2012 F20 (New Hartford)

[jeffcoop]

My previous group sale thread garnered some admiring comments, but led to the sale of only one of the four listed guitars. So I’m going to try to break them out into separate threads. Here we have a 2012 F20, from the New Hartford factory.

As a Standard Series guitar, it has a gloss finish on the body (top, sides, and back) and a satin finish on the neck. It's in excellent condition, with no discernible dings or scratches. The sitka top has some beautiful figuring. I believe I'm the second owner; when it arrived, the action was so low that there was fret buzz all over. As part of the guitar's set-up, the tech who works on my guitars installed a shim under the saddle to bring it to an appropriate height. It plays easily and, thanks to the short scale and small body, is ridiculously comfortable. It sounds excellent, though it does have a bit of small-body compactness. I'm only selling because I have a 1964 F20 that sounds amazing (and is a birth-year guitar); I just don’t need two F20s. The guitar comes with its OHSC--I was tempted to keep the case for my '64, but I'll let it go. $850 shipped (48 contiguous United States only).

 

[Neal]

I am here to testify that the Standard Series is the real deal. Exceptional quailty, without all the bling. The earlier ones are particularly special.

If I didn't have poor little Tanya (my beat within an inch of its life '71 F-20), Iwould be all over this deal.

Neal

 

[JohnW63]

Nice top "silking" on that one.

 

[c70man]

Sent you a private note, very interested.......question, why wouldn't you just change out the saddle to change the string height? Was the nut adjusted as well? Has the bridge string break angle been modified? Can't tell by the pics.
Thanks

 

[jeffcoop]

Sent you a private note, very interested.......question, why wouldn't you just change out the saddle to change the string height? Was the nut adjusted as well? Has the bridge string break angle been modified? Can't tell by the pics.
Thanks

Good questions all. I am thoroughly non-expert in these matters; I don't know why he recommended a shim instead of just installing a new saddle. I can take pictures o the string break and post them tomorrow.

 

[txbumper57]

I don't know why he recommended a shim instead of just installing a new saddle.

In my experience it is quicker and Considerably less expensive to shim a saddle as opposed to replacing the saddle for ultimately the same end result. Shimming the saddle for height purposes raises the saddle without altering the Radius of the saddle which is already matched to the fret board. Installing a new saddle will require ordering one, Fitting it to the guitar itself, and shaping the top to match the fret board radius. Time spent, Cost of part and labor, and Shipping time for the part would all add up to a more expensive repair and longer turn around period as opposed to the shim. With a shim properly installed I don't think there would be any drop in transferring the vibration from the strings to the bridge/top etc.. If you played two identical guitars side by side with one being shimmed and one having a new saddle, I doubt you would be able to audibly tell the difference.:semi-twins: Beautiful Guitar Jeff, Good luck with the sale!

 

[mavuser]

Great guitars for someone that plays mostly electric/solid body and hasn't had quite as much fun on acoustics yet...this guitar with John Pearse 11s was a game changer for me on acoustic. I'm much more comfortable playing this than an arch top/arch back hollow/semi hollow such as most Starfires. To me the F-20 feels more natural like my flat solid body electrics with stop tails. I thought I needed a song bird, which would also be killer, but with the F-20 I can play a true acoustic as I would an electric. My S-50 jetstar is actually bigger (wider) than my F-20. Mine is 1970 but with NH closed someone here should claim this one.

 

[c70man]

I would play my LG2 side by side with my F20....very similar comfort level, playability, but the F20 was a bit brighter than the gibson and had a wider nut, which I really prefer. By the way, a new saddle would accommodate an under saddle pickup without issues (must have a perfect bond). I admit that the radius would have to be correct, but that is not a big deal with some patience, and a good repairman.

 

[jeffcoop]

Sold. Two down, two to go.