Those Hideous Madeira Guitars

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Anyone remember the Madeira guitars imported by Guild in the late 70's and early 80's? There was a full line of acoustic based on USA-made Guild designs, and a few electrics. They all had one thing in common though: they sucked. We sold a lot of them to people unable to afford a Guild. The guitars were Korean-made, long before Korea got their act together as guitar makers.

The really low-end acoustic was the A-1, and these were the worst pieces of sheet Guild ever sold. Most of them came back with necks warped beyond belief, necks separating from the body, bridges pulled up, fret issues, pickguards fallen off, etc. We used to take those returned A-1s and throw them in the dumpster. One day, one of the warehouse guys and I smashed three of four of them a la Pete Townshend. Lots of fun!

The electrics were equally hideous from a quality standpoint. One of them looked like a two pickup Les Paul Special.

I always asked Neil to drop the Madeiras, and they finally did, but not until after I left the company. The one smart thing they did was to leave the Guild name off them.
 

GardMan

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They're pretty common on eBay... a quick searched just pulled 4 guitars (3 acoustic/1 elctric) and a mandolin... I've occasionally seen them passed as "Guilds" on eBay, w/o mention of Madeira...
 

BluesDan

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DrumBob said:
We used to take those returned A-1s and throw them in the dumpster.

Wish I had known that when I was a teenager, there certainly would have been a road trip involving friends, beer, and "dumpster diving".........back then ANY guitar was a good guitar!! :wink:
 

dklsplace

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I have an A-9 that came cheaply enough & it's a very usable student guitar. Much better than the department store crap that sells this time of year. It's also the only one I've ever seen with part of the Chesterfield logo.
 
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I have 3 of them: 2 A 30 R acoustics, and an electric EG-330, and they play fine. I absolutely *hate* taking my JF 30-12 our of the house, so I don't cry too much if something happens to the Madeira. Can't beat a 70's Rosewood guitar for $100 US
 

fronobulax

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Sunrider said:
I have 3 of them: 2 A 30 R acoustics, and an electric EG-330, and they play fine. I absolutely *hate* taking my JF 30-12 our of the house, so I don't cry too much if something happens to the Madeira. Can't beat a 70's Rosewood guitar for $100 US
Sunrider - welcome to LTG.

Everyone else - note that this thread was started in 2007 :lol:
 

The Guilds of Grot

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Well when I missed the date but saw the poster was DrumBob I thought, oh boy, here we go again!

(Necro threads, always amusing!)
 

coastie99

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The Guilds of Grot said:
Well when I missed the date but saw the poster was DrumBob I thought, oh boy, here we go again!

(Necro threads, always amusing!)

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Same here !! I even got onto the feds (mods.) with a question. And heads-upped Graham, Bob's old mate. :oops: :oops:
 
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DrumBob said:
Anyone remember the Madeira guitars imported by Guild in the late 70's and early 80's? There was a full line of acoustic based on USA-made Guild designs, and a few electrics. They all had one thing in common though: they sucked. We sold a lot of them to people unable to afford a Guild. The guitars were Korean-made, long before Korea got their act together as guitar makers.

The really low-end acoustic was the A-1, and these were the worst pieces of sheet Guild ever sold. Most of them came back with necks warped beyond belief, necks separating from the body, bridges pulled up, fret issues, pickguards fallen off, etc. We used to take those returned A-1s and throw them in the dumpster. One day, one of the warehouse guys and I smashed three of four of them a la Pete Townshend. Lots of fun!

The electrics were equally hideous from a quality standpoint. One of them looked like a two pickup Les Paul Special.

I always asked Neil to drop the Madeiras, and they finally did, but not until after I left the company. The one smart thing they did was to leave the Guild name off them.

In reply to Drumbob

"The Korean" ones yes your right,,,but if you had done your homework on "Guild and madeira" you would have found out that
the japanese builders of these Madeira guitars were very strictly held to and supplied with the EXACT same materials and gear as the Guild was up until 1973,,,, then in 1974 the production was changed to Korea.
The original madeira guitars were the exact same as the Guild,only built in japan and not New Jersey,and with a diff name on the headstock,,this was to compete in the cheaper guitar market.
I personally have a double cut through solid ash body Madeira with maple glued in neck with the original humbuckers,and i,ll tell you 1400 usa dollars would not get me as good a new guitar in todays market, The action is absolutely 2nd to None, and its sound is unbelievable, and it is 39 years old!!!!
I will never ever get rid of it. a Gibson les Paul Classic doesnt even come close to the feel or sound of it.
 

Default

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Drumbob has long since shuffled off this mortal coil, forumwise.

You'd need a Ouija board, not a post. Lol
 

fronobulax

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punkmonsta said:
In reply to Drumbob

Welcome even if this is a discussion that started in 2007 and drumbob has long ceased to participate here.

I should note, however, that drumbob actually worked for Guild in the 1970's and it may very well be that he was speaking from his personal experience, which occurred after the shift from Japan to Korea, and not trying to give a true and accurate history.

Madeira history is not well known around here so please stick around and help tell what you know.
 

adorshki

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fronobulax said:
I should note, however, that drumbob actually worked for Guild in the 1970's and it may very well be that he was speaking from his personal experience, which occurred after the shift from Japan to Korea, and not trying to give a true and accurate history.
Madeira history is not well known around here so please stick around and help tell what you know.
+1 and that note about drumbob's background is educational in itself!
 

TonyT

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The Guilds of Grot said:
Well when I missed the date but saw the poster was DrumBob I thought, oh boy, here we go again!

(Necro threads, always amusing!)
Ethnic slurs are never appropriate.


[implied smilie]
 

dreadnut

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Coastie: I believe that was "Shirley," not "squirrelly." :lol:

Sorry, I couldn't resist!
 

adorshki

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TonyT said:
The Guilds of Grot said:
Well when I missed the date but saw the poster was DrumBob I thought, oh boy, here we go again!
(Necro threads, always amusing!)
ethnic slurs are never appropriate.
[implied smilie]
Are you sayin' somethin' about Kurt's post was unethnical? :lol:
 

Default

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adorshki said:
TonyT said:
The Guilds of Grot said:
Well when I missed the date but saw the poster was DrumBob I thought, oh boy, here we go again!
(Necro threads, always amusing!)
ethnic slurs are never appropriate.
[implied smilie]
Are you sayin' somethin' about Kurt's post was unethnical? :lol:

And how many Ethnics does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
 
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