New Guild Dating Information

[ajgorman]

Hi Guys,

Guild has now added the dating information to its website www.guildguitars.com/ (see insturments drop down menu) for Tacoma-produced guitars from February 2005 forward. Also included now in the intro is an acknowledgement to the venerable Mr. Moust's "Guild Guitar Book" as an excellent reference source.

It's interesting there is no information yet for Corona plant.

 

[fungusyoung]

Sometimes I wonder about the Corona era. As maligned as it is now (even Guild seems to view that period as the lost years), who knows what the future holds. It could be come a novelty for collectors even though I find that hard to imagine. 70's "CBS era" Fenders were a laughing stock for quite a while, but now they are fairly desirable vintage guitars that can command big bucks.

 

[jonbama]

what is it about the corona built instruments that makes them less desirable? i recently bought a corona d-25 and love it. it's not the nicest guitar i have ever owned but it sounds great and is one i am not afraid to play at bars around here. just wondering what characteristics set these aside as less than optimal.

 

[ajgorman]

I have often wondered why this is the case myself. I have seen and played several Corona-produced guitars when they were new and since, and I found them to be consistent with traditional Guild quality. I have a friend with a Corona D-50 and it's a great guitar. Some of it probably has to do with the closing of the Westerly facility and nostalgia, but from what I read in some business publication articles guitar production moved to Corona in 1995 although the Westerly facility was kept open. The Guild plant manager was quoted as saying this was a great day for Guild, but perhaps that is what he had to say. In the article it also quoted a Fender Exec stating the move to Corona was necessary because of the Westerly facility's proximity to the ocean and problems with humidity and its affect on consistent quality(!?). Then more speculation was quoted that the later move to Tacoma was necessitated because of California environmental regulations on nitrocellulose lacquer. Other speculation is that the real was Fender wanted all of its production at one facility. Maybe someone out there knows the real "X-files" of it all.

I had an opportunity at a guitar show a few years ago to see one of the 50-year anniversary D-55's made in 2003 (they only made 50 and they cost $5,500.00). Brazilian rosewood and the very finest material...what a magnificent guitar. I wish I had one. Regardless of the reason for the plant moves, Fender did a poor PR job in my opinion and it produced an unfair representation of the Corona facility's quality. All things will pass as fungusyoung says one day these guitars will have their just place in Guild tradition.

 

[Guildmark]

All things will pass as fungusyoung says one day these guitars will have their just place in Guild tradition.

It's possible, of course, but I doubt it. No offense, just my opinion, but I believe the Corona acoustics you have seen may have been the exceptions. Corona experienced a large proportion of returns in those days due to to faulty workmanship. Bad finishes, bad joints, you name it. Fact is not many of the Westerly crew came west, and acoustics are not what the Corona guys do best. The articles and quotes you cite are corporate spin - what else were they going to say? They had to convince investors and dealers - not customers and players. Fender realized they screwed up when they moved Guild to Corona and I believe the move to Tacoma bears that out. If humidity was bad in Rhode Island, does anyone believe it is better in Tacoma? Yet the products coming out of there are getting rave reviews and bolstering Guild's reputation. I submit that's because Tacoma knows how to build acoustic guitars, they have rigorously adhered to Guild specs, and their innovations on new models have found strong support in the marketplace. And if it was imperative to consolidate manufacturing facilities, then what changed to make it okay to go to Washington? No, I believe Fender failed to realize any real cost benefit moving to Corona, their product quality was suffering - and the California environmental requirements really are a bitch.
Many of the Corona acoustics are very good guitars, but it behooves a prospective buyer to examine the axe very carefully. I only buy a guitar about once a decade anyway, so I'll skip that one, thanks.

That's my 2¢. Where's my change?

 

[ajgorman]

Guildmark,

Very well said . The "humidity" sure didn't hurt the Westerly products for 30 years...and you're right about the employees...not many came to California.