Guild GAD Guitar History

[saintjb]

What year did the Guild GAD line come into the family, particularly the GAD 30r? Were any of these guitars ever made in the US? Have they always been made oversees? I have a fairly old one, at least it looks that way from the condition. The problem I have is that the inside label has been removed. If it was always made oversees was there a US made model that it was copied from?

Thanks
JB

 

[jazzmang]

Yes, all GADs were manufactured overseas, if I'm not mistaken.

They've been around for a few years, if not a bit more.

 

[chazmo]

Between 2005 and 2006 was the introduction of the Chinese-made GAD lines, JB. "GAD" was invented as a name for these guitars (i.e., there were no GADs before this).

Not sure when the GAD30 was brought online.

Yes, many of the GAD models are copies of the American-made predecessors. There are significant differences though which vary according to the model.

 

[hansmoust]

What year did the Guild GAD line come into the family, particularly the GAD 30r?

Hello JB,

The GAD line was introduced at the beginning of 2004. The GAD-30R was added to the line halfway the year 2005.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[saintjb]

Thanks to all

 

[Bill Ashton]

Hans, have you been able to work out any information as to serial number/dating schemes for the GAD series?

 

[jgmaute]

Here a thread about that from a while back GAD Serial #s and Date made I emailed customer service through the Guild site and received an answer about my GAD rather quickly. Still haven't been able to find a chart, list, rhyme, or reason to the GAD serial #s. joan

 

[Bill Ashton]

Thanks Joan, that was an interesting thread...

 

[Bikerdoc]

So then; what ARE the differences between, uhhhhhh the GAD-50 and the D-50 for example?


Peace

 

[Bill Ashton]

Doc, quite a difference, and the list that follows is because I think you are asking a reasonable question and I am not trying to be a smart a--...this is what I have found on comparing the specs on a brand new pair...

GAD50 vs D50

Sitka top vs Red Spruce (Adirondack?)
25 1/2" scale, 16" radius vs 25 5/8" scale, 12" radius
Rosewood fingerboard vs Ebony fingerboard
Grover Rotomatic tuners vs Gotoh (Waverly-like) tuners
Poly finish vs Nitro finish
"Snowflake" markers vs pearl dots
D'Addario EJ16 strings vs D'Addario EXP 17 strings

When I bought my D55 (looking for a D50) there was a GAD50 hanging there, resplendent in its Antique-Sunburst, but I didn't play it. Perhaps Chazmo has and can enumerate on this further?

 

[chazmo]

Doc, quite a difference, and the list that follows is because I think you are asking a reasonable question and I am not trying to be a smart a--...this is what I have found on comparing the specs on a brand new pair...

GAD50 vs D50

Sitka top vs Red Spruce (Adirondack?)
25 1/2" scale, 16" radius vs 25 5/8" scale, 12" radius
Rosewood fingerboard vs Ebony fingerboard
Grover Rotomatic tuners vs Gotoh (Waverly-like) tuners
Poly finish vs Nitro finish
"Snowflake" markers vs pearl dots
D'Addario EJ16 strings vs D'Addario EXP 17 strings

When I bought my D55 (looking for a D50) there was a GAD50 hanging there, resplendent in its Antique-Sunburst, but I didn't play it. Perhaps Chazmo has and can enumerate on this further?

Hey Bill... I'm not sure if I ever have or not, but next time I'm at Union Music I'll have to give it a shot. I've been a real fan of the USA-made D-50 which has a very powerful sound.

 

[Bill Ashton]

Took a swing by our favorite music store in Worcester, MA today. The only American Guild I saw was (Chazmo's) F512. They did have two dreadnaught-sized GAD pieces, both cutaways, the GAD 40 and 50 I think...not bad, but sort of underwhelming having purchased a D55. Very nice, like a Yamaha 720 series guitar. Cannot recall the prices, but I seem to recall they were heavily discounted from list. Did not see the DV4 or DV6. There was also a GAD series F30 that I do not recall being there in the past, as well as a black one...GADF40?

There is also a nice flamed GAD jumbo, in a light 'burst...GADJF30 ?...seemed more like a mini-jumbo to me, again nice like higher end Yamaha.

Did not touch the F512...muuust remain strrronggggg...ah, thats it, I am "saving it" for Chaz...

 

[chazmo]

Bill,

I bought my F-512 from them a few years ago after it'd been on the rack for about a year. It finally went on the 20% off clearance rack and that's when I took it home!

That F-512 that's there now played just like it should when I tried it a few months ago... I studied it carefully in case Bill (Andromeda) was interested, but he passed on it. Most distressingly, someone had taken a pick to it and put light gouges in the bass side of the soundboard. I was bummed out to see it. The acoustic room there is such a wonderful place to pick out a guitar, but clearly someone had abused the privilege.

This guitar was one of the last produced by Tacoma. It has the single truss-rod configuration with flanking carbon rods in the neck. This type of neck has become popular with some luthiers. I don't know yet if New Hartford has preserved that change or whether they went back to the traditional dual truss-rod config.

My only point... I bet you could name your price on that guitar. I'm sure they'd love to move it. If you keep your eye on it, as we start to get near October, I'll bet it hits the clearance rack soon. My F-512 remains the guitar I love most to play in my collection.

 

[Bill Ashton]

...muuusssst ressissstttt.....

 

[Bill Ashton]

Bump to the top.

Rereading my June '09 issue of UK's Guitar and Bass Magazine, there is a review for a cute little parlor guitar, the Hudson Mayfly, seemingly a clone of the Martin 00-style.

http://www.cranesmusicstore.com/hudsonm ... -1042.html

The ending of the first paragraph of the review states, "Both these series are made in the same Chinese factory as Guild's highly-regarded GAD series."