I'm impressed ! Tried a new D55

[caveman]

Some may know, but I work in a pretty large guitar shop over here in Belgium. For the first time since the Corona period, we finally got a new USA Guild in the shop, a natural D55. Previous years prices were rather high, demand rather low, and brand promotion sparse, so the boss didn't really feel like taking them in. I'm very pleased we did ,now, because what a wonderful instrument this is : absolutely flawless finish and detailing, and that big dreadnought sound you only find in the top end of the market. On top of that, it costs only a little more than a Gibson J45 or Martin standard D28, and it blows them all away with it's luxurious look, and powerful, and rich sound up and down the fretboard. This one is already reserved for a customer, but I really believe Guild can take on any competition and sell quite a few guitars. I was already completely convinced that older Guilds are more guitar for less money ( I have 2 Hoboken hollow bodies, one Hoboken acoustic, one Westerly hollow body, and one Westerly acoustic) , but the new Hartford production is top notch.
Any suggestions on which models out of the current line up would do best ? I think we can take in around 3 USA models, and maybe a few GAD's to start with.

 

[bodde]

at least one of them has to be a 12 string. It is hard to find any USA Guild 12 string in stock in Belgium and the Netherlands.
A new F-212 XL would be nice

 

[wileypickett]

Personally, I'd recommend at least one of their two top-of-the-line 12-strings: the 412 or 512. I played both at the Let's Meet Guild tour and they're fabulous, better than anything Taylor or Martin are turning out these days.

(Belgium is the cat's meow -- one of my favorite countries! I toured there -- with my Guild JF-30 12-string -- last November: Liege, Brussels, Ghent.)

Glenn Jones
Cambridge, MA

 

[Brad Little]

Yes, an F-412 or 512 would be a good addition, as would a smaller F, like an F-30 or 40. Three very different models to start with.
Brad

 

[chazmo]

Our local store owner here in Worcester, Massachusetts just got a D-40 and F-30 from the new Standard Series which just started shipping last week. My F-212XL was part of that order and I've only had it in my hands for a few hours, but the signs to me are that these are all first-class instruments that give you what you expect from a Guild at a bit of a lower price point than the Traditional Series.

I don't know if Fender is taking international orders yet for the new guitars, but if I were a store owner and picking two or three Guilds to have in the store, I'd want at least one of them to be a Standard.

Best wishes, and thanks for the good news, caveman.

 

[6L6]

I'm not at all surprised that you love the new D-55! What's not to love???

I would certainly look at stocking the D-40BJ and D-50BS as well. As for the GADs...

Well, to me the GAD's are nice, affordable guitars and a good value if you get the right one. But they are not GUILDS and never will be IMHO.

Please give my best to Poirot!

6

'06 D-55
'06 F-412
'77 D-50
'74 D-40

 

[Dubbaround]

Some may know, but I work in a pretty large guitar shop over here in Belgium.....
Any suggestions on which models out of the current line up would do best ? I think we can take in around 3 USA models, and maybe a few GAD's to start with.

Only you know your market. We can only tell you what we personally would like, and that may or may not be what your customer base wants..
Good luck, and thanks for the review.