adorshki
Reverential Member
Recently Cordoba announced the revival of the F40.
Some of you may recall I strenuously object to the use of the F40 model number on what is actually based on the F48 Navarre by Cordoba's own description.
F48's were actually slightly de-blinged F50's with 'hog backs, they still had the 17" lower bout that defines an F50.
F40's were defined by their 16" lower bout F-body configuration.
Over the past few months in particular I've come to appreciate the special characteristics of that body size and how versatile it actually was in Guild's arsenal.
I'm now thinking it may have given rise to more variations on a body than any other model in Guild's history, except maybe dreadnoughts?
I'm gonna set the tone with some posts from a recent thread that veered into the differences between F40's and F50's:
It is a bit of a unicorn right now because I haven't seen one with a 1-11/6 nut on the shortscale.....
SO, F40 owners, whaddaya love about your F40 or one of its many progeny?
The most versatile and overlooked flat-top in Guild's history?
And my new favorite underdog guitar.
Some of you may recall I strenuously object to the use of the F40 model number on what is actually based on the F48 Navarre by Cordoba's own description.
F48's were actually slightly de-blinged F50's with 'hog backs, they still had the 17" lower bout that defines an F50.
F40's were defined by their 16" lower bout F-body configuration.
Over the past few months in particular I've come to appreciate the special characteristics of that body size and how versatile it actually was in Guild's arsenal.
I'm now thinking it may have given rise to more variations on a body than any other model in Guild's history, except maybe dreadnoughts?
I'm gonna set the tone with some posts from a recent thread that veered into the differences between F40's and F50's:
YES thank you "Shoes" !Been following this thread. The original "Bluegrass" F-47 was introduced in 1964, it replaced the discontinued F-40. It had the same appointments as the F-40. The difference was a change to mahogany back and sides. Previously the F-40 had an arched maple back and maple sides. The F-40 was reintroduced in 1973 as a "Bluegrass" model ( I don't know if the reintroduced model had maple or mahogany B & S). The F-47 was discontinued in 1975.
I did look that up this AM but forgot to update the thread.
Also realized it must be an F47 at Woodstock because F48 didn't exist yet, a-a--a-a-nd:
VERY early F40s actually did get G-shields but still not quite as fancy a headstock as the F50's.
F47's only ever got chesterfields, through '75 at least.
Not sure when it was re-introduced but it did get revived, and the versions I've seen all have chesterfields.
Revived F40 got arched maple back like the original
All this started dawning on me when I started realizing that over the last 3 or 4 years my F65ce has become my go-to for comfort while playing, and that I'd be interested in finding out if a deeper F40 body with a shortscale might turn out to be my dream guitar.Connecting the dots between price lists posted on Westerlyguildguitars.com and other known history, I think they lasted at least until '83 or '84, when Gruhn was approached to design 4 new models, 2 dreads and 2 F bodies, which begat the F44 and F46 seen on the '86 list.Tacoma produced maple and rosewood F-47's, and I think West Hartford continued them, yes?
Don't know about Corona....
On 87 list we see the introduction of the "GF" 's, all of which have the definitive 16" lower bout that makes me think these filled the F40 niche in the offering, in all 3 tone woods with both flat and arched back options in 'hog and maple.
It looks to me like the most extensive offering of F40 variants they ever listed at once.
F45ce was also present in '85 at least as Acornhouse can attest, and I think that lead to F47 coming back in early '90's, but when you look closely it looks like all those "F--CE" a/e cutaway guitars are based on the F40 "16 lower bout F body.
Note this quote from the '96 Guild catalog:
"Guild has designed the ideal guitar for those who are looking for a natural sound plugged or unplugged. The F-Series acoustic-electrics are unmistakably Guild. The classic Guild Valencia body shape continues in these modern guitars."
While the 47 specifically is absent from the '96 and 97 catalogs, it was present on the 2001 list, and was offered in Corona as well.
And Tacoma and New Hartford.
Tacoma even used it as the platform for one of the Contemporary models, and Corona offered a Masterbuilt F47 and New Hartford offered limited editions of 'em AND the F40.
And the Nashville Custom Shop released the Valencia, the Firebird, and the 45th Anniversary, all tracing their roots to the original F40 Valencia.
SO.....not to steal the thunder from our new members' find, but the 16" lower bout F40 is actually a Guild staple that they've revived in many forms over the years.
It is a bit of a unicorn right now because I haven't seen one with a 1-11/6 nut on the shortscale.....
SO, F40 owners, whaddaya love about your F40 or one of its many progeny?
The most versatile and overlooked flat-top in Guild's history?
And my new favorite underdog guitar.
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