Ren Ferguson The Real Story of Gibson to Guild (Part 1)

Ren Ferguson (Gibson & Guild) talks with Tony Polecastro about the lead-up to his departure at Gibson guitars, including his surprising hunting accident, and his move to Guild guitars.
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Watch Part 2: • Video
Watch Part 3: Coming soon!
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[@davetee116]

Always love listening to Ren's stories. They have historical significance and it is fascinating to hear about how those transitions took place.

[@jeremiahbell96]

my brother has a 60's guild and the tone is amazing

[@guscooger5366]

I hope this leads to many interviews like this, Smart, unhurried, informative. Great job, Tony and thanks to Ren for the insights. Can't wait to watch the rest of the series!

[@kenhughes4715]

One of the best interviews I’ve seen plus I love Gibson acoustic!

[@cmcinnes]

This is a brilliant interview, you rarely find an in depth and not company policy style interview. Brilliant story teller.

[@jchickory]

This type of oral history is a significant record. Yet, in these times where we have so many more ways of preserving it, it is often overlooked in favor of other forms of history recording. Keep the vision of what this will mean to future generations as well as to us today.Keep producing these interviews, please.

[@JSANTOS835]

*VERY GOOD!* Great interview, thanks for posting!

[@cEdwards57]

Amazingly great. Thanks ya'll!

[@OneAffected]

I really enjoyed listening to that. Thank you. And the honesty was so refreshing. 😎👍

[@ricklent7901]

I feel like the proverbial fly on the wall! Terrific interview...

[@aradcliffe585]

I have 3 Guilds D's, 2 D25's 72'+74' and a 78' D25M which is my crown Jewel. The sound of the Guild's are second to none. There is a loyal Gibson following, there is no question. But, if your own an original Guild you know how unreal they actually are. The pure playability and sound of the late 60's to early 70's Guilds are simply amazing. I also own 2 Martins and a Hummingbird, and if I had to choose one to play for eternity it would be my D25M..Without question....Great Video , Huge Ren fan. Thanks fellas

[@SkipBeasley]

Wonderful interview :-) keep up the great vids...

[@MrPaulie287]

can't wait for the next part, really interesting

[@28301964]

I used to go to tours at Gibson in Kalamazoo back in the 70's I think it was every wedensday. It was amazing!!

[@dustenprince5841]

Remember a band called magi?

[@LeonGuitarCover]

Awesome story!

[@tadeoelias512]

InstaBlaster

[@slowhand500]

Good interview Tony.

[@jonlieberman997]

Awesome interviews

[@6806goats1]

Excellent interview, looking forward to part 2. Couldn't afford the real deal but received my EJ200SCE leftie this week. Not too bad for a Chinese version but besides cost I didn't want a Gibson SJ-200 sent to Afghanistan. I just need to learn how to play while I'm here. :) Was looking to buy a left handed 94 H-D/Gibson 100th anniversary guitar. Maybe it was a good thing it didn't work out.

[@worshipvertical]

Great interview. Please fix the privacy setting for part 2 so we can watch it. Looking forward to more interviews like this.

[@thankyougreen]

Great story, probably knew my great uncle. He loved in big timber at the time.. he worked for what was then Montana power. For those that know the great metropolis of big timber lol it’s fairly small.

[@Avalanche1368]

Great interview! Ren's the MAN! My favorite guitar is one of my SJ-200's. A 2003 with the orange label. Everyone who has heard it's sweet tone always gives me a strange look right before they say "WOW!" "That is the most amazing sounding guitar I've ever heard" Frankly they are all special, but that's the one I'll grab if there is a fire and I go and get all soft like and help my wife to safety with my other free hand! On second thought shes on her own!. I'll grab my SJ200 custom with rosewood B&S with the other hand....It's like a member of the family! The wife? Not so much!........Thanks Ren for keeping Gibson acoustic real and the bean counters at bay.

[@SyamimRamli]

Why is part two private.....I can't wait!

[@daykbd]

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@drewirvin5620]

The 2nd video is private?!

[@vegetableswife]

Why has part 2 been taken down? Pressure from Gibson?

[@KRASIPARVANOV]

Hallo Music Villa. Please tell us - all the foks in the Gibson Acoustic forum why did you suspend the Part II of Ren Ferguson's Real story of Gibson to Guild?

[@mikereynolds3294]

Awwww man. Why is second part private ????

[@JarOfMoMack]

Why is part 2 private? Gheyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

[@marcussegura395]

How much do guitar crafters make ? Because I want to do this

[@JackGAdams]

Super, super ..any idea when part 2 will be released?

[@musicvilladotcom]

Next Saturday, good sir!

[@ron980]

Acoustic Letter Hey, is the second part supposed to be private, still? :)

[@musicvilladotcom]

sorry. part 2 is considered too controversial to release at this moment. dang it!

[@musicvilladotcom]

seriously. We know!! Part 2 was good, but it's on lock-down until further notice... So sorry. We hope we can eventually re-release!

[@JesseDylanMusic]

Stephen Steen Oh nooo... It is still on lockdown!!

[@wezzlyn]

Man. I woulda given Gibson the middle finger and gone with Guild right off the bat after that cease and desist.

[@70goldtop]

Not me.

[@70goldtop]

Not me.Never.

[@frede1k]

Guild makes really good guitars. I prefer their tone over martins and Gibson. Currently have a Martin d28 2018 and a Guild d25 mahogany from 75 and the guild just kills the martin, no competition..

[@glennrisnes]

Where is Part Two?

[@tolanstout]

He built my 1994 Epiphone Excellente, which is #14 of 14 built in 1994.

[@brian770]

what happened to part 2 ??????????

[@jduke4664]

I have heard that the Gibson Songwriter was the last guitar Ren designed before leaving, anyone know for sure ?

[@runnningonempty]

PART 2 IS MISSING!!!!!!!

[@brucesistrunk4520]

Did guild ever do electric guitars with a bolt on neck?

[@theelectrodefunhouse4651]

They had a few super strats in the 80’s that were bolt ons as well as a tele copy

[@jima9487]

I truly hope Ren can help make Guild a prominent guitar manufacturer again. But I'm not sure setting up shop in Cali puts them in the best position to do that.

[@hughnguyen1772]

Why is California a problem for Guild manufacturing? Three out of my four Guilds are Oxnard, California made and they are as good as any Guild made elsewhere.

[@christopherburke7042]

Great story, but the whole time I'm like is Ren wearing a Jaeger Reverso? Hmm...

[@karinberryman7970]

What an incredibly humble guy! The real deal artisans' artisan! The luthier's luthier! Such a revealing session, 'Guild guitars are just copies of Gibson!

[@hughnguyen1772]

What an idiotic comment. Guilds have been great guitars acoustically and aesthetically very much different than Gibsons long before and after Ren Ferguson joined Guild. And I’m pretty sure that Gibson’s intellectual property would prevent Guild from copying Gibson. Guild knows that people like Guilds for what Guilds are. Improvement yes but no need to copy from another brand.

[@igorsekulic6945]

I'm confused. How could Gibson sue Flatiron?

[@ghosthead2008]

Igor Sekulic Because, Flatiron mandolins were patterned after Gibson designs (Gibson started as a mandolin company, btw). My issue with that is, Henry acts as if he owns the entire guitar industry, and has brought numerous lawsuits against almost every guitar company around. Problem is, because of him, Gibson isn't the great company it used to be. And, a lot of people give him a lot of undeserved credit. As soon as he took over in '86, he basically started pissing away Gibson's long history/legacy, which continues to this day.And, sadly, his son is going to carry the torch, which he's probably going to use to finally burn the name "Gibson" to the ground. Why people continue to give that ass-hat money is beyond me?

[@igorsekulic6945]

***** That's really awful. They need to just go back to how they used to be.

[@ghosthead2008]

Igor Sekulic Until someone with enough money AND sense, and who loves guitars as much as the people who buy/play them, it ain't gonna happen. I'm not a huge fan of PRS guitars, but Paul knows what HIS customers want, and delivers. One of the many reasons why the late Ted McCarty (former Gibson president during the "Golden-era") chose to take him under his wing.

[@damienmcmahon7389]

Had several Guilds….now have 00028 Martin Chinese copy…..it blows them away.

[@hughnguyen1772]

You deserved to be with chinese made faked guirar.

[@mitchfountain6523]

When I search on .... Ren Ferguson The Real Story of Gibson to Guild (Part 2) ... I find squatloos?

[@jeremiahwilson1781]

Gibson has been using strong arm tactics to keep the little guy down for decades. And they treat employees like shit.

[@alvaroarismendi5327]

all i heard was automation, sales, terrible management...we'll come up with something that's catchy

[@mclark42]

Ren says nothing about why he left Gibson and your link to Part 2 is a sham. What gives?

[@biscuitninja]

Okayyyyy... never buying Gibson....

[@adriannasanchez468]

This isn't making like Gibson very much

[@filipdemeyst8842]

Ok, you kinda look like father and son.