adorshki
Reverential Member
Jay retired and closed New Hope a while back, coupla years I think.Long time away, but a conversation about Gruhn-designed Guilds is going to bring me back.
I have five - GF60RCE, GF60M, D66, Studio 24 and a Nightbird II. Used to have an F44, wish I still did, and a lovely F46 that I sold to a friend and still get to play occasionally.
It had been my understanding from conversations with Hans, Jay Pilzer (is Jay, "The Guild Guy" still around?), and Jerre Haskew (then President of Guild) that Gruhn was hired to develop the "best production guitars in America", and that Kim Walker realized those designs first at the custom shop and then inside Guild. Think I have that right - if not I'm sure Hans will comment.
According to Gruhn in that article I linked, he was first approached by Guild to do the F44 and F46 and 2 dreadnoughts in '84, which led to them inviting him to design the Nightbird.
The note about Haskew doesn't conflict with that and clarifies just when and how he joined 'em, assuming it's correct.
ML Bob's recap in post 38 seems to confirm timing you mention about Kim Walker's tenure..
Oh yeah, welcome back, and I'm very curious about that GF60rce you mention:
Is it long or short scale?
Last edited: