Tell Me what you really think of the New GAD'S !

[Gasman]

reply

You have to admt this is one swell looking Hog!
Gasman
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/ ... /Gad25.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/ ... ad25-2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/ ... ad25-3.jpg

 

[sshan25]

Here we go again...

I am still laughing at this line...." I wouldn't give a fig for 90% of the Martins I've played - mostly because they aren't what I'm looking for, but also because I find them overpriced and overhyped." Well, I guess someone ought to tell the thousands of famous Martin players to dump their junk before someone notices their tone stinks. If anybody wants to sell me a pre 70's Brazilian Martin I'm offering decent money before everyone figures out what dogs they are....Look, this is all about opinions & you are all entitled to yours, but I sense a bit of overkill here. The GADs are EXCELLENT values for the money. I've said this before, but I've owned several Westerly Guilds, Taylors, Santa Cruz's, Martins, Lowdens. Laravees, a Tacoma DR-38 & others I can't remember. Is the GAD as good as any of them? Not sure. Maybe not, but it ain't no slouch. Bottom line is that I really like the tone of this guitar. It's different from the others, of course, but I can't honestly say "better" or "worse". On one day I might like a Taylor on another a Collings and on another a J-45. I will state one opinion: As far as I'm concerned these are the best sounding $500 acoustic guitars on the market. Guild can be proud to have it's name on them. I don't see how that has any effect on any USA made Guild out there, but I do sens a bit of paranoia creeping in on some of these posts. "OMG, if Guild builds really good imported guitars, my 74 D-55 might be devalued or efven worse, offended"...C'mon guys, just let your ears, not your emotions form your opinions.

 

[Benee Wafers]

Thank you Shan! Another well informed Gadster.
Benee

 

[dreadnut]

Gee whiz, lighten up, sshan - he said 90% of the Martins he's played, not 100%! We are in fact entitled to our opinions. I happen to like Martins, but not Taylors or Gibsons. Seriously if you read his whole post, he's saying the same thing as you, the GAD is good guitar for the money, etc.

But you're missing the point here - it's not about the nice inexpensive guitar they're manufacturing in China, its about the traditionally American-made name they put on it.

And trust me, no one is worried about the GADs causing our East Coast built Guilds to be de-valued - if anything, I would think they would have the opposite effect. The ones with the oval stickers inside will always be more desireable for a variety of reasons.

 

[sshan25]

Then change the logo

If that's the problem, then do it. I couldn't care less what a guitar says on the headstock. I play Fenders and Corts, McInturffs and Samicks, PRS's and Epiphones. I judge them on how they play & sound and not what's writtten near the tuning machines. I do sense a certain unwillingness, though, from some posters to give the GADs any respect at all. Too bad, but to each, his own

 

[dklsplace]

I judge them on how they play & sound and not what's writtten near the tuning machines.

I believe that was exactly the gist of the DBS post you quoted earlier, & I thought it was pretty clear that he was giving his opinion based on what he (as a player) looked for in a guitar.

Again...I don't believe there has been a single negative word written here about the quality of the GAD's as they stand on their own. The word "Excellent" has been used a number of times.

When it comes right down to it, I would go for a GAD Guild over most of the other "popular" manufacturers in that price range. However, I think I would probably choose a less expensive Art & Lutherie before getting up into that $500-$1000.

Of course that's all contingent upon there being some sort of alien invasion that was bent on destroying all of the Hoboken & Westerly era Guilds. :?

 

[Jeff]

Mr Smith,


For a guy not wanting to comment on the issue your eloquent rant certainly delivered the messaage.

Spiritual, almost divine. Kind of made me want to pass the hat while the issue was fresh.

Perhaps it should be posted somewhere as required reading for new members.

 

[dreadnut]

yeah, DKL, I've always said they're a nicely made guitar for the price range, especially considering a like-priced Martin will have woodgrain that's "photographically reproduced"...

I think Martin's gone completely wacko with their pricing :shock:

 

[William63]

I'm dying to try a GAD JF48, solid spruce top mahogany b/s jumbo model. I think the price is pretty good but I am learly buying one without playing it

One of the things I hate about the GAD are those awful pickguards!! Yuck!! If I ever get a GAD JF48 I will put on a regular Guild pickguard.

 

[Guest]

I am new to this forum, just found it a few days ago and have spent a good bit of time reading through the posts. Lots of good information here. I don't have anything to add to the "should the Guild name be on the GAD's" idea that hasn't already been said. But I can add my two cents to the opinions of the GAD series. Like most of the posts here I think they are a good product.
I bought a GAD40C over a year ago and I feel that I have a good guitar, no problems with the craftsmanship, and after a lot of playing it seems to sound better all the time. I did a good bit of looking around and read a lot of reviews before I bought it, and my experience with it matched the info I had gleaned from others who had this model. I was so pleased with it that I just bought a GAD30 sunburst. I have only had it a few hours, but I like it so much that I am keeping it unless something unusual happens in the next few days. Once again,like my GAD40, I am pleased with the workmanship. I found a minor finish drip around the soundhole, and a few frets could have had the ends finished a bit better, but other than that I haven't any complaints.
I do have to agree with the one who mentioned the pickguards though. My GAD40 had a clear plastic film as a pickguard, I replaced it with a real pickguard for a few bucks, but it should have had a real one on it from the start. The GAD30 has a pickguard, although I do not care much for the shape of it and may replace it also.
As far as whether they should carry the Guild name or not... I can't answer that, but (and this may be convoluted reasoning), with the GAD series it is possible for me to buy a guitar with the Guild name on it, and support the company with my business, so that when I can afford to buy an American made Guild the company will still be here for me.

 

[kydave]

Chinese have done a splendid job of building student level guitars, entry-level instruments

Funny, I'm a Martin man & other than their 12 strings have never had a particular interest in Guilds. However, I love rosewood & had to try a GAD30R that I saw in a shop. It floored me! If it didn't have a wider nut than I liked I would have bought it on the spot.

There is nothing entry level about that guitar & it sounded better than any of the Guilds I've played over the past 45 years (I've played a lot & have had a few friends/musical partners with Guilds).

Granted, not all of them sound that good, but the difference between the GADs & USA Guilds is nothing like the gap in, say, Gibsons & Epis or Martins & Sigma.

This is from an Guild outsider with no bias, just basing it on ear & eye.

Thanks,
Dave

BTW, I DO take issue with the terrible idea of placing a strap button on the side of the guitar. Who's idiotic idea at Guild was that?

 

[SugarMountain]

i agree with the strap buttons dave, ive never wanted one on a guitar
the neck always falls down anyways

and how can you do those Johnny Cash impressions eh??

ive played a couple GADs i thought were pretty good, look ugly mind...perhaps that just the pickgaurd, although i do think perhaps they should bear another name..

Im sure you'd be pissed if Squier used Fender on the headstock and you'd paid god knows how much for an american strat ya know??


i have no beef with them though, i wouldnt buy one because generally i dont like new guitars, smelling all fresh from the factory...old guitars have stories inside them and they are inspiring to play, 90% of what i look for in a guitar is soul

thats the reason i wouldnt buy a brand new chinese made straight from the factory GAD, but they are nice sounding guitars

 

[george kraushaar]

GAD

I had a GAD-30R for about 9 months and it was basically a very fine guitar, except for the teeny pickguard and the squarish shape of the neck. But the quality was really there; better than the comparable Blueridge BR-183 which I also had during that time. Some folks actually thought it sounded better than my 77 D-55.

I would rather have a GAD made in China than one of those M/T series Martins made in America.

 

[Siwash]

I agree with George above. I have a GAD50 I bought over a BR 160. Better bang for the buck.

The GAD fits where I'm at musically. . . I'm a developing player and this is a step up for me. I also can't commit $1000 to a guitar, at least at this point in time.

I'm not so sure that Guild is making a tactical mistake with the GAD line. It presents the company to a LARGE number of players (we of modest skill, beginner types) who will then have the notion that a company called "Guild" exists. When it's time to step up to a serious instrument, it's logical to look to Guild. . . and the American-built series, which, despite all fears, has received some pretty wide praise for build quality.

I like my GAD50. Would I buy it again? Probably. I took a lot of time picking a guitar, and this is the best my price point could achieve. Or else I could have waited another year or so for the coin needed to go with a D-50. Or, heck, I could have gone with Blueridge.

 

[Graham]

I guess we will never get consensus on this, but I'm with you Si. The GAD brought me to Guild, end of story.

 

[J45dale]

To me,(IMHO) The Guild Asian Division guitars, are simply a marketing tool, designed to offer good quality, at a good mid-level price and thus build name reconitization for Guild. They use Fender as their cheepie acoustic. Hopefully the Gad owner will someday step themselves up to a high-end U.S. made, pro-grade Guild, instead of a Taylor, Gibson or Martin.
Note all price levels of Taylor say Taylor, Baby Vs. 914. Note the cowboy and backpacker say Martin as well as does the D45. No more Sigma, wonder why?
But Gibson does start you off on your musical journey with it's Epiphone line-up, and hopes you will someday want a Bozeman built Gibson.
These are 2 different schools of thought, in how to sell guitars. Fender wants to be in this group of high end quality, production unit competition, with it's Tacoma built Guild line. Both schools of thought reconize that all price bases must be covered. Fender choose the new Martin plan over the Gibson plan, in order to climb into this " big four" group.
GAD Guilds=good....Guilds= best.

 

[SugarMountain]

I think it would be a great idea for fender to bring back the D25 or 35
exactly the same as before

 

[Graham]

I wonder why they ended the 25 at all? I think it's a great guitar and certainly if you're going to make the jump to a "real" Guild there should be something before the D-40. It's not cheap. And they have a GAD-25.

 

[Jeff]

I wonder why they ended the 25 at all?

Likely train of corporate logic here would be their Tacoma line. Tacoma guitars are pretty nice & surely one of those models approximates the D 25 price wise, features & sound.

 

[Graham]

Could be I guess, but there ya' go. I wouldn't consider a Tacoma guitar, never really heard of them. But the GAD says Guild on the headstock so that's what I would go after, and did.