Guild Factories

GAD

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After visiting the Westerly plant, someone asked what the Hoboken building looked like today and that led me down a rabbit hole where I decided to find out about ALL the Guild factories.

It's not my best work, but it was kind of fun doing it. If there's anything wrong, please do let me know.

Link: http://www.gad.net/Blog/2017/05/30/guild-guitar-factories/

Guild-Westerly-2017.jpg
 

Westerly Wood

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Hoboken, Westerly and New Hartford by far my fave Guild buildings. Great article!
 

chazmo

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Ah, the memories of some great weekends spent in New Hartford over those years just flood back any time I think about it.
 

twocorgis

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Ah, the memories of some great weekends spent in New Hartford over those years just flood back any time I think about it.

Same here Charlie. I really miss going, and all the wonderful people that worked there. I still think the best guitars to ever wear the Guild name came from the New Hartford plant, and if the stars align, I'll be adding another in about 45 minutes...
 

txbumper57

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Great info and wonderful write up as always GAD! Thanks as I really enjoyed that stroll through Guild Factory Memory Lane.

TX
 

Default

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Wait, what? Tell me more!

I spoke to Aaron Newman a couple of years ago. He was the chief engineer of Guild from 63 on. When Leon Tell killed the amp line, he took took the work in progress of the Guild synthesizer and formed Mutron with another fellow. He told me the factory was in Elizabeth, but I can't locate my notes. That was a divorce and a move ago and some boxes are not unpacked yet.
 

GAD

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I spoke to Aaron Newman a couple of years ago. He was the chief engineer of Guild from 63 on. When Leon Tell killed the amp line, he took took the work in progress of the Guild synthesizer and formed Mutron with another fellow. He told me the factory was in Elizabeth, but I can't locate my notes. That was a divorce and a move ago and some boxes are not unpacked yet.

I had no idea that Guild was somehow tied to Mutron! Some of those old Mutron pedals fetch a pretty penny!
 

wileypickett

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Very cool GAD -- trivia to most of the world, but I love it!

I've been to the old Westerly plant a couple times and the New Hartford plant maybe a dozen times. (I was there for three LMGs and brought several guitars there for repair.)

Lee Renaldo (Sonic Youth) told me that the Hoboken Guild factory building now contains, among other things, a number of band rehearsal spaces. (Lee was rehearsing there at the time.)

Glenn
 

mavuser

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I had no idea that Guild was somehow tied to Mutron! Some of those old Mutron pedals fetch a pretty penny!

niether did I, very cool. Jerry Garcia used a Mutron pedal!
 

hideglue

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Excellent job, GAD. The Westerly factory has changed appearance, but the vibe is still all there.
Hope you also got to take in a little of downtown Westerly. It's a great little area.
 

Quantum Strummer

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…and formed Mutron with another fellow.

That would be Mike Beigel, who's revisiting the classic Mu-Tron gizmos with his current company, Mu-FX. I've got a few of 'em including the Tru-Tron, a souped up version of the Mu-Tron III that does all the familiar envelope filter (auto wah) sounds and more.

Re. the Hoboken factory: its building was indeed being used as a rehearsal facility (among other things) last time I went there. I'll probably be in NYC later this month, and may stop by again.

-Dave-
 
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MLBob

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Get yer "Chicken Pickin" gear ready, GAD :

"Musitronic built a plant out of a former chicken coop in Rosemont, and soon employed 35 people.[SUP][3]" [/SUP]:topsy_turvy:

[SUP]Bob[/SUP]
 

Westerly Wood

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LOL at this that Ralf posted re Newark St series back in 2013:

People might ask: "Why the name Newark Street?"
The Guild Hoboken factory was officially located on 300 Observer Highway from November 1956 till December 1971, but Newark Street was the street just behind the building.
And I guess "Newark St. Collection" sounds better than "Observer Highway Collection"... :)

Now CMG should be all over this Observer Highway Collection as a new brand name. I believe the times are ripe for it :)
 

SFIV1967

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@GAD: Very brave of you trying to cover that topic!

Let's see what else you could add or whatelse I might know/have found.

Regarding the Neumann Leather building: Hans had pointed out that my white arrow was a bit off to the right and the later 2nd floor location was a bit to the left (they were on the 6th floor of that building initially). Hans marked it with 3 crosses: http://letstalkguild.com/ltg/showth...ctric-models&p=1572927&viewfull=1#post1572927

Kurt posted the whole thread, unfortunatelly my NAMM pictures in that thread are gone when the picture hosting site (minus.com) went out of business...

Ensenada/Mexico factory for the Arcos series:
http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/sh...enada-Mexico&p=1545374&viewfull=1#post1545374
http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/sh...E-and-AO-5CE&p=1571892&viewfull=1#post1571892
http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/sh...nese-factory&p=1557345&viewfull=1#post1557345

SPG (Sound Professional Guitar Co, Ltd.) (just to add a few things):
http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/sh...g-NS-guitars&p=1761675&viewfull=1#post1761675

P.T. Samick (2020 Starfire I series):
"https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/hey-ralf.202089/#post-1872910"

WMI for all solid-body Newark St. electrics (S-200 T-Bird, Bluesbird solid and S-100):
http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/sh...g-NS-guitars&p=1761675&viewfull=1#post1761675
Note: The S-100 was produced by SPG until about 2016! (electronics chamber lid on back of body fixed with 4 screws = SPG, with 6 screws = WMI)

Yako Musical Instruments (Zhangzhou) Co., Ltd., China.
2018 Jetstar, Aristocrat P90, Aristocrat HH
"https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/new-guild-jetstar.195047/post-1795386"

GREE (Grand Reward Education & Entertainment) for the GAD series:
http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/sh...nese-factory&p=1557055&viewfull=1#post1557055
http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/sh...nese-factory&p=1557535&viewfull=1#post1557535

GREE (Grand Reward Education & Entertainment) for the Westerly Collection:
http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/sh...g-NS-guitars&p=1761675&viewfull=1#post1761675
http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/sh...y-Collection&p=1694617&viewfull=1#post1694617
https://faridaguitars.com/e29n0116.htm

Cor-Tek for DeArmond by Guild models:
http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/sh...g-NS-guitars&p=1762781&viewfull=1#post1762781
The set-neck guitars were made in Incheon/Korea with KC (Korea Cor-Tek) serial numbers. https://cortaction.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/cortguitar-fact-sheet.jpg
That factory in Incheon Korea was closed in 2008.
The bolt-ons were made in Surabaya/Indonesia with IC (Indonesia Cor-Tek) serial numbers. http://www.cortguitars.com/uFiles/ckeditor/201603/cort-email-.png
As example the bolt-on neck DeArmond S-65: https://www.sheltonsguitars.com/2008/10-07-08/dearmond-s-65-10-07-08.html

Madeira by Guild: 70ies Madeiras were made in Japan (oval labels and Martin style headstock) and later (end of the 70ies) in Korea (square labels). But I have no details on the factories, I believe in the 80ies the Madeira guitars came from Samick in Korea.

Burnside by Guild: I think all came from Korea. I have no verified details of the factory but believe they came also from Cort/Cor-Tek.
http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/sh...Guild-Really&p=1655067&viewfull=1#post1655067

Squier guitars based on former DeArmond by Guild models in 2003 Fender price list and 2004 Fender catalog (pages 100/101 or 14/15):
http://www.jedistar.com/pdf/fender/Fender_2004_87-136.pdf
Same like for the DeArmonds. The set-neck models were also made in the Cor-Tek factory in Incheon/Korea after the DeArmond models were stopped. (production from 2002 till 2004 only). And the bolt.on models like the M-50 were made at Cor-Tek in Surabaya/Indonesia.

And I almost forgot the imported Guild Classical Guitars Made by Alhambra in Spain:
http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/sh...erial-number&p=1762683&viewfull=1#post1762683

Ralf
 
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