Mexican Built Guilds

gjmalcyon

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After Tacoma closed, Guild moved some production to Ensenada. I think that may also be where they introduced the "Arcos" series.

Some old threads, courtesy of a Google, "Site:" search (including a thread started by you ;)):


 

Guildedagain

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Fender factory in Ensenada - Baja California - for decades now, lots of guitar building know how and experience in the area.
 

richardp69

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After Tacoma closed, Guild moved some production to Ensenada. I think that may also be where they introduced the "Arcos" series.

Some old threads, courtesy of a Google, "Site:" search (including a thread started by you ;)):



Well, this confirms it. I really am old. Looks like I asked that same question on a Mexican built F 50. I sold it at some point and can't remember a thing about it. Well, we'll see on the AF-412 I guess.
 

D30Man

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Richard I have often been tempted to pull the trigger on an MIM Guild but like you I have zero experience with them. Arcos series always come to mind. It would be nice to see some feedback from folks who have owned / played them.
 

chazmo

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Richard,

No experience with the Arcos line to share, but they did a nice job with the DV-4 and DV-6 when they made them there (Ensenada, that is). Good luck. I bet there aren't too many of those F-412 or F-50 inspired Arcos models around.
 

cupric

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I would think that if Corona could build a acceptable Guild than so could the Mexican factory. There are decades of guitar building expertise in Mexico. They are limited in what they build by Fenders marketing scheme. If they started producing guitars that were on par with the USA factory, (which they can), the existing marketing schemes would be upset.
Just my two cents....
 

Westerly Wood

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I played a used Acros once and thought it was terrible. Just very poorly built.
But that doesn't mean anything, it might just have been a dud etc...
 

davismanLV

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Well, this confirms it. I really am old. Looks like I asked that same question on a Mexican built F 50. I sold it at some point and can't remember a thing about it. Well, we'll see on the AF-412 I guess.
Richard, if I bought and sold as many guitars as you do, I doubt very much I'd remember them all. I doubt this has to do with memory as much as sheer volume of guitars processed by you. Let us know what you think!! (y)
 

gjmalcyon

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Richard, if I bought and sold as many guitars as you do, I doubt very much I'd remember them all. I doubt this has to do with memory as much as sheer volume of guitars processed by you. Let us know what you think!! (y)

That's what I was going to say: In the almost 4 years between those 2 posts, how many dozens of guitars - including some gobsmackingly spectacular instruments - have passed through your hands?
 

D30Man

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Richard, if I bought and sold as many guitars as you do, I doubt very much I'd remember them all. I doubt this has to do with memory as much as sheer volume of guitars processed by you. Let us know what you think!! (y)
Right!?!?!
 

bobouz

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I’ve played a few Ensenada-made Guilds, but it was a long time ago. I can’t recall any specific details, but my generalized recollection is that the build quality was a bit lacking. Still, each example should be assessed individually, and there may indeed be some rather satisfying instruments that came out of Fender’s Mexican facility.
 

Bonneville88

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I have an AF50E RW (arched rosewood back) and I'm pleased with it.

Exterior build quality seems fine, but I haven't put a camera inside it to examine bracing or glueing.

Photo below of the AF50 (right) next to a JF4 - out of curiousity, just played them both for the last 20 minutes for so.

Both the AF50 and the JF4 have narrow-ish feeling necks.
This particular JF4 has more balanced tone and better volume than the AF, and is really bright sounding
for a hog-bodied guitar. It's a little lighter than the AF but feels more substantial.
I've had several JF4s, they varied quite a bit - this was the best of them.

The AF plays easily, has slightly lower action than the JF4, with a slick neck, also feels as if there's
tighter (smaller) radius to the fretboard (haven't measured to compare).
It doesn't quite have the difficult-to-articulate "all of a piece"
feeling of the JF4. It feels smaller, is very comfortable to hold - body on the AF isn't as deep
as the JF4.

hyz1Ad8h.jpg
 
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richardp69

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I have an AF50E RW and I'm pleased with it.

Exterior build quality seems fine, but I haven't put a camera inside it to examine bracing or glueing.

Photo below of the AF50 (right) next to a JF4 - out of curiousity, just played them both for the last 20 minutes for so.

Both the AF50 and the JF4 have narrow-ish feeling necks.
This particular JF4 has more balanced tone and better volume than the AF, and is really bright sounding
for a hog-bodied guitar. It's a little lighter than the AF but feels more substantial.
I've had several JF4s, they varied quite a bit - this was the best of them.

The AF plays easily, has slightly lower action than the JF4, with a slick neck, also feels as if there's
tighter (smaller) radius to the fretboard (haven't measured to compare).
It doesn't quite have the difficult-to-articulate "all of a piece"
feeling of the JF4. It feels smaller, is very comfortable to hold - body on the AF isn't as deep
as the JF4.

hyz1Ad8h.jpg

Good info. Thanks much!!!
 

Bonneville88

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Not much info, but you're welcome! I think for a $500-range entry-level
jumbo the AF50E RW is excellent and would likely hold its own against similar
used, non-US-made jumbo acoustics in this price category and made in the same
2014-ish time period.

Haven't sat down and compared the AF50E RW and JF4 side-by-side with my
Guild Westerly Collection F150, but I probably should - put it on the long to-do list.
 
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SFIV1967

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I just took a flyer on a AF 412E on Reverb.
The Arcos AF-412E was added to the line at NAMM 2014, so just a few of them were ever made from end of 2013 till May 2014. Pretty "rare" guitar.

1653854599598.png

  • Jumbo acoustic-electric guitar with solid Sitka spruce top and laminated maple body for tone and strength
  • Slender-cut, bolt-on mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard for sustain that goes on and on
  • Signature arched-back design for more volume and overall tone projection
  • Appointed with a koa rosette, a rosewood headcap, and pearl inlays (including Guild's name on the headstock)
  • Fishman Presys Plus acoustic guitar pickup with tuner and tone-shaping tools
  • Guild-branded soft case included

Ralf
 
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SFIV1967

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Bolt-on neck?
Yes, that's what the Sweetwater page showed. But also the 2012 Guild page showed "bolt-on neck construction" for the Arcos line:

That's the only picture I found from the Ensenada factory showing the neck pocket on the AO-3CE:

1653858544782.png

I guess similar to this:

1653859083720.png

Ralf
 
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