Apparently there was a time when Epiphone and Gibson were one, but it was a time of trouble. During the 30’s, before Epiphone moved across the sea to Japan, their people - actually hired by Gibson - decided to go out on strike for better bread. The Guild people decided ta hire these striking Epiphone employees because they wanted to make a fine acoustic guitar. So into the Guild factory went some of the finest craftsmen this country had to offer.

But success was not instant. For its acoustic guitar line, Guild decided to copy Martin, not an unpopular idea among gqitar companies. It was the Martin dreadnaught line, with the “X” bracing system. They used the same scale length. But they cut the price in half and left to individuality the Guild headstock, bridge, pickguard and hardware. Now you could get a Martin-looking, almost Martin-sounding guitar for about half the price.