Guild GF60-RC

[Scooter]

Hi everyone, Just a quick introduction as its my first time here and my first time at looking to buy a guild.
I'm Scott from the UK and been I've playing for a couple of years. I was a singer in a couple of band in my late teens early twenties but had to turn it in due to work commitments. Although I've always admired beautiful guitars and the skill involved to play them, I never asserted myself to learn. I'm 40 now and after my wife bought me an applause ovation as a gift, I've become evermore keen to learn.
I think that it's now time for me to step up and buy myself something nice. I was looking through the guild section on a local stores website and found a GF60-RC. For me the best looking guitar in the shop. Perhaps a bit out of my price range (£1200) but when you want something bad you just got to have it right?
I searched the Internet for anything I can find on the model but I've drawn a blank. Is there anything any of you could tell me about this guitar. Can I not find anything out about it because it wasn't a good model and nobody wanted them or is it a gem.

Thanks
Scott

 

[hansmoust]

I was looking through the guild section on a local stores website and found a GF60-RC. For me the best looking guitar in the shop. Perhaps a bit out of my price range (£1200) but when you want something bad you just got to have it right?
I searched the Internet for anything I can find on the model but I've drawn a blank. Is there anything any of you could tell me about this guitar. Can I not find anything out about it because it wasn't a good model and nobody wanted them or is it a gem.

Thanks
Scott

Hello Scott,

Welcome! The GF60-RC was the optional cutaway version of the GF60-R, which was an excellent, high quality guitar. The cutaway version is kind of rare, so if the guitar is structurally fine, the asking price is not unreasonable. It should date from the end of the '80s, 1990 at the latest.

Good luck!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[dapmdave]

Welcome to LTG, Scott.

Dave

 

[killdeer43]

Welcome, Scott.
Sounds like you might have found a unique Guild to begin your guilded career. If you do get it, you understand that we'd all love to see it, so get your camera ready. We love Guild porn! :wink:

Keep it tuned,
Joe

 

[learnintoplay62]

Welcome and the GF series are top notch. Keep us posted.

 

[SFIV1967]

The GF60-RC was the optional cutaway version of the GF60-R, which was an excellent, high quality guitar.

Welcome to LTG Scott!

@Scott: Are you looking to buy the one in Farnham that actually has "FC61-C" written on the soundhole label ?
Looks great to me! It has a GF600151(?) serial number as it looks like and would make it a 1988 model I believe. That's the one:

Ralf

 

[wright1]

Hi Scott,I have a GF60R. I have had it from new. I got it direct from Strings And Things who were the UK distributers at the time so it never even hung on a wall. I will NEVER get rid of this guitar. Not while I live. It was just right for me from the get go. I have Gibsons and Martins but there is something special about my GF60. It is not the best made I have had. The neck binding has sprung a couple of times and I had to shave the bridge to keep the action fair without a neck reset. I fitted a Bridge Doctor to keep any bellying in check but despite this it will always be with me. I am dragging my heels on a re-fret but I have played it so much it will need one(the first time I have played a set of frets to destruction).
If you fancy the GF60RC you have seen(I have looked on the web site at it) then you need to go and try it. £1200 is not too bad for a top of the range Guild(or US made acoustic) but it would have to be in perfect condition despite being a little rare. You need to see that it has no issues. Truss rods on Guilds are a little spongy,mine needs a tweak every now and then,and have been known to break causing a little work to repair it but this is rare and usually because some twit has been too enthusiastic with the spanner. The picture shows that the neck has some play wear or is at least dirty.It must come with a Guild case.
If you are paying cash don't be afraid to make them a offer based on any thing you think is a issue. Flashing the cash,even if it gets you £50 off, is certainly worth a try. Any shop that cannot stand a 10% discount has priced their guitars badly.
Of course it may turn out that you don't like it but I think that it may come home with you!
Best wishes,
Steve. London Sunny spring day!

 

[davismanLV]

Hey Scott! Welcome to LTG. This is a good place to be. I don't have any specific information to add about that particular Guild model, but you've already heard from Hans Moust who wrote the book on Guild (literally, he wrote The Guild Guitar Book) and is our resident expert, and Steve from your neck of the world who has that particular model and he also keeps us up to date on the weather in London. :wink: Then there's Ralf in Germany who seems to know what Guilds are for sale in any given part of the world at any time. It's scary!!

This guitar, it seems, is rather rare and also a much older model, so I guess the main thing is to make sure it's in good condition and that it doesn't need a neck reset at this age. That is a very costly and more difficult repair and would greatly influence the price. If you need more information on determining the signs of needing a neck reset, you can use the search function on the forum and you'll find more than you need. Others will probably chime in here with specifics.

Take care, and good luck with the GF-06 RC!!

 

[micklevanon]

Hey Scott, and welcome to LTG. I have no info on that model, all I can add is she's a beauty, and from what I hear of the GF60, she should sound as good as she looks. Good luck.

cheers
mick

 

[FNG]

The GF60-RC was the optional cutaway version of the GF60-R, which was an excellent, high quality guitar.

Welcome to LTG Scott!

@Scott: Are you looking to buy the one in Farnham that actually has "FC61-C" written on the soundhole label ?
Looks great to me! It has a GF600151(?) serial number as it looks like and would make it a 1988 model I believe. That's the one:

Ralf

Nice!!!

 

[SFIV1967]

Scott: Maybe one more: One of the most prominent users of a GF60-R was Eric Clapton!

One of his GF60 (one that he had collected) sold for the whopping sum of $23,000 at Christies!
http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_ ... ID=1526029

The guitar he has in those pictures has the older headstock, we had discussed it here in LTG somewhere before. Models and model numbers changed a bit around that time.

Ralf

 

[micklevanon]

Scott: Maybe one more: One of the most prominent users of a GF60-R was Eric Clapton!

One of his GF60 (one that he had collected) sold for the whopping sum of $23,000 at Christies!
http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_ ... ID=1526029

The guitar he has in those pictures has the older headstock, we had discussed it here in LTG somewhere before. Models and model numbers changed a bit around that time.

Ralf

I love Clapton, but that suit hurts!

just sayin,
m

edited to add: If you have to ask to which suit I'm referring then may I suggest a visit to your local eye doctor to check for blindness!

 

[SFIV1967]

Mick: That was 1988! :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Scooter]

Thanks for the welcome guys. Feel at home already.

Yes Ralf, that's the one. I don't understand the 'FC61' model number. Is there a particular reason why it has this?

Thanks for the info Steve. If you've not been in the shop before, (Guitar village for those who want to look them up), it's well worth a trip down to have a look around. They have a fantastic collection of all the top makes as well as entry level stuff too. And staff are helpful and approachable. I have been in and watched it hanging on the wall for a while but not played it yet. The offer was there but I declined, got a bit shop shy as there was a guy in the next room making a Gibson sound rather good. I did also ask if he could do anything with the price and he said he could knock a 1ner off it so a deal I possible.

Tricky part now is getting my wife onside. Any tips!?

 

[SFIV1967]

I don't understand the 'FC61' model number. Is there a particular reason why it has this?

I think those were errors by the person who was actually handwriting the labels, we had discussed this also here, when it was labeled as F61:
See here: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=27568&start=0&hilit=Guild+F61
I did not search more, that's probably just a start to read.
Ralf

 

[hansmoust]

I don't understand the 'FC61' model number. Is there a particular reason why it has this?

Hello Scott,

Actually, I believe it should read 'F061 C' but maybe you could check the label the next time you're going to take a look.
There's even a possibility that there's even more info written on the label. I would think the complete model designation could be 'F061 C - A11'

Don't worry about those numbers. They definitely mean something but it would be too much to explain them here.
Basically they're 'in-house' production numbers that ended up on the label during this particular period.
The official designation is GF60-RC though.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[micklevanon]

Mick: That was 1988! :lol: :lol: :lol:

That suit is just wrong in any and every era! It hurts my eyes!
The guitar on the other hand, an absolute beauty.

m

 

[john_kidder]

I have a GF60RCE. IT's one of my favourites.

Body shape, tone, playability - it's my favourite small gig guitar, just seems to blend with anything, not as much punch as a big dread, but a great fingerpicker.

1200 pounds if it's in great shape is probably not a bad price - they're rare as hen's teeth..

 

[Scooter]

Hans, you are a wealth of information. I've read a number of your posts now and you are the Guild encyclopedia! Thanks buddy

Mick, I've got to agree with you on the suit, although I can't deny I had some pretty dodgy clothes in the 80's!

John, thanks for chipping in here. Fingerpicking suits my style, it's how I was 'self' tought. And it's great to see someone with the same guitar. Do you have a photo?

Which just begs the question..... Is it worth the divorce papers!!?

 

[wright1]

Hi Scott, I have not been to Guitar Village but I keep an eye on their website for interesting guitars. New prices seem reasonable but some of their secondhand prices seem a little high sometimes.
As for the GF60 I would get up the courage and give it a play. Don't be shy even if you only strum a few chords. We are not all Eric Clapton! Try something you know however simple. The neck is quite slim feeling and the body is not as deep feeling as you might think. It is difficult to explain why I like the model if you don't have much experience of different guitars. The main thing is to be happy with how it feels to you.
Nice to know they will knock a 1er off the price.£1100 is better. I am lucky in that my wife plays as well. I don't have any experience in having to convice her I NEED that new guitar. However you could tell her that the Guild would be a good buy as she whetted your appetite with the Ovation. If that fails cry a lot!!
All the best,
Steve.