New Guild Electrics at NAMM 2013

[Los Angeles]

I've heard some derisive comments about the DeArmond brand here but they may be instructive. Good, not great, fit and finish, very good (IMHO) USA made pickups, lousy switches and stuff. Clearly mass produced but still with the opportunity to find "a decent one" in the batch. I imagine (well, I hope anyway) that they would provide even better quality on the "Guild" branded line. That SB X175 looks exactly like my first Guild and I want one instinctively. It remains to be seen whether this new line may be some sort of Faustian deal, however, it will, largely, be the only deal for some of us. While I might find an old X175 for a "reasonable" amount of money I still have to be concerned with shrinking binding and neck re-sets. Either way I'm looking forward with some excitement to some honest, Guild lovers, "hands on" descriptions here in a few days.

I agree that there were good DeArmonds out there and the trick was to find a good one.

I generally found them lacking. The pickups were inconsistent from guitar to guitar. They were also heavy as lead. I felt that anything that was made of plastic was very cheap looking. The look of the "mother of toilet seat" block inlays were just about the worst I had seen on any guitar. It looked like the same material used for shampoo bottles. Or solid hand soap.

But the worst part of the whole thing was that they were look-alike guitars of the most desirable guilds (Starfire, M-75s, Thunderbirds and S-100s) and I feel that as such, they were a disservice to the entire brand, causing more harm than good to the guild family.

My biggest fear was that Fender Music would repeat it's very poor excecution of the DeArmond experiment. It looks at first blush that we may have dodged that bullet. I can't wait to hear some no-hype reviews of the instruments from a hands-on perspective.

 

[Russian Guy]

What is the consensus on the future price of vintage and other Guilds?

M

My take on that is vintage Guilds will rise up in price no matter what especially at dealer shops. Even individual owners might pursue the opportunity to make a quick buck by selling truly American Guilds.

 

[Thunderface]

As an eternal optimist, all I'm really hoping for right now is growth of the Guild brand. Whether it's for MIK, MIC, MIM, or US-built product; it's good for Guild (and probably Fender). Sales of one stimulates sales of the others.

Heightened awareness of the brand is always a good thing, especially on the electric side. So far I've just been focusing my attention on the Aristocrats, because that's the model I'm lusting after, and I gotta say I'm more intrigued by the Newark Street version because for the price they're offering the American Patriarch one, you might as well buy a vintage Aristocrat (if you can find one). :wink:

And I have to agree with Blake. If they're going to reissue the S-100, please do make a green one.

 

[matsickma]

I would like them to issue the sunburst and antique or tobacco burst color like the earliest 1970's S-50 and S-100 models. They could even add a Hagstrom "Tremar" like the origionals (and also use it on a Thunderbird reissue).

M

 

[Zelja]

^^^^^
I'm with you TF, the Newark Street Aristocrat is the one I'm most interested in at this stage. Really interested if it's the same pickups as in the GSR seris (the info intimates it is as the same PUs seem to be used on both the MIK & MIA guitars) but would also love to know the specs. If they are based very much on the old Franz pickups, I'd just like the bridge to be wound a bit hotter than the neck (which is pretty perfect).

 

[dougdnh]

I've heard some derisive comments about the DeArmond brand here but they may be instructive. Good, not great, fit and finish, very good (IMHO) USA made pickups, lousy switches and stuff. Clearly mass produced but still with the opportunity to find "a decent one" in the batch. I imagine (well, I hope anyway) that they would provide even better quality on the "Guild" branded line. That SB X175 looks exactly like my first Guild and I want one instinctively. It remains to be seen whether this new line may be some sort of Faustian deal, however, it will, largely, be the only deal for some of us. While I might find an old X175 for a "reasonable" amount of money I still have to be concerned with shrinking binding and neck re-sets. Either way I'm looking forward with some excitement to some honest, Guild lovers, "hands on" descriptions here in a few days.

I agree that there were good DeArmonds out there and the trick was to find a good one.

I generally found them lacking. The pickups were inconsistent from guitar to guitar. They were also heavy as lead. I felt that anything that was made of plastic was very cheap looking. The look of the "mother of toilet seat" block inlays were just about the worst I had seen on any guitar. It looked like the same material used for shampoo bottles. Or solid hand soap.

But the worst part of the whole thing was that they were look-alike guitars of the most desirable guilds (Starfire, M-75s, Thunderbirds and S-100s) and I feel that as such, they were a disservice to the entire brand, causing more harm than good to the guild family.

My biggest fear was that Fender Music would repeat it's very poor excecution of the DeArmond experiment. It looks at first blush that we may have dodged that bullet. I can't wait to hear some no-hype reviews of the instruments from a hands-on perspective.

I've owned several MIK DArmonds, and found them pretty good instruments for the money. True my M-72 weighed a ton, but the sound, action and workmanship on it were pretty darn good for an inexpensive MIK guitar, and the Fender made Goldtone pickups were first rate. Interestingly, they were made by Cort while the new Guild line is made by part of the Samick organization (?). I always found Cort guitars superior to Samicks. I hope the new Guilds are a few notches above what Samick typically puts out.

 

[matsickma]

In regards to DeArmonds...I beleive the M-72 was the lightest of the bunch. Flat top, maple cap, chambered.

The heavy ones were the solid plank M70, arched M75, M75T, M77 and M77T.

M

 

[SFIV1967]

...the new Guild line is made by part of the Samick organization (?).

So far all we think is that they are made by SPG (Sound Professional Guitar Co, Ltd.), which is not Samick. SPG makes their own guitars and is also a manufacturer for Samick, but not Samick. Two different things. As far as I know it is only a customer-supplier relationship between Samick and SPG.
Ralf

 

[Default]

Is it the weekend yet?

 

[guildman63]

It's NAMM day!

 

[chazmo]

There are some 'leccie details in Kim's post here, which should help clarify the origin of these new Guilds!

viewtopic.php?p=385738#p385738

 

[SFIV1967]

I will beat NAMM this afternoon and tomorrow! I am so excited! Unfortunatelly internet here in the hotel is sooooooo slow! Will be "fun" posting any pictures with such slow connection...
Ralf

 

[mellowgerman]

Don't know if there's any new info here that hasn't already been covered, but alas, another link...

BAM!
http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/ ... n-569941/2

 

[Kslam]

Interesting. So are the radii of these reissues the same as the originals? I was surprised to see that a bunch of these guitars have a 9.45" radius. My 60s Starfires feel like they have flatter radii than that, though I've never measured them.

 

[zulu]

Exciting time to be a Guild enthusiast.

 

[Kslam]

It's official.

http://www.guildguitars.com/instruments ... Collection

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

So what's on Newark St.?

Anybody have any insight/guesses on this?

 

[Kslam]

So what's on Newark St.?

Anybody have any insight/guesses on this?

That's the street the Hoboken factory was on.

 

[Los Angeles]

Interesting. So are the radii of these reissues the same as the originals? I was surprised to see that a bunch of these guitars have a 9.45" radius. My 60s Starfires feel like they have flatter radii than that, though I've never measured them.

A lot of mine have what feels like a 12" radius, but it is not entirely consistent.

 

[Kslam]

Interesting. So are the radii of these reissues the same as the originals? I was surprised to see that a bunch of these guitars have a 9.45" radius. My 60s Starfires feel like they have flatter radii than that, though I've never measured them.

A lot of mine have what feels like a 12" radius, but it is not entirely consistent.

I always assumed mine were 12" too.