Ren Ferguson at NAMM

[Neal]

I like the last thing Ren said, about guitars being too important not to get it right, because after all, they make music!

And what I think is really driving him is a passion to make the best sounding Guild guitars at a given price point. Simple as that.

Neal

 

[JohnW63]

I have high hopes. I like the enthusiasm they all seem to have. I just don't want all the hard work to become what others would call a copy of another brand. " Sounds just like a... " is not what I would prefer as the final outcome.

Of course, is the Guild tone a reason why Guilds don't sell as well as Martins, Taylors, or ... ? Maybe us old school Guild fans should just step back and let them build something that SELLS like crazy and stop worrying about it ?

 

[bobouz]

First time poster here. The recent purchase of a blonde 2014 A-150 Savoy has brought me back to Guild, and I discovered this site when first researching the instrument.

In the '70s & early '80s I owned an F20, F30, D40, and F40. I can't say that there was an overall Guild signature sound that grabbed me. Each guitar was quite different, but they were very playable and rather punchy, which worked well with my fingerpicking style.

My last Guild, the F40, was eventually traded away for a 1970 00-18 Martin. I drifted more towards Martins, and then heavily towards '60s Gibsons. It seemed like every Guild I played in the ensuing Gruhn years struck me as rather dark & muddy. Then the Fender years with Corona, Tacoma, and New Hartford, while good faith efforts to revive the brand, sent Guild again in varying directions.

From my armchair perspective as a devout owner of Gibson acoustics and electrics, and given all of Guild's fits & starts, Ren seemingly has a blank slate to create a new Guild era that hopefully establishes a unique identity.

The man is incredibly talented, so it'll be fun to see where he takes Guild.

 

[bobouz]

(Although I don't like the Truss Rod Cover or Pickguard on the Newark Street series. I would prefer the "Headstock shaped" TRC and the Stairstep Pickguard to historically go with the "raised center" Headstock.

I like that TRC when it's flipped in the other direction!

 

[Watasha]

...Of course, is the Guild tone a reason why Guilds don't sell as well as Martins, Taylors, or ... ? Maybe us old school Guild fans should just step back and let them build something that SELLS like crazy and stop worrying about it ?

I think the fact that Guild doesn't do the volume of guitars that Martin, Taylor & Gibson is more a product of bad/nonexistant marketing & product placement. IIRC they were moving almost all of the guitars they made in NH, I know I personally had to wait a month or so on my D55 & would have had to wait 3 months or more on a sunburst. If Fender had tried at all to make Guild a major player again instead of trying to force feed the buying public with horrible Fender branded acoustics we wouldn't even be having this discussion IMO. That said, it looks as if Cordoba realizes the diamond in the rough that is Guild & I think that will translate well for both them & us. I hope that whatever they do with the new guitars, they don't stray too far. I as a NH D55 owner want to be familiar & at home with a Cordoba D55 when I pick it up.

 

[Westerly Wood]

I think the fact that Guild doesn't do the volume of guitars that Martin, Taylor & Gibson is more a product of bad/nonexistant marketing & product placement. IIRC they were moving almost all of the guitars they made in NH, I know I personally had to wait a month or so on my D55 & would have had to wait 3 months or more on a sunburst. If Fender had tried at all to make Guild a major player again instead of trying to force feed the buying public with horrible Fender branded acoustics we wouldn't even be having this discussion IMO. That said, it looks as if Cordoba realizes the diamond in the rough that is Guild & I think that will translate well for both them & us. I hope that whatever they do with the new guitars, they don't stray too far. I as a NH D55 owner want to be familiar & at home with a Cordoba D55 when I pick it up.

+1 to this perspective. Well said!

 

[NYWolf]

I have high hopes. I like the enthusiasm they all seem to have. I just don't want all the hard work to become what others would call a copy of another brand. " Sounds just like a... " is not what I would prefer as the final outcome.

Of course, is the Guild tone a reason why Guilds don't sell as well as Martins, Taylors, or ... ? Maybe us old school Guild fans should just step back and let them build something that SELLS like crazy and stop worrying about it ?

The Guild tone for me is (speaking of electric archtop, I don't play flatops acoustics) their very special humbucker pickups. They do have their own voice. Ted Greene and many others commented on the certain clarity when playing chords that electric Guilds have that Gibsons don't. I love that! Just like I love Filtetrons on Gretsches, that make them sound unique. That what I'm looking forward to in new Guilds.

And there is another thing that seemed very characteristic, on vintage Guilds, and on NS re-issues, it's the narrow necks. I just can't find them on majority of other archtops, and I strongly prefer them. I think they stopped making them with Fender, and it's a shame. If new Guild will come around and return to the original tradition- man, I'm so in!

 

[Mark WW]

NYWolf - The only thing that has keeps me away from buying a Guild electric is the narrow neck. I would pony up in a minute for a SFV if it had a chunkier wider profile but to each their own. Just glad to see the activity from Cordoba.

 

[NYWolf]

NYWolf - The only thing that has keeps me away from buying a Guild electric is the narrow neck. I would pony up in a minute for a SFV if it had a chunkier wider profile but to each their own. Just glad to see the activity from Cordoba.

Hi Mark, you're absolutely right, to each their own. The only problem (for me) is most of the archtops out there today do have wider necks. It seems more people prefer them. You have a choice if that's your strong preference. I, on the other hand, feel discriminated :chuncky: But yeah, can't wait to see what Cordoba will come up with.

 

[AcornHouse]

Here's a different interview he did with Acoustic Guitar mag.
http://www.acousticguitar.com/Gear/Reviews/Plans-for-Guild-Revealed-at-NAMM-2015

I like his line: "it's taking a lot longer than we expected. Now I know why I left California in the first place." (italics mine) I guess the Cali regs are delaying things.

 

[JohnW63]

Of COURSE the regs are and always WILL delay things, here in California. One of the worst business climates in the country. I'm waiting for Gov Jerry Brown to say all new buildings need a folk circle of Kum-by-ya played in them to bless the portion of mother earth they are hurting when they dig holes for foundations.

 

[jcwu]

all new buildings need a folk circle of Kum-by-ya played in them to bless the portion of mother earth they are hurting when they dig holes for foundations.

Say, that's not such a bad idea... and with the historically low voter turnout, it's easier than ever this year to get a proposition on the ballot!

Thanks for the idea!!!

 

[adorshki]

One of the worst business climates in the country.

Haven't we been over this before?
Yeah, the business climate's so bad we're one of the top 10 economies in the world all by ourselves.
Retook our #8 spot in 2014, in fact.
And that's not even counting the underground economy.
We'd be in real trouble if we let everybody who wants a piece of us have a piece of us without puttin' some restraints in place.
There's only so much natural resources to go around.
We s'posed to just give 'em away for free, let just anybody come along and plunder 'em in their own self interests?
Supply and demand: There's a whole lot more people who want to do business here than we can accommodate.
H-ll yes I agree with settin' the bar high, weedin' out the riffraff and charging what the market will bear in taxes and regulations.
Doesn't seem to be holdin' back Taylor or Larrivee (who moved IN here) or Cordoba either, before now.
Do YOU want to go back to the air pollution levels of the late '60's/early '70's, just to name one resource that needs conserving?
Rhetorical question.
Now that we don't have Fender to bash on anymore I guess it has to be somebody.
Doesn't mean we can't all still be friends though.
Rant over.

 

[Westerly Wood]

I think Oxnard is a great locale for Guild.

 

[jcwu]

Can't we go back to bashing Martin and Gibson? And Taylor too?

 

[adorshki]

I think Oxnard is a great locale for Guild.

Yeah I can't decide if it's only at least as good as or even better'n Rhode Island.
:wink:

Can't we go back to bashing Martin and Gibson? And Taylor too?

It just seems so unsportsmanlike to pick on guys who are so much bigger than we are.
:biggrin-new:

 

[Westerly Wood]

Yeah I can't decide if it's only at least as good as or even better'n Rhode Island.
:wink:

If I hadn't grown up in Newport, I would say the locations are equal. Still got to lean towards Westerly, but I really like Ventura county, so...toss up.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Can't we go back to bashing Martin and Gibson? And Taylor too?

Hehehehe. I never bash Martin or Gibby, though I think Martin has grown grotesque and Gibby's sound lame tone wise. To my ears. Taylors, great neck, but what good is that if the tone is so unprofound?

 

[adorshki]

If I hadn't grown up in Newport, I would say the locations are equal. Still got to lean towards Westerly, but I really like Ventura county, so...toss up.

Well if it's a scale tipper, I don't think it ever snows in Ventura.
nthego:

 

[Westerly Wood]

Well if it's a scale tipper, I don't think it ever snows in Ventura.
nthego:

count me in. Sold.