Difference between Guild GF30 and Guild JF30

SFIV1967

Venerated Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2010
Messages
18,403
Reaction score
8,882
Location
Bavaria / Germany
Guild Total
8
It just doesn't make sense for a guitar with laminated back and sides to cost close to $1,000.
The laminated arched back is a signature item for Guild since the very beginning of Guild.
High end maple F-50/F-55s or F-412 with list prices > $4,000 all come with laminated backs. Don't think "laminated" as "have to be cheap".

Even high end archtops like the X-500 are laminated since the 1950ies!
The American Patriarch X-500 Stuart had a listprice of $8,000 in 2014 and was fully laminated.

Ralf
 
Last edited:

awagner

Senior Member
Platinum Supporting
Joined
Oct 18, 2012
Messages
1,719
Reaction score
2,094
Location
Westchester, NY
Guild Total
40
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.

A lot of people might disagree with this statement. Several premium models had laminated backs and sides.
 

Aecon13

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2020
Messages
62
Reaction score
22
Guild Total
1
The laminated arched back is a signature item for Guild since the very beginning of Guild.
Expensive maple F-50s or F-412 all come with laminated backs. Don't think "laminated" as "have to be cheap".

Even high end archtops like the X-500 are laminated since the 1950ies!
The American Patriarch X-500 had a listprice of $8,000 in 2014 and was fully laminated.

Ralf

I just bought a brand new OM-240e with an arch-back for $400, and I agree that it's a signature model for them oh, and it's not a bad thing, but that seems really pricey for a guitar that's not solid wood.

So i have been looking for a Guild with good bass and low end. My OM is just not loud enough to hold up, as I am a Rhythm guitarist with a fairly heavy strumming style.

Unfortunately, I'm a pretty small stature. Dreads and regular size Jumbo's (with a 17" lower bout) are just too uncomfortable for me. I really need something that's more if a OM//Jumbo combo, this way I can get the big sound, in a more comfortable body. I am looking for something that is all solid wood.

Right now, I have the F-47 and F-40 Valencia as my 2 primary options (both have 16" lower bouts). I thought these GF's would work too, but not if they are not all solid woods.

Do you know of any other Guild models that would fit into my criteria?
 

Heath

Member
Joined
May 29, 2019
Messages
440
Reaction score
555
Laminate does not necessarily mean cheap or inferior. There are many variables.
 

Aecon13

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2020
Messages
62
Reaction score
22
Guild Total
1
Laminate does not necessarily mean cheap or inferior. There are many variables.

I understand that it doesn't mean it's inferior, and I even mentioned that I understand that it's not inferior, but laminated guitars are less expensive than solid body wood guitars. $1,000 is not a typical price point for a Guild with laminated back and sides. Especially not back in the 80s
 
Last edited:

Heath

Member
Joined
May 29, 2019
Messages
440
Reaction score
555
With inflation accounted for, what would those late 80’s F50 and other higher end laminate backed model prices be?
 

Budha

Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2020
Messages
125
Reaction score
96
Location
South Carolina
Guild Total
3
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.


I would certainly buy one of these Guild F-55's, with laminated maple back and sides, if I had close to $4000 sitting around idle.
 

Grassdog

Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2009
Messages
550
Reaction score
118
Location
Cincinnati, OH
The GF guitars are outstanding instruments, regardless of whether they're not all "solid wood". It makes no sense to eliminate those from consideration just because of this. Using that criteria, I'd have missed out on more than half the great guitars I've owned and enjoyed over my life. As others have aptly pointed out, the Guild arched back construction is not to be confused with lower cost. It is a highly desirable feature in many of Guild's higher end guitars. All you have to do is listen to one of these guitars to understand.
 

Aecon13

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2020
Messages
62
Reaction score
22
Guild Total
1
The GF guitars are outstanding instruments, regardless of whether they're not all "solid wood". It makes no sense to eliminate those from consideration just because of this. Using that criteria, I'd have missed out on more than half the great guitars I've owned and enjoyed over my life. As others have aptly pointed out, the Guild arched back construction is not to be confused with lower cost. It is a highly desirable feature in many of Guild's higher end guitars. All you have to do is listen to one of these guitars to understand.

You are evidently not understanding that I am looking for a solid body wood guitar. I'm not arguing that there's anything wrong with Arch backs or anything wrong with laminated back and sides. I already have an arch backed Guild. I am now looking for a solid body one. There are a lot if guitars out there. There is nothing wrong with me setting a particular criteria for what I am looking for.

It's like me saying I want a Dred and you telling.me that I should get an OM because there is nothing wrong with OM's. It's just not what I'm in the market for.
 

awagner

Senior Member
Platinum Supporting
Joined
Oct 18, 2012
Messages
1,719
Reaction score
2,094
Location
Westchester, NY
Guild Total
40
I just bought a brand new OM-240e with an arch-back for $400, and I agree that it's a signature model for them oh, and it's not a bad thing, but that seems really pricey for a guitar that's not solid wood.

Right now, I have the F-47 and F-40 Valencia as my 2 primary options (both have 16" lower bouts). I thought these GF's would work too, but not if they are not all solid woods.

Do you know of any other Guild models that would fit into my criteria?

I personally would not characterize any non-USA made Guilds as signature models, even though they are highly regarded and quality builds. Having said that, $400 seems like a great price for a new Guild, whether or not it has a laminated back and sides.

Most Guild archbacks are maple, and the combination of that wood selection and the non braced arched backs results in guitars that project very well. My F412 is probably my loudest guitar. Whether or not these guitars are laminated is irrelevant. The fit and finish of F50s, F412s and many other Guild maple guitars are top notch, as are the construction techniques employed, which result in the superior sound quality.

If you are looking for a smaller maple guitar, then a maple F47 or F40 are good choices, as are a vintage F44 or GF60M.

But if other tone woods are options, then there are mahogany and rosewood versions of the F47 and F30 that might work for you.
 

awagner

Senior Member
Platinum Supporting
Joined
Oct 18, 2012
Messages
1,719
Reaction score
2,094
Location
Westchester, NY
Guild Total
40
You are evidently not understanding that I am looking for a solid body wood guitar. I'm not arguing that there's anything wrong with Arch backs or anything wrong with laminated back and sides. I already have an arch backed Guild. I am now looking for a solid body one. There are a lot if guitars out there. There is nothing wrong with me setting a particular criteria for what I am looking for.

It's like me saying I want a Dred and you telling.me that I should get an OM because there is nothing wrong with OM's. It's just not what I'm in the market for.

Someone else will have to weigh in (maybe Hans) on which maple arch back acoustics are not laminated. I am not aware of any.
 

Aecon13

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2020
Messages
62
Reaction score
22
Guild Total
1
Someone else will have to weigh in (maybe Hans) on which maple arch back acoustics are not laminated. I am not aware of any.

Maple is an option, but mahogany is my ideal choice. The main thing is that's it's solid wood and big enough low sound to hold up as a rhythm instrument for a fairly heavy handed strummer, in a comfortable enough body. So right now, the F-40 Valencia and F-47 are both options, but I would live to know if there is anything else out there.
 

awagner

Senior Member
Platinum Supporting
Joined
Oct 18, 2012
Messages
1,719
Reaction score
2,094
Location
Westchester, NY
Guild Total
40
Obviously you will have to try individual guitars to see if they sound right to you, but it looks like a mahogany F47 or F30 are your best bets.

Good luck!
 

Aecon13

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2020
Messages
62
Reaction score
22
Guild Total
1
Obviously you will have to try individual guitars to see if they sound right to you, but it looks like a mahogany F47 or F30 are your best bets.

Good luck!

Isn't the F-30 an OM? Will it have the same bass response of the F47 or the F40 Valencia? I know those are both considered Grand Orchestra models, which is basically a Jumbo and OM combined.

How would the F30 compare? These are all models that have long been out of production. They are hard to find, so having the opportunity to actually go somewhere locally and play them is probably not an option
 

fronobulax

Bassist, GAD and the Hot Mess Mods
Joined
May 3, 2007
Messages
24,708
Reaction score
8,836
Location
Central Virginia, USA
Guild Total
5
You are evidently not understanding that I am looking for a solid body wood guitar. I'm not arguing that there's anything wrong with Arch backs or anything wrong with laminated back and sides.

I was confused and thought you were trying to make some kind of superiority/inferiority argument as well. My concern is that the tone of the comments and responses were headed towards something that needed to be moderated.

So, the OP is looking for a solid and let's help with that. OK?
 

Aecon13

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2020
Messages
62
Reaction score
22
Guild Total
1
I was confused and thought you were trying to make some kind of superiority/inferiority argument as well. My concern is that the tone of the comments and responses were headed towards something that needed to be moderated.

So, the OP is looking for a solid and let's help with that. OK?


Yea, I'm sorry dude. I was not trying to come off as a d***. I think it's easy to kind of easy to take things out of context sometimes when you're not speaking to someone in person, but I didn't mean to come across is confrontational.

I did mention that I was surprised at the price point for it being a Guild Arch-back, but that was a secondary point, rather then the actual subject of my post.

I've been in search of a Guild guitar that fills a particular criteria for a bit now, and I simply realize that these GF's don't fit the bill. It's not because I have an issue with arch-backs, but simply because I already have an arch back and I would like an all wood body.
 

awagner

Senior Member
Platinum Supporting
Joined
Oct 18, 2012
Messages
1,719
Reaction score
2,094
Location
Westchester, NY
Guild Total
40
Isn't the F-30 an OM? Will it have the same bass response of the F47 or the F40 Valencia? I know those are both considered Grand Orchestra models, which is basically a Jumbo and OM combined.

How would the F30 compare? These are all models that have long been out of production. They are hard to find, so having the opportunity to actually go somewhere locally and play them is probably not an option

Can’t speak to that. Specs for each model changed over the years, so there is no stock answer for how a particular model compares to others, or even the same model from a different era.

And most of my guitars are dreads and jumbos, so my experience with smaller bodied Guild acoustics is limited.

But given your criteria for size and wood selection, an F30 or F47 are your best bets, since they come up fairly often, although probably not locally.
 

SFIV1967

Venerated Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2010
Messages
18,403
Reaction score
8,882
Location
Bavaria / Germany
Guild Total
8
The GF guitars are outstanding instruments...
You are evidently not understanding that I am looking for a solid body wood guitar.
I still think you misunderstood our comments regarding the GF series. This is what I re-posted before about what Hans said before: "The GF-40 was the lowest in the range with a flat mahogany braced back. " means that the GF-40, GF-50 and GF-60 are all solid wood flat back guitars...So a GF-40 for instance would fit your requirement list of 16", mahogany with spruce top and flat back.


Ralf
 
Last edited:

Aecon13

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2020
Messages
62
Reaction score
22
Guild Total
1
I still think you misunderstood our comments regarding the GF series. This is what I re-posted before about what Hans said before: "The GF-40 was the lowest in the range with a flat mahogany braced back. " means that the GF-40, GF-50 and GF-60 are all solid wood flat back guitars...So a GF-40 for instance would fit your requirement list of 16", mahogany with spruce top and flat back.


Ralf

That's what I originally thought, so yes, I did misunderstand. Thanks for clarifying!
 
Last edited:

plaidseason

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2006
Messages
1,388
Reaction score
802
Location
Southern New England Coast, USA
Just to add some color.

I've found the arch backed Guilds to be exemplary rhythm instruments. I formerly owned a DCE1 that I used for exactly that in a loud roots rock band. I sold it probably 15 years ago, and now I'm working on a project and wish I still had it. I went from looking for a a solid rosewood dread, to looking for a solid mahogany dread, to now looking all over for used D4s in good condition (because I don't have the cash for a D25).

I'll also add that my local high end dealer (run by friends of mine), just recently sold a GF30 that every single one of them was raving about. "I thought I hated maple" was a common expression. These are guys who play Collings, Santa Cruz, and Flammang guitars every day. If I didn't already have my F44, I might've considered buying it and I probably should've at least played it.

Lastly, the arch back isn't the same as a "laminate" back. It's an entirely different and more refined process taken from Guild's archtops. It creates a unique sound and projection. I've said this here before, but my DCE1 was actually a better recording guitar than either my F44 or my (former) F30rls. And that F30rls sounded every bit as good as a great Santa Cruz or Collings. But the DCE1 was somehow more focused and cleaner.
 
Top