Fort Worth Guitar Guild is a 501(c)3 non-profit arts organization based in Fort Worth, Texas. It is devoted to creating and promoting music and art. The Guild Guitar Company was established in 1952 by Alfred Dronge, a guitarist and music store owner, and George Mann, a former Epiphone Guitar Company executive. Guild electric guitars were manufactured outside the United States, usually from the Super-Strat line.
These new Guild guitars from the GAD series could be identified with number 1 as the first number of the model number. In the 1980s, Guild introduced a series of Superstrat solid boxes, which included models such as the Flyer, Aviator, Liberator and Detonator, the Tele style T-200 and T-250 (backed by Roy Buchanan), and the Pilot Bass, available in fretless, 4- and 5-string versions. Notable was also the Guild 12-string guitar, which used a Jumbo F body and two truss rods on the neck to produce a powerful instrument with a deep, rich tone. At the end of 2001, Fender decided to close the Westerly, Rhode Island factory and moved all Guild production to its factory in Corona (California). FMIC did not decide to create this line with a different brand, but instead left it as a new series of Guild guitars. In the first production versions, the bar cover was stamped with the stylized word “Guild” and the model number of the DeArmond reissue, and on the back of the headstock the inscription “DeArmond by Guild” appeared above the guitar serial number. The hard shell material was replaced with a high-end synthetic alligator leather material with a wrinkled velvet inner padding. Cordoba Music Group (CMG) stepped in and acquired the rights to the Guild brand and began setting up a new manufacturing plant in Oxnard, California.
This plant is led by Ren Ferguson, a Gibson student, as vice president of manufacturing and R&D.So that Corona facilities could be dedicated to acoustic and casket guitars production, artisans and workers of Westerly factory prepared guitar “kits” that they sent to Corona. The Fort Worth Guitar Guild is an incredible organization that has been around for decades. It has been owned and operated by some of the most influential people in music history. From Alfred Dronge and George Mann who founded it in 1952 to Fender who moved production to Corona in 2001 to Cordoba Music Group who bought it in 2020 - each owner has had an impact on its success. Alfred Dronge was an experienced guitarist and music store owner who wanted to create an organization that would promote music and art. He partnered with George Mann who had previously worked for Epiphone Guitar Company.
Together they created Guild electric guitars which were manufactured outside of the United States. In 1980s Guild introduced Superstrat solid boxes which included models such as Flyer, Aviator, Liberator and Detonator. They also released Tele style T-200 and T-250 backed by Roy Buchanan as well as Pilot Bass available in fretless, 4-string and 5-string versions. The most notable model was 12-string guitar which used Jumbo F body with two truss rods on neck for powerful sound. At end of 2001 Fender decided to close Westerly Rhode Island factory and moved all production to Corona California. They left it as new series of Guild guitars without creating different brand. In 2020 Cordoba Music Group stepped in and bought rights to Guild brand establishing new manufacturing plant in Oxnard California led by Ren Ferguson - Gibson student as vice president of manufacturing and R&D.The Fort Worth Guitar Guild is an amazing organization that has been around for many years.
It has been owned by some of the most influential people in music history who have helped shape its success. From Alfred Dronge and George Mann who founded it in 1952 to Fender who moved production to Corona in 2001 to Cordoba Music Group who bought it in 2020 - each owner has had an impact on its success.
