New Westerly releases

[Boneman]

I received the email from Guild announcing their new Westerly jumbo maple, color schemes on the Westerly series D140 etc and popped on here half expecting to see someone already post about it and I would just comment there in that thread. Now is splashed on their home page:

Home | Guild Guitars

Iconic American guitar maker with over 60 years of building handcrafted instruments in the United States. Guild guitars are made to be played.

guildguitars.com

When I didn't see anybody beat me to it after a few days, I wonder if it safe to say the MIC products don't get a rise out of anyone here? I get it, but they do look like some sweet instruments, and from my experience with the MIC Westerly's they are quality units, so why no love here? Or did I miss it?

Does seem to me since the Yamaha acquisition, things have been happening at a pretty good clip as far as new product announcements from Guild. As a fan, I like to see it.

 

[Brick]

Actually I've been looking more at the USA Standard series that they're showcasing on the website.

Honestly, I have a couple of MIC instruments from other vendors, and they play beautifully. They're just not what I'm interested in right now.....but that's just me.

 

[midnightright]

I don't know, but I remember not loving them during the first couple of generations based off the differences noticable when trying them out in stores (don't know if there was any implicit bias in the back of my head during that time?). And the US models, namely from Westerly, R. I.

Then I finally got around to owning one, and my opinion drastically changed. I never should have let that one go, and I don't know how much of an anomaly it was; but then I played another in a store after that, and was also blown away (feeling that it sounded a whole lot better than it had any right to). Both were smaller bodied, but different model-instruments.

Now at this time in my life, if I buy another acoustic guitar, and it is to be new, it will most likely be one of these. As I cannot afford an American Made one. That is the only / primary reason. But I won't do it just for the sake of owning a Guild. However, that would be a huge bonus, or plus! It's got to have the tone, though & play easily - for me.

By the way, this is the same with all major manufacturers here. So I'd be in the same boat with another lover, so to speak. Only thing is, I have no experience with any of their import offerings. Nor do I have any sentimental attachment to any other brand, no matter their origin.

I'm running out of patience with buying used after being, if not semi-burned, then un-pleasantly surprised after quite a long stretch of good fortune or luck (save a stumble or two, here or there). Percentage-wise, I was more than content & would do it all again. Except that now I think I've had my fill.

Long story short: I would not hesitate to buy one tomorrow, or today!

 

[Guilderland21]

I like to see it too! If this means the D-140 has been, or will be, getting into more people's hands, I think that's great - it's a really good guitar. The new colors look good too; I like the cherry burst though I probably still prefer the natural finish.

I would have said they made an F-250 before, or something very similar, but I haven't checked. I'm sure there are a few differences in any case.

 

[chazmo]

I wonder if it safe to say the MIC products don't get a rise out of anyone here? I get it, but they do look like some sweet instruments, and from my experience with the MIC Westerly's they are quality units, so why no love here? Or did I miss it?

I'm going to give you an honest response here, Boneman. Well, that's all I ever do anyway, but this one's a little complex and nuanced. Bear with me:

First, I think the Asian-made Guilds get a LOT of respect around here. I'll answer your specific question later as to why you might not be hearing much about this D-140. But, I think it's safe to say that most of us already know that Guild as a "big brand" probably would not exist anymore if they (Asian-built Guilds, that is) hadn't come into existence when they did.

Second, we have (almost) all acknowledged the quality and value of the Asian Guilds. There have been misses, mind you, and serious QC problems with some of the Guild Asian-built guitars, but overall it's been a favorable ride for Guild.

Third, many of us are aware that there is a banking struggle in the industry with Asian-built guitars and inventory control that has caused a lot of US workers to lose their jobs because of shop closures and slowdowns that have been enforced due to bank covenants. It's not pretty and causes a lot of resentment. I don't know if Guild has directly been affected by this, but it puts a stain on the imports.

Fourth, the pace of change and moderate insignificance of the differences among the new Asian models causes some of us to tune out. OK, maybe I'm speaking just for myself here, but this is one of the primary reasons why you're not hearing much hullaballoo about this D-140, for example (as I alluded to earlier).

Fifth, and final for today, when someone comes along and asks us for comparisons between Asian-built X and Asian-built Y, I have nothing to offer. I played tons of the early GAD models when they were new, but I have no experience with a D-140 compared to say an F-150... With nothing to offer, I stay out of those conversations, although I fully acknowledge they have relevance to new owners, etc... Also, honestly, due to some of the other things I said, I have much less interest than I might otherwise have.

Hope that's not too much or hard to hear... But, that's just me being straight.

 

[Boneman]

No, it’s all good Chazmo, and agree with a lot of that too. What I don’t get, and it’s probably my biggest beef with the Westerly collection, but why call them Guild, rather than Madeira or some new name? To your point it might’ve helped the brand stay afloat or relevant, but I mean now you have to double take and clarify, oh that’s a MIC Guild, rather than keeping them separated from the Guild brand, for a clearer delineation. Maybe a missed opportunity to create buzz around another brand under the umbrella. Like Gibson does with Epiphone, Fender does with Squier. Oh well, rant over

 

[chazmo]

No, it’s all good Chazmo, and agree with a lot of that too. What I don’t get, and it’s probably my biggest beef with the Westerly collection, but why call them Guild, rather than Madeira or some new name? To your point it might’ve helped the brand stay afloat or relevant, but I mean now you have to double take and clarify, oh that’s a MIC Guild, rather than keeping them separated from the Guild brand, for a clearer delineation. Maybe a missed opportunity to create buzz around another brand under the umbrella. Like Gibson does with Epiphone, Fender does with Squier. Oh well, rant over

Oh, I agree 100%. That argument was had a long time ago. Water under the bridge, really, but most of us agreed with that sentiment (shouldn't've put Guild on the headstock).

 

[davismanLV]

No, it’s all good Chazmo, and agree with a lot of that too. What I don’t get, and it’s probably my biggest beef with the Westerly collection, but why call them Guild, rather than Madeira or some new name? To your point it might’ve helped the brand stay afloat or relevant, but I mean now you have to double take and clarify, oh that’s a MIC Guild, rather than keeping them separated from the Guild brand, for a clearer delineation. Maybe a missed opportunity to create buzz around another brand under the umbrella. Like Gibson does with Epiphone, Fender does with Squier. Oh well, rant over

I think because Guild is a known and respected company, putting their name on it helps to sell the guitars. Most people today probably don't know what a Madeira is or where it came from. If they put that name on it, it's just going to stunt the sales of the Asian built models, and that doesn't help anyone, especially Guild.

 

[chazmo]

I think because Guild is a known and respected company, putting their name on it helps to sell the guitars. Most people today probably don't know what a Madeira is or where it came from. If they put that name on it, it's just going to stunt the sales of the Asian built models, and that doesn't help anyone, especially Guild.

Totally fair point.

I would've like to see "Madeira, by Guild" or something like that, Tom, but like I said.... all water under the bridge.

 

[Br1ck]

Right or wrong, Cordoba bought Guild, name and all, and US production ceased while they moved yet again. More onerous to me was marketing the Westerly name. By now everyone is used to MIM Fenders, Taylors, and Martins. I don't think they get a hearty endorsement from anyone. As the owner of a 65 Epiphone Texan, I'm really fried when someone comes up to me commenting on how Epiphone Texans sound great for the money. To confuse matters more, they are now made in the US and China. But the use of Westerly, one of the flagship terms when discussing US factory eras is just confusing. Then again Guild using labels left over from Hoboken was confusing too.

There are certainly two completely different camps, those interested in affordable imports and those that US builds are the only Guilds of interest. I'm in the latter camp because even the most expensive import does not stack up at this point in my guitar journey. So I walk by imports and thus have no opinion other that when I do play one, they keep sounding better all the time.

 

[bobouz]

For a number of reasons, I probably will never own a guitar made in China - although I’m sure there are factories there that are capable of building fine instruments. Quality builders are scattered throughout the world, but the historical pinnings of the classic American builders has been a point of interest since I first began playing - and I’ve never really been able to move very far beyond that. One notable exception are a handful of Epiphone instruments manufactured for Gibson by the Terada factory in Japan.

 

[Br1ck]

No doubt the high end Yamahas like the FG9 are, as guitars, worthy of consideration, as are the Touchstone guitars coming from Eastman, and Northfield is a small shop builder of mandolins that has fought long and hard for their place in the American marketplace. Ask yourself, without the gravitas of Bourgeois, would they stand a chance in the US? How are they doing. My guess it is a ten year project fraught with landmines of a political nature and China's economic trouble.

Yamaha was wise to buy Guild, as they can shape Guild policy to build guitars they will find easier to sell and build in Oxnard. They are a good company and will not tinker drastically, or at least obviously. I mean, we don't really know what input they had on the new models.

Brands matter.