Guild

Guild

98

Also known as: Guild Guitar Company, Guild Guitars

Unclaimed

Guild Guitar Company was founded in 1952 by Alfred Dronge, a professional guitarist and music store owner, and George Mann, a former executive at Epiphone. The company started in Manhattan, New York, drawing heavily on former Epiphone craftsmen, and initially focused on hollowbody electric archtop guitars rooted in Dronge's jazz background. Through the 1950s, Guild expanded into flat-top acoust...

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Guild Guitar Company was founded in 1952 by Alfred Dronge, a professional guitarist and music store owner, and George Mann, a former executive at Epiphone. The company started in Manhattan, New York, drawing heavily on former Epiphone craftsmen, and initially focused on hollowbody electric archtop guitars rooted in Dronge's jazz background. Through the 1950s, Guild expanded into flat-top acoustic guitars and built a roster of artist endorsees through Dronge's deep connections in the New York jazz world.

Guild is best known for two distinct product lines: its acoustic dreadnought and jumbo guitars — particularly the D-series (D-40, D-50, D-55) and the large-body F-series — which earned a reputation as serious competitors to Martin and Gibson acoustics, and its electric guitars, especially the Starfire semi-hollow and the S-100 solidbody. The Starfire line found a devoted following among blues and rock players, while the S-100 became closely associated with Kim Thayil of Soundgarden, who credited the guitar with shaping the sound of Seattle grunge. Richie Havens famously opened the 1969 Woodstock festival playing a Guild D-40, one of the most iconic performances in the instrument's history.

Over its history Guild has changed ownership several times, with production moving from New York to Westerly, Rhode Island under the Avnet Corporation in the 1960s, and later passing through Fender and Córdoba Music Group before landing under Yamaha Guitar Group. The brand maintains a USA-made line alongside imported models, and continues to produce acoustic and electric guitars, basses, and amplifiers.

Guild has 533 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Steel-string Acoustic Guitars, Acoustic-Electric Guitars, and Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars. Their gear is featured by 514 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Pop, and Folk, World, & Country. Notable users include Eric Clapton, Slash, and Kim Thayil. Guild's catalog spans the full price spectrum — from entry-level options to high-end flagships.

Artists Who Use Guild

Eric Clapton uses 10 Guild products

Eric Clapton

Guitarist · Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

Slash uses 6 Guild products

Slash

Guitarist · Guns N' Roses

Kim Thayil uses 6 Guild products

Kim Thayil

Guitarist · Soundgarden

John Rzeznik uses 5 Guild products

John Rzeznik

Singer, Guitarist · Goo Goo Dolls

Daniel Rossen uses 5 Guild products

Daniel Rossen

Singer, Guitarist · Grizzly Bear

Humberto Gessinger uses 5 Guild products

Humberto Gessinger

Singer, Guitarist · Engenheiros do Hawaii

Buddy Guy uses 4 Guild products

Buddy Guy

Singer, Guitarist · Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

Tom Renaud uses 4 Guild products

Tom Renaud

Guitarist · Lord Huron

John Denver uses 4 Guild products

John Denver

Singer, Guitarist · The Chad Mitchell Trio

Billie Joe Armstrong uses 3 Guild products

Billie Joe Armstrong

Singer, Guitarist · Green Day

J Mascis uses 3 Guild products

J Mascis

Singer, Guitarist · Dinosaur Jr

Mike Campbell uses 3 Guild products

Mike Campbell

Guitarist · Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Paul Weller uses 3 Guild products

Paul Weller

Singer, Guitarist · The Style Council

Patrick Stump uses 3 Guild products

Patrick Stump

Drummer, Guitarist · Fall Out Boy

Paul Stanley uses 3 Guild products

Paul Stanley

Singer, Guitarist · Kiss

Ángel Parra uses 3 Guild products

Ángel Parra

Guitarist, Composer · Los Tres

Avril Lavigne uses 3 Guild products

Avril Lavigne

Singer, Guitarist · Avril Lavigne (Band)

Dave Davies uses 3 Guild products

Dave Davies

Composer, Guitarist · The Kinks

Wesley Schultz uses 3 Guild products

Wesley Schultz

Guitarist, Singer · The Lumineers

Peter Tork uses 3 Guild products

Peter Tork

Singer, Bassist · The Monkees

Community setups featuring Guild

Show yours
erikg22

erikg22

GearIQ 132

sacha_il_bove_show

sacha_il_bove_show

GearIQ 937

strangebrew68_77

strangebrew68_77

GearIQ 421

aravin_dhillon

aravin_dhillon

GearIQ 1762

nsemest182

nsemest182

GearIQ 673

goddamfreezer

goddamfreezer

GearIQ 329

ed_lara

ed_lara

GearIQ 144

james_scott_bullard

james_scott_bullard

GearIQ 102

aravin_dhillon

aravin_dhillon

GearIQ 1762

thelibraryisonfire

thelibraryisonfire

GearIQ 175

holdengarciamusic

holdengarciamusic

GearIQ 446

B

brandon_hicks

GearIQ 60

stokkersmusicalinstruments

stokkersmusicalinstruments

GearIQ 158

J

jason_gutierrez

GearIQ 117

holdengarciamusic

holdengarciamusic

GearIQ 446

guitarslinger78

guitarslinger78

GearIQ 310

M

mats_pettersborg

GearIQ 135

steve_messenger

steve_messenger

GearIQ 237

john_rebel

john_rebel

GearIQ 271

M

mike_kane

GearIQ 57

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