Acoustic Excellence

It is Guild's signature excellence in acoustic flat-top guitar design that has made its name synonymous with fine acoustic quality and craftsmanship.

From three models introduced in 1954-the F-30 Aragon, F-40 Valencia and F-50 Navarre-Guild founded an acoustic empire. The famous D-40 Bluegrass Jubilee and D-50 Bluegrass Special dreadnoughts were introduced in 1963 (at the insistence of Guild veteran Mark Dronge, Al's son), and Guild's flagship dreadnought, the D-55, first appeared in 1968. These guitars and many other Guild six- and 12-string acoustic flat-tops enjoyed widespread use and acclaim from artists and amateurs alike well into the ensuing decades.

In those heady late '60s days, perhaps the foremost exponent of Guild acoustic guitars was the great Richie Havens, a thoughtful interpreter of songs and a soulful, electrifying performer who opened rock's legendary 1969 Woodstock festival by single-handedly mesmerizing the audience of 400,000 with his powerful voice and a Guild D-40, on which he displayed his trademark breathtaking rhythmic force. It was a shining moment for Havens and for Guild, and he continues to entrance audiences to this day with Guild guitars.

After almost 30 years in Rhode Island, Guild moved west. Facilities were transplanted to sunny Corona, Calif., in 1995 on the company's acquisition by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, thus beginning a new chapter in Guild history. Through the '90s and well into the new millennium, a diverse new generation of gifted, spirited players recognized the excellence of a truly fine Guild guitar, and recording studios and concert halls continued to reverberate with the full, pure sound of Guild guitars.

Guild continued to be everywhere at once, be it the sultry jazz and blues of Cassandra Wilson, the scorching hellbilly pickin' of Hank Williams III, the solo acoustic magic of Willy Porter or, of course, the continuing legend that is Richie Havens.

And as always, it was the solid build and great sound of a Guild acoustic model that was so prized.