Maybe some hope for Guild

[gtrman100]

On Monday, I attended the Guild workshop with Doyle Dykes at Instrumental Music in Thousand Oaks, Ca. (Doyle is a freak of nature, an amazing guitar player, a true gentleman, and a down to earth human being besides being very funny. He has been recording at my cousin, Aspen Pittmans's studio last week). There was a large display of Guilds, the marketing rep for Guild said a few words, and they seemed enthusiastic about the future of Guild, and made reference to future developments. Let's hope that it wasn't just a prearranged marketing program. I wouldn't be surprised if they need to move the factory to a location that is more business friendly. Here in CA, Toyota just announced a move to Texas, I'm sure to remain competitive in this weak economy. I would imagine that Fender might have the same strategy. Here's a bad cellphone photo:

 

[F312]

Yeah Texas baby! What took 'em so long.

 

[davismanLV]

Maybe Doyle hasn't received his memo yet?

 

[charliea]

To my knowledge, nobody has said Guild is going out of business. To the contrary, it's been indicated that they'll relocate. Most likely Mr. Dykes is still on the payroll and is doing what he gets paid to do, which is sell Guild guitars.

 

[gilded]

Pray tell, what sort of 'reference to future developments' did they make?

 

[6L6]

Fingers crossed!

 

[idealassets]

So Guild is alive and well? It is noteworthy that ebay is usually vigilant about improper listings. So then all the new Guild guitars for sale "with full warrantee" have not been blocked from being listed as such on ebay.

So its that simple, was there ever any problem?

 

[gtrman100]

They made references to the new thin body nylon string acoustic that Doyle played(magnificently) as a prototype that would be released soon, and mentioned Ren Ferguison's ideas being incorporated into some of their new designs. They might have just been ignoring the recent press release, but I think they still think that Fender is going to save the brand and move the production facility.

 

[fronobulax]

So Guild is alive and well? It is noteworthy that ebay is usually vigilant about improper listings. So then all the new Guild guitars for sale "with full warrantee" have not been blocked from being listed as such on ebay.

So its that simple, was there ever any problem?

I think I would like some of what you have been ingesting. There is a big difference between closing a single factory (of a brand that used at least four different factories) and closing a brand. No official source has said that the brand is being "closed" and the official sources have implied that production would be moved and continue. If you read the fine print the Guild warranty is actually provided by FMIC and the first line of warranty service, to the consternation of some, is a FMIC approved repair service. Like I often do, you seem to be getting your exercise by jumping to conclusions.

 

[idealassets]

I think I would like some of what you have been ingesting. There is a big difference between closing a single factory (of a brand that used at least four different factories) and closing a brand. No official source has said that the brand is being "closed" and the official sources have implied that production would be moved and continue. If you read the fine print the Guild warranty is actually provided by FMIC and the first line of warranty service, to the consternation of some, is a FMIC approved repair service. Like I often do, you seem to be getting your exercise by jumping to conclusions.

..just what I said, was there ever a problem? Unless around here you take your Guild guitar to any of the authorized repair centers within 200 miles of here, and you hear "well..., actually Guild has us listed by mistake, we are a FENDER auth center but have never repaired a Guild, so then you call the CT factory (closing now), and they used to say "really, then send it directly to us".

 

[concretecowboy71]

The OP mentioned Aspen Pittman. Same person who wrote the Tube Amp Book? Man that is an awesome reference.

 

[adorshki]

To my knowledge, nobody has said Guild is going out of business. To the contrary, it's been indicated that they'll relocate.

Yep, exactly correct. But what's got some of us (me at least) a wee bit skeptical is that they didn't state explicitly, where.
Realizing you may have simply wanted to keep your post "short and sweet", please allow me to elaborate for others who may have missed the press release:
All they've said is "US production....will transition to other facilities at a later date..."
I'm hoping there's simply a good reason they haven't named "the US location".

Most likely Mr. Dykes is still on the payroll and is doing what he gets paid to do, which is sell Guild guitars.

Yep, or there may simply be mutual contractual obligations which still need to be filled, and the guys conducting the workshops really don't know what the final outcome will be. Maybe Fender doesn't even know yet.
So, to paraphrase your point, "everybody just keeps following the script."
No foul there.

 

[davismanLV]

".... will transition to other facilities at a later date..." Just "other facilities". Period. Never is it mentioned that it will be "another US facility". Nope. I hope it is, but they kept that part rather VAGUE.

 

[Geotrio]

Agreed - 'to other facilities' sounds ominous for Guild USA fans. I'm glad I bought an NH D55 recently because...who knows if it will ever be this good again?

 

[adorshki]

".... will transition to other facilities at a later date..." Just "other facilities". Period. Never is it mentioned that it will be "another US facility". Nope. I hope it is, but they kept that part rather VAGUE.

To be fair, they may just be keeping mum about the Gibson acquisition until it's a done deal.

 

[Watasha]

"U.S. production of Fender acoustic and Guild® instruments will transition to other facilities at a later date..."

It does specify that production will stay in the USA, just not what specific location. That's the way I read that anyway.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Is it true that FMIC is buying Gibson?

If so, then it all makes sense!

Ren got tired of commuting to New Hartford, so he convinced FMIC to purchase Gibson so he could stay in Montana and build Guilds.

 

[davismanLV]

So I FINALLY will be able to get a Guildson!! Watasha, as carefully as I read and reread that, it seems specifically designed to give you the ILLUSION that it's staying in the USA, without saying it at all. That's how it reads to me. It's a very carefully crafted statement!!

 

[adorshki]

Watasha, as carefully as I read and reread that, it seems specifically designed to give you the ILLUSION that it's staying in the USA, without saying it at all. That's how it reads to me. It's a very carefully crafted statement!!

I don't wish to ascribe a deliberate intent to deceive to Fender.
BOTH yours and Watasha's interpretations are inferences.
The statement is worded in a way that would support both interpretations.
Therefore it is either poorly worded or very cleverly worded.
I'm just pointing out that "US production" could be interpreted as " existing US production " and doesn't explicitly refer to "other US facilities". THAT would be definitive.
Given the poor state of communication skills these days, I do still think it's possible that whoever wrote the statement assumed that it would be understood the way Watasha interprets it and that that's what is actually meant.
The error in that case was a failure to ensure proper semantic interpretation of the statement.
Or else they really don't know where the h-ll they're gonna wind up yet either.
As for Tom's interpretation, I think Fender's record will speak for itself.
Right, Tom?
:hypnotysed:

 

[adorshki]

Is it true that FMIC is buying Gibson?

Apparently they're not ready to make that announcement yet.
(Att'n Tom: How's that for "very carefully crafted"? :excitement
These pesky internet rumors're harder to start than you think.
Let's give it a few more days to hit critical mass.
We'll know for sure when it pops up on the AGF.
:biggrin-new: