Where Might Guild Land Next?

[kyguild]

Just wondering if anybody knows what other facilities in the US might end up with Guild acoustic production? Is Corona the likely site, or are there other possibilities?

KY

 

[Ridgemont]

If you look at all the Guild factories post-Westerly, they have been in locations that had a work force and infrastructure. Corona was producing Fender electrics, but Tacoma and NH were originally smaller manufacturers that FMIC purchased. Does Fender own any other US guitar makers? If not, my guess would be Corona. The problem with that is that Corona Guilds already have a very bad reputation regardless of the personal anecdotes that you can find on LTG that say otherwise.

 

[Bikerdoc]

One might think that with the "acceptance" of the GAD models that production could move overseas. I certainly hope not but, just sayin'. However, my prediction is Nashville, Tn. And with that move will come even higher prices for Guild guitars.


Peace

 

[Westerly Wood]

One might think that with the "acceptance" of the GAD models that production could move overseas. I certainly hope not but, just sayin'. However, my prediction is Nashville, Tn. And with that move will come even higher prices for Guild guitars.


Peace

Damn. Higher prices? That will make it real hard for me. No way my wife thumbs up a 3k guitar right now.

 

[Mark WW]

I had a Corona SFIII and it was excellent except for the boring Pups. I also own (3) GAD's and love them dearly. I wouldn't place a bet on which way they go.

 

[JohnW63]

I guess you'd have to find a Fender owned plant that was NOT losing money and had the space to add more equipment and materials to build with. Personally, I hope they sell Guild to someone else, in the USA.

 

[davismanLV]

I guess you'd have to find a Fender owned plant that was NOT losing money and had the space to add more equipment and materials to build with. Personally, I hope they sell Guild to someone else, in the USA.

John, I think I may have mentioned this elsewhere, but I think the likelihood of Fender letting go of the Guild name is slim. They'd probably want so much money for it (as a chance to alleviate some of their massive debt) so that anyone that bought it would start business in sad shape. How much is the brand name of "Guild" worth these days? You gotta wonder, right?

I'd love it if someone good DID get the brand name and would do right by it. But I don't see Fender letting go of it. Opinions?

 

[JohnW63]

Does Yamaha build any guitars in the US ? Would they LIKE to ? They seem to have the beginner guitar market well covered with their 700 series. Put in the GAD line above that, and the US made Guild line above that. Yamaha profits from having a well known higher end line. They make just about EVERYTHING else for music. They don't seem to close down their various plants either. They have a HUGE dealer network world wide. Just thinking off the top of my head.

 

[JohnW63]

Tom,

( read your above reply after posting the above... )

I'm sure they would love to make big money on everything they own the rights to, but, if their financials are as bad as some are suggesting, they may NEED to jettison the name and the debts associated to get the red out of their books. " We sell you the name cheap, as long as you take over the debt too. "

I don't see the logic of taking the name down the tubes with you. Sell while it has a value. The longer the brand is not making guitars and the industry wonders what is going on, the LESS it will be worth.

Of course, what do I know about business financials.

 

[davismanLV]

Very true, John. I agree with everything you said. However, you used the word LOGIC in describing actions taken by this mess of a company. So far as I can tell, logic has very little to do with their actions. Do they still own the Tacoma factory? Was it closed/sold?

 

[JohnW63]

I know. To someone this all makes logical sense. Maybe if we saw the books it might make sense to us. However, it really seems like NH Guilds have impressed everyone and the import line as well. To me, an admittedly biased fan, I would guess the Guild brand as a whole was on the up swing for sure. That's why the idea of not continuing the work seems foolish and I won't buy that train of thought. The hard part is going to be finding crafts people to build them, where ever they land. I don't know what percentage of the folks making the Guilds were the Ovation builders, but I bet a lot were given the move from the west coast to the east. They did an impressive job.

 

[chazmo]

John, I don't think a single person moved East when Tacoma was shuttered. It was all KMC folks under Frank Untermyer who were previously working on Ovation/Hamer for KMC that proved they could own the Guild production, and started doing so from 2009 on.

There are some Fender folks we've met at LMG events who've been around Guild a long, long time however, such as Tim Shaw and some of the execs. Those folks have provided some continuity in Guild through all the transitions since Westerly was shuttered.

Charlie, I can't bring myself to conjecture on your question. Given what I know about Fender's new owner, I am currently rather pessimistic about the subject. I guess we just all have to stay tuned.

 

[Default]

I brought up that relocation from Tacoma issue one time. According to the person I talked to, relocation was offered, but nobody took it.

 

[killdeer43]

I brought up that relocation from Tacoma issue one time. According to the person I talked to, relocation was offered, but nobody took it.

There was a time when many Tacomans wanted to relocate because of the so-called Tacoma Aroma. But, that's another subject altogether. :tranquillity:

Joe

 

[tjmangum]

I would think, regardless of the immediate future, the Guild name has value for FMIC. Wasn't till I did some research that I learned that the Orpheum name was one they picked up when they acquired Tacoma Guitars. Tacoma had picked it up after it had kicked around for many years and had used on a lower priced line.

 

[griehund]

Very true, John. I agree with everything you said. However, you used the word LOGIC in describing actions taken by this mess of a company. So far as I can tell, logic has very little to do with their actions. Do they still own the Tacoma factory? Was it closed/sold?

On more than one occasion I have heard that the LP (Latin Percussion) division has been shuttered. I have also heard that LP was a "cash cow". If these comments are true then logic must be subjective.

 

[Bill Ashton]

Anyone see the write up on Ovations in the new issue of Acoustic Guitar? Good work, drum up business for instruments that will not be made any more...gee, what happened to the "New Hartford Artist Series?" Nowhere do they come out and say offshore builds...

And then there was last month's positive review of the Orpheum.

Lead times for articles aside, this wasn't a decision that was made last Monday evening, FMIC-upstairs knew long ago what was coming...glad to see they are consistent with shooting themselves in the foot.

 

[SFIV1967]

On more than one occasion I have heard that the LP (Latin Percussion) division has been shuttered. I have also heard that LP was a "cash cow". If these comments are true then logic must be subjective.

I didn't see any confirmation so far, but LP belonged to KMC (which is owned by FMIC). "KMC produces and/or distributes Ovation®, Takamine®, Hamer® and Jasmine(TM) guitars; Latin Percussion®, Gretsch® Drums, Gibraltar® Hardware, Toca® Percussion and Genz Benz® amplifiers".
Ralf

 

[JohnW63]

Anyone see the write up on Ovations in the new issue of Acoustic Guitar?

No. Is it online or just the print version ?

 

[Bill Ashton]

The Ovation pieces are in the new print magazine that showed up Saturday...June 2014