B Stock Guild Guitars

[idealassets]

I've probably been guilty of implying all "B" stock was sold without warranty when NH close.
It looks like timing was everything.
I just definitely recall one list that was put up here very late in the game that specified the "B" stock on that list would not have warranty. The prices of all the models on that list were like 50% retail list or less.
It would have been possible for a dealer to buy that stuff and offer their own warranty or over the course of time lose track of the fact that NH specifically excepted it from warranty.
(I think we saw one example of that already when somebody was shopping D50's recently)
That, coupled with the evidence offered that the "B" itself requires close scrutiny to even find, is why I suggest checking a questionable NOS New Hartford with Cordoba, because it appears they do have the listing of those un-warranted s/n's.

Backtracking a bit, It think it was Union Guitars that I called about the New Hartford Guild guitars. I never got around to discussing warrantees with them since at the time their prices seemed high. This was in comparison to prices from a few relatively local dealers that were doing their best to support the Guild brand.

 

[SFIV1967]

I think it was Union Guitars that I called about the New Hartford Guild guitars. I never got around to discussing warrantees with them since at the time their prices seemed high.

Craig, yes, Carl from Union Music had sent to some of us frequent updates about the guitars sold during the last few days of NH. There were different batches, there were A-stock and B-stock lists and some had the original Guild Warranty except for finish issues. And there were others selling as USED and with NO factory warranty. Also the prices were highly discounted depending on version. Some LTG members got amazing deals.
Ralf

 

[Zelja]

As for today it is great that Cordoba is maintaining the integrity of Guild guitars and warrantees, and that it will keep their reputation as an American icon.

This sounds great in theory but is it happening regularly in practice? If anyone has had this experience could they PM me with the person they dealt with from Cordoba?

I ask because I have a warranty issue with an NH Guild (underset neck needing a reset). I have contacted Guild/Cordoba through the website & received the automated reply that they would contact me shortly etc. After a few days, nothing was forthcoming so I followed up with full explanation of the issue in an email with pics, supporting emails from luthiers etc. No response after a week so resent the email. Another week gone by & nada. My next step is an international call.

 

[adorshki]

This sounds great in theory but is it happening regularly in practice? If anyone has had this experience could they PM me with the person they dealt with from Cordoba?

Zelja you have my sincere sympathy on this.
I've heard pros and cons about Cordoba stepping up to the plate regarding warranties, although it's about a 3-to-one ratio, 3 good stories and one bad one, that one actually not confirmed by owner but mentioned second-hand by our moderator Default who understandably wanted to let the owner bring up the story themselves if they so desired.
I think you may be a victim of a combination of awkward and possibly yet-to-be-resolved circumstances:
Did you buy it new from a store in Australia?
In New Hartford Guild had different policy for US and international sales.
If you did buy it in AU, have you contacted that seller?
I think it would be reasonable to guess that the warranty's instructions to contact the seller first would still apply in this situation.
It's possible Cordoba doesn't actually nave an authorized dealer network set up yet?
It's possible an authorized dealer is also authorized to subcontract work inside AU as opposed to undertaking international shipping to Oxnard.
We've already seen examples of Oxnard customer service not being 100% up-to-speed on Guild history and I suspect this issue is probably stumping whoever's reading your emails.
Anyway, not to apologize for 'em, but to help you regain some patience in a situation that would certainly torque me up as well.
Also, what about Facebook? Oxnard seems to be geared towards social media communication.

 

[Rayk]

This does stink , I've have had great contact with Córdoba . I can see the hardships being an over seas thing but I think it's possible to be worked out .

I will offer to make contact to help find a coarse of action for you if no one else here who might be more closely connected is willing .... ?

 

[twocorgis]

Zelja you have my sincere sympathy on this.
I've heard pros and cons about Cordoba stepping up to the plate regarding warranties, although it's about a 3-to-one ratio, 3 good stories and one bad one, that one actually not confirmed by owner but mentioned second-hand by our moderator Default who understandably wanted to let the owner bring up the story themselves if they so desired.
I think you may be a victim of a combination of awkward and possibly yet-to-be-resolved circumstances:
Did you buy it new from a store in Australia?
In New Hartford Guild had different policy for US and international sales.
If you did buy it in AU, have you contacted that seller?
I think it would be reasonable to guess that the warranty's instructions to contact the seller first would still apply in this situation.
It's possible Cordoba doesn't actually nave an authorized dealer network set up yet?
It's possible an authorized dealer is also authorized to subcontract work inside AU as opposed to undertaking international shipping to Oxnard.
We've already seen examples of Oxnard customer service not being 100% up-to-speed on Guild history and I suspect this issue is probably stumping whoever's reading your emails.
Anyway, not to apologize for 'em, but to help you regain some patience in a situation that would certainly torque me up as well.
Also, what about Facebook? Oxnard seems to be geared towards social media communication.

I got the guitar (with a warranty) from Carl at Union Music and shipped it to Zelko in Oz Al, but Zelko is the original purchaser and warranty holder.

I personally am not happy at all with Cordoba's response to either Zelko's Orpheum or Christopher Cozad's Orpheum, both of which I had a hand in. It seems to me that they're used to denying warranty claims on cheap Asian guitars, and want to carry that policy over to the expensive ones, and having Ren (who's from Gibson, and who are also no slouch at denying warranty claims) doesn't help I'm sure. Thankfully all the Orpheums that I've had had great neck sets, but if Cordoba wants to play in the boutique arena, they had better learn to provide commensurate customer service. You would never experience this poor level of customer service from Bourgeois, Collings, Huss and Dalton and the like.

 

[chazmo]

Agree with Sandy. Orphs became Guild's top-of-the-line towards the end there. It would be very disappointing if they don't step up to keep their reputation. Even forgetting the boutique guys, I would also mention that Taylor sets a very high bar in this regard, and CMG doesn't have to look very far down the street to see that.

 

[chazmo]

By the way, I didn't have time to review this whole thread... I take it Zelko's (and Pascal's) Orpheums were not factory seconds, right?

 

[twocorgis]

By the way, I didn't have time to review this whole thread... I take it Zelko's (and Pascal's) Orpheums were not factory seconds, right?

I think you mean Christopher Charlie, but no, neither of them were factory seconds. I had a chat with Zelko last night after I made my post, and oddly enough there was some movement on CMG's part while we were talking. The problem will still likely be, like Christopher, he's going to be out quite a bit of shipping costs to even reach a verdict from them, and I think that's wrong, too. Also agree with you about Taylor's excellent customer service.

 

[adorshki]

I got the guitar (with a warranty) from Carl at Union Music and shipped it to Zelko in Oz Al, but Zelko is the original purchaser and warranty holder.

Appreciate the clarification, more for "the record" than personal curiosity.
I couldn't tell from his signature/didn't remember it was an Orpheum of all things.
Saw the other post about "some movement" on CMG's part.
Your calm expression of extreme dissatisfaction without resorting to hyperbole would be exactly the thing that would generate my sympathy on Facebook.
I just realized that for all my previous misgivings about it, social media could be a two-edged sword for a maker in a scenario like this, eh..............................?
And without trying sound like I'm blowing my own horn about it, maybe somebody at CMG read my earlier reference to Facebook and realized that same thing?
We DO know they follow this forum even if they understandably refrain from posting.

 

[adorshki]

I got the guitar (with a warranty) from Carl at Union Music and shipped it to Zelko in Oz Al, but Zelko is the original purchaser and warranty holder.

Appreciate the clarification, more for "the record" than personal curiosity.
And it was so important I had to say it twice!!
Or more accurately, "oops, how'd I do dat?"

 

[Zelja]

Just to follow up...

Rayk - thanks for the offer, it's well appreciated. Funnily enough I received an email from CMG about 5 minutes after your post! Maybe coincidence but maybe you have helped already!

Al - Thanks for your concern. Sandy explained the purchase history quite succinctly. It's a 12 Fret Dread BTW (& I have now updated my signature!!). Rest assured I went through all the appropriate channels & did all I was asked before running into a dead end & then contacting CMG direct. I initially got a response that "maybe" I can get it fixed under warranty from the Australian distributor. They are in Perth all the way on the other side of the country from me. I contacted them but they also send their resets do another place in Adelaide - two thirds of the way back towards me! Now I wasn't really keen on sending the guitar on a magical mystery tour like that on a "maybe". In any case they wouldn't do it under warranty as they had nothing to do with Guild at the time. I appreciate that it is all a bit convoluted in one way with where the guitar was bought, where it is now & the whole change of ownership thing. Still, on the other hand it's simple as there seems to be a very basic production flaw which 2 luthiers here are pretty adamant about. Now that CMG have made contact we'll see how it plays out. I have come up with a suggestion on how this is best fixed but we'll see...

Sandy - good talking to you the other day. I understand you concerns (& have some myself of course) but as Charlie says, hopefully CMG step up up to the plate, not just in my case but in all similar ones as well, not to mention in the production of fine American instruments in Guild's rich tradition, which we are all looking forward to.

 

[Rayk]

Very cool they contacted you .... Nothing I did but that's not to say that they ain't reading these threads along with going over our past conversations and realizing that " Maybe we should get back to zelja !" It's the less painful way for sure ! Lmao Happy Friday ! Err .. Saturday to you down under folks

 

[adorshki]

They are in Perth all the way on the other side of the country from me. I contacted them but they also send their resets do another place in Adelaide - two thirds of the way back towards me! Now I wasn't really keen on sending the guitar on a magical mystery tour like that on a "maybe".

But it's just an island, isn't it? (Ducks and covers)

In any case they wouldn't do it under warranty as they had nothing to do with Guild at the time. I appreciate that it is all a bit convoluted in one way with where the guitar was bought, where it is now & the whole change of ownership thing. Still, on the other hand it's simple as there seems to be a very basic production flaw which 2 luthiers here are pretty adamant about. Now that CMG have made contact we'll see how it plays out. I have come up with a suggestion on how this is best fixed but we'll see...

Good to hear they finally made contact.
Let's hope the hurdle is simply their current lack of authorized dealer/repair network, did I understand is that correctly?
I'm guessing you're aiming for a compensation deal between them and a luthier you can mutually approve of and ideally avoid the risks of shipping?
It would seem to be the sensible and most economical move for both parties, but I guess there could be issues I can't conceive of.

 

[Rayk]

We DO know they follow this forum even if they understandably refrain from posting.

Sorry brother I totally missed this ! Did not mean to steel the idea . Hahahahaha FB and lots of shares
Will get someone's attention



Let me add , I know the love you folks have for Guild it's something special for sure . This must be upsetting to a lot of you and more frustrating to others if that's not one and the same .

Time will tell and I hope for the best

 

[adorshki]

Sorry brother I totally missed this ! Did not mean to steel the idea . Hahahahaha FB and lots of shares
Will get someone's attention

No worries, buddy, some of us cheer-lead and some of us actually get out there and do it.
I'm not even on Facebook, but it's obvious you're willing to go out and take one for the team, so to speak.
My hat's off to ya.

 

[Rayk]

No worries, buddy, some of us cheer-lead and some of us actually get out there and do it.
I'm not even on Facebook, but it's obvious you're willing to go out and take one for the team, so to speak.
My hat's off to ya.

Haha ... Have a lot of practice at cannon fodder

 

[adorshki]

Haha ... Have a lot of practice at cannon fodder

It's a tough job and I'm glad somebody else is doing it.

 

[Rayk]

It's a tough job and I'm glad somebody else is doing it.

Just wish it payed more but I understand if you have a college degree you can earn 30,000 more a year .

 

[adorshki]

Just wish it payed more but I understand if you have a college degree you can earn 30,000 more a year .

Because cannon fodder's got a pretty short average career length.