mountainpix
Junior Member
I should have titled this, "What is that Guild mojo, anyway?"
I've been playing guitar for about thirty-two years. I still have my first real electric, a "cheap pawnshop special" Guild S-300A, made when I was about six years old. Over the years I've had a variety of Gibsons, Fenders, Gretsches, Japanese Epiphones, and for several years had an EVH Wolfgang. Over and over, though, I've been drawn to Guild guitars. An S-100 Reissue found it's way into the stable back around 2004, only to be let go around 2008, replaced by a 1996 Bluesbird. Recently, I acquired a Nightbird II, which is the best electric I've ever played, plus another 1996 reissue S-100, because I'd missed the old one (it's the only guitar model I've ever re-bought after selling one). The amazing thing is that after all these years, and owning several guitars by various brands (and trying out hundreds more), I have to say that my Guilds have earned the top-ranked spaces in my small collection.
When I grab a Les Paul, SG, Strat, etc., while I might like them ok, I find that they generally don't feel nearly as good or play as well as my Guilds, either right off the bat, or over time. It's partly to do with the necks. Guild necks tend to feel right in my hands, but they are also all a little different to one another, so I'm not sure what to chalk the comfort and familiarity up to (I tend to like 1-and-11/16ths medium to medium-slim necks with a radius of between 12" and 20"). Beyond that, it's just feel, tone, finish, and the stability. I find that once set up, I tend to have to do less adjustment over time with my Guilds. They are just so well built.
There's something about Guild guitars that just works for me. A certain "je ne sais quoi" perhaps?
Anyway, I think that I may have a "Guild problem." I played a Starfire III the other day...
I've been playing guitar for about thirty-two years. I still have my first real electric, a "cheap pawnshop special" Guild S-300A, made when I was about six years old. Over the years I've had a variety of Gibsons, Fenders, Gretsches, Japanese Epiphones, and for several years had an EVH Wolfgang. Over and over, though, I've been drawn to Guild guitars. An S-100 Reissue found it's way into the stable back around 2004, only to be let go around 2008, replaced by a 1996 Bluesbird. Recently, I acquired a Nightbird II, which is the best electric I've ever played, plus another 1996 reissue S-100, because I'd missed the old one (it's the only guitar model I've ever re-bought after selling one). The amazing thing is that after all these years, and owning several guitars by various brands (and trying out hundreds more), I have to say that my Guilds have earned the top-ranked spaces in my small collection.
When I grab a Les Paul, SG, Strat, etc., while I might like them ok, I find that they generally don't feel nearly as good or play as well as my Guilds, either right off the bat, or over time. It's partly to do with the necks. Guild necks tend to feel right in my hands, but they are also all a little different to one another, so I'm not sure what to chalk the comfort and familiarity up to (I tend to like 1-and-11/16ths medium to medium-slim necks with a radius of between 12" and 20"). Beyond that, it's just feel, tone, finish, and the stability. I find that once set up, I tend to have to do less adjustment over time with my Guilds. They are just so well built.
There's something about Guild guitars that just works for me. A certain "je ne sais quoi" perhaps?
Anyway, I think that I may have a "Guild problem." I played a Starfire III the other day...
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