Martin goes after Fender/Guild

[Cypress Knee]

I guess that Martin has decided that Fender-Guild doesn't have it's act together anymore and is making a move to take over the 12-String market that has been dominated by Guild for oh so long.

Seems like CF # whatever has Martinized the Guild F 512. With Fender's numerous marketing blunders with the Guild line, this could be a stake in the heart.

If you haven't been there, wander over to the 12 string cafe on the Martin forum. This new guitar is getting quite a reception from and admittedly biased fan base.

My prediction - Martin next takes on the F50R with a six string edition.

CK

 

[12 string]

I can't wait to get my hands on one of these!

That being said, after comparing the D12-28 to the G-312, I'm not convinced that Fender/Guild has all that much to worry about. It seems to me like the biggest threats to Fender/Guild are of their own making, not from the outside.

' Strang

 

[tjmangum]

Emmmm......... what is the body size? 17" ? Did some searches and outside of the standard PR hype of "the largest body style to come from Martin..." can't find any dimensions.
Well, when you think about it, you'd have thought they would have done this long ago instead all of the silly crap they've come up with in recent years.
tj

 

[Roman]

Martin is a little late to the party, if this were true. Taylor has already taken over the 12 strings . . .

 

[chazmo]

All reports I've heard (admittedly, these are early adopters over in a Martin guitar forum) are outstanding for the new Grand J.

It's a shameless copy of an F-512, but who can blame them. Honestly, it's Martin's first "new" bodystyle in quite a while.

 

[drive-south]

And how much does this new Martin Guild-killer cost? If it's anything like the rest of their line, it won't be price-competitive with the Guilds.

It can't steal more market share than Taylor has already won. Thier strength is in their necks.

drive-south

 

[chazmo]

See the discussion about price and other stuff here: viewtopic.php?t=11152

 

[Jeff]

Martin is a little late to the party, if this were true. Taylor has already taken over the 12 strings . . .

The only way Taylor is going to take over the 12 strings is to make sure Guild 12's are never displayed in the same room with Taylors, a condition made easier by the fact there are no Guild 12's to display.

 

[Roman]

The only way Taylor is going to take over the 12 strings is to make sure Guild 12's are never displayed in the same room with Taylors, a condition made easier by the fact there are no Guild 12's to display.

Right . . . :roll:

 

[Scratch]

Martin is a little late to the party, if this were true. Taylor has already taken over the 12 strings . . .

The only way Taylor is going to take over the 12 strings is to make sure Guild 12's are never displayed in the same room with Taylors, a condition made easier by the fact there are no Guild 12's to display.

+1. I had two Taylor 12s and two Martin 12s before I found this forum. After playing and comparing, it was a very easy decision... I sold the Martins and Taylors and now have three Guild 12s. I'll grant the Taylors were easier to play thanks to their thinner necks, but for performance, no comparison... Guild has ruled the 12 string world since the 60s...

 

[drive-south]

Guild was obviously feeling the pressure from Taylor, as they redesigned their 12-string necks during the Tacoma years to a slimmer profile with a single truss rod. Hopefully when they start production in NH, CT they will continue with the slim neck.

Personally, I'd love one of the newer Tacoma 12's. I currently own a 1990 D25-12 which has a baseball bat neck. I can do without a lot of the extra wood this neck sports.

drive-south

 

[chazmo]

Guild was obviously feeling the pressure from Taylor, as they redesigned their 12-string necks during the Tacoma years to a slimmer profile with a single truss rod. Hopefully when they start production in NH, CT they will continue with the slim neck.

Personally, I'd love one of the newer Tacoma 12's. I currently own a 1990 D25-12 which has a baseball bat neck. I can do without a lot of the extra wood this neck sports.

drive-south

drive-south,

I recently played one of the F-512s with a single truss rod and I didn't notice a different neck profile... I'll have to check out some measurements next time with my new micrometer.

 

[COUNTRYPICKER]

I AM SURE WITH MARTIN NOW LOOKING TO MOVE ONTO THE JUMBO MARKET, FENDER WILL BE TRYING TO PICK THEIR MARKETING ACT UP FOR GUILD

 

[fungusyoung]

Martin is a little late to the party, if this were true. Taylor has already taken over the 12 strings . . .

No doubt about it. Frankly, newish Guild/Fender models are probably not even on CFM's radar. But, you know Taylor is!

 

[sitka_spruce]

Martin is a little late to the party, if this were true. Taylor has already taken over the 12 strings . . .

Yep. The contenders for the title will probably remain Guild and Taylor. I think (and hope) that has more to do with tone than brand. Martin never had a 17" guitar in their line, so they're basically filling a gap in their offerings. A shame it doesn't look very Martinesque though, but rather a cross between, big surprise, a Taylor and a Guild. This would be the first time they're actually ripping off a concept rather than, in the case of the 16" jumbo, applying their own design to a new-to-them style. Martins allways had sort of a drop shape with flattened top and bottom - until recently, that is.