Corona custom shop: A custom shop, or a cussed 'em shop?

[fronobulax]

jazzmangione,

Any relation to Chuck? (The musician, not this one). We were in Rochester at the same time. Heard him often but never met him. I did play with a lot of folks he used on his recordings but somehow I never got the call to the studio :wink:

 

[fronobulax]

I haven't heard of any custom guitars coming out of New Hartford Guild... yet.

They'd like to be able to do that but it had not risen up the priority list as of LMG2010. The expected offering was to let you order any combination of features that did not require retooling. So body sizes and shapes, scale lengths, necks and so on had to be the same as on production models. But wood choice and bling could be customized.

They are also quite willing to do Limited Editions in runs of 20 as the GSR models attest but that's not "custom" unless you happened to suggest the GSR specs to them.

:wink:

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

That's a good sign that you can order different combinations of features because that's how they did it long ago. And eventuall, there will be some one-off models available on the used market.

 

[fronobulax]

That's a good sign that you can order different combinations of features because that's how they did it long ago. And eventuall, there will be some one-off models available on the used market.

Just to be clear, you can't order them from Guild today. That is a service they would like to offer in the future but they have not, to the best of my knowledge, announced that The Future Is Now.

 

[jte]

I talked to my former Fender rep (I managed a guitar store from 1977 - '88) in September or very very late August 2001. He was at the local dealer's store with the "Traveling Fender Road Show" which included three very nice Bluesbirds. All the Bluesbirds were labeled "Custom Shop" on the back of the headstock but appeared to be straightforward stock Bluesbirds. He explained that all the Guilds being built in Corona at that time were being labeled as "custom" until they got regular production running. The ones built as they were developing the production line, assembly process, etc. were labeled as custom but it wasn't at all like the Fender Custom Shop nor the original Nashville Guild Custom Shop where they took specific orders. It was merely a way to denote the ones made in the learning phase.

BTW, I almost bought one of the three Bluesbirds, but he knew I was a Starfire IV fan, and he said he could cut me a deal on his personal demo one- such a good deal even my wife said "that's too good a deal to pass up and you've wanted one of those since you were 15!".

Still have the guitar, but the Red Head Who (used to) Live At My House left a few years later...

John

 

[adorshki]

I talked to my former Fender rep (I managed a guitar store from 1977 - '88) in September or very very late August 2001. He explained that all the Guilds being built in Corona at that time were being labeled as "custom" until they got regular production running. The ones built as they were developing the production line, assembly process, etc. were labeled as custom but it wasn't at all like the Fender Custom Shop nor the original Nashville Guild Custom Shop where they took specific orders. It was merely a way to denote the ones made in the learning phase.

I think that's about as close to coming from the horse's mouth as we're gonna get. Kinda confirms my idea that "Corona Guilds" shoudln't be considered "Custom Shop" guitars. UNless they have they have the decal. Which answere's Darryl's question about whether any of them DID say "Custom Shop".
Thanks John!

Still have the guitar, but the Red Head Who (used to) Live At My House left a few years later...
John

So where can I get the sheet music for that? :lol:

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

Thanks folks.

Addie, where would the decal be located?

 

[adorshki]

Thanks folks.
Addie, where would the decal be located?

Darryl, I'm only guessing based on other observations, that it would be on the back of the headstock as JTE mentioned. That would also match the fact that early Corona acoustics had a decal on the back of the headstock as well as a a label in the body. In fact when I was pm'ing with Hans about a different issue, he asked me if my D40 had the decal, because was trying to narrow down the time period in which it was discontinued.
We have seen one of those guitars here recently, and some members here even say they don't like the decal it, but I've always said I'd just consider more provenence of of age if it was there when it was supposed to be. But I don't think THAT label says "Custom Shop", I think it simply repeats the "Crafted in Corona" theme.

 

[FNG]

The stickers say Fender Custom Shop on the back of the headstock.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... Q1cFU%253D

 

[adorshki]

The stickers say Fender Custom Shop on the back of the headstock.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... Q1cFU%253D

That's the label JTE's talking about, but I don't think that's the one on the back of the acoustics' headstocks, when they were in "regular production".
OK I FOUND IT, it's in this thread, open the link to the eBay ad and then hit "See full description"and enlarge the picture of the back of the headstock:
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=23414
In fact it says "HAND Crafted in Corona California"
Now I can go home and enjoy my weekend without nagging doubts! :lol:

 

[FNG]

The stickers say Fender Custom Shop on the back of the headstock.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... Q1cFU%253D

That's the label JTE's talking about, but I don't think that's the one on the back of the acoustics' headstocks, when they were in regular production

Heres a custom shop acoustic from Nashville...different sticker.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GUILD-CUSTOM-SHOP ... 5adf5098ad

My Deco doesn't have a headstock sticker, just a heel block label.

 

[adorshki]

That's the label JTE's talking about, but I don't think that's the one on the back of the acoustics' headstocks, when they were in regular production

Heres a custom shop acoustic from Nashville...different sticker.
My Deco doesn't have a headstock sticker, just a heel block label.

I think you're just trying to show what the Nashville Custom Shop guitars would show, right?
I was trying to answer Darryl's question about what sticker regular production Corona acoustics got, and where it was located. I don't think any of the Corona acoustics got the "Fender Custom Shop" decal. Unless it was those "before regular production guitars" JTE was talking about.

 

[FNG]

Corona acoustics got a sticker? :shock: :shock: :shock: :lol:

Sorry, jumped in late. :lol:

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

So "Fender Custom Shop" and "Hand Crafted in Corona California" were both used in the first year or two, but not after?

 

[West R Lee]

Corona acoustics got a sticker? :shock: :shock: :shock: :lol:

Sorry, jumped in late. :lol:

:lol: West

 

[capnjuan]

eBay Bluesbird with Custom Shop decal.

 

[jte]

eBay Bluesbird with Custom Shop decal.

THAT'S the sticker I saw when I asked the sales rep "what makes them custom?".

John

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

Those decals might be valuable because you could put that on a Fender or Guild and have a custom shop guitar.

 

[adorshki]

eBay Bluesbird with Custom Shop decal.

THAT'S the sticker I saw when I asked the sales rep "what makes them custom?".
John

Right, that's what I thought you meant, because I remember seeing it before too. BUT I've NEVER seen an acoustic with a FENDER "Custom Shop" decal. ONLY the "Crafted in Corona" decal.

So "Fender Custom Shop" and "Hand Crafted in Corona California" were both used in the first year or two, but not after?

Basically yes. In the case of the electrics I suspect they just got discontinued. And I repeat I have never seen a "Fender Custom shop" decal on an acoustic. As much as I'd like my D40 to be a "Custom shop" guitar. :wink:

 

[fronobulax]

Those decals might be valuable because you could put that on a Fender or Guild and have a custom shop guitar.

No. You'd have a guitar with a decal on it. Seems to me there is a quote out there to the effect that if you put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig.

One would hope that people who cared about whether something was a "custom shop" guitar, or not, would know enough about the product to look for those features besides the decal that made it custom.