Guild Acoustic Factory Tour

www.premierguitar.com PG's Charles Saufley is in New Hartford, Connecticut, where he tours the Guild factory to talk with master luthier Ren Ferguson, Product Manger Chris Middaugh, and other craftspeople behind this historical brand.
For more factory tours or to watch one of Premier Guitar's 2000+ other videos, be sure to visit www.premierguitar.com/video

[@johnlynch6248]

These guys at Hartford (Ren too) make you proud to be an American!

[@TheGingersnap33]

I have to say this was a most rewarding experience. That of being able to observe who, how, why, & where a soul enters the life and body of these fine instruments. I played my first Guild 6 days ago and was so impressed I had to do a recon ops to know why! And I was greatly moved by the feeling, emotion, action and total energizing experience of bonding with that particular instrument & it's self-actualizing sound as I playing that Guild!I had to learn more as to why Guild impressed me so. This has allowed me much insight & appreciation for the life Guild put in these pieces. Truly spirits live in the instruments as a result of you craftsmen's physical & emotional investments. Master craftsmen next to a river making a lifetimes rich with sound is a most appreciative experience. Many thanks to YOU the Guys & Dolls that work toward this end for my playing pleasure. Truly you are breathing life into these wonderful custom built instruments on at a time. GOD BLESS you all !

[@garbb5611]

I own a 1973 Guild D35nt I rescued from a pawn shop in 1980. Solid mahogany, spruse top. As good as a Martin D18 all day. It was hand made in the old Rhode Island shop.

[@anthonymorales842]

@@garbb5611 I lived right down the street from the Westerly shop. So unassuming walked and they treated like we where someone special, just amazing.

[@glengriffiths5594]

Absolutely love my d260 ce deluxe

[@mybrothersfault]

The shop is closed now. I'm lucky enough to have one built here. I have a F-212XLCE and can she sing. Love it, the attention to detail in a boutique shop like this is 2nd to none. So sad to see it go.

[@THEQueeferSutherland]

Love my '77 Guild D40, even though they've moved to California, they're still great guitars.

[@afimedia]

My friend, John Denver, introduced me to Guild guitars in the late '70's and I have been playing them ever since. They have always been great guitars, but I think their quality is even better now than ever before. I have an F-50R that is about 10 years old, and I just bought a new D-55. Guild guitars are the perfect blend of quality materials, workmanship, playability, balance, sustain, sound, aesthetics and price. Both my Guild D-55 and my F-50R look like a million bucks, the necks on both are fast and a joy to play, they both sound incredible, and I absolutely love them!

[@afimedia]

+frank scott The F50 with the arched Maple back.

[@afimedia]

+frank scott The new ones they are making now, are the best they have ever made! My F50R sounds and plays better than any Martin I have ever heard...and it is a real banjo killer!

[@adamziolkowski2549]

Haha, cool!

[@WinterRapids]

Looking at this, realizing the amount of work that goes into building a guitar, and all the machinery needed, I'm amazed that the US-made Guild guitars are not 5 times as expensive.

[@AnthonyBurrito1313]

I will be purchasing a Guild for sure

[@mwharris505]

My '74 G37 Blonde has aged so well and resonates like you wouldn't believe - one strum rings forever

[@fernandoramoa7079]

l had mine shipped 5000 miles down to Paraguay. l anxiously unpacked it since l was concerned it wouldn't arrive broken due to the long S&H. l got it out of the box and played a chord in order to tune it up just to find out it was perfectly tuned! And it remained so no matter the temperature or season or humidity. An amazing instrument

[@mr.farmall5003]

my guitar is a 2006 guild d55 Tacoma. couldn't be happier with it. just like he said on the first strum in the guitar shop it felt like an old friend. worth every penny.

[@keithhunter3910]

I feel the same about my 2013 Guild Orpheum 12 Fret Dreadnought.

[@jeffbergman664]

with Ren Ferguson on the team these will soon be the guitars that all other guitar companies will want Thiers to be! the guy is simply the best luthier in the world.

[@winterlandboy]

It's Gene Clark from The Byrds.

[@sunlightpictures8367]

I really love these factory tours. Please keep them coming!

[@dougreed9843]

I love my guild it is a 67 and mellow as anything could possibly be. Love the tour wouldn't mind getting one of those 12 strings in the future God Bless

[@krupadrum]

Waiting for my Guild acoustic to be delivered ! Simply the best.

[@johncuscaden2021]

Has it?

[@johnadams9044]

Great video! Good to see the quality being built into each Guild guitar. Thanks.

[@timmccreery6597]

I bought an F-47 about 20 years ago- great guitar- most recently I bought an F-512- easily my favorite of all time. Great action, fabulous tone, beautiful. Never sell a Guild!!

[@bcherbs]

Just played one, yesterday , first time, best sounding acoustic ive ever heard!

[@The5thGen]

Real nice video! Thank you so much! Love Guild guitars!!!!

[@seesaw7289]

Guild, the Stradivarius of guitars!

[@acousticvibesmusicinc.531]

We shared this video on our blog for Acoustic Vibes Music! Really incredible the amount of tedious work that is involved when making a Guild Guitar! Thank you!

[@orkycathcart6397]

WOW REN'S GIVING US THE TOUR !!

[@jcomm120]

These are gorgeous, luv♡ their design choices.

[@Joe-tl2sz]

I absolutely adore my D-30 that I've been playing on since the 90's, even had it moded with a Fishman to play electric/ live. I'm actually driving down two hours tomorrow to check out an M-30 at Sweetwater. Hopefully, this level of quality and pride still exists and I walk away with my second Guild.

[@stratcat1954]

damn it now i want a guild

[@RussianMoses]

A lot of operations are not shown (for example, the gluing of a neck to the body etc.). But the people working at the factory are amazing - just see their eyes! just see their love to the guitars they make! Thank you for that vid, guys!

[@gordontaylor3394]

I do love a good factory tour, and this being one of the best I've seen 🙂

[@davidmay3348]

Awesome i have a Guild Starfire 6 , was a working mucians guitar before my dad received it, it then was passed on to me.

[@SleepFan771]

(Checks in-box) - Guild factory tour with Charles Saufley. This is exactly what I asked for a couple of videos ago! THANK YOU SO MUCH PG!!!

[@randyscott9034]

Pretty cool to see guild doing it again hopefully

[@PoeticPirateShow]

for a factory made guitar, nobody makes a better 12 string acoustic... period. I've had two of them. A Guild is a serious 12 string guitarist's dream come true !

[@lousekoya1803]

Awesome quality!

[@terryeaster1]

That was amazing! I want a Guild now

[@JohnMonnett]

Wow - what a great video - thanks

[@216trixie]

My favorite acoustic.

[@VirginiaWolf88]

I love my D40. It sounds really nice and feels great. I should put new strings on it today😺 Thank You Guild!

[@carolloveskiwis]

I still love my Guild D25M.

[@angel231264]

I bought a Guild M 25 CAB . It´s an amazing tiny highend guitar. I´m so glad!!!

[@ScoutBobrman862]

Great, detailed and informative documentary!! Great to know Guild Guitars are in Connecticut!! Going to get one soon, love that deep bass sound!! Success to Guild Guitars!!

[@interstategar]

I bought a Guild F50 6 string Acoustic last year I paid $2600. Seems like a good deal considering all the skill and labor that went in to create it. Thanks Guild. It sounds great too.

[@marcreno893]

That duet at the end was magical

[@mywaveinwoodswoodperfumes]

What a nice tour

[@fischman26-China]

I watched this video with my 1988 Guild D50 sitting right next to me. :)

[@louparte1]

It makes me want to buy another Guild. Great video! I've bought 5 in my life.

[@Catdore]

Guild rules! It's a real sleeper. Rich sound with the sustain of an electric.

[@jazzlehazzle]

It is amazing how much Ren has mastered and invented about fine guitar building at scale.

[@rockers2rockers616]

Yes! I want some of that.

[@anthonymorales842]

still an amazing amount of hand work

[@WysteriaGuitar]

Fascinating...

[@marccarter1350]

First came across Guild guitars as a kid in the UK due to Nick Drake ( who was, still is my favourite artist) using a Guild M-20 on the album cover of Byter later. I then went out and got an M-20. It was only years later that I found out it was a prop used on the cover, that he never owned one. So I burnt it!. Ok, only joking. It matters not if he used it, as I play open tuning blues anyway. It's my favourite guitar by far. I love the zero size, plus 12 frets. Mahogany is also my favourite wood all round. The sound is to die for. The onlyother guitar that comes up to it is a Guild D-20. Thanks Guild, hats off to you! :-)

[@whitefalcon74]

Guild now made in America! Guild sold to Cordoba music co.Based in Santa Monica CA.They will now be made in Oxnard CA.

[@frontbum420]

So this tour is outdated,they have a new factory??

[@whitefalcon74]

yes your correct was sold to them Fender gave it up.I keep the video online as it is still a cool guitar factory for those who like thses kind of documentary's.

[@TheOlervman]

Great video

[@YouTubeIsAssHo]

I'm taking delivery of my F-30 Standard tomorrow; presumably made in this factory before it closed last year. Regardless, I can't wait to get it!

[@markdavis3814]

I have a 1986 pre-Fender G37 Blond. Still a beautiful guitar.

[@timotrioz]

Best guitar I ever owned. I have a black D-25 acoustic and love it.

[@vincentmondello2052]

I have a very early CE-100-T (Tenor Cutaway), have not seen another tenor in any of the Capri's as of yet. Way cool axe.

[@TheOompahRoundabout]

That was excellent 👍😊😮

[@5ivestring]

Great video.

[@arlitdavid2923]

good sound

[@SIRONEDRAGON]

Fabulous : )

[@terryjohinke518]

Have always loved Guild guitars since I heard Ritchie Havens at Woodstock in 1969. Also love guilds Tom Fogerty used. Were they DeArmond pickups? I played a DeArmond with filtertrons and it silenced the store.

[@SixStrings165]

So impressive. I would like to create a kit that industrial arts programs at USA high schools could use to build their programs. Our schools have been moved away from the industry that built this great nation. Computers are a generic skill. Hands on processes that build a useful musical machine would be an ideal tool to excite young students to embrace American manufacturing. We can and should lead the world like we used to. Please help this old cabinet maker and second generation industrial arts teacher reignite American manufacturing. It’s time to make American manufacturing the best in the world. Let’s get our youth excited.

[@m.j.t.cassandra9907]

Hi guys! From France. In the first 80s I went to a little little music shop where I used to go, mostly guitars shop. I was looking for a good one, epi, ovation (classic, I bought one later)...about 1300 francs budget (Yeah, now it's euro!), it made roughly 300 $ (that was money for me in the 80s). A scholar friend of mine was working in this shop, always seemed under a puff, but had a good ear. He came to me, presented me a guitar and said: just...just take a try, just...hear it. I made, like said in the video, and I swear to God, I made ONE strum', and I said to the guy: oh no! That cannot be. There was this guitar, and the others. I almost went to bankrupt, but I bought it, 5000 francs, it was out of range for me, madness, it was...a D35 NT Guild (rare at that time!). I'm 56+, and my 'Lady' is still there! Recently a guy from another music shop told me: never sell it (what I shall not), or to me! The sound of this guitar is a Stradivarius one, I tried Gibson (I'd like to buy one though), Martin (about 1400 $), Takamine, no way, no comparison. I guess I'd need to pay 3 or 4000 $ for having such a sound. I see this video, I understand why...Have a Guild, it will be your guide for ever...I wonder if...

[@bishlap]

How's that guitar doing these days, Michael? 3 years later, I'm curious. Thanks for that great story.

[@keithscott5580]

I love guitars stories, always listen to those under a puff, rather than in a huff ;-)

[@216trixie]

We appreciate your efforts, though.

[@ApriliaRacer14]

I love the D-55!!!!!!!

[@detomasso5872]

Charles seems an exciting person.

[@michaelvaladez6570]

In my opinion Guild makes the best 12 string guitars..built to be played..iconic.!!!!

[@delauve]

I noticed that the guy who explains the process (Ren Ferguson) is the same that are showing the Gibson’s factory tour in Montana in other video series here in KZbin 🤔. He moved from Gibson to Guild (fender)

[@keithhunter3910]

And now he is back in Montana building guitars under his own name with his son.

[@DELANEY261]

Guild....I love em...I got 6 so far and looking for more...the older the better....nothing matures like a Guild....and they all have definitive voices.

[@josedieguez3423]

Excelente

[@NotUrBiz]

I seriously enjoyed this! To what degree is the process similar for the Chinese models?

[@keithscott5580]

Look, Guild makes a J200 now, but better? Is it really heartwarming to see these scary machines making guitars, rather than a person wielding scrapers and chisels? Ahh, but to work in a place like this, dream job. Lucky stiffs. Btw, those "pins" are called "dowels". Later, cool a$$ trick, tape your fingers for taping, freakin genius... Ren is a devotee of the old construction methods, and especially ultra thin nitro finishes, ticking all the right boxes for amazing tone...

[@marshall1987xl]

Alright, somebody has to tell Charles from Premiere Guitar that he needs to get sleep and lay off the amphetamines before the interview. Holy Fidgeting Interviewer Batman!

[@Contact_Info]

marshall1987xl none of your business, people like you want to be on the toilet with him approving every wipe or not.

[@marccarter1350]

I would say more of a coke head to be fair!

[@orkycathcart6397]

ALSO NEEDS TO TRIM THE FOREHEAD HAIR SO HE CAN SEE BETTER !!!!!!

[@brianrenenielsen923]

OMG...it was my first thought too...

[@markwaxham3577]

😂

[@bishlap]

Henry Ford would be proud. Good luck in Oxnard.

[@JohnDennis-ej6xl]

I have guld d40 great guitar.

[@dvanolya]

Geezus, Ren Ferguson and Jean Larrivee could be twins.

[@truckingwithcliff]

I just bought a guild I love the sound that comes out of it I bought a Luna to use as my starter first guitar and hands down the guild is a million times better

[@Frozenguy1]

Is the fender and guild factory the same factory??? I've seen a number of shots from this vid in the fender factory tour vid aswell!

[@waltervangorden5671]

what am I watching, guild, or ovation??? made the same!!!

[@michaelvonschoech6232]

same guy that used to run the Gibson Montana factory

[@wearytraveler3524]

Been trying to buy a Guild for over a year now! Guitars are beautiful, well made and perfect in every way! Every one came damaged in shipping and I've had to send them back three times now! You would think that the actual vendors would take some responsibility in getting you a quality product but none of them seem to care! I would have had a Guild over a year ago but can't get any of the open market vendors to take their jobs seriously and at least try to do their jobs right! It's sad how things have changed! Their is no "CUSTOMER SERVICE" any more, only "CUSTOMER AVOIDANCE"!

[@JackTheRabbitMusic]

Dang...I grew up in Connecticut, and never knew there was an acoustic guitar factory there! If I ever go back to visit, I will definitely make a trip to this Guild factory. I’ve never played aGuild guitar, but after watching how they’re made (at least these Orpheum models) I really want to get my hands on one to try out. Yes, they’re expensive, but no more than a Gibson, Martin, or Taylor...and these are almost entirely built by hand! Amazing value. I really am disappointed with the “Big Three” guitar makers, but Guild still does it right! I’m not sure if I missed it, or if they never talked about this, but do they hand voice the tops and backs? I’ve been saving my pennies for an LS56 Yamaha, but now I am looking into these Guild instruments. I hope they make one in an OM size, because I don’t play dreadnaught size guitars.

[@theartistone5860]

I love my Guild BLUESBIRD nothing sounds as good and has been my main guitar since 1997..

[@Nottalot1]

Nice to see Neil Morrissey keeping his hand in :)

[@benbjr]

Hello guys, I always have been a great fan of Guild acoustic guitars, however never had one, until one day my cousin let me try his 3 models...blown away by its sound, it changed my perspective forever! Now, I am just starting to learn first and after that, I am going to buy a Guild Jumbo 12 string. I have been looking online(however didn't find anything solid), I am trying to learn and understand Jumbo models, and specs of each model because I don't know the differences between models. Basically, my personal taste would be a Guild 12 jumbo full body (non cutaway) all solid, chesterfield logo headstock, solid top(any wood which matches cedar in color?) solid rosewood back and sides, satin-finish neck, discrete inlay(not dots), mother of pearl rosette, but not new. Picky huh? I would like to know which models were available, which types of wood were used back there, inlays available, specs wise and etc. Can you suggest any link, or provide reading material to learn all the differences between the models? Or even if you can tell me the whole story. Thank you so much! Best regards, Ben.

[@playguitarlessons7000]

Love, love love this video. thanks heaps & heaps & heaps .Ps. after watching i came to the conclusion that i might be a Guitar nerd

[@TheDemoarchive]

Apparently that factory is history now.

[@ponchlove2393]

Only show building of a artist award guitar.!!!!! Hello? Hello????????

[@ajk1989]

That fire-hose thing is genius!

[@Jas4u2]

I love my D6 snt .

[@samosasosa6684]

Damn Dennis Quaid into Guitars. Never would have put those two together.

[@GtrPknMama]

Hopefully getting a 12 string soon🎶😎👍🏼

[@donchristianmusic9353]

Love guild, have their jumbo 12 but I had to laugh when the guy said they imagined what they would make if they made guitars in the thirties. All I could think looking at the guitar he was holding is, you would have made Gibson j 45s.

[@defaultuser6498]

D55 sounds wow

[@BNZ1001]

Kool

[@candrelsrosa]

Guild and Ovation are made in the exact same place! And even by the same guys!

[@MisterTee]

I have heard Guild makes guitars that are of reasonably high quality

[@M64770790]

PG, please consider to replace the mic for recording. It already score down the interview.

[@jaycon3460]

My grandpa had the same haircut in the 60s