GF-30

[dapmdave]

I recently bought an '87 GF-30 from LTG member MrBoZiffer. I don't feel like I've had it long enough at this point to offer a full LTG review, but I do have to say it's a great guitar. The GF body is very comfortable, the blonde maple works well, and the guitar just sounds and plays great. This guitar is the best acoustic I've ever had for quickly and easily grabbing a good F barre chord from an open chord. I guess it's the neck. It has a nice slim profile - almost an electric guitar neck, really.

What strikes me the most is how the guitar fills the room with sound without seeming loud or harsh in any way. My D-25 (born 5/87) and the GF-30 (born 4/87) are about as different from each other as any two guitars could be. I'm sure it'll fill the niche it was intended for.

I had it in to my luthier buddy last night for a fret dressing, some general tweaking, and a thorough cleaning. Also installed a new set of bone bridge pins. I don't want to imply that MrBoZiffer sent me a dirty or worn out guitar, by the way. It was really good out of the box. But this tweaking & cleaning on a recent acquisition is just something I like to do.

And it's nice to have a blonde back in the house. 8)

edit for some pics:

Dave

 

[Siwash]

What do you do with her? flatpicking, fingerpicking?

 

[dapmdave]

What do you do with her? flatpicking, fingerpicking?

I'm a flat-picker mostly.

(soundlick link below will bring you to my "stuff")

Dave

 

[twocorgis]

That's a beautiful blonde you've got there Dave! Play her in good health. 8)

 

[adorshki]

YAH, P-U-U-U-R-D-Y!!!! The neck shot is one those pics that make me wish it was right in front of me to touch and feel and...I'll just stop now. :lol:

 

[evenkeel]

**

 

[bluesypicky]

Kewl Dave, how does it compare to your ex-blonde?

 

[12stringer]

Nice Guitar Dave! I'm getting Gas pains :shock:
JUST HEARD YOUR VERSION OF tHE WEIGHT....GREAT JOB!!!!!

 

[Treem]

I had a 91 GF30. Boy, what a awesome guitar and a great slim and fast neck! And has a growl like a rosewood!

Congratulations Gentlemen! :mrgreen:

 

[West R Lee]

She's a beauty Dave.

West

 

[dapmdave]

Kewl Dave, how does it compare to your ex-blonde?

Thanks, guys. Nothing like a new guitar in the house, right?

But... how does it compare to the D-30? It seems different, but that delicacy of tone is similar. The D-30 was somehow more "agressive", where the GF is not. But I haven't played it that much, yet. Does it make any sense to say that it seems like the GF wants a slightly different playing technique?

And by the way, I went with a friend to buy this guitar (viewtopic.php?f=15&t=23222 ) tonight. It came up for sale right after I bought the GF. The JF is truly like a brand-new guitar! :shock: :shock: Literally a time capsule. My buddy bought it with pleasure.

Dave

 

[learnintoplay62]

Hi Dave . Shes a beauty :wink: I love the top color, especially.
Congrats. Post some tunes soon

 

[tjmangum]

Glad to hear it worked out well for you. I think the GF-30 is another one of Guild's treasures we all luck into in one way or another. No matter who was at the helm at Guild, it seemed they were always trying something different, new and unique. While Martin and Gibson seemed to just keep cranking out variations, if that, of their same old standard guitars, Guild was trying different woods and designs.
Enjoy!
Terry

 

[dapmdave]

Glad to hear it worked out well for you. I think the GF-30 is another one of Guild's treasures we all luck into in one way or another. No matter who was at the helm at Guild, it seemed they were always trying something different, new and unique. While Martin and Gibson seemed to just keep cranking out variations, if that, of their same old standard guitars, Guild was trying different woods and designs.
Enjoy!
Terry

I agree, Terry. It's interesting to see how many guitars Guild made, and to find the gems among them.

Dave

 

[killdeer43]

Great looking guitar, Dave, and I like the concept of searching for those Guild gems.
I've let a few go but I know that the next one is out there waiting for me to find it.

Super photos, too, BTW! :wink:

Joe

 

[MrBoZiffer]

Glad you like it!

I agree about the neck, it plays a bit like an electric. For some reason the board radius didn't feel as flat as it measured... if that makes any sense. It was hard to decide to sell it, because I don't recall ever playing an acoustic with that kind of neck.

I thought it had a nice warmth to the sound that, honestly, I wasn't really expecting when I got it. That's the only GF I've played, but if the others are like that then they truly are a well kept secret.

 

[MrBoZiffer]

By the way, when I bought that GF-30 I was trying to choose between it and another one listed at Gruhn's. Gruhn had an '87 as well, but it had a pickup. It was also a good bit more expensive, so I went with that one.

Anyway, Gruhn's site mentioned that the GF-30 was a Gruhn design during his time. I'm not all that familiar with what all he did and didn't do with Guild, but if he had a hand in the GF-30, I'd say job well done!

 

[Scratch]

Sweet guitar, Dave. Something special about that GF body... Congrats!

 

[micklevanon]

Great looking guitar, congrats. Play her well.

I hope you'll pardon the nieve question though, what's the difference between a GF-30 and a JF-30? They look remarkably similar.

cheers
m

 

[hansmoust]

I hope you'll pardon the nieve question though, what's the difference between a GF-30 and a JF-30? They look remarkably similar.

cheers
m

Hello Mike,

You would see the difference if you had them next to each other.
The GF-30 is 16" wide across the lower bout, while the JF-30 is 17" wide.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl