My turn... and I'll try to be diplomatic, although I'm not nearly as articulate as these guys.
I feel the same hurt and disappointment that I think Dudley feels. I've kept quiet on specific aspects of the AG article, but since some of you are soliciting opinions, here's mine.
And I quote: Page 71, Farewell Westerly, Westward Ho! "Salvation came in 1995, when the company was purchased by Fender Musical Instruments Corporation." What salvation? If the article is referring to the influx of Fender money to keep Westerly building Guild guitars, then so be it, and they may very well have saved the line for 6 years. But it certainly wasn't the "salvation" of the brand. I think there is little doubt that immediately after the move FROM Westerly, that the quality of the product began to diminish. Did I say diminish, heck....took a screaming nose dive. Few will argue that point.
Page 71, Farewell Westerly, Westward Ho! "Rhode Island's wildly fluctuating humidity and temperature and the facilities aging machinery meant the factory would require a serious and expensive overhaul." Now they build them in Washington state. What's the humidity run up there in Tacoma Jeff? In hindsight, wouldn't have been cheaper to have retrofitted Westerly than to have fitted Corona, then bought Tacoma, and fitted both to build Guilds? :roll:
The point that hasn't been made, and what keeps getting under my skin, is that Fender moved Guild to California for one reason....to save and/or make money. They sought to consolidate production of all of their guitars in one facility. Unfortunately for them....and us, Fender's expertise was in the manufacture of solid body electrics. Why is that so hard to admit? I also suspect that Fender soon discovered that there was more to building quality acoustics than they had origionally thought. Two extremely serious business miscalculations. Why is that impossible for anyone to admit? I'm an uneducated Texas dummy, but to me, Stevie Wonder can see that.
Then, realizing their mistake, Fender purchased Tacoma. Same temperature and humidity fluctuation as Rhode Island, but I suspect the Tacoma factory is climate controlled, or at least, better controlled than Westerly.
At the risk of stepping on toes here. I've never personally cared for any Corona Guild I've played. The weekend before last, I played some Tacoma Guilds that I liked. I'm not yet convinced that the Tacomas are the guitars that Westerlys were, we won't know that for 30 or so years, but they are doing it better than they were at Corona. No offense guys, but my screen name is West R Lee.
I think all my Guild brothers here know I love them regardless of where their guitar was built. I suppose that one quote could be construed as an admission: Page 72, Farewell Westerly, Westward Ho! "Still, creating a high end acoustic factory within a mostly solidbody environment proved to be a challenge."
I've recently found an 80's model F50R in mint condition, priced cheaper than a brand new Tacoma F50R. Which would you buy? To me a no brainer.
Another issue.......advertising, unrelated to the article, but related to the issue. In another thread here at LTG, someone asks......"Where do I get Guild caps, coffee mugs, paraphenalia?" Good question! You can't find the stuff. That which you can find comes off of Ebay, mostly from sellers in Arizona that I suspect are, or were Fender employees. I'm sure they've hoarded the stuff, and are making money off of the fact that Fender doesn't market Guild. There is no better advertising than products which proudly display your name, especially when people would be willing to pay Fender to wear their caps and drink from their cups. Yet these items are virtually nonexistant. I think they've made, or are making a stab at "signature artists", like Willy Porter....what a fine talent he is. But Fender did so only after seeing the great success that Taylor has had with Doyle Dykes. I'm not a marketing genious, but give me a break. Why doesn't Fender either poopoo or get off the pot with Guild? And they spent how many million dollars to acquire Ovation? What are they going to do with Ovation? It would seem to me that they're not done with Guild yet....far from it. $100,000 for a few Guild tees, cups, caps, etc. Nurture the Willy porter thing, make a few guitar shows....but do something to enhance the visibility your product.
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/071029/20071029005828.html?.v=1
I take the AG article with a grain of salt, I see it for what it is. California, you are correct, AG is a magazine primarily geared toward new equipment, not vintage. The new equipment advertisers pay AG's bills....hence, the article. It really did make an interesting read, as does this thread.
West
