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these models were designated with a 'GAD' as a model prefix. These guitars featured poly finishes (as opposed to traditional nitrocellulose lacquer on US models) and nondescript wood grading. FMIC did not choose to create this line under a different brand name, but left it as a new series of guitars from Guild. This choice caused confusion for buyers, as it marked the first time that an import had actually donned the Guild brand name, which had previously only been used to describe US-made guitars. Because of this, it was no longer immediately clear if a Guild-branded guitar is a US-made model or an import, although the GAD models usually had unique ornamentation.
288:
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production versions, the truss rod cover is stenciled with the word 'Guild' stylized and the DeArmond reissue model number, and the back of the headstock is stenciled with 'DeArmond by Guild' above the guitar's serial number. Later production versions drop all references to the Guild brand name except for a modified
Chesterfield headstock inlay on most models. The DeArmond line also included other less expensive models similar in design to the Guild reissues and manufactured in Indonesia. The DeArmond brand was discontinued in the early 2000s.
480:, where hand production of all US-made Guilds resumed in a manner consistent with other high-end, boutique guitar builders. The New Hartford Guild facility began production in early 2009, starting with the top-end D-55 and F-50 models. Production quickly ramped up to include most of the popular Traditional Series acoustic guitar models. Acoustic-Electric versions of these models were also made available. Starting with 2012 models, all US-built Guild Traditional Series guitars were available in right- and left-handed configurations.
296:
499:
Retreat". These models featured unique takes on classic Guild
Traditional Series models. GSR models include the F-20 (figured Cocbolo), F-30R (master-grade Rosewood), F-40 (figured Cocobolo), F-50 (figured Koa), and D-50 (figured Cocobolo), and Guild's only electric guitar to be produced since 2003, the GSR Starfire VI (only 20 produced). Each of these instruments features unique designs, wood selection, ornamentation, and has extremely limited production numbers.
25:
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322:, New York, where Dronge (who soon took over full ownership) focused on electric and acoustic archtop jazz guitars. Much of the initial workforce consisted of former Epiphone workers who lost their jobs following their 1951 strike and the subsequent relocation of the company from Queens to Philadelphia. Rapid expansion forced the company to move to much larger quarters, on Newark St. in
488:
affordable. Standard Series models included the F-30, F-30R, F-50, D-40, D-50, and the return of the F-212XL 12-string model. All
Standard Series models featured red spruce bracing, satin mahogany necks, and bone saddles, nuts, and bridge pins, but have nondescript grade wood and different ornamentation than their Traditional Series counterparts.
458:. To ease the Corona facility (which had only made electric guitars up to this point) into making archtop and acoustic guitars, the Westerly factory artisans and workers prepared guitar 'kits' that they shipped to Corona. These kits were near-complete production guitars that only needed finishing and final assembly before being sent to retailers.
538:
While not a discrete brand, in the early 2000s, FMIC created a new line of Guild acoustic guitars called the GAD-series, which stood for "Guild
Acoustic Design." As with the other import lines, these guitars were based on past and present Guild acoustic guitar designs, but were built in China. All of
404:
Guild also successfully manufactured the first dreadnought acoustic guitar with a "cut-away" in its lower shoulder to allow better access to the upper frets, the D40-C. In 1972, under Guild's new president Leon Tell, noteworthy guitarist/designer
Richard "Rick" Excellente came up with the design. It
507:
In the late spring/early summer of 2014, Fender's New
Hartford Guild facility closed its doors as FMIC prepared to sell off the Guild brand. Cordoba Music Group (CMG), based in Santa Monica, California, stepped in and purchased the Guild brand rights and began setting up a new manufacturing facility
483:
In 2011, Traditional Series models' were improved by means of a new DTAR pickup system (DTAR-MS, for 'multi-source'), which allows blending between an internal microphone element and an under-saddle transducer. Previous DTAR configurations only included an under-saddle transducer. Also, hard shell
542:
The 2011 GAD models brought new features, looks, and model numbers. These new GAD-series Guild guitars could be identified with a number 1 as the first number in the model number. For example, a US-built F-50R's GAD-level version would be called an F-150R. Similarly, a US-built F-512 would be an
498:
The New
Hartford facility had also created a new line of specialty, limited edition guitars, referred to as the GSR Series. The GSR designation stands for "Guild Special Run." This series was first revealed to Guild dealers at Guild's dealer-only factory tour in mid-2009 called the "Guild Summit
487:
In late 2010, Guild released its
Standard Series acoustic guitars, which were US-built guitars (still manufactured in the New Hartford, Connecticut facility) that were based on models from their top-end Traditional Series. Differences in ornamentation and instrument finish options made them more
352:
During the 1960s, Guild moved aggressively into the electric guitar market, successfully promoting the
Starfire line of semi-acoustic (Starfire I, II and III) and semi-solid (Starfire IV, V and VI) guitars and basses. A number of early West-Coast psychedelic bands used these instruments, notably
408:
The decline of the folk and acoustic market in the later 1970s and early 1980s put severe economic pressure on the company. While instrument specialists generally concede that quality suffered at other
American competitors, Guild models from the 1970s and 1980s are considered still made to the
546:
With Cordoba taking over as owners of the Guild brand, as of May, 2015, the GAD line-up was discontinued, but two newly formed lines, Westerly Collection (acoustics) and Newark Street (electrics) were revealed, which also aimed to pay homage Guild's production history that took place at those
534:
brand name, which Fender also owned the rights to. Import reissue models included the Starfire, X155, T400, M-75 Bluesbird, S-73, and Pilot Bass series. On the front of the headstock, these instruments display the DeArmond logo above a modified version of Guild's Chesterfield logo. On early
326:, in the old R. Neumann Leathers building. The advent of the folk music craze in the early 1960s had shifted the company into production of an important line of acoustic folk and blues guitars, including a dreadnought series (D-40, D-50 and, later, D-55) that competed successfully with
522:
Similarly to Madeira, Burnside Electric Guitars were Guild electric guitar designs (typically of super-Strat delineation) manufactured outside the United States. The headstocks on these guitars read "Burnside by Guild." Both brands were discontinued in the early 1990s.
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locations (with the Newark Street address alluding to a link with the Hoboken factory). The Westerly Collection line-up includes a variety of guitars made with solid wood tops/laminate sides and body; and, solid wood tops/solid wood sides and solid wood backs.
508:
in Oxnard, California, led by Gibson alum Ren Ferguson as the VP of Manufacturing and R&D. Cordoba started production in late 2015, releasing its first models (M-20 and D-20) in early 2016. Higher-end models like the D-55 were released in late 2017.
453:
in 1995. In late 2001, Fender decided to shut down the Westerly, RI factory (citing difficulty in climate control and factory production workflow as primary motives) and moved all Guild production to its factory in
484:
case material was upgraded to a high-end, faux alligator skin material with crushed velvet interior padding, closely resembling the Custom Shop guitar cases that Guild had used when its Custom Shop was open.
345:, in 1966. As the folk scene quieted, a new generation of folk-rockers took Guild guitars on stage. The most notable Guild performance of that era was on the D-40 that Richie Havens played when he opened
381:
started their transition from sound and recording work to instrument building by modifying Lesh & Casady's Starfire basses. The rare S-200 Thunderbird solid body electric was used by
893:. The photograph of Benson accompanying an interview with him in the Guitar Player Book, published in the 1970s, shows him holding a Guild Artist Award with its strings removed.
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In the early 1970s, Guild began to form import brands for acoustic and electric guitars made in Asia. There was a total of three import brands: Madeira, Burnside, and DeArmond.
441:
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Madeira Acoustic and Electric Guitars were import guitars based on existing Guild designs. They are characterized by their unique pickguard shape and differing headstock.
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Guitar Company. The brand name currently exists as a brand under Córdoba Music Group. In February 2023, The Yamaha Guitar Group acquired Cordoba Music Group.
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and a DTAR 18V under-saddle pickup system. These models can be identified by the 'CE' suffix at the end of the guitar's model number.
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in the neck to produce a workhorse instrument with a deep, rich tone distinctive from the chimier twelve-strings put out by Martin.
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solid bodies including models such as the Flyer, Aviator, Liberator and Detonator, the Tele-style T-200 and T-250 (endorsed by
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manufacturer founded in 1952 by Alfred Dronge, a guitarist and music-store owner, and George Mann, a former executive with the
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D-18 and D-28 models, and jumbo and Grand Concert "F" models that were particularly popular with blues guitarists such as
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In 2011, cutaway acoustic-electric versions of all Standard Series models were released. These guitars featured
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acquired a Thunderbird, which he used extensively in the period that he played in popular Australian 1970s band
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After Fender purchased Guild in the mid-1990s, reissues of some Guild electric guitars were manufactured in
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high-quality standards the Westerly plant was known for. In the 1980s, Guild introduced a series of
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The company continued to expand, and was sold to the Avnet Corporation, which moved production to
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Production in Corona was short-lived, however, as Fender acquired the assets of Washington-based
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421:, sometimes called "pointy droopy", "duck foot" and "cake knife" for their distinctive shape.
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657:"Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to Sell Guild Guitars Brand to Cordoba Music Group"
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After several changes in management and ownership, Guild was eventually purchased by the
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757:"MMR magazine - Cordoba Names Ren Ferguson VP of Manufacturing/R&D for Guild Brand"
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334:. Notable also was the Guild 12-string guitar, which used a Jumbo "F" body and dual
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Westerly Guild Guitars information on Westerly RI manufactured Guild models
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and discontinued production of US-made Guild electric guitars completely.
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in 2004, and moved all American Guild acoustic guitar production to
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1076:. Roger Hodgson - F-512, Ted Kaplan (aka Teddy Rose) - F212/F412xl
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by Tony Bacon and Michael Wright. Chartwell Publications, 2018
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is still made, copied by virtually every guitar manufacturer.
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240:
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783:"Introducing: The Westerly Collection - Guild Guitars"
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Guitar manufacturing companies of the United States
929:"Brian May's Guild F-512 12-String Acoustic Guitar"
472:In 2008, Fender again moved Guild when it acquired
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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1098:
1052:Acoustic Guitars: The Illustrated Encyclopedia
681:Acoustic Guitars: The Illustrated Encyclopedia
861:. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 82, 137.
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1122:Manufacturing companies established in 1952
1117:Manufacturing companies based in California
628:The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music
617:
615:
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109:Learn how and when to remove this message
808:"History & Heritage - Guild Guitars"
440:
428:
318:The first Guild workshop was located in
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283:'s 1966 Guild Starfire XII twelve-string
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16:United States-based guitar manufacturer
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451:Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
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833:"Westerly Collection - Guild Guitars"
476:and its small production facility in
1127:1952 establishments in New York City
1112:Design companies established in 1952
1024:"John Denver's Guitars | Equipboard"
47:adding citations to reliable sources
18:
1054:. New York: Chartwell Books. 2011.
1000:"Dave Davies' Guitars | Equipboard"
393:. Inspired by seeing Muddy Waters,
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702:"Owner's Manual and Warranty, p.2"
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310:, who famously played a Guild at
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34:needs additional citations for
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732:"Guild in the Post-Fender Era"
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551:Notable users of Guild guitars
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437:playing with a Guild in 2010.
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904:"Artist To Watch: Lera Lynn"
730:Pilzer, Jay (4 March 2016).
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593:– Starfire III, Starfire IV
161:; 72 years ago
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543:F-1512 as a GAD version.
478:New Hartford, Connecticut
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255:is a United States–based
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709:Support.guildguitars.com
445:2013 Guild hollowbodies.
1074:Hal Leonard Corporation
474:Kaman Music Corporation
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343:Westerly, Rhode Island
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58:"Guild Guitar Company"
1070:The Guild Guitar Book
859:The Guild Guitar Book
463:Tacoma Guitar Company
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599:– F-512, F-612, F-50
581:– D-55 (ca. 1975–85)
569:– Starfire III, T-50
371:Jefferson Airplane's
253:Guild Guitar Company
122:Guild Guitar Company
43:improve this article
633:Guinness Publishing
512:Guild Import brands
387:the Lovin' Spoonful
377:. Instrument maker
324:Hoboken, New Jersey
231:Córdoba Music Group
123:
1068:Hans Moust (1995)
857:Moust, H. (1995).
631:(First ed.).
467:Tacoma, Washington
456:Corona, California
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150:Musical instrument
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1061:978-0-7858-3571-4
979:Premierguitar.com
493:venetian cutaways
291:A 1979 Guild D25M
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415:Roy Buchanan
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391:Zal Yanovsky
383:Muddy Waters
361:and bassist
359:Jerry Garcia
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241:guildguitars
220:bass guitars
182:Headquarters
136:Company type
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41:Please help
36:verification
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597:John Denver
591:Dave Davies
503:Cordoba era
375:Jack Casady
353:guitarists
299:A-150 Savoy
281:John Lennon
199:Area served
99:August 2008
1101:Categories
1033:2024-07-08
1009:2024-07-08
960:2014-06-12
842:30 October
817:30 October
792:30 October
767:30 October
689:0785835717
666:30 October
604:References
585:Kim Thayil
562:Duane Eddy
530:under the
425:Fender era
419:headstocks
411:Superstrat
399:Daddy Cool
336:truss rods
140:Subsidiary
69:newspapers
954:"Guitars"
887:ignored (
877:cite book
741:6 October
573:Brian May
567:Lera Lynn
363:Phil Lesh
349:in 1969.
347:Woodstock
320:Manhattan
312:Woodstock
218:guitars,
203:Worldwide
984:June 14,
532:DeArmond
373:bassist
355:Bob Weir
328:Martin's
261:Epiphone
216:electric
212:Acoustic
208:Products
146:Industry
379:Alembic
236:Website
174:Founder
164: (
156:Founded
83:scholar
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711:. 2007
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575:– F512
278:Beatle
269:Origin
257:guitar
227:Parent
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705:(PDF)
691:pg 62
528:Korea
90:JSTOR
76:books
1056:ISBN
986:2024
940:2021
915:2021
889:help
863:ISBN
844:2017
819:2017
794:2017
769:2017
743:2019
717:2013
685:ISBN
668:2017
637:ISBN
385:and
357:and
251:The
243:.com
166:1952
159:1952
62:news
389:'s
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