of the D5,…with no electronics."

"Model Name: D5
Model Number: 350-1700-(Color#)
Category: Traditional Dreadnought Guitars
Body Style: Dreadnought
Scale Length: 25 5/8"
Top: Solid Spruce Top
Bracing: Standard
Back: Arched Mahogany Back (Laminated)
Sides: Solid Mahogany Sides
Neck: Mahogany
Width at Nut: 1 11/16"
Fretboard: Rosewood
Bridge: Rosewood
Hardware: Chrome
Electronics: None
Finish: High Gloss Finish
Colors: (006) Black
Unique Features: Dot inlay
Case: Includes Standard C4500 Hardshell Case pn#3501075204 (MSRP $150.00)
U.S. MSRP: $899.99
Options: None
Specs: Prices and Specifications Subject to Change Without Notice
Strings: Phosphor Bronze L350 pn# 350-0350-000 U.S. MSRP $10.95
Gauges .012, .016, .025, .032, .042, .053
Source: U.S.
Introduced: 1995
Discontinued: 1996
Comments: A special run of 135 commissioned by Guitar Center in 1995. Basically a D4 in Black . Serial numbers range between AD050018 to AD050187 (not sequential)"

So, all-in-all the D5 still appears to be a pretty rare guitar, and that's why there's very little information shared on the web about it. Just not enough of them out there to generate any interest.

Apparently, Guitar Center commissioned a couple of speciality runs, and like you said, it was made to fill the price-point between the D4 and D25.

So now, when the other 362 people out there with these guitars start looking for information, they'll hopefully be able to find this thread!

Thanks Hans! You ARE the man!
And thanks to Bob Willocks at Fender/Guild Consumer Relations.

 

[felix]

[/URL][/IMG]

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[SFIV1967]

Welcome to LTG felix! AD050002 seems to be a very early serial number, I am sure Hans can tell you when your D5 was made. Probably also 1995.
You didn't say anything about her, did you buy her new back in the days or used just recently?
Ralf

 

[felix]

Welcome to LTG felix! AD050002 seems to be a very early serial number, I am sure Hans can tell you when your D5 was made. Probably also 1995.
You didn't say anything about her, did you buy her new back in the days or used just recently?
Ralf

I wasn't sure how to get the pictures up or if they would even show up on the post and bam; it was posted before I could add a comment

I purchased this new from GC Lawndale CA back in the mid nineties, I know I still have the receipt some where.

I never could find anything online so was quite pleased to see this thread. As rare as they are, I actually saw one for sale on craigslist a year or so ago and that's what got me back searching.

Note the gold machine head and capstans.

 

[bigmikebike7]

Hi- new to this forum- Just bought a D5 E-BK in an auction. Serial AD400250. Some hav mentioned theirs as a D5 BK-E, but mine is labeled D5- E BK. can anyone here tell me the year it was made? Thanks- Mike

 

[plaidseason]

This makes me nostalgic for past discussions of the D4, D4G, D5, D25, D26, the D25 cutaway, and the DCE1.

 

[hansmoust]

Hi- new to this forum- Just bought a D5 E-BK in an auction. Serial AD400250. Some hav mentioned theirs as a D5 BK-E, but mine is labeled D5- E BK. can anyone here tell me the year it was made? Thanks- Mike

Hello Mike,

Welcome! Your Guild D5-E-BK was completed during the year 1997.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[bigmikebike7]

Very pleasantly surprised with the condition. Everything works, trussrod, electrics. Frets are pretty good. Gave it a good cleanup and setup and she plays great. Nice tone. Very happy with it so far.

 

[GGJaguar]

A beauty! And not a fingerprint to be found... yet.

 

[D30Man]

Very nice! Welcome and congrats, Mike!! I love a black Guild! I have never in person seen a D-5. I know they were a GRS for GC back in the day.

 

[Dhelg]

I just bought one today. Just getting to know it.

 

[gjmalcyon]

I just bought one today. Just getting to know it.

Welcome. Stick around - nice folks around here.

Post some photos - we love photos.

 

[Boneman]

I see there’s one for sale on CL in CA…