Cougar
Enlightened Member
....So technically, I have 14 days to try out this guitar. It took me about 14 seconds to decide that this one was a keeper....
Good going, Clyde! That guitar is awesomely gorgeous! Thanks for the writeup! And pics!
....So technically, I have 14 days to try out this guitar. It took me about 14 seconds to decide that this one was a keeper....
Inside of the case:
From the website:
"The HumiCase built-in climatic control system will protect your guitar’s playability and beauty for years to come. Each HumiCase comes with custom-designed HumiPods that only require distilled water to activate. When used properly, these pods will uphold a consistent and safe humidity level for your instrument."
Its basically a sponge uncased inside the top part of the case. Instinctively, I'd be worried about water coming into contact with the guitar. I usually use Boveda 2-way humidity packs, but might give this Humipod thing a shot.
Love the write-up. Whew! I think that is the first Guild Lover who loved any of the new Cordoba Guilds. So happy to read a positive review.
Quick question, you said your F55 has a more "modern" sound... how do you define that? And do you think the fact that the top hasn't opened up yet might change it down the road?
Crap, what do I have to do to buried in that when I die?
And, it looks like we need a new decoder ring for the new serial numbers.
Congrats Clyde - and thanks so much for a great review!
It seems to me that the Orpheum series borrowed quite a few characteristics from Ren's work at Gibson, so if he intended to build an Orpheum flavor into this new generation of Guilds, the lighter weight would be a logical step in that direction.
I think Ren has been keenly dialed in for a long time on how to build a highly responsive jumbo acoustic. I've owned three Gibson jumbos, and still have one which was made in 2000. The darn thing is as light as a feather (well, almost!), and it astonishes me every time I pick it up.
I just want to say that the connection with Ren with the F-55 is kind of spurious, guys. Yes, Ren was responsible for setting up the shop in Oxnard and defining the build processes, but he left a while ago, and the F-55 was a recent addition to the line... I'm not saying there's no influence there, but I don't know how much of a hand he would've had in the F-55.
That said, a pictorial essay of the inside of that F-55 compared with a NH F-50R would be an interesting thing to look at. We already know that the neck block (with its branded cover) and the electronics are different than what we saw from NH... Bracing, materials, etc... I'd like to see that.
I just want to say that the connection with Ren with the F-55 is kind of spurious, guys. Yes, Ren was responsible for setting up the shop in Oxnard and defining the build processes, but he left a while ago, and the F-55 was a recent addition to the line...
Does anybody here have enough clout to speak to Drew Haines directly? He's the senior luthier now responsible for building the MIA Guilds. He worked closely with Ren at New Hartford and collaborated with him on the F55.
If anybody knows exactly what went into building the F55, he knows.
The article
http://www.acousticmagazine.com/features/workshop-special-cordoba-vs-guild/
supports the idea that Drew Haines had a lot of input and Drew acknowledges Ren's influence, both from New Hartford and Oxnard.
I suspect if you believe a Ren connection makes your guitar a better instrument then you focus on the influence. But none of the Oxnard instruments are going to come with a certificate of authenticity signed by Ren himself
C171611=Cordoba Nov 16, 2017, no?
Clyde, congrats and enjoy!
I asked Cordoba how to read the serial number:
C = CALIFORNIA
2 first digits = YEAR
4 last digits = UNIQUE IDENTIFIER
So in other words, the is no way to know by the serial number what day/month the guitar was built (which kinda sucks). You can however email them the serial number and they give you that information.
My understanding is that Ren supervised the moving of equipment from New Hartford to Oxnard, and then set up the Oxnard factory using a number of the techniques he had brought to NH from Bozeman. His short but significant Guild legacy includes the development of the Oxnard facility.The feeling I got was that Ren established the overall vision of where Guild was heading and what the building blocks of that vision were to be.
I asked Cordoba how to read the serial number:
C = CALIFORNIA
2 first digits = YEAR
4 last digits = UNIQUE IDENTIFIER
So in other words, the is no way to know by the serial number what day/month the guitar was built (which kinda sucks). You can however email them the serial number and they give you that information.