adorshki
Reverential Member
It just hit me, I think you may have "put your finger on it" so to speak. :lol:F30 said:
They have remembered the old "word of mouth" advertising philosophy, and in such a specialized niche, it's very powerful! 8)
Guild the underdog - why?
- Thread starter Emilio
- Start date
They have remembered the old "word of mouth" advertising philosophy, and in such a specialized niche, it's very powerful! 8)
Certainly works when they can get their hands on it and hear and feel for themselves.
Guild, the best kept secret in the guitar industry
Guild, the best kept secret in the guitar industry
F30 said:Certainly works when they can get their hands on it and hear and feel for themselves.
Guild, the best kept secret in the guitar industry
It's not that it's such a secret... it's just that folks are pretty wary out there.
Oh, and in case I was misinterpreted earlier, I do feel strongly that Guild was mishandled for many years by its owners, but I also am extremely optimistic that Guild's current home in New Hartford is destined for greatness.
I think I'll fade out this evening and go grab "Connie" off the stand!
I've been setting up, building, rebuilding, fixing, modifying guitars for years and I have to tell you that I don't see alot of Guilds.
For many different reasons but mostly because I see alot of Taylors, Martins, Gibsons, etc., for the reasons stated before.
In fact they are probably the least of the guitars that come through my shop. So when I went out on a wim and bought a new Guild off the internet and it was because of you guys here :mrgreen: LMG clips, recent purchases, and post about the New Hartford Guilds.
I've come to realize over the years that I really like the 000/OM size guitars, so I targeted the Guild F30's. I had my heart set on the F30 Aragon but ended up with the F30R - really glad I did.
But now that I have the F30R I'm looking for maybe an F30 or F30 Aragon......Probably New Hartford because I'm very impressed with the one I got. Go with what you know.. you know the story. We'll see.
These new Guilds need to get out there where people can try them - that's what will prove their excellence.
Not everyone is willing to take a chance and buy online.
For many different reasons but mostly because I see alot of Taylors, Martins, Gibsons, etc., for the reasons stated before.
In fact they are probably the least of the guitars that come through my shop. So when I went out on a wim and bought a new Guild off the internet and it was because of you guys here :mrgreen: LMG clips, recent purchases, and post about the New Hartford Guilds.
I've come to realize over the years that I really like the 000/OM size guitars, so I targeted the Guild F30's. I had my heart set on the F30 Aragon but ended up with the F30R - really glad I did.
But now that I have the F30R I'm looking for maybe an F30 or F30 Aragon......Probably New Hartford because I'm very impressed with the one I got. Go with what you know.. you know the story. We'll see.
These new Guilds need to get out there where people can try them - that's what will prove their excellence.
Not everyone is willing to take a chance and buy online.
adorshki
Reverential Member
I agree that's probably the single biggest hurdle.F30 said:
On the other hand they're slowly trying to fix THAT problem too. One method is in the way the warranty is offered, for example: ONLY through an AUTHORIZED dealer. And a lot the ones they've signed up don't play the heavily discounted internet sales game. They're starting to "get" that they don't NEED to 'cause they're not trying to beat a Guitar Center price. That Guilds are no longer like Hondas and Toyotas in terms of being mass produced. That they can AFFORD to SELL them, like JTE talked about. All that is coming together along with more and more advertising now that Hartford's hitting it's stride.
They CAN become a status symbol, not by being mass produced, but by being hard to get.
Just like you said: "Wow, it's a Guild! How'd you get ahold of one of those?" and "I've only ever heard about 'em. I really want to try one" When I bought my D25 I still had to explain to people what a Guild really was. But only people who didn't already know about guitars.
And the serious players won't just plunk down money until they really have tried everything they wanted to try first.
And the Guild'll still be a bargain compared to the "Big Boys"
OK, SOAPBOX IS OPEN AGAIN! :lol:
They're going to have to find a way to get their boxes into the music stores.
Perhaps 30 years ago I walked into a tiny music store, just having been playing a nylon string guitar, looking around. The best guitar in the house was a Guild, the rest of the stuff was cheap junk that sounded that way. The Guild made a superb sound. . . and since that time I've understood the value of Guild.
Hadn't heard of them before this time, but knew of Mibson and Gartin.
Perhaps 30 years ago I walked into a tiny music store, just having been playing a nylon string guitar, looking around. The best guitar in the house was a Guild, the rest of the stuff was cheap junk that sounded that way. The Guild made a superb sound. . . and since that time I've understood the value of Guild.
Hadn't heard of them before this time, but knew of Mibson and Gartin.
Mibson and Gartin
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Taylor Martin Guild
Senior Member
One major problem with Guild right now is the confusion between American Guilds and Chinese GADs.
It's disappointing, how many people believe that Guild moved all of it's production overseas.
I hear it a lot.
I don't have a Guild dealer close to me. The closest is about 50 miles away.
With gas prices the way they are, not a lot of people will travel that far to demo a Guild, when there are Martins, Gibsons and Taylors in several local stores.
I hope that Guild can weather the storm.
It's disappointing, how many people believe that Guild moved all of it's production overseas.
I hear it a lot.
I don't have a Guild dealer close to me. The closest is about 50 miles away.
With gas prices the way they are, not a lot of people will travel that far to demo a Guild, when there are Martins, Gibsons and Taylors in several local stores.
I hope that Guild can weather the storm.
Emilio
Junior Member
littlesongs said:
just like you said, there is little or even less left of the original instruments in the new Levin and Hagström.
I never did care for the old Hagström but the old Levin-guitar is a joy to play.
Levin was produced in the same town as i live in and for a short period they actually produced guitars with Martin.
To me it's pretty much the same as with the new Larson brothers guitars (another swede but they imigrated to the states in the early years.
Now they are produced somewhere i europe but nothing of the great pedigree remains.
I guess that you just have to accept that a well known brand equelse money and thats what make the wheels turn.
Sad in a way but on the other hand the history of the producers may not be forgotten as
fast but the priced payed for this is guitars not nearly as good as the once were.
There still is a tradition of guitar making in sweden today and if you are interested have a look at:
http://www.sandenguitars.com/eng/home.html
http://www.fredholmguitars.com/htmlfile ... out_me.htm
http://www.rasmussenguitars.com/?p=galleri&intId=1
jcwu
Senior Member
The worship leader from the church I attended when I was in high school is now looking for a guitar. He is completely sold on Taylor. I tried recommending Guild to him, but all he heard was "not Taylor" and didn't even consider it. I guess it's the same for me - if I'm buying a strat, I would only consider Fender, or building my own from Allparts parts and nothing else. In my mind, everything else is just a copy, you know?
davismanLV
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All I can say is, this post, this thread, emphasizes the emotion and the "good vibes" and loyalty that are attached to the Guild name. I think we're all on the same side of the fence here. All the big companies make great guitars, and some make AMAZING guitars..... but we seem to prefer Guilds. Otherwise we wouldn't be here. This was FUN, huh? I've never seen y'all so animated!!!
Tom in Vegas
Tom in Vegas
silverfox103
Senior Member
Emilio
I bet you never thought you would have 70 replies in 24 hours to your posting! (and still going).
Tom C.
I bet you never thought you would have 70 replies in 24 hours to your posting! (and still going).
Tom C.
Emilio
Junior Member
Never, but i think it's great.silverfox103 said:
Lots of good thoughts and interesting input.
Im thinking of getting myself some popcorn and re-read the thread again :mrgreen:
jgwoods
Member
I'm thinking that Fender has taken these times, these difficult economic times, to retrench and prepare for better times we all hope may come ahead. Fender is a big company- I don't know for sure but I think they are bigger than MArtin or Gibson so they can bring marketing power to bear if they think it will pay off. I don't t hink we'll be seeing Guild ads on the next Superbowl but I think they are well positioned to compete in the marketplace- when there is one. They've got a good facility in CT, they have developed the product to produce at a very high level there. Now all that is needed is for the public to have some spare cash and desire for a nice American made guitar.
It's a funny market out there as has been pointed out. Perception is reality for many. As a churchgoer I get a kick out of all the Taylors I see on worship teams- 9 out of 10 guitars I bet- and I just don't get it. How did Taylor capture that market? The people I know personally who play them in church settings don't seem to know why they made the choice to buy one.
It's a funny market out there as has been pointed out. Perception is reality for many. As a churchgoer I get a kick out of all the Taylors I see on worship teams- 9 out of 10 guitars I bet- and I just don't get it. How did Taylor capture that market? The people I know personally who play them in church settings don't seem to know why they made the choice to buy one.
Very interesting point about the worship crowd... Taylor really busted into that market years ago and they have built a commanding presence. You could look at it as a niche market, but not really. It has brought Taylor enormous recognition.jgwoods said:
It doesn't surprise me that your friends don't know why they bought Taylors. It's clearly because someone else did. That's probably why most guitars sell. If I'm being honest, I would've bought the guitar(s) that my teachers/idols had when I was younger and learning the guitar. One of my friends had a cherry-colored D-25 that I would've bought in a second if I'd had the money. Turns out I was more interested in a 12-string at the time.
Guild might've been the underdog in my day, but US-built was out of the question for me even then. I started with a first-series Ibanez Artwood 12-string, which I still have, and which is a fabulous guitar.
Yoko Oh No
Member
i prefer the underdog because....well, let's face it....underdog always got polly
idealassets
Senior Member
Whats an RX-7? About a Guild F50r, I'm just sayin what happened. I haven't even "bragged" yet about the first time I played the F512 on stage... Regardless I am very quick to compliment another player and his guitar, especially when it appers that he has taken the time to choose an instrument that compliments his style. The latest compliments I made were for a Gibson Dove, 1961 Gibson J45, and a Takamine with broken top held together with duct tape.
-3 pages of comments in one day! Now thats a lively topic.
Craig
idealassets
Senior Member
OK an "Indian" emblem is attached to a modern made bike, with production beginning about 45 years after the actual Indian Cycle Company, Springfield, Mass went out of business. But save the $25,000+. It would spare a bloke of a lot of time explaining just what kind of Indian cycle it actually is. The point was that certain discriminating owners want the Harley, not the Gold wing; the Guild not the (whatever else guitar) In the vintage side, the original Indian or vintage (pre-1954) Harley circuit reminds me quite a bit of the vintage guitar folks. They certainly know what they want, and will go to great lengths to find one. -Nuthin wrong with that. Rock on good people. Craig
West R Lee
Venerated Member
The reason Guild was considered the "underdog" in the old days was pretty obvious as Martin and Gibson had been around for decades and were well established. The reasons Guild still is the underdog?........ well I can't get into that without ruffling a whole bunch of feathers here. Let me just say that Fender could have done it much better, and I think even they realize that.
West
West