First post - New M-25 owner

Jaroboni

Jaroboni

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Hello, all! First post.

I recently purchased a brand-new M-25 and I am head-over-heels in love with this guitar! Guild has always been a special brand to me because my very good friend's grandfather, Al Dronge, founded the company. Ever since Cordoba brought back the USA line I had been considering the purchase of an M-20, and when I saw the M-25 that was it - I couldn't resist any longer! Here it is:

Guild.jpg


GREAT guitar. Playability, feel and sound are wonderful. Has a really unique voice and is perfect as my go-to for home playing: on the couch, at my desk, in a lawn chair outside, etc. I couldn't be happier.

So glad I found this forum and am looking forward to participating. Thanks for having me!

- Jaroboni
 
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Stuball48

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Jaro:
Welcome to the best guitar forum on the web. Specializing in Guilds but many on here would be on my list of "most knowledgeable" for any brand of guitar.
You have a beautiful guitar.
Your best friend's uncle has cost me thousands of dollars and I don't regret one spent penny.
Looking forward to your future comments!
 
Westerly Wood

Westerly Wood

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wow, that is quite a great looking acoustic. so basically an M20? just renamed to 25? very cool. welcome!
 
Jaroboni

Jaroboni

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Thanks, @Stuball48 ! I am looking forward to getting acquainted with everyone and am having a blast reading through old threads. I have been active on a few of the popular electric guitar forums, but since getting this new Guild my formerly-beloved electrics have been languishing largely unplayed. This guitar is such a joy.
 
Jaroboni

Jaroboni

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Westerly Wood said:
wow, that is quite a great looking acoustic. so basically an M20? just renamed to 25? very cool. welcome!
Click to expand...

Thanks! Yes, it's basically an M-20 with a bound body and gloss Nitro top/headstock veneer. Also has a unique spray job that Guild calls "California Burst." They aren't easy to find; I believe they debuted at Winter NAMM earlier this year and have been slow to hit the streets due to the current health crisis. This one has made being cooped up a lot easier; I can't wait to play it every day and have a very hard time putting it down.
 
Cougar

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Jaroboni said:
...Also has a unique spray job that Guild calls "California Burst."...
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, almost missed that! Very subtle - nice! Sweet little home playing, on the couch, at your desk, in a lawn chair Guild!
 
davismanLV

davismanLV

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Hey J!! Wow, I got stuck on that beautiful mahogany and the perfect small guitar burst and I'm in love. Obviously you are too! Welcome. This is a good place. I wish you hadn't shown me that guitar...... now I want one. Damn!! (y)
 
Westerly Wood

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also, I am interested in any Al Dronge stories you have from when you were a kid and a friend of his grandson. that would be awesome.
 
Jaroboni

Jaroboni

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Thanks. I became friends with Al's grandsons when I was in high school, some 15 years after Al died. I have remained very good friends with his oldest grandson since. His mom, Al's daughter Joy, still lives in western Mass. where we grew up and is a renowned flautist and music teacher.

I do not know a lot of stories about Al. I do know that he loved playing music with his family at home and missed performing once his company got off the ground and grew to consume so much of his time. I have always found interesting the way this contrasts with other industry figureheads, such as Leo Fender, who were not players. Al certainly had tremendous business savvy - especially coming from the retail side in NYC - but I believe he was first and foremost a player and approached guitar manufacturing largely from a player's perspective. In that regard, I see the "Made to Be Played" slogan as a genuine reflection on the spirit of the company from its very roots, and I think it is embodied in the guitars themselves.

Sorry I don't have more perspective on the man. His premature death was a genuine tragedy that clearly affected his family for decades thereafter. I will ask my friend the next time I see him if he can remember any other interesting anecdotes about Al.
 
Westerly Wood

Westerly Wood

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Jaroboni said:
Thanks. I became friends with Al's grandsons when I was in high school, some 15 years after Al died. I have remained very good friends with his oldest grandson since. His mom, Al's daughter Joy, still lives in western Mass. where we grew up and is a renowned flautist and music teacher.

I do not know a lot of stories about Al. I do know that he loved playing music with his family at home and missed performing once his company got off the ground and grew to consume so much of his time. I have always found interesting the way this contrasts with other industry figureheads, such as Leo Fender, who were not players. Al certainly had tremendous business savvy - especially coming from the retail side in NYC - but I believe he was first and foremost a player and approached guitar manufacturing largely from a player's perspective. In that regard, I see the "Made to Be Played" slogan as a genuine reflection on the spirit of the company from its very roots, and I think it is embodied in the guitars themselves.

Sorry I don't have more perspective on the man. His premature death was a genuine tragedy that clearly affected his family for decades thereafter. I will ask my friend the next time I see him if he can remember any other interesting anecdotes about Al.
Click to expand...


this is a great tidbit and totally makes sense to me: "I do know that he loved playing music with his family at home and missed performing once his company got off the ground and grew to consume so much of his time."

I can imagine this. I remember a pic in Han's great Guild book of Al playing a D50 that just got finished.
 
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