NMD

richardp69

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New (used) Madeira Day

So, I've owned two of these and both were exceptional but both needed more work than I was willing to put into them so I donated them to a group of kids trying to learn guitar. They were fine on the 1st 5 frets or so but too much work after that.

They are really loud and crisp and are great for heavy/aggressive strummers. Anyway, the price was right so I bought it. We shall see,.

.https://www.ebay.com/itm/1970s-Made...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2763.l2649
 

Rayk

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Cool , don't know anything about them please enlighten me . ��
 

fronobulax

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Cool , don't know anything about them please enlighten me . ��

Maderia guitars were Guild's "offshore brand". 1970's (?) Compare to Sigma being Martin's offshore brand. They don't compete well with Westerly product from the same time but the ones that have survived are generally considered a very good low priced guitar. Someone who knows what they are talking about will be along soon. Perhaps they have not put a dent in a growler of a locally brewed milk stout and will make more sense?
 

richardp69

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I'll tell ya, the two I had before would compare favorably with many of the Guild, made in the USA (regardless of plant) Maple Jumbos. I hope this one will be as good.
 

bobouz

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Never was too impressed with the Madeiras I ran across in the '70s, but then again, can't say that I ever met up with a maple jumbo model!

That one looks really nice & may have some definite potential - Please update after receiving!
 

richardp69

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Yes, I'll be the 1st to admit those most Madeiras I've played have been so-so at best. The two exceptions have been the big Jumbo MIJ Maple and it's sibling the Mahogany version. I've owned both in the past and both were superb. I won't know until I get it in my hands but I do have high hopes for this one. The beauty is that even if it's a complete dud, it's not like it broke the bank or anything. Sure $300 is $300 but that's a lot easier to swallow than say $2k.
 

beecee

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Ok...I was going to leave this alone but as the proud owner (over 40 years), of one I have a confession to make.

I now own 6.

My original A-2, which left with me from The House of Guitars in the late 70's after playing that and an F-20. $$ not sound was the deciding factor but the A-2 was a very, very close second. If it did not sound so darned good I would have waited on the F-20. It was, and is, that good.

So, over the past few years I've picked up an A-20, (sort of a D-35/D-40 flavor), which, frankly, is absolutely stunning....one of my favorite finger picking guitars. It was at GC for cheap, picked it up played for a few and ran to the counter.

An A-30M, (maple cannon built like a D-30...gorgeous guitar)...came next, If it were not for the headstock plate and pick guard you'd swear it was a D-30. Really a lovely sounding guitar.

I have an A-12....it's so so it doesn't hold much to my Ibanez V...which is a real sleeper too.

Then there was an A30R, (D-50) which is really kind of a dud compared to all. Great looking wood but kinda flat. Trying different strings when I grab some on sale.

Last one came in a few months ago locally. This one is just scary...It has a neck and action like some of my old, (sold), Gibby electrics , Sound is amazing, A gorgeous maple guitar with a three piece back like a Martin D-35.

Here is one on reverb, (not the one I bought): https://reverb.com/item/4413249-madeira-by-guild-p500-professional-series-1973-natural-spruce.

To be honest, MY A-2, A20, A-30M and P-500 can hold their own as far as looks and construction...and sound...to a lot of other guitars I've owned or played. My friends feel the same way. Sure, I've played some losers of all Madeira models but the ones I've bought (save for the A-12 and A-30R) are pretty darned good.

TxBumper had some good info for me regarding where they were assembled but I lost it. He had high praise indeed for some of the Japanese guitars from that era.
 
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richardp69

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No need for a confession. A good sounding guitar is a good sounding guitar regardless of make or price. I forgot, I had one of the P 500's at one point as well and it was a really fine sounding guitar and the price was right.
 

beecee

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love the new sig Richard!!!!!
 

Bernie

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I first thought NMD would have meant New Mandolin Day, that the man had become wise, and said these are not so expensive, they take less space and I've got too many guitars...:smile-new: But no : so Guild made guitars in Japan too, and that's what these are...Fine! I had never heard of them before, but I bet they should be worth a try...

Seems like the action will be fine this time (and well after the 5th fret too I'd think from the photographs). So
it looks great (let's hope the sound will be there too).

One thing I'd like to know though; for this price is it solid maple they have ?
 
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beecee

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davismanLV

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love the new sig Richard!!!!!
Richard, I too love the new diminished signature on your profile, but I'll also admit to feeling a bit cheated and realized how many times I got caught up in all your amazing guitars. Maybe you could make the "I Gots Too Many Guitars" a link to an expanded list of your guitars for the curious? That way we could choose to follow the link and see how guitar poor we are by comparison?? So I do like the signature line, but I miss seeing all those amazing guitars!! :encouragement:
 

HeyMikey

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Again, I LIKE to see what guitars folks have so I can reach out to them if I have a question about something. Maybe long lists can be comma separated to take up less real estate? That shouldn’t piss off too many people.
 

fronobulax

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They're the GAD and Westerly Collection of yesteryears, then?

One way of looking at it and a valid one. My recollection from the '70's was that companies were leery of using the flagship brand name for an entry level product produced offshore. So we had Maderia, DeArmond By Guild, Sigma and so on. Fast forward and the people making the marketing and branding decisions don't have that concern and a complete branded product line means more than differentiation based upon country of origin means. As has been often discussed, many brand loyalists do not agree with that decision.
 

adorshki

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One way of looking at it and a valid one. My recollection from the '70's was that companies were leery of using the flagship brand name for an entry level product produced offshore. So we had Maderia, DeArmond By Guild,
Madeira was also "Madeira by Guild", fwiw:
madeira-by-guild-korean-square.jpg


Obviously in their case Guild wanted the buyer to be aware of the connection, perhaps to help establish the brands' creds and therefore perceived value?

:friendly_wink:
 
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bobouz

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Obviously in their case Guild wanted the buyer to be aware of the connection, perhaps to help establish the brands' creds and therefore perceived value?

Martin did the same thing in the '70s with Sigma. They definitely wanted to promote the connection, and essentially show that Sigma's were the "official" Martin copy guitars.
 

richardp69

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o.k., so I'm not gonna try and tell you this is every bit as good as any of my F 50 Maples but I will tell you this. For $300+ it's an exceptional sounding guitar. This one sounds every bit as good as either of the two I had owned (and sold) previously. It is also cosmetically superb and much better than my priors. This has a really full, deep and resonant sound/tone. And I'll tell ya this the sustain is almost forever.

If any of you get a chance to play/own one of these I would highly recommend you do so. It's hard for me to imagine you would be disappointed. Now, all Madeira's are not created equal but this particular model is really, and I mean really, good.

Happy camper here. I actually bought this to give as a gift to give to another player. And, I will do that after I've had a chance to spend a fair amount of time with it.
 

Bonneville88

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I believe you Richard, looking forward to some pics.

Now, all Madeira's are not created equal

Same with Guild and perhaps every other guitar... IME can be such variation between same models,
that's one of the reasons I've had two or more of the same model, the latest being
a pair of J4-NTs... interesting (to me) how different they are, playing one after the other.
 
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