Counterfeit or not, I don't like it, but I'm old school

[Curlington]

Admittedly, I have not followed Guild's offerings since it left New Hartford. The pickguard on this "Dreadknought" startled me. I hope this is a counterfeit. If not, is it really good for the brand to have offerings like this?

B string top crack no extra charge.

Rosewood Guild Acoustic/Electric - musical instruments - by owner -...

Acoustic/Electric Guild with grover tuning pegs, rosewood back and sides, cured Cedar top, and quilted walnut binding. Not made anymore. Case can be purchased extra.

delaware.craigslist.org

"Rosewood Guild Acoustic/Electric - $500 (Cape May Point)

condition: excellent

make / manufacturer: Guild

size / dimensions: Dreadknought

Acoustic/Electric Guild with grover tuning pegs, rosewood back and sides, cured Cedar top, and quilted walnut binding. Not made anymore. Case can be purchased extra."

 

[chazmo]

I think that's a GAD model. That looks like the original pick guard that they used for a while when they were first introduced. Not sure of the model.

 

[chazmo]

Oh, and I agree... I don't like it either.

 

[Westerly Wood]

I have never seen such binding on a GAD, or a Guild acoustic for that matter.

 

[Neal]

This is a GAD (Guild Acoustic Design), the earliest phase of Chinese Guild production. They are fine instruments. This one is a little worse for wear. The early ones had wood binding.

And the top is spruce, not cedar.

 

[chazmo]

Yeah, that looks like maple binding, Woody. But, the rest of it looks like a GAD-30R.

 

[chazmo]

Oh, Woody, the GAD-30R did have maple bindings... So, that's what this puppy is.

 

[Curlington]

Thanks for the info. I've glanced at the numerous budget Guilds in a number of stores, but tried to ignore them. It just rubs me the wrong way, but, then, so does almost everything else in the 21st Century, haha, kidding, sort of. It's just, I have such a fondness for those made in Westerly and earlier. I did, however, have two Corona Dreds that were very, very good solid wood guitars and amazing bargains. I'll try to have a more open mind about it.

 

[SFIV1967]

This is a GAD (Guild Acoustic Design), the earliest phase of Chinese Guild production.

2006 catalog:



Feb 1, 2007 pricelist:



Ralf

 

[Curlington]

Wow, solid wood. Who knew? You all did, evidently.

 

[chazmo]

Yup, solid woods on these. Note, polyester (or maybe polyurethane?) finish -- not nitrocellulose. And, yeah, that pickguard...

By most reports, Curlington, these first generation GADs were very nice.

 

[SFIV1967]

Note, polyester (or maybe polyurethane?) finish

The catalogs indeed showed polyester:



The Westerly factory used polyurethane for a long time but it sounds like the Chinese GADs really used polyester.

Ralf

 

[chazmo]

^ I think you're right, Ralf!!! I'm not too clear on what the current Westerly series (or even the Newark Street series) are coated with since they're coming from various places now... E.g., I have no idea what my Indonesian-built Surfliner is finished with.

But, agreed.... polyester for the early GADs. Thanks!

 

[jwsamuel]

Yeah, that looks like maple binding, Woody. But, the rest of it looks like a GAD-30R.

It looks just like my GAD-30R.

 

[Bill Ashton]

When these GAD's came out, there was a big broohaha about Asian Guilds, this was either just before New Hartford came
on line or about the same time. While this one looks beat, they were nice guitars, I have one. Finish is thick-ish, but does not
seem to affect the volume at all. These were well done with maple trim, Grover Sta-Tite tuners and bone nut/saddle. The next series
to follow was cheapened with Grover-look-alikes and plastic nut/saddle.

If you look far enough back, I think this maligned pickguard shape was actually used by Guild before on some cutaway model. Ralf probably has it at his fingertips

 

[Westerly Wood]

Back in 2008, I would frequent a guitar shop that had a GAD-D50. It sounded incredible. I think it was priced about $500 or so, and in great shape. Both my wife and I really liked it and discussed buying it several times. Never did, but that would have been before New Hartford. I think GAD was more Tacoma timeline, know?

 

[Rayk]

For that price plus a bit more you can get an OM 120 . I guess some others as well . But having a bit of experience with Gads and newer models the OM -120 especially the 2020 models I think are a bit better then the older ones in richness . Being all hog African hog that is it’s an amazing sound machine . Sustain is good overtones are blissfully sweet a joy to play with sounds like that even volume is good nothing dull about it.

I bought it for my camping guitar but though I hate to say it , it’s sound to my ear is very sweet indeed and I like it better then or at least equal to my higher end guitars . Lol

I have a tune two posted here if your interested .

my usual disclaimer is there’s always a chance of a dud . But I had two so one older and now the newer one both shared the same characteristics with new one being richer as said above .

 

[Sal]

I hope this is a counterfeit. If not, is it really good for the brand to have offerings like this?

Ha! I've railed on this pick guard before and I agree that it's not good for the brand. File this under "every guitar maker has made some boner design decisions" right next to Ovation's Adamas headstock.

 

[beecee]

Ha! I've railed on this pick guard before and I agree that it's not good for the brand. File this under "every guitar maker has made some boner design decisions" right next to Ovation's Adamas headstock.

I have had 3 GADS. Think the necks were all that kept me from keeping them.

Love the maple binding and the fret markers, (mine were not the dots).

But I disliked the Chesterfield. Really a bad "version" of the iconic emblem.

Funny, if a guitar has chrome tuners, I prefer the Chesterfield, gold tuners...gimme a G Shield any day.

 

[Uke]

It just rubs me the wrong way, but, then, so does almost everything else in the 21st Century, haha, kidding, sort of.