Domestic made equivalent?

[MisterZeus]

Greetings!
My First Post here on LTG!

I recently bought my first Guild, a third-hand GAD 30RATB with an after-market k & k amp installed.
The guitar has spent some time in a pawn shop and though someone has taken a screwdriver the nut it seems to have no permanent tonal or playability damage (nor is it one of those ones with "USED" stamped on the back of the headstock)..
The upshot is that, for the price I paid for it it was a pretty good deal.

With this guitar as my introduction to the wonderful sound of Guilds I am wondering if there is a domestically-made Guild that is similar in size (orchestra-like), materials and finish (sitka top, rosewood B/S, glossy, burst and electrified) that was not made in China, but rather made in one of the legendary U.S. Guild factories?

While this is a very functional guitar w/ decent tone and playability I can't help but think a new or better cared-for (not having spent time in a pawn shop nor having been given the once-over with a screwdriver to the nut), and domestically built, Guild might be even better.

Is there such a critter produced by Guild recently or in the not-too-distant past?

Thanks in advance,

Russ

 

[chazmo]

Welcome to LTG, Russ! And, congrats on your GAD30RATB.

If I'm not mistaken, this model is based on the US-build F-30R. I'm not sure what years that model was built in the US, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to see New Hartford start making them again (they already did release a limited edition version called the GSR F-30R which is rather spectacular).

While you look around for an F-30R, you might want to look at one of the Contemporary models from Tacoma. One of them (can't recall if it was the CO-1 or CV-1) was based on the F-30 body shape. Also, I don't recall if rosewood was used.

Anyway, welcome aboard. As you'll find, there's a whole world of Guild guitars out there that, I suspect, will start beckoning.

 

[killdeer43]

Welcome, Russ.
You've come to the right place for Guild talk and/or anything else you might imagine. Lots of categories for you to pick and choose and post.

You'll like it here so stay tuned, and use an open tuning if you like, :wink:
Joe

 

[fronobulax]

Welcome to LTG, Russ!

+1

but I wouldn't be at all surprised to see New Hartford start making them again

Veer - Is there any definitive list of NH Guilds? The most important question is which models are currently in production there, but knowing which models have been made and are now "discontinued" and which models are planned, but not available yet could be helpful. I would assume that anything listed in the price list here is either a GAD, made in NH or "NOS" from Tacoma or Corona but...

 

[GardMan]

Welcome to the asylum!
Dave

 

[MisterZeus]

Thank you all for the speedy replies.
Please continue if you have input, experience or advice.

So far it looks like the CV-1 is the closest thing to my GAD 30RATB.
The F-30R is a "maybe", I think...

These, at the very least, give me some direction to go.
I prefer the idea of U.S. made guitar if possible, and as long as I don't sacrifice in tone or playability...and still in my price range (along with my with low, high-end Martin and Taylor) somewhere <$1.5k...hopefully way less than $1.5k!

Thanks again,

Russ

 

[Ridgemont]

Welcome Russ,

The last time they made the US equivalent of your GAD was in the late '90s (F30R). Like Chazmo said, looking for a Contemporary Series guitar may be a good option. My guess is than you can find a late used '90s F30R for an average of ~$1000. Keep in mind that they are short scale (24&3/4") and smaller nut (1&11/16") relative to the GAD. There is a sneaky little rumor going around that NH may start manufacturing of a F30R in the future but not many details are known. I completely understand the desire to get the "real deal" F30 as opposed to the import version. Take a look at my signature...I started our with the GAD and have recently acquired my F30 through the help of Treem (another forum member). While GADs are one of the best imports available, the tone quality tends to fluctuate quite a bit from guitar to guitar. If you get a good one, then it will very difficult for many American made equivalents to beat it.

 

[chazmo]

Welcome to LTG, Russ!

+1

but I wouldn't be at all surprised to see New Hartford start making them again

Veer - Is there any definitive list of NH Guilds? The most important question is which models are currently in production there, but knowing which models have been made and are now "discontinued" and which models are planned, but not available yet could be helpful. I would assume that anything listed in the price list here is either a GAD, made in NH or "NOS" from Tacoma or Corona but...

Hey Frono,

I think the web site is accurate these days, at least the "NEW Instruments" pull down. It even lists the recent GSR limiteds. Anything that's a GAD has GAD in the model name prefix. And, the DV Series is listed separately. So the Artist Series (currently only the Richie Havens), Traditional Series, and GSR Series are all made in NH. The pricelist... Hmm, that could have older models in it, I guess. I haven't looked at it recently.

 

[MisterZeus]

Ridgemont,

Thank you for those details. The shorter scale and narrower nut are deal breakers for me.
Fundamentally moves it from the domestic "equivalent" category to the "same only different" category.
I may just have to settle into appreciating my GAD for awhile...
There are worse things... :wink:

Thanks again,

Russ

 

[fronobulax]

Hey Frono,

I think the web site is accurate these days, at least the "NEW Instruments" pull down. It even lists the recent GSR limiteds. Anything that's a GAD has GAD in the model name prefix. And, the DV Series is listed separately. So the Artist Series (currently only the Richie Havens), Traditional Series, and GSR Series are all made in NH. The pricelist... Hmm, that could have older models in it, I guess. I haven't looked at it recently.

I think my confusion can be addressed with one question.

What is the difference between the F-30 Aragon that is listed as available and I thought (from LMG 2010) was being (or soon to be) produced in NH and the F-30R that everyone talks about as if it is not being made in NH?

 

[chazmo]

Hey Frono,

I think the web site is accurate these days, at least the "NEW Instruments" pull down. It even lists the recent GSR limiteds. Anything that's a GAD has GAD in the model name prefix. And, the DV Series is listed separately. So the Artist Series (currently only the Richie Havens), Traditional Series, and GSR Series are all made in NH. The pricelist... Hmm, that could have older models in it, I guess. I haven't looked at it recently.

I think my confusion can be addressed with one question.

What is the difference between the F-30 Aragon that is listed as available and I thought (from LMG 2010) was being (or soon to be) produced in NH and the F-30R that everyone talks about as if it is not being made in NH?

Mahogany vs. rosewood, frono.

 

[Dubbaround]

Whenever I see "NH" used to indicate where a Guild was made, I ALWAYS see "NH" and think "New Hampshire"...Naturally, I am from NH..
I wonder if I might start a new fad of calling them " Hart " guilds or perhaps "NHD"..?
I'm probably just neurotic.. :mrgreen:

 

[MisterZeus]

Ridegmont,

Your Signature says that you have the "2009" version of the guitar that I have: GAD 30R ATB.
Can you tell me how to translate the serial number so that I can determine when mine was made?
I understand that the GAD series started in 2005.
Any listing of GUILD serial number decipherings I have seen either don't go that recently (2005+) or just don't list the Chinese-made
Guilds.

Thanks one more time!

 

[Ridgemont]

Ridgemont,

Thank you for those details. The shorter scale and narrower nut are deal breakers for me.
Fundamentally moves it from the domestic "equivalent" category to the "same only different" category.
I may just have to settle into appreciating my GAD for awhile...
There are worse things... :wink:

Thanks again,

Russ

Yeah Guild has a tendency to change some specs while keeping the same name. Then check the Contemporary Series. They are long scale with a 1&3/4" inch nut. They have a bolt on neck as opposed to yours (dovetail).

 

[Ridgemont]

Ridegmont,

Your Signature says that you have the "2009" version of the guitar that I have: GAD 30R ATB.
Can you tell me how to translate the serial number so that I can determine when mine was made?
I understand that the GAD series started in 2005.
Any listing of GUILD serial number decipherings I have seen either don't go that recently (2005+) or just don't list the Chinese-made
Guilds.

Thanks one more time!

Unfortunately, I can't help you there. My current GAD was not technically purchased but sent to me directly from Guild. I originally bought a GAD30 (mahogany) brand new. Roughly 6 months later I found it had a broken brace and took it to my local Guild dealer for repair. It appears that Guild prefers not to repair GADs under warranty but replace them instead. They offered to replace mine with a GAD30R and I accepted. So they took my guitar and sent me a new one. I assume it is a 2009, but I guess it could have been sitting in a warehouse for 3 years. Other people have emailed Guild/Fender with their GAD serial #s and gotten the year.

 

[fronobulax]

Mahogany vs. rosewood, frono.

That's what I would have guessed but what was getting me confused was all the factory talk. To the extent that F-30 defines shape and dimensions, if the factory can make an F-30 Aragon then it could make a GSR F-30 or even a F-30R. So when people say the F-30R is not being made it is a materials decision and not a capability. The difference means something to me because they won't have to retool to make an F-30R.

 

[Ridgemont]

So when people say the F-30R is not being made it is a materials decision and not a capability. The difference means something to me because they won't have to retool to make an F-30R.

I assumed this was the case and why it was the next logical step in their expansion. Of course this was based on the discussions after the LMG tour.

 

[MisterZeus]

Ridgemont,

thank you anyway Interesting story.

All the best,

Russ

 

[chazmo]

Mahogany vs. rosewood, frono.

That's what I would have guessed but what was getting me confused was all the factory talk. To the extent that F-30 defines shape and dimensions, if the factory can make an F-30 Aragon then it could make a GSR F-30 or even a F-30R. So when people say the F-30R is not being made it is a materials decision and not a capability. The difference means something to me because they won't have to retool to make an F-30R.

Oh, exactly right, Frono. It's not even a materials "issue," per se (the way that, say, access to certain kinds of rosewood would be). I suspect the only reason Guild hasn't re-released it because of direct confusion with the GAD product.

I guess the only point we wanted to make to Russ was that the rosewood version hasn't been a US-built model for some time.

 

[MisterZeus]

Thanks Chazmo.
That's is exactly the type of information I was looking for.
Love da rosewood, the 1 3/4" nut, the ebony fretboard, the wood binding, the glossy finish (It ain't thick, it's just glossy!), and the bone nut and bridge...
...and the little price for all that, too! :wink:

Russ
Glad about GAD