I just learned this today when I retrieved my Starfire from the shop for some warranty work. Fender sold Guild to a company called Cordoba. The shop informed me that they would not deal with this company, nor provide any warranty support due to their shoddy work and inability to communicate. The shop was great and fixed the problem with the bass as if it was under warranty, gratis. But it seems unlikely that Cordoba will fix their mis-designed bridge, or offer a decent quality instrument.
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R.I.P Guild
- Thread starter JoeWPgh
- Start date
I can only hope for the best but be prepared for the worst - and I don't even own a Guild. Another "classic" manufacturer that is on shaky ground. I've always wanted a Guild D50 and a acoustic 12 string.
True story: My old college roommate worked at the recording studio that did the post for that Chrysler Corrdoba commercial in the very early 80s. They had Ricardo Montalban's voiceover sampled & mapped across an early E-Mu Emulator I keyboard so they could get the timing to match the 30-second requirement just by going up or down half-steps with each sentence. My roommate brought home a ridiculous tune he cobbled together after hours that consisted of a Parker-esque be-bop head orchestrated in "Fine Corinthian leather!"
I don't know the details, but I think it effects more than just Guild. I think Ovation and Hamer might be gone.
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There's no such thing as Corinthian leather. It was invented by an ad agency to sell the car!
I've been meaning to start selling a line of Corinthian leather guitar straps. I'd bet they'd sell well.
I've been meaning to start selling a line of Corinthian leather guitar straps. I'd bet they'd sell well.
I've heard Ricardo Mantalban say that he ad-libbed that line... made up the phrase himself, while the tape was rolling.
Fender has been buying/selling brands like crazy these past few years. Guild has been shut down, restored, outsourced, and relocated. Last I heard the MIA's were being made by Ovation since Fender bought Kaman, while the MIC's had their own production line. Then the Ovation plant got shut down and moved... I don't even know anymore.
Cordoba is just another "meh" classical guitar manufacturer. I'm not sure what all this means, but I don't think it bodes well for electric Guilds.
Cordoba is just another "meh" classical guitar manufacturer. I'm not sure what all this means, but I don't think it bodes well for electric Guilds.
Let's not forget what Fender did to Genz Benz:'(
Speaking of closing brands down...
Anyone hear about Tobias Gibson made line at all?
Gibson site only lists Tobias imports.
Anyone hear about Tobias Gibson made line at all?
Gibson site only lists Tobias imports.
Cordoba purchased Guild and ALL it's assets. Your bass was likely built by Fender. If the quality is shoddy, blame it on them. We'll have to wait and see if Cordoba can improve the brand. From what I've heard they have a ton of Fender product to sell through.
Yes, your bass was likely built by Fender. I was under the impression that Cordoba hasn't begun production of Guild products yet. Recently they have been setting up their USA Guild factory. However, I may be wrong. I for one am all for this change. I don't like what Fender did what Guild.
The idea of a Guild factory in Santa Monica still seems a bit weird to me. It's hard to dissociate the Guild brand from the East Coast. It'll take time I guess
Oh so much wrong here... FMIC boughtbGuild in 1995. They closed the Westerley RI plant in 2001. US production was in Corona, CA gor a short while, then moved to Tacoma, WA for an even shorter time. When FMIC bought Kaman Music, that included Ovation, Hamer, Takamine, Genz-Benz, CB700, etc. Guild production was moved to Hartford, CT where Ovations and Hamers were built. The DeArmond name was used for a line of Korean built electric guitars baeed on '60s Guilds, but the Guild line was maintained.
FMIC bought Kaman for the distribution dide, and eventually decided that maintaining multiple brands wasn't what fit their business needs. They shut down the New Hartford plant on sold Guild to Cordoba. The head of Cordoba, if I recall correctly, used to work at FMIC and was head of Guild for them. Based on Cordoba's activity at the Guild fan page Lets Talk Guild, they're committed to the line and maintaining its reputation.
As the sale from FMIC to Cordoba is relatively recent (it was annonced in early May 2014), I don't believe there's been much if any US production yet. Your bass was almost assuredly made by FMIC.
More importantly, what exactly is the problem with your bass?
FMIC bought Kaman for the distribution dide, and eventually decided that maintaining multiple brands wasn't what fit their business needs. They shut down the New Hartford plant on sold Guild to Cordoba. The head of Cordoba, if I recall correctly, used to work at FMIC and was head of Guild for them. Based on Cordoba's activity at the Guild fan page Lets Talk Guild, they're committed to the line and maintaining its reputation.
As the sale from FMIC to Cordoba is relatively recent (it was annonced in early May 2014), I don't believe there's been much if any US production yet. Your bass was almost assuredly made by FMIC.
More importantly, what exactly is the problem with your bass?
