Guild vs. GAD

[smw17]

Hi, I'm new to the site and have a question I'm hoping experienced Guild owners can help me with.

I'm interested in a smaller body Guild and have been looking into the GAD-30 and the F-40 Valencia. My question is basically this: what do I get with the substantial amount of extra cost in the F-40? I own a Blueridge dread and a Kentucky mando, so I know there's some good stuff coming over from Asia, regardless of what the guitar and mando snobs on other forums believe. I also love vintage instruments and own a 1950's model Gibson ES-175, so I am equally familiar with the pride of owning a nice, "big name" guitar.

I guess it all boils down to me looking for someone to either help me justify how much better off I'd be with a "true" Guild (the F-40), or being practical and going with the substantially cheaper GAD-30 model.

Thanks in advance-

Steven

 

[capnjuan]

Hi smw17 and welcome; you oughta read your way through these two LTG threads. They contain both piss and praise for GADs your GAD30 v. Guild F40 question is implicitly 'debated' ... sorta:

http://letstalkguild.com/phpBB2/viewtop ... f=5&t=5536
http://letstalkguild.com/phpBB2/viewtop ... f=5&t=5916

The question is similar to anyone comparing up-priced Tacoma Guilds to say Martins; to what degree, if any, does the Martin tone/nameplate differential justify the price differential....and the answer is ..... it depends on whether you own Guilds or Martins. :lol:

Good luck on your decision, welcome to LTG!

 

[Frosty]

Welcome smw17. You have chosen a pot-stirring topic for your first post, so may I refer you to this thread: http://www.letstalkguild.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=5536

My $.02 - close your eyes, play each guitar and chose the one your ears and fingers like the best.

 

[dklsplace]

Welcome Steven. I can tell you the GAD's are coming out of the same place the Blueridge guitars are made. I stock a few Blueridge guitars in my basement store & think the quality is comparable, however I think the folks making BR are a bit more focused on the little details.

Good info in the other threads posted above. GAD's are fine guitars, but I would prefer to spend a bit more on the US made F40 knowing I'd have a better return if ever deciding to sell.

 

[Siwash]

GADs are Guild.

They are not Westerly Guilds.

The strategy at FMIC with Guild seems to me to be comparable to what they do with Strats and Telecasters, to wit, make an American Stratocaster of premium quality, and have a Mexican or Japanese or Asian Stratocaster of somewhat lesser quality. (Interestingly enough, there's a growing interest in the Fender Stratocasters made in Japan, because of their high quality; better than the Mexican ones).

So FMIC, I think, will have the American-made Guild model and the Asian-made Guild model. Something for whatever price point you're looking at, with the implication that if you like your GAD F-40 and want to upgrade, you go to the American F-40.

But GADs are most certainly Guild guitars.

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

I agree that both are good guitars, and you will just have to pick the one that you like best.
The one thing that has started to happen to me, when I take my GAD JF-48 out and play in public, is that I am being asked if my guitar is a Guild or one of the Guild imports.
People are starting to recognise that there is a difference, just as they ask the same question about Fender guitars.
It's not a big issue, but people are starting to ask.
I have no problem telling them that mine is a GAD and a great guitar for the money.
I was also looking at some Bludridge guitars when I purchased my GAD. The Blueridge only offered a 1 year warenty and the Guild GAD offered a lifetime warenty. That was a big factor in my purchase.
Good luck and let us know which one you get.
TMG.

 

[Scratch]

Welcome to LTG SMW17. Without a doubt, this topic qualifies as our forum hornet's nest. Please do take time to study the aforementioned threads to gain insight concerning various thoughts, experiences, opinions etc. Hopefully, you won't think us snobby; just passionate about our Guild guitars and Guild's heritage. The soundhole label usually identifies the facility location regarding manufacture. You'll find Hoboken, NJ; Westerly RI; Corona, CA. Tacoma, WA, and China.

Good thoughts already expressed here concerning Fender's possible motives. Guild had a previous Korean venture with Madiera instruments which today are easily obtained at a fraction of the value related to US made Guilds.

I had a nice GAD G212e and found it a great instrument for the $$. I didn't sell it because i didn't like it; rather, because through LTG, I've gained a strong appreciation of vintage Guild guitars and have also developed a strong liking for their tacoma line.

Whatever your choice in Guilds, I hope you find a real player and trust you'll appreciate the value, workmanship and Guild pride that comes along with it.

 

[Metalman]

Steven,

There is a big difference between the GAD F-30, and the Tacoma-built F-40. Not only in price, but in quality. With the GAD F-30, you will always be wondering, gee,maybe I should have gone with the better F-40, instead of "settling" for this cheaper model.
Go for the F-40; it is a much better playing, sounding and looking instrument. The resale value will hold much better than Asian made guitars, and it is highly unlikely you will even want to sell your F-40. Most people hang onto their Guilds.
I see a lot of GADs on Ebay . . .

I further recommend the F-40 mahogany model. Unless you like the sound of Maple, the mahogany F-40 is much better IMHO. Tried the F-47M a while back; was not impressed. The F-40 knocked me out!

Sorry; guess we are talking about two different guitars. You DID say the F-40 . . .

Yes, that's a good one!

 

[dreadnut]

And I'll bring up the point I usually bring up: if you don't have to have a brand new guitar, shop around for a vintage small body Guild, it's likely you can have the best of both worlds: an American made Guild at the price of a Chinese made one.

If you absolutley want a new one, then I agree with Frosty's advice, except don't close your eyes - inspect each guitar very carefully for fit, finish, seams, binding, uniformity of grain and color, etc. All things that add to or subtract from the value in my opinion...

 

[Siwash]

I agree with the above advice. Have your money in hand, then just wait until the right thing pops up on eBay. They're selling everything there. All kinds of Guilds, in all kinds of condition, and, sooner or later, the thing you're looking for will pop up there.

I agree with the above posters comments re: Blueridge. I was hard sniffing in that direction, and even had a BG160 ordered for me, but ran into the GAD. I like the Guild better than the Blueridge since it had the Grover tuners, especially.

I think it's amazing people are asking if you've got an Asian Guild. Macht's nicht. What's important is that it sounds good. It's a big world, and now Guild is manufacturing all over.

 

[Scratch]

I think it's amazing people are asking if you've got an Asian Guild. Macht's nicht. What's important is that it sounds good. It's a big world, and now Guild is manufacturing all over.

But they definitely ask. I discussed the topic with a friend who manages a local music store... He was very impressed with my Tacoma-made D40 and raved about the construction and performance quality he observed in the D55 and F512. He is currently upgrading his guitar inventory to include higher quality instruments. When I asked him his thoughts concerning offering a Guild line, he said he is attracted to Guild's Tacoma's over GADs because he has enough asian lines in stock (Takamine; Yamaha; etc.) and he'd like to reach out to Austin, San Antonio, San Marcos performers who are in the market for quality instruments. They typically migrate to Collings (made locally, but very expensive), Martin and Taylor.