Did I miss some Newark Street changes?

[Rambozo96]

Any word on how the Guild humbucker loaded NS models sound? I heard the newer Guild mini humbuckers didn’t sound very close to the originals but I haven’t seen any in the flesh to tru for myself.

 

[GAD]

The serial numbers make it pretty clear (see below link) and all new models without f-holes have "Made in China" or "Made in Korea" stickers to show the CoO. Now I agree that those stickers will disappear once the first onwer had them, so the DeArmond example was done better!

I tried to explain the serial number system for the various factories as good as possible in post #7 of this link. There are also links to example pictures in the post:

Where are NS Guilds made?

This may have been covered previously, but in case it has not: https://samick.fandom.com/wiki/SPG_Musical_Instruments_Co.

letstalkguild.com

Ralf

I don't mean clear here. You're the man when it comes to Guild factory information! I mean Guild should make it more clear in their material where the guitars are made. Calling the X175 Manhattan Special, the Jetstar, and the Starfire Is all "Newark St." makes it seem like they're all from the same source when they're from Korea, China, and Indonesia. There is no indication of this whatsoever on Guild's page: newark-st-collection In fact their FAQ page says that "Newark St. Guilds are made in Korea":

I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and think that they simply haven't updated the webpage (which was probably outsourced to begin with), but it rubs me the wrong way because they're advertising one thing and delivering something else.

 

[GAD]

Any word on how the Guild humbucker loaded NS models sound? I heard the newer Guild mini humbuckers didn’t sound very close to the originals but I haven’t seen any in the flesh to tru for myself.

The Guild LB1s sound fabulous - they're just horribly mismatched. You can hear all sorts of samples on my page: https://gadsguilds.com

 

[SFIV1967]

There is no indication of this whatsoever on Guild's page: newark-st-collection In fact their FAQ page says that "Newark St. Guilds are made in Korea".

Agreed, that is old and never updated information. But just as reference, Fender does not say where they make their foreign guitars on their homepage either.
It's about the same thing we discussd in the past, the majority of the buyers simply don't care if an iPhone was made in China or Taiwan or the Philippines or Singapore or Malaysia or Japan (not that they all work for Apple, just as example), all most consumers care is it is from Apple.
Ralf

 

[chazmo]

I've stuck this thread to the top of the solid/chambered forum. Guys, thanks for all the great information on updating us.

 

[HeyMikey]

I want to know where things are made. It should be a line item on the specs. Not making it obvious, burying in small print in some obscure page boarders on deceit to me. But it’s a numbers game to them. Some really care, many today don’t as much, or rather shrug it off if they get fooled.

 

[parker_knoll]

cheap import ear-pods

I think we need to be careful using the word "import" as a pejorative. Made in USA may have meant better in 1947 but I think that hasn't necessarily been true for a long time. A Schaller or ABM bridge is an "import", as is a Beyerdynamic microphone - all German, incidentally. While I love USA Guilds, made in USA can also be worse - I might mention cheese

Are there ear pods available that are not import? As far as I'm aware, the superior ones and the inferior ones are ALL import.

I want to know where things are made. It should be a line item on the specs. Not making it obvious, burying in small print in some obscure page boarders on deceit to me. But it’s a numbers game to them. Some really care, many today don’t as much, or rather shrug it off if they get fooled.

I agree with this, but as you say it's a caveat emptor thing. The price is usually the best indicator. That said, I do still respect a "Made in USA" mark and expect to pay more for it, as I would also "Made in Germany" or the increasingly rare "Made in England"

 

[F30]

Wow - this is a move in the wrong Direction.
It appears they dropped the multiple purfling around the top edge too in addition to the Guild pickguard which looks (looked) really sharp.
The Chinese is not a bad looking guitar but the one on the left is much nicer to the eye and is much classier to me.

 

[F30]

I sure hope they don't do the same to the S100.
I know some don't like the narrower headstock but I think the current S100 is pretty nice looking ...still.
They did take away the hardshell but there are aftermarket cases out there to protect.

I can't imagine removing the GUILD from the pickguard, changing the detail of the top of the pickups, or God forbid remove the iconic stop tail...yikes.
If it ain't broke,,,,,

 

[SFIV1967]

Wow - this is a move in the wrong Direction. It appears they dropped the multiple purfling around the top edge too in addition to the Guild pickguard which looks (looked) really sharp

Don't understand this wrong. The Chinese made model is not a replacement of the Korean made model, those are two very different guitar models! The SPG Korea model is a hollow body, the Yako China one a solid body.

M-75 Aristocrat Antique Sunburst | Guild Guitars

Guild's compact & lightweight M-75 Aristocrat model expertly evokes its predecessor of the early 1950s, with a gracefully sculpted single-cutaway hollow body specifically designed to produce the resonance of a larger instrument.

guildguitars.com

Aristocrat P90 Vintage Sunburst | Guild Guitars

This marks the welcome return of a highly popular semi-hollow Guild classic, with a graceful double-cutaway thinline body and incomparable tone and feel.

guildguitars.com

Ralf

 

[F30]

I guess it is all in the way you look at it.
If the M75 is being replaced - which is what I was getting from the earlier post - by the Aristocrat P90....... and you can't buy a
new M75 (NS) then that is a bummer for some.

....Or is the M-75 still going to be available in addition to the Aristocrat P90???
On the other hand - those who own the M-75 Aristocrat (Newark Street) may end
up seeing the value of theirs rise if they are phased out.

 

[fronobulax]

It is Guild being Guild. Circa 1971 the M-75 which had been a true hollowbody, was reintroduced as a (carved?) solid body.

 

[SFIV1967]

If the M75 is being replaced - which is what I was getting from the earlier post - by the Aristocrat P90....... and you can't buy a new M75 (NS) then that is a bummer for some.

I think you read this wrong and get exited about it for no reason. Two different models are offered since some time now in parallel and both are on the webpage as I posted the links above. This thread started in June and nothing has changed so far. If and what Guild will do in the future depends on what the public will buy in shops, if they only will buy the solid one because it is cheaper and nobody buys the hollow body one they will make decissions. But it will not depend on what we think at LTG, for sure not.
Over and out...
Ralf

 

[F30]

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[PittPastor]

FWIW:

I have an Aristocrat HH (MIC) and a Savoy 150 (MIK). And I had a MIK Aristocrat for a few weeks on eval.
My take is that Guild seems to have some real QC issues with their China plant.

The binding and the "Mother of Pearl" inlay on the Aristocrat HH (MIC) look a little cheap to my eye. Like plastic binding and a sticker for the "mother of pearl." I have the Trans-black model. I do like the look of the wood on it, I must say. It isn't as light as the MIK Aristocrat, but I sent the MIK back, and eventually decided to keep the MIC guitar for one reason: fret radius. I just never liked the 9 1/2″ radius on the MIK Aristocrat.

But, every guitar I have bought or looked at from Guild Korea is flawless. Not so the MIC. Fret 5 and 7 were high on the first one I got in (from Sweetwater). They took it back, did a full set-up on a new guitar and sent it out to me. Guess what, frets 5 and 7 are high. That can't be a coincidence. Guild has QC issues in China. (Sweetwater doesn't do anything to the frets as part of a setup, btw. I guess my local Luthier spoiled me, because he always checks frets).

I don't play the Aristocrat HH nearly as much as I do my Savoy. But, for our Christmas Eve service, I was getting feedback problems with the Savoy, so I had to switch. My Aristocrat had literally been hanging on the wall for a couple of months, untouched and unused. So, imagine my surprise when I discovered the 3-way switch isn't working. I can get the neck or the bridge pickup, but not both. This guitar is due for a full set-up by someone who knows what they are doing. Which is OK, I guess, but my Savoy (and the MIK Aristocrat) didn't need that. So, factor that into the price I guess...

What I like about the MIC Guild:

• Price. I don't have unlimited funds. I got it for something like $699 IIRC. That's hard to beat.
• Playability. Feels like a Guild. (If I close my eyes it's playability is as good as any guitar I own).
• Design. Has everything I wanted. Coil tap, humbuckers, 3 way switch. Lighter than the Epiphone Sheridan that I was thinking of getting when I found this one.
• Fretboard: I love the 11" radius. After 40 years of playing a Guild acoustic, having a fretboard the same on an electric that I know from my D40C was a bonus. It also has Medium Jumbo frets which makes it easy to play (after I learned to adjust my grip, to keep it from playing sharp.)

What I don't like:

• Looks cheap in the areas that are supposed to make it look better
• Fret wire is sharper in places than it should be
• With 5&7 frets high, I get some buzzing and tuning issues. Needs setup by a really good luthier.
• A switch went bad while the guitar was sitting? Are you kidding me? How does that happen? It's a guitar, not a piece of fruit. It shouldn't "go bad."

YMMV. But if I had a choice between the same guitar MIK or MIC, I'd take MIK every time. I don't regret buying the Aristocrat HH -- but I've had some buyer's remorse with it. And it isn't totally gone yet. Still don't love it like I love my other Guilds. (Only worse guitar I still own is the cursed MIM Guild that I can't get rid of...)