The Retro Rocker
Member
Hey guys,
Don't know much about Guild Jumbos, but I was in a well-known "rare vintage guitar store" here in So Cal and stumbled upon a well-used F-50...spruce top, maple all around, arched back! A real CANNON! LOUD, but such a sweet tone, even with old strings. And beautiful! I was in LOVE! Then I noticed the thing has a prob where the neck meets the body...so much so that the high e string...high octave 12th fret...frets out. Doesn't make a note at all. And the other strings are "buzzy" right there. But at around 2600.00, yikes! Too rich for my blood.
But it DID awaken my curiosity, and now I am on the search for a used Guild Jumbo as my next guitar.
In doing some research, it seems I have more choices than I thought.
One thing that confused me was the backs. It seems the jumbos with a maple arched back do not need internal bracing on the backs. But the ones with rosewood DO seem to have bracing...and not arched. Is that correct?
Also...is the 'cannon-like volume" on the one I played because of the non-braced, arched back? I also love the look of the maple and spruce...and the inlays on the fretboard...and the more ornate headstock.
Then there are other models that seem to share dimensions and materials...just maybe not the same trim? This is where it gets confusing for me...F-30, F-40, F-50...then I saw a JF-65 (sweet!), JF-30...and a few others. F?, JF? Roswood non-arched and braced...maple laminated, arched, non-braced. Then some have pickups, some not.
A bit confusing!
And the prices are ALL OVER THE PLACE!
Reverb has a few...seems like a cool site (new to me!)...and ebay has a few here and there.
Whatever I get, It'll get some sort of pick-up/preamp to be able to play live. Either factory or aftermarket.
I'm just confused about the differences in model numbers...and then there's the different factories they were made in over the years. Tacoma, Rhode island, Westerly? I prefer USA made.
Are there any "Jumbo experts" on the forum here?
--Thanks,
--Steve
Don't know much about Guild Jumbos, but I was in a well-known "rare vintage guitar store" here in So Cal and stumbled upon a well-used F-50...spruce top, maple all around, arched back! A real CANNON! LOUD, but such a sweet tone, even with old strings. And beautiful! I was in LOVE! Then I noticed the thing has a prob where the neck meets the body...so much so that the high e string...high octave 12th fret...frets out. Doesn't make a note at all. And the other strings are "buzzy" right there. But at around 2600.00, yikes! Too rich for my blood.
But it DID awaken my curiosity, and now I am on the search for a used Guild Jumbo as my next guitar.
In doing some research, it seems I have more choices than I thought.
One thing that confused me was the backs. It seems the jumbos with a maple arched back do not need internal bracing on the backs. But the ones with rosewood DO seem to have bracing...and not arched. Is that correct?
Also...is the 'cannon-like volume" on the one I played because of the non-braced, arched back? I also love the look of the maple and spruce...and the inlays on the fretboard...and the more ornate headstock.
Then there are other models that seem to share dimensions and materials...just maybe not the same trim? This is where it gets confusing for me...F-30, F-40, F-50...then I saw a JF-65 (sweet!), JF-30...and a few others. F?, JF? Roswood non-arched and braced...maple laminated, arched, non-braced. Then some have pickups, some not.
A bit confusing!
And the prices are ALL OVER THE PLACE!
Reverb has a few...seems like a cool site (new to me!)...and ebay has a few here and there.
Whatever I get, It'll get some sort of pick-up/preamp to be able to play live. Either factory or aftermarket.
I'm just confused about the differences in model numbers...and then there's the different factories they were made in over the years. Tacoma, Rhode island, Westerly? I prefer USA made.
Are there any "Jumbo experts" on the forum here?
--Thanks,
--Steve