Official word on pickguards from CT Guilds from Guild/FMIC!

[jazzmang]

I just heard back from the FMIC rep on the conflicting pickguards we've seen on F-50Rs as of late.

Good news!

Here is his response:

Mike,

I got word back…both are actually correct.

While we were making these models in Tacoma we started using the pickguard shape as seen [this is the new style, thin pickguard]... but they’ve decided to change them to [traditional Guild size/shape as seen on ac1dt3st's new F-50R]. So, they’re just starting to use those pickguards but they’re using what they have left of the [thinner, cutoff] ones.

So, eventually they’ll all have the guards that you see... [traditional size/shape]...

Its a bit confusing without seeing the pictures I sent him, but he is basically saying this:

1) Guild started making thin-style pickguards on the CT Guilds, which we all knew. This happened while production of F-50Rs was happening at Tacoma, but CT was starting production of D-series guitars (not sure about timeframe here).
2) The decision was made to go to the traditional Guild shaped pickguards recently.
3) They are using their existing supply of thin pickguards but will then switch completely to the traditional ones.

Of course, I can only confirm this information on the F-50Rs (as this was the subject of my query), but I am happy nonetheless! From what I've seen, we can see this same switch on the 12 stringers as well.

Update: The expectation is that all pickguards will move to the traditional type, but this is only tentative for now.

 

[ac1dt3st]

Re: Official word on pickguards from CT Guilds from FMIC!

thanks for the definitive update.

now the irony could be... the small sample of models made with the unwanted "new" pickguard will some day become the rare and collectible ones, like the stamp with the upside down airplane, or the coin with two "heads"...

 

[adorshki]

Re: Official word on pickguards from CT Guilds from FMIC!

now the irony could be... the small sample of models made with the unwanted "new" pickguard will some day become the rare and collectible ones, like the stamp with the upside down airplane, or the coin with two "heads"...

Right, don't you just hate when that happens? All those undervalued Guilds suddenly bid up into the stratosphere by greedy speculators,,,, :lol:

 

[chazmo]

Re: Official word on pickguards from CT Guilds from FMIC!

Good to hear, Jazzy.

And, hehe, absolutely... stranger things have happened.

 

[drive-south]

Re: Official word on pickguards from CT Guilds from FMIC!

Yeh but, F50 and D55 always had black pickguards. The new guards are tortoise as well as having a differant shape. Are they going back to black?

drive-south

 

[chazmo]

Neither of my F-50Rs have black PGs; they're tortoise shell. Probably just depends on the era. Mine are old.

 

[jazzmang]

I think black pickguards looked great! Is it me or does it seem that only some Westerly Guilds have them? I'm sure Hans has some better answers than I.

All the Tacomas that I've seen were tortoiseshell. Same with the CT ones, so far.

Maybe we'll see the rebirth of black pickguards? :shock:

 

[chazmo]

Yeah, I don't think Tacoma made black PGs. Not sure about Corona. Right, Westerly made 'em for most of their 30 years, I think. Not sure whether the switch back to tortoise shell occurred at Westerly or after.

 

[Frosty]

Well, it's a good start. Next, they should lose the open back tuners on the D-55 and go back to the Westerly specs on bracing, etc.

Always "bugs" in 1.0 :wink:

 

[kyguild]

My F-50, which is finished in black, has a tortoise shell pickguard. It is a 2005 Tacoma.

 

[Graham]

My F-50, which is finished in black, has a tortoise shell pickguard. It is a 2005 Tacoma.

I like the tortoise pickguard, personally.

BTW, nice to see you Charlie, you're lookin' good! :mrgreen:

 

[6L6]

Good news on the change back to traditional PG's!

When I bought my '06 D-55 it came with the expected tortoise PG (not my favorite color). I wrote to Fender and they sent me a replacement one made in black. $20 later it was pro installed by Gary Brawer in San Francisco.

6

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

 

[killdeer43]

My F-50, which is finished in black, has a tortoise shell pickguard. It is a 2005 Tacoma.

I like the tortoise pickguard, personally.

I, too, prefer the turtle over the black!
Black is, like, you know, really dark! :lol:

Joe

 

[taabru45]

Yeah, I don't think Tacoma made black PGs. Not sure about Corona. Right, Westerly made 'em for most of their 30 years, I think. Not sure whether the switch back to tortoise shell occurred at Westerly or after.

My Corona D25 has a black pickguard Chaz....and it looks great on the white body....There is a picture on this thread. Steffan
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15759

 

[adorshki]

Ya gotta wonder if the black guards were part of the old Westerly inventory although it's interesting Fender sent out a new black one as late as '06. I prefer tortoise in general but aesthetically I think Westerly put the black ones where they belonged, like my F65. Wonder if you'd be able to specify pickguard color by special order?
On a related note, the pattern on the second (upper bout) pickguard that came with my Richie Havens D40 doesn't match the standard one very well. For a while I thought they lost the original and just gave me a spare then I realized it had to be the one shipped with it 'cause after all it's cut backwards compared to a regular guard! :roll:

 

[taabru45]

Ya gotta wonder if the black guards were part of the old Westerly inventory although it's interesting Fender sent out a new black one as late as '06. I prefer tortoise in general but aesthetically I think Westerly put the black ones where they belonged, like my F65. Wonder if you'd be able to specify pickguard color by special order?
On a related note, the pattern on the second (upper bout) pickguard that came with my Richie Havens D40 doesn't match the standard one very well. For a while I thought they lost the original and just gave me a spare then I realized it had to be the one shipped with it 'cause after all it's cut backwards compared to a regular guard! :roll:

Its a good thing it wasn't upside down, otherwise it would only be good in N.Z. or maybe Australia. :lol: :lol: Steffan

 

[chazmo]

Ya gotta wonder if the black guards were part of the old Westerly inventory although it's interesting Fender sent out a new black one as late as '06. I prefer tortoise in general but aesthetically I think Westerly put the black ones where they belonged, like my F65. Wonder if you'd be able to specify pickguard color by special order?
On a related note, the pattern on the second (upper bout) pickguard that came with my Richie Havens D40 doesn't match the standard one very well. For a while I thought they lost the original and just gave me a spare then I realized it had to be the one shipped with it 'cause after all it's cut backwards compared to a regular guard! :roll:

Al, who has a 2006 with black pickguard? I missed that...

Steffan, thanks for the pointer on your D-25... So I guess Corona continued the Westerly tradition. I wonder if they were doing that with all the acoustics or just the painted ones.

 

[adorshki]

When I bought my '06 D-55 it came with the expected tortoise PG (not my favorite color). I wrote to Fender and they sent me a replacement one made in black. $20 later it was pro installed by Gary Brawer in San Francisco.

6

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

Here, Chaz. I guess maybe semantically I should have said "new replacement part", but still a nice job on Fender's part!

 

[adorshki]

Its a good thing it wasn't upside down, otherwise it would only be good in N.Z. or maybe Australia. :lol: :lol: Steffan

The worst part is I can never remember if it's a lefty or a standard until I try it both ways. "Let's see now, the thick string is supposed to be closer to my face, right???" :roll:
At least I can still remember to point the hole AWAY from me. I knew that basic gun handling course would come in handy sooner or later!

 

[chazmo]

When I bought my '06 D-55 it came with the expected tortoise PG (not my favorite color). I wrote to Fender and they sent me a replacement one made in black. $20 later it was pro installed by Gary Brawer in San Francisco.

6

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

Here, Chaz. I guess maybe semantically I should have said "new replacement part", but still a nice job on Fender's part!

Got it, Al. Tnx. Very interesting they sent him a black one.