I recently went on the Guild guitar website and couldn't find any electric guitars.
When did they stop making them, and why?
I always thought they were pretty nice.
Whitefang

After Fender bought out the Guild name, they produced the designs under the DeArmond brand for a while before deleting that too.

G.

Yeah, & it's a real pity.



A few years ago.
It seems to me like a corporate decision based on the brand not being a mega-seller. Accountants don't understand mojo or niche appeal, nor do they get how a distinctive product can fill a need without ever being a huge seller.



The jazz guitars were excellent axes, IMO in the same league with Gibson full-bodied archtops & the Bluesbird was an exceptionally bitchen guitar, not really a Les Paul wannabe, due to the chambered body & available for a while with P90s.

Scott Fraser

I was told by a Fender rep a few months ago that the reason for suspending production of electrics is they are moving the factory to a new location. They fully intend to make electrics again.

Further, they had considered doing some production at the Terada factory that produces Gretsch guitars, but the demand for that brand doesn't leave time for Guild. Guild will be American made.

That's very good news. I hope they will still employ the same luthiers who made X700's & the other archtops.

Scott Fraser

Welcome aboard rockytonker and thanks for the info...

Related info:

moving day 2008

http://www.guildguitars.com/company/guild_history.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guild_Guitar_Company
Users of Guild Guitars
Bryan Adams- F-50R
Joan Baez - F30R
Richard Barone - X-500 (Cool Blue Halo album)
Brendan Benson - 1959 Aristocrat
George Benson -[2]
Paul Bonin - F65CE
Matt Donovan - D40,D4, Starfire II
Creed Bratton - Bluesbird
Roy Buchanan - T-200 and T-250
Jack Casady
Johnny Cash - D-60SB
Jerry Cantrell - JF55 - MTV Unplugged
Eric Clapton F-30, GF-60, S4CE/Songbird
Sheryl Crow - M-85 bass
Rick Danko- F-50
Dave Davies- Starfire III
Nick Drake - M20
John Denver - F-50R
Duke Erikson - Starfire III
Leslie Feist - 1965 Starfire IV
Tom Fogerty
Jerry Garcia - Starfire II
Barry Gibb - Songbird BG (stands for Barry Gibb)
David Gilmour - F-512 12-string
Buddy Guy
Richie Havens
Roger Hodgson
Lightnin' Hopkins- Starfire IV
Mississippi John Hurt - F-30
Phil Lesh
Gary Lightbody
John Mayer Where The Light Is- Trio Set
Barry Maguire - F-212 12-string
Pat Metheny - D40-C
Matt "Guitar" Murphy
Pelle Ossler - Starfire
Bonnie Raitt- F-50R
Steven Page
Andrew Perry
Randy Rhoads
John Rzeznik - D-55, F65CE, F47M Valencia, S7CE Custom, S4CE, and more.
Brian Setzer - Bluesbird
Brian May - Guild Brian May (Signature) Electric Guitar
Paul Simon - F-30 and F-212 12-string
Johnny Smith
Tommy Smothers - D-55 (TV model)
Bruce Springsteen - D-40SB
Bob Stander - D-50 and D-50 12-string
Stephen Stills - X-500
George Strait - Custom Shop D-100
Kim Thayil - Guild_s-100
Peter Tork - Jetstar Bass
Ralph Towner F-312 12-string
Dave Van Ronk - F-50R
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Tom Waits
Muddy Waters
Gillian Welch - D-25M
Zal Yanovsky
Scott Matthews

AND MR BO DIDDLEY !


http://uniqueguitar.blogspot.com/2009/12/dearmond-guitars.html

Well, I guess I'll just throw my 1956 Guild Bluesbird away, and pick up the accordion again. I got it as a basket case in trade for a Ekko 12 string acoustic with a built-in pickup about 1972. Reworked by a luthier in Detroit and have used it on stage for years, alternating with the squeeze box, of course. But now my dreams are shattered. Boo Who.

Why are you Booing The Who ?

I just restrung my '66 Starfire III last Friday and used it for a gig that night. It's the first time in probably 10 years I'd used it on a gig. Wow, I'd forgotten what a sweet ax it is.
My bandmates had never seen it before and they were blown away by both it's looks and they way it sounded.