Guild Guitar Company

Guild ( German: " Guild " or " craft guild " ) is next to Martin and Gibson one of the major U.S. manufacturer of acoustic steel string guitars ( "Western " or " folk guitar " ) and bass guitars; formerly also electric guitars were produced.

History

The company was founded in 1952 by Alfred Dronge and George Mann. The first production facility was located in New York City and was just a hundred square meters. After George man had turned his back a year later the company, Dronge made ​​on alone and was so successful in 1956 that he ( New Jersey) had to move to larger spaces to Hoboken. Here also some of today's most sought Guild guitars were built. During the 1950s and 1960s the company Guild supplied many magnitudes of the music industry and has become increasingly popular. The factory was moved to Rhode Iceland, the office remained in New Jersey. This had the consequence that Dronge, who was a trained pilot, often commuted with his own plane back and forth, where he was killed on May 3, 1972. The now " ownerless " company dragged himself economically through until it was taken over by competitors Fender 1995. The production facility was moved after Corona ( California ), and finally in 2004 to Tacoma (Washington).