Why is Fender so reprehensible?

[drowlins]

Unfortunatly it makes perfect "cents" not to duplicate that line. In a perfect world, Guild would stand on its' own,and produce fine American guitars in all price ranges, but I have to agree with West and Smith that the move fron R.I. killed a beloved brand.

 

[Graham]

Should I amend the question to..... Seeing how Fender is so reprehensible, should I give them my money? :?:

G

 

[West R Lee]

It would make it a lot easier and diplomatic if you merely took a poll and asked, if you had your choice, where would the next Guild you bought have been built?

In the past, I wouldn't have hesitated. After Jeff and some others have had their experience with Tacomas, I would not be so quick to answer.
I'll be attending what is touted as the World's Largest Guitar Show soon....I'll bet they'll have some Tacomas there.

Allow me to reserve my answer for a while.

West

 

[Bing k]

:lol:
I don't know, this 9 page thread has been pretty entertaining. :lol:

 

[Jeff]

I'll be attending what is touted as the World's Largest Guitar Show soon....I'll bet they'll have some Tacomas there

Maybe, but I wouldn't count on it, unless Tacoma Guitars has a little different approach to marketing than Guild/Fender.

Tacoma guitars are pretty common here in the NW, likely because of the close proximity to the factory. Although that doesn't seem to be the case with the new Guilds. :?

There are 4 Tacoma Guitars & 1 Tacoma mandoilin on craigslist here right now.


http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/msg/218210113.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/msg/218191925.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/msg/217329230.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/msg/216241500.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/msg/215318792.html

 

[West R Lee]

I meant Tacoma built Guilds Jeffrey. Sorry, I should have made myself clear.

West

 

[Graham]

I had a reply from a very respected guitar shop in Toronto stating that they only carry the GAD line from Guild now, even though Fender is pressuring them to carry the full Guild line.

They feel that the quality is not up to par. They do carry the GAD line because it is a very popular guitar in that price range and the sound, finish and service is very good.

I am still waiting to play the GAD-50 and I will when it arrives in the shop, as well I have asked them to keep me informed of any good used Guilds that show up.

G

 

[Graham]

Ordered a GAD-50 this morning. Had a chance to play it for a while and was instantly impressed. Played a couple of Martin's DM, D28, Larrivee L-03, Taylor 310, and a Gibson J-45.

I found the Martins very light sounding, they didn't really impress me. The Larrivee was OK, the Gibson was real nice, but for the money, the GAD was it.

Great price, with a case, great sound, felt good, the finish was good, what can I say.

I hope the service, if needed is good, but I trust most service will be handled by the shop owner.

I truly hope this Guild delivers what I want it to and it leads me to other Guilds in the future.

I want to thank everyone for their honest opinions, even if I did somehow hijack this post. I hope to one day have the passion for the brand that many of you have had years.

And thanks to Bing for posting pics, on another site, for me.

Graham

 

[Siwash]

Graham, like I think I wrote above, I really like my GAD 50. I'm not a great player by any means and hope to grow into the guitar a bit before exploring more expensive stuff---if I ever get better, that is!

I paid $600 straight up for everything; taxes another odd $50. Purchased at Sam Ash; for some reason they threw in a microphone valued at $100, they said, some kind of crazy sales promotion. I have no need of it.

It's working out well. I also was very close to pulling the trigger on the Blueridge BR160, but I kept hesitating because of the crummy-seeming tuners. My previous guitar had junk tuners which were always a problem and heck, I want good tuners. Can't beat those Mile-High, Brick Wall Rotomatics.

 

[West R Lee]

I like the Blueridge guitars too, they're no Guild of coarse :wink: , but where in the world did they get those leopard skin pickguards?

West

 

[dklsplace]

Siwash, West, don't give up on having a Blueridge just yet....but don't go anywhere else for one! I'm still trying to fit paperwork into my project schedule & target the 1st of next year to be a dealer.

 

[West R Lee]

:wink: Well get some with plain old black or tortoise (sp) pickguards would ya Don?

West

 

[Siwash]

Now, dklsplace, you're going to set me off gassing when you talk like that! I've already been looking at Blueridges, the 343 looks nice of course.

Last night I played some with a jam and an old guy out of the blue turns to me and asks about my Guild GAD, saying he didn't know the company was still in business. So I told him it's Chinese, etc., and he said the Chinese are building good stuff, giving the US a run for the money. But also yesterday I strummed a few Martins at a Guitar Center, and let me tell you, the next logical step up for me (once I can PLAY guitar) is maybe the D-16. Heck, we'll see. I"m trying to spend this winter getting better and doing more than strumming chords.

 

[Graham]

Siwash, what did you like about the Martin? I played a couple of them and found them very light sounding, which is why I have been looking at the Guild. The GAD-50 was just awesome, right off the rack, but the Martin and Taylor, both just didn't do it for me. Perhaps as I evolce they will all sound different to me for different reason.

G

 

[fungusyoung]

Siwash, what did you like about the Martin? I played a couple of them and found them very light sounding, which is why I have been looking at the Guild. The GAD-50 was just awesome, right off the rack, but the Martin and Taylor, both just didn't do it for me. Perhaps as I evolce they will all sound different to me for different reason.

G

Something seems very wrong. I've heard many Martin cricisisms, but I cannot imagine any, especially a D-28, sounding lighter than a GAD. They sound even better as they age, and I've also found that larger shop set ups often tend to really stink on Martins.... but still.... "lighter" than a GAD?

 

[Graham]

I have played two GADs recently and a handful of Martins, DM, D16, D18 and D28.

In my opinion, the GADs were very deep and full sounding. Granted I am not a very good player and the things I can do with a guitar are very limited, but the few songs that I do play all sounded better, to me, on the GADs.

I'm not criticizing Martin at all. I understand that they are a very well respected guitar. I am stating what I heard and felt as I played the ones that I did. I'm sure they do sound better as they age, as with most well built guitars, but beeing a relative new player I need a better sound to me at the moment to keep me going. That is what prompted me to start looking for a new guitar in the first place as my current one just doesn't do it for me anymore.

Perhaps even my take on what is light or heavy is not what you would call it :?:

G

 

[fungusyoung]

I have played two GADs recently and a handful of Martins, DM, D16, D18 and D28.

In my opinion, the GADs were very deep and full sounding. Granted I am not a very good player and the things I can do with a guitar are very limited, but the few songs that I do play all sounded better, to me, on the GADs.

I'm not criticizing Martin at all. I understand that they are a very well respected guitar. I am stating what I heard and felt as I played the ones that I did. I'm sure they do sound better as they age, as with most well built guitars, but beeing a relative new player I need a better sound to me at the moment to keep me going. That is what prompted me to start looking for a new guitar in the first place as my current one just doesn't do it for me anymore.

Perhaps even my take on what is light or heavy is not what you would call it :?:

G

Hey Graham-

Sorry if my post was confusing. First of all, you did the right thing by getting out & trying a bunch of different guitars. To your ears the Martins you tried must not cover the ground you need. I was just surprised by your post, but by all means, you should buy the guitar that sounds and feels the best to you... get the one you know you'll love to play over & over again.

Tone preferences are subjective and very personal. I'm sure I'm as big of a hack as anyone on this board, but I still have strong preferences. You can't make a bad decision unless you try to save a few dollars and get something you don't like nearly as much as "the one" you really want.

All this said, I'd be interested to know what you think of Westerly era Guild dreads if you can get your hands on some to try out.

Cheers!

 

[Graham]

fungus, no worries I was just trying to offer my take.

I have played different guitars in different stores and have had very different results. One I did not like one day sounded terrific the next.

As for the Westerly Guilds. With all the talk on this site about them, I would love to play one and I intend to keep looking out for one. There doesn't seem to be too many shops in this city that have a decent selection of vintage stuff, but just down the road in Toronto there are a few.

But you know I think I'm putting dollars and sound together at this point and it's something that may change later on. Even the Gibson J-45 that I played, while it sounded great and it felt good, at over 3X the cost of the GAD, for me is tough to justify. I don't think it sounded 3X better. I don't know if that's a correct way to look at things, but at this point that's how I have to.

One thing I have discovered is how much of a personal trek this is and will continue to be. My wife can't understand why I need a new one now. Then again, she doesn't understand the plasma tv concept totally either.

G

 

[Siwash]

Graham. You're exactly right. I got my guitar in early June this year and I've been playing more than ever before. . . just having a better sounding guitar is great encouragement for becoming a better player.

And you're right about the GAD 50 tone. I love the deeper fuller sound, very distinctive from the lighter, tinnier guitars you often find in this price range. Really, for me, the deeper sound (and nice Rotomatics) was the kicker.

What I appreciate about the Martins is two things: first, it's a loud sound with just a bit less effort than the GAD, the loudness seems a bit more automatic. And second, the individual string sounds are more distinctive.

But alas! I perhaps should not be making this kind of comparison, for I did not side-by-side play the guitars!

 

[dreadnut]

somebody just snagged a nice one on ebay, a nice Westerly '99 DV-52 with hard shell case for $560.00 :shock: