Two recent experiences with Guild brand reputation...
Not long ago I had a visit from a guy who'd found me on line, looking for white water paddlers in the northern Philippines. Colorado boy, now living in Vancouver. So we paddled a bit; he stayed at the house (big old shack), and in the course of conversation one evening it comes out that he plays some guitar. So I hop upstairs and come down with the case, the case opens up, and his eyes just about pop out... "Dude, it's a Guild!!"
Fast forward a bit, and a week ago I find myself in Singapore. Google shows me some guitar shops, so I hop into one, and see a wall full of Gibsons, in the back there's an older Chinese fellow, obvioulsy the owner, and a couple of younger guys, one of them playing a Hummingbird. I ask if he has JP strings, he doesn't, so I get some Elixirs, which I haven't tried yet but will soon. Asked for a Shubb capo, none of those either. Then the owner asks me what guitar I play, told him a Guild F50R. The eyes light up; "VERY nice guitar... but I only have Gibson, Singapore people like to buy Gibson". So they pass me the Hummingbird, and it was not impressive at all, especially given the price tag. I guess it showed in my reaction. The owner took a J200 off the wall and I played that a little, and the guy asks "good as Guild"? I told him it's hard to compare maple to rosewood, but I figure it's almost as good as a Guild... then he shrugs his shoulders and says "Gibson too expensive, but Singapore people like to buy".
I guess those who know, know...