I really love the M-20's sound because I'm into warm finger picking right now.
See, there's that personal preference thing!
Personally Cordoba isn't off to a good start. I don't know Guilds history like many here, and I'm new to Guild, but what I do know is that's a new owner and factory, and my M-20 had major QC issues as posted in the photos I shared. Then not sharing that they're bolting necks...it's just not a cool start.
Yep you are definitely not alone.
Several folks have mentioned
other issues about
service that have "turned them off" , and as the incidents go on I'm struggling to keep an open mind myself.
I also didn't like that I couldn't find one (affordable, other than D-55) model on their site that uses an ebony fretboard. I know ebony is rare right now, but I'd take imperfect ebony with discolorations in the wood over rosewood. It would be a nice option.
I think I'm repeating myself, but to be fair, Guild
did traditionally reserve ebony for its highest end models, even before scarcity issues.
I think at least part of it is that not only was it a bit more costly even back in the '90's but it's more difficult to work with as well, so labor cost goes up somewhat too. All those ebony necks typically get the block inlays and get bound as well, and even "railroad tracks", the inlay stripes next to edges of the fretboard:
It seems in general the trend in acoustic guitars is less specs for more money...I guess this is "hidden inflation" at work. At least with US guitars.
Yeah, personally I can't stomach Martin "stratabond" necks, and I understand they even offer composite-bodied guitars which I've read are expected to have a very short life span.
I think a lot of us are hoping that Cordoba will at least maintain most if not all of the traditions us geezers love and at least make the "good stuff"
available for those who can come up with the scratch.
Made in China. That can't last.
The economics of guitars is interesting right now.
No it can't and yes it is.
I remember when I got my D25, I had learned the the Japanese were buying up most of the prime American wood, so one of my rationales was that I'd better get an American guitar (which was non-negotiable) while there was still decent wood in 'em.
When I got my D40 it was because I'd seen the MIC GAD series in the spring '04 price list and I figured I's better get an American made Guild
while I still could!!
Fortunately time has rendered both those fears unfounded even though prices have of course gone up, I just hope it stays that way for another 20 years or more.
When New Hartford was struggling to get up to speed and Fender was trying to justify a border-line "boutique" pricing model,
it was often said that the biggest competition for new Guilds was used ones.
It's probably still true. They represent extremely good value for the price.
But there are some of us who really get off on being an original owner.
(See my sig, LOL!!)