What/who inspired you to play Guilds?

[killdeer43]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

In the spring of 1976, I was living in the mountains above Taos Ski Valley, NM. The ski season was winding down and it was a gorgeous New Mexico morning, so a day trip to Santa Fe seemed like a good idea.
While my housemate went in one direction to do her thing, I discovered a small music store one block off the square, so I stepped inside.
Of all the guitars hanging on the wall, the ONE that really caught my eye was a brand new D35. I asked the owner if I could give it a test drive and he obliged. It didn't take very long for me to fall in love with the sound coming out of that guitar! As fate would have it, I just happened to have enough money to walk out of the store with my first Guild.

My housemate found me sitting on a bench on the square, bonding with THE Guild that started this madness. 8)

That's the short version,
Joe

 

[6L6]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

Back around 1964, my college roommate who was teaching me Travis picking suggested we take a drive to a guitar shop in Golden, CO. While there he pointed out some Guild acoustics and told me, "Those are REALLY good guitars." From that point on I wanted one.

Had to wait until 1974 to buy my D-40, but the wait was well worth it!

Here she is today sporting her new stainless steel frets:

Bill

 

[bluesypicky]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

I accidentally bumped into a local ad for for an old 72 D-25, and I had just heard someone mention the greatness of Guild acoustics, so I went to check it out, as I never got a chance to play one before.
That was about three years ago, now look at my sig below.


Or as Bing put it:

Tone

 

[GardMan]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

I've related this story before... but seems like it's been 4 or 5 years since, so here it goes again...

It was the Beatles that sparked my interest in learning guitar... my sister and I would lipsynch to the music playing air guitar on badminton rackets. A the age of 10 or so, my parents asked if I wanted to take lessons, and so it began...

My first guitar was a "Stella" (by Harmony, I think). Action a mile high and tone like a plywood box. But, I started learning notes and chords. After a year or so, my teacher suggested that I needed a better guitar to progress. For my birthday (11th, I think), I received a cherry red Harmony "Rocket" dual pickup I had my eyes on at my teachers studio. I played that all through middle school and highschool. Problem was, I never had an amp. My dad was an electrical engineer, and accumulated the parts to BUILD me an amp. As I recall, it was going to have 2 x 12" Jenson speakers (wonder if those speakers are still in the basement somewhere), reverb with a foot peddle for on/off, and the whole shebang. Never got built.

As a senior in high school, I worked in a lab at the local med school. After a few months, I told/asked my folks if, after saving $1000 towards college, I could spend part of my next paycheck on an acoustic guitar. They didn't say no, so in December I started looking... went to a couple shops (incl my former teachers studio) in the SW part of Portland/Beaverton OR, near where I lived, and didn't see much that I wanted. The Martins and Gibsons were too expensive for my budget (which was supposed to be $200), and the epiphone acoustics I played didn't do anything for me, tone wise.

One day, I headed downtown to look thru a few more shops... I can't even remember exactly where. But, I distincty remember finding a little hole-in-the-wall shop on N Burnside, and there hanging on the wall were a couple of Guilds. I remember an all-mahogany flat-backed D-25 for $225... pretty close to my budget. The next one up the line was a D-35 for $265... more than I was to spend. I think the third was probably a D-40... around the $325, I think. Anyway... I played the D-25. It sounded really nice, and I almost went for it. Then, I made the "mistake" of playing the D-35... it was over my budget, but once I played it, I was absolutely hooked. THAT was the sound I wanted. Unfortunately, I didn't have my $$$ with me... that was too much for a 17-year old to be carrying around on the bus. But I rode the bus back the next day, paid my $265 in cash, and took my D-35 home in a borrowed chipboard case... I had to wait until the next paycheck to buy the hard case for another $35.

When I told my Dad how much I paid, he was pretty mad. $265 was a lot of money for a 17-year old to spend in January of 1973. Almost 40 years later, I still have that Guild D-35. It's been with me thru thick and thin, all these years. Then, in 2006 I decided I needed something else to travel with... the D-35 was getting too old and precious to travel with (a funny thought, given the abuse she suffered in my youth). Looking for the same feel and sound, it was clear that a used Guild was the target... that lead me to LTG, eBay, and to where I am today.

 

[randyman]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

What an incredible thread. I love reading these stories - almost biographies - from people talking about something that's brought them tremendous joy, and changed their lives. It's just great.

Since I'm a keyboard player, I came to the guitar as a naif. Back in the 70's when I was a student majoring in music, I thought that perhaps I could use a guitar for some simple backing parts when overdubbing. I got one of those round-backed Ovations (no idea which, but it had to be cheap) and did a little strumming. After graduation, I had to pay the bills, and it was sold pretty quickly. And that was it for guitar, for almost twenty years.

Around 1995, I got the bug again, and decided that this time, I'd get a 12-string. I picked up an entry-level Yamaha. I don't mean to rag on Yamaha at all, but the truth is that the thing was pretty near unplayable. You might as well try strumming the cables on a suspension bridge. I had the advantage of not knowing any better, and stuck with it through the pain and fingerprint abrasion. Still, I know I didn't make much progress.

I just checked my email records, and I can't believe so much has happened so quickly. In spring of 2010, I gave up on the Yamaha, and found an entry-level Breedlove 12 on Craigslist. Now this was playable, which was a real eye-opener - but it still didn't sound like I knew a 12-string was supposed to sound. So I started doing some research.

And everywhere I looked (remember, this is something I didn't actually know for myself) I saw it repeated that Guild 12-strings were *the* essential American 12-string; that they sounded the way a 12-string always sounded in the auditorium of your imagination. And that led me here.

I lurked. I listened. I went through the archives, watched the linked YouTube movies, read of people's dreams, triumphs and tragedies. I knew I wanted a real 12-string, and I knew it had to be a Guild. To make a long story short, in November 2010 I ordered a vintage guitar from (dealer deleted.) I got shafted, but was rescued by a remarkable fellow named Son Le here on the forum. I bought an *immaculate* 2010 New Hartford F-512 from him, bought an *immaculate* 1991 JF-55 from him a couple months later... I was now hooked, and the ball kept rolling from there.

I can't believe so much has happened in just two years. The biggest change - as much as I love the Guilds - came when I picked up a Kohno classical guitar (after Steve Howe's) in mid-2011. I've made more progress playing fingerstyle in the past year-and-a-half since then than I had in a lifetime. But I also picked up two Guild classical guitars after that! Not to mention two Let's Meet Guild get-togethers.

The fact is, what really made the difference for me wasn't seeing or hearing an artist play Guilds, but instead, the experience and wisdom of the people here on this forum. I've learned so much from people's expertise and knowledge, Son Le saved me from getting ripped off, and I've met people I know I'll be following for many years. This community adds *so* much value to the Guild experience; the guitars are fantastic enough on their own that I think it's kind of easy for us to forget just how essential a resource people have built here. I feel so lucky to have found all of you.

 

[Grewupinwesterly]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

Like clayd25, Rhode Island is a place you have to have lived there to appreciate. As my handle indicates I spent my summers in westerly. Some of the guys I would occasionally run with actually worked there. At the time I was a drummer and thought it was cool to be so close to a guitar company but that was the extent of it. Fast forward 20 years and 3000 miles west I was getting too old for the drums and wanted something more house and family friendly. My first was an ovation applause that I played for some time to see if the hobby would stick and it did. Last year I bought 2000 dv4 and the passion only grew from there. Recently I picked up a 1997 dv52 both very different and love them both, I also have a takamine 12 string. In total, my collection is greater than my talent but in am having fun playing catchup. I like quality stuff that not many people have and guild is certainly in that category. And the fact they were made in my hometown makes guild ownership that much sweeter.

Jt

 

[kdavid]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

after years of no name guitars, a conn guitar, & a really cheap ibanez, i managed to finally have enough money for my really great guitar. id always wanted an old gibson but wound up with an old martin--it just was more comfortable & was taken by the sound. a couple years later the martin met with an ugly & untimely demise. i found a similar-year same model martin but the sound just wasnt there & it really needed a lot of work. right next to the martin is this relatively newer Guild--newer by 10 years.
i strummed a g chord & the litebulb went off in my head--this was the sound id been hearing in my head
the neck was a bit slimmer than what i was used to, but comfortable.
there it was--twice the guitar for half the money.
it really is all about the tone

 

[scott]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

Hi- The 612 was in an ad at the now defunked Mars Music - thought it was a misprint. I called the corporate office and spoke with the "vintage guitar guy" and he told me all about it. It is identical to JD's- I have seen 2 others on ebay both se
lling for 5 g's but the inlays were different and they weren't in very good condition. Had a neck reset done- the scale is 26 1/4 so I have set it up like kottke-13-56 and tuned in"C" sound like a mack truck. Love it -the custom shop 55-12's are just as good -if not, even a little nicer. If you would like more info-just pm me

 

[SFIV1967]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

Scott, it would be awesome of you could post some pictures of that F-612 and the custom shop JF55-12s! We love pictures!
Ralf

 

[scott]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

Hi-Don't know how- I am not sure I would post pics on internet anyway- they can end up in strange places. Seen it before.

 

[killdeer43]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

Hi-Don't know how- I am not sure I would post pics on internet anyway- they can end up in strange places. Seen it before.

Here you go!

http://www.letstalkguild.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5522&p=53311&hilit=imageshack#p53311

Scroll to the top and begin. We'll wait here. :wink:

Joe

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

My story, (If you don't already know it) is here!

 

[rampside]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

I first became interested in playing the guitar back in the mid-seventies because of my little brother. He was one of those incredible naturally gifted guitar players. You know, the ones that make you sick because it comes so easy for them. He could listen to any style guitar music and in no time would be playing it. He decided he liked the twelve string sound. He found a Guild somewhere and I don't remember the model, but it was just an incredibly beautiful sounding guitar.

So when I saw this ad in the local classifieds for a Guild solid body electric I was intrigued and I asked my brother if this thing might be any good. He didn't know but said lets go take a look. I didn't know what to think. Here was this shiny thick finished guitar with some carving on it that I had never seen before. My bro looked it over and said it was a really well made guitar with quality components.

The guy hadn't been getting any bites and was anxious to get it sold and I'm not even going to mention how little he was willing to let it go for. I was so impressed with twelver, I figured I couldn't go wrong with a Guild electric, especially for the price.

In retrospect, it probably was fortunate that I left it lay dormant for the most part all these years 'til 2012 and my discovery of LTG. I love my vintage '73 S-100 carved natural because of that blues tone I enjoy so much.

Thanks fellow LTG'ers, and some day, not too far away I hope, more Guilds will come.

Terry

 

[killdeer43]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

Thanks fellow LTG'ers, and some day, not too far away I hope, more Guilds will come.

Keep on GASsing, Terry. Good Guilds come to those who wait. :wink:

Joe

 

[bdeclee]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

What a great thread!!

I learned to play guitar by ear when I was 13. However it happened, I fell in love with the 12-string sound, so my dad bought me a Yamaha FG-110. After about a year with that, the realization came to me via some weird osmosis that if I were really going to play 12-string, I'd have to get a Guild. So I asked Santa for a Guild 12-string that year. Whatever he could afford.

But Santa decided to get me an Epiphone banjo.

:!:

After a week of trying to play Joni Mitchell tunes on it, I returned it (with Santa's reluctant blessing) to Medley Music in Ardmore, PA and bought my 1972 F-312. There simply IS no other 12-string to compete with a Guild. And that's all there is.

 

[fronobulax]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

Hi-Don't know how- I am not sure I would post pics on internet anyway- they can end up in strange places. Seen it before.

Mug Shots are restricted to Members who have asked to be admitted although that still does not protect you from what LTG members or your picture host does.

 

[12 string]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

The short answer to the question would be...

GUILDS!!!

' Strang

 

[Paddles]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

My first good guitar was a Guild D-25 that I let slip through my hands in 1985. It is "the one that got away". I've had my eye out for a D-55, in my mind the holy grail, ever since but the right one never crossed my path. To me, the Guild "brand" has always meant top quality craftsmanship and is the very definition of Americana. "Made to be played" says it all. Watching Rick Danko play his weathered old D-50 (i think) still gives me goose bumps. I recently reconnected with Guild. Not a D-55 but an F-47M that I can't wait to get home and play every day. It is simply a magical guitar to me in every way. Maybe a D-55 is in the cards for me one day before the big dirt nap, but for now the new love of my life is my F-47M. I'm damn glad to be back in the Guild family!!

 

[davismanLV]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

I was inspired when I saw this guitar hanging on the wall at Guitar Center in Los Angeles on Sunset Boulevard.

I was inspired to buy it over all the others in the store. That was back in 1994. I've been a Guild fan ever since. One of the absolute BEST purchases in my life.

 

[zombywoof]

Re: What inspired you to play Guilds?

I was inspired as much by the price tag as anything else. I did see a alot of Guilds in the hands of musicians by the mid-1969s so was familiar with them. But because they sported more reasonable price tags they were obtainable while the Martin dreads and Gibson jumbos remained out of our reach.