Guild F4-CE

[JimbowF212]

Who has one and what are the pros and cons(if any) and would $438.00 be a good price to pay for one? Any help is greatly appreciated and Thanks in advance BTW I am a newbe here and I am glad to be aboard. What do they play like and what about the tone.
Jim

 

[Scratch]

Welcome to LTG, Jim. That is a very reasonable price for an F4-CE if it is in good condition. If you buy, of course we'll all need to see the pics!!!

 

[fronobulax]

Welcome.

I can't answer your questions becuase there are two more strings than I am used to. However to the extent that the B4 and F4 are contemporary and comparable I will note three things. (If I am thinking of the wrong guitar as being comparable, then Never Mind )
1) It is wonderful having the built in electronics and in my case I am happy with the way the acoustic sound is amplified.
2) As an acoustic it can hold its own with one D-25, in a small room but otherwise there is a reason the electronics are there.
3) The prices for B4-Es are falling right now. The ones that are selling on eBay seem to be going in the $400-$500 range. So my uninformed opinion would be that $438 is a good and fair price (depending upon condition) but it is not such a bargain that fellow LTGers will be fighting each other to snap it up if you don't get it.

But what do I know?

 

[Scratch]

Welcome.

I can't answer your questions becuase there are two more strings than I am used to. However to the extent that the B4 and F4 are contemporary and comparable I will note three things. (If I am thinking of the wrong guitar as being comparable, then Never Mind )
1) It is wonderful having the built in electronics and in my case I am happy with the way the acoustic sound is amplified.
2) As an acoustic it can hold its own with one D-25, in a small room but otherwise there is a reason the electronics are there.
3) The prices for B4-Es are falling right now. The ones that are selling on eBay seem to be going in the $400-$500 range. So my uninformed opinion would be that $438 is a good and fair price (depending upon condition) but it is not such a bargain that fellow LTGers will be fighting each other to snap it up if you don't get it.

But what do I know?

+1 with Frono. The F4-CE does not enjoy the same 'cult rep' as a D25... If in great shape (no cracks/serious dings/buckle rash, straight neck, good tuners, working electronics, good bridge etc.) I would cap the F4 around 450.00. Good shape: 300.00 - 350.00...

You can find a vintage Westerly D25 in good shape for about the same asking price these days. 1 1/2 to 2 years or so ago they were going for about another 100.00. The D25 is much boomier, particularly if an archback...

 

[JimbowF212]

Thanks guys,
As for Boominess I have that covered by my two Martins and what I am looking for is a guitar that is thin bodied, and this model is, and one that also has the electronics. I will be playing this instrument at church and I am coming to the conclusion that this may be exactly what I am looking for. I may check and see if it is still available tomorrow and get things rolling. I have my own personal picks when it comes to guitars, Martin and Guild, I don't think they make anything else. DO THEY????

 

[fronobulax]

I have my own personal picks when it comes to guitars, Martin and Guild, I don't think they make anything else. DO THEY????

Gibson? 8)

 

[adorshki]

I have my own personal picks when it comes to guitars, Martin and Guild, I don't think they make anything else. DO THEY????

Gibson? 8)

What means this "Gibson"? :?:

 

[JimbowF212]

Just an update, I bought the Guild F4-ce today and it is being shipped should go out UPS ground Monday and I should have it by Wed or Thurs. I haven't owned a Guild since the late 80's when I stupidly traded off my F-212NT my folks got me in 1975, I don't count my old Maderia as a actual Guild as I don't count the Sigmas as real Martins, so I am chomping at the bit to get this one in and try it out. Can anyone tell me how the playing action is on these, I played an F-5 a long time ago so I can't really remember. I understand the width @ the nut is 1& 5/8ths as opposed to the 1 & 11/16ths I am used to with my Martins so I think it is a little narrower but, what about the string height etc? Anybody got any thoughts??? Oh and BTW I don't put Gibson in the same class with Guild and Martin, I don't care for the ones that start with T either and I don't mean Tacomas.
Jim

 

[workedinwesterly]

congrats on your f4...price seems right.

i'd advise you to check it out carefully...there was a rash of those leaving the factory with the wrong bridge plate. look inside with a mirror...the strings should be roughly in the center of the plate, with 3/4" or so of bridge plate between the strings and the tail end of the guitar.
If the strings are right next to the end of the plate, you'll have a problem....eventually.

 

[Default]

:shock:
Thanks for that tidbit WIW. I still would like to get one of those down the road and you've given me something to watch for.

 

[adorshki]

HI Jimbow, welcome aboard! The F4ce appears to be the entry level counterpart to the F65. (see Westerlyguildguitars.com) so action should be comparable, factory spec 5.5-6 64ths at the 12th on the low E and 4.5-5 64ths on the high E. All of my guitars were at the top end of the specs when brand new from factory and I actually like what some people think of as a high action. The slightly narrower neck doesn't require a whole lot of getting used to but the shallow body did in my case. If the neck is also as thin as the F65's you should be very happy, as are all the F65 owners I know of. F65 came from factory with extra lights (.010-.47). I used .012-.053 for several years and just re-strung with extra lights again and actually prefer that tension on this guitar now.

 

[fronobulax]

I have my own personal picks when it comes to guitars, Martin and Guild, I don't think they make anything else. DO THEY????

Gibson? 8)

What means this "Gibson"? :?:

Gibson Girl.

 

[adorshki]

Gibson? 8)

What means this "Gibson"? :?:

Gibson Girl.

Since you're a Jack Cassady fan and I like your posts too, I will concede that the girls of Gibson do posess their own peculiar attractions... but they are so many and we are so few...it causes me to worry for the fate of our children...

 

[JimbowF212]

Hey All;
Got the F4-CE Wednesday and kept my wife awake playing it I haven't had a chance to take any pics yet but, I will post them ASAP. I like this little guitar so far but, it will need some action adjustment. It isn't bad it is just that I am wanting it a bit lower then it is right now. All In all though I was surprized at the good condition it was in. The Serial number begins with CJ and according to the Guild website that puts it @ 1992 as year of manuf and pre-Fender. Once again Pics coming soon please stay tuned.

 

[Treem]

Hey All;
Got the F4-CE Wednesday and kept my wife awake playing it I haven't had a chance to take any pics yet but, I will post them ASAP. I like this little guitar so far but, it will need some action adjustment. It isn't bad it is just that I am wanting it a bit lower then it is right now. All In all though I was surprized at the good condition it was in. The Serial number begins with CJ and according to the Guild website that puts it @ 1992 as year of manuf and pre-Fender. Once again Pics coming soon please stay tuned.

A Big Congratulations Jimbow!!!
8)

 

[Ian]

As an aside, there's one just arrived at Elderly:

http://elderly.com/vintage/items/20U-12586.htm

Cheers, Ian

 

[JimbowF212]

Ian;
Very Nice!
Jim

 

[JimbowF212]

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