Guild Archtops -2007

[jp]

On the other hand, I noticed lower prices on some of the cool European guitars that were hard to find here, such as the funky German archtops (Hofner, Framus, Klira, Hoyer, etc.), some Swedish Levins and Hagströms, and especially decent Spanish classicals.

 

[Walter Broes]

That's true, especially Levins are often reasonably priced for what they are. I do see less European guitars for sale than you'd expect though.

 

[hideglue]

... Inference was the plant hasn't attained profitability, & needs to meet some yet unattained production number to do so.
...

Geez, that doesn't sound familiar

 

[billydlight]

I think part of the FMIC mindset re: Guild is that how can they sell a brand new Guild Electric Archtop for 1400 when you can get one from the 50's for nearly that price. They don't have that issue with Gretsch of Fender. Guild has not reached that insanity level (thankfully) that makes it sensible for thatm to really market it right. Think about it they market Gretsch and Fender with the "well you can't afford a real one so...." approach.

New Fenders and Gretsch's are for people who cannot afford a vintage one. They don't know who new Guilds are for.

 

[Jahn]

Lookit. If they put out a Tacoma-built Starfire III and V, both with Bigsby vibratos - that stuff will move like HOTCAKES. C'mon!

 

[L4sleeko]

I have no connection with this particular guitar, but I own one. Can't believe it hasn't sold yet. Reasonable price. I paid $100.00 less for mine. I'am real pleased, and if someone is looking for a Guild archtop, this is a great place to start. It is one of my favorites in my group . . .

Go here;

http://www.archtop.com/ac_05_X150.html


Here is mine in a group photo;

 

[dklsplace]

...Can't believe it hasn't sold yet. Reasonable price. I paid $100.00 less for mine. I'am real pleased...

http://www.archtop.com/ac_05_X150.html

I'm sad to say the X-150's don't seem to bring the money they should on the used market. Very fine instruments indeed. BTW, I bought my Westerly built X-150D NOS. It had been hanging on the shop wall for 2-3 years. I paid nearly $500 less than that. 8)

 

[Jeff]

Their site has pretty darn nice pictorial on shipping guitars.
Good advice on asking your local shop for a proper box to ship a guitar.

http://www.archtop.com/ac_shipping.html.

 

[john_kidder]

I send that archtop shipping page to anyone from whom I buy a guitar. It's very helpful and the shippers are generally appreciative.

 

[kentukblue]

Im not an electric player but im in the market for an entry level ....dearmond starfire type. I do have many friends in mid 20's that play electric and right now is the time for Guild to get in there. Everyday i see more people picking up semi and hollow body boxes. It might be trendy or it might be that tastes are improving and that rich jazzbox sound is catching ears again. Whichever the case, FMIC needs to take advantage.

 

[hideglue]

Ibanez Artcore



These things are an amazing value
With only a slight mod - swap out cheapie 500k pots for CTS - you get something thats quite useable
You could go the extra step and replace the p'ups, nut, etc. and still leave your wallet intact.
Plus its a fun project

 

[capnjuan]

Ibanez Artcore

Reviewed well with younger and older players....Harmon-Central Reviews Here

cj

 

[Graham]

Hey Brody, I was in the same quandary as you. I wanted to get into the jazz sound and vibe. I went for an DeArmond X-155, because I wanted the deep hollow body. Along the way though I looked very seriously at the Artcore. The looks just blew me away. I was convinced by other folks though to go with the DeArmond.

I don't play it enough, yet, but it's a great guitar. It'll get it's play time, that's for sure. If you can find one to play, play the Starfire. There are tons of the Artcores around, so that one should be easy to play.

Good luck on that little journey.

 

[Guildmark]

There have been several very nice DeArmond X-155's on eBay lately. All less than $500. One was recently re-listed after getting zero bids.

Like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/DeArmond-Hollow...oryZ2384QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Graham]

That one looks like mine. Prices do seem to be on the down side, I paid about $600 USD for mine. :shock:

Think I'll try and pick up some Enron stock.

 

[jazzman]

Hi everyone,
I'm not sure if anyone has hit on this part of the discussion, but I feel that I may have something to contribute on the matter. I work at a guitar store so I have been able to talk with the Guild/Gretsch rep on this matter.
First I"ll make my own personal observations. Fender's Acousitc guitars Stink! They always have. They are not well made, sound crummy, and don't play well either. Guild does have a heritage of fine archtop guitars, and some awesome electrics as well, but in the end Fender doesn't want to rely on the reputation for Archtops (for example) when the market doesn't justify doing so. Except for a small population who play archtops on a regular basis, the main market doesn't care.
As I"m sure we all know it takes a LOT of work to build an archtop guitar and I don't think fender saw it as a worthy investment when many archtop players will play an actual Bennedetto, or a Manzer, or a Triggs, or even a Heritage! (Which are fantastic by the way!)
However, since the 60s Guild has maintained a strong following for flattop guitars. I really feel that Fender bought Guild so that they could have a strong brand name for an acoustic line. They have really expanded the acoustic line, and the guitars they are making are pretty darn good. (We sell them at the store I work at)
So if you look at it from the practical standpoint of strictly business, fender has "Fender" as it's electric line for all occasions, they have the agreement with Gretsch so they have the hollow body electric line (With a name that is more recognizable for a hollow body electric to the main stream culture), they have Jackson and Charvel for the shredders, and they have Guild for their Acoustic line. Definitly going to hit all the niche markets there.
NOW here is the weird thing. The Guild rep did tell me that they are thinking about reintroducing the electric line. However I really hope they don't because he told me they would be made in Japan. Imagine a brand new Guild X-500, that looks just like the old one, maybe it plays all right, sounds pretty decent, etc....but it's made in Japan....and it costs $3000 just like a gretsch!!! What a shame!!!!
Two other thoughts if I may. When I try to show people guitars (whether it be new acoustics or new electrics) MOST of the people have never heard of Guild, or they've heard of Guild but they've always thought that guild was a "Budget" brand etc etc. It's hard to convince people and educate them when they've been brainwashed by the marketing machine of Fender, Gibson, Martin, Taylor, etc etc.
Okay final thought! The Guild/Gretsch rep was in our store and I made a great joke at the company's expense. We were talking about the two Gretsch guitars that are made in america in the fender custom shop. One of the fellas at the store asked him why they list for $12,000 and I jumped in right away and asked him if that's because they custom shop guys suck at making hollowbodies and so it takes them forever?
all that I will say is that he got really quiet because I think he was afraid to answer....nuff said!

 

[california]

Points well taken Jazzman -- it is kind of scary though the way FMIC boucnes production around the world -- now when you buy a new Coutry Gentleman you can't be assured of exactly what country it camer from.

Interesting that they would hint at Japanese Guild electrics when they're married to China for the GADs and they are already making Gretsch electrics in Korea. Why don't they just start by making Corona Bluesbirds again, they were great.

 

[dklsplace]

I've heard Japanese electrics as well. Shipped unfinished to the states for finish & hardware.

Lets hope they'll resurrect the custom shop for special orders & limited runs in the US.

 

[Jeff]

I'll offer my clueless observation on Ibanez guitars.

Played one of these a few days ago, picked it off the wall because of the Bigsby.

I think it was priced at $350 - $399 or so brand new. Slick player it was, gave me serious Archtop gas.

Been lookin at X 175's & other assorted Vintage Guilds with hungry eyes & drool on my chin since.

 

[jazzman]

Let me take a quick peek into the comment about the gretsch guitars. In regards to the comment about not knowing where they're made, actually you can know exactly where they are made.
All Gretsch Professional line guitars are still made by the terrada manufacturing company in Japan. Fender has made sure that specs are more correct to the respective vintage models. All in all, the professional line Gretsch guitars are better made, nicer playing guitars than the originals (sorry to say) but c'mon....$3000 for a japanese made guitar (no offense to the Japanese)
Anything that is "Gretsch Electromatic" is either made in Korea, or china. Basically the electromatic hollowbodies are made in Korea (I'm guessing by Samick) and the Solidbody Electromatics are made in China.
In regards to the bluesbirds...it's such a sticky situation. I think one thing Fender could have seen was how Gibson was getting on the case of everyone from PRS to Heritage about their 'single cut' guitars. Obviously we all know how that ended for Gibson, but I think Fender also saw the writing on the wall that the Les Paul was instantly more recognized by the LARGER market. I'm not saying that they are better, or anything but what we all have to remember is that Fender is interested in making money first and foremost. They will only go to where the dollars are. So even though the Bluesbird kicks the butt of any les paul IMHO anyday of the week, fender isn't going to care about that if they aren't going to sell 100,000 of them. Also, the bluesbird suffered from poor sales. I honestly feel that is because Fender really didn't do ANYTHING to advertise and promote the bluesbird...but I guess in the end they just didn't want to make them anymore.
Same with things like aristocrats or X-350s etc etc. WE know they are cool and if they were well made and priced right WE know that WE would buy them....however WE are such a small percentage of the population. Fender would not have the time, patience, money to jig up for production to make 500 guitars.;
Now on the converse, as I"m sure some of you have read, I am putting together my own workshop to build guitars. I'm just one guy and I don't really have any overhead or anything like that. So when I build my guitars (mainly recreations of the pre-gibson Epiphone line, but with Guild aristocrats and X series guitars in there too) if I sell 50 guitars I'll be squealing with Joy. Heck if I build and sell 20 guitars I'll be happy as a lark.
It's all a matter of scale. Fender is a HUGE Multi million dollar CORPORATION whose first priority is making money, so they want to make as much money as they can.
On the other hand...I just want to make enough money to live a modest existance doing what I love to do.
It's all about the down-home grass roots existance.
As the advertisments for Triggs guitars say "Chinese junk is a boat, it shouldn't be your guitar."