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GUILD ACOUSTIC GUITARS
ON EBAY
Guild Acoustic Guitars
One name that is continuously synonymous with quality acoustic guitars is the United States based Guild Guitar Company. Founded by Alfred Dronge in 1952, Guild crafted guitars using specialty items like specific wood types, hand wound pickups and only the finest lacquers and finishes available. To many players, these are the “best acoustic guitars” available.
History
The Guild Guitar Company started in 1952 with Alfred Dronge. The ideology was to fuse the needs of jazz musicians and rock and roll players together. The result was a design with a rich, warm tone that attracted many players to the brand.
The original factory was in New York City. Later on, the main production plant was moved to Westerly, Rhode Island where it remained until the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation acquired it in 1995. Once under the management of Fender, the Guild production facility was moved to Corona, California.
Then in 2004, Fender acquired all rights to the Tacoma Guitar Company and moved the Guild factory again; this time to Tacoma, Washington. This facility currently produces one of the highest volumes of acoustic guitars in the United States. The production of Guild electrics was discontinued, so Guild is strictly an acoustic guitar manufacturer.
Models and users
Guild is best known for their acoustic guitars and several legendary players have been known to use Guild instruments. Among these are Stevie Ray Vaughn, John Denver, Brian May of Queen, Slash of Guns n Roses and Eric Clapton.
Of the several models of acoustic guitars made by Guild, the most regarded are the F50 and D50 models. These are the main models used by the players mentioned above.
The D series is comprised of six and twelve string models in traditional dreadnought styles. The F series is geared towards a jumbo body style.
For a while, revamps of 1960s and 1970s Guild acoustic guitars were made in Korea under the DeArmond trade name. Keeping with this Asian manufacturing trend, Fender introduced the Guild GAD (Guild Acoustic Design) series of acoustics with all models made in China.
The GAD series of acoustics are available in six and twelve string versions as well as dreadnought or jumbo bodies, with or without pickups and even a single cutaway design with 18 frets clear of the body.
Conclusion
Guild has made a career out of using designer materials and custom shapings. The workmanship rivals that of Martin and the tone of their acoustics is extraordinary. I have played several of these Guild models myself and they are excellent instruments. The only area I didn’t care for with Guild was the width of the neck.
This is why I always tell players that there really is no “best acoustic guitar” out there. You need to go to a music store and play many different models and brands to find the right fit for you. For those with smaller hands, an acoustic/electric may be the answer. These tend to have a slimmer neck and can be the difference in note accessibility.
On the other hand, you may be more comfortable with a wide, thick neck. It is entirely up to you, so get to a store and handle as many acoustic guitars as you can before you lay down your cash.
In other words, find the “best acoustic guitar” for you as opposed to a specific brand of instrument.
GUILD ACOUSTIC GUITARS
ON EBAY
Guild Acoustic Guitars
One name that is continuously synonymous with quality acoustic guitars is the United States based Guild Guitar Company. Founded by Alfred Dronge in 1952, Guild crafted guitars using specialty items like specific wood types, hand wound pickups and only the finest lacquers and finishes available. To many players, these are the “best acoustic guitars” available.
History
The Guild Guitar Company started in 1952 with Alfred Dronge. The ideology was to fuse the needs of jazz musicians and rock and roll players together. The result was a design with a rich, warm tone that attracted many players to the brand.
The original factory was in New York City. Later on, the main production plant was moved to Westerly, Rhode Island where it remained until the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation acquired it in 1995. Once under the management of Fender, the Guild production facility was moved to Corona, California.
Then in 2004, Fender acquired all rights to the Tacoma Guitar Company and moved the Guild factory again; this time to Tacoma, Washington. This facility currently produces one of the highest volumes of acoustic guitars in the United States. The production of Guild electrics was discontinued, so Guild is strictly an acoustic guitar manufacturer.
Models and users
Guild is best known for their acoustic guitars and several legendary players have been known to use Guild instruments. Among these are Stevie Ray Vaughn, John Denver, Brian May of Queen, Slash of Guns n Roses and Eric Clapton.
Of the several models of acoustic guitars made by Guild, the most regarded are the F50 and D50 models. These are the main models used by the players mentioned above.
The D series is comprised of six and twelve string models in traditional dreadnought styles. The F series is geared towards a jumbo body style.
For a while, revamps of 1960s and 1970s Guild acoustic guitars were made in Korea under the DeArmond trade name. Keeping with this Asian manufacturing trend, Fender introduced the Guild GAD (Guild Acoustic Design) series of acoustics with all models made in China.
The GAD series of acoustics are available in six and twelve string versions as well as dreadnought or jumbo bodies, with or without pickups and even a single cutaway design with 18 frets clear of the body.
Conclusion
Guild has made a career out of using designer materials and custom shapings. The workmanship rivals that of Martin and the tone of their acoustics is extraordinary. I have played several of these Guild models myself and they are excellent instruments. The only area I didn’t care for with Guild was the width of the neck.
This is why I always tell players that there really is no “best acoustic guitar” out there. You need to go to a music store and play many different models and brands to find the right fit for you. For those with smaller hands, an acoustic/electric may be the answer. These tend to have a slimmer neck and can be the difference in note accessibility.
On the other hand, you may be more comfortable with a wide, thick neck. It is entirely up to you, so get to a store and handle as many acoustic guitars as you can before you lay down your cash.
In other words, find the “best acoustic guitar” for you as opposed to a specific brand of instrument.
