Contrary to the stories about a "guild of old world-style craftsmen" gathering to build these exceptional guitars, Guild was founded in 1952 by Alfred Dronge (who did hire great guitar builders). Dronge, a Jewish emigrant from Europe, grew up in New York City and took jobs working for various music stores on Park Row. Dronge became an accomplished musician who played both banjo and guitar, and loved jazz music. His experience in teaching music and performing in small orchestras led to the formation of the Sagman and Dronge music store.
After World War II, Dronge gave up the music store in favor of importing and distributing Italian accordions. The Sonola Accordion Company was successful enough to make Dronge a small fortune. It is with this reputation and finances that Dronge formed Guild Guitars, Inc. with ex-Ephiphone sales manager George Mann. Incidentally, the Guild name came from a third party who was involved with a guitar amplifier company that was going out of business. As the plant was closing down Dronge and Gene Detgen decided to keep the name. The Guild company was registered in 1952.
As the original New York-based Epiphone company was having problems with the local unions, they decided to move production down to Philadelphia. Dronge took advantage of this decision and attracted several of their ex-luthiers to his company. Some of the workers were of Italian ancestry, and felt more comfortable remaining in the Little Italy neighborhood rather than moving to Pennsylvania.
The company was originally located in a New York loft from 1952 through 1956. They expanded into a larger workshop in Hoboken, New Jersey, in late 1956. Finally, upon completion of new facilities, Guild moved to its current home in Westerly, Rhode Island, in 1969.
As pop music in the 1960s spurred on a demand for guitars, musical instrument companies expanded to meet the business growth. At the same time, large corporations began to diversify their holdings. Most people are aware of the CBS decision to buy Fender in 1965, or Baldwin Piano´s purchase of the Burns trademark and manufacturing equipment in 1967. In 1966, electronic parts producer Avnet Inc. bought Guild Musical Instruments, and Alfred Dronge stayed on as president. Dronge also hired Jim Deurloo (of Gibson and later Heritage fame) as plant manager in December 1969. Deurloo's commitment to quality control resulted in better consistency of Guild products.
Tragedy occurred in 1972 as Alfred Dronge was killed in an aircraft crash. The relationships he built with the members of the company dissipated, and the driving force of twenty years since the inception was gone. However, Leon Tell (Guild´s vice president from 1963 to 1973) became the company president in 1973 and maintained that position until 1983.
In mid-August of 1986, Avnet sold Guild to a management/investment group from New England and Tennessee. Officers of the newly formed Guild Music Corporation included company President Jerre R. Haskew (previously Chief Executive Officer and President of the Commerce Union Bank of Chattanooga, TN), Executive Vice President of Plant and Operations George A. Hammerstrom, and Executive Vice President of Product Development and Artist Relations George Gruhn (Gruhn later left the company in early 1988).
Unfortunately, the remaining members of the investment group defaulted on bank obligations in November of 1988, leading to a court supervised financial restructuring. The Faas Corporation of New Berlin, WI (now U.S. Musical Corporation) bought Guild in January, 1989. Solid body guitar production was discontinued in favor of acoustic and acoustic-electric production (a company strength) although some electric models were reissued in the mid-1990s.
Instruments currently produced in New Hartford, CT since 2008 and China since the mid-2000s. Previously produced in New York City, NY between 1952 and 1956, Hoboken, NH between late 1956 and 1968, Westerly, RI between 1969 and the early 2000s, Nashville, TN between 1997 and the early 2000s, Corona, CA between 1999 and 2006, and Tacoma, WA between 2006 and 2008. Distributed by Cordoba Music Group in Santa Monica, CA since 2014.

GUILD Acoustic Guitars Models

GUILD B-4 E (NO. 350-4006) Image

GUILD B-4 E (NO. 350-4006)

- single rounded cutaway folk style body, solid spruce top, arched mahogany back, mahogany sides, oval soundhole, three-stripe bound body/rosette, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, two-per-side chrome tun...

GUILD GAD-4N (NO. 381-0904) Image

GUILD GAD-4N (NO. 381-0904)

- single cutaway Hauser nylon string classical body, solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, special spruce bracing, round soundhole with wood rosette, wood body binding, one-piece mahogany neck with rosewood insert, 12/18-fret ebo...

GUILD CD-1 (NO. 380-9990) Image

GUILD CD-1 (NO. 380-9990)

- dreadnought-style body, solid Sitka spruce top, solid rosewood back and sides, round soundhole with Madagascar rosewood and ivoroid, red, and black accent lines rosette, mutli-layer ivoroid binding, Guild neck block system, one-piece maho...

GUILD DOYLE DYKES SIGNATURE Image

GUILD DOYLE DYKES SIGNATURE

- grand orchestra-sized body with single sharp cutaway, solid red spruce top, solid quilted big-leaf maple back and sides, round soundhole with multi-ring rosette, white body bindings with multi-laminate purfling, three-piece mahogany neck...

GUILD D-4 (NO. 350-0100) Image

GUILD D-4 (NO. 350-0100)

- dreadnought style, solid spruce top, arched mahogany back, solid mahogany sides, round soundhole, three-stripe bound body/rosette, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, snakehead-shaped headstock with three...

GUILD A-50 GRANADA/CORDOBA Image

GUILD A-50 GRANADA/CORDOBA

- non-cutaway bound hollow body, laminated arched spruce top, two f-holes, laminated maple back and sides, three-piece mahogany/maple neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, blackface peghead with screened logo, three-p...

GUILD A-25HR Image

GUILD A-25HR

- concert size body, spruce top, mahogany back and sides, black binding, rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, three-per-side tuners, rosewood bridge, tortoiseshell pickguard, available in Antique Burst or Natural hand-rubbed satin finish,...

GUILD F-4 CE (NO. 350-3006) Image

GUILD F-4 CE (NO. 350-3006)

- single smooth cutaway body, solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, oval soundhole, bound body, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, three-per-side chrome tuners, rosewood bridge with white black dot pi...

GUILD DCE-1 TRUE AMERICAN (NO. 350-1306) Image

GUILD DCE-1 TRUE AMERICAN (NO. 350-1306)

- single cutaway dreadnought style, solid spruce top, mahogany back/sides/neck, round soundhole, bound body, three-stripe rosette, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, three-per-side gold tuners, rosewood bridge with white black dot...

GUILD 45TH ANNIVERSARY Image

GUILD 45TH ANNIVERSARY

- F-style body based on the original F-44, solid Sitka spruce top, solid flame maple back and sides, round soundhole, mutli-ply body binding, abalone purfling/rosette, 14/20-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl blocks/abalone V insert in...

GUILD CCE-100 Image

GUILD CCE-100

- classical nylon string configuration, single round cutaway solidbody, spruce top, mahogany back and sides, oval soundhole routing, bound body, wood inlay rosette, mahogany neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard, three-per-side chrome tuners,...

GUILD F-40 (NO. 385-3400-821) Image

GUILD F-40 (NO. 385-3400-821)

- jumbo-style body, solid sitka spruce top, solid African mahogany back and sides, round soundhole with ABS rings, black and cream ABS purfling, ABS binding, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret Indian rosewood fingerboard with pearloid dot inlays, eb...

GUILD F-20 TROUBADOR Image

GUILD F-20 TROUBADOR

- small body narrow waist body style, solid spruce top, maple (1956-1958) or mahogany (1959-1987) back and sides, round soundhole, single rosette, body binding, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, blackface...

GUILD A-150 SAVOY Image

GUILD A-150 SAVOY

- single round cutaway bound hollow body, solid spruce top, two f-holes, laminated maple back and sides, three-piece mahogany/maple neck, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with block inlays, blackface headstock with Chesterfield crown and column...

GUILD DCE-1 HG (No. 350-1406) Image

GUILD DCE-1 HG (No. 350-1406)

- similar to the DCE-1, except it features a high gloss finish available in Antique Burst, Black, Cherry (1998 only), Natural (1999-2000), or Trans. Red (1999-2000), mfg. 1997-2000.

GUILD DECO DREADNOUGHT (NO. 395-0850) Image

GUILD DECO DREADNOUGHT (NO. 395-0850)

- dreadnought style, solid AAA spruce top, bookmatched rosewood back, solid rosewood sides, scalloped bracing, round soundhole, abalone rosette, abalone top binding, three-piece mahogany neck, 14/20-fret bound ebony fingerboard with abalone...

GUILD F-40E Electric (No. 385-3404-821) Image

GUILD F-40E Electric (No. 385-3404-821)

- jumbo-style body, solid sitka spruce top, solid African mahogany back and sides, round soundhole with ABS rings, black and cream ABS purfling, ABS binding, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret Indian rosewood fingerboard with pearloid dot inlays, eb...

GUILD F-20 3/4 Image

GUILD F-20 3/4

- similar to the F-20 Troubador, except has a 3/4-sized body, 13.125 in. body width, 3.75 in. body depth, 22.5 in. scale, mfg. 1969-1977.

GUILD B-4 E HG (No. 350-4206) Image

GUILD B-4 E HG (No. 350-4206)

- similar to the B-4 E, except has multiple-ply body binding and available in an Antique Burst, Black, Crimson Red Trans., or Teal Green Trans. high gloss finish, case included, mfg. 1994-95, 1998-99.

GUILD GAD-5N (NO. 381-0905) Image

GUILD GAD-5N (NO. 381-0905)

- single cutaway Hauser nylon string classical body, solid western red cedar top, solid African padauk back and sides, special spruce bracing, round soundhole with wood rosette, wood body binding, one-piece mahogany neck with rosewood inser...

GUILD CO-1 (NO. 380-6000) Image

GUILD CO-1 (NO. 380-6000)

- F-30 Orchestra-style body, solid western red cedar top, solid mahogany back and sides, round soundhole with Madagascar rosewood and ivoroid, red, and black accent lines rosette, mutli-layer ivoroid binding, Guild neck block system, one-pi...

GUILD Doyle Dykes Signature Rosewood Image

GUILD Doyle Dykes Signature Rosewood

- grand orchestra-sized body with single sharp cutaway, solid red spruce top, Indian Rosewood back and sides, round soundhole with multi-ring rosette, white body bindings with multi-laminate purfling, three-piece mahogany neck with rosewood...

GUILD GAD-25 (NO. 381-0100) Image

GUILD GAD-25 (NO. 381-0100)

- dreadnought body, solid mahogany top, solid mahogany back and sides, wood binding, three-piece mahogany neck, 20-fret Indian rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, Indian rosewood bridge, tortoise pickguard, chrome ha...

GUILD Doyle Dykes Signature 12-String Image

GUILD Doyle Dykes Signature 12-String

- 12-string configuration, orchestra-sized body with single sharp cutaway, solid red spruce top, solid figured maple back and sides, round soundhole with multi-ring rosette, white body bindings with abalone purfling, three-piece mahogany ne...

GUILD A-350/A-350B/A-375 STRATFORD Image

GUILD A-350/A-350B/A-375 STRATFORD

- single round cutaway hollow body, arched spruce top, two bound f-holes, multi-ply binding, solid curly maple back and sides, three-piece maple/walnut neck, 20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl block inlays, multibound blackface h...

GUILD A-50 Image

GUILD A-50

- concert size body, spruce top, rosewood back and sides, black binding, abalone rosette, ebony fingerboard with dot inlays, three-per-side tuners, ebony bridge, tortoiseshell pickguard, available in Antique Burst or Natural hand-rubbed sat...

GUILD DCE-3 (NO. 350-1456) Image

GUILD DCE-3 (NO. 350-1456)

- single cutaway dreadnought style, solid spruce top, flame maple back and sides, round soundhole with three-stripe rosette, multi-ply body binding, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret ebony fingerboard with dot inlays, black headstock overlay with C...

GUILD FINESSE DREADNOUGHT (NO. 395-0805) Image

GUILD FINESSE DREADNOUGHT (NO. 395-0805)

- dreadnought style, solid AAA spruce top, scalloped bracing, round soundhole, herringbone rosette, bookmatched rosewood back, solid rosewood sides, tortoiseshell bound top, three-piece mahogany neck, 14/20-fret ebony fingerboard with abalo...

GUILD MARK I Image

GUILD MARK I

- nylon string classical configuration, mahogany top, mahogany back and sides, round soundhole with simple marquetry rosette, three-piece mahogany neck, 12/19-fret rosewood fingerboard, three-per-side nickel tuners, tied rosewood bridge, av...

GUILD F-48 NAVARRE Image

GUILD F-48 NAVARRE

- jumbo body style, spruce top, mahogany back and sides, round soundhole with four rings, multi-ply body binding, three-piece mahogany/maple neck, 14/20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with eight pearloid block inlays, black headstock with...

GUILD A-500/A-500B/A-550 STUART Image

GUILD A-500/A-500B/A-550 STUART

- single round cutaway hollow body, bound arched solid spruce top, two bound f-holes, solid curly maple back and sides, three-piece walnut/maple neck, 20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl block inlays with abalone V wedges, bound h...

GUILD AD-3 ARCOS (NO. 383-0080) Image

GUILD AD-3 ARCOS (NO. 383-0080)

- dreadnought-style body, solid Sitka spruce top, arched laminated mahogany back, laminated mahogany sides, round soundhole with koa rosette, black ABS body binding with white/black purfling, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard w...

GUILD F-5 CE (NO. 350-3206) Image

GUILD F-5 CE (NO. 350-3206)

- single cutaway body, solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, oval soundhole, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, three-per-side chrome Grover tuners, rosewood bridge with white black dot pins, Fishman A...

GUILD DCE-5 TRUE AMERICAN (NO. 350-1506) Image

GUILD DCE-5 TRUE AMERICAN (NO. 350-1506)

- single cutaway dreadnought style, solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, round soundhole with three-stripe rosette, multi-ply body binding, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret ebony fingerboard with dot inlays, black headstock overlay with Ches...

GUILD VALENCIA CONCERT (NO. 395-3550) Image

GUILD VALENCIA CONCERT (NO. 395-3550)

- small body narrow waist concert body style based on the F-40 Valencia, solid AAA spruce top, solid highly figured maple back and sides, shaved bracing, round soundhole, abalone rosette, abalone top binding, solid figured maple neck, 14/20...

GUILD MARK II Image

GUILD MARK II

- nylon string classical configuration, spruce top, mahogany back and sides, round soundhole with red/black/white ring, tortoiseshell celluoloid top and back binding, three-piece mahogany neck, 12/19-fret rosewood fingerboard, three-per-sid...

GUILD F-50 NAVARRE/JF-65M Image

GUILD F-50 NAVARRE/JF-65M

- jumbo body style, spruce top, curly maple back and sides, round soundhole with four rings, multi-ply body binding, three-piece mahogany/maple neck, 14/20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with eight pearloid block inlays, black bound headst...

GUILD D-4HG Image

GUILD D-4HG

- similar to the D-4, except has a high gloss finish available in Natural or Sunburst finish, mfg. 1992 only.

GUILD F-20 STANDARD (NO. 385-1200) Image

GUILD F-20 STANDARD (NO. 385-1200)

- concert body style, solid Sitka spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, red spruce bracing, round soundhole with ivoroid multi-ring rosette, ivoroid body binding, black/ivoroid/black purfling, slim profile mahogany neck, 14/20-fret ros...

GUILD B-50/B-30 Image

GUILD B-50/B-30

- grand concert style body, spruce top, arched mahogany back, mahogany sides, round soundhole, three-stripe bound body/rosette, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, black pointed headstock with pearl Chesterf...

GUILD GAD-30 (NO. 381-0200) Image

GUILD GAD-30 (NO. 381-0200)

- orchestra body, solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, wood binding, one-piece mahogany neck, 20-fret Indian rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, three-per-side tuners, Indian rosewood bridge, tortoise pickguard, chrome hardware...