The meek F50 and the Legendary J200

[chazmo]

CJ, Al, yeah sorry for the confusion... I was responding to Dennis M's post where he asked me about Big Boy and he asked about an F-44... I had no information to offer on the F-44. THanks, guys.

And they made you a moderator? :shock: :shock: :shock: :lol: :lol:

I keed, I keed...

Clearly an enormous error of judgement by "the management!"

 

[Ian]

HEY ridge,

Thanks for posting the question. As you know I've tended towards the smaller bodied guitars of late ( in fact I reckon if they get any smaller next I'll be playing a UKE...), but Saturday night we went to see a guy by the name of Adam McGrath, lead singer of Lytellton band "The Eastern"( no I havent been able to find a link to a video clip), who played an Epiphone copy of a Gibson Jumbo. It was so cool it got me thinking about Jumbo's and big guitars so on Sunday when the wife went out, I put a strap on the D55 and had a great thrash. I'd gone away from playing the D55 as I usually played sitting down and it was just too big, but with a strap on standing up it was fine !!!

I suppose you are looking for one to fingerpick, whereas I'm a Strummer (Hi Joe !!!), but I'd really have to play one first to see how they fit. Quite confusing all the different models though, also the GAD's of similar designation seem to be a different size again.

Cheers, Ian

No problem. It is mainly curiosity. The only jumbo I have ever played and loved was the F50. Of course I have never tried anything really high end like a Froggy Bottom. The jumbos do sound great, but the F50 I tried weighed quite a bit. One heavy son of a gun which makes me wonder about playing for an extended period of time. Right now the heaviest guitar I have is a toss up between the D25 and the GAD30R, with the GAD winning out (in terms of playing time) due to comfort. And the GAD has the most comfortable 1&3/4" neck I have ever played. Very similar to a OM-21 and the low profile Taylor necks. My current collection is centered around finger picking/fingerstyle and if I were in the mood for heavy strumming, I'd pull out the D25. Maybe one day I would look for a maple jumbo to diversify, but right now it is just curiosity.

Hey ridge,

just a quick update, the other day I called into a store here in town and played an Epiphone EJ200, a big maple ply mother thats a copy of a Gibson. Man, big guitar. I'd really like to try an F50 or a JF30 though, might be a nice balance for the rest of the collection (although someone might have to leave....)

Interesting discussion this, sure gets you thinking..... :wink:

 

[Walter Broes]

J-200's are beautiful IMO, but I've rarely played one I really liked, and they're a royal pain to record.

My dream Gibson Jumbo is the J-185, not as blingy, but a much more practical guitar.

 

[adorshki]

CJ, Al, yeah sorry for the confusion... I was responding to Dennis M's post where he asked me about Big Boy and he asked about an F-44... I had no information to offer on the F-44. THanks, guys.

And they made you a moderator? :shock: :shock: :shock: :lol: :lol:

I keed, I keed...

Clearly an enormous error of judgement by "the management!"

Time for torches and pitchforks! :lol:
Actually CJ surprised me with the F44 spec sheet! It sounded legit but it wasn't on Westerlyguildguitars so I thought Dennis was addressing Cypress Knees' list and it was just a typo.( Even though I know "WGG" isn't 100% complete, but it's a nice place to start.)

 

[Dennis M]

One thing I wouldn't call the F-50, is "meek". Hardly. It is one of the most popular F-bodied Guilds in recent memory. And it stands alone as a Martin-killer. It's like pinning Samson against Hercules . . . or maybe the other way around!

Dennis M.

 

[Brad Little]

. Of course I have never tried anything really high end like a Froggy Bottom. The jumbos do sound great, but the F50 I tried weighed quite a bit. One heavy son of a gun which makes me wonder about playing for an extended period of time.

I only have played one Froggy Bottom, probably 25 years ago, and it was even bigger than my F-50. It didn't really impress me, but at the time I was mostly a classical player, so that might be why. As to the weight of the F-50, it's never bothered me and when not at home I usually play standing. A good wide strap helps.
Brad

 

[Ridgemont]

One thing I wouldn't call the F-50, is "meek". Hardly. It is one of the most popular F-bodied Guilds in recent memory. And it stands alone as a Martin-killer. It's like pinning Samson against Hercules . . . or maybe the other way around!

Dennis M.

Oh I know. I called it meek mainly to provoke conversation. I have not played many jumbos but of the ones I did, the F50 was head and shoulders above the rest.

 

[Ridgemont]

Hey ridge,
just a quick update, the other day I called into a store here in town and played an Epiphone EJ200, a big maple ply mother thats a copy of a Gibson. Man, big guitar. I'd really like to try an F50 or a JF30 though, might be a nice balance for the rest of the collection (although someone might have to leave....)
Interesting discussion this, sure gets you thinking..... :wink:

Hey Ian,
Yeah, I played a few Epiphine jumbos recently, to me, they sound very similar to the Gibson counterpart. What does that tell you? :lol: If your GAS really is flaring up, then hold out for a Guild jumbo. They really are great. I agree that a nice jumbo is a way to round out a collection.

 

[Ian]

One thing I wouldn't call the F-50, is "meek". Hardly. It is one of the most popular F-bodied Guilds in recent memory. And it stands alone as a Martin-killer. It's like pinning Samson against Hercules . . . or maybe the other way around!

Dennis M.

Oh I know. I called it meek mainly to provoke conversation. I have not played many jumbos but of the ones I did, the F50 was head and shoulders above the rest.

Yep, all I gottta do now is find one at the right price (which seems to be the hard bit)

 

[idealassets]

In my humble opinion- I have bought and returned (2)-Gibson J200's off dealer websites. I have bought and kept (2)-Guild jumbos from dealer websites (F50r & F412). The J200 is a Jumbo, but has a small neck compared to the large body. Both the J200 guitars sounded "thuddy", meaning that they were not stored properly and were coming unglued (really). One of them had the pick guard peeling off about 1/3 down from the top. Meanwhile I kept driving over to play my friend's J200 that is new, and sounds rather nice and full. THats 1 for 3 so far for the J200. Both my Guilds sounded solid, and looked relatively nice when I got them. Thats 2 for 2 to the good for mt Guild's. -Thats my experience. -Craig.

 

[adorshki]

THats 1 for 3 so far for the J200. Both my Guilds sounded solid, and looked relatively nice when I got them. Thats 2 for 2 to the good for mt Guild's. -Thats my experience. -Craig.

Well hello there, I see just joined 3 days ago! Welcome aboard and thanks for "the odds" quotation!

 

[idealassets]

I just signed on to this site, after registering my new F512 online with Guild. I like it more every day, and actually I treat it too well. I call it my "object d'art" guitar. Also I have only been playing guitar in ernest for about 4 months now.

You might notice from my circa 1978 drums and cymbals that I have been a working (part time) drummer. I am very impressed with the comraderie amongst guitarists, and plan to be "in the front" of a band, instead of sitting behind the guitar players while on the drums.

If the Gibson J200's had worked out differently perhaps I would own several of them, instead of the Guild's. But folks when I laid hands on the F512 I had to stay "poker faced" in order to get a better price on it; which I did get. I knew I would buy it even before I got the better price. Side by side the Guild F512 was $1650 less than the new Martin 12 string Jumbo. As I went home with the F512 I told the salesman that it was far superior to the much more costly Martin.-Craig.

 

[adorshki]

I just signed on to this site, after registering my new F512 online with Guild. I like it more every day, and actually I treat it too well.

CAN'T treat a Guild too well...

I call it my "object d'art" guitar.

Might as well call a spade a spade! :lol:

Side by side the Guild F512 was $1650 less than the new Martin 12 string Jumbo. As I went home with the F512 I told the salesman that it was far superior to the much more costly Martin.-Craig.

Funny how many salesman aren't really connoisseurs of what they sell, eh? You'd think it would help 'em in their job....gotta admit though, it didn't help me sell cars! :lol: