What/who inspired you to play Guilds?

[DCannon]

When I first saw Simon & Garfunkel in concert back in 1970, Simon was playing a Guild F-30R and from that moment, I had to have one. Great sounding guitar and I liked how it looked with that trademark pickguard and headstock logo. And, well.... Paul Simon was my idol back then. But truthfully, I think this F-30R sounds better than any of the Martins I've heard him play. The only acoustics I've heard on par with his F-30R are his Gurian and the black Yamaha he once played. But I just automatically relate Paul Simon with Guild, and he was probably my biggest influence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE3kKUEY5WU

Ah.....that unmistakable, unique Guild sound.

 

[geoguy]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

When I was looking for an acoustic guitar in the mid-1970's, after not playing for about 10 years, a salesperson suggested that I should really try the Guild D25M hanging on the wall.

At the time I thought it was goofy looking, due to having been finished in sort of a dark-burgundy color, but he was right . . . the sound, playability & value were top notch.

Still have that guitar.

 

[frettedstrings]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

I remember playing some Guild Jumbo 6's at Guitar Center, back in the 1980's. I don't know what models they were, but I always thought I would like a Guild Acoustic. The prices were high enough, even then, to prevent me from going out and buying a New Model, but in 2010, I found what I learned to be a 1975 D-35, hanging up, in a local guitar store and a sticker price of $300. I've owned several inexpensive acoustics, over the years, and finally I found a solid acoustic guitar that I could afford. From then, I was on the look out for a 12 string Acoustic. I found my 1967 F-212 on the Guitar Center Website with a sticker price of $650 (the salesman didn't process the downpayment so the final purchase was $585).
To say the least, I'm hooked. My next Guild Acoustic will probably be something in Maple.


-frettedstrings

 

[charliea]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

I don't much care who gets paid to play what. I'm a 12-string guy, and Guild is the boss.

 

[scott]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

Paul Simon and John Denver- Still have a bias that a 12 isn't a 12 unless it's a guild. Had 2 Kottke Taylor 12s one a custom cocobolo- never bonded with either and eventually sold them both; currently own 2 custom shop jf 55-12's both incredible and a 612. Best 12's I have ever played-own a custom shop F-50R JD -it is great as well.

 

[Alan_M]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

When I was looking for a new electric guitar to replace my cheapo starter guitar, my friend suggested I look at the S100 re-issues as an affordable quality option. Found a black one at GC for around $800 bucks, and bought it. Instant love. Later I stupidly sold it, but by then I had bought a new D-30 as well (which I also stupidly sold. Yes, I am stupid). Anyway, when I was able to start building my collection again, I looked to replace them both. Then the desire for other models started up... and I'm still collecting... 4 and counting. Why? Because they play, sound and look great of course!

 

[Westerly Wood]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

When I first saw Simon & Garfunkel in concert back in 1970, Simon was playing a Guild F-30R and from that moment, I had to have one. Great sounding guitar and I liked how it looked with that trademark pickguard and headstock logo. And, well.... Paul Simon was my idol back then. But truthfully, I think this F-30R sounds better than any of the Martins I've heard him play. The only acoustics I've heard on par with his F-30R are his Gurian and the black Yamaha he once played. But I just automatically relate Paul Simon with Guild, and he was probably my biggest influence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE3kKUEY5WU

Ah.....that unmistakable, unique Guild sound.

love that song. very complex too, simon is a great player.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

I started on Guilds late in life, much to my dismay. I grew up in Newport RI, but didn't even know that Guild was over in Westerly till long after Fender bought them and they moved to CA. This fact drives me nuts if I think too hard about it. I could have driven to the factory in Westerly, like 30 minutes away, and picked out any Guild. I could have worked there.....Bygones.

So, when I found out they were in RI for 30 years, and I have a sweet spot for anything Rhode Island, except political corruption and the mafia, I immediately wanted a Westerly Guild. I have owned 3 total, the only one I still own is my D25 I just scored off Craigslist.

I hope to pick more up every couple years, Westerly RI Guilds.

I have owned/played Martins, Gibsons, Taylors and other types, but Guilds are my last stop on the guitar merry go round. They are my brand...

 

[dapmdave]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

When I first saw Simon & Garfunkel in concert back in 1970, Simon was playing a Guild F-30R and from that moment, I had to have one. Great sounding guitar and I liked how it looked with that trademark pickguard and headstock logo. And, well.... Paul Simon was my idol back then. But truthfully, I think this F-30R sounds better than any of the Martins I've heard him play. The only acoustics I've heard on par with his F-30R are his Gurian and the black Yamaha he once played. But I just automatically relate Paul Simon with Guild, and he was probably my biggest influence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE3kKUEY5WU

Ah.....that unmistakable, unique Guild sound.

That's a great song, by a musician who is a national treasure.

But to the subject at hand... I was starting to play bluegrass music in a band when I moved to Northern Alabama back around 1980 or so. A good friend who owned a vintage guitar store (Screaming Strings in Decatur, Alabama) saw that I was struggling to find a suitable guitar that I could actually afford to own. So he put me onto a 1976 Guild D-40. I fell in love with it.

Dave

 

[Bing k]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

Tone

 

[jte]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

When I started to play guitar, the shop in our area that had the "cool" guy running it (he had sideburns, had been home from Vietnam for a year or so, actually knew who Hendrix and Clapton were, and didn't wear a suit and tie to work) was a Guild dealer. Being new I didn't have any prejudices about guitars yet. The Guild catalog had a picture of Clapton in his Cream days playing a big Guild acoustic, my older sister had introduced me to John Denver (this was well before "Rocky Mountain High", more in the days of "The Ballad Of Spiro Agnew" and the John Prine covers) whose album covers had those Guilds on them, and I'd seen Buddy Guy somewhere with his Starfire IV. Kinda left an impression.


Years later I'm working at that store and came to really appreciate Guild's consistency, value, and craftsmanship. Our sales rep was a wonderful guy who helped us choose the right stock for our shop (as opposed the the Gibson reps who always insisted we needed a couple of L-5s, a Super 400, and whatever crappy solid body wasn't selling when what we really needed was Les Pauls and SGs) and that helped fuel my appreciation for the line. A guitarist I gigged with called me one Saturday and said "What's a Guild Starfire three? Is it worth $150?" He was at a garage sale, and showed up at the gig that night with a red SF III with the DeArmond pickups and a Bigsby. We used to do Neil Young's "Down By The River" and JW had an uncanny resembelence to Neil's singing (in a good way- I LIKE Neil Young!). He played the Starfire for that song, and it sounded so much like Neil that the pool players in the bar stopped playing to stand and listen to us...

I chanced to play a used F-30R at one of the other stores in our small chain and was hooked on small rosewood guitars. But, being the manager of a guitar store with two young boys ain't a way to afford to buy good guitars even with the substantial discount I could give myself.

So, I bought my first Guild about a year after I left retail and got a "real job"- a Guild Pilot Pro bass. A few years later I got a once in a lifetime bonus at work, and it allowed me to finally, after 16 years of waiting, to buy a small rosewood Guild- a brand new A-50, just two weeks before FMIC officially bought Guild, (serial #3, BTW).

Still find them to be the most consistent guitars that also sound great and inspiring. The most stable necks on the market, and they've survived several decades of ineffective management (under several owners, this is NOT a slam againist FMIC!). The stable is that 1995 A-50, an F-47CE (mahogany) from around 2001, a Pilot bass (on permanent loan to my niece), and a DeArmond Ashbory bass. I'd love to have an F-212 and a D-40.

John

 

[walrus]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

When I bought my D64, I had only a vague idea who Guild was. All I knew was that the sound of it blew me away. I got rid of a Martin D-35 I had, which I never really bonded with, and got the Guild. Only acoustic I've had since then...

walrus

 

[DCannon]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

That's a great song, by a musician who is a national treasure.

But to the subject at hand... I was starting to play bluegrass music in a band when I moved to Northern Alabama back around 1980 or so. A good friend who owned a vintage guitar store (Screaming Strings in Decatur, Alabama) saw that I was struggling to find a suitable guitar that I could actually afford to own. So he put me onto a 1976 Guild D-40. I fell in love with it.

Dave

Hey Dave, nice to know you were in my neck of the woods. I'm in Madison, AL and one of the players in my Irish band lives in Decatur. Small world. Lots of bluegrass and...believe it or not...Irish/Celtic music here, along with some good players.
Denny

 

[dreadnut]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

In 1976, fresh out of the Navy and newly employed, I went to the music store intending to buy a Martin. They had Martin, Gibson, and Guild guitars. Played all three's entry level mahogany dreads, I liked the tone and the woods on the Guild, it just felt and looked and sounded like a quality instrument so I left with it. It didn't hurt that it cost only half as much as the Martin, either - I was out the door with the D25M and hardshell case for 300 clams

36 years old and it's still my main gigging guitar; my banjo player says "she really barks!"

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

Back in the early 70's I was playing Folk music. The 12 string sound was something that I wanted to have. I bought a cheap 12 string and hated it.
I was starting to get into John Denver at that time. I loved the sound of his 12 string.
Of course John was playing a Guild. I knew that I wanted a Guild and a few years later I got one.
It was a Mid 70's D-12-25. The guitar was hard to play and had a very high action. Intonation was not good and I didn't play it very much because of these issues. I sold it and bought a Yamaha 12 string. It played easier but didn't have the sound that I was wanting.
Eventually, I got a JF-30-12 and had the sound that I wanted all these years.
Unfortunately by this time, the large size of a Jumbo guitar was not comfortable for me. The neck was wide and hard to play. I sold it and got my D-55.

Through most of these years, I was never told about the affect of a good set up for a guitar.
It was only in recent years that I learned how important a good set up is.
Now I wish that I still had my old D-25-12 and could play it with a proper set up and fully compensated saddle.

 

[Mac Wilson]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

My Guild story is a pretty simple one. I played one in a music store and fell in love with it. End of story.

 

[southernGuild]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

Great Thread Denny!
I mentioned this in my intro here years ago. My connection with Guild goes way back....long before I considered playing a guitar, they made an impression.
When I was about 8-10, there was a neighborhood bar my Dad frequented regularly. Sometimes after school, or baseball practice, I would go there and wait around for a ride home with my Dad. (Those were the days when Kids 'could' go into bars! :roll: I used o read comics and do my homework in a diner area of the place.)There was a man that came every now and then, He would show up with guitar case in hand, and after a few beers, would open the case with great care and produce what I think I remember as an F-50. It was a stunning guitar, and I clearly remember the G-shield. He would play that guitar and sing a few songs. Men at the bar would often sing along, my dad included, and I remember the whole feel of the place changed whern he played. I was ever impressed by his music, that guitar, and the spell it seemed to put on that place. From then on, "Guild' just stuck out in my mind.
Later, as some of the older neighborhood kids began returning from duty in Vietnam, and hanging around doing very little as they figured out what next in their lives, I saw Guild again, in the form of D-25's. Two guys had them, and I remember how big and dark they were compared to what other guitars I knew. I remember playing with one in the neighbors yard, and feeling determined to learn how to play.
Along the way, I missed out on learning how to play guitar ( wound up on piano instead ) but always noticed the Guilds on TV and album covers, and later, Gigs.
When time came to learn how to play a guitar in my adult years, I went straight to what I remembered. I knew I wanted a Guild.

 

[kyguild]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

currently own 2 custom shop jf 55-12's both incredible and a 612. Best 12's I have ever played

Hold the Boat!! You have a 612?!?!?!

Please relate the story behind that rare animal....Photos?

KY
(waiting with baited breath...)

 

[chazmo]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

Awesome story, John. And, a great thread indeed.

My own story goes back to my college days when one of my dear friends owned a D-25 which I thought was a wonderful guitar. We used to jam together. I spent my entire freshman summer saving up for my own guitar, but couldn't afford a US-built guitar and ended up completing my journey (at that time) with a new Ibanez Artwood 12-string, which was just fabulous.

Fast forward 30 years and I had started collecting some Taylors since I had the means to do so. I'd heard a lot about Taylor over the years and thought they made beautiful guitars. Anyway, one day I walked into my local store, saw the big Guild F-512 on the wall and was SHOCKED that Guild was still in business and that these were still being built in the US no less. I thought the F-512 was a little comical with its blinding white binding and shiny G-shield headstock. It was not in the Taylor wood aesthetic at all. But then I took it down from the wall, strummed out a few chords, and had one of those rare blow your hair back moments. I was hooked.

The business of Guild guitars has been a real fascination for me since I bought that F-512 and came here to LTG. The staggering amount of knowledge and passion about Guild that folks here bring to the party is perhaps not what inspired me in the first place, but its why I've stayed in the fold since "returning" to Guild in 2007.

I should also mention that meeting and befriending the Guild folks and fellow LTGers in recent years due to the planning and execution of three LTG events since 2010 has been a real delight for me.

 

[gjmalcyon]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

My ex-brother-in-law had a late-60's to early-70's Guild D40 ATB that I dearly loved to play when visiting him and my sister. I somehow managed with the same Yamaha FG-110 for (30-plus) 40 years, then with the last kid's last college semester payment made, I decided to treat myself. Went looking, played some multi-thousand $$$ Martins and Gibsons, and stumbled on my DV-6 hanging on a wall at 8th Street Music (where it had been for more than two years), and had that "Oh yeah, Guild!!! I forgot about them!" moment.

Took it down, hit one E chord and said "that's what I'm (looking) listening for."

Took it home that afternoon.

Then, while trying to find out more about the guitar and the company, found this bunch of enablers, and its been all downhill (and a lot of fun) ever since.

<<edited once so far to humor the inner grammarian>>
<<edited again to correct a vainglorious chronological understatement>>
<<edited one more time to correct an inadvertent sense substitution...I'll stop now>>