Any other F30R-LS owners here ?

[wolfpapa]

It's been awhile since I've been here, so I apologize if this has been discussed before. A search turned up very little. Does anyone else have one of these long-scale F30R ? I have 2, made at the Guild Nashville custom shop.
The first was rescued from a pawn shop, and had a top crack fixed, battery holder changed to a correct bag (from a metal clamp that a previous owner had screwed into the neck block), broken rosette repaired and a neck reset, all by Doc Keith George. Hans was able to let me know the correct serial number, and dated it to 1998. It certainly has some battle scars (including complete finish crazing on the top), but it sings.
The second was an Ebay purchase, almost mint. I don't have a date for it, but it makes for a nice brother to my first.
If you have one, have you found a favorite string gauge and brand? I like John Pearse, 12's on the later one, 11's on the repaired one. I've been contemplating trying 12's on it

 

[Bonneville88]

WP, what is considered long-scale? 25 5/8"?

 

[AcornHouse]

Of course, any from the 70s will, by default, be long scale.

 

[SFIV1967]

...what is considered long-scale? 25 5/8"?

Yes, that is what the custom shop order sheet showed.
Ralf

Of course, any from the 70s will, by default, be long scale.

No, not all! See what Hans had to say: https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index...le-lengths-over-the-years.144081/post-1215740

Ralf

 

[AcornHouse]

No, not all! See what Hans had to say: https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index...le-lengths-over-the-years.144081/post-1215740

Ralf

I’d always thought the 70s were long from the start. Rats! I could have been looking for an early 70s one when I was in the market on the buying side.

 

[Bonneville88]

Thank you Ralf!

 

[wolfpapa]

Any favorite strings?

 

[bobouz]

In the link to the other thread, Hans says the F-30’s switch to long scale occurred ”around 1975.” Fwiw, my ‘73 F-30R (mini-jumbo shape) is a long scale. I’ve always assumed that all F-30s in the small-jumbo shape were long scale, and to date have never heard of one with a short scale. Earlier & later 000 shaped F-30s yes, but not mini-jumbos. Of course, such generalizations are made to be broken!

 

[tommym]

In the link to the other thread, Hans says the F-30’s switch to long scale occurred ”around 1975.” Fwiw, my ‘73 F-30R (mini-jumbo shape) is a long scale. I’ve always assumed that all F-30s in the small-jumbo shape were long scale, and to date have never heard of one with a short scale. Earlier & later 000 shaped F-30s yes, but not mini-jumbos. Of course, such generalizations are made to be broken!

I concur with you on the mini-jumbo F-30. My 72, 73, and 84 (archback) were long scale guitars.

Anyone out there own a 70 or 71 F-30? It would be nice to confirm the scale length of those guitars as those still had the more traditional OM shaped body.

Tommy

 

[coreyman97]

Just picked up a 1970 F-30....short scale

 

[tommym]

Just picked up a 1970 F-30....short scale

Thanks!

Now we need someone who owns a 71 to chime in.

Tommy

 

[bobouz]

Just picked up a 1970 F-30....short scale

Well again, that would be the 000/om body shape, as opposed to the mini-jumbo years of the F-30. Thanks for the additional info!

 

[HeyMikey]

Any favorite strings?

I am using D'Addario EXP’s on mine. I used light 12’s but now tune down a step so switched to medium 13’s. Tom turned me on the the bluegrass combo’s that have medium bottoms and light top strings. Those are nice also especially for open tuning. On the F30 I like PB’s and on F30R I’ll use those or more often now the 80/20’s.