So anyone say Thumbs Up to the M20

Really looking at getting a nice small Guild.
I was looking at M240E Troubadour but now I'm thinking M20 USA.
Seems that the M20 is really well received from what I've found.
Anyone here have a M20?
I like the 1 3/4" nut width on the M20

One happy owner here:

http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/showthread.php?194867-NGD-1968-Guild-M-20

Are you talking about a NEW M-20 from Oxnard, or a vintage M-20 from previous Guild history ? The above link is a vintage one.

Yes, the new one has the wider nut all solid wood construction. I think the GAD has a 1 11/16 nut which is better for me than say the vintage 1 5/8 but the 1 3/4 nut would be preferable.
Plus I'd like an all hog small acoustic.

F30 said:

I think the GAD has a 1 11/16 nut which is better for me than say the vintage 1 5/8 but the 1 3/4 nut would be preferable.

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The GAD M-120 has a 1.7" nut but it's no longer in production. The current "Westerly" M-120 has a 1 3/4.

Thanks for the info.
I didn't know the current M-120 had the 1 3/4"

F30 said:

Thanks for the info.
I didn't know the current M-120 had the 1 3/4"

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I'd never gotten my hands on one of the new M-120/M-20 but certainly have been intrigued. I will pick one up for a quick tester at my first opportunity to do so.

I do not want the 1 3/4" nut thus never gave the M-120/M-20 serious consideration. I had been concerned about the vintage M-20's and their 'narrower' 1 5/8" nut width....but if anything this 1968 M-20 confirmed for me that I just cannot deal with anything larger than 1 11/16"....and that this 1 5/8" doesn't feel 'too narrow' for me in any way/shape/form. In fact...I like it a lot. This trend towards wider nut width and string spacing really closes a lot of doors for me as I'm seeing an awful lot of interesting guitars that have the 1/3/4" nut....they simply are not for me.

I can attest to the difficulty and expense of obtaining a vintage M-20. It took me a long while to find one...it required some risk...and it required some expense beyond that of the M-20. I'm honeymooning with it now but so far I extremely pleased that I opted to purchase the guitar and make the repairs. Had the 1 3/4" nut not been a factor for me...I likely would have grabbed a new M-20 due to impatience, low risk, and relatively low cost. I cannot speak to the sonic difference between this model's new version vs. vintage...but in my experience....a good older guitar is often hard to beat when compared to their newer brethren. Those with vintage M-20's seem to love and keep them. Seldom can you find one that isn't full of mojo....they get played. It seems obvious if only to me that Guild purposefully chose this model to roll out their production at the new factory....partly because it is a relatively simple build compared to some other models...and methinks in part due to the market's current and positive reaction to small bodies combined with the seemingly earned mystique of the old M-20's.

I can say...based solely on my eyes staring at a computer screen and from reading owner's remarks....that I would steer away from the new M-20 burst version. I am not averse to bursts but do not particularly like the satin burst being applied to this model. I've read more than one owner complain about the M-20 burst finish quality and a peculiar aroma emanating from this finish. Your mileage may vary.

I never paid much attention to the M-120's (Chinese version). It may be a really good guitar at a good price but I typically purchase American made guitars for a variety of non political reasons. According to Musician's Friend website...both new versions M-120/M-20 feature your desired 1 3/4 nut. If I were in your shoes...unless you want to punish yourself and your wallet trying to find a vintage M-20.....I'd try to find a new version M-20 in the used market. Surely they are available at prices discounted from new.

If you are talking about the modern import Westerley M20. I played a one and also a... M240? They were OK for imports. Not like I was overwhelmed though, but the price was right. But I dont like 1.75 nuts .... I ended up with a nice vintage F-20 for about the same $.

F30 said:

Thanks for the info.
I didn't know the current M-120 had the 1 3/4"

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This may help, I made it up during my searchI dont know why it's so big... sorry) The other thing that put me off was the 16" radius fretboard. My old guilds seem to be closer to 12"

Thanks for the specs.

F30 said:

Really looking at getting a nice small Guild.

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I see you went ahead and picked up a nice M20 between your query yesterday and today! What is it with the impulse to buy a guitar right now? I also succumbed yesterday and went in for a 2006 Gibson Songwriter 12-string. It might have cost a couple/few hundred more than your new M20 - both seem to be good deals. Now the waiting.....

Patience is (not) a virtue?

I've been wondering if Oxnard M20 owners are liking the their guitars after the honeymoon. Still loving the M20 or have you sold it? There are really no Guild dealers anymore in and around Minneapolis. The ones that were have dropped the line. Still would like to try one.

I already knew I wanted an M 20 or
M 40. It was just a matter of timing and spending the time to narrow it down.

With no Guilds I'm after in my area I had to find one on the internet. I actually had the guy play the guitar over the phone and it really sounded great and he was quite the player.

I'm sure I'll be happy.
To tell you the truth every M20 I've ever played I really liked other than the sometimes narrow nut width on early models for my big hands.

Really happy that Guild is still out there swinging and producing guitars at many price points.

I owned and then sold the 56th M20 off the Oxnard prod line 3 months after I bought it. Why? Because, while it was nice enough to mimic the tone of my cherished '31 Gibson mahogany L0, except easier to play, I still couldn't justify owning two similar sounding acoustics. That's a solid endorsement in itself. I only flat pick though, and like to play with a percussive attitude, something the M20 handled well if you didn't need big guitar volume. I can't say how a finger picker might find it.

For me, 2 thumbs up on the Oxnard M20. I used Dunlop 80/20 Bronze 13's tuned down a whole step and couldn't hardly put it down. It was the first new guitar I have ever bought, and will surely be the last. I like the old wood.

Enjoy!

I work at a guitar store part time, we've sold two Oxnard M-20's, and I believe something like two or three of the imported version. The Oxnard ones are really, really nice. And a lot of folks who played them at our store thought so too and made positive comments about them. The import ones....not so much. Playing them side by side seems like the best way to convince anyone in the market for an M20 to spring for the Oxnard-made version.

I like the Oxnard M-20, have played a couple. it sounds and feels just like a Hoboken Guild M-20...except with a neck much closer to a baseball bat profile, and 1.75 nut.

They are not a traditional dovetail neck joint, it has an interlocking neck tenon system, similar to what USA Series Gibsons currently use, since 2008 (not custom shop Gibsons). this is an internal design change that does not effect the external size/shape/dimensions on the Guild (or Gibsons). They are still "set neck guitars" if you ask me, since a) there is glue involved, b) it is not designed to be simply swapped out by removing 4 screws and a back plate...anyway, it is nothing too fancy, but it's not supposed to be. It's got everything an M-20 should have, and nothing it doesnt. Also there has been some discussion about the finish. i *like* the finish on this guitar. i dont know what it is- but its not poly. and if it is, it is not the cheap heavy tacky stuff- this is a nice guitar!

Is Oxnard the new USA made Guild factory location?

yes!

mavuser said:

i *like* the finish on this guitar. i dont know what it is- but its not poly. and if it is, it is not the cheap heavy tacky stuff-

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"Catalyzed varnish" which is itself a pretty generic term.
Got me so curious I looked it up and started a thread on it:

http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/showthread.php?188931-Finishes&highlight=finishes