FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

GENERAL

I don't understand the Guild acoustic model naming system...why did Guild change some of the model names?

When we took on Guild in 2014, we had the unique opportunity of seeing it through fresh eyes. As new stewards of the brand, we quickly realized there wasn't an established naming pattern and decided it was best to simplify this process moving forward. We came up with this handy dandy naming chart, taking Guild's historical & flagship models into consideration.  Though there will always be exceptions to the rule, we plan to follow these general guidelines.

What type of woods does Guild use, and what do they sound like?

What is pau ferro? Why did Guild replace rosewood bridges and fingerboards with pau ferro?

Pau ferro is a South American tonewood that has been used in guitar making for many years. It is known to have a smooth feel and shares many sonic qualities with rosewood. With a tight wood grain in-between ebony and rosewood, pau ferro is hard and slightly snappy like ebony while maintaining a nice level of warmth similar to rosewood. Visually, pau ferro tends to be lighter in color than traditional rosewood though it may be stained to appear like rosewood.

CITES (Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species) is a global organization that maintains the health of our plant's species and ecosystems by regulating international trade of wildlife (both flora and fauna). As of January 2017, CITES determined that rosewood will be protected, requiring new certification for any product that contains rosewood. This new legislation adds complexity to manufacturing guitars that contain rosewood, increasing costs to manufacturers and consumers. So in response, we have joined many other guitar manufacturers in switching out rosewood as much as possible. We selected pau ferro as the best replacement for many of our instruments because it shares many properties with rosewood (as described above).

We guarantee that all Cordoba/Guild guitars are imported legally, complying to all CITES regulations. You don't have to worry about CITES unless you decide to sell or trade your guitar abroad. The proper CITES certification will be your responsibility and failure to comply may lead to forfeiture and sometimes destruction of the item. You may still travel with your guitar without certification as long as it has less than 22lbs of regulated materials.

We are dedicated to providing instruments of great quality while maintaining materials that are both acceptable to the guitar market and in compliance with all CITES regulations.

Expect these changes to show up in the market in the summer of 2018 (varies by model).

How does Guild source the wood used on Guild guitars?

All of our wood is sustainably harvested and sourced. We are fully compliant with CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which is an international agreement between governments that ensures that our use of certain plants does not threaten their survival. We are also Lacey act compliant which prohibits trade in wildlife, fish, and plants that have been illegally taken, possessed, transported, or sold.

Can I tour the Guild USA factory?

Eventually, just not yet. Our team is working hard to get production up and running and to get the next generation of Guilds off the line. Once we have our feet planted in the new factory and all appropriate permits are in place, we will definitely be offering public tours – we just need some time to get there! Keep an eye on our blog or sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear when things like this become a reality!

Where are Guild Guitars made?

Guild USA acoustic models, currently including the M, D, F, and F twelve-string body shapes, are proudly made in our Oxnard, California factory. The Westerly Collection acoustic guitar models are made in China by our skilled factory partners. Our Newark St. electric guitar models are made in South Korea, Indonesia, and China depending on the model. As our Oxnard facility grows, we will gradually add new models to our USA-made line including electric models.

Can I order a custom guitar?

We are spending the immediate future getting production up and running in an effort to deliver high quality, iconic Guild models worldwide. Please check back later, or sign up for our newsletters, for updates on custom Guilds.

What is an arched back?

Guild began its legacy in 1953 by producing archtop electric guitars for the Jazz market in New York city; these guitars were built with arched backs made from pressed laminate maple, a low-cost alternative to hand-carved maple backs typical in Jazz guitar construction. As the company grew and began offering flat-top acoustics in 1954, the first models such as the F-30, F-40 and F-50 shared this pressed laminate arched back construction, which became a Guild trademark. Other classic Guilds like the D-25 and F-412, icons of the brand's history to this day, represent this unique combination of acoustic flat top and arched back guitar construction.

In addition to its classic look and ergonomic comfort, an arched back design prevents the need for the added support of back braces, reducing weight while increasing projection and volume, contributing to the revered Guild sound for which these historic models are so well loved. We've paid homage to this classic Guild design trademark with a full line of affordable Archback models, available now from the Westerly Collection in sizes ranging from Concert to Jumbo.

What is the Guild privacy policy?

You can read our full privacy policy here.

FINDING AND CARING FOR YOUR GUILD

Where can I find an authorized Guild Dealer?

Please visit the dealer search section of our website here.

What type of polish is safe to use on my guitar?

To keep your Guild fresh and free of grime, we recommend a microfiber guitar polishing cloth (such as the one available at our webstore) along with any polish or cleaner specifically made for lacquer finishes. While almost any polish made specifically for guitar will be safe to use on your Guild, it really comes down to the type of finish that is on the guitar. Durable finishes like polyurethane will withstand almost any polish you can find, but more delicate finishes like varnish or nitro may react adversely to more abrasive products. When shopping for a polish, just be sure that it is approved for the type of finish on your guitar – if you are not sure about the type of finish on your guitar, we suggest seeking the opinion of an experienced guitar technician or guitar shop employee who can help you find the best product. It is a good idea to avoid any polishes or cleaners that are not made specifically for guitar such as metal polish, furniture polish, or automotive products, as they can contain abrasives or chemicals that can harm the delicate and thin finish on the guitar. Any raw wood such as the fingerboard and/or bridge should be treated with a mild, natural oil such as lemon oil or boiled linseed oil. Regular, light treatment such as during a restring is all that is needed to keep these un-finished wood parts healthy.

Can I send my guitar to the factory for repair?

Because our resources and manpower are focused on getting production ramped up at our new factory, we are not offering repairs on vintage Guilds at the moment. We do intend to provide this service in the coming years. Until then, we are directing customers in need of service and repair to network of Authorized Service Centers. Please contact us so we can find a Service Center in your area!

Does Guild have Authorized Service Centers?

Yes! Contact us directly to find an Authorized Service Center in your area.

Why do I need to humidify my guitar and how do I do that?

I'm noticing signs of humidity damage...how do I rehydrate my guitar?

WARRANTY

Does Guild offer a Lifetime warranty?

Yes! Please review our warranty policy here.

I don't have the original sales receipt, am I still covered under lifetime warranty?

Yes, as long as a copy of the invoice can be obtained, or the purchase can be verified verbally by the original dealer. Since our warranty applies only to the original purchaser, and to instruments purchased from an Authorized Guild Dealer, either a copy of the receipt or verbal verification from the dealer is required to vet these points. Generally a dealer will be more than happy to provide a duplicate receipt if the original has been misplaced.

If the provenance of the guitar cannot be verified for warranty eligibility, our service department will be happy to provide you with options for service alternatives.

If I registered my vintage guitar several years ago, am I still in your system?

Since Guild has changed ownership a few times in the past, some registration information has been lost, however, we encourage to check with us and to re-register your instrument if in doubt.

REPLACEMENT PARTS & WEBSTORE

Do you have parts for vintage/discontinued Guild?

Guild Guitars only stocksparts for current production models made by Cordoba Music Group beginning in 2014. We do not stock parts for discontinued models, or any guitar made before 2014. Parts purchased from the Guild Web Store are not guaranteed to fit guitars made before 2014. For information about replacement parts for your vintage or discontinued Guild model, please contact one of many aftermarket parts suppliers, which can be found via any online search engine. Some popular suppliers includeStewart Macdonald,Luthier's Mercantile,AllParts,theguitarmechanic.com,Gurian Instruments.

Which one of your cases will fit my vintage Guild guitar?

Like parts and hardware, Guild Guitars currently manufactures and stocks cases designed to fit current production models only. However, in general, if the model that you own is still in production, or a reissue is in production, the case for that current model will most likely fit your vintage Guild. For example, a vintage D-55 will fit a current dreadnought case, a vintage Aristocrat will fit a current Aristocrat case, a vintage F-30 will fit a current Orchestra sized case, etc. There are a few exceptions that we don't currently offer, but most models will have a corresponding case that we can help you acquire. For further information, please contact an Authorized Guild Dealer.

How do I return something I purchased from your website?

Please refer to our Returns Policy on our website here.

How long will it take to receive my order?

We ship out of Southern California. For orders shipping within the USA, our typical processing time is 1 business day and it can take 5-8 business days to ship after your order is processed. For International orders, it can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks depending on customs and duties.

VINTAGE

How old is my vintage Guild?

Unfortunately, some documentation has been lost or destroyed over the years, resulting in some holes in the historical record in addition to a small number of anomalies, inconsistencies and outright dating errors. With that said, the information compiled and presented here is the most comprehensive data set we have for dating Guild guitars. Please refer to the notes preceding each chart on how to best interpret the data.

Records of Guild serial numbers before 1960 are at best sketchy, preventing us from being able to assure dating accuracy before that year. Nonetheless, the charts available in the link above contain the best information we have on the approximate last serial numbers produced each year before 1960. There are no corresponding model names or numbers available.

Two other highly reliable resources for dating Guild instruments are The Guild Guitar Book and Gruhn's Guide to Vintage Guitars, both of which are excellent references that often prove helpful with questions regarding dating, specifications and historical context of many Guild instruments.

What is the value of my vintage Guild?

Since the focus of our company is as a manufacturer and wholesaler of instruments, we are not directly connected to the used market and do not offer appraisals at this time. For an official appraisal, or to find the current market value for your Guild, we recommend contacting a Vintage or Used guitar dealer who specializes in used guitars. For general information including rough estimates or values, we also recommend checking out online resources such as www.bluebookofguitarvalues.com.

What information do you have about Corona-made Guilds?

In late 2001, a little after Fender had acquired Guild, they decided to move all Guild production to its factory in Corona, California. To ease the Corona facility (which had only made electric guitars up to this point) into making archtop and acoustic guitars, the Westerly factory artisans and workers prepared guitar 'kits' that they shipped to Corona. These kits were near-complete production guitars that only needed finishing and final assembly before being sent to retailers.

Production in Corona was short-lived, however, as Fender acquired the assets of Washington-based Tacoma Guitar Company in 2004, and moved all American Guild acoustic production to Tacoma, Washington.

A number of different alpha prefixes were used for the Corona serial numbers but the one constant is that they all started with the letter "C".

Don't see your question here? Contact us and we'll get back to you!