- Joined
- Feb 11, 2009
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Was in NYC to get my passport renewed today and stumbled across Rudy's Music in SoHo. They had two Newark Street Guilds and a 1963 (I think) Starfire III. They had a Sewark St. X-175, but I didn't play it.
http://soho.rudysmusic.com/Electric/Guild.html (vintage Guild is not on their site)
I didn't plug any of them in since I was short on time (and there was another guy wanking away on every hackneyed 70s and 80s song you've ever heard in a guitar store - even Stairway), but the guy practically begged me to plug in so I could enjoy the mini hums on the '63. It was almost comical, but I told him I couldn't because if I did, I'd buy it, and I couldn't. His response was, "Ahh, so you know about them".
That was my first time handling a 60's Guild, and this one looked to be in excellent shape. I think the price was about $2k. It even had a metal switch tip. The neck seemed a tad better to me than any 70s Starfire I've played, but it was still on the small side.
I have to say that I was impressed by the Newark Street Guilds. They had a SFIII and an M-75. I've never been impressed with Korean-made guitars in the past, but these felt and played beautifully, and I'm a hard-core Westerly snob. I was impressed at how light the M-75 was, too. Lighter than any Bluesbird I've played, but I guess the M-75 is hollow where the Bluesbirds were chambered. The only thing I didn't like about them was the open-gear tuners and the plastic switch tips. Oh, and the prices. If these import guitars are $1000, then that '63 should be $30,000. If I can get a Westerly for the price of a Newark St., or maybe a little more, I likely wouldn't buy the Newark St. Of course I've never known a company to price its wares based on the used price of it's old models.
Still, it's great to have another option. As time goes on, Westerlies will be harder and harder to come by in mint condition. I went in with the idea that they would compare to Korean Epiphones I've owned (and disliked), and was pleasantly surprised.
Old news to everyone but me, I'm sure, but I just had to share.
http://soho.rudysmusic.com/Electric/Guild.html (vintage Guild is not on their site)
I didn't plug any of them in since I was short on time (and there was another guy wanking away on every hackneyed 70s and 80s song you've ever heard in a guitar store - even Stairway), but the guy practically begged me to plug in so I could enjoy the mini hums on the '63. It was almost comical, but I told him I couldn't because if I did, I'd buy it, and I couldn't. His response was, "Ahh, so you know about them".
That was my first time handling a 60's Guild, and this one looked to be in excellent shape. I think the price was about $2k. It even had a metal switch tip. The neck seemed a tad better to me than any 70s Starfire I've played, but it was still on the small side.
I have to say that I was impressed by the Newark Street Guilds. They had a SFIII and an M-75. I've never been impressed with Korean-made guitars in the past, but these felt and played beautifully, and I'm a hard-core Westerly snob. I was impressed at how light the M-75 was, too. Lighter than any Bluesbird I've played, but I guess the M-75 is hollow where the Bluesbirds were chambered. The only thing I didn't like about them was the open-gear tuners and the plastic switch tips. Oh, and the prices. If these import guitars are $1000, then that '63 should be $30,000. If I can get a Westerly for the price of a Newark St., or maybe a little more, I likely wouldn't buy the Newark St. Of course I've never known a company to price its wares based on the used price of it's old models.
Still, it's great to have another option. As time goes on, Westerlies will be harder and harder to come by in mint condition. I went in with the idea that they would compare to Korean Epiphones I've owned (and disliked), and was pleasantly surprised.
Old news to everyone but me, I'm sure, but I just had to share.