The first models to come out of its new California factory, since it moved production from Hartford, Connecticut, under the new ownership of Cordoba, are the M-20 and D-20 – authentic reproductions of the classic Guild M-20 and D-25, which were first introduced by Guild in the 1960s.
The M-20 is a concert-size acoustic guitar, nicknamed “the Nick Drake guitar” for its inclusion on the album art of Drake’s album, Bryter Layter.
The D-20 is a classic Guild dreadnought, based on the historic D-25. Both models are constructed with solid mahogany tops, backs, and sides, rosewood bridges and fingerboards, and bone nuts and saddles. They have an RRP of around $1299 (£884).
Also launching are five new arched back additions to the firm’s Westerly Collection. The newest arched back models are available in four classic body shapes: dreadnought (D-240E), concert (M-240E), orchestra (OM-240CE and OM-240E), and jumbo 12-string (F-2512E Maple). They feature Guild’s AP-1 pickup, bone nuts and saddles, rosewood bridges and fingerboards, tortoiseshell pickguards, fully bound bodies, mother-of- pearl appointments, and padded deluxe gig bags. RRPs will range from $399-$499 (£271-£340).
Lastly, there are two new Starfire models. The Starfire II ST (pictured) is a semi-hollow guitar with a single Florentine cutaway and extra thin mahogany body. It is equipped with dual LB-1 Little Bucker pickups, replicas of Guild’s original smaller size humbucking pickups. Other features include a mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, ivory white body binding, and high gloss natural finish. It also features a Tune-O-Matic bridge and stop-bar tailpiece for increased sustain and stability.
The Starfire VI has been reintroduced, based on the original Starfire V. It has a double-cutaway Starfire body shape, AAA flamed maple top, back, and sides, and a solid centerblock and Dual LB-1 Little Bucker pickups, replicas of Guild’s 1960s smaller size humbucking pickups.
It is constructed with a three-piece maple/walnut/maple neck and a bound rosewood fingerboard inlaid with mother-of-pearl and abalone V-blocks. It also features a pinned Tune-O-Matic bridge with rosewood base, rosewood bridge, and comes with gold hardware, five-ply black and ivory purfling, deluxe f-hole and body binding, and a Guild Vibrato Tailpiece. It is available in a high gloss blonde finish, and includes a hardshell case. An RRP of around $1,499 (£1000) is expected.
