I have been kind of Guild obsessing for the past year (actually 59 years-after my first guitar) or so. Having seen all the permeations/variations of ownership and marketing approaches over the years I feel pretty good about Cordoba's approach toward Guild. Fender did some really good things with Guild but overall I just don't think they got the whole Guild mystique going to market. A lot of folks here feel pretty convinced that Westerly and then later New Haven were the end all be all of Guild manufacturing. That may be very true but America (not really addressing the world economy here but can't be too much different) has change a LOT since then. The middle class jobs that provided a solid backdrop to raising a family and easing gently into a comfortable retirement never fully came back after the last recession. I see so many folks struggling to get by. 401K's decimated, working 2 or 3 jobs and making less than they did with just one good job. Disposable income has shrunk (like my waist line) and the ability to buy a $2,500 to $6,000 guitar is possibly gone forever for many folks. I could afford those guitars but what if something happened and we needed the money for (old folks concern) healthcare? Maybe it is just me but my level of self-indulgence has never been high so I get that. And this post is not meant as a condemnation or judgement on those that do indulge in these acquisitions but merely my take on the state of the US buying power. For years now I have seen folks that appear to not have much money (Maybe they are just cheap gazillionares) swiping their $800 iPhones while waiting in the check out line and wondered how can they afford that phone. But I am heading off track so back to Cordoba.
I think Cordoba is doing an excellent job introducing a lot of historical takes on U.S. made Guilds for those that can indulge. And that is significant but my main kudos go towards their import (Westerly and Newark Street) lines. They have created and built a multi level offering that hits so many feature sets of historical Guilds at a fraction of the cost. Now on to the acoustics but this also applies to the Newark Street Line as well. All of Guilds current offerings are not all historically correct but the essence is mostly there at least to me. They are making solid top/laminated side and back acoustics that look and sound great at affordable price points. Would you prefer an all wood Guild? They have it. They offer Dreads, Jumbos, Orchestra, OM, Slope, Quasi Parlor (00) and more in various finishes with hard cases and gig bags. They can mostly be played right out of the box many times without even a set up.
So my point is RIGHT NOW may be the best time in Guild history. It is for me. They keep putting out guitars within my financial scope that make me want to spend my money. And really isn't that what it is all about. They have to sell guitars to stay in business. So buy more Guilds...I will! Thank You Cordoba!!!
I think Cordoba is doing an excellent job introducing a lot of historical takes on U.S. made Guilds for those that can indulge. And that is significant but my main kudos go towards their import (Westerly and Newark Street) lines. They have created and built a multi level offering that hits so many feature sets of historical Guilds at a fraction of the cost. Now on to the acoustics but this also applies to the Newark Street Line as well. All of Guilds current offerings are not all historically correct but the essence is mostly there at least to me. They are making solid top/laminated side and back acoustics that look and sound great at affordable price points. Would you prefer an all wood Guild? They have it. They offer Dreads, Jumbos, Orchestra, OM, Slope, Quasi Parlor (00) and more in various finishes with hard cases and gig bags. They can mostly be played right out of the box many times without even a set up.
So my point is RIGHT NOW may be the best time in Guild history. It is for me. They keep putting out guitars within my financial scope that make me want to spend my money. And really isn't that what it is all about. They have to sell guitars to stay in business. So buy more Guilds...I will! Thank You Cordoba!!!
