Well, I did it again...

[Bill Ashton]

Twice in one week...'geez, I hafta get away from this forum!

As you may recall from down below, last week I picked up a GAD-30PCE. I was on a fishing trip for either a F30R or a D-50 (rosewood) and happened to stumble on the GAD first. After consulting with Chazmo on the location of a certain shop, I went there looking for a D-50, but that had been sold. They did have a Tacoma D-55, which I spent a few minutes playing. Very nice, and I found that I did not care for the F30 (non-rosewood) they had there playing-wise...neck was too small for my hand.

Place was very nice, no pressure, but apparently I must have played the D55 longer than I thought...for the shop owner came in and after comparing the D55 to several other makes,
and finding that a Martin D-41 was not the sound I had in my head, he gives me a price on the D55 which simply could not be refused. Told him I had to go home and think about it, talk to the wife, etc.,etc., but he had the hook set and was just running me out...resistance was futile!

SO...I spend a few hours comiserating over what to do. Buy from the local shop, where I consider them friends, or drive the half hour to the other, which one do I want and so on. Well, I wanted both!

Saturday I drive back to the city to look at and probably purchase the D55; owner not in, one man behind counter, store very busy. Fine, no pressure, played the D55 again a little bit and said I would call the next week. Whew! Got out of that one...then promptly drove home and to the local store, tried the GAD one more time and then bought it.

 

[Bill Ashton]

Sorry for the second post, apparently too long winded for one...

Anyway, I decided I WOULD have both. Hey, been retired almost a year, never had a summer vacation (much to my chagrin) and didn't have a proper retirement present for myself...good excuses, right? So, call the shop and yes the price on the D55 will hold...he asks me if he was drinking at the time he talked to me! Just in our phone conversation we went from needing a deposit to he'd just hold it for me...applied for his happy payment plan, 90 days-no-interest, when he called saying I was approved he joked that I could buy two...I told him to order me up an F50R...silence...then we both laughed, YES I was just joking.

Went in yesterday, and he in fact had it off the rack and in a case in the back. Once again, he left me alone (with my daughter) in that big back room full of Martins and Taylors, a couple lines of Asian acoustics...and that big 12-string Chazmo gets on about...yes it was very nice, but would have liked to try it with a pick...but I clearly was making the right decision as I really had no interest in the others. Played her for a bit again, fighting those mediums (!!) and then said com'on, lets go buy this thing!

It wasn't so much that this guitar "spoke" to me as my Gibson J-30 had 15 years ago, and the GAD did recently, but the utter quality of this thing and its feel is what did me in...and of course, his price. She has a couple shop-wear issues which I consider minor, but I guess he just wanted to move the piece and I was the next guy in the door interested. The GAD might wind up being the player, but this big girl will be the standard against which all other guitars are judged for me.

 

[krysh]

congrats. great choice(s)

 

[john_kidder]

Nice buys - when I read your first post, I ws wondering how the GAD30 could have been in any way the equivalent of a D55, but after the secod post I get your drift. Happy playing.

 

[jgmaute]

Happy Retirement!! As you well know, you've got two great presents for yourself and your friends and family (who get to live with a very happy guy to say nothing of hear you play two fine instruments). The guitars are very different and will each find their own special place in your playing routine. Good job!

 

[cuthbert]

Can we see any pics?

 

[Bill Ashton]

Thanks to all for your kind words. I have in fact opened a Photobucket account so I got some images up there, but have not had the time to look for a tutorial on this site on how to put them up. Can someone direct me to the proper place???

 

[Bill Ashton]

 

[john_kidder]

That's a pretty one.

 

[West R Lee]

:lol: Worst thing that has happened to me (or the best, depending on your perspective) was that I found my first Westerly D55. Been looking for the right price on one for a while, found it in New York. Anyway, I already had my DV72 and my wife and I both knew that if I EVER found a DV73 in fabulous shape I'd have to have it, not an issue though as I'd been looking for one for quite a while and knew I'd never find it.

Anyway, knowing I'd never find a mint DV73, and having found the D55, I bought the D55. The next day my wife finds my DV73 on Gbase. We mulled it over for quite a while (a good 5 minutes) and decided I might never again find a 73 in that condition for that price. 2 guitars in 2 days.....................we've been eating peanut butter and jelly ever since, but I sure enjoy the DV73.

West

 

[Pike]

this big girl will be the standard against which all other guitars are judged for me.

Congrats Bill, yes, D55's will do that!

 

[Scratch]

Absolutely gorgeous hunk of Guild, Bill. Kinda makes me want to retire.... again! :wink:

 

[West R Lee]

Absolutely gorgeous hunk of Guild, Bill. Kinda makes me want to retire.... again! :wink:

Yes it is.

West

 

[Bill Ashton]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Now, nothing would be better than to take the girls out on the front porch and noodle around, except its too damn hot!

I hate to sweat all over them already...

 

[JerryR]

A D55 would be a major temptation - fortunately no shops selling them around my neck of the woods or I might find that resistance is futile........ :roll: Nice buy there Bill - I'm very jealous - just enough abalone to make it really pretty without going OTT with hunks of green rock

 

[chazmo]

Hehehehe!!!! Great story, Bill. I'm glad they made you a great deal. They're good folks over at Union, and I'm very happy for you.

The D-55 from Tacoma was a winner, Bill. Congrats, and enjoy. Life is too short not to have the things you want.

This weather is bizarre though, ain't it?! Stay cool and have fun!

 

[Bill Ashton]

At the store where I bought the D55, there was a highly ornate, florentine cutaway, orchestra size Martin guitar on the rack below the Martin D-41...when the shop owner lifted up the D-41 to hand it to me, the yoke that held its neck came off and bounced off the Martin below. A Taylor which was similar, on the same rack, escaped that fate.

Note to self: when guitars are displayed in a multiple rack, let someone else take one down for you...

Westy, I must admit you beat me on the rapidity of Guild acquisitions...but then, this is not a race :lol: When I saw that beautiful maple Starfire that was posted for sale, she-who-must-be-obeyed instructed me very clearly and without any questions needed that I could not consider it.

Chaz, thanks for directing me into the city...man that intersection is brutal!

 

[chazmo]

At the store where I bought the D55, there was a highly ornate, florentine cutaway, orchestra size Martin guitar on the rack below the Martin D-41...when the shop owner lifted up the D-41 to hand it to me, the yoke that held its neck came off and bounced off the Martin below. A Taylor which was similar, on the same rack, escaped that fate.

Oh, OUCH! That was maybe their Eric Clapton model... Not sure.

Chaz, thanks for directing me into the city...man that intersection is brutal!

Isn't it bizarre? I've driven LOTS of places in this crazy-azz country, but that part of Worcester at Kelly Sq. is among the worst tangle of intersections I've ever seen. When traffic picks up, it's ridiculous because there are simply no laws to control right-of-way. Just bizarre. No rhyme and certainly no reason.

 

[cuthbert]

At the store where I bought the D55, there was a highly ornate, florentine cutaway, orchestra size Martin guitar on the rack below the Martin D-41...when the shop owner lifted up the D-41 to hand it to me, the yoke that held its neck came off and bounced off the Martin below. A Taylor which was similar, on the same rack, escaped that fate.

Mmm...never seen a florentine cutaway Martin...are you sure that it wasn't a venetian cutaway?

 

[Bill Ashton]

West, pretty sure that it was a sharp cutaway...looked like the Taylor, except it really had a lot of bling, abalone(??) binding and rosette, can't remember the fret markers. It just LOOKED like money!

Of course, always remember to look at my signature below when reading anyting I have posted...