Guilds at Yamaha dealers?

[Br1ck]

Neither of my go to shops stock either Yamaha or Guild, so has anyone noticed a store who stocked Yamaha bring in Guild since the Yamaha purchase?

 

[chazmo]

No noticeable change here yet. Having said that, I usually only visit the bricks & mortar stores that carry Guild anyway.

 

[jeffcoop]

It's been a few years since I've spent much time at the local (actually 25 minutes away) Guitar Center, but I note that it is now listed on Guild's website as an authorized dealer. It didn't used to be, but I'm not sure when the change occurred.

Regardless, I'd be interested to see if they carry any USA Guilds. The local Sam Ash (which is no longer listed as an authorized dealer) used to carry a fair selection of Chinese acoustics and Newark St. electrics, but I have a vague recollection that they carried the occasional USA acoustic as well.

 

[Brad Little]

It's been a few years since I've spent much time at the local (actually 25 minutes away) Guitar Center, but I note that it is now listed on Guild's website as an authorized dealer. It didn't used to be, but I'm not sure when the change occurred.

Regardless, I'd be interested to see if they carry any USA Guilds. The local Sam Ash (which is no longer listed as an authorized dealer) used to carry a fair selection of Chinese acoustics and Newark St. electrics, but I have a vague recollection that they carried the occasional USA acoustic as well.

IIRC, at one point, Sam Ash was a pretty big Guild dealer, going back to the Hoboken/ Westerly eras.

 

[adorshki]

It's been a few years since I've spent much time at the local (actually 25 minutes away) Guitar Center, but I note that it is now listed on Guild's website as an authorized dealer. It didn't used to be, but I'm not sure when the change occurred.

Regardless, I'd be interested to see if they carry any USA Guilds. The local Sam Ash (which is no longer listed as an authorized dealer) used to carry a fair selection of Chinese acoustics and Newark St. electrics, but I have a vague recollection that they carried the occasional USA acoustic as well.

GC was dropped shortly after open of New Hartford, when Guild re-vamped the dealer network (and did away with factory repair work)

The reason offered at the time was that Guild wouldn't have been able to meet their (GC's) minimum buy requirements.
I'm willing to bet over the last few years GC's seen the wisdom of dropping their "minimum buy" requirement, since they don't seem to be doing very well at turning what they do buy...

Also occurs to me that since GC already has Yamaha, it's really nothing more than adding a new Yamaha-owned line to the franchise, and minimum buys are still not going to be a problem.

 

[twocorgis]

All the Oxnard D40 Traditionals (3) that I've played other than the one I own were at Long Island Sam Ash locations, so I think they're still a dealer. And other than maybe the "Premier" Guitar center stores, I think it's highly unlikely that you'll see a US model at one of them. The local GC near my office has loads of Asian rim Guilds.

 

[casey2048]

Depending on the GC location, sending them those USA Standards with the delicate finishes is just asking for trouble. The average guitar center shopper is not handling with care. For some reason, Sam Ash seems to be a bit different in that regard.

 

[Westerly Wood]

My local GC only sells MIC Guilds.

 

[adorshki]

My local GC only sells MIC Guilds.

All the Oxnard D40 Traditionals (3) that I've played other than the one I own were at Long Island Sam Ash locations, so I think they're still a dealer. And other than maybe the "Premier" Guitar center stores, I think it's highly unlikely that you'll see a US model at one of them. The local GC near my office has loads of Asian rim Guilds.

Yep, they did pick up that part of the franchise around '12 or so IIRC, it was before close of NH. Occurs to me that the MIC line was always specifically Fender owned and operated apart from Guild US, so perhaps they were "piggybacking" on the Fender franchise? And volume didn't appear to be an issue.

And what about GC's several debt re-sets, and Fender's cancelled IPO? And the fact Fender was GC's single biggest creditor ? Perhaps accommodations were found to ease the situation both ways? They did after all need each other, and still do, as far as I've heard.

Meanwhile Yamaha's inheriting existing display real estate for the MIC line in GC's acoustic rooms. If "it" survives. (the Westerly Collection or GC, take your pick )

FWIW, I got my first Guild at a GC. In March of '97...but things were a little bit different then.

 

[casey2048]

If "it" survives. (the Westerly Collection or GC, take your pick

I’m honestly amazed Guitar Centers are still open. But I’m grateful - even though their used gear system could use a lot of improvement, they seem immune to the Reverb price bloat.

 

[adorshki]

I’m honestly amazed Guitar Centers are still open. But I’m grateful - even though their used gear system could use a lot of improvement, they seem immune to the Reverb price bloat.

I just edited my post, added:
"FWIW, I got my first Guild at a GC. In March of '97...but things were a little bit different then. "

That was the D25.

 

[casey2048]

I just edited my post, added:
"FWIW, I got my first Guild at a GC. In March of '97...but things were a little bit different then. "

That was the D25.

I got my Hoboken SFIII at a GC!

 

[adorshki]

I got my Hoboken SFIII at a GC!

New? p)

 

[casey2048]

New? p)

That would have been tough!

 

[Br1ck]

I'm most interested in stores that were Yamaha dealers having Oxnard Guilds added since the buy out. Yamaha has got to be aware the stores likely to be able to sell the new F9s are not the general mom and pop store. Nor are stores likely to displace Eastmans to take on Yamaha and Guild. It is interesting that one store I go to does not stock Eastman flat tops at all, just an occasional arch top and the mandolin line. I think they need to sell 100 and 200 series Taylors to keep Taylor happy. You have to move product to keep your agreements. Maybe the Oxnard Guilds are not a fit for many Yamaha dealers.

 

[chazmo]

It's a great question, Br1ck, but I have no answers.

 

[casey2048]

my local mom and pop where I got my D20 has told me in the past it’s difficult for him to get the USA guilds more than one at a time. He is both a Yamaha and a Guild dealer. Maybe that will change now!

 

[Guild Man]

I consider GC to be the Home depot of music stores. Hardly any quality acoustic guitars to be found. They kinda lean to the electric kids. I stop in there every once in a while to see if any changes. Nope. My mom and pop store is a lot of fun. Guilds, Eastman, Martins, Gibson. You wont see 200 Yamaha there which is nice.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Wait, Yamaha still owns Guild? I couldn’t tell.

 

[West R Lee]

Our "local" GC (Tyler, about 45 miles from here) has been stocking Guilds for quite a while, but mostly Chinese Guilds.

West