GF30 and beyond!

[david19361]

Hi guys, I am the proud owner of a Guild F112 having let a 412 go a few years back. I also have recently purchased a 1990 Westerly GF30. Would have loved to have found a GF50/55/60 but alas...still looking though.

The GF30 I have is all original and no elctronics-I have a Sunrise pickup but wondering if there is any suggestions out there for a great pickup to complement this guitar? Baggs anyone?? Also in terms of string brand any help would be gratefully appreciated-I usually use Daddario EJ16 or Martins...

 

[dane]

You had, and still have some nice guitars. You’ll find that we have a lot of great folks here all willing to help you out and flame the GAS fires. As far as a pickup goes…well your probably going to get as many different suggestions as a horse got hairs. But my vote for now is a K&K Western Mini. Strings I would stick with the EJ16, but we have some here that swear by John Pierce 80/20’s. I have yet to try them. Hope this helps.

Dane

 

[dane]

Just noticed your join date. You’ve been lurking for a while haven’t you.

 

[david19361]

Lurking?? Who me?? Guilty 8) ...but for good reason though. I have been trying to find a Guild 6 string for ages and been searching the forum for comments. Finally settled on the GF30-but would love to try a 50 on up. Being in Oz means there are not many chances to do so particularly if you are looking for Westerly RI.

I have a 1976 Sada Yairi dreadnought Model 850 and a hand made OM Vintage style with Engelmann top by a local Aussie luthier-Michael Palm-both are RW back and sides and I even hear that the Yairi may even be Jacaranda.

Thank you for the welcome and hope to be able to contibute in a meaningful way.

 

[fungusyoung]

Hi guys, I am the proud owner of a Guild F112 having let a 412 go a few years back. I also have recently purchased a 1990 Westerly GF30. Would have loved to have found a GF50/55/60 but alas...still looking though.

The GF30 I have is all original and no elctronics-I have a Sunrise pickup but wondering if there is any suggestions out there for a great pickup to complement this guitar? Baggs anyone?? Also in terms of string brand any help would be gratefully appreciated-I usually use Daddario EJ16 or Martins...

Nice guitars! I also have an F112 and a GF30...I'll be acclimated with the GF30 beginning this weekend & really look forward to it. I'm a fan of D'addario's myself, but strings are always subjective. I find that the standard Martins deaden faster, but they sound pretty great while they're alive. I've also used John Pearse's, and they're real good too.

Have you tried the Sunrise with the GF30 yet? What type of use will the guitar see, solo acoustic, louder full band stuff or something in between? Personally, I'm a huge fan of K&K Pure Western Mini's. I'll be installing one of those in my GF30 (already have a K&K Pure Western Standard in the F112) within the next month or so. They are amazing natural/woody sounding pickups, and they are very inexpensive given the tonal quality. No need for batteries, etc. so it's low maintenance, too. The only thing I would not recommend a K&K for is louder stage volume work because they can feedback in that situation.

That all said, I'd love to try a Sunrise one day... I'd imagine they would be real good in smaller bodied guitars based on the tones I've heard Jeff Tweedy get out of his.

Good luck with the search!

 

[david19361]

Haven't tried the Sunrise yet but have used with mike. I play a solo and duo to a lesser extent-no band. Mainly soft/medium strumming some fingerstyle. It seems the K&K does get a good rap. I think I will try that too and compare against the Sunrise. I hear the new Baggs is very good too. Spot on with the Martin strings-have you tried the Guild strings?

 

[Scratch]

+4 on the K&K Pure Western Mini. Belated welcome; love to see some pics of the GF-30...

 

[krysh]

welcome david. great taste in guitars.
but you have to obey the 1st forum rule:
IT DID NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT PICTURES!
:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

regarding strings, a lot of guys praise the john pearse strings on accoustics. I like them, too, though I am more a lecci.

 

[john_kidder]

have you tried the Guild strings?

Love those GF guitars.

I'm under the impression that past Guild-labelled strings were made by d'Addario?

 

[adorshki]

have you tried the Guild strings?

Love those GF guitars.

I'm under the impression that past Guild-labelled strings were made by d'Addario?

Yah Welcome aboard Dave.. My personal faves are D'addarios. Many threads bout strings here. I couldn't use search just now to post a link but in September there was reference to Guild using D'addario as their supplier in "the Westerly Era" and going to another house owned by Fender after the move to Corona. I think the D'addario connection is confirmed by the fact that Guild used to list the string specs for the "L350 light gauge" as having an .025 D string. Shortly after the move to Corona Fender changed the sets to have an .024 D, which is virtually all I can find when I shop for strings, EXCEPT for Daddario still offering an .025 as a single. When I first got a set of the "new gauge" I noticed something wasn't the same and then saw the change in the D string spec. For me it was a tangible difference. Shopped around a little and found a bunch of the "old" sets on sale and stocked up. Still have 2 sets left for the D25 but I string the D40 with Daddarios (EJ16) and I think they really are what was originally in the Guild packages.

 

[david19361]

have you tried the Guild strings?

Love those GF guitars.

I'm under the impression that past Guild-labelled strings were made by d'Addario?

Yah Welcome aboard Dave.. My personal faves are D'addarios. Many threads bout strings here. I couldn't use search just now to post a link but in September there was reference to Guild using D'addario as their supplier in "the Westerly Era" and going to another house owned by Fender after the move to Corona. I think the D'addario connection is confirmed by the fact that Guild used to list the string specs for the "L350 light gauge" as having an .025 D string. Shortly after the move to Corona Fender changed the sets to have an .024 D, which is virtually all I can find when I shop for strings, EXCEPT for Daddario still offering an .025 as a single. When I first got a set of the "new gauge" I noticed something wasn't the same and then saw the change in the D string spec. For me it was a tangible difference. Shopped around a little and found a bunch of the "old" sets on sale and stocked up. Still have 2 sets left for the D25 but I string the D40 with Daddarios (EJ16) and I think they really are what was originally in the Guild packages.

That's great!! thanks for the info and help. D'addario's it is I think. I'll try the EJ16s.

 

[david19361]

welcome david. great taste in guitars.
but you have to obey the 1st forum rule:
IT DID NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT PICTURES!
:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

regarding strings, a lot of guys praise the john pearse strings on accoustics. I like them, too, though I am more a lecci.

Don't want to break any forum rules :wink: Ok I will try to upload some pics. Any tips for uploading-(I haven't done this before on this website so any tips would be appreciated). Cheers

 

[killdeer43]

Don't want to break any forum rules :wink: Ok I will try to upload some pics. Any tips for uploading-(I haven't done this before on this website so any tips would be appreciated). Cheers

Welcome, David.
I can see by this initial banter that you're off and running! Great guitars, too! And more to come? You're GASsed!

As far as posting pics, I'm very comfortable with imageshack, and although I am NOT a stockholder and receive no compensation for this recommendation, I'll take it if they send it. :wink:

Joe

 

[Gruhn Loon]

Hey there david19361,

Always good to have one more fan of the GF series in this forum. Enjoy your GF30!

 

[david19361]

Hey there david19361,

Always good to have one more fan of the GF series in this forum. Enjoy your GF30!

Thanks GL!! Do you mind me asking where you were able to acquire your GFs? (Being in Australia there aren't too many available to compare/contrast).

 

[david19361]

Don't want to break any forum rules :wink: Ok I will try to upload some pics. Any tips for uploading-(I haven't done this before on this website so any tips would be appreciated). Cheers

Welcome, David.
I can see by this initial banter that you're off and running! Great guitars, too! And more to come? You're GASsed!

As far as posting pics, I'm very comfortable with imageshack, and although I am NOT a stockholder and receive no compensation for this recommendation, I'll take it if they send it. :wink:

Joe

More to come? I don't know about that :roll: . I have sold over a dozen in the last year or so to get the inventory down to a more manageable number. I have sold off numerous big name acoustics and electrics to what what you see in my signature block...but gassing for a GF in rosewood.

 

[Gruhn Loon]

All three of my GF's were ebay purchases from four to five years ago. A friend, teacher, and Guild aficionado found two of them and I happened onto the third. I'm still thanking him for his help and suggestions since I knew absolutely nothing about guitars when I was started looking. He put a Guild in my hands during a lesson and it was clear he really did know.

Loon