finally maybe a Guild owner...

[comradebob]

After 2 DeArmond electrics (neither of which will ever leave my grasp), and decades of admiring Guild acoustics, I've had it. Popped a bid on a demo GAD F40P on EvilBay. I would've loved to nab a Westerly or Hoboken, but the dinero's just a tad short for that. Anyhow... any opinions on the F40P's? Should I beg to cancel the bid?

 

[bluesypicky]

After 2 DeArmond electrics (neither of which will ever leave my grasp), and decades of admiring Guild acoustics, I've had it. Popped a bid on a demo GAD F40P on EvilBay. I would've loved to nab a Westerly or Hoboken, but the dinero's just a tad short for that. Anyhow... any opinions on the F40P's? Should I beg to cancel the bid?

Don't know much about GAD's, only thing I've heard from owners is that they tend to be inconsistent in quality, but I'm sure some feedback will pop up shortly...... 8)
The F40 sounds good anyway :wink:

 

[JerryR]

Welcome Comrade Bob - 'fraid I know diddly squat about GADs either - but then my guitar knowledge is strictly limited anyway :mrgreen:

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

I had a GAD JF-48 for about a year.
It was a nice mahogany/spruce jumbo and sounded very good.
It had that Guild sound to it.
I got it with the Amber Burst finish, and never got to liking the burst, so I sold it and moved on.
I thought that it was a very good guitar for the money.
I sold it for $100.00 less that I payed for it new.
I thought that I got a good price for it.
The new owner lover it.

 

[chazmo]

Welcome to the Guild fold, Bob. Congrats!

 

[12stringer]

I have not heard the F40 but here are some folks who have http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Acoustic+Guitar/product/Guild/GAD+F40P/10/1
They seem to be impressed.
I just recently brought home a GAD-25Nat and just love it (and I am pretty picky when it comes to guitars). For the money you get a wonderful Guild sound that's as close as you will get to a USA made Guild. You could try and get a used USA Guild, but there is the risk of getting someone elses wreck that needs another $400-$800 work done to it to get it into useable shape.
The members on this site often offer guitars for sale and this is really the best way to make sure you get a good used USA Guild unless there is a reputable store in your area that deals in used guitars and offers some kind of warranty.
IMHO the GAD is a good way to get introduced to Guild. Now Guild has brand new USA models coming out of New Hartford and they are fantastic, and although they are well worth the price, you need a lot of coin to pony up for one.
Hope this has helped in some way...and Welcome to LTG! :wink:

 

[fronobulax]

Welcome, comrade.

 

[comradebob]

Many thanks for the welcomes & the info!

One particular question I've got about the F40: dreadnoughts don't work for me comfort-wise, on account of they hit my ribcage wrong. (Probably my poor posture.) I've already got a jumbo, an old Gretsch Historic that's maybe nothing special but suits me, so I was after a somewhat smaller-bodied alternative non-dread acoustic. I never found enough specs on the 40 to get an idea of how indented they are at the waist, versus a dread. I know the description is "grand orchestra", but a pal of mine thinks it looks mighty dread-like. I'm of course hoping he's wrong. Y'all who have played a 40- what would you say on this burning issue?

See, this is what I get for bidding on a guitar w/o ever seeing it...

Again, thanks to all.

 

[Ridgemont]

I highly doubt that the F40 will be too dread-like. I always got the impression that they were slightly larger (in the lower bout) than the OM style F30 or GAD 30. The depth of the guitars should be similar. Of course I am no expert.....

Well, as far as the GAD line goes, they sound great when they are not broken :shock: (viewtopic.php?f=5&t=15420). I have a hog GAD 30 which is the most comfortable guitar I have (so it gets most of the playing time). I have had it for about 6 months and a brace came loose, so now it rattles everytime I play. As far as build and construction, I have heard very few to no complaints, and I had none until this incident. Most likely, the construction of the one you are interested in will be fine, but everything has the possibility of breaking. The sound is amazing on mine, but they are spotty so I would suggest playing before you buy. If you get a good one, it is the best value outside of a used American Guild.

 

[spiderman]

I have played only one GAD a maple jumbo, although one shop here has a bunch of the orchestra type models which don't interest me, since I prefer big guitars. You can see in my signature where the GAD jumbo went. It is a very bright sounding guitar for a jumbo, certainly compared to the JF55 (rosewood) which has a deeper more complex sound. I really like the GAD, fits my singing voice well. By the way, GAD jumbos are slightly smaller (~16.5" lower bout vs. 17" for US made), slightly shallower also compared to US made.


Harmony H-173 bought in 1960 (retired)
Alvarez AC60S
Eastman AC320ce BOOKMATCHING BOOKMATCHING WE DON'T NEED NO STINKING BOOKMATCHING!
http://www.massstreetmusic.com/store/sh ... id-Cutaway
GAD-JF30E(blonde)
JF55 1997

 

[comradebob]

Thanks, Ridgemont & Spider. I read your GAD-30 thread, Ridge, & I can but hope that if I end up winning the 40, it ain't a rattler. If you don't mind saying, what was the final outcome on your 30? (And a distant-neighborly wave - I'm up around Wichita Falls.) Shapewise, just judging from photos I don't think the 40 looks dreadish at all - I think my pal's hallucinating. Again.

Later-acquired info- the 40's seller sent me the waist width: 9.25 inches. In case that's of use to anyone.

 

[Ridgemont]

Thanks, Ridgemont & Spider. I read your GAD-30 thread, Ridge, & I can but hope that if I end up winning the 40, it ain't a rattler. If you don't mind saying, what was the final outcome on your 30? (And a distant-neighborly wave - I'm up around Wichita Falls.) Shapewise, just judging from photos I don't think the 40 looks dreadish at all - I think my pal's hallucinating. Again.

Well, that has yet to be seen. I am still waiting for a response from Guild as to what they are willing to do. I will keep everyone up to date on my "rattling" thread.