Oxnard production numbers

[Aahzz]

I tried to search, but if it's been posted I didn't use the right search terms...anyone have any idea how many guitars Oxnard produces per year? I'm imagining it's a much smaller number than Martin or Taylor are turning out...just kinda curious where they stack up in terms of shop size.

 

[SFIV1967]

We just discussed that very topic on Friday:

Can anyone help with my new guitar

I think so, Jim. But I'm not sure. @SFIV1967 has there been any definitive statement about the Oxnard serial numbers decoding?

letstalkguild.com

Ralf

 

[Aahzz]

We just discussed that very topic on Friday:

Can anyone help with my new guitar

I think so, Jim. But I'm not sure. @SFIV1967 has there been any definitive statement about the Oxnard serial numbers decoding?

letstalkguild.com

Ralf

Thanks for that! Looking at that thread, it'd seem around 2,000 per year - so approximately 10% of Martin's output, and double Collings.

 

[fronobulax]

Slight veer but Guild production numbers never approached Martin's. I'm going from memory although I posted much of this on LTG so a motivated and lucky search could find it.

Just looking at serial numbers I think is safe to say that Guild never had a year where they made more than 30,000 instruments and that includes electric instruments and basses. New Hartford had a goal of 5,000 per year that they never achieved and remember that New Hartford produced other brands besides Guild. I think New Hartford 2013 production was 2500 Guilds plus or minus 500. Comparable Martin production was in six figures, i.e. 100,000 or more.

All of this is made in the USA production. I do not recall ever seeing any data about the contracted production at the non-US factories.

 

[Aahzz]

Slight veer but Guild production numbers never approached Martin's. I'm going from memory although I posted much of this on LTG so a motivated and lucky search could find it.

Just looking at serial numbers I think is safe to say that Guild never had a year where they made more than 30,000 instruments and that includes electric instruments and basses. New Hartford had a goal of 5,000 per year that they never achieved and remember that New Hartford produced other brands besides Guild. I think New Hartford 2013 production was 2500 Guilds plus or minus 500. Comparable Martin production was in six figures, i.e. 100,000 or more.

All of this is made in the USA production. I do not recall ever seeing any data about the contracted production at the non-US factories.

I didn't figure Guild's numbers ever approached Martin's. I was more wondering where their numbers would land vs the "boutique" manufacturers.

 

[fronobulax]

I didn't figure Guild's numbers ever approached Martin's. I was more wondering where their numbers would land vs the "boutique" manufacturers.

The general conclusion I recall was slightly more than most "boutique" makers but not enough more that there would be a big argument if someone claimed the 21st Century Guild had more in common with a boutique maker than with Martin or Taylor in terms of production numbers.

Over the past decade there have been numerous professional associations that wanted to speak for the craft beer industry. They needed some kind of membership criteria. Most of those centered around ownership and/or production volume. But that allowable production volume rose over the years as some breweries got successful at distribution more than 100 miles away. And when some breweries stayed true to their origins after being purchased by a large conglomerate, ownership criteria became more nuanced than just "owned by the founding brewer". So several breweries that are iconic in craft beer would not qualify if today's operations were compared to definitions from a decade ago.

All this is to say a boutique guitar brand could be defined in such a way that Guild, today, is one. If your definition included availability of special features, customization or "have it your way" made to order then Guild almost certainly would not qualify, but this discussion would be about the definition.

 

[Aahzz]

All this is to say a boutique guitar brand could be defined in such a way that Guild, today, is one. If your definition included availability of special features, customization or "have it your way" made to order then Guild almost certainly would not qualify, but this discussion would be about the definition.

If you defined it solely by that, Martin would qualify - which would be silly and why no one would define it that way.

I consider current Guild to be at the very least borderline boutique, and ridiculously well priced for that. If you look at my other thread, I wouldn't trade my D-40E for any of the "higher end" guitars I played yesterday.

 

[fronobulax]

If you defined it solely by that, Martin would qualify - which would be silly and why no one would define it that way.

If your definition included availability of special features

I could have been clearer. You can get a lot of customization from Fender too

I was trying to say that if the definition included both volume and customization then Guild would not qualify but if it was only volume then Guild might. But it mostly only matters when we disagree with or don't understand Guild's marketing strategy

 

[West R Lee]

Thanks for that! Looking at that thread, it'd seem around 2,000 per year - so approximately 10% of Martin's output, and double Collings.

Actually, as a Collings fan and owner, I spend almost as much time studying Collings as I did Guild. But having read a great deal on Collings and Collings production, the last I've read and watched, in a full work week, excluding short weeks due to holidays, Collings shoots for 35 guitars a week, or 7 a day, and with shortened weeks due to holidays, I'd say Collings production is closer to around 1500/year, possibly as high as 1700.

Incidentally, that is also verified by the fact that one man, Bruce van Wart, would go in each Saturday and select 35 tops, and match them to various top/side woods, and had done so for 29 years, and that became the workload for the following week for the shop. Just something I thought was an interesting side note. Bruce retired last year and I consider myself to be very fortunate to have had a custom order filled by Bruce. I think Bruce's "apprentice" was a man named Steve Nall, who is also supposed to be pretty talented at woods selection. Steve now selects woods.

In a couple of interviews Bill Collings stated that it takes Collings an average of 60-70 man hours to complete a guitar. In contrast, it takes Martin 12-14 man hours. Bill openly stated that it might not be the best business model, with a smile, but that it was the only way he would build one.

West