Guild Announces Expansion Of Custom Shop In Nashville

January 29, 1998 -- Guild Guitars (a division of FMIC) announces the expansion of its Nashville, TN-based Guild Custom Shop to an 8,000 square foot, climate-controlled facility near downtown Nashville.

Guitars crafted by Guild are sought after by musicians from Slash and Waylon Jennings to Deana Carter and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Guild acoustic guitars are known for their carefulIy-balanced tone, similar to the tone balance of fine grand pianos.

The Guild Custom Shop first opened in May 1996 and is modeled after Fender Musical Instrument Corp's (FMIC) successful Custom Shop in Corona, California.

"The new facility allows additional space for both production and raw materials," says Bruce Bolen of Artist Relations for Fender and Guild. "We're concentrating right now on custom-made models of Decos(TM) and Finesses(TM), and will be adding the X700 Stuart(TM) and Artist Award(TM) to our custom roster, along with the D100 and JF100."

At the expanded Custom Shop, Guild personnel will devote additional research and development time to new acoustic and electric models, including jazz guitars.

In November 1995, Fender purchased the 45-year-old guitar manufacturing company, based in Westerly, Rhode Island. Guild was founded in 1952 by Al Dronge, a music store owner and professional guitarist.

Since 1991, Fender has maintained an artist relations office in Nashville. The "Music City, USA"-based staff has worked with hundreds of headlining artists and key musicians in all musical genres. Each Fender Nashville staff member is a musician, designer, and instrument builder.

For more information, visit their web site at www.guildguitars.com.