Difference between Guild GF30 and Guild JF30

[dadroadie]

Hi to All,
I'm new to the forum and was hoping someone might be able to answer a question on a Guild GF30. I'm now retired and do guitar repairs part time for a couple of local music shops to keep young! A customer recently brought in an older Guild GF30 to setup and restring. (see attached ) I have seen a lot of Guild JF30 over the years but never a GF30. Could someone give me a brief history of the model for my curiosity and what are the differences between the GF30 and the JF30 manufacturing wise.
Thanks in advance!
dad roadie

 

[Budha]

I don't know the answer to your question but the site I have attached has lots of information about Westerly built Guilds.

Guild GF30 - Westerly Guild Guitars

 

[mavuser]

GF=Grand Folk (16" lower bout)

JF=Jumbo Folk (17" lower bout)

for that era/series:

25= mahogany

30= maple

50/55/60= rosewood

 

[awagner]

The JF30 is a 17” jumbo

the GF is a “mini” jumbo (16”)

Both have maple backs and sides and spruce tops.

 

[blakeb2193]

JF jumbo folk GF grand folk I think george gruhn came up with these. I have heard people call it a Gruhn Folk.haha

 

[mavuser]

JF jumbo folk GF grand folk I think george gruhn came up with these. I have heard people call it a Gruhn Folk.haha

that confusion does surface once in a while. it is Grand Folk, though.

George Gruhn did have a trophy Guild named after him, it is called the "Nightbird GG"

 

[dadroadie]

Thanks to everyone that replied! Was this a popular model? I have never seen one of these before. It sure is a nice sounding instrument! It seems to be a little brighter and have a little more cut than the JF30.

 

[richardp69]

Personally, I consider it a superb model. I have one and it sounds wonderful and is comfortable to play.

 

[mavuser]

Thanks to everyone that replied! Was this a popular model? I have never seen one of these before. It sure is a nice sounding instrument! It seems to be a little brighter and have a little more cut than the JF30.

those GF-30 are real nice for sure. There is also the D-30 which is the Dreadnought equivalent for the period.

in the Patience video, Slash has a JF-50, Izzy has a JF-30-SB, and Duff has his GF-25-Black. (Izzy also has a D-30, in different GNR videos, when the rest of the band is electric.)



here is Izzy w the D-30

 

[SFIV1967]

Welcome to LTG! Looks like that GF30 you have in your hands is a late 1987 one (if the serial number list is correct in that year, it has known errors).

The whole GF series only lasted from early 1987 till mid/end 1990 as far as I see in the pricelists... But some of them were discontinued earlier already. I think the GF-40 was such one with very low volume.

The below is from the 1987 catalog:

The pricelist in September 1987 showed the following, the case was extra:

Hans wrote before: "The GF-30 had a laminated arched maple back. The GF-40 was the lowest in the range with a flat mahogany braced back. "

Ralf

 

[richardp69]

In all my hours/years of surfing the various sites I've never come across a GF 40. I'd likely buy it if I did.

 

[SFIV1967]

In all my hours/years of surfing the various sites I've never come across a GF 40. I'd likely buy it if I did.

Here was one in mid 2018:

Guild GF-40 1987 | Reverb

Solid Sitka Spruce TopSolid Mahogany Back & SidesRosewood Fingerboard & BridgeL.R. Baggs Pickup Installed1 11/16" Nut Width25 7/16" Scale LengthNew Access Gig Bag Included

reverb.com

Ralf

 

[mavuser]

The whole GF series only lasted from early 1987 till mid/end 1990 as far as I see in the pricelists... But some of them were discontinued earlier already. I think the GF-40 was such one with very low volume.
Ralf

GF-55 came later, early 90s. and has the paddle headstock.

 

[dadroadie]

Thanks again for all the great info. I'm also working on a Guild DV72 -NT-NG that they brought in at the same time for a setup. Another really nice instrument!

 

[mavuser]

Thanks again for all the great info. I'm also working on a Guild DV72 -NT-NG that they brought in at the same time for a setup. Another really nice instrument!

u must mean NT-HG! (High Gloss!)

 

[SFIV1967]

GF-55 came later, early 90s. and has the paddle headstock.

You are right. The GF-60 (Rosewood) was renamed the GF-55 around 1990 and discontinued in 1991. And yes, it changed from the snakehead to the paddle headstock shape.

Actually the 6/1/90 pricelist (see below) still listed the others (minus the GF-40 which was discontinued already in 1988) and no GF-60 anymore. I don't have any 1991 pricelists.

Ralf

 

[mavuser]

You are right. The GF-60 (Rosewood) was renamed the GF-55 around 1990 and discontinued in 1991.

Actually the 6/1/90 pricelist (see below) still listed the others (minus the GF-40 which was discontinued already in 1988) and no GF-60 anymore. I don't have any 1991 pricelists.


Ralf

thanks, Ralf. The GF-60 has a different headstock and I believe different (possibly Nightbird?) fretboard inlays...than the GF-55. A GF-55 looks just like a D-55 except for body shape (posted at the high risk of being Hans'd!)

 

[Aecon13]

Welcome to LTG! Looks like that GF30 you have in your hands is a late 1987 one (if the serial number list is correct in that year, it has known errors).

The whole GF series only lasted from early 1987 till mid/end 1990 as far as I see in the pricelists... But some of them were discontinued earlier already. I think the GF-40 was such one with very low volume.

The below is from the 1987 catalog:

The pricelist in September 1987 showed the following, the case was extra:

Hans wrote before: "The GF-30 had a laminated arched maple back. The GF-40 was the lowest in the range with a flat mahogany braced back. "

Ralf

Are you sure about the Arch-backs? It appears this series is all-solid woods?

 

[SFIV1967]

Are you sure about the Arch-backs? It appears this series is all-solid woods?

Hans Moust is definitely correct (both GF-25 and GF-30 had an arched laminated back):

Anyone with experienced with Guild GF-30?

Anyone got the hot skinny on this mini jumbo?

letstalkguild.com

Ralf

 

[Aecon13]

Hans Moust is definitely correct (both GF-25 and GF-30 had an arched laminated back):

Anyone with experienced with Guild GF-30?

Anyone got the hot skinny on this mini jumbo?

letstalkguild.com

Ralf

It just doesn't make sense for a guitar with laminated back and sides to cost close to $1,000. Especially not back in the late 80s. I doubt it would even cost that now.