New Hartford

Chaz · Apr 22, 2014

Yeah, that's what I meant. Realistically speaking, I wasn't going to buy a new NH Guild--but it still sucks they closed the shop down.

davismanLV · Apr 22, 2014

Does this mean all the current inventory of NH Guilds will be labeled as "seconds" and go out through MIRC without warranties and with lower prices? It's happened before. Could pick up a smokin' hot deal on a NH Guild..... :cocksure:

adorshki · Apr 22, 2014

workedinwesterly said:
I work in New Hartford and yes children they have finally managed to kill it as of May 30. Thank you Fender again

G--ammit. I finally agree with West R Lee in his antipathy for Fender.

twocorgis · Apr 22, 2014

Ridgemont said:
So is Ren getting his resume in order? I assume, with his name he is safe.

I think that Ren could hang out a shingle anywhere (likely back in Montana) and do just fine Jonathan. He's at a point in his life that he can do pretty much anything he wants to do. I imagine that a lot of the other workers there are skilled enough to go into guitar manufacturing just about anywhere, but a large majority of them have roots in New Hartford, and it's a beautiful place to live. It certainly won't be easy for them to pack up and leave.

jcwu · Apr 22, 2014

Neal said:
executives getting paid big money to oversea the production

Fixed a typo for you.

adorshki · Apr 22, 2014

tommym said:
That was my first thought as they are already there in China.

I suspect that sourcing would be too unpredictable over the long term (geopolitical issues) and that Ensenada's a safer bet, but I wonder about Corona? Seriously. The wording of the press release implies there will still be a US built source.
Or maybe they've closed a secret deal to buy Gibson and they'll be back in Nashville?
THAT would be historically consistent.
Sorry, my snark's runnin' away with me again.

adorshki · Apr 22, 2014

jcwu said:
It's never personal.

Not for them.

mavuser · Apr 22, 2014

Tough news and I am sorry to hear of the jobs that will be lost in New Hartford. In all fairness though Fender did take over Guild almost 20 years ago and have saved the brand and kept it going this long. Maybe someone else can somehow buy the Guild brand from Fender and start a new chapter. Also I think the Asian Guilds for the most part have been successful and people are generally happy with them. Not sure how that plays in to the picture. I do think though, either way, the market for a $3,000 or so Guild made in the USA in 2014 is, in all honesty, pretty small. The world is a lot bigger than this forum. Although I have only heard good things about the New Hartford instruments .

Default · Apr 22, 2014

You can slap whatever name you want on them and they'll still be disposable guitars.

Walter Broes · Apr 22, 2014

It's awful, and getting ridiculous too. It's almost like someone at Fender had a very old grudge to settle with Guild. Westerly all over again. Corporate greed is going to kill everything nice in the end.

southernGuild · Apr 22, 2014

davismanLV said:
Well, this news just SUCKS! I'm just.... I'm just... I don't even KNOW what I am.....

Same here Tom. This is surreal.........and Sad.

jcwu · Apr 22, 2014

Walter Broes said:
Westerly all over again.

I wasn't on the scene when Guild was moved out of Westerly, but if Guild survived that, what's to say the brand can't survive this move? It's hard, but... they managed before.

I realize this doesn't make things any better for the workers who are now shafted and without a job.

bluesypicky · Apr 22, 2014

So I don't have to suffer the angry old man charging at me with the cane up in the air, I'll make a collage of what I think sums this ugly mess in the most accurate manner.

workedinwesterly said:
Thank you Fender again

Walter Broes said:
It's awful, Corporate greed is going to kill everything nice in the end.

walrus said:
Another example of an "out of touch" corporate decision. Happens every day

killdeer43 said:
Business is as business does

Ridgemont said:
I love capitalism. F the worker.

SouthernSounds said:
We are two, J. That's all what I'll say...

Neal said:
they throw skilled, dedicated employees out with the corporate garbage.

Smitch said:
I blame the bottomless American greed.

srickl said:
Corporations and their Boards have sucked much of the spirit of our American manufacturing out the door and into the third world. Boards play it safe, have a few too many lawyers involved (apologies to any of you in that profession) and hide under the mantle of the corporation. When things are going bad, they fire the division head, lay off employees and shut down plants - rarely do they fix the problem. And oh yeah, they make sure they get paid for the privilege.

12 string said:
FMIC has been in the clutches of predatory holding companies who make it their business to ensnare other companies, loot their assets, and send the proceeds, leftover jobs and cheapened brand names offshore.
Sorry if this crosses the political line, but when it just slaps you in the face like this there's no point in not acknowledging it.

(Two years ago month for month, I was in the current N.H. worker's shoes, thanks to the dirty word: Corporate "CONSOLIDATION")

Kim: PM sent

Walter Broes · Apr 22, 2014

jcwu said:
I wasn't on the scene when Guild was moved out of Westerly, but if Guild survived that, what's to say the brand can't survive this move? It's hard, but... they managed before.

I realize this doesn't make things any better for the workers who are now shafted and without a job.

As long as FMIC's corporate headquarters feel like they're making some money (or losing the exact amount they'd otherwise give to the tax man..), they'll keep Guild going, I'm sure. I do wonder at what point corporations like that start worrying about their public image in relation to a brand and its potential "consumers".

Right now I'm just really surprised and amazed. I think once I get to read the ad copy that "explains to us why Guild had to be moved yet again" and that the guitars "will be better than ever before", I might get a little angry. Or nauseous.

taabru45 · Apr 22, 2014

Crap ! And with Doyle on board too...Going to cling on to my Guilds. Wonder what this'll do to the used market . Steffan

dapmdave · Apr 22, 2014

davismanLV said:
Does this mean all the current inventory of NH Guilds will be labeled as "seconds" and go out through MIRC without warranties and with lower prices? It's happened before. Could pick up a smokin' hot deal on a NH Guild..... :cocksure:

I think this may have been already happening "under the radar" if you know what I mean. Not seconds, not MIRC, but smokin' hot deals with questionable warranty provisions.

Yoko Oh No · Apr 22, 2014

HEY FENDER....

geoguy · Apr 22, 2014

Sad news. Particularly hard to understand given the rave reviews of New Hartford acoustics, & the various Guild electrics.

Today I also received a "Guild Newsletter" via email, advertising the "sweet & balanced F-30 tone".

My fantasy would be that Guild's New Hartford employees either buy the rights to continue building their fine guitars, or strike out on their own & start their own business.

crank · Apr 22, 2014

Well I'm glad I got a NH Guild if only for the fact that it was made in my home state.

Westerly Wood · Apr 22, 2014

I believe they will be still producing US Guilds in a smaller qty at another Fender shop here. The dude at Fender me to believe that only ovation and hamer are totally dead.

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