Arch press

[Guildedagain]

Crazy piece of American guitar history there. What does that thing weigh? What the temp and current draw, 240V I presume.

Only an arch criminal could steal something like that.

 

[fronobulax]

Crazy piece of American guitar history there. What does that thing weigh? What the temp and current draw, 240V I presume.

Only an arch criminal could steal something like that.

To veer there was a lot of time between when it was announced that Ren had finished the design and build of the Oxnard factory and we first saw production. There was much speculation as to why and California environmental permits to allow for NCL finishes was often a good choice. However the last word I recall was that there were issues with the factory's impact on the local power grid that had to be addressed.

 

[chazmo]

Damn archies.... Suckin' all the town's power!

 

[sailingshoes72]

Only an arch criminal could steal something like that.

Go straight to jail! Do not pass “Go”. Do not collect $200. (... as a penalty for that joke!)

 

[Brucebubs]

Filmed in front of the press.

 

[SFIV1967]

I just discovered another little detail. The white label in the middle has Fender Musical Instruments Corp written on it with a "MX02" inventory number. The MX could be Mexico and the 02 could stand for 2002. Could this mean the press was not in Corona but was moved end of 2001 from Westerly to Ensenada? Maybe they pressed the backs there and shipped the arched backs into Corona from there?

Ralf

 

[chazmo]

Hmm, that I doubt, Ralf. It seems to me the Arcos series was much later in the decade than 2002. And, I'm pretty sure this press was in New Hartford by 2009.

 

[Guildedagain]

The owners of these arch backs keep their babies in their little Archie Bunkers ;]

Now the proud owner of something that's had it's back pressed at Westerly, and damnit, it's GREAT!

I got to stop buying Guilds thinking you can flip them because they're too good to let go of.

 

[SFIV1967]

Hmm, that I doubt, Ralf. It seems to me the Arcos series was much later in the decade than 2002. And, I'm pretty sure this press was in New Hartford by 2009.

Oh no, that's not what I said. (and yes, the Arcos line only came out in 2012) The press already moved to Tacoma in 2005 and Jay Pilzer wrote in the VG July 2010 issue about the press being moved from Tacoma to NH afterwards, but who said the press had to be in the Corona shop from 2002 till 2005? Maybe they had no space there? And Ensenada assembling parts (like the laminated back for F-50's or F-412/512) and shipping them into Corona would be nothing special for FMIC. All I noticed was that possbile Mexican inventory number on the press which to me would indicate she was not in Corona. Maybe somebody has a picture of the Corona Guild workshop with the press... It's all a theory. Hans most probably knows.
Ralf

 

[chazmo]

Could be, Ralf, but I still doubt it.

 

[adorshki]

No question about that, dread. That is what you'd call a serious piece of Guild history.

I nominated it as being the single most iconic piece of Guild tooling once. All I wanna know, is where are the 16" F-body (true F40) dies?

 

[adorshki]

Hmm, that I doubt, Ralf. It seems to me the Arcos series was much later in the decade than 2002. And, I'm pretty sure this press was in New Hartford by 2009.

I always assumed Ensenada had their own press due to that fact, but it doesn't eliminate the possibility that the press was in Ensenada in '02, before Ensenada got their own press.

Ralf's detective work as usual is impeccable, and the evidence supports his hypothesis. And Jay Pilzer said in that Vintage GuItar interview that Corona did in fact use parts made-to-spec in Mexico, he mentioned braces specifically, but that's why it would've been no big deal to go ahead and ship pre-pressed backs to Corona along with the other stuff.

 

[chazmo]

^ yeah, agreed. it's possible.

 

[General Dreedle]

It would be great to see a video of the press in action

 

[JohnW63]

What did they press backs with before Westerly?