Im pretty new to this forum,so forgive me if i seem a bit uninformed.I had been reading and made comments about guilds line of imported acoustic guitars.And it appeared that an admin shut down comments on the subject. im not really understanding why. But, after researching guilds history of their various locations here and abroad,and reading of Ren Fergusons involvement in guild,i would think that any positive feed back regarding any guild would be welcomed.I own USA made guilds, and a couple guilds built in the gree factory in china.I find the quality of workmanship excellent in the chinese built guilds. Considering guild was using ren ferguson as a consultant on all guild lines ,that would be a plus imo.When it comes to qc in import lines, i have to give the kudos to guild for their qc measures, far and above that of martin or taylors imports from mexico.I embrace the import lines of guitars from guild , .Excellent,well constructed instruments. Thats my 2 cents .
Guild imports
- Thread starter mclkar54
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fronobulax
Bassist, GAD and the Hot Mess Mods
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I'm not sure whether it was LTG that shut down the discussion or not, but if it was LTG the reason was most likely that the comments veered off towards racism or xenophobia and focused on the builder and not the guitar. For example, if you say Guilds made in the USA are better than Guilds made overseas because of differences in the target price and materials choice then there is no problem.
My sense is that most everyone agrees that the first iteration of Guilds made in China, the GAD series, are superior to the intermediate generations and the current Westerly Collection. That said there seems to be a lot of agreement that the Westerly Collection has several outstanding instruments at their price points and when they are not the "best bang for the buck" it is because their price point makes used and vintage instruments part of the competition.
I can't recall seeing any evidence that Ren Ferguson had any direct influence on the characteristics of Guilds made overseas. I do know his focus was in setting up production at Oxnard which involved his expertise in manufacturing and his ability to design instruments (or modify existing designs) so that the result maintained a level of performance but was cheaper or easier to build. So he could have been busy enough just focused on the new plant.
My sense is that most everyone agrees that the first iteration of Guilds made in China, the GAD series, are superior to the intermediate generations and the current Westerly Collection. That said there seems to be a lot of agreement that the Westerly Collection has several outstanding instruments at their price points and when they are not the "best bang for the buck" it is because their price point makes used and vintage instruments part of the competition.
I can't recall seeing any evidence that Ren Ferguson had any direct influence on the characteristics of Guilds made overseas. I do know his focus was in setting up production at Oxnard which involved his expertise in manufacturing and his ability to design instruments (or modify existing designs) so that the result maintained a level of performance but was cheaper or easier to build. So he could have been busy enough just focused on the new plant.
Nothing wrong with Guild imports. They serve a niche and offer a low cost alternative that many find desirable for many reasons. I firmly believe the older GAD models are superior to the current line up but even with the current MIC models you get a lot of guitar for the money. I'll always likely have 3 or 4 such models in my stable for a variety of reasons.
Thank you for your replys. i was not trying to insuate that Mr, Ferguson had any direct connection with mic guitars, only that his influence in any guild product ,would make the entire guild line that much more desireable .I also own some gibsons that ,as we know ,were also infuenced by his expertise in guitar making.As such, i tend to hang on to all my guilds and gibsons. I find the overall quality of these two guitar brands to be of the highest desireability as far as my guitar collection is concerned.This of course is only my opinion.But thank you for responses to my inquisitivness
Country of Origin changes. QC should not. There are good and bad examples from all over the World including USA. I have been impressed with Guilds from Corona (many folks hated them) and the Newark Street electrics. Frankly I am thankful that the Guild Label survives.
Cougar
Enlightened Member
You are certainly not alone with that opinion!
Agree 100% .All my guilds are remarkable guitars.I became especially emamoured with two of my current 4 guilds. My recently acquired f 412 is probably the finest guitar i have ever picked up.But i also recently went in on a buy for a 2015 f 150.Solid rosewood / sitka spruce.Imo , the f 150 is a very under rated guitar. it has remarkable sound and playability
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
Unless you read what Guild wrote when the Westerly Collection was introduced on May 14, 2015:
"With design input from players, artists, dealers and Ren Ferguson, Guild’s VP of R&D and Manufacturing,... "
Introducing: The Westerly Collection | Guild Guitars
Introducing: The Westerly Collection
guildguitars.com
Ralf
fronobulax
Bassist, GAD and the Hot Mess Mods
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Unless you read what Guild wrote when the Westerly Collection was introduced on May 14, 2015:
"With design input from players, artists, dealers and Ren Ferguson, Guild’s VP of R&D and Manufacturing,... "
Introducing: The Westerly Collection | Guild Guitars
Introducing: The Westerly Collection
Ralf
Good thing I don't have to donate to LTG when I forget something and get things wrong
Thanks.
adorshki
Reverential Member
And I'd be broke.Good thing I don't have to donate to LTG when I forget something and get things wrong
Thanks.
adorshki
Reverential Member
I do believe I'd forgotten that unless ever seeing it before is a false memory. Which these days is a possibility.Unless you read what Guild wrote when the Westerly Collection was introduced on May 14, 2015:
"With design input from players, artists, dealers and Ren Ferguson, Guild’s VP of R&D and Manufacturing,... "
Introducing: The Westerly Collection | Guild Guitars
Introducing: The Westerly Collection
Ralf
But it reminded me of another pet hypothesis I've had for a few years now, that the original GAD line made use of the blueprints and specs that Fender made according to Jay Pilzer in an interview in Vintage Guitar Magazine a few years back. The fruits of that "vintage justified" project appeared in Corona builds, '02.
The GAD line appeared in the Spring '04 price list, the same one that inspired me to get my D40 while it was still made in USA.
I just got curious what D25's were listing for and found the online pricelist.
No D25's. Say what??Q? Then found the GAD line. Actually can't recall if the GAD25 was there yet, but I do recall:
Corona had no F30's, the GADJF30 was available, though.
Is it more than coincidence that the GAD line appears within a couple of years of Fender's "blueprint project"? It's at least chronologically possible even though I've found no concrete evidence to support it. Thus, "pet hypothesis".
At the time I merely thought that Fender was about to cynically engineer yet another "badged import" out of Guild.
I understood at the time that the Koreans were producing some very fine guitars, but wasn't aware of the capabilities of Chinese makers. Was anybody, really, '03?
Thus my urgency to get one last American-built while I could, and then saw the Havens D40.
My requirement for Made in USA guitars was that the good ones were the only ones that could hold their value or even appreciate, and I was looking for a lifetime instrument when I bought my D25 in '96. I was tired of guitars that needed a fret job but weren't worth the cost.
Also, even back then wood scarcity was becoming an issue, and I realized that might affect guitars' wood quality too.
Remember this was early '04 and all I knew about Guild was my D25 and F65ce and the '96 catalog, the 1st Guild Gallery, and the '01 Fender frontline catalog.
I din't even know they'd moved to Corona yet, until I looked at the label of the D40.
"Wow, Corona..." I thought. "The Custom Shop...that's gotta be a good sign."
I can tell you I was pretty chuffed about that for few years before I finally found the actual history here.
By then the great recession was in full bloom, Tacoma had been closed and New Hartford was being tooled up, and we started seeing more and more inquiries from new owners of the GAD line.
Pursuant to some debate about whether MIC guitars should rightfully be branded as Guilds, some perceptive fellow suggested that the imports may very well have been what truly kept the brand afloat during periods of intermittent domestic production.
And good reviews from credible member/owners eventually caused me to come around and give 'em a sort of grudging respect.
I'll reserve final decision until I've actually played one (or more, ideally..)
Bottom line I suspect the MIC guitars got pretty good bones.
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fronobulax
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Typo or brain flatulence? That is about 10 years earlier than I would have said, if asked, and the 2004 price list at https://www.gad.net/Blog/2010/05/28/guild-guitar-price-list-2004-february/ doesn't have them.
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
Maybe you should look on page 3 there?
Al was a year early, Guild officially introduced the GAD instruments in January of 2004.
Ralf
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fronobulax
Bassist, GAD and the Hot Mess Mods
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Maybe you should look on page 3 there?
Al was a year early, Guild officially introduced the GAD instruments in January of 2004.
Ralf
I do have an appointment with my eye doctor next week but I really have no excuse. Thanks for the correction. If it weren't for the Post Count I probably should start deleting my mistakes...
adorshki
Reverential Member
That's correct, it was a typo, I got my D40 in spring of '04, but Hans originally dated it as "probably a late '03 but possibly an early '04" because his records weren't fully organized at the time, shortly after I joined.Maybe you should look on page 3 there?
Al was a year early, Guild officially introduced the GAD instruments in January of 2004.
Ralf
Corrected.
Note also however if they were officially introduced in Jan '04, that means there was most likely '03 built inventory available for sale.
frono, take it as a badge of honor that you got Ralf'd! Only being Hans'd is more impressive....
walrus
walrus
fronobulax
Bassist, GAD and the Hot Mess Mods
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I have been both'd so many times I have stopped counting. I've even been Grot'd and depending upon how you define things mav'd. The list of folks who correct my posts grows longer and longer. There's probably a lesson I should be learning but have not learned.
Okko
Member
Maybe it’s time for a ‘d thread ?
