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I had the pleasure of meeting this very talented young musician at the Winter NAMM Show this year and I'm happy to say he is now our youngest Guild Artist. A coworker sent me this video and thought I should share and say jazz isn't dead! Michael is a great kid and he has clearly put in time on the instrument. Thought you guys might enjoy seeing this.
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04-28-2015 04:21 PM
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Nice so they have re-issued the Guild 100 Capri?
I always thought that was the better 16" offering that is mostly over looked. Like all guilds (the original that is) its extremely easy to play, sounds great and looks good too (although I prefer the look of the ES-175). I guess I liked these more because they have a shallower body and imo are easier to play.
Shame about the Bigsby though. Not sure why Guild keep dumping it on everything, I guess Rocker Billie music is on the rise?
Just a note to Guild since they are listing and this is of course my own opinion but why do you not do a standard HB-1 pick-up type X175? If I could have found one of those without a bigsby, you could hav had a buyer.
You know something like this
Guild X-175
I'm really having trouble figuring out your spec decisions, if anything they seem to alienate people from your models Bigsby's and P-90's turn most people off, why do it?
Last edited by Archie; 04-28-2015 at 05:33 PM.
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Mr. Melton,
That was very nice playing in that video, and the Capri sounds great! I'm a big Guild fan as well, and I'm looking forward to seeing what you have coming from Oxnard in terms of archtops. Regarding the pickups, I love the HB-1's as much as anyone, but in my opinion few pickups do jazz better than the original Franz pups.
All the best to you and Guild!
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Another Guild fan here. i love my vintage X50, thats all I need for my jazz needs. I hope there will be new American made archtops coming from Guild soon!
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Any update on the American Patriarch series would sure be welcome. Will there be carved archtops made in Oxnard?
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There's a whole bunch of good stuff in the works right now. Keep in mind Cordoba has owned Guild for only about a year now and during that time our biggest focus was moving a factory across the country and getting that up and running. We have plans for all sorts of things, but I can't give an accurate timeline for a lot of it. Our first USA acoustics from the new factory should be out soon though so that's really exciting. USA electrics will hopefully get rolling in 2016. I don't think I could put how amazing Ren Ferguson is into words. Ren is really serious about doing it right. We're moving along as quickly as we can and I assure you no corners are being cut. As for USA carved jazz boxes, they're absolutely going to happen. Laminates will happen too. I have no idea when, but everyone wants to so it's just a matter of time. Things like non Bigsby and different pickup options will happen too. There's a lot that goes into sourcing parts for guitars and making changes, way more than I ever thought there was before I took this job. Again, I don't know when, but it'll happen. We're paying attention to all things Guild posted online and we love seeing your ideas and your complaints. We want to do it right.
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I think you're assuming what other people like based on what you like. I don't like Bigsbys, but many others do, and all pickup makers make P90s so obviously somebody likes them besides me. They are the sound of many of the jazz greats.
Originally Posted by ArchtopHeaven
I'm really having trouble figuring out your spec decisions, if anything they seem to alienate people from your models Bigsby's and P-90's turn most people off, why do it?
I don't get the issue with spec decisions either. I bought my first Guild in 1965 (still got it) and have always liked them, in part, because of the specs. If everybody wanted the same specs we'd only need one guitar... who wants that??
- Joe
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I still think that you will alienate a larger part of your market if you only have P-90's and Bigsby's. I mean sure, have them as an option but not as standard without the more obvious specs.
But lot of rocker billie guys love guild, heck my X700 was bastardised by one, hence the non original tail piece and locking tuners.
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I don't disagree, having the option would be great, although I can see how time issues might impact custom orders for the Asian-made Newark Street series. I just looked at that lineup and there are lots of tasty choices with and without a Guildsby, but pickups in this series look to be limited to mini-buckers and single coils:
Newark St. Collection | Guild Guitars
I'd love to get my hands on that T50, although I wish they'd pour the poly on a little thinner. My Hoboken made Guilds are nitro, but my Corona made X150 was heavy poly. I took it down to a satin and it looks much better to me.
Sorry to hear about your X700... I hope the criminal was brought to justice!
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Too bad Fender diminished the Guild name by putting it on the headstock of Asian made guitars (just as Gibson diminished the Epiphone name).
IMO Guild and Epiphone archtops made in the USA are every bit as good as Gibsons, but due to the diminution of the brands, they will never hold value as well as a Gibby.
I wish the new owners all the best in keeping the venerable brand alive. My two Artist Awards make it to the bandstand from time to time and hopefully inspire would be jazz guitarists to consider the Guild brand. I hope the new owners bring the Artist Award back (made in the USA, please). It is one of the iconic archtops along with L-5's, Super 400's and D'angelicos.
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I agree with that but I also would have no problem with them being made in Japan, which I and many consider to be a byword for quality, above US manufacturing and prices would be better too (am I gonna be in trouble?).
Look at Gretsch for example. They seem to be doing perfectly well for it and quality and value is beyond what the Americans can achieve imo.
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Most vintage USA Guilds have always been way undervalued, and since long before Korean Guilds were even a thought. Gibby's may hold their value better, but I buy guitars based on how they play and sound, not based on what I might be able to sell them for one day.
As for companies choosing to go overseas, it's just an unfortunate reality in business today. Guitars are being mass produced in other countries for a fraction of the cost to produce them domestically, and the quality is actually very good in many cases. For the young aspiring musician, or for those that simply can't afford to spend 5K on a guitar, this is a pretty great time we're living in. I've played the new CE-100 being displayed in this thread, and I can say with no hesitation that it's fit and finish was top notch, and it is an excellent playing and sounding guitar.
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How much do you think a single pickup 1956 Guild CE 100 in "good" condition is worth?
Thanks!
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Without seeing it and giving it my old Guild examination, "good condition" means nothing.
I'd start by thinking $1500 and either subtract or add based on condition, risk and the cost of any routine maintenance it might require.
Appeal counts too of course.
I know and like CE-100's and might pay more than some people if it's the right one.
A '56 might suffer from binding deterioration, a common problem for 50's Guilds as the material they used while perfectly good at that time, is not aging well.
When I buy old guitars that might stick around for awhile I always factor in the likelihood that I'll need to get the frets replaced.
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How are these compared a Godin 5th Avenue kingpin ii
I ordered a kingpin yesterday but an interesting looking guild cd 100d 2014 model popped up locally.
Reckon it's worth pumping extra on the guild?
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Godin don't even come close to Guilds. Guild even made in Korea is far more superour to anythimg Godin. Just IMHO. Originally Posted by Frank1985
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You may be right but my Godin arrived today and it's exactly what I was looking for in terms of handling distortion without sounding too harsh so I'm happy. Prob wouldnt have got that from the mini buckers on the guild. Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive
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Sorry maybe I was a little harsh, Godin is a fine instrument for sure, I just somehow never liked the feel of it, when I played them a few times... Maybe construction, or the wood? But it's very subjective! And I loved everything about the Guilds, so I'm biased. Originally Posted by Frank1985
Glad you dig your new guitar, that's all that matters, congrats!
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Raney and Abersold, great interview.
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