Those images of Drednut's DV-52 burst reminded me that I have been remiss in the review I had promised last month....
Guild DV-62 SB HG
A Review
Well I have played/lived with this guitar for several months now, and I thought a review might be in order. I will try to keep it short, [who am I kidding] as there has been so much said already about this particular Vintage line of dreads, there will be few surprises.
The search started over a year ago when I first bought “The Guitar of Kelly Joe Phelps” as an instructional tool. [It is great by the way, if you like open tuning fingerstyle stuff that is kind of folk-bluesy]
KELLY JOE PHELPS
KJP plays a burst DV-52 throughout that DVD and it sounds great, so that got me lusting after one. I had of course read all the great reviews of the 52 series over the years on the ole’ Fender/Guild forum, and always wanted to add one to my household. But, now I had the jones for a burst. Let me tell you, they are NOT easy to find. I saw a total of one on ebay in about a year and a half, and of course, I was away from home, and someone used the BIN for $900 and it was gone. I emailed the buyer after several months [maybe someone here?] and he said he was not going to part with it anytime soon…so no buyer’s remorse. I kept looking, and looking.
This past year I found a ’94 Sunburst DV-62 and decided to jump on it sight unseen [except for great photos which you can see later]. It was a consignment guitar, and I lobbed an offer into the dealer, and the seller agreed to my offer. It arrived and has simply blown me away everyday since.
Some details:
It is in EXC condition overall. Straight-edge test puts it right on top edge of bridge as it should. Burst is GORGEOUS!...On par with the best Collings/Bourgeois burst I have seen. Some small spots of bear-claw figure in the top add a very unique touch. Rosewood is absolutely top grade in appearance. Herringbone purfling and rosette is lovely [I don’t care for abalone at all]. After a couple of months of play, I had my luthier add a bone saddle and nut and do a set up specifically for my playing style. I also added new ebony pins, which I think look better than the white plastic ones it came with. The only thing I would change is the somewhat sticky gloss lacquer on the back of neck. I may try to tame that with some 0000 steel wool.
Sound:
It was a great sounding dread when it arrived. Now with the addition of the bone set up, it is even better. I highly recommend it for your Guilds. This is just the smoothest, gutsiest, most balanced dread I have ever owned, and really on par with anything I have played. Each guitar has its own personality, so I would not say it is better than others…But in a very unique way, that really hits me somewhere inside, this guitar’s tone does it for me like no other. I know that you have all read the gushing reviews of the DV series, but they hold true for me. These are special guitars in every way.
The bone set up gave the guitar a more solid ‘integrity’ of tone. I wouldn’t say it changed the tone very much, but it just got more solid and smooth. The trebles were a tad ‘thin’ when I played it with real force, and the bone has rectified that nicely. The guitar is wonderfully balanced, has a great, strong midrange personality, and that Guild Rosewood piano-type delivery. Not too much boom on the low end, just firm and present. Someone here mentioned the “metallic click” that most RW guitars seem to have in the trebles, and as he mentioned, that click is not present in the DV. Smooth, and strong across the board with great depth to the tone. Open G on this DV sounds like God singing in the shower.
One Final Note:
I am a singer-songwriter type of guy. I play mostly as accompaniment to my voice. This guitar is wonderfully full at low volumes, which I love, and is THE BEST guitar I have ever played with a capo. I know you real players might not use a capo much, but for me, it is used quite a bit. I use it a lot to change the key of a song to fit my range, or take it into a chord progression that is easier for me to play while singing. This guitar just loses nothing in tone when capoed. I have taken it up as high as the seventh fret and it just keeps giving out lush tone.
So overall, I could not be happier with my purchase. This is a great accompaniment instrument, and like all Guilds, is build to last. A tad heavy, yes, but I think that contributes greatly to its huge tone and sustain. It sounds great, plays great, and looks great; the trifecta!
Here is one teaser photo for you and a link to the complete slideshow.
Michael
DV-62 AB Slideshow
Guild DV-62 SB HG
A Review
Well I have played/lived with this guitar for several months now, and I thought a review might be in order. I will try to keep it short, [who am I kidding] as there has been so much said already about this particular Vintage line of dreads, there will be few surprises.
The search started over a year ago when I first bought “The Guitar of Kelly Joe Phelps” as an instructional tool. [It is great by the way, if you like open tuning fingerstyle stuff that is kind of folk-bluesy]
KELLY JOE PHELPS
KJP plays a burst DV-52 throughout that DVD and it sounds great, so that got me lusting after one. I had of course read all the great reviews of the 52 series over the years on the ole’ Fender/Guild forum, and always wanted to add one to my household. But, now I had the jones for a burst. Let me tell you, they are NOT easy to find. I saw a total of one on ebay in about a year and a half, and of course, I was away from home, and someone used the BIN for $900 and it was gone. I emailed the buyer after several months [maybe someone here?] and he said he was not going to part with it anytime soon…so no buyer’s remorse. I kept looking, and looking.
This past year I found a ’94 Sunburst DV-62 and decided to jump on it sight unseen [except for great photos which you can see later]. It was a consignment guitar, and I lobbed an offer into the dealer, and the seller agreed to my offer. It arrived and has simply blown me away everyday since.
Some details:
It is in EXC condition overall. Straight-edge test puts it right on top edge of bridge as it should. Burst is GORGEOUS!...On par with the best Collings/Bourgeois burst I have seen. Some small spots of bear-claw figure in the top add a very unique touch. Rosewood is absolutely top grade in appearance. Herringbone purfling and rosette is lovely [I don’t care for abalone at all]. After a couple of months of play, I had my luthier add a bone saddle and nut and do a set up specifically for my playing style. I also added new ebony pins, which I think look better than the white plastic ones it came with. The only thing I would change is the somewhat sticky gloss lacquer on the back of neck. I may try to tame that with some 0000 steel wool.
Sound:
It was a great sounding dread when it arrived. Now with the addition of the bone set up, it is even better. I highly recommend it for your Guilds. This is just the smoothest, gutsiest, most balanced dread I have ever owned, and really on par with anything I have played. Each guitar has its own personality, so I would not say it is better than others…But in a very unique way, that really hits me somewhere inside, this guitar’s tone does it for me like no other. I know that you have all read the gushing reviews of the DV series, but they hold true for me. These are special guitars in every way.
The bone set up gave the guitar a more solid ‘integrity’ of tone. I wouldn’t say it changed the tone very much, but it just got more solid and smooth. The trebles were a tad ‘thin’ when I played it with real force, and the bone has rectified that nicely. The guitar is wonderfully balanced, has a great, strong midrange personality, and that Guild Rosewood piano-type delivery. Not too much boom on the low end, just firm and present. Someone here mentioned the “metallic click” that most RW guitars seem to have in the trebles, and as he mentioned, that click is not present in the DV. Smooth, and strong across the board with great depth to the tone. Open G on this DV sounds like God singing in the shower.
One Final Note:
I am a singer-songwriter type of guy. I play mostly as accompaniment to my voice. This guitar is wonderfully full at low volumes, which I love, and is THE BEST guitar I have ever played with a capo. I know you real players might not use a capo much, but for me, it is used quite a bit. I use it a lot to change the key of a song to fit my range, or take it into a chord progression that is easier for me to play while singing. This guitar just loses nothing in tone when capoed. I have taken it up as high as the seventh fret and it just keeps giving out lush tone.
So overall, I could not be happier with my purchase. This is a great accompaniment instrument, and like all Guilds, is build to last. A tad heavy, yes, but I think that contributes greatly to its huge tone and sustain. It sounds great, plays great, and looks great; the trifecta!
Here is one teaser photo for you and a link to the complete slideshow.
Michael
DV-62 AB Slideshow
