More guitar advertising via other companies.

[Ridgemont]

I know Taylor had good advertisement from GE Capital a little while ago. Well now it is Martin's turn with UPS. This is good advertisement for both companies and it saddens me that Guild has not explored such avenues. This would make for a good area of discussion at LMG II.

http://thenewlogistics.ups.com/customers/visibility/

 

[dapmdave]

I hadn't seen that commercial before. I think it's fine that companies find ways to leverage their relationships into shared advertising costs. Should Guild get into the act? Maybe Fender would consider it and showcase several of their brands within one commercial, but Guild is just one small unit of that large multi-national corporation.

Dave

 

[Ridgemont]

Maybe Fender would consider it and showcase several of their brands within one commercial, but Guild is just one small unit of that large multi-national corporation.

True, but since Guild reps have suggested to those at LMG I that their goal was to beat Gibson in acoustic sales, then Fender advertising of their only acoustic line seems logical to me. Gibson acoustic has had a bad reputation in recent years, but only within the guitar community. They have a good reputation outside of those who know because Gibson is very good at product placement. Guild may be of better quality, but the vast majority do not know who they are. Fender is very good at selling Fender, but they need to do something if they want to compete in the acoustic world. They have a great opportunity.

 

[fronobulax]

Fender advertising of their only acoustic line

Not true.

The fact that you get the Fender branded acoustics when you go to the Fender website and select Products->Acoustics with no mention of Guild that I could find, reinforces the idea that Guild can and will function independently, within limits, of course. But that does seem to undercut the likelihood of joint Fender and Guild advertising unless FMIC is trying to showcase its position as a music conglomerate and emphasize the breadth of the Fender family of brands.

 

[Ridgemont]

Fender advertising of their only acoustic line

Not true.

The fact that you get the Fender branded acoustics when you go to the Fender website and select Products->Acoustics with no mention of Guild that I could find, reinforces the idea that Guild can and will function independently, within limits, of course. But that does seem to undercut the likelihood of joint Fender and Guild advertising unless FMIC is trying to showcase its position as a music conglomerate and emphasize the breadth of the Fender family of brands.

You are right. I should have been more clear. Fender's acoustic guitar subsidiaries consist of Gretsch, Ovation, Tacoma, Guild Guitar Company, Orpheum, and Olympia. They also have their own Fender line of acoustics. I believe Tacoma and Olympia are no longer active so those are taken out of the picture. Of these subsidiaries, Guild seems to be the most prominent in the acoustic realm. I do not know how much independence Guild has as far as advertising ability, but someone at Guild or Fender is calling the shots. Who that person is, and who they work for, would be a question I would ask if I were going to LMG II.

 

[adorshki]

Who that person is, and who they work for, would be a question I would ask if I were going to LMG II.

If they told you they might have to kill you.

 

[Thunderface]

Here's another way of looking at it. Those other companies need to resort to advertising. Guild has us!

 

[Ridgemont]

Who that person is, and who they work for, would be a question I would ask if I were going to LMG II.

If they told you they might have to kill you.

Well then let me retract my question. :shock:

 

[Ridgemont]

Here's another way of looking at it. Those other companies need to resort to advertising. Guild has us!

"Guild has us!" That is the main reason I bring this up. I took the following from a back and forth from another thread which pretty much sums up the issue:

There are not many evangelists for new (New Hartford or the line formerly known as GAD) Guilds on LTG but this is clearly a call for them to start spreading the word here and elsewhere.

That, my friend, is the Achilles heel of Guild. How many of us on this forum love Westerly Guild guitars but remain skeptical on the new factory mainly because of the last 10 shaky years? These Guild factions are evident in almost every thread. There are some who are optimistic and hope the brand moves out of their funk, and there are those who hold on to yesteryear as the Guild Glory Days and criticize all current business decisions.

I am in complete agreement with this, well mainly because I wrote part of it. The point is, Guild has SOME of us, not all.

 

[Thunderface]

True enough. Perhaps in time, the new Guilds will win over even the most ardent Westerly supporters.

 

[Ridgemont]

True enough. Perhaps in time, the new Guilds will win over even the most ardent Westerly supporters.

I certainly hope so. The NH products really are tops.

 

[adorshki]

Seems to me I recall when Dodge was introducing its "Magnum" model in TV commercials a few years back, ("That thing got a Hemi?") there was a moment of Guild logo exposure on a guitar case in the back of the car, behind the driver. I always thought it was more of an accident than anything else, though.

 

[Ridgemont]

Seems to me I recall when Dodge was introducing its "Magnum" model in TV commercials a few years back, ("That thing got a Hemi?") there was a moment of Guild logo exposure on a guitar case in the back of the car, behind the driver. I always thought it was more of an accident than anything else, though.

Here you go Al. Good memory.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 8338964889

INSTANT GUILD ADVERTISEMENT!!! :mrgreen:

 

[Bill Ashton]

Today at the barber shop I was thumbing through the old magazines, I think it was a June 2011 Forbes, and there is this kid Mars Bruno, full page picture, holding a small body Guild acoustic...maybe an F30? Very nice image with the guitar very clearly shown.

Whole article on his marketability or profitability or whatever...article kinda turned me off as did the mag...but it seems he was on a cover just before this...with his Guild I wonder?

There is also a very nice ad, similar to ones past, in this month's Fretboard Journal.

 

[fronobulax]

More on presumably the same issue of Forbes.

Discussion of a Mars Bruno video with what is believe to be a GAD50 or whatever the nomenclature should be for a D-50 model made overseas.

One does have to wonder what FMIC had to do with the Guild in the picture. Product placement or a (missed?) opportunity to get an endorsement?

 

[Ridgemont]

I have seen other contemporary artists using Guilds, both oversees and domestic, in various gigs. Here is Justin Townes Earle playing a GAD F20:

http://www.laundromatinee.com/sessions/ ... wnes_earle

Here is Coldplay playing for the Hope for Haiti tribute:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KGfCUL-y_o

The point is that artists do use Guilds (sometimes), but how many know this? How many on this forum of Guild aficionados knew this? It is my opinion that the word is not getting out.

To be honest, I do not put a lot of stock in artists who used Guilds in the '60s and '70s. DVR, Richie Havens, John Hurt became hooked on Guilds 40-50 years ago. This does not tell us where the company is going, but tells us where they have been. It shows the power of Guild in its heyday. An example such as Bruno Mars is really great. He is relatively new and already has 2 Grammys under his belt. I am sure Gibson, Martin, and Taylor have approached him about endorsements. But he plays his GAD for whatever reason. That shows the potential of where Guild can go.

 

[Bill Ashton]

Yeah, the top link brings you to the article I was speaking of...if you can wait out the advertisement.

I would agree the videos show him with a GAD dread...also a Takamine in another I believe, based on the headstock shape.

He's not my cup of tea, guitar seems to be a prop, maybe he uses it to write.

But anything to get the Guild name up there!

 

[adorshki]

But anything to get the Guild name up there!

+1
From another perspective, I remember w-a-a-a-y back when I was maybe 14, reading an interview with Jeff Beck in Guitar Player, and his observations on why he played a Les Paul (at that time).
My thinking is that perhaps Fender needs to gain mind share of not just the artists and the potential market, but also those to whom the market looks, for insights, ie, the journalists themselves.. :wink:

 

[Ridgemont]

My thinking is that perhaps Fender needs to gain mind share of not just the artists and the potential market, but also those to whom the market looks, for insights, ie, the journalists themselves.. :wink:

Bingo! I have a subscription to Acoustic Guitar Magazine and I just go nuts when they do reviews of Guild guitars. They have all been positive so far. A couple of issues ago, the cover had Robbie Robertson along with the multipage cover story inside. He discussed his obsession and collection of Martin guitars and why they were so great. Other artists have done the same including Elvis Costello, Jakob Dylan, and Steve Earle. They all have spoken about their reverence for Martins and Gibsons. It makes me want one.