Played a Couple Of Connecticuts, But......

[Firebird]

I stopped in at the local music store today and played some brand-spanking new guitars from our Connecticut buddies.

Hanging on the wall was a D55, D50, GAD-50, GAD-40CE and a DV-6, all very factory fresh.

The D50 was the first one I reached for and it was spectacular. Flawless finish and a deep robust tone. Definetly a bluegrass instrument. Finally, a Martin and Banjo killer from Guild. I looked at the price and almost fell of the stool- 21 and change! I couldn't believe how expensive it was. I still can't get over it. But it sure looked and sounded good.

The D55 was equally flawless in its fit and finish. This guitar had the classic D55 sound with plenty of piano-like overtones and sparkling mids. The open-back tuners did not appeal to me but that's just me. The price? A mere 23 and change. I shake my head in disappointment. Guild has over-priced their American guitars just like Gibson has done.

The GADs both had a loud in-your-face tone and were very easy to play. Well worth the asking price.

The DV-6 was the worst sounding Guild that I have ever heard.

Guild is evidently making some great guitars in Connecticut but has priced them way too high.

 

[cjd-player]

I'm not in favor of higher prices, but I think that Fender is pricing these as comparable to the big-name competitiion (Martin, Gibson, Taylor). In one sense I think that is a good thing because the guitars are comparable and they are marketing them as such.

Are good guitars expensive. Yes and no. Compare them with other consumer products. Is a good guitar worth the price of good PC or MAC? A flat-screen TV? A souped-up riding mower? Me, I dont have a blazing-fast, large-screen PC, or a High-Def Flat Screen TV, and I walk to cut my grass (need the exercise ). I choose to spend on good guitars that will last well into my later years long after the other items are in a land fill. But to each his own.

I have a friend who just bought a mid-level Taylor - about $1800. He used to say these were in the unobtainium price range. Yet he has a large Hi Def TV and home theater sound system, and goes to practically every movie that is released to theaters.

No right or wrong judgements here. I think it just boils down to where we want to spend our money.

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

As much as we would like to see the price of new Guilds lower, if they are to continue to be made in America, the price will reflect it.
On the good side of this, the Guilds that we currently own will also be going up in value now.
I would think that a Martin or Taylor of similar build would be at least $1000.00 more than the prices that you have quoted for the Guilds.

 

[chazmo]

Firebird,

So, yours is the first review I've seen of the D-50... I assume this was the other CT instrument, right?

I can tell you that I was quite excited about the Tacoma version of this guitar as well.

I'm glad that CT is continuing with the good shtuff.

I'm not going to comment on the prices -- it's really up to everyone to decide if these guitars still represent traditional Guild value. I imagine the prices you saw are negotiable to some degree, but I don't know for sure.

 

[zzrider]

The DV6 is now made in Mexico - correct? :?

 

[dapmdave]

If the new Guilds are good, then they should be priced accordingly. This should only serve to increase the value of all of our older Guilds, right?

Dave

 

[solenoid lopez]

DV6's are now made in Mexico. That's no excuse for being the worst sounding guild that Firebird ever heard though. What was the fit and finish of the DV6 like?

 

[Firebird]

The tone of the DV=6 was so bad that I never took the time to visually inspect it or even check the price.

I did play a beautiful burst Martin D18 while I was there because I like Martin guitars too. They had it tagged at $2k. The Guild D50 had a MUCH better tone to it than that one Martin.

I got to tell ya, that Connecticut D50 was quite the instrument. Bring a fat wallet.

 

[kitniyatran]

AS long as people think of Martin & Gibson(& maybe Taylor) as THE guitars, Guilds, while they may be as good or better, won't have much chance unless there's a cost saving to buying them. At least, that's my opinionated 2 scents.

 

[chazmo]

FYI, I reviewed the DV-4 and DV-6 from Ensenada in another thread. I didn't hate the -6 as much as Firebird, but I thought the -4 was pretty nice.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=12999

 

[Scratch]

Played a New Hartford D55 about three weeks ago at a local music store. The owner, a friend, he said he'd sell it to me for 2.2K. Beautiful sounding and playing instrument...

 

[FNG]

Guild has been long overdue for a price increase. Plus, most dealers will give a pretty good discount, 40 percent off retail is probably doable. Which still makes them pretty competitive.

 

[chazmo]

Yeah, but I think you guys heard about how Fender is putting the screws on dealers now to stock more inventory, right? Who posted that a couple months ago??

Not good.

 

[dapmdave]

I was going to try to find list prices of various Guild, Martin and Taylor guitars from, say, 15 years ago as a comparison. But it seems that an old Martin and Taylor pricelists are hard to come by on the interweb.

Anybody been able to do this?

Dave

 

[6L6]

Thanks for the report!

I only wish Guild every success in the future.

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