Hi all - I posted a intro/bio on another thread - without repeating too much, I thought I'd share the saga of my Guild acquisition here.
I'm far from a gearhead when it comes to music, but several years ago I managed to convince myself I deserved a better acoustic and began stopping into shops and playing random dreadnaughts that were withing my sub $500 price range - I was after one that felt and sounded "right" and didn't really limit myself in the details. A couple years ago I picked up a Baby Taylor, really as a stopgap measure, because none of the dreds I tried were any nicer sounding than my old much-loved and abused 70's Epiphone.
I recently bumped my spending limit to around $1000 and while I found some hope, nothing was jumping out - I wanted something that would "sing" on big open chord ballads yet could also do justice to some of my admittedly lame flat and fingerpicking. Basically a do-all guitar. The low end Martins didn't have the full sound I wanted, and the Taylors while slick playing, also sounded thin. Almost talked myself into a Alvarez Yairi, but it didn't sound "country" enough :?
I had tried the GAD's before but was dissapointed. I didn't bother with the upper end models because, well why drive a Ferrari when your shopping for a VW?
Friday, I stopped back in the local Martin/Guild dealer and there was a matte finish Guild they had not had before. It was one of those - "I'm in trouble" moments when I heard the sound. So much more definition and balance than anything else I had tried. It sounded as if there was a piano inside! It passed the bluegrass run test with flying colors as well. I made it to the parking lot when I realized that guitar would haunt me if I didn't buy it. It wasn't really in the short term budget, but when something's this right you make it work 8)
As far as the sound I wanted, this guitar stands well apart from anything in it's price range, and I tried about 50 guitars spanning most contemporary manufacturers.
After wearing my hands completely out the first night, I began my post-purchase research and found this forum. It seems these new American made Guilds are getting good reviews so here is another one to add to the pile.
Thanks for letting me gush, gotta go play it some more ...
Dave (ZZ)
I'm far from a gearhead when it comes to music, but several years ago I managed to convince myself I deserved a better acoustic and began stopping into shops and playing random dreadnaughts that were withing my sub $500 price range - I was after one that felt and sounded "right" and didn't really limit myself in the details. A couple years ago I picked up a Baby Taylor, really as a stopgap measure, because none of the dreds I tried were any nicer sounding than my old much-loved and abused 70's Epiphone.
I recently bumped my spending limit to around $1000 and while I found some hope, nothing was jumping out - I wanted something that would "sing" on big open chord ballads yet could also do justice to some of my admittedly lame flat and fingerpicking. Basically a do-all guitar. The low end Martins didn't have the full sound I wanted, and the Taylors while slick playing, also sounded thin. Almost talked myself into a Alvarez Yairi, but it didn't sound "country" enough :?
I had tried the GAD's before but was dissapointed. I didn't bother with the upper end models because, well why drive a Ferrari when your shopping for a VW?
Friday, I stopped back in the local Martin/Guild dealer and there was a matte finish Guild they had not had before. It was one of those - "I'm in trouble" moments when I heard the sound. So much more definition and balance than anything else I had tried. It sounded as if there was a piano inside! It passed the bluegrass run test with flying colors as well. I made it to the parking lot when I realized that guitar would haunt me if I didn't buy it. It wasn't really in the short term budget, but when something's this right you make it work 8)
As far as the sound I wanted, this guitar stands well apart from anything in it's price range, and I tried about 50 guitars spanning most contemporary manufacturers.
After wearing my hands completely out the first night, I began my post-purchase research and found this forum. It seems these new American made Guilds are getting good reviews so here is another one to add to the pile.
Thanks for letting me gush, gotta go play it some more ...
Dave (ZZ)
