Did you hear that Yamaha bought Cordoba (Guild)?

[schoolie]

https://www.guitarworld.com/news/yamaha-guitar-group-acquires-cordoba-and-guild-guitars

Not sure what this means for the future of Guild. Hopefully, it's good news.

 

[ahiddentableau]

Could work out. Yamaha has been doing a good job putting out quality low cost stuff for a long time, and that was the road Guild has been on for the last couple decades.

I'll still pine for old school Guilds though.

 

[schoolie]

Yeah, I don't know if it's the age of the guitars or some magic in Westerly, but old Guilds have something special.

 

[39martind18]

Yeah, I don't know if it's the age of the guitars or some magic in Westerly, but old Guilds have something special.

As a past owner of a number of Guild jazzboxes made in Hoboken, NJ and Westerly, RI, I can attest to the quality and "magic" in those guitars. These included an X170, X175, X500, Starfire IV and Starfire 12-string. Great guitars all!

Edit: Forgot the 1967 Artist Award!

 

[boop]

just more guitar company horse trading. I didn't know until recently Guild was to Epiphone what Heritage guitars is to gibson.

 

[bottlenecker]

Yeah, I don't know if it's the age of the guitars or some magic in Westerly, but old Guilds have something special.

The old ones were built to a much higher standard. They weren't a budget brand like they are now.

 

[Greenmachine]

My Cordoba has crappy intonation. It's a GK studio made in China. Good pickups though. Sounds great plugged in. I play open chords mostly so it's not bad. Wouldn't recommend though.

 

[artdecade]

Yamaha made Line 6 come up more than a few notches. Guild is in good hands.

 

[schoolie]

Guild has an import line and a US line, made in Oxnard, CA. I own two recent Oxnard-made Guilds, an M-40 and an F40T. Both really nice guitars, lightly built, and well-made. I haven't tried the import guitars, but I hear good things. I do have to say that my Westerly D-15m is my favorite Guild.

 

[tacobender]

I’d rock the hell out of a Japanese built Guild. Not trading my D55 though.

 

[trandy9850]

Guild has an import line and a US line, made in Oxnard, CA. I own two recent Oxnard-made Guilds, an M-40 and an F40T. Both really nice guitars, lightly built, and well-made. I haven't tried the import guitars, but I hear good things. I do have to say that my Westerly D-15m is my favorite Guild.

And what’s odd about that is, rumor has it, there were no temperature or humidity controls at the Westerly factory…go figure.

 

[Swirling Snow]

And what’s odd about that is, rumor has it, there were no temperature or humidity controls at the Westerly factory…go figure.

You would not believe what a humidity control the Atlantic Ocean is. Rhode Island may be many things, but arid is not among them.

 

[schmee]

And what’s odd about that is, rumor has it, there were no temperature or humidity controls at the Westerly factory…go figure.

Not surprising though, woods were selected and properly aged back then.
I wonder if Yamaha bought the US Guild also?
Not sure I like this but it may be good, Yamaha is a good company.

 

[trandy9850]

You would not believe what a humidity control the Atlantic Ocean is. Rhode Island may be many things, but arid is not among them.

Yep…I know that because I grew up two blocks from the Atlantic Ocean.

 

[middy]

Yamaha bought Ampeg a couple years back, and Line 6 almost 10 years ago. They have great craftsmanship, but need some good guitar designs to add to their stable. Guild has some excellent designs.
Cordoba was their main competitor in the classical guitar segment, so that’s an interesting development.

 

[arlum]

I had not heard but I don't think they can do any worse to the brands than Fender did when they bought Guild out. Guild was pure quality with a price tag to match until Fender took them over. That was when the Star Fire became the Falling Star and the Bluesbird became the Bluesturd. I've never figured it out. Guild was never in direct competition with Fender. If anything Guild were an alternative to Gibson. When Fender bought them I thought Fender would attempt to improve them and give Gibson a run for their money. Instead they nearly destroyed Guilds reputation for quality. I'm truly hoping Yamaha spends the bucks to bring Guild back, at least, to what it used to be. In their day Guild Guitars were top shelf among the other production guitar builders.

 

[burntfrijoles]

I didn't know until recently Guild was to Epiphone what Heritage guitars is to gibson.

How so?
Heritage was started by former Gibson employees and made in Gibson’s old plant.
Epiphone was acquired by Gibson when they were rivals and then became Gibson’s more affordable, budget line of products.
Guild was its own company and never affiliated with anyone until Fender purchased them. Apparently, at one point it employed former Epiphone employees but that is a weak association.

 

[Bruxist]

How so?
Heritage was started by former Gibson employees and made in Gibson’s old plant.
Epiphone was acquired by Gibson when they were rivals and then became Gibson’s more affordable, budget line of products.
Guild was its own company and never affiliated with anyone until Fender purchased them. Apparently, at one point it employed former Epiphone employees but that is a weak association.

I think he means because Guild was started by a former Epiphone exec and originally staffed by Epiphone employees who did not want to move. There was something about a strike there too.

 

[Bruxist]

I’d rock the hell out of a Japanese built Guild. Not trading my D55 though.

Nor should you. That is one of my "ones that got away." $1500 used at Guitar Center, sounded better than any other guitar I had ever played. I don't even really love dreadnoughts or inlays or gold hardware, but, damn, that was something.

 

[cosmiccowboy]

I have a 1975 Guild F40 that’s a gem. Plays and sounds incredible