Guild F30R information request

[kostask]

Hi,

I was a high bidder on a Guild F30R (see the listing here):
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300160203232&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=020

and would like to get some information on this model, if anybody knows anything (unfortunately, Hans' book, which I do have, stops at 1977). My questions are:

1. From the Gruhn book on guitar values (2nd Ed.), it shows the last year the F30R was produced was 1995, but it doesn't go much past 1997. I did see a source that said that F30Rs may have been produced in 1998/1999. Anybody know for sure. I have requested the serial number, but it hasn't arrived yet.

2. From the same Gruhn book, the F30R appears to be 15 1/2" (about Martin OM size) at the lower bout, and a 25 1/2" scale. but that is it for the dirmensions I can find. Anybody
anybody know what the nut width is, or the string spacing at the bridge?

I bid on it knowing about the crack mentioned in the listing, but I have a great luthier who can address this quite well, so this doesn't really concern me. It is really unclear as to wheter this is a finish crack, or a seam separation, but either will be fixed properly, I have no doubt.

Kostas

 

[Graham]

Hi Kostas,

From the picks it looks like a GAD-30. Pick gard and inlay look like the GAD line as well.

Nut width according to the Guild site is 1 3/4"

 

[sitka_spruce]

Hi Kostas,

From the picks it looks like a GAD-30. Pick gard and inlay look like the GAD line as well.

Nut width according to the Guild site is 1 3/4"

Graham is right: that is unmisstakably a GAD Guild - fingers X-ed it's one of the better ones. Another appointment of telling its origin is by the shape of the bridge that is straight and not the small belly or horned belly bridges common on other Guilds.

If unsatisfied with the item you can actually claim you got the wrong item. The auction should have said GAD-30R, not F-30R.

Word of warning: In some auctions GADs are described as 'rare', 'unique' and what-else so don't be fooled when bidding on Ebay and similar sites!

 

[bluegrass jubilee]

definitely a GAD. the pickguard is a giveaway

 

[kostask]

Hi,

Thanks to all, it is my inattention in calling it an F-30R, the seller called it a Guild 30R. I hope it is a good one, I actually talked to the seller, and he said that it actually sounded better than most of the ones he has sold in the past (he has a music store), for whatever that is worth. He seemed actually surprised that it went for as little as it did. He said that the finish crack doesn't extend into the wood, so that is a good sign. Even if it isn't a great example, it could probably be used as just a stage guitar, as it has a pickup (although I will probably change it out for a Dtar Wasfenght anyway).

Thanks for all the information and concern.

Kostas

 

[coastie99]

Dtar Wasfenghtn.

Was he/she a character in the last Star Wars movie ?

 

[kostask]

Good one, nice sense of humor.

That should be DTAR Wavelength. Please pardon the very poor spelling.

Kostas

 

[coastie99]

Hard to pass up a chance for some silliness, Kostas !

Hope you'll enjoy your new guitar.

 

[capnjuan]

I thought he was break-dancing in German .... what was that old VW ad campaign .... FarFigNewton ...????

 

[coastie99]

Was fenghtn sort of VW is a Fignewton ??

 

[capnjuan]

Was fenghtn sort of VW is a Fignewton ??

Fahrfignugen .... from a web page: "...means something like "pleasure in driving" and was either popularized or made up by Volkswagen in an advertising campaign.

Alternative spelling: Fahrvergnügen

VW's intention wasn't that you drive it but rather more like a 'driving boner' induced by driving their cars...

 

[coastie99]

Ah, I see !

Like: "Look Gretel, I have a fahrfignugen in my liederhosen".

Think I'd rather look around the interior of Fig Newton's liederhosen !

 

[coastie99]

Quelle horreur !!

Fig Newton: I'm thinkin' of Juice Newton !!

Wadda mistakea to makea !

See, that Coastie's a cunning linguist ! 3 foreign languages no less !

 

[capnjuan]

Quelle horreur !!Fig Newton: I'm thinkin' of Juice Newton !! Wadda mistakea to makea ! See, that Coastie's a cunning linguist ! 3 foreign languages no less !

You may have overlooked Olivia FigNewton John and, only remotely, Wayne FigNewton ... although only US Senators from the upper mid-west might be interested in looking in his pants....

 

[coastie99]

Krysh and Dietmar !

A killer line for your next composition.........

"Ach, Gretschen ! I have ze bonen in mein liederhosen".

It could be huge !

Olivia Neutron-Bomb !! Yes please !

 

[capnjuan]

Krysh and Dietmar ! A killer line for your next composition........."Ach, Gretschen ! I have ze bonen in mein liederhosen".
It could be huge ! Olivia Neutron-Bomb !! Yes please !

I'll have her call you; you can pick her up in Wellington with your liederhosen on ... or off ...

 

[kostask]

Hi

Just thought I'd post a follow up on the eBay GAD 30R.

The guitar came in a Taylor arched top case (brown tolex0 not the original GAD tweed case. I have not isse with this, the case is extremely solid, and the guitar fits really well.

The crack does exend into the wood, this will be getting fixed as soon as my luthier has some time. Its really not that critical, as it passes over a brace (the brace is solid).

Guitar was somewhat dried out; a couple of days at 48% humidity fixed that nicely.

Guitar actually sounded really lousy when I got it, despite the new appearing strings. Not knowing what it was strung with, I decided to replace the strings with GHS Signature Lights. In the process of doing that, it became apparent that the tuning machines on the bass side (all 3) were very loose. I tightened down the E and the A tuners, but the D needed to have toothpicks inserted into the holes in the headstock. Tightened everything down.

Sound is now very nice. I hear a lot of note separation, and nice, even delicate trebles. Bass is good and tight. In general, I would call the guitar very lively, and quite punchy and it is a good alternative to the dreads (including the DV-52) and Jumbos (F-50R) that I play. It doesn't have the power of the other guitars, but power is not always needed.

Fingerboard feels to be a little tight for the 1 3/4" its supposed to be. Might be related to the relatively thin (front to back) neck. I shouldn't have any trouble getting used to this, and I already like the sound.

Still to be done: Have the crack fixed, have the luthier look over the tuner fix with the toothpick, and replace the Mighty Mite pickup system with something better.

Kostas

 

[john_kidder]

Hi

the tuning machines on the bass side (all 3) were very loose. I tightened down the E and the A tuners, but the D needed to have toothpicks inserted into the holes in the headstock. Tightened everything down.

Surely not factory original tuners then? If so, what appalling quality control. Toothpicks? Not what we've been hearing in most cases about the plant in China?

 

[kostask]

I think they were factory tuners (Grover Sta-Tites in chrome), somebody just got over zealous in tightening up the screws, and ended up enlarging the holes so much that the screws, on their own didn't have any grip on the headstock. This would have been called stripped threads if it was a metal to metal connection, I don't know what it is called when it it s a screw going into a wooden headstock connection (I mean besides idiotic). I was almost inclined to return the guiter, but my luthier buddy said that I should keep it, based on tone alone. He said that I basically ended up with a guitar better than most Martin OM-28s/42s, for $320, and that you don't often do better than that. He considers the issues quite minor.

To be clear, I added the toothpicks to the two screwholes for the D tuner, as a temporary repair. My luthier buddy will be filling in the holes with mahogany, and re-drilling the holes for a permanent fix, when he addresses the soundboard crack, and sets the guitar up.

All in all, a better than expected deal, even with the issues.

Kostas