Fender sells Guild.

[Brad Little]

By the way, I noticed a slight difference in the wording of the CMG press release vs. the FMIC press release: "Upon finalization of the sale, Cordoba Music Group is expected to begin production of some models in Cordoba’s factory in Oxnard".
Now all we need to see in the next 6 month how many "some" are and which. They have to build up from scratch in Oxnard, that will take many month...
Ralf

Much like when they started in New Hartford. What was first, D-55 and then I think the F-512? Probably do the same sort of thing. I would guess Guild will be a major focus, as steel string guitars outsell nylon, unlike for FMIC where acoustics were always second fiddle, or maybe second guitar, to solid body electrics.

 

[Watasha]

A Tour of the Córdoba Guitars US Shop: (Sorry, just noticed that Toni already posted this link)
http://www.acousticguitar.com/News-...March-9/A-Tour-of-the-Cordoba-Guitars-US-Shop

Here is the deal:
The President of Cordoba Music Group, Jonathan Thomas, is the son of Larry Thomas, retired CEO of FMIC.
At least from my point of view, Larry Thomas liked Guild.

Ralf

Interesting.

I think this is awesome. As I said on AGF, Guild will be the crown jewel of the Cordoba group & they will undoubtedly have far more patience than our friends at FMIC. Sounds like the Cordoba guys are STOKED to have Guild...that's a welcome change wouldn't you say?

 

[jeffcoop]

Geez, I step away from LTG for about five hours, and all heck breaks loose.

I'm cautiously optimistic. It's clear that Fender really had no idea what to do with Guild--the New Hartford guitars were great, but Fender repeatedly fumbled their marketing and sale. If Guild had stayed within FMIC, it's easy to think that the brand would have followed either the Hamer path (oblivion) or the Ovation path (import only).

My only exposure to Cordoba's product was playing an inexpensive, Chinese-built uke at Guitar Center. The're a relatively young company and have a minimal track record when it comes to building in the US. But as others have noted, buying Guild would seem to be a big deal for them; they wouldn't do it if they didn't have plans. I'm cautiously optimistic.

 

[jcwu]

The worst they could do is screw it up and .... then we will all have more stuff to talk about!

Now THERE is a winning attitude!!

 

[john_m]

I thought about this earlier. There's a local music store here in my country that carries Cordoba guitars. Hopefully, they start selling Guilds (both GAD and US) soon, as well. The only known acoustic guitar brands that the store sells are Cordoba and Alvarez.

If it happens, it won't be the first time that a store here in the Philippines will carry Guilds. The local exclusive distributor of Fender instruments carried the GAD line a while back. They must have pulled them out cos of low sales.

 

[archiestone]

 

[FloridaGull]

Hopefully, Cordoba will be a better "brand steward" than FMIC was...

 

[fronobulax]

"I find Kenny Hill, who spends a couple days each month overseeing the work of the four luthiers in the shop. He shows me some of the equipment he has arranged for the project. “This one’s like a Rube Goldberg machine,” he says of a wood-bending apparatus he’s fashioned to bend the sides of the guitars, heated by a pair of 300-watt light bulbs."

At LMG I we saw the side bending machines that had been designed and built in house. I thought they were neat and to this day I remain impressed. I noted that what Collings used seemed more "primitive" and labor intensive. I guess side bending is something that everyone thinks they can do better themselves.

On the plus side, we won't have FMIC to kick around as much any more.

I note the press release refers to the sale of the brand and related assets. That does leave the fate of the electrics up in the air. I have seen deals where some of the related assets are then sold off and I can imagine the Newark Street line and a license to put Guild on the headstock being sold to someone else or perhaps even something that FMIC retained as part of the sale. See IBM selling their laptop line to Lenovo for precedent. For something like 3 to 5 years the Lenovo owned and built product was allowed to display IBM.

In the interest of stirring things up I note that what was sold were the brand and certain assets. What about liabilities? Did all Guilds just lose their warranty or do people still have to deal with FMIC or is Cordoba in a position to "do the right thing" on a case by case basis to protect the reputation of the brand?

 

[billydlight]

This guy should have bought it

 

[powerwagonjohn]

This is a lot to digest. I agree, the warranty issue was one of the things I thought of too. I just hope I don't need any work on my GSR Starfire in the future, if I do it will apparently come out of my pocket. I have a very good local shop so if the boys at New Hartford can't work on it I know someone who I trust. I am glad I supported Guild when I could and hope the future is bright for the brand. I am done with fenders for now. I guess that is why I bought a new ES-345. Thanks John

 

[alpep]

as I understand the x fmic ceo larry thomas' son owns cordoba

 

[Westerly Wood]

Oxnard is where Larrivee US operations reside. Not too shabby.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Best news I have heard all day. Cordoba looks like a great fit vs mighty Fender. Definitely saving up for a Cordoba guild.

 

[Westerly Wood]

i'd say to give them a chance. Who knows? This could improve things for the brand. I've played some Cordoba classical guitar that I thought were nice.

totally. it's a surprising move and one that I am very pleased with and I find it encouraging for Guild. i would love to see the list of models they will be building in Oxnard.

 

[killdeer43]

Can't wait to get my hands on an arched-back, Oxnard D25. layful:

Joe

 

[fronobulax]

as I understand the x fmic ceo larry thomas' son owns cordoba

I think that was confirmed in a press release or a post elsewhere. (Too many threads on this subject but I'm not quite ready to merge them). Probably good news because Larry Thomas seemed to genuinely like Guild, according to reports. Like Father, like Son?

 

[griehund]

Look for the sales as FMIC Guilds get dumped. Jeez, after all those production changes at NH, are the new overlords going to be able to keep up the quality?

Last I heard there were still "hundreds" (don't know what that means) of guitars hanging in NH. ????????

 

[griehund]

Smooth Corinthian leather.

 

[TJNY]

It all comes down to who they bring in from the old company and if they keep the standard up. Time will tell and someone will be able to say "I told you so" and someone will be able to say "I was wrong."

 

[steverok]

Gotta admit ... "Oxnard Guild" sounds funny.