Luthier Kim Walker Era Guild Acoustic Guitars??

[Rockinb23]

I was reading on Kim Walkers web site that he was hired by Guild in the late 80's to do R&D for Guild. It looks like he worked there till about 94 or so. I'm curious does anyone know which models he had a hand in coming up with or redesigning?

If you aren't familiar with Walker Acoustic guitars they are a premium instrument and he has a 9 year waiting list and most of his guitars are well above 10k.

 

[FNG]

These guitars are a hit around here. Do a search for Gruhn Walker Guilds for some good discussion.

Heres some pics of some...

http://westerlyguildguitars.com/guitars/f44.html

http://westerlyguildguitars.com/guitars/d66.html

http://nightbirdpages.home.comcast.net/~nightbirdpages/

 

[Rockinb23]

Thank You I was just running a bunch of searches running into some of these models. Very interesting stuff. I would love to get my hands on one.

These guitars are a hit around here. Do a search for Gruhn Walker Guilds for some good discussion.

Heres some pics of some...

http://westerlyguildguitars.com/guitars/f44.html

http://westerlyguildguitars.com/guitars/d66.html

http://nightbirdpages.home.comcast.net/~nightbirdpages/

 

[Gruhn Loon]

Don't have a picture to post but the GF60 is another of the handful of Gruhn/Walker designs. Lower bout of 16" and a thinner neck than is typical of Guilds. Double diamond fret inlays, G shield head stock with Grover tuners, and a killer balanced sound if I must say so myself. Around 300 were made. Preceded by the F44 if I'm not mistaken. Bracing is supposed to be patterned after pre-war Martins I believe. I've played a Walker that matched the shape of mine exactly so at least one of Walker's current models must have similar specs. I've got more than my share but they can still be found now and again if one is motivated.

My GF50 12 has the exact same body shape with a neck that seems to be the size of those found on an F50. Not sure of the level of Gruhn/Walker involvement but I assume there was some input

 

[taabru45]

My 'new' D4 is from August 19 1999, stamped on block...Its fantastic in its quality, pretty much perfect everywhere....and the back has a gentle curve/mold to it...unlike the more well defined ones we are more familiar with...Steffan
Some pictures here....viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21736

 

[Rockinb23]

Do you have any pics of these GF models you'd be willing to share, I'd love to see them.

Thanks

Don't have a picture to post but the GF60 is another of the handful of Gruhn/Walker designs. Lower bout of 16" and a thinner neck than is typical of Guilds. Double diamond fret inlays, G shield head stock with Grover tuners, and a killer balanced sound if I must say so myself. Around 300 were made. Preceded by the F44 if I'm not mistaken. Bracing is supposed to be patterned after pre-war Martins I believe. I've played a Walker that matched the shape of mine exactly so at least one of Walker's current models must have similar specs. I've got more than my share but they can still be found now and again if one is motivated.

My GF50 12 has the exact same body shape with a neck that seems to be the size of those found on an F50. Not sure of the level of Gruhn/Walker involvement but I assume there was some input

 

[Frosty]

I have corresponded with Kim, I own one of his superlative Guild guitars. For sale here on the forum

 

[glennn56]

I just purchased a 1987 GF60.The serial number on the back of the headstock reads GF600050 and there's a date stamp of 3-87.The serial number on the label reads GF600011.Not sure why that is.The action is a little high with it's low saddle but I can live with this because you can't beat the sound of this guitar.The D'Addario light gauge phosphor bronze make the guitar sing and the harmonics ring.The neck relief is .006 at the fifth fret.This guitar has a wonderful neck profile compliments of George Gruhn.

 

[SFIV1967]

Welcome to LTG glennn56! Stay tuned, I am sure Hans Moust will clarify the mystery of your GF60 serial numbers! Hans is the author of The Guild Guitar Book.
Ralf

 

[hansmoust]

Hello Glennn56,

Welcome! While different serial numbers in itself are quite rare, I've seen several over the years, but in this case it's a somewhat different scenario. It would have been possible to explain the GF600011 serial number on the headstock combined with the GF600050 number on the label, but not the other way around. Can you confirm if it is the way you described in your posting? Maybe you could let me know!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[glennn56]

Thanks for the warm welcome to the forum.My GF60 sound hole label reads model G60Nt (small case t) and the serial number on the label is GF600011.The serial number at the headstock reads GF600050 with MADE IN USA below the serial number and a date stamp of 3-87.

http://www.reverbnation.com/glennfr

 

[glennn56]

I've spoken with Hans and he told me to look for a date on the inside bevel of the guitar neck of my GF60.The date reads JAN 23, 1987 so I'm guessing this was one of the first run guitars in 1987.I've also been experimenting with different string brands and gauges for this GF60.I'm sold on the John Pearse "New Mediums" with gauges .013, .017, .024, .032, .042, .055.These medium/lights sound terrific with full bodied tone.

Glenn
http://www.reverbnation.com/glennfr

 

[Scooter]

Welcome glennn. I've also recently purchased a GF60 and absolutely love it. I got the florentine cutaway version.

Gruhn loon. I'd be interested to know how many of the 300 made were the cutaway model.

If I have time today and I can work it out I'll post up some pics of her.

 

[glennn56]

I can't find the exact post but someone mentioned that on GF60's the tops hump up behind the bridge.Kim Walker used forward shifted bracing on these guitars similar to pre-war acoustic guitars.You can see the "V" part of the bracing very close to the sound hole.With this being said,the spruce top has less support behind the bridge.I emailed Kim Walker and I told him I was using medium strings.He told me the "humping" was nothing to worry about but just to keep an eye on it.He also suggested if I was concerned switch to medium/lights.The D'Addario J24's work very well...

Glenn
http://www.reverbnation.com/glennfr

 

[gilded]

If any of you GF60 owners have a good micrometer, why don't you measure the thickness of the top at the sound hole?

I re-topped a '57 or '58 Martin with Adirondack one time, and measured a few tops in the process. It seems a lot of those old Martins had tops that were around .0121-5 inches. Of course, lacquer would make a difference in thickness, especially on a relatively new guitar where the finish hadn't thinned out over time....

 

[marcellis]

I can't find the exact post but someone mentioned that on GF60's the tops hump up behind the bridge.Kim Walker used forward shifted bracing on these guitars similar to pre-war acoustic guitars.You can see the "V" part of the bracing very close to the sound hole.With this being said,the spruce top has less support behind the bridge.I emailed Kim Walker and I told him I was using medium strings.He told me the "humping" was nothing to worry about but just to keep an eye on it.He also suggested if I was concerned switch to medium/lights.The D'Addario J24's work very well...

Glenn
http://www.reverbnation.com/glennfr

My luthier told me the top was very thin on my Walker D60.
It helps to create great tone. But it causes problems too.

This year, he noticed a slight dip in the sound hole on the treble side.
I hadn't noticed it before. Nobody had noticed it.

He did some beautiful work getting it right.
First, he made it straight again, I'm not sure how.

Then he carved a very thin, round brace, the circumference
of the sound-hole and glued it into place.

Fabulous work. It cost me $50 and I gave him a $50 tip.

I've poured a lot of money into this guitar. But it's finally getting
to where I want it. Action is fast. The tone has always been fine.

 

[glennn56]

My GF60 has wonderful action also.The neck angles seem just right on these guitars.My luthier friend was impressed with the Kluson Waffleback tuners that came from the factory.Kluson has re-issued them for $100 a set.My friend was the one that noticed the forward shifted top bracing also.

Glenn
http://www.reverbnation.com/glennfr

 

[zombywoof]

I can't find the exact post but someone mentioned that on GF60's the tops hump up behind the bridge.

What Gibson and Martin both found out that while the forward shifted wide angle top bracing opened up more real estate giving the guitar a deeper low end and more volume it also placed more torque on the bridge area leaving it without support.

 

[glennn56]

What Gibson and Martin both found out that while the forward shifted wide angle top bracing opened up more real estate giving the guitar a deeper low end and more volume it also placed more torque on the bridge area leaving it without support.

Yes the forward shifted bracing and the thin spruce tops of the Walker Guilds could give humping problems behind the bridge.I never knew about the thin tops until I read the posts from this site.These guitars have tremendous character in the way they look and the way they sound regardless of any minor issues.

Glenn
http://www.reverbnation.com/glennfr