How do they hold up to the competition?

[Rockinb23]

Hi I'm new here. I've been playing guitar for about 16 years. My first good acoustic guitar was a Guild D-4 that I bought at GC back in 1997. My first really good acoustic Guitar was a Guild D-55 I bought in 2000 at GC when I got my job or career which I'm still in now.

Since then I've purchased a crazy load of different high end acoustic guitars from all different builders and brands. I've owned 15 different Santa Cruz guitars which I like a lot. Over 10 different Martins and bunch of Gibsons Taylors and different luthier built instruments like McAlister, McKnight, Mayes, and Triggs.

I haven't played a Guild acoustic since I sold my D55 in 2002. I'm curious how do the new ones compete with the higher end Martin stuff like the GE's, Marquis, or V series stuff? Has any one AB'd a Guild D50 or D55 with a similar Santa Cruz, Collings, Bourgeois, or Huss & Dalton?

I'm looking to head to a dealer tomorrow to check out some newer Guild acoustics.
None the guitar shops I frequent deal them so I'm going out of my way to check them out. I'm hoping to check out the D-40, D-50, and D-55 models.

What bracing pattern is Guild using now? Are there differences from the different build locations ie..Westerly, Tacoma, Corona, New Hartford?

I played a D-100 back in 2001 at a shop and I remember being really impressed and I would love to buy one but I can't ever find them for sale.

Thanks for the help, My name is Bobby and I live in the CA Bay Area

 

[yettoblaster]

Welcome Bobby,
Having owned luthiered and high end factory jobs myself, I am very impressed with my D40 built in Tacoma, and they have not changed the specs from when they were making them in Corona, CA. Now built in New Hartford, Conn. The reviews I've seen have been very positive.
Scalloped bracing and tops of red spruce make my D40 right up there in the world class dept.

When I think of world class like SCGC, etc., I expect a responsive full range tone with good volume and playability. My D40 delivers all that.

From the other Tacoma and Corona models I have seen they are consistant. So even though they are no longer really a "cheap" alternative, they still are a good value in my book. Anytime I can get "luthiered" performance from a production model I think it's a deal, even if the prices are getting to places I never thiought I'd go.

Down here in Santa Cruz at Union Grove Music there are three NOS Tacoma models (F-50; D50; and F-30). Union Grove is not cheap, but the guitars are stellar. They also have some GADS.

 

[fronobulax]

Welcome.

Tough questions, with lots of partisan and dogmatic answers.

To get the ball rolling...

A vocal majority will tell you that from a "bang for the buck" standpoint, it is hard to beat vintage Guilds made in Westerly.

There are a number of folks who have high hopes for New Hartford production but there are an awful lot more who have a "wait and see" attitude. Everyone who has owned/played a NH Guild had something nice to say about the guitar but there is no real consensus that if you walk into a store determined to buy a new guitar with the $2,000 burning a hole in your pocket, you will choose the Guild. Any discussion on the point will quickly degenerate to something along the lines of "for $2000 you can buy vintage Westerlys and have as good a guitar and change in your pocket". See the first point.

Corona production needs to be handled on a guitar by guitar basis. There are folks who have them and like them and folks who still have the scorch marks from getting burned.

Tacoma production is generally competitive with other Guild factories but there are a number of Tacoma instruments that were remaindered and they have had a negative impact on perception and the market.

It is difficult to make blanket statements about bracing or dimensions because there was variation.

Given the number of guitars you have owned over a short period of time, you might just go and buy a Guild. If it is a keeper then you made the right choice. If it's not then you are not really much worse off selling a Guild than any of the other guitars you have sold. (Although mention the words "resale value" and you will get another earful).

Good luck.

 

[Rockinb23]

Thanks for all the info everything posted so far has been very helpful. I have fond memories of that Westerly D-55 and I can't even remember why I sold it now.

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

Hello RockinB and Welcome.

I can't really add anything to YB and Frono's sage advice. But, I would like to get into your line of work. The amount of disposable income it would take to buy that list of guitars is quite remarkable!

Where do I fill out an app and send my resume??!!

~nw

 

[Brad Little]

Tacoma production is generally competitive with other Guild factories but there are a number of Tacoma instruments that were remaindered and they have had a negative impact on perception and the market.

Curious, are you or were you in the book trade? You don't often hear the term remaindered outside it.
Former bookseller, current librarian.
Brad

 

[fronobulax]

Curious, are you or were you in the book trade? You don't often hear the term remaindered outside it.
Former bookseller, current librarian.
Brad

I was an active collector of books relating to the American Civil War for about 20 years and I suspect that is where I picked up the term. (Now I am a passive collector wondering if I will ever be able to read everything and where will I store them in a downsized house).
A local attraction, for you, of interest to me.

 

[bluesypicky]

Hi and welcome Bobby!

I will not add anything to the perfect breakdown by Professor Fronobulax, but only confirm it by saying that, all the while identifying myself as part of the first group depicted as the "vocal majority" in his post, I will also attest (from hands on experience) to the highest craftsmanship standards applied to the NH instruments.
Congrats on what appears to be a nice carreer opening the doors to a even nicer guitar collection! :mrgreen:

PS: Frono- Is the civil war over?
I lived in the South shortly (the real South, not South Fl. :wink: ) and couldn't tell for sure.... :? :shock: :lol:

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

PS: Frono- Is the civil war over?
I lived in the South shortly (the real South, not South Fl. :wink: ) and couldn't tell for sure.... :? :shock: :lol:

 

[bluesypicky]

I had a hint it wasn't... Thanks Grot! :wink: :lol:

 

[fronobulax]

PS: Frono- Is the civil war over?

<veer>I'm what the locals call a Damn Yankee cause I came South and stayed. I married well, though. Mrs. Fro. was born in Texas. I figure it must be over or I would have been driven out of town on a rail.</veer>

<more veer>My great-great grandfather served with the Sixth CT Inf. and was the Treasurer of the committee that built the monument linked to above.</more veer>

<some guitar content>I became interested in "songs of the era" performed by Bobby Horton. The one time I saw him live he played his 1857 Martin guitar.</some guitar content>

 

[gilded]

PS: Frono- Is the civil war over?
I lived in the South shortly (the real South, not South Fl. :wink: ) and couldn't tell for sure.... :? :shock: :lol:

Grot, if you know the answer to that question, does that mean that you, too, have lived the Real South? If the answer is yes, are you talkin' about
South Jersey??? :lol: :lol:

 

[Rockinb23]

I will officially say that I currently only have two acoustic guitars but I have had a lot pass through my hands. My job is a good one but not that good. I have a Brazilian Rosewood Mayes SD-43 and a Santa Cruz 12 Fret D. I'm happy with both of them but I'm still curious to check out a Guild again after all these years.

 

[bluesypicky]

PS: Frono- Is the civil war over?

<veer>I'm what the locals call a Damn Yankee cause I came South and stayed. I married well, though. Mrs. Fro. was born in Texas. I figure it must be over or I would have been driven out of town on a rail.</veer>

<more veer>My great-great grandfather served with the Sixth CT Inf. and was the Treasurer of the committee that built the monument linked to above.</more veer>

<some guitar content>I became interested in "songs of the era" performed by Bobby Horton. The one time I saw him live he played his 1857 Martin guitar.</some guitar content>

Cool info.... thanks Frono.
And glad you were able to remain safe in VA (which btw I never really understood how VA could be considered the South, having frozen my @#$ a few winters there myself in the Yorktown area...) but I know the "South" we're talking about is not necessarily synonymous with "warmth". :wink:

I will officially say that I currently only have two acoustic guitars but I have had a lot pass through my hands. My job is a good one but not that good. I have a Brazilian Rosewood Mayes SD-43 and a Santa Cruz 12 Fret D. I'm happy with both of them but I'm still curious to check out a Guild again after all these years.

Thanks for your patience with the veer Bobby! (That's mostly how we roll round here....)
And nothing wrong with owning several guitars.... (I hope!!! )
Always been curious about putting my hands on a Santa Cruz....

 

[Rockinb23]

Thanks Bluespicky it seems like a good group here.

I called my two local Guild dealers Bananas At Large in San Rafael and Haight Ashbury music in SF and Haight Ashbury has 1 D40 in stock and a DV-6 and aside from that everything else they have is GAD. Bananas at large has 1 F 12 string and thats it. I was really hoping to try out a D40, D50, and D55. I have tomorrow off and thought it would fun to do a small guitar road trip but I may need to make some more calls.

 

[Ian]

Hi Bobby,

And welcome all the way from NZ. I've never played a Santa Cruz, (have seen one though as a young lady played one at our folk club here a while back), they are eye wateringly expensive over here and Guild is sort of off the radar for most people. (All mine were imported).

The others I was considering when I bought my D55, were the Martin D28 (too common), and the J45 (too expensive). I'm happy with my choice of a D55, I'd certainly buy another.

By the way if you are a bit flush, there seems to be good buying on Westerly era Guilds at present, I've seen a couple of nice D55's on here for not big money. Check the Fs/Ft columns...

Cheers, Ian

 

[adorshki]

I will officially say that I currently only have two acoustic guitars but I have had a lot pass through my hands. My job is a good one but not that good. I have a Brazilian Rosewood Mayes SD-43 and a Santa Cruz 12 Fret D. I'm happy with both of them but I'm still curious to check out a Guild again after all these years.

HI Rockin', WELCOME aboard! I can think of 3 other guys who are Bay Area guys besides myself, and 2 guys (including Yettoblaster) who live on the Santa Cruz side of the mountains. What do you play, do you like to jam?
I'm in San Jose, within 5 minutes of Guitar Showase on Bascom, which occasionally sees Guilds in the consignment shop but according to recent reports will not stock new ones. Farther up the peninsula our member 6L6 has reported seeing stock in Gelb, but I can't figure out whether or not THEY intend to stock the line either. Don't even bother with Showcase on Stevens Creek, which is a supreme irony 'cause they've got a big old painting of Rick Nielsen with a Merle Travis model hanging over the door! I suspect you're aware of all these locations, but in case you're not, there it is.
I'm in the camp that feels Corona put out as good an instrument as my two Westerlys, and am more that happy to give a real player a test drive on a good Saturday, strictly for evaluation purposes, I'm not selling.
PM me if interested.
AH, just saw your last post after posting this, and see you're at the opposite end of the peninsula. If you're like me you hate to drive too much without a good reason, otherwise the offer stands.
NOW...why does the name "Bobby Swanson" ring a bell?

 

[Brad Little]

A local attraction, for you, of interest to me.

More than you know. The bookstore I worked in was right across the street on Broadway, the Yale Co-op. I actually sold records in the main store, but was a manager in the medical branch near Yale-NH Hospital for the last several years I worked there. In the late 90s, Yale wouldn't renew its lease, instead bringing in a cookie cutter Barnes and Noble, effectively putting the Co-op out of business. I was gone for about 10 years by that time.
New Haven also has the Soldier's and Sailor's Monument, commemorating not just Civil War but also War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the Revolution.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soldiers_a ... (New_Haven)
It was recently refurbished and once again you can go up inside it-something I've never done even though except for a few years in the 60s and 70s I've lived in the area my whole life.
As to the Civil War, my Great-Great Grandfather was in the Connecticut regiment, and someplace I have a certificate he received for his service. He was born in Spain, and with the dearth of Spanish names at the time he was mistakenly listed as Martinze instead of Martinez!
Brad

 

[dreadnut]

There's something special about the Tacoma-built D-50's. :shock: Can't say about New Hartford, but I suspect they're much the same.

Many here agree, if you want a great dread at a great price, find a vintage DV-52.

I went back to GC and played a used Custom Taylor Dreadnaught they have for $1699, if I'd had the shekels, I'd have been bringing that one home, it about blew my ears off. And I'm a diehard Guildophile since 1976. Bottom line is, they all make some great guitars, and they all make some duds. Some of them just cry out "Take me home! Take me home!"

Welcome and good luck in your quest!

 

[taabru45]

Hi Bobby....well never thought I'd say it but I'm going to sell my 09 D50 with fishman electronics, the undersaddle strip as well as a microphone in the body.....It came to me for about $1600 landed which included the taxes and shipping...beautiful guitar with a big bass and loud voice. My first with an Adi. top. that would be your price plus shipping, if you'd like it....I just got an '80 D50 with a damaged but repaired top, and I like it very much too...its a quieter guitar, less rich in the bass but very nice...and I think it suits me better....so let me know if you're interested, I'll be listing it locally very soon....here is a link to some pics...this and the next page. Regards Steffan
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