MADEIRA

The Madeira line was first imported in to augment Guild sales in the U.S. between 1973 and 1974. Between the early 1970s and late 1980s, Guild consistently imported acoustic guitars to serve as a budget line for Guild. When Guild was sold to the Faas Corporation in 1988, they discontinued the Madeira line to focus on Guild production. A few electric guitar lines were offered under the Madeira line as well. The first run of solid body electrics consisted of entry level reproductions of classic Fender, Gibson, and even Guild designs (such as the S-100), and these were only produced for about a year. The solid body electrics were reintroduced briefly in the early 1980s, and then again in 1990. The line consisted of three guitar models (ME-200, ME-300, ME-500) and one bass model (MBE-100). All shared similar design accoutrements such as bolt-on necks and various pickup configurations. Source: Michael Wright, Vintage Guitar Magazine.