The meek F50 and the Legendary J200

[Ridgemont]

Ok maybe a bit dramatic, but I thought the title would catch your attention. :lol: So what's the deal? Now that I recently satisfied my desire for an F30, a guitar that I have been coveting for quite some time, my curiosity has peaked towards its larger more well endowed cousin. I have played one F50, a maple beauty with a warped neck whose sound filled the room. I have played one or two J200s at GC, but because of all the noise and clutter in that place, it was hard to get a good picture. I do know that the J200 has a long history, and I do know that when the F50 was originally released, it redefined the rules as to what a jumbo should be. When I mean jumbo, I mean the J200 body shape and not the J45 or J50 or any other Gibson model. It seems like there has been a peak in jumbo buying these days so it has me wondering about the following:

1. How does the F50 or JFXX compare to the equivalent J200?

2. Maple or Rosewood...or JF48 (Mahogany)...or GSR F50 (Koa) if you have tried it, and why?

3. Although structurally similar, has there been a JFXX you preferred over an F50 or vice versa? Why?

Ready...Set...Go!

 

[onewilyfool]

This is a newbie question, I know....but are F's and JF's the same body size?

 

[fungusyoung]

This is a newbie question, I know....but are F's and JF's the same body size?

Sometimes (JF55-12/F512, etc.), but not always. You would need to compare specific models in order for that question to be answered. Guild probably has at least 4 or 5 different sized "F" guitars alone.... the F30 came in at least 2 totally different sizes, but other examples of variations are seen across the F112, F212 and F212XL (as just a handful of some quick examples).

Specification inconsistencies are something that Guild's done as good of a job screwing up as any other guitar company in history. Those trends may have started early on, but they continue through many of the production guitars they're making today.

Sorry for the veer, OP! Lots of F50 fans here so you should get an ample number of responses shortly.

 

[chazmo]

And then there's just the bold...:

 

[Ridgemont]

Specification inconsistencies are something that Guild's done as good of a job screwing up as any other guitar company in history. Those trends may have started early on, but they continue through many of the production guitars they're making today.

Sorry for the veer, OP! Lots of F50 fans here so you should get an ample number of responses shortly.

No problem Fungy! Yes the F and JFs are different and yet they are not. Now I do believe that the F50 and the JF series are the same body size. For example, the F50 and the JF55 are the same rosewood jumbo with different appointments. As far as bracing and bracing patterns, I do not know. This would change the tonal character of the guitars and some would prefer the F50 and some would prefer the JF55. That is one of the questions I have. Aside from appointment differences, I believe the F50 (maple) is the same as the JF30...I think.

 

[Ridgemont]

And then there's just the bold...:

ooohhh a 12-fret jumbo. Nice. Is it shortscale? :lol:

 

[Brad Little]

About 25 years ago, I worked with a guy who had a limited edition maple J-200. It was one of a hundred that Elvis had ordered to give as presents, but died before getting them. (He had the paperwork to back this up.) I had a couple of occasions to A/B it with my maple F-50. The F-50 was louder and had more sustain. It also just had a better overall tone to my ears. However, the F-50 was a well traveled well played instrument that had opened up fully, whereas the J-200 had a lot less playing time so may have been a little new and stiff. Still, nothing there to influence me to go for a J-200, especially since I think they are generally a lot more than an F-50.
Brad

 

[West R Lee]

Specification inconsistencies are something that Guild's done as good of a job screwing up as any other guitar company in history. Those trends may have started early on, but they continue through many of the production guitars they're making today.

Sorry for the veer, OP! Lots of F50 fans here so you should get an ample number of responses shortly.

No problem Fungy! Yes the F and JFs are different and yet they are not. Now I do believe that the F50 and the JF series are the same body size. For example, the F50 and the JF55 are the same rosewood jumbo with different appointments. As far as bracing and bracing patterns, I do not know. This would change the tonal character of the guitars and some would prefer the F50 and some would prefer the JF55. That is one of the questions I have. Aside from appointment differences, I believe the F50 (maple) is the same as the JF30...I think.

Actually, the equivalent of the F50 would be the JF65, the equivalent of the F50R would be the JF55. I think the only difference in appointment was the abalone rosette of the JF's and maybe the tuners, other than that, I think they're the same guitar as the F50's.

West

 

[plaidseason]

The J200s I've played have never overly impressed me.

And as an anecdote: I once had a roommate who spent like 2200 bucks on a J200 down at Umanov's. It was her holy grail. And all of our friends marveled at its beauty.

Then one day she went into the studio to record an album and man did that thing driver her nuts. It was hard to record, and the intonation sucked. So you know what the producer told her to do? He asked her to borrow my Guild F44. And so she did. And probably most of our friends think that J200 sounds fabulous on those recordings. Only it's not her J200, it's my F44.

But I have a friend who owns a semi-recent Gibson J185 and that thing sounds fantastic. Although I'll still take my F44.

-Chris

 

[West R Lee]

The J200s I've played have never overly impressed me.

And as an anecdote: I once had a roommate who spent like 2200 bucks on a J200 down at Umanov's. It was her holy grail. And all of our friends marveled at its beauty.

Then one day she went into the studio to record an album and man did that thing driver her nuts. It was hard to record, and the intonation sucked. So you know what the producer told her to do? He asked her to borrow my Guild F44. And so she did. And probably most of our friends think that J200 sounds fabulous on those recordings. Only it's not her J200, it's my F44.

But I have a friend who owns a semi-recent Gibson J185 and that thing sounds fantastic. Although I'll still take my F44.

-Chris

Yep, I hate to admit it, but most of the Gibson's I've played lately have sounded pretty good. On the Gibson's, I'll never get used to that mustache bridge on those that have them though.....man, that thing is ugly. But I have played a couple of J200's I liked, and a couple of J45's I REALLY liked. Last Friday, I played a J50 that sounded and played fantastic.

West

 

[cjd-player]

... I'll never get used to that mustache bridge on those that have them though.....man, that thing is ugly.
West

Don't hold back, Jim.

Tell us how you really feel. :wink:

 

[West R Lee]

[quote="West R Lee":342e7rpn] ... I'll never get used to that mustache bridge on those that have them though.....man, that thing is ugly.
West

Don't hold back, Jim.

Tell us how you really feel. :wink:[/quote:342e7rpn]

Are you implying that I have a little trouble being subtle Carl? :lol:

West

 

[taabru45]

West I've got a couple of years on you and would be glad to teach you the finer points of being subtle..... :lol: :lol: :lol: Steffan

 

[West R Lee]

West I've got a couple of years on you and would be glad to teach you the finer points of being subtle..... :lol: :lol: :lol: Steffan

What is it about getting old and losing our tact? Why is it that we become so direct when we get older? Is it because we think we know it all? Is it that we've seen so much, we get very convinced and set in our ways? Is it that we have less patience? Is this a veer?

:lol: West

 

[taabru45]

We're less discreet cause we aren't trying to impress anyone any more...pretty much, what you see is what you get....maybe it just takes a lifetime to learn to be 'honest' plus we've made our share of screw ups..and we HAVE learned something along the way...if the mature 'us' could talk to the young 'us' we sure would have a lot to say.....plus a couple of slaps up the side of the head.....methinks.... :wink: Steffan

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

Ok maybe a bit dramatic, but I thought the title would catch your attention. :lol: So what's the deal? Now that I recently satisfied my desire for an F30, a guitar that I have been coveting for quite some time, my curiosity has peaked towards its larger more well endowed cousin. I have played one F50, a maple beauty with a warped neck whose sound filled the room. I have played one or two J200s at GC, but because of all the noise and clutter in that place, it was hard to get a good picture. I do know that the J200 has a long history, and I do know that when the F50 was originally released, it redefined the rules as to what a jumbo should be. When I mean jumbo, I mean the J200 body shape and not the J45 or J50 or any other Gibson model. It seems like there has been a peak in jumbo buying these days so it has me wondering about the following:

1. How does the F50 or JFXX compare to the equivalent J200?

2. Maple or Rosewood...or JF48 (Mahogany)...or GSR F50 (Koa) if you have tried it, and why?

3. Although structurally similar, has there been a JFXX you preferred over an F50 or vice versa? Why?

Ready...Set...Go!

I have a friend that plays a J200 that is about 15 years old.
It is a very nice guitar. Full sound and plenty of volume.
I know of a couple of other J200 Gibsons that are not up to par.

I have played a couple of Guild F-50 guitars that were nice but they didn't have the tone that I like.
I have come to realize that I don't care for the tone of Maple guitars.
The exception to this is Guild 12 strings.

On a side note,
I had a JF-55 that was a beautiful guitar with a very ballanced tone. The problem that I had with it was that it didn't cut through a jam session like my Dreds do.
I sold it to a Forum Member and replaced it with a D-55.
The D-55 is louder but not better.

I also have a problem holding a jumbo body guitar these days.
I play sitting and the jumbo causes some sholder pains after a few songs.

So in the end,
Play every guitar that you can get your hands on and buy the one that you like the best.

 

[West R Lee]

We're less discreet cause we aren't trying to impress anyone any more...pretty much, what you see is what you get....maybe it just takes a lifetime to learn to be 'honest' plus we've made our share of screw ups..and we HAVE learned something along the way...if the mature 'us' could talk to the young 'us' we sure would have a lot to say.....plus a couple of slaps up the side of the head.....methinks.... :wink: Steffan

Well put Steff. Do you ever feel like life it too short and there's not time to bead around the bush? Lord I know I do that with my kids, but I THINK they still love me. Is this a veer?

West

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

We're less discreet cause we aren't trying to impress anyone any more...pretty much, what you see is what you get....maybe it just takes a lifetime to learn to be 'honest' plus we've made our share of screw ups..and we HAVE learned something along the way...if the mature 'us' could talk to the young 'us' we sure would have a lot to say.....plus a couple of slaps up the side of the head.....methinks.... :wink: Steffan

Well put Steff. Do you ever feel like life it too short and there's not time to bead around the bush? Lord I know I do that with my kids, but I THINK they still love me. Is this a veer?

West

Only the part about the beads and the bush.

 

[taabru45]

Everything you do is an investment in life that will grow....what you feed grows....spend the time where you want....but kids are the seeds of life.....Steffan

P.S. this is a veer....remember??? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[cjd-player]

Only the part about the beads and the bush.

Did someone say "beads"?