We've been building Dreadnought acoustic guitars since 1963, and our instruments are revered for their value, reliability, and tone. This robust, 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 Dreadnought guitars available. 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 for its rich, balanced sound and uncompromising specifications.
Model Name D-55 with D-TAR™ Pickup System
Model Number 385-0506-(Color #)
Category Traditional Dreadnought Guitars
Body Style Dreadnought Top Solid AAA Spruce Bracing Guild® Scalloped Red Spruce Back Solid Bookmatched Rosewood Sides Solid Rosewood Sides Bridge Ebony Neck 3-Piece Mahogany/Walnut/Mahogany
Fretboard Ebony, 12" Radius, (305 mm) Width at Nut 1-11/16 (43 mm) No. of Frets 20 Scale Length 25-5/8"
Hardware Gold Machine Heads Gotoh® 700 Series Gold-Plated Open-Back Tuners
Pickups D-TAR™ Wave-Length™ Pickup and Preamp System with Load 'N Lock™ Battery Access.
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 wont 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 instruments 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-TARs 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 Pickup Switching N/A Finish High Gloss (Nitrocellulose Lacquer)
Dovetail Neck Joint with Slim Heel,
Lightweight Laminated Birch Tail-Block,
30' Radius Top,
Natural Mother-of-Pearl and Abalone Position Inlays,
Bound Ebony Fingerboard,
Abalone Rosette,
Tortoise Shell Pickguard,
Dual Action Truss rod Case Includes C4520 Deluxe Hardshell Case, p/n 3501075207 Strings D'Addario® EXP 17 Coated Phosphor Bronze, Gauges .013 to .056
