Well, I did it again...

[jphal]

Bill
I am right along with you on the contagious effect that LTG can have on you. I just picked up a Westerly '78 D-50 based upon the dialogue here on LTG, and the fact that I really wanted to have a Rosewood guitar. Can add it to the GAD 30-PCE I purchased back in June. Funny, I made it 20 years with my trusty GF-40 and now it's tucked away in it's case awaiting my attention and affection at some point in the future.

 

[valleyguy]

Congratulations. I own a GAD 30 and a D50. They are perfect compliments to each other, and very different sounding.

 

[Bill Ashton]

Well, I am glad you brought that up...

Having been so infatuated with the D55, when I broke out the GAD30 the other night
I almost said whats with this??? I bought this?

After I calmed down and took a deep breath, yeah just two different guitars...still the
same one I couldn't put down in the store...perhaps a little easier to play than the D55.
Just doesn't have that deep roar to it.

Still struggling with the medium strings, but I am determined to prevail!

In my case jphal, its my J-30 and the electrics that are feeling neglected...

 

[kyguild]

Bill,

Congrats on the D-55 . I played that one a few weeks ago when I was in MA on business. Great sounding guitar. My co-worker I was traveling with told me to "just buy it!!", but I figured I had better not, since my wife had just bought me an F-50 for Christmas.

You got a nice one there, enjoy it.

 

[ozymandias]

love the D55

i missed out on a '83 D55 a few weeks ago. but i did get a 75 D40 to make me get over the pain :shock:

 

[Bill Ashton]

Cuthbert...went back to store today and you are right, Venician cutaway ...A Martin OMAURA if I read the ticket correctly...

Kyguild, it was following your post and Chazmo's response (and directions) that I set off for Worcester originally! Thanks

There was also a beautiful, single-bound candy-apple-red G & L ASAT there on consignment...wife with me...

 

[cjd-player]

Still struggling with the medium strings, but I am determined to prevail!

Congrats on both guitars, Bill

Are you sure your D-55 has medium strings?
My Tacoma came with lights, and I believe that the Guild literature of that period recommended lights for them.

 

[Bill Ashton]

cjd, your question got me to break out a micrometer, and what my fingers were telling me was correct....013, .017, .0265, .035, .045, .056

Mine has a serial number starting with TL, so without a calendar I presume it was manufactured sometime during June of '08.

If I can get over the trauma of trying them on my Guild, I have some (horrors!) Martin SP
strings I was given by a friend that are halfway between lights and mediums.

Seems that Guild no longer markets strings anymore (I even used to use the ones in the gold box on my Telecaster back in 1968!), but you can still find Mediums and Extra Lights pretty easily...just not Lights (except for one eBay seller who thinks he has "rare" strings).

 

[chazmo]

Bill, you should definitely try lights and see how you feel about 'em. We can all recommend lots of brands and types to try.

For your D-55, I'd recommend a set of John Pearce Phosphor Bronze. Try 'em in lights, and if you want, there's an intermediate size called New Mediums which are .013, .017, .024, .032, .042, and .055".