Does Guild have a custom shop?

[kokotele]

Does Guild have a custom shop? I don't see any mention of it on their site.

I was up late last night daydreaming about guitars, and found myself at the Martin website building my custom model. (Which totaled about $9k for what I thought was a moderate selection of options!)

 

[fronobulax]

I don't think so, or at least not yet. At LMG 2010 the question was answered in terms of special orders. They hope to be able to offer the ability to mix and match from existing production to provide customization. In other words, pick a body size and shape they are already tooled for, a wood they already have access to, a neck profile that they are already making and so forth, and they will make you a guitar. That said, I believe it is an interest, but not a priority. They were not sure how to "offer" the service and really did not want to offer it until production had ramped up and they were able to meet existing demand and orders.

 

[chazmo]

The only thing I'd add to frono's reply is that there used to be a custom shop in Nashville, and they did some of their own guitars as well as some custom mods to Westerly-built guitars. After Westerly was closed, I don't think Guild had a custom shop anymore (and still doesn't).

These days, I *think* the folks who do the repair center in Nashville are the same folks that used to be involved in the custom shop. I am not sure about this, though, nor do I know whether it's actually the same facility.

 

[devellis]

Actually, Martin doesn't have a custom shop. Custom orders are built on the regular line. As the guitar progresses, it's got tags on it to alert workers at various stations about the modifications they should incorporate as part of the production process.

 

[alpep]

I am rather sure they can build whatever you want in new hartford

contact a cooperative dealer and find out

 

[kokotele]

Actually, Martin doesn't have a custom shop. Custom orders are built on the regular line. As the guitar progresses, it's got tags on it to alert workers at various stations about the modifications they should incorporate as part of the production process.

Are you sure about this? I toured the Martin factory a couple of years ago and could have sworn that they had a separate spot on the factory floor where they did the custom work, and that it was near the repairs dept.

If anyone's interested, here's the photo album from my tour:

http://picasaweb.google.com/emgleason/M ... directlink

 

[fronobulax]

How are we defining custom shop?

I was thinking "custom shop" was where they build items that are not in the "normal" catalog or production. By that definition, using factory tooling on different (than the catalog) woods makes a custom shop. But it sounds like a custom shop has to be a completely separate facility, at least in a logical sense.

AFAIK what had been the Guild Custom Shop in Nashville is now a Fender asset and not exclusively Guild. Perhaps relevant, the folks in New Hartford would like to be the facility responsible for Guild warranty work but have no idea how soon that might happen. As an industrial process having warranty work done at the factory provides valuable feedback for tweaking the production processes.

 

[alpep]

if they take a custom order with your specifications then they are a custom shop

 

[Rockinb23]

A JF-55 with an Adirondack Spruce top and a 1 3/4" nut width sounds about right too me. I know now I guess it would be a F50R.

 

[fronobulax]

if they take a custom order with your specifications then they are a custom shop

That's what I was thinking but quote below suggests a different definition that includes both specs and the place where it was made.

Actually, Martin doesn't have a custom shop. Custom orders are built on the regular line. As the guitar progresses, it's got tags on it to alert workers at various stations about the modifications they should incorporate as part of the production process.

 

[chazmo]

I agree with Al on the definition. It's simply a question of whether they take custom orders (in my opinion). That said, I don't think New Hartford is taking custom orders, Al. Am I wrong about that? I have not seen or heard of any besides the GSR models.

 

[kokotele]

I think we're getting a little ahead of ourselves with trying to define terminology; I think that's best left to people actually in the industry.

Besides, the essence of the question wasn't "Do they have a special place where they only make special guitars?" it was "Do they take custom orders on guitars like Martin or Fender do?"

But I guess the answer is no on both counts, which is a shame because sometime in the future I'll be wanting a custom acoustic and it would be nice to have the option of going with Guild. I guess I could always gear up my shop and learn to make acoustics too

 

[Ian]

A JF-55 with an Adirondack Spruce top and a 1 3/4" nut width sounds about right too me. I know now I guess it would be a F50R.

Does the F50R have an Adi top ? Just wondering cos I just got a '77 and the grain on the top does seem to be wider spaced than the grain on my 00 D55 (Which is Sitka )

cheers, Ian

 

[fronobulax]

I asked for definitions because your question wasn't clear, at least after several folks answered.

I would answer the second question

"Do they take custom orders on guitars like Martin or Fender do?"

as Maybe not No.

First, the folks at NH want to be able to accept and fill certain types of custom orders. At LMG 2010 they weren't sure how they were going to accomplish that but they want the answer to become Yes. Second, I find alpep to be a credible source when he talks about the dealer side of things and when he says

contact a cooperative dealer and find out

I figure it is worth a phone call. Finally, if enough folks ask, maybe your custom specs will appear as a Guild Special Run (GSR). :wink:

 

[chazmo]

A JF-55 with an Adirondack Spruce top and a 1 3/4" nut width sounds about right too me. I know now I guess it would be a F50R.

Does the F50R have an Adi top ? Just wondering cos I just got a '77 and the grain on the top does seem to be wider spaced than the grain on my 00 D55 (Which is Sitka )

cheers, Ian

Nope, Sitka spruce top, Ian. All years, I think. Recently, they started using red spruce bracing, but not for the soundboard.

 

[adorshki]

I think we're getting a little ahead of ourselves with trying to define terminology; I think that's best left to people actually in the industry.

Yeah, it sounds like it means whatever a given maker means. There WAS a dedicated Guld Custom shop for while, which did become what is now Fender's Nashville repair facility, which explains why there're questions here about how the term is being defined.

Besides, the essence of the question wasn't "Do they have a special place where they only make special guitars?" it was "Do they take custom orders on guitars like Martin or Fender do?" But I guess the answer is no on both counts, which is a shame because sometime in the future I'll be wanting a custom acoustic and it would be nice to have the option of going with Guild.

I think Frono summed it up ("not yet"). Even though he endorsed Alpep's credibility regarding dealer issues, I see nothing on Guild's site to indicate they're ready to start accepting "Special construction orders" yet, and I suspect that's still a way down the road, for exactly the reasons Frono mentioned.
Conversely, special construction ordering is a time-honored Guild tradition. They actually used to print a special order form. I see them trying to retain or re-introduce other time-honored traditions, so I would expect them to offer it again. Hopefully by the time you're getting ready to actually "Do it".