Guild Dealers

[tonewood]

Why is it so hard to find Guilds, They seem to be few dealers out there. Guitar Center has one on their site, but don't carry them in their stores. I asked if I could order one being a Fender dealer I thought no problem. They can't order them doesn't make sense to me. :shock:

 

[dpicker]

talk to bing at http://www.guitarsofmontana.com good people to deal with and a great price.

 

[Bing k]

Thanks dpicker,

Guild is a specialty line of Fender. As are Gretsch, Jackson, Charvel, etc. You must be set up by a representative of the company(Fender) as a dealer in each specific line. Fender guitars and amps are what's called a "priority line"
It is usually territorial and you may or may not receive permission to sell over the internet which has it's own set of rules.

There are volume requirements if you are a dealer of any of the lines. The company wants good representation across the line in the showroom.

Now and again an exception might be made for a Fender dealer or Fender speciality dealer to to be "accommodated" to receive a product from a line they are not a dealer for.

 

[coastie99]

More bloody "Corporation" bollocks !!!

 

[6L6]

+1 on Bing at Guitars of Montana.

 

[Jeff]

Guild inventory is building in the local shops here in The Pacific NW.

http://www.music6000.com/

6 months ago nothing, now the local shop here in Olympia has a nice cross section of the new Guild models, including the Contemporary & Vintage Series.

American music in the Fremont District of Seattle has several as well.
http://www.americanmusic.com/

 

[68tele]

Joe's Island Music in Langley, WA (Whidbey Island for you city folk) has a nice selection.

http://joesislandmusic.com/

Ed

 

[West R Lee]

Bing,

If that's the case and I'm allowed to ask you, what are the criteria for you to be able to carry Guild? You must also carry Fender amps and guitars? You must be able to sell so many Guilds by having a customer base that can supports the line?

I know these are things that you might rather not share, but if you can, you've really aroused my curiosity.

Thanks Bing,
West

 

[Bing k]

Bing,

You must also carry Fender amps and guitars?

West

No.

Fender guitars and amps are a proprietary line. Meaning the line is more protected than with say Guild or Gretsch or Jackson etc.

We aren't required to carry "Fender". Some Fender product is available to us through the accessories and wholesale lines we have but no Strats or teles or twin reverb sort of product.

Guitar companies ask that we "represent" the line with enough stock on the floor as a good sample of the line.

I tell them (all of the companies I deal with) right up front that out here where there is more cows than people we have to "think out side the box" when it comes to what we stock.

No doubt about it; we have no business stocking 50 Guilds here, but we do.

The companies (all that I deal with) also require an agreement if we wish to sell on the internet as well as a brick and mortar store front. That's a whole other can of worms.

 

[Frosty]

Guilds without Fenders

I'll drive pretty much anywhere in New England (USA) to pick a guitar. One of my favorite guitar shops in that region is Acoustic Outfitters Music Shop in New Hampshire. This is a strictly acoustic music shop - guitars, banjos, mandolins and fiddles. Guitar-wise, a fine selection of Martin, Taylor, Larrivee, starter brands. Not a Gibson dealer, alas. Anyway, all acoustic, not a humbucker or single-coil to be found.

This means, nothing with a Fender logo. But last year they started carrying Guild guitars. "How come?", I asked. They came in the door because the shop was a Tacoma dealer. Aside: I never really fancied Tacoma guitars, the appearance didn't work for me, but don't pass up a chance to pick one of those baritone guitars for a while!

I was up in the AOMS neighborhood last week and, sure enough, several GAD F-30-sized models, a D-40, D-50 and a D-55. So, I guess a retailer doesn't have to sell Strats and Teles to sell real guitars. :wink:

 

[West R Lee]

Thanks Bingster,

The reason I was so curious is that I recently paid my very first visit to a Guitar Center, I'm sure it will be my last. Anyway, this place was right on Central Expressway just north of downtown. 3 million people in the area, yet they carried not one single Guild.

Even though I've heard all of the GC nightmare stories, I've always thought they were one of the largest dealers in the country, albeit not near the best. I would have expected at least a few Guilds, but no.

Evidently, they just have no desire to carry them. They certainly must get the business. And it sounds as if there is no stringent criteria they must meet.

I suppose if I ever were to buy a new Guild, I'd just have to buy her from you Bing!

West

 

[Frosty]

Don't give up on Guitar Center. Yes, they are typically a zoo atmosphere, but lots of stuff comes in on trade and I have walked out with some very good deals on used guitars (and banjos, btw). It's a corporation and the bottom line is all about moving "units". They always have a minimum sell price which is usually a significant discount below the tagged price. It's all price - if you've got the stomach for it - don't expect tremendous service or quality setup work.

They do move a lot of Gibson acoustics - maybe the margin is better than what they can get from Fender...?

 

[Jeff]

Guitar Center don't carry them in their stores They can't order them

I'm guessing the pay scale at Guitar Center is roughly equivalent to Wall Mart. Old "Home Office" doesn't delegate too much "Cutting Edge" decision making for the money they pay.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Thanks dpicker,

Guild is a specialty line of Fender. As are Gretsch, Jackson, Charvel, etc. You must be set up by a representative of the company(Fender) as a dealer in each specific line. Fender guitars and amps are what's called a "priority line"
It is usually territorial and you may or may not receive permission to sell over the internet which has it's own set of rules.

There are volume requirements if you are a dealer of any of the lines. The company wants good representation across the line in the showroom.

Now and again an exception might be made for a Fender dealer or Fender speciality dealer to to be "accommodated" to receive a product from a line they are not a dealer for.

bing,

hello. you ever get any old Westerly RI built Guild 12 strings?

 

[Guildmark]

Hey, Frosty! Whats's the one in your avatar? And please don't say, "It's a dog, Mark."

Love the dark sunburst. Do you use this one for any particular style of music?

 

[Frosty]

And please don't say, "It's a dog, Mark."

Ah... you spoiled my fun Mark! How about this: it's one my pup's chew toys. :wink:

Love the dark sunburst. Do you use this one for any particular style of music?

It's a '75 F-50 and, yeah, the sunburst makes my heart skip a beat! I play fingerstyle guitar, alternating bass thumb style, ragtime, country blues - same old thing on all my guitars. Here's a better photo and a quick audio snapshot



[img:1013:431]http://dharmastrum.net/eye/Guild/1975-Guild-F-50.jpg[/img]

 

[Graham]

That fine stuff Frosty both visually and audibly.

 

[6L6]

I believe I'm correct in saying that GC no longer carries the Guild line. Or Ricky's either.

Doesn't matter though...

You're not going to beat the deal/service/pro setup BingK gives with every guitar he sells.

6L6


'06 D-55
'74 D-40
'98 Martin D-45V
'71 Martin D-35
'70 Martin D-12-20
'98 Collings D-1
'03 Taylor 214
'

 

[dpicker]

i second that, they bend over backwards to satisfy there costimers. great people to deal with. next i am looking for a nice 12 string i hope they have them in my budget?

 

[Guildmark]

[Ah... you spoiled my fun Mark! How about this: it's one my pup's chew toys. :wink:

Love it! The quip, the puppy, the guitar, and the performance!