The Electrics Tirade

[chazmo]

depressed/glut state of the used market causing an unfavorable re-introduction of electrics.

Somebody show me a glut of single coil Guilds.

The economy isn't hampering the introduction of new Gretsch guitars.

I'm sympatico, but the new Gretsches are all produced in Asia, aren't they? I'm a bit relieved that FMIC hasn't turned the Guild archtop line in the Ibanez Artcore line, or turned it into Epiphone. Like it or not, a '59 Chet Atkins is going to go for what - upwards of $10k at least. A nice Franz-era jazzer is less than half that most of the time, and the Hoboken and Corona archtops are more accessible than that. The demand implied by the nameplate is that Guild is the less desirable brand. Present company excluded, of course.

The situation sucks - I would love to have a p90 X500, one of the 1990s/early 2000s models - or at least access to a market for one. It looks like the FMIC folks are sitting on the Guild brand until better times. Guild is, after all, their ace card if and when they decide they want to directly competing with Gibson in the market for full hollowbody / archtop American-made guitars. Stupid for them to not be laying the groundwork for that kind of direct competition right now? I'd say yes, but I'm not in the guitar business, so I should probably shut up.

NorthBayJ,

I think you have it right on the nose about where Guild wants to go!!! Is Fender on board with that?? Dunno.

This crowd at LTG is extremely skeptical of Fender. We haven't seen a new Guild electric in, what, 6 - 7 years since Corona production ceased?? Charlie Vegas has every right to be incensed that three years after that first post it's still crickets!!! However, Fender knows there's at least a marketing opportunity here, and they do not want to squander it (my guess, that is).

I don't honestly know how strong Fender's appetite is to build more Guild electrics, but I *know* the guys in New Hartford would love to be given the task. Stay tuned.

 

[GAD]

Comparing Gretsch to Epiphone is not accurate.

I have a Gretsch Setzer SSLVO. I also have a Guild X170T.

They are both fabulous instruments. The Gretsch cost me around $2000. The Guild cost me about $1600. Both, of course, used. The guild is heavier, and the pickups are not my favorite, but it's a beautiful guitar in every way.

The Gretsch is more of a vintage reissue, so it's got things I'm not crazy about like a 9.5" radius fretboard etc.

I've owned Epiphones, and the Gretsch is no Epiphone. The Gretsch is made in Japan - not Korea or China, and it is a custom-shop level instrument.

All that said, I'd rather buy a US-made guitar given the choice, and I'd love to see Guild come back with electrics. My point is that comparisons to modern Gretsch guitars and Epiphone are inaccurate. The 51xx Gretsches - maybe, but not the 6100 stuff.

 

[Charlie Vegas]

The Gretsch is more of a vintage reissue, so it's got things I'm not crazy about like a 9.5" radius fretboard etc.

The 9.5 has nothing to do with vintage. It's what Setzer wanted.

 

[magicpauley73]

Comparing Gretsch to Epiphone is not accurate.

Sorry if i confused you , i was comparing the korean line of dearmonds to the similar epiphones built in korea and china etc , not gretsches , like you say the 51** range is of similar price range .
what i was sort of getting at also was the range of dearmonds in late 90's , , i reckon were better quality as far as hardware ( pickups , bridge etc ) than the cheap gretsch that in way has replaced them .
As far as the topline japanese built , they are much better now than they have been in the past .
anyway i wonder what would happen if Guild were made in japan using usa hardware , i reckon they would sell just as well .if they had a tie in with a famous named user / endorsee!

 

[yettoblaster]

...It looks like the FMIC folks are sitting on the Guild brand until better times. Guild is, after all, their ace card if and when they decide they want to directly competing with Gibson in the market for full hollowbody / archtop American-made guitars...

I think think is accurate.

Alfred Drone's Guild company was chasing the market in the '50's, which was archtops. And he used Italian luthiers from the Epiphione factory who stayed behind after Gibson took Epiphone to Kalamazoo.

His son pushed for the expansion into flat-tops and solidbodies (if I'm remembering my Guild Book correctly, which is in the other room but I'm too lazy to go get it).

All that to say that was their vision.

Gretsch vision was with the founders, and Fred Gretsch III is still at the helm. The FMIC Gretsch rep is Joe Carducci and they tarvel all around with promotions. They have the vision.

When (if) FMIC expands Guild back into competition with Gibson (and anybody else) over archtops and maybe some other models they'll need similiar "vision" guys.

I don't know. Maybe they're already grooming some person(s) or a team with that in mind. I'd love to see it.

But I suspect they're taking a wait and see attitude about Guild, the economy, and FMIC's health FIRST.

 

[hansmoust]

I think think is accurate.

Alfred Drone's Guild company was chasing the market in the '50's, which was archtops. And he used Italian luthiers from the Epiphione factory who stayed behind after Gibson took Epiphone to Kalamazoo.

Hello yettoblaster,

Not exactly. Alfred Dronge recruted some Epiphone craftsman after the Epiphone company was moved from New York to Philadelphia and started Guild. It was about 5 years later that Gibson bought the rights to the Epiphone name and started producing Epiphone brand guitars in Kalamazoo.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[yettoblaster]

I think think is accurate.

Alfred Drone's Guild company was chasing the market in the '50's, which was archtops. And he used Italian luthiers from the Epiphione factory who stayed behind after Gibson took Epiphone to Kalamazoo.

Hello yettoblaster,

Not exactly. Alfred Dronge recruted some Epiphone craftsman after the Epiphone company was moved from New York to Philadelphia and started Guild. It was about 5 years later that Gibson bought the rights to the Epiphone name and started producing Epiphone brand guitars in Kalamazoo.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

Yeah well if you want the unabridged version...

:mrgreen:

 

[adorshki]

Yeah well if you want the unabridged version...
:mrgreen:

Hans' first correction does tend to raise a little flush, doesn't it?
It doesn't get any easier, either. I oughta know.
But hey, at least I can honestly say I left mine at home!

 

[funkcity]

Who is the Guild Brand Manager?

Who is the Guild Brand Manager?
This must be a human of some sort?
Is this a person I might be able to talk to at Winter NAMM 2011? (January 13 to 16 in Anaheim California)

I believe they can build some very unique non-Gretsch and non-Gibson type models.
X series, Artist series, and Custom Series
The way automation works today, a high quality instrument can be built and finished in a very cost-efficient manner.

Put a few of these beautiful guitars in the hands of some major players and you get "exposure"!

 

[fronobulax]

Re: Who is the Guild Brand Manager?

Who is the Guild Brand Manager?

Dave Gonzalez might be a place to start.

 

[Charlie Vegas]

Re: Who is the Guild Brand Manager?

Who is the Guild Brand Manager?
This must be a human of some sort?
Is this a person I might be able to talk to at Winter NAMM 2011? (January 13 to 16 in Anaheim California)

I'm not sure who is the current Guild Marketing Manager, but here is what I was able to patch together with a few years missing.

I updated the time-line based upon recent info.

Bill Acton: 1995 - 2002
Donnie Wade: 2003 - 2007 (dwade@fender.com)
Paul Meisenzahl: 2008 - today(?) (pmeisenzahl@fender.com)

Mike Lewis may also have had some involvement around 1997.

 

[Charlie Vegas]

Looks like as of 2008 Paul Meisenzahl beacme the Guild Director of Acoustic Guitar Marketing and Donnie Wade moved to design.

 

[Thunderface]

Excellent signature, Charlie. :lol:

 

[Guest]

A couple of months ago I emailed Guild and asked if it would kill them to make some archtops. They replied the next day saying that my message would be passed along to the marketing department. I suspect that nobody read that email again. I'm glad I have a decent Guild archtop, 'cause it really looks like there won't be any more very soon.

I've thought about trying to build Franz style pickups. My work is kinda slow right now. Hmmm....