Why is This not more Popular

[AZLiberty]

Guild was very popular back during the great folk scare. You saw lots of Guilds back in the 60's and 70's

Like many other acoustic brands, they suffered through the 80's, and eventually they were bought out in the mid 90's by FMIC (Fender).

Fender closed the factory and moved production to Corona, then Tacoma, then New Hartford. None of these moves was very auspicious. You can't move production (of anything) across the country and retain your talented employees.

Also, Fender didn't spend much money on marketing the brand.

A couple years ago, Fender sold the marque to Cordoba. Cordoba is now building new guitars in Oxnard (about 2 blocks from Larrivee), but it took them around two years to get the plant up and operating. Most of that was getting the air quality and electrical permits.

The four largest manufactures of acoustic guitars in the US are Martin, Taylor, Larrivee, and Gibson. Guild/Cordoba is likely to exceed Gibson and maybe Larrivee soon though.

Personally, I don't like the tight necks on the new US made Guild 6-strings. I find 12" to be quite uncomfortable.

[mawmow]

Guild used to make great guitars but some innovations they tried did not
get great selling success (I think of carbon block joint and some finish flaws).

Few years ago, they apparently hired a master luthier who retired from
Gibson (as I remember he was reknowned for some TV series and so on).

I got a great Guild F-30 Aragon two years ago at low price
because of an awfully checkered nitro layer finish : Sounds great !

[Chriscom]

Guilds were more highly, widely prized in the 1970s, a country that I lived in. I still dream of a 1970's-era Guild my girlfriend had and eventually gave away (not to me I'll have you know!). The company fell on hard times and I think it's generally recognized the quality suffered for awhile. Haven't played a current-generation model and I'd be very happy if they've restored their former glory.

[Rockysdad]

Congrats on the new Guild D-40, enjoy it for many years to come.
I think a lot of people purchase by the name/s on the headstock, it seems to work for them, the rest of us purchase guitars that speak to us.
Different strokes for different folks, it’s all good.

[Joe Beamish]

Originally Posted by Rockysdad

Congrats on the new Guild D-40, enjoy it for many years to come.
I think a lot of people purchase by the name/s on the headstock, it seems to work for them, the rest of us purchase guitars that speak to us.
Different strokes for different folks, it’s all good.

This.

Not all D-18s are the same, not all Martins are the same, not all D-40s are the same, not all Guilds are the same, etc.

Guitars are individuals. That's my answer to the (probably rhetorical) question of your thread title.

I'd still have my Guild jumbo -- a great guitar -- if only my arms were longer.

[GeneralDreedle]

I have a Maple Jumbo from 93 and tried a new d40 at the local store, it's fantastic, so congratulations

[Kitkatjoe]

Originally Posted by Scotso

I recently bought a new guitar...a Guild D-40 Traditional. I spent a long time trying to decide on a guitar but it came down to the Guild vs a Martin D-18. It was a tuff choice for me. But the Guild won out. It seems to my ear that the Guild balances the low to highs a bit better. I am surprised I do not hear much about this guitar. It is a cannon like the D-18. Similar tones but different in a good way

You answered your on question mate.😜

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by Knives&Guitars

Played a Guild D55 Maple Arch back jumbo at NAMM last week. I was very impressed. Very open, clear & alive sounding. I like it better than a Gibson SJ200.

Was that possibly an F-55? The D-55 is a dreadnought body, the F-55 is a jumbo.

[stormin1155]

Originally Posted by L20A

The only time that Guild has any quality issues was when they tried a new neck design that failed them.
These guitars were sold as seconds and many were not playable.
Guild should have destroyed all of these guitars and never let them hit the market.
These guitars were built in Corona California.

You are referring to their Contemporary Series that ran from 2006-2008. I own two of these guitars, and they are excellent. I've also had a couple through my shop. One had a neck issue related to the new design, but it was an easy fix, and that guitar is still in service.

They did have QC problems with a few about the time they were in the middle of ownership and plant location change. They dumped their remaining stock to a reconditioning company that went through them and sold them as seconds. Some of these had problems, most were fine. A couple of guitar forums, including this one I think, had long threads about one person's bad experience with them, and that reputation stuck, but for the most part is undeserved.

I'm a big Guild fan... have four Guilds. My biggest complaint is their skinny necks, which is why I snatched up the two Contemporary Series guitars because they have 1-3/4" nuts.

[PAPADON]

The new Oxnard Guilds are nothing less than Stellar. Up until I gifted it to my Grand Daughter awhile back this 72 D40 was my main acoustic since new. Back then the D40 was known as the poor mans D18 because they cost less at the time. My take on it has always been that preconceived notions actually do have the ability to alter perceptions of reality.

[saxonblue]

Over here in Australia they are not well represented in the music stores, TBH I doubt I've ever seen a US made one hanging on a wall anywhere (quite a few Chinese made ones though).

Of all the American manufacturers here Martin & Taylor are both well represented at all levels, Gibson are but to a lesser extent than the previous 2 & as far as I can tell US made Guilds are hardly existent here.

[jbeecham]

Originally Posted by Knives&Guitars

Played a Guild D55 Maple Arch back jumbo at NAMM last week. I was very impressed. Very open, clear & alive sounding. I like it better than a Gibson SJ200.

I think you meant to say an F55. Guild jumbos are some of the best 6 and 12 string guitars made.
Jerry

[DenverSteve]

Blame Taylor. Don't get your hackles in an uproar. Let me explain. There is only so much market share. The industry used to be Martin, Gibson, Gibson, Guild - and everyone else. When Taylor came into the industry, with a growing market share and good distribution, someone had to suffer. No one has ever criticized Guild from a quality standpoint more than any other company. However, when a new presence comes into the industry they take market-share from everyone. Add in Chinese instruments (to a lesser degree) entering the market with low manufacturing costs.....

When you take market-share from the giant Martin plus Guild, Gibson, Epiphone, Guild, Ovation... - and you take a similar market-share from each of these companies (let's say 10,000,000 per year), you take a small share from Martin, a moderate share from Gibson, a massive share from Guild...... Then compound this with distribution requirements that make every retailer stock/sell a certain amount of product from every distributor/manufacturer, you leave someone with 2,000 square feet of retail space the need to make a decision about what products to sell and stock in their 2,000 square feet.

When Martin, Taylor or Gibson says "you have to stock 10 different models and sell X thousand a year to maintain your dealership - you doom one, or more, brands to exclusion.

So any time a new company successfully enters the market (think Starbucks or Taylor Guitars) someone has to take a back seat. Ask Sears, Montgomery Wards, Radio Shack......

[vintage40s]

Originally Posted by Scotso

I recently bought a new guitar...a Guild D-40 Traditional. I spent a long time trying to decide on a guitar but it came down to the Guild vs a Martin D-18. It was a tuff choice for me. But the Guild won out. It seems to my ear that the Guild balances the low to highs a bit better. I am surprised I do not hear much about this guitar. It is a cannon like the D-18. Similar tones but different in a good way

I knew nothing about Guilds. Last week a friend let me play his 1970's maple dreadnought with arched back, and it sounded at least as good as my 1969 Martin D-35.

[JohnW63]

Someone posted above that Guilds quality suffered at some times, but to be honest, it didn't. They have probably been MORE consistent than the others. No matter the location.

The only misfire was the experiment with a bolt on neck in the Contemporary Series. It was a good try. The guitars I've played in that series sound really good. I bought one last year. It had a very small hump in the fretboard, where it goes over the body. Well, I took it apart and by trying a few things got it about dead flat. If you see one, take it down and play it !