Introducing the Guild Westerly Collection

[adorshki]

I'm willing to jump to that conclusion because there was no interruption of product through the transitions, but point noted and I have been wrong before.

That could be possible if Cordoba instuituted production in "their" plant at the time the sale was finalized, after all it's been 6 months or more.

Ok so unless I missed it and someone posted it my super secret contact told me the Westerly line is being made at the same Chinese plant as the Gad line . He could not tell me where that plant was only because he did not know lol .

I won't believe that unless it comes from either Cordoba or SFIV1967 (Ralf), or maybe a couple of other folks who we know have contacts at Cordoba.
(You might have been joking, wasn't sure. Ah, I see now you probably were. Also, "Bingo" on the QC insight)

I have been accused of jumping to conclusions as my only form of exercise but there is no reason to believe that Cordoba changed overseas factories when they bought Guild and very many good reasons to believe that they continued production at the same place.

That would be my primary suspicion as well, but, I still have not seen any concrete and credible confirmation that Cordoba used the same plant Fender did, or if they were using a different plant, that they transferred production of GAD's to their existing supplier.
As far as I can tell, we still don't know where or how the Westerly Collection is made.

Why do even assume that there is a specific "plant" in China where guitars get assembled.

Because in the case of Fender-built GAD's, as Chazmo said, we already know that to be the case.

I doubt that there is an attachment to individual craftsmen or individual locations such as Westerly, new Hartford etc at all but rather an anonymous and dispersed mass production process applies.

China's transportation infrastructure isn't friendly to that model. Also, each province's "boss" has a vested interest in growing his own province/town's industrial base. It creates local jobs.
That's why they've got so many sources of so many products.
A couple of years ago China experienced a first: Every New Years all the workers that had flocked to the cities for jobs would go home for a couple of weeks, and come back after the holidays. It was a BIG shock when one year a siginificant percentage of 'em didn't come back (I'm thinking it was over 10%, might have even been 30%), because now they could find jobs close to home.
In China there are mega factories with multiple buildings peforming the individual component construction, and it's cheaper than shipping parts around.
In Fender's case QC was more important than overall cost. Fender provided the wood, and they did go onsite to audit on occasion.
Also, keeping it all in one place makes it a whole lot easier to prevent counterfeiting, and that's HUGE concern.

My recollection, hearing from the Fender folks who oversaw this stuff, is that GADs were built in one place. The workers change constantly, though. Whether or not some components are jobbed out I don't remember, but I would be surprised to find out if it's done that way.

That's how I remember the reports here, too, again, for QC and brand identity protection. And again, we only know this about Fender's production model at that time, We still have no confirmation that Cordoba's doing it the same way, unless I missed something somewhere.
This doesn't mean that that factory was dedicated only to one maker, either. Only that Fender used only one factory.
A few years back we saw some photos posted that showed "IIRC", what appeared to be Guild headstocks lined up next to Blueridges, and I'm remembering now that the actual GAD plant was later identified as the "Grand Reward" or "Great Rewards" factory.

 

[Rayk]

At the extreme opposite end of the international guitar-making continuum are two boutique makers in my own community: Huss and Dalton (Staunton, VA) and Rockbridge (Charlottesville, VA).

They will make you exactly what you want...for a price. But every single piece is hand-crafted in the same place by the same people for an honest wage. I have resisted their tractor beam, so far.

Neal

Yeah custom American guitars ... one day minding my own business just looking for guitars I found this guy makes nice guitars and yeah American wow maybe I can get one ...... NOT ! WTF ! 7yrs I have wait and how much ! ....... 18,000 dollars ! as the Minion would say Whaaaaaaaaaaaat ! Chinese sure do look a good LMAO ... I said I'm poor right ? yeah I think i did LOL

Plus I like nice guitars as much as anyone but whats the point ... like Guilds motto " Built to be played " yeah well they better be built to slide around the back of my pick up truck and handle a few rain storms and camp fire outings and being strapped to my motor cycle ! Hmm maybe a rainsong guitar is what I need LMAO Nooooooooooooooooooooooo !!!!!!!

 

[Rayk]

I won't believe that unless it comes from either Cordoba or SFIV1967 (Ralf), or maybe a couple of other folks who we know have contacts at Cordoba.
(You might have been joking, wasn't sure. Ah, I see now you probably were. Nope I weren't Also, "Bingo" on the QC insight ) Brilliant !

Yup one of them .... Awesome sauce ! hehehehehe

I'm anal about QC way to many high quality products that are high priced are blemished and were told thats the way it is ...... No Capes ! Dang it !

 

[Neal]

A Rockbridge dreadnought, rosewood with an Adi top, will start at around $6,000, and then there is a long list of upgrades to give it bling. Their website is pretty cool.

It doesn't hurt that Dave Matthews lives here in Albemarle County and plays several Rockbridge guitars while on tour, and when recording.

Huss and Daltons can be found used for as low as $2,500. Certainly not a price for something to throw in the back of your pickup...

For that purpose, I have a $300 Guild F-20 that has seen every abuse a guitar can suffer short of getting stomped on.

Neal

 

[Westerly Wood]

For that purpose, I have a $300 Guild F-20 that has seen every abuse a guitar can suffer short of getting stomped on.

Neal

Got pics?

 

[Neal]

You've seen it. The one with the grossly-reattached headstock, 9 cracks in the top, near-Willie pick rash hole between pickguard and bridge, side and back cracks, quarter size hole (repaired) in the tail block where someone evidently made 7 or 8 failed attempts at drilling out the endpin with their eyes closed, and a back brace repaired by installing two screws through the back (yeah, that'll fix 'er).

Still, the best tone-per-dollar ratio of any guitar I own, no question.

Neal

 

[Rayk]

Sounds like sex to me ... How dare you ! Lmao

 

[cibby54]

Hi guys I don't post anything just look at different topics a couple times a week. I thought this would be a good time to put something in the forum. I'm retired own a Martin D28 and a D18 and I've been looking for a all mahogany dread for a couple months. I didn't want to spend over $900 so I saw the Guild Westerly Collection at Sweetwater and liked the price so I ordered one the all hog D120 Westerly Collection. I've had it all of 3 days but for a Asian made acoustic I'm very happy with it. The finish is very good even if it is a polyurethane finish no flaws or visible overrun of glue. The action had me shaking my head I don't like doing setups but I've done more than a few as I've owned 30 or so acoustics in my life and had to setup my 2 Martins also. The D120 had the lowest action I ever had out of the box and no string buzz. At the 12th fret low E it's 2.5/32in and 2/32in at high E 12th fret. I am really happy with the sound I play mainly Carter style bluegrass and it flatpicks and strums with a good balanced tone. I changed the strings the second day I had it to Pearse lights and added bone bridge pins also I'm going to replace tha saddle with bone to get the best sound I can from it.. I understand the people who love there USA made Guilds I feel that way about my Martins. But for what I wanted at this time the all hog D120 ended up being a good move for me. I would not think twice if I wanted to buy another one as what ever Guild is doing at this time with this model they got it right.

 

[chazmo]

Nice to hear the good report, cibby!

 

[fronobulax]

Why do even assume that there is a specific "plant" in China where guitars get assembled. Even in Japan, which is a few orders of magnitude smaller than China, there are several large plants where production of multiple brands is accomplished simultaneously, but shifted around as needed. It is most likely that FMIC, Cordoba, etc have long-term contracts with huge Chinese corporations which in turn will operate a multitude of facilities and production will get shifted among them depending on many factors. I doubt that there is an attachment to individual craftsmen or individual locations such as Westerly, new Hartford etc at all but rather an anonymous and dispersed mass production process applies.

I make my assumption from two experiences but recognize I may be wrong in generalizing. One is the way Gibson makes the point that Epiphones are made in one Chinese factory and that factory makes guitars for no other company. This article makes the point that

it's difficult, if not impossible, to have a substantially better instrument than your competition when the parts, process and people who make them are the same.

The second is that FMIC explicitly stated at LMG II that the MIC Guilds were being made at exactly one factory, that FMIC was buying and supplying the all wood and that FMIC personnel spent several days a month at the factory for quality assurance purposes.

I also assume that the arrangement (and factory) described at LMG II was still in place when FMIC sold Guild to Cordoba and that Cordoba has elected to continue the arrangement because it gives them a revenue stream from a known supplier during they time when they cannot manufacture guitars in the USA.

 

[Neal]

Cibby's report on the new Westerly Collection is very encouraging, and right in line with my experience with both an M-120 from 2013 and a D-140 from 2011 Superb playability right out of the box.

If this one example holds true, it does not appear that Cordoba is messing with the quality as much as the marketing of the Chinese Guilds via the name/numbering change.

Neal

 

[guild-1979-d40]

I am now the happy owner of an OM 140CE Sunburst Westerly Collection guitar. Initially, I bought a GAD F130RCE, but exchanged it within the 14 day window.
I've only had it for a couple of days, but I'm impressed with the sound and workmanship. One reason why I bought the OM, is I didn't want to bring the D40 to any more live shows.

Now, I have a question…..after playing the OM for a couple of days, I realized how the E and A strings on my 1979 Guild D40 sound extremely dull. The strings are relatively new, but I think they may have been exposed to a lot of sweat at a recent performance. Any suggestions?

 

[Rayk]

On the strings WD-40 been using it for over 25yrs to clean them and finger board . If that's what your after .
I would like to know more info on the 130rce return. I had that one to but returned it .

 

[davismanLV]

I have heard that some people do it, but I'd NEVER put WD-40 on my fretboard. If the strings are dulled from sweat, and they sounded fine before, you might want to consider using one of the coated brand of strings, like Elixir. There are several brands to chose from. They hold up better to exposure to sweat and oils. If you sweat a lot or your body chemistry is corrosive to strings, then wipe them down after each time you play with a clean, dry cloth to get the sweat and oils off. That will help them to last longer. Basically keep the strings as clean as possible and try coated strings.

 

[Neal]

+1 for Elixers.

My fingers corrode uncoated strings after just a few sittings, even though I meticulously wipe them down afterwards.

For a bright tone, try Elixer Nanoweb 20/80's, or for a bit more mellow tone, try Nanoweb PB's.

Neal

 

[guild-1979-d40]

On the strings WD-40 been using it for over 25yrs to clean them and finger board . If that's what your after .
I would like to know more info on the 130rce return. I had that one to but returned it .

I didn't have a specific problem with the 130rce, it would have served it's purpose. During my 14 day trial period, the on-line seller started listing a lot from the Westerly Collection and I decided to get the sunburst version of the same guitar. The case is definitely a step down.

 

[Rayk]

How would you compare the two ? I think your the first owner here of a WC so many would like as much info as possible along with personal pictures .

 

[Rayk]

I have heard that some people do it, but I'd NEVER put WD-40 on my fretboard. If the strings are dulled from sweat, and they sounded fine before, you might want to consider using one of the coated brand of strings, like Elixir. There are several brands to chose from. They hold up better to exposure to sweat and oils. If you sweat a lot or your body chemistry is corrosive to strings, then wipe them down after each time you play with a clean, dry cloth to get the sweat and oils off. That will help them to last longer. Basically keep the strings as clean as possible and try coated strings.

I use the coated as well but not always . I use to leave in South Florida and lived next to the beach so I always was there playing in the sand that's where Wd-40 came into play back then coated strings where an unknown and if I'm not mistaken only the wound strings are coated unless that has changed.

Some think one would be nuts to use it . I got cursed at helping someone clean a CD by rinsing it under warm water they though I was nuts and they freaked out Lol.

Anyway I will always use the 40 for fret board cleaning and string cleaning . There's tons of info online just saying, has worked wonders for me as well as never caused any damage .

Ooooooo Coffee is up

 

[D30Man]

Hi guys I don't post anything just look at different topics a couple times a week. I thought this would be a good time to put something in the forum. I'm retired own a Martin D28 and a D18 and I've been looking for a all mahogany dread for a couple months. I didn't want to spend over $900 so I saw the Guild Westerly Collection at Sweetwater and liked the price so I ordered one the all hog D120 Westerly Collection. I've had it all of 3 days but for a Asian made acoustic I'm very happy with it. The finish is very good even if it is a polyurethane finish no flaws or visible overrun of glue. The action had me shaking my head I don't like doing setups but I've done more than a few as I've owned 30 or so acoustics in my life and had to setup my 2 Martins also. The D120 had the lowest action I ever had out of the box and no string buzz. At the 12th fret low E it's 2.5/32in and 2/32in at high E 12th fret. I am really happy with the sound I play mainly Carter style bluegrass and it flatpicks and strums with a good balanced tone. I changed the strings the second day I had it to Pearse lights and added bone bridge pins also I'm going to replace tha saddle with bone to get the best sound I can from it.. I understand the people who love there USA made Guilds I feel that way about my Martins. But for what I wanted at this time the all hog D120 ended up being a good move for me. I would not think twice if I wanted to buy another one as what ever Guild is doing at this time with this model they got it right.

Hi Cibby! I have had my eye on the D120 and I am glad to read it satisfies. I sold my all hog GAD D-125 about 6 months ago and mildly regret it. However, it didn't knock me out like some of the earlier GAD25's I had played. I am excited to read that this one delivers.. Congrats on your new guit!

 

[SFIV1967]

To the new owners of a Westerly Collection model: Would you mind letting us know following info:

1) Did you buy it in the USA or abroad? Which country?
2) Is there a serial number on the round paper label visible inside the soundhole?
3) Is there a serial number on a second label or stamped inside on the neck heel? Is it a 10 digit number? Does it start with 14 or 15 ? Are the 3rd and 4th numbers between 01 and 12?
4) is there anywhere a sign that shows the guitar was made in China? On the guitar? On the back of the headstock? Inside the guitar? On the neck heel inside? On the shipping box?

We were speculating about those things and need members help who actually bought a new Westerly Collection Guild.

Ralf