richly harmonic
Member
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2014
- Messages
- 118
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Hello Everyone,
I'm currently new to the forum. I've passed through this site many times before I decided to sign up:redface-new: The sound of Filtertrons, Dynasonics, and Guild Mini Humbuckers have always captivated and mesmerized me (but of course it's much more than just the pickups):friendly_wink:
Needless to say, I'm excited to be here!
...Well, I'm planning to get a Guild Starfire III (Newark Street series). I currently work and live abroad in China, but I've read recently that Cordoba has taken over Guild. Because of this, local music stores in most major Chinese cities (Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beijing) have stopped selling Guild electric guitars. Just only sell acoustics. Even online websites such as Taobao, sellers there no longer carry Guild electric guitars.
I've spoken with a Guild distributor spokesman from a store called GuitarCube that is based in Beijing. They have already exhibited the new Guild NS electric guitars in a recent Muikmesse over in Shanghai. According to the president of GuitarCube, he said that because of the recent takeover by Cordoba, they are still unfamiliar with Guild electric guitars being in the Chinese market, and it may take a while for major local stores to begin selling the Guilds afterwards. I may even have to wait until at the end of the year or beginning of next year to really see major stores carry the Newarks Series again.
Firstly: I'm not exactly sure when local stores will sell the Newarks Series again, the other concern is the price point (since imports into China are taxed heavily with duties and customs fees/taxes), as compared to the street price of new Starfires in the U.S. In China, the price of a new Starfire III (and other import guitars for that matter) is at least the same as the MSRP of Guild in the States, and not the street price as offered on Musiciansfriend, Music123, Sam Ash, etc.
Often times, I think the higher price point is worth the wait, as I don't typically take frequent vacation trips back to the states (visiting friends, family, etc.). But when I think about buying a guitar based on just price alone, it could be worth it to pay the extra airfare and dining expenses while visiting back in the states while searching for a Guild there. I guess it just depends on what matters most to myself. Spend more on imports, or spend more on airfare and dining, but buying the guitar at a cheaper price.
I mean if I'm going to pay $1,200 to $1,400 USD worth of roundtrip airfare to and fro the States, as well as incurring another 300 to 500 dollars (modestly) of dining or "incidental" expenses, and bringing that extra 800-1000 USD for a new Guild or any Guild, I'm looking at almost 3 grand worth of trip expenses, if not maybe even more. So at this point, it could be worth it for me to buy the Guild at a higher price point (i.e. USD $1,600), locally. I agree that's a bit steep, but...:grumpy:
Secondly: I would like to know if anyone knows if Cordoba is still working on the bridge pickup issue? Supposedly the neck pickups on all Guild Starfires are period-correct, but are the bridge pickups still "underwound"? If so, should I look into these guys on eBay...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Guild-Starfire-Pickup-Upgrade-Service-/121445211173?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1c46b2dc25
Or do you think that would be a waste of time and money?
If this is the case, should I wait much later until Cordoba/Guild corrects the issue?
Thirdly: on the other hand, I could always turn to the used/second-hand or vintage market, but accessibility and availability on eBay or Craigslist is an issue for me at the present. I currently don't have a bank linked up to my eBay account, so it may be difficult for me in the mean time to buy from eBay. This is because all Chinese banks are not compatible with PayPal, as they only use Union Pay cards. I may have to make a trip back the states next year to get a new U.S. bank account, while visiting family and friends.
Also, it's not like most Craislist or eBay sellers are willing to ship items overseas, even if the buyer is willing to pay extra for shipping and customs/duties, etc. So that could be another possible "hard place" or "rock".
Anyhow, I'd be grateful for any advice, views, experiences, and what you think so far about the new Starfires.
Many thanks, and looking forward to your replies soon.
Best,
RH
P.S. I currently play a custom-made Strat-parts-caster, and need at least one hollow-body to my ever so spartan collection (two guitars...LOL).:adoration: ... and later to be added... a Seagull Coastline Folk acoustic...and a Mergilli ME Verb-Trem Unit...and a tape echo...and and...
I'm currently new to the forum. I've passed through this site many times before I decided to sign up:redface-new: The sound of Filtertrons, Dynasonics, and Guild Mini Humbuckers have always captivated and mesmerized me (but of course it's much more than just the pickups):friendly_wink:
Needless to say, I'm excited to be here!
...Well, I'm planning to get a Guild Starfire III (Newark Street series). I currently work and live abroad in China, but I've read recently that Cordoba has taken over Guild. Because of this, local music stores in most major Chinese cities (Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beijing) have stopped selling Guild electric guitars. Just only sell acoustics. Even online websites such as Taobao, sellers there no longer carry Guild electric guitars.
I've spoken with a Guild distributor spokesman from a store called GuitarCube that is based in Beijing. They have already exhibited the new Guild NS electric guitars in a recent Muikmesse over in Shanghai. According to the president of GuitarCube, he said that because of the recent takeover by Cordoba, they are still unfamiliar with Guild electric guitars being in the Chinese market, and it may take a while for major local stores to begin selling the Guilds afterwards. I may even have to wait until at the end of the year or beginning of next year to really see major stores carry the Newarks Series again.
Firstly: I'm not exactly sure when local stores will sell the Newarks Series again, the other concern is the price point (since imports into China are taxed heavily with duties and customs fees/taxes), as compared to the street price of new Starfires in the U.S. In China, the price of a new Starfire III (and other import guitars for that matter) is at least the same as the MSRP of Guild in the States, and not the street price as offered on Musiciansfriend, Music123, Sam Ash, etc.
Often times, I think the higher price point is worth the wait, as I don't typically take frequent vacation trips back to the states (visiting friends, family, etc.). But when I think about buying a guitar based on just price alone, it could be worth it to pay the extra airfare and dining expenses while visiting back in the states while searching for a Guild there. I guess it just depends on what matters most to myself. Spend more on imports, or spend more on airfare and dining, but buying the guitar at a cheaper price.
I mean if I'm going to pay $1,200 to $1,400 USD worth of roundtrip airfare to and fro the States, as well as incurring another 300 to 500 dollars (modestly) of dining or "incidental" expenses, and bringing that extra 800-1000 USD for a new Guild or any Guild, I'm looking at almost 3 grand worth of trip expenses, if not maybe even more. So at this point, it could be worth it for me to buy the Guild at a higher price point (i.e. USD $1,600), locally. I agree that's a bit steep, but...:grumpy:
Secondly: I would like to know if anyone knows if Cordoba is still working on the bridge pickup issue? Supposedly the neck pickups on all Guild Starfires are period-correct, but are the bridge pickups still "underwound"? If so, should I look into these guys on eBay...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Guild-Starfire-Pickup-Upgrade-Service-/121445211173?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1c46b2dc25
Or do you think that would be a waste of time and money?
If this is the case, should I wait much later until Cordoba/Guild corrects the issue?
Thirdly: on the other hand, I could always turn to the used/second-hand or vintage market, but accessibility and availability on eBay or Craigslist is an issue for me at the present. I currently don't have a bank linked up to my eBay account, so it may be difficult for me in the mean time to buy from eBay. This is because all Chinese banks are not compatible with PayPal, as they only use Union Pay cards. I may have to make a trip back the states next year to get a new U.S. bank account, while visiting family and friends.
Also, it's not like most Craislist or eBay sellers are willing to ship items overseas, even if the buyer is willing to pay extra for shipping and customs/duties, etc. So that could be another possible "hard place" or "rock".
Anyhow, I'd be grateful for any advice, views, experiences, and what you think so far about the new Starfires.
Many thanks, and looking forward to your replies soon.
Best,
RH
P.S. I currently play a custom-made Strat-parts-caster, and need at least one hollow-body to my ever so spartan collection (two guitars...LOL).:adoration: ... and later to be added... a Seagull Coastline Folk acoustic...and a Mergilli ME Verb-Trem Unit...and a tape echo...and and...