WTB new Guild help please

[fronobulax]

Whoops

Somehow in the process of approving new posts and weeding out duplicates, the original of a post with this subject was deleted. I'm sorry and would the original poster consider reposting?

 

[thunder22]

WTB: New Guild, help please

Back in the day, 35 years ago, when I first started taking guitar lessons, I had a Guild dreadnought, I unfortunately don't remember which model, but it was my first "big boy" guitar, I loved that guitar. Unfortunately, life got in the way and I sold it to buy books for college one year, and I've regretted it ever since. I believe I sold it for around $500 in the mid 80's if that helps put in perspective which model it might have been.

Fast forward to now, I recently bought a D-28 and D-18, both great guitars, no complaints, but I still think back to my Guild, and for purely sentimental reasons I want to buy another one.

I'm looking for help/information on which Guild will scratch my sentimental GAS while still sounding great and is built well.

I would like it to have:
1 3/4" nut (but i'll compromise with 1 11/16" if that's what Guild makes)
Rosewood or Mahogany back/sides
glossy finish
no sunburst
electronics are ok, but not required.
sound must be good, I don't want to spend the money just to possess a guitar with the guild logo on it if it's going to be a P.o.S., it will be played and it must sound good and not fall apart in a few years.
try to keep the price under $1k
must be new, no used

All of that being said, what do you AGF guild experts recommend?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

Back in the day, 35 years ago, when I first started taking guitar lessons, I had a Guild dreadnought, I unfortunately don't remember which model, but it was my first "big boy" guitar, I loved that guitar. Unfortunately, life got in the way and I sold it to buy books for college one year, and I've regretted it ever since.

Fast forward to now, I recently bought a D-28 and D-18, both great guitars, no complaints, but I still think back to my Guild, and for purely sentimental reasons I want to buy another one.

From what I've been reading, Guild has changed hands a few times and are trying to regain the rep they used to have back in the day (correct me if i'm wrong, i'm not throwing stones). So I'm looking for help/information on which Guild will scratch my GAS while still sounding great and is built well.

I would like it to have:
1 3/4" nut (but i'll compromise with 1 11/16" if that's what Guild makes)
Rosewood or Mahogany back/sides
glossy finish
no sunburst
electronics are ok, but not required.
sound must be good, I don't want to spend the money just to possess a guitar with the guild logo on it if it's going to be a P.o.S., it will be played and it must sound good and not fall apart in a few years.
try to keep the price under $1k
must be new, no used

All of that being said, what do you AGF guild experts recommend?

Thanks in advance.

This is his post from AGF.
He was directed over here for help. He has now posted that his post here was removed and is confused as to why.

 

[Jeff]

......
This is his post from AGF.
He was directed over here for help. He has now posted that his post here was removed and is confused as to why.

Mgmt experienced a small admnistrative issue, I think we have it back together.

Welcome to LTG Thunder 22

 

[thunder22]

Re: WTB: New Guild, help please

Back in the day, 35 years ago, when I first started taking guitar lessons, I had a Guild dreadnought, I unfortunately don't remember which model, but it was my first "big boy" guitar, I loved that guitar. Unfortunately, life got in the way and I sold it to buy books for college one year, and I've regretted it ever since. I believe I sold it for around $500 in the mid 80's if that helps put in perspective which model it might have been.

Fast forward to now, I recently bought a D-28 and D-18, both great guitars, no complaints, but I still think back to my Guild, and for purely sentimental reasons I want to buy another one.

I'm looking for help/information on which Guild will scratch my sentimental GAS while still sounding great and is built well.

I would like it to have:
1 3/4" nut (but i'll compromise with 1 11/16" if that's what Guild makes)
Rosewood or Mahogany back/sides
glossy finish
no sunburst
electronics are ok, but not required.
sound must be good, I don't want to spend the money just to possess a guitar with the guild logo on it if it's going to be a P.o.S., it will be played and it must sound good and not fall apart in a few years.
try to keep the price under $1k
must be new, no used

All of that being said, what do you AGF guild experts recommend?

Thanks in advance.

Buehlher? Buehler? anyone? anyone?

 

[chazmo]

welcome to LTG, thunder22.

Your recent guitars are Martins, I take it?

For a new guitar < 1K, you're looking in the wrong place. You can probably pick up a GAD version for something in that neighborhood, but I'm not sure about <1K.

Best wishes, and welcome aboard.

 

[fronobulax]

Welcome.

I know this sounds like a smart a$$, unhelpful answer, but I suggest you visit Guild's web site to narrow your search.

If you want new, with a street price at $1000 then assuming a 40% discount from MSRP (which is not always a reasonable assumption with Guild, the way it apparently is with Martin) then you are looking at a MSRP around $1600.

Guild is pretty much fragmented by factory. I don't think anything coming from the New Hartford factory has a MSRP that low so you can rule out the Traditional, Standard and Orpheum and perhaps a couple of others. The Korean factory is only making electrics, so that is out. The Mexico factory makes the Arcos line and some of them fit your budget. The Chinese factory makes the GAD line and those are also within your budget.

My local dealer loves the Arcos line and can't keep them in stock. He is going to drop the GAD line because they are not competing well with the non-Guild alternatives in their price range.

LTG seems to have little experience with the Arcos line. LTG has a lot of experience with GAD. There are a lot of folks who like them, period. There are a lot of folks who hate them although most of the "haters" seem to have a general hatred of "cheap" guitars and the compromises required to make them cheap or "hate" for reasons that have more to do with international politics and economics than the guitars themselves. There have been some well reasoned criticisms of specific models and several reports where there was inconsistency within the model line.

Your best bet would be to narrow your criteria and ask about specific models.

I also have to suggest that $1000 invested in a vintage Guild will almost certainly get you something as good or better than any new Guilds available today that are not made in New Hartford.

 

[thunder22]

welcome to LTG, thunder22.

Your recent guitars are Martins, I take it?

For a new guitar < 1K, you're looking in the wrong place. You can probably pick up a GAD version for something in that neighborhood, but I'm not sure about <1K.

Best wishes, and welcome aboard.

I sold the Guild I had back in the 80's for about $500, it wasn't a top of the line model, and I'm not looking to buy a top of the line Guild now, just looking for suggestions on a good quality Guild for under $1k, if that's a GAD version so be it. I'm not looking for a $2k Guild that is comparable to a Martin, I already have those, don't need 3 lol. Maybe I should have asked what's the best bang for the buck Guild model under $1k right now instead of my long winded story. That being said I don't understand why you say I'm looking in the wrong place, should I have asked on a Taylor board .

 

[thunder22]

Welcome.

I know this sounds like a smart a$$, unhelpful answer, but I suggest you visit Guild's web site to narrow your search.

If you want new, with a street price at $1000 then assuming a 40% discount from MSRP (which is not always a reasonable assumption with Guild, the way it apparently is with Martin) then you are looking at a MSRP around $1600.

Guild is pretty much fragmented by factory. I don't think anything coming from the New Hartford factory has a MSRP that low so you can rule out the Traditional, Standard and Orpheum and perhaps a couple of others. The Korean factory is only making electrics, so that is out. The Mexico factory makes the Arcos line and some of them fit your budget. The Chinese factory makes the GAD line and those are also within your budget.

My local dealer loves the Arcos line and can't keep them in stock. He is going to drop the GAD line because they are not competing well with the non-Guild alternatives in their price range.

LTG seems to have little experience with the Arcos line. LTG has a lot of experience with GAD. There are a lot of folks who like them, period. There are a lot of folks who hate them although most of the "haters" seem to have a general hatred of "cheap" guitars and the compromises required to make them cheap or "hate" for reasons that have more to do with international politics and economics than the guitars themselves. There have been some well reasoned criticisms of specific models and several reports where there was inconsistency within the model line.

Your best bet would be to narrow your criteria and ask about specific models.

I also have to suggest that $1000 invested in a vintage Guild will almost certainly get you something as good or better than any new Guilds available today that are not made in New Hartford.

Thank you for that, I appreciate it. I have been on Guild's site, I didn't want to skew the answers by saying "i'm only looking at such and such". I had hoped that someone would say "for under $1k here's the best bang for the buck" or "stay away from such and such a a model, they have problems", as I'm not looking to buy the top of the line, nor get exactly what I had back in the day, just a good quality Guild for a sentimental purchase.

I'll keep looking, thanks for the help.

 

[SFIV1967]

O.k., you look for a new one, not used, and preferred below 1K. And a glossy finish.
Depends what body style you like?

Check out the latest price list for price options: http://support.guildguitars.com/priceli ... celist.pdf
Mind that the prices shown on the Guild webpage and in the price list are MSRP, so street price is 30-40% lower!

Lets look at some options that were mentioned by others:

Arcos line: http://www.guildguitars.com/instruments ... cos+Series
Price range definitely fits. But all have Hand-Rubbed Satin Polyurethane finish, not high gloss.

GAD series: http://www.guildguitars.com/instruments ... GAD+Series
There are 20 different models (6 and 12 string). (Click on "Load more guitars..." to see all 20)
All in your price range, all with High gloss Polyurethane finish.
Some oweners who have them really like them!
If you click on a model there there is a tab with the specs to look for the nut width.

If you like a specific size and model just enter it in the Search field in the upper right corner here at LTG and you should find some comments. Don't enter a model as "D-140", just enter "D140" as example.

Ralf

 

[fronobulax]

"for under $1k here's the best bang for the buck"

If that is the question than almost everyone here will try and steer you to vintage ("used") Guilds.

If I understood him correctly and you walked into my local Guild dealer's store and asked "What's the best Guild for under $1K?" he'd show you Arcos. If you asked "What's the best guitar for under $1K?" he'd show you Arcos plus some non-Guilds that he carries. I think there are some folks at LTG who might disagree with that assessment, and have good reasons for doing so, but the opinion of a dealer is a good place to start.

 

[thunder22]

O.k., you look for a new one, not used, and preferred below 1K. And a glossy finish.
Depends what body style you like?

Check out the latest price list for price options: http://support.guildguitars.com/priceli ... celist.pdf
Mind that the prices shown on the Guild webpage and in the price list are MSRP, so street price is 30-40% lower!

Lets look at some options that were mentioned by others:

Arcos line: http://www.guildguitars.com/instruments ... cos+Series
Price range definitely fits. But all have Hand-Rubbed Satin Polyurethane finish, not high gloss.

GAD series: http://www.guildguitars.com/instruments ... GAD+Series
There are 20 different models (6 and 12 string). (Click on "Load more guitars..." to see all 20)
All in your price range, all with High gloss Polyurethane finish.
Some oweners who have them really like them!
If you click on a model there there is a tab with the specs to look for the nut width.

If you like a specific size and model just enter it in the Search field in the upper right corner here at LTG and you should find some comments. Don't enter a model as "D-140", just enter "D140" as example.

Ralf

Thanks Ralf, I've been on the site, it's pretty easy to navigate. I'm really looking for Guild owners to weigh in with their opinions, I'm good on the specs of each, they were easy to find.

 

[thunder22]

"for under $1k here's the best bang for the buck"

If that is the question than almost everyone here will try and steer you to vintage ("used") Guilds.

If I understood him correctly and you walked into my local Guild dealer's store and asked "What's the best Guild for under $1K?" he'd show you Arcos. If you asked "What's the best guitar for under $1K?" he'd show you Arcos plus some non-Guilds that he carries. I think there are some folks at LTG who might disagree with that assessment, and have good reasons for doing so, but the opinion of a dealer is a good place to start.

Thank you, I appreciate the feedback, I'll look at the Arcos' and broaden my search to vintage/used. Any opinions on used Guild models in my price range? (Again, I'm not looking at any brand other than Guild)

 

[SFIV1967]

I've been on the site, it's pretty easy to navigate. I'm really looking for Guild owners to weigh in with their opinions, I'm good on the specs of each, they were easy to find.

O.k., good. So maybe you propose a few models that would fit to what you would like (body style for instance), and let us know, so somebody might comment on them. It's easier than to ask in general which model of the many many Guilds people like most. Limiting this to a few gives a better chance somebody will answer.
Ralf

 

[killdeer43]

So, are you now saying that 'used' is OK? :?

Curious Joe

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

" I'm really looking for Guild owners to weigh in with their opinions, I'm good on the specs of each, they were easy to find."

Your best choice for a Dred size Guild will be wither a GAD-40 or GAD-50.
Both are Chinese built all solid wood Dred guitars.
They have great tone and look very nice.
You will be getting a neck that it 1 11/16" though.
If you want a Guild that has a 1 3/4" neck you will need to look at the smaller body GAD Guilds.
The F130R would be my suggestion.

I will tell you that I have played several different GAD Guilds and I once owned a GAD JF-48 jumbo.
They were all outstanding guitars and all were less than $1000.00 street price.

I bought my GAD JF-48 on the internet.

 

[twocorgis]

"for under $1k here's the best bang for the buck"

If that is the question than almost everyone here will try and steer you to vintage ("used") Guilds.

If I understood him correctly and you walked into my local Guild dealer's store and asked "What's the best Guild for under $1K?" he'd show you Arcos. If you asked "What's the best guitar for under $1K?" he'd show you Arcos plus some non-Guilds that he carries. I think there are some folks at LTG who might disagree with that assessment, and have good reasons for doing so, but the opinion of a dealer is a good place to start.

Thank you, I appreciate the feedback, I'll look at the Arcos' and broaden my search to vintage/used. Any opinions on used Guild models in my price range? (Again, I'm not looking at any brand other than Guild)

Around the $1K range used, I would think that a DV52 would be your best bet, as long as you don't have any issues with playing a dreadnought sized guitar, like arthritic shoulders. They're arguably the best bang for the buck used Guild (and you likely won't get much argument here), and are fairly common in the used market. Just make sure that the neck set is good (i.e. a fair amount of saddle, and fairly low action at the 12th fret), and you should be good to go. If you're more of a mahogany type (like myself), look for a Westerly DV6. Similar to the DV52, with the exception of rosewood rather than ebony fretboard, and of course the 'hog sides and back. These don't come around quite as often, but a nice one could probably be had for well under $1000.

Good luck. The chase is the fun part!

 

[killdeer43]

The chase is the fun part!

I'll be forced to echo that sentiment!! :lol:

Joe

 

[thunder22]

Thank you everyone, I appreciate the help. And yes, I'm looking for a dread.

And yes, the chase is the fun part. I'm really enjoying getting back into playing, despite the uncontrollable GAS I seem to be having

 

[jgmaute]

Welcome to LTG. Good luck with your hunt. I've got old US Guilds and a relatively new GAD. I like all of them for different reasons. Like others have mentioned, if you want new you'll end up with a GAD, they really do differ from guitar to guitar so you'll get to have fun finding and playing a lot. If you can go used that means patience, a little more hunting, playing, and if you've got a Guitar Center nearby maybe finding one of their used US Guild listings online, call the listing store and ask for more info, have it delivered to your local store and know you've got 30 days to check it out. I personally prefer rosewood sides and back, if you know your wood preference that can help narrow your search. Again, welcome and play on.