From three models introduced in 1954—the F-30 Aragon, F-40 Valencia and F-50 Navarre—Guild founded an acoustic empire. The famous D-40 Bluegrass Jubilee and D-50 Bluegrass Special dreadnoughts were introduced in 1963 (at the insistence of Guild veteran Mark Dronge, Al's son), and Guild's flagship dreadnought, the D-55, first appeared in 1968. These guitars and many other Guild six- and 12-string acoustic flat-tops enjoyed widespread use and acclaim from artists and amateurs alike well into the ensuing decades.
The Guild D55 Acoustic Guitar
We’ve been building dreadnought acoustic guitars since 1963, and our instruments are revered for their value, reliability, tone, responsiveness, outstanding projection and sustain. This full-bodied, high-volume body style was developed with an emphasis on string-to-string balance, so that treble, mid and bass registers project evenly. The result is one of the most musically versatile dreadnoughts anywhere.
Our flagship model, the D-55, was introduced in 1968 as a special order-only item, but the response was so strong that within a few years it became a regular production model. The D-55 is prized by players worldwide, from George Strait to Johnny Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls). This model features a spruce top, rosewood back and sides, a three-piece mahogany neck, ebony bridge and fingerboard with mother of pearl and abalone block position inlays, “G”-shield logo and the D-TAR® Wave-Length™/Load and Lock pickup system. Available in Natural (821), Antique Burst (837) and Ice Tea Burst (850).
Guild D55 Acoustic Guitar with DTAR Specifications
Body: Traditional Dreadnought
Top: Solid AAA Spruce
Bracing: Scalloped
Back: Solid Book Matched Rosewood
Sides: Solid Rosewood
Bridge: Ebony
Neck: 3-Piece Mahogany/Maple/Mahogany
Fretboard: Ebony (12" Radius)
Width at Nut: 1-11/16"
No. of Frets: 20
Scale Length: 25 5/8"
Hardware: Gold
Machine Heads: Grover® Rotomatic™ Gold Plated Die-cast Tuners
Pickups: D-TAR™ Wave-Length™ Pickup and Preamp System with Load 'N Lock™ Battery Access.
Pickup Switching: N/A
Finish: High Gloss (Nitro-cellulose Lacquer)
Colors: (821) Natural, (837) Antique Burst
Unique Features:
Natural Mother-of-Pearl and Abalone Position Inlays,
Bound Ebony Fingerboard,
Abalone Rosette,
Tortoise Shell Pickguard
Case: Includes C4520 Deluxe Hardshell Case, p/n 3501075207
Strings: Replace with Guild L350 Phosphor Bronze, p/n 3500350000
Gauges .012, .016, .025, .032, .042, .053
DTAR Pick Up System Explained
The Wave-Length combines a thin, piezo under-saddle transducer with an 18v, low-noise, high input impedance preamp, to create a system with twice the dynamic range of typical 9v systems. The 18v preamp is powered by two “AA” batteries and a voltage converter. With 18 volts, the signal has more headroom, so hard strumming won’t distort as easily. The preamp also has an input for a second source, like a magnetic pickup or a soundboard transducer.
Two adjustable trim pots, one for low frequency shelving and one for high frequency shelving, allow you to fine tune and “set and forget” the bass and treble frequencies to optimize the Wave-Length for your instrument’s size and shape; enabling you transparently amplify the natural timbre of your acoustic guitar with minimal coloration. The soundhole mounted Volume and Tone controls give the ultimate in final control your tonal palette.
But perhaps the coolest part of the system is D-TAR’s new Load ‘N Lock system, which allows quick and easy “AA” batteries changes. Just unscrew the endpin “collar,” remove the old batteries, and pop in the new ones. A quarter turn of the collar is all you need to lock them in place. Controls Volume and Tone Controls Surface Mounted Inside the Soundhole, Two Adjustable Trim Pots in the Preamp, One Low Frequency Shelving and One High Frequency Shelving
Guild D55 Acoustic Guitar with DTAR - Related Links
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