GUILD STRINGS

[TimBuckleyFan]

Hi there,
I'm curious to know what people think of Guild Strings. I use D'addario EXPs and Elixir Nanowebs on my d4-12 becuase they last 3 months of regular use before intonation starts to slip. However the Guild made 12 string sets are alot cheaper (though not coated for extended play) and presuamably were designed for Guilds.
Any opinions?

Peace and Music

Stuart Anthony
http://www.myspace.com/stuartanthony

 

[sitka_spruce]

I'm not sure there still are Guild strings made. Guild now comes stock with D'Addario EXP strings, and a while back we discussed that 'Guild strings' also could have been D'Addario strings. Guild is in no position like e.g. Gibson or CF Martin to make their own strings and even if they were we shouldn't take for granted these would be a better match than other strings.

As for me the more brutal punch the string has the better suited, if there is such a thing, for Guild it is, the way I see it. Guilds and Canadian guitars a'la Larrivee has very woody sounding tops and can take a lot of beating - and I think they should take a lot of beating to sound good, and that's why I get such a kick from cryo treated strings. They'll knock you out of your socks - and will last you a good while.

 

[TimBuckleyFan]

Hi Sitka

Thanks for your reply
Here's the Ebay link : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-sets-Guild-...hash=item370078981860&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177
So the word on the street is that these are D'addario strings in disguise? And are these just old stock from a deleted line?

Stuart

 

[sitka_spruce]

Hi Sitka

Thanks for your reply
Here's the Ebay link : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-sets-Guild-...hash=item370078981860&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177
So the word on the street is that these are D'addario strings in disguise? And are these just old stock from a deleted line?

Stuart

Hi Stuart,
Don't quite remember when the thread I'm refering to was in time, but that is what I could gather. I read somewhere there might be plenty of brands of strings, but few production plants. For instance Elixir don't make their own strings but they're tight as a clam about who makes the strings for them. The giveaway would be the way in which the ball is wrapped to the string; the size of the loop, the type of overlap and so on.

Taking a look at the Guild homepage this is what I learnt: The 12-string sets are still Guild strings, but the 6-string sets are D'Addarios. That's to say the 12-string line is not deleted but, on the other hand, is the only Guild-set available on the market. It may still be the stock of a deleted line that is being used up on Guild instrument and sold as separate sets. Most brands going with polymer coated strings as standard, which is very convenient for display intruments, may have instigated this change.

 

[TimBuckleyFan]

Thanks Sitka. Before I would buy the Guild 12's I would want to hear from someone who has actually used them on a Guild guitar so I'll hold back buying them until I get that sort of information.
Thanks again

Stuart

 

[sitka_spruce]

Thanks Sitka. Before I would buy the Guild 12's I would want to hear from someone who has actually used them on a Guild guitar so I'll hold back buying them until I get that sort of information.
Thanks again

Stuart

Not trying to be smart about it, but that wouldn't be a question of if somenone chimes in but when. As said Guild 12'ers come with these from the factory. Should noone choose to chime in though, then visit your closest Guild dealer and play a few chords on the closest 12'er there. Good hunt!

 

[killdeer43]

I have a set of Guild strings on my '95 D4-12 and I like the sound just fine. I keep my 12 string tuned down to D and it really rings true and clear. The sound is refreshing, for lack of a better word.
*For whatever it's worth, the package says 'assembled in Mexico with U.S. materials.' Also, 'A product of Fender MIC.'

Joe

 

[sitka_spruce]

I have a set of Guild strings on my '95 D4-12 and I like the sound just fine. I keep my 12 string tuned down to D and it really rings true and clear. The sound is refreshing, for lack of a better word.
*For whatever it's worth, the package says 'assembled in Mexico with U.S. materials.' Also, 'A product of Fender MIC.'

Joe

Good info. This would indicate these strings are in fact Fender strings, in a matter of speaking. Not sure if they have a plant of their own, but they do have their own brand of strings, Fender.

 

[Graham]

When I got my DV-52 I put a set of the Guild PB strings on it. I thought they were just fine. Now I prefer the JP strings though.

 

[Dr Izza Plumber]

There are strings currently marketed as Guild Strings available, I've used them on the GADs, and they sound great, and hold up well.
I'd bet that D'Addario creates these, however, they appear and sound different than D'Addarios. (coarser windings?)

http://www.juststrings.com/guildacousticguitar.html -6 string
http://www.juststrings.com/guildtwelvestringguitar.html -12string

BTW: has anyone tried these Tony Rice strings?
http://www.juststrings.com/daq-tr-235.html

 

[chazzan]

yes I have tried Guild strings, for the 6 string guitar though

FMIC makes them, they are made in Mexico just like the earlier post said

Every set of Guild strings I bought recently in the past 2 years seemed stale- the wound strings were slightly tarnished, and the plain strings had slightly oxidized feel- sounds OK, but some sets sounded dull from the start

bottom line- not worth the money- stick with the dedicated string makers

 

[dklsplace]

Yes, Guild strings are still being produced as far as I know. I've never stocked them, but they're still in my dealer catalog & I know Bing carries them as well.

Next time I speak with my rep, I'll ask if he knows anything about their origin.

 

[jckgrms]

I bought some from juststrings.com thinking the strings might be as good as the guitar. I was somewhat disappointed. They didn't last very long, maybe a month before sounding dull and lifeless. They were cheap though. This was about six months ago.

 

[Scratch]

Same, same here about the not impressed... I've tried them on the 512. I'd compare them to Martin strings... JPs or D'Addarios sound much more robust...

 

[sitka_spruce]

I'd compare them to Martin strings...

Could actually be that they are made in Marin's plant down there, not saying they are. Or they could of course be made within the confinds of the Fender plant or something.

 

[TimBuckleyFan]

Thanks everyone for the great information. Man I love it when a forum comes together I'll be sticking with my D'addario EXPs and Elixir's due to the comments made here

 

[sitka_spruce]

Thanks everyone for the great information. Man I love it when a forum comes together I'll be sticking with my D'addario EXPs and Elixir's due to the comments made here

Well, if longevity is your thing

I too like this forum and the forumites on it. There's no testosterone flying around and no people putting prestige into proving stupid points. Though of course one sometimes get carried away by things one that seem so obvious to oneself yet one find hard to come across to one's fellow forumites (like why so few use those cryo-strings I find to be the most volumous (a technical fact) and interesting sounding (a subjective matter) for Guild acoustics).

Rock on, mate
Jonas

 

[Graham]

Man I love it when a forum comes together

I like it here too, it's comfy!

 

[Scratch]

Me too. Kinda like an extended family. Hey Grammy, pull my finger! :mrgreen:

 

[sitka_spruce]

Man I love it when a forum comes together

I like it here too, it's comfy!

Can soon be changed - just say the word :lol: