Any love for Guild?

[elambo]

They're not very expensive - their flagship selling for somewhere just under $2k - but I've become a big fan. I'm a self-admitted acoustic guitar snob, most of my guitars costing over $3k, but I played a D-55 today that was my favorite in the shop (among the 10 or 15 I played).

A friend plays a D-55 (a gift to him from Slash, of all people) and he gets one of the best tones from an acoustic guitar I've ever heard. Certainly much of the tone is his playing technique, which is outstanding, but even when he plays my Collings his basic "tone" is more or less similar to mine. But that D-55 of his, and even the one I played today, has a mid-range that I really crave. It's very strong and BIG. Recorded, it's substantial in the track. It plays pretty easily, to boot.

So any love for Guild?

[Flyin' Brian]

Really underrated guitars and yes, the D-55 is a monster. I have a friend who has a D-55 from the late 60s (Westerly RI era). I've been trying to buy it from her but she ain't budging. All of their electrics are very undervalued as well. Many Starfires are as good or better than many 335s.

[Alister]

Huge Guild fan. Currently, I only own the X-170 Manhattan, but I'm continually browsing for the D-55 you all mention, as well as mahaogony D-25's, and on and on. This sounds hyperbolic, but I've never played a Guild I didn't like.

[eugewong]

I'm the proud new owner of a Guild D-55. I've been craving one for the last 8-9 years and finally got one just last week. Picked it up in Orange, CA and hand carried it home.

[elambo]

Congrats euewong. That's a long time to wait. How do you like it so far?

[somecafone]

I have not been knocked out by the acoustics I've played until just recently.
I played a D50 or 60. I can't remember which but it's part of their new "Bluegrass" series. Rosewood, sitka, etc. Assembled in Tacoma.
It sounded very, very, good.

[eugewong]

elambo,

I'm absolutely crazy about it. Everything I every look for in a dreadnaught is right there in the my D55. My friend's dad has an old 70's or 80's Westerly built D55 that is my benchmark for an acoustic guitar and mine is 95% there. The missing 5% will be there after I beat on it for the next 20 years.

Funny story if anybody cares to read, it took me this long to get my hands on a D55 because I don't have enough faith to have an acoustic guitar shipped overseas.

I kind of plan a vacation to the US every 2-3 years. And the during the last 2 trips, I could never find a D-55 anywhere. First time round, the Guilds were made in the Corona factory, and the reviews were terrible...I could never find one anyway. 2nd time round, Fender had just moved the Guild production to Washington and there were no new Guilds on the market at all. This time I made sure I wasn't come home empty handed.

[jimmybcool]

My first ever guitar was/is a Guild D-50 made in Rhode island in the early 70s.

It still sounds very good and plays fine. I have some higher end acoustics now and the Guild hangs right in there with them. if i remember right a co-worker who played heard I was interested in starting and took me to a pawn/music shop in Phila. After checking a lot of guitars (I couldn't play a chord then) he sugggested the Guild at $300 was a good deal.

Uh, yeah. Sounds better now than when I bought it and is tough as hell. It sat in its case unloved, unplayed, no thought to special care (but in house not garage) for over 20 years. When I decided to take it up again I took it to a luthier and he set it up again and no problelms found.

And I "think" I could get my $300 back it I wanted it. :JAM

[onestop]

I've been playing a Guild DCE-5 for live shows since 1993. I then bought an identical back-up DCE-5 in 1997 and still have both. They're workhorses and sound great - live and in the studio.

[keefsdad]

I've got a late seventies D40 cutaway that I absolutely love. It records really well.

[anyone]

70s d35. Beat to heck. Plays well and sounds incredible. Keeper for sure!

[JPERRYROCKS]

People have been saying good things about the new Guild guitars built up in the tacoma plant. I sold my JF55 12 sting rosewood about 6 years ago, and I still miss it. I'm thinking of getting a new one.

[leftyaxeslinger]

I custom ordered a lefty D-55 in '93 and absolutely love it. I couldn't find a decent lefty anywhere and decided to take my chances on the custom order. Its hard for me not being able to play a lot of stuff before I buy, but this one hit the mark for me. Great guitar!

[rhp52]

I have a 35 yr. old F50R Navarre. It was the top of the line model for years. Has the 'emperor neck' which i'd say is one of the best necks i've played. And you can't beat it for large sound

[bo13bo]

I'll second the DCE-5. Wish I could have kept it, but it left when my PRS hit the bank account. And now the PRS is gone........gas gas gas gas

[Boogie92801]

All of their electrics are very undervalued as well. Many Starfires are as good or better than many 335s.

I have owned a few Guild and Gibson hollow bodies (60's Starfire III and a recent SF IV); I have also played a few vintage acoustic guilds and I can't agree more. The acoustics may not be consistent but the good ones are great. The Blues Birds are nice too.

I hope Fender doesn't mess them up.

The electrics are so under valued it's a shame. I would say that most Starfire IV's and especially the V's (when you can find them) are as good as any 335 and better than most. Both of mine were killer guitars. I sold them only during cash poor situations becasue I figured I can always get another since they are under the radar - so don't let the cat out of the bag.

I have a late 70's X-500 now: Killer Jazz box that rivals any high end gibson.

[gtr777]

years ago I had a G-37blond maple mini jumbo. Even though it wasn't one of their high end models this guitar had an unbeleivable tone. Everytime a recorded with it engineers would freak out at how great it sounded. That was until UPS smashed it coming back from a road trip...still hurts till this day...It was a beuty!!!

[Steven5446]

I have D-55 from 1979. It sounds and plays really good. Only thing is that she is in need of a fret job.

http://www.bmwcoupe.nl/extra/guitar/DSC00529klein.jpg

[gomez1856]

I've got a guild D28 acoustic and a DeArmond/Guild X-155 Jazzbox and love them both! Both were really affordable (actually, I was given the acoustic, but...) and they both sound and feel fantastic!

Great values IMO.

Rick

[criv]

I bought a 1986 Guild D-25 tobacco burst a year ago. Great guitar! Big sound. I am experimenting with different strings. Any advice?

[LesPaulMan]

I've got one of the last D-55's to be made in the old Westerly RI plant. The guitar has a sound to die for. Playability is second to none.

Lets put it this way. I'm always trying to find a high quality acoustic that has all the attributes if this D-55. The only guitar that came close (though I still prefer my Guild) was a Froggy Bottom dreadnaught model. (And it's cost was more than twice what I payed for the Guild).

[Whiskeyroad]

My cousin owned a JF50 acoustic/electric jumbo. Most acoustics IMHO lose allot of tone when unplugged, but this guitar was awesome plugged in or not.
played like butter and sounded so deep and full it was amazing. I tried for years to buy that one, and he hung on to it for very good reason.

[thintele]

I have not been knocked out by the acoustics I've played until just recently.
I played a D50 or 60. I can't remember which but it's part of their new "Bluegrass" series. Rosewood, sitka, etc. Assembled in Tacoma.
It sounded very, very, good.

D50 Bluegrass Special and yes it is a very nice sounding guitar ...every bit as good as my D55

[KRosser]

The guitar I've owned the longest is a Guild Mahogany dreadnaught. Bought it as a teenager in 1977 with my summer job money. Every scratch on it (and there's lots of them) is mine...

[Meghan]

I've probably been through 35-40 acoustics over the years. The one that stayed was my (purchased new) 1976 Guild D40C NT. (Now with Fishman Piezo + Sunrise pickups in stereo)

[davess23]

The old Westerly, RI plant put out some fine guitars. And even though they don't come onto the market much, they're seriously undervalued when they do.

The Westerly dreads are very nice, and their F-50 was, for my money, a great alternative to the (often clunky and inconstistent) Gibson J-200. I owned a small-bodied Westerly made model for a few years, I think an F-20, that was a great little fingerstyle box. I also briefly owned a Westerly D-25 that was all mahogany, not the later model that had a stained spruce top. I sold it cheap to a friend whose guitar had been stolen, but otherwise I'd have kept it: a nice guitar with sweet, woody tone and a very playable neck.

[wlalpaugh]

I recently purchased a GAD-30, one of the Chinese imports. I had the action set up by a local luthier and a LRBaggs pickup and pre-amp installed as well. First off, the guitar sounds incredable, fit and finish is excellent, and now it playes great as well. It really shines when plugged in, sounding better that my Taylor 914-ce. I'm sure some of this is due to the Baggs, but now it's a great guitar, for less than a grand.
WLA

[PUCKBOY99]

+1 another D-55 owner :BEER

My brother plays a regular acoustic gig....he has a sweet 63(?) Gibson, but just LOVES my Guild.

When I was out shopping, the D-55 stood out as the most harmonically balanced acoustic out there. Highs/mids/lows all boomed equally off the strings!

Great guitar!!! :BEER

[gregory70]

I've played the same Westerly, RI F30 for years. It is without a doubt the best acoustic guitar I've ever owned.

[walterw]

guild six-string flattops never impressed me, always sounding a little dull, but the best 12-strings i've ever heard have all been old guild jumbo rosewood flatback 12's. just monstrously loud and expansive,with chimey highs and rumbling lows, the kind of guitar you really have to raise your voice to sing over. i'm looking for one, and as a fan of tacoma guitars, i'm looking forward to their take on the guild line. if it's like other guitar lines fender has bought recently, there should be noticeable improvement (unlike gibson, who tend to destroy whoever they buy).

[Brett Valentine]

Always wanted the JF 12 string (maple body). That is my absolute favorite 12 sound so far. Had a SongBird thinline acoustic electric back in the early 90's to replace my Ovation, and it got a great sound live. Sold it after I stopped playing live for awhile.

These days, I'm casually looking for a 70's JF rosewood 6 string. Had a friend who had one, and it had the most amazing tone. It blended well with my Larrivee C-09, and it was beautiful. It sounded great fingerpicked, and I couldn't hit the strings hard enough to make it compress!

One day, Lord willing, I'll pick one up.

Brett

[archtopjazz]

Had a D52. Great guitar. Currently own an X-170. Have had AA, X700, X500, X175, X150D, Starphire IV, Bluesbird. All great guitars.

[PUCKBOY99]

guild six-string flattops never impressed me, always sounding a little dull.
I'm curious.....which models have you played that you left thinking it was dull?

When looking for a good acoustic, I thought the Taylors were beautiful but a little bright...the Martins a little dark...didn't care for the few Gibsons I tried & almost bought a Takamine, but once I played the Guild D-55, I knew it was THE ONE :D

Anyway, good luck in the search for a 12-string. I've heard from a number of folks that there is no equal :AOK

[mrfjones]

i used to like them, before fender moved the factorys to china and washington state. the guitars from washington are just a tacoma guitar with a different headstock. they are still quality guitars but nothing like what they used to be.

I still have my bluesbird and it is one of the best electric guitars i have played.

[fretnot]

Anyone played the new D50 bluegrass special made in Tacoma? I have heard great things about it.

http://www.guildguitars.com/instruments/search.php?partno=3806400821

[thintele]

i used to like them, before fender moved the factorys to china and washington state. the guitars from washington are just a tacoma guitar with a different headstock. they are still quality guitars but nothing like what they used to be.

I still have my bluesbird and it is one of the best electric guitars i have played.

the Tacomas and Guilds are totally different animals ...the construction and the bracing is completely different. The newer Guilds are much closer the 60s models

[Pa'ani]

My Guild "Johnny Smith"Artist Award is such a fine instrument, very well built and sounds incredible and plays so easy as far as action is concerned.

[Boogie92801]

Guild "Johnny Smith"Artist Award is such a fine instrument,

+1!!

[Tag]

+1!!


+2!!!

[Voxy Foxy]

My first guitar was one of the last Westerly D4's!!

I knew a guy who had a guild, and after playing it, I knew that I was gonna get a guild for my first guitar!

Got my D4 for $500 because it was NOS:BEER

[Samba Loco]

I have a 85´Guild F50R... I think it´s amazing. Heavy and huge sound.

[dead mike]

best guitars ever

[solitaire]

Seems I've been away from this forum much too long! Only got two Guilds thus far: one D212 twelve-string dreadnought ('82 bought used) and one Willy Porter signature bought early on this year.

Wanted to like Gibsons and Martins but sold them. Looked into fancier US made instruments but I found Guilds to have something magic going on in the wood no other mfg I've played are anywhere close to. Fat and huge with a sweet and shimmering bite. Equal bite no matter which string or fret played, basically.

Clearly underrated quality instruments, Guilds. These hold up well next to most Martins, Gibsons and Taylors and in many cases have more features and better build than those three.

[solitaire]

best guitars everCouldn't have said it better myself! +1

[solitaire]

the Tacomas and Guilds are totally different animals ...the construction and the bracing is completely different. The newer Guilds are much closer the 60s modelsThis is quite correct. If there's any era that made Guilds suffer tonally that was the later Westerly and the whole of Corona era. As matter of fact the employees at Tacoma had to learn how to make Guilds specifically. Don't for one second doubt a Tacoma made Guild is anything else but a Guild.

[coldfingaz]

Fairly big Westerly fan here...

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k233/fungusyoung/Guild/Familyedited.jpg

[dead mike]

nice stuff you got there.




guys im looking for a reasonably priced D25 or D35.

[solitaire]

In deed nice stuff. Didn't I see this pic over at the LTG forum just a while ago? You're not a member there, by chance?

[bek]

I'm original owner of a (73, I think) D25, all-mahogany archback. The only guitar I know I won't sell. Only thing I ever had to do was install Grovers. I use Martin Marquis lights (.012). A guy offered to swap me straight across for his Guild D44 (theoretically better), but no thanks. This is a fat, throaty beast.

[drive-south]

I love Guilds. My first was a JF48 from 73. I traded it for a 91 D30. I now own 2 D30s and love them both. I also have a D55, JF30, D25-12, and just last week picked up a 1961 A50 archtop made in the old Hoboken, NJ plant. Guilds are no doubt a great value.

Fender has been mucking with the Guild name since they aquired the company. They closed the Westerly, RI plant, moved production to California, then to Tacoma WA. They are in the process of moving Guild production to CT after buying Kaman (Ovations). I am not real optimistic about the Kaman-Guilds however they haven't hit the market yet.

I'll continue buying Guilds but will always keep an eye out for older examples from Hoboken, or Westerly.

drive-south

[coldfingaz]

In deed nice stuff. Didn't I see this pic over at the LTG forum just a while ago? You're not a member there, by chance?

Yup, "fungusyoung".

LTG is a great board... :BEER

[bunuel]

The Westerly '70s Guilds, are across the board, some of the best most reasonably priced vintage acoustics around. Almost all of the D-55s of that era that I've played are incredible & the F series 12s are all amazing (though a few will need the bridge reglued). The Tacoma production may be alright, but I haven't been very tempted since the Westerly's remain quite reasonably priced for their durability, playability, & sonic boom, plus I'd rather send a few kroners to someone selling a vintage axe than the holding-company raptors at FMIC. Amzing collection, coldfingaz, thx 4 posting!!

[solitaire]

Yup, "fungusyoung".

LTG is a great board... :BEEROh, hi then Fungus! I too have a different nick over at the LTG board, btw. I'm Sitka_Spruce - but let's not get sidetracked here but enjoy this thread.

I've just ordered new strings for my D212 so if I'm full of anything right now that would be anticipation. It's been sitting... actually infront of its case for too long now since those JP 80/20s (or Bell bronze as JP calls them) didn't work out for me.

[Jahn]

I never tire of busting out pics of my Guilds:

1965 Guild Starfire II Special, Factory Duane Eddy Master Volume Wiring:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/jahn0603/Starfire%20II%20Special/Picture001.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/jahn0603/Starfire%20II%20Special/Picture008.jpg

1969 Guild F312NT, Brazilian Rosewood Mini-Jumbo 12-String:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/jahn0603/Guild%20F312/333007.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/jahn0603/Guild%20F312/333010.jpg

1985 Guild Nightbird in Tobacco Sunburst w/GFS Retrotron Memphis Humbuckers:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/jahn0603/Nightbird/pics003-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/jahn0603/Nightbird/pics007-1.jpg

[solitaire]

Fender has been mucking with the Guild name since they aquired the company. They closed the Westerly, RI plant, moved production to California, then to Tacoma WA. They are in the process of moving Guild production to CT after buying Kaman (Ovations). I am not real optimistic about the Kaman-Guilds however they haven't hit the market yet.

I'll continue buying Guilds but will always keep an eye out for older examples from Hoboken, or Westerly.

drive-southNostalgia is obviously a strong factor in a good many things, but let's be a little hopefull Guild will finally settle down in CT for a longer stint than CA let alone WA. Good stuff did come out of the WA plant and I'd be surprised should the CT guitars sound and look much different from those.

I'm sure you are familiar with the story asto why Guild couldn't keep producing guitars in Tacoma. Those of you who aren't it's because Tacoma didn't actually own the plant and hence wasn't part of the purchase. The demise of Tacoma guitars and the acquisition of Kaman turned out to be the answer here for Fender.

Now back on the US east coast those of you of a nostalgic mind might picture it as a bit of a homecomming for Guild.

[Jahn]

I think more than anything else the highest hopes in CT are for a resurgence of Guild Electrics, what with the proximity of Hamer and all. I'll be the first to say I'm worried about the acoustics, however. They might stick with the China-GADs for the most part and maybe put out a few Custom Shop acoustics for Guild here and there through the Ovation factory, who knows.

[soulohio]

man, i heard a duo this weekend and one guy was playing a Starfire with DeArmond singkle coil pickups and when he hit some high notes when chording it was like ringing a bell...a sweet, chimey bell...beeyootiful!

[m.z.]

1974 (my birth year) Guild d-50 owner here..... Amazing playing/sounding guitar! love it.

[solitaire]

I think more than anything else the highest hopes in CT are for a resurgence of Guild Electrics, what with the proximity of Hamer and all. I'll be the first to say I'm worried about the acoustics, however. They might stick with the China-GADs for the most part and maybe put out a few Custom Shop acoustics for Guild here and there through the Ovation factory, who knows.
Well, hope is the last thing that deserts man, but my guess is it will be business as usual along the lines of what was the case in Tacoma. Guild electrics would probably be produced in Corona if anywhere but something tells me these are history or they would never have been taken out of production.

Fender can't afford putting all their focus and attention to those chinese GADs. Even Martin are planing to/ are producing instruments in Mexico these days so there's clearly a surge for semi quality instruments of high value. Losing the US Guild acoustics would cost Fender dearly and that if anything is not why they aquired Guild - can never be.

That said I too hope for a customshop and a wider range of instruments to come out of the CT plant than we could see from WA. Being a fan of 12-string dreadnoughts these would be on the top of my wishinglist for models to be re-introduced. I would also welcome more arched backs.

[drive-south]

I'd like to see Guild release a carvetop like the Artist Award, but without all the garrish inlays or cutaway. Like a good A350.

We can hope that the CT plant will crank out quality like Tacoma did, otherwise the Guild mark is toast. I'm skeptical as they have been building guitars with Lexan backs and carbon fiber necks, soundboards, etc for so long.

drive-south

[solitaire]

We can hope that the CT plant will crank out quality like Tacoma did, otherwise the Guild mark is toast. I'm skeptical as they have been building guitars with Lexan backs and carbon fiber necks, soundboards, etc for so long.

drive-south
You're refering to Ovation by this statement, aren't you. Before Tacoma Fender didn't have the commitment necessary for building high quality quitars. Then they employed this guy, whatever his name was, and got into the game more wholeheartedly. They let us know there was a prestige with building guitars with the name Guild on the headstock. The switch to red spruce for the tops of the acoustics and the inauguration of the Contemporary series are also clear signs they wanted to be taken seriously and be a serious contender in the with Martin, Gibson, Taylor and what ever. Hadn't that commitment magic still been there, they wouldn't have made the move.

We argued the workers of the Corona plant only knew solid body guitars and to some degree this was reflected in the quality of the Guilds built there. This type of argumentation could also be applied here, but I can't see that happening. One thing being they now have a guy employed with the sole task of doing a quality control of the Contemporary series instruments' necks - now, fancy that! This would point out Fender has the intention of concentrating the knowhow of solidbody guitars in CA and that of most other types of instruments in CT, with the exeption of Hamer, for that matter.

[JSeth]

I still remember my very first REAL guitar purchase... from Fullerton Music, a 1967 Guild D-40, serial # AJ-2267, $254.69, if I recall correctly... Man! I loved that guitar! That was the one I played my heart out on, cried into on the tough nights, screamed into when I had to, the whole 9 yards... Stolen from me in 1975, Ocean Beach, CA - I was in a duo with a dear friend and we had all our gear stolen from our house. We recovered everything, EVERTHING! Except our 2 acoustics...
Broke my heart.
Taught me a great lesson - it's ME who makes the music, not the guitar I'm playing... for a while I wondered if I could even play without that old friend under my arm...

[drive-south]

Someone needs to invent a GPS tracking device we can attach to guitars so that when they are stolen, we can track them down. In India, I believe they cut off the hands of theives. Sounds good to me!

I've decided I'm devoting the rest of my life to collecting Guild guitars.
I'm emptying out my 401Ks (what's left of them) and investing in Guild guitars from Hoboken, Westerly. It's got to be a better investment than the stock market.

drive-south

[jerrysleftyguit]

I have a 1975 F30. Mahogany/Spruce. It is an OM body size and shape but 5" deep. A serious blues guitar. Never had a moments problem with it. Still looks almost new. Guilds are great guitars.
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee139/jerrysleftyguitars/PA041561.jpghttp://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee139/jerrysleftyguitars/PA041560.jpghttp://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee139/jerrysleftyguitars/PA041563.jpg

[bunuel]

I've decided I'm devoting the rest of my life to collecting Guild guitars. I'm emptying out my 401Ks (what's left of them) and investing in Guild guitars from Hoboken, Westerly. It's got to be a better investment than the stock market.

drive-south

They also make much better music than the stock mkt (or stockbrokers)...

[rth]

I currently have 3 Guild accoustics...'71 D-25, '98 D-52, '74 D-55, would'nt trade a one of them for anything...weelll, maybe an original Gibson Southern Jumbo (like that's gonna happen!). I've owned a lot of great accoustics but my Guilds just seem comfortable in any accoustic environment. More bang for my buck, thats for sure.