I am looking for my next acoustic. I have rules though. Usually...usually, I buy acoustics new. All the current ones except the Guild were bought new. My next rule is not negotiable... I only buy American made guitars.
Funny I kind of sensed a sympatico just based on your string choices, but I too always wanted to buy new (see my sig); largely for the confidence of knowing I had a piece with no hidden damage and the security of a warranty just in case.
I came to Guild after an MIK Fender acoustic was stolen out of my car in late '96.
It was a nice guitar but I too decided at that time that I wanted a
quality American built piece for a couple of reasons:
A: It's the quintessential American instrument, the flattop steel string was invented here, and
B: It would retain its value and
be worth refretting (or repairing )when the time came.
I was sick of a parade of decent enough guitars but being faced with the issue that it was almost as cheap to buy a new guitar as to re-fret an existing one, and that offended my sensibilities.
Sticker shock was pretty severe, though, until my best buddy (who coincidentally bought a new first-year JF30-12 himself, finally fulfilling his aspiration to someday own a Guild 12-string) told me:
"Y'oughtta check out Guild, Fender just bought 'em."
And contrary to internet myth, Fender did NOT "wreck 'em".
Quite the opposite.
And yes while there was some initial resentment towards Fender's introduction of MIC Guilds (in late '03), over time most members here seem to have accepted that they
are a very good value
for what they are, and have helped the brand itself survive, particularly during the dark years of the great recession.
But given a choice and an unlimited budget I'll buy new and American every time.
My primary concern right now is that Guild doesn't actually offer my "pipe dream" guitar, so I'm biding my time and hoping someday they'll see fit to re-issue a genuine grand auditorium body that was originally the archback maple bodied F40.
The single most versatile body shape in their history.
But I do love my mahogany dreadnoughts for tone.
And love Crosby's Martin tone on
If I Could Only Remember My Name
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I would buy a Martin D-15 in a minute. I'm open to suggestions and know nothing about Guilds America made acoustics.
Guild's current D20 model is a flatback all-hog dreadnought:
https://guildguitars.com/guitars/acoustic-guitars/guild-usa/
This was the original D25 formula from '68, which morphed into an all-hog archback for a couple of years ca '72-'74 then morphed into a spruce-topped 'hog bodied archback which lasted for about 24 yeasr and is what most folks think of when they mention a Guild D25.
The problem with current Guild production is that it's so low it's extremely hard to get your hands on one on the wall in a music store.
On the plus side hard-core Guild fans are giving 'em high marks for sound and build quality, and this crowd's hard to please and skeptical after seeing Fender march production through 3 different plants over 12 years before finally selling 'em off in '14 to new owners Cordoba Music Group, who built a brand new plant for 'em in Oxnard CA under the guidance of Ren Ferguson of Gibson fame.
That's all I got time for now, but toss out some other details on you wish list and plenty of guys'll offer suggestions.
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