F30 or GF30? Need help identifying

[GradeIII]

Hi all. I have a sunburst Guild that I purchased new in '88 or '89. I listed it on Reverb recently and a guy purchased it as a gift for his uncle, who regretfully sold his F30-SB many years ago. He just got around to showing it to his uncle, who says that it's not an F30, but instead it is a GF30. The label inside the guitar says the model is an F30-SB but the serial number starts with the letters GF. The purchaser wants a refund. I am torn because I feel I listed it accurately according to the model listed on the trade label. I'm looking for insight as the F30 vs the GF30. Did Guild perhaps change the F30 into the GF30 at some point, or were they produced at the same time? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[wileypickett]

Numerous examples exist of Guild mislabelling the model on the interior sticker. The fact that it says "GF" on the headstock pretty much confirms that your purchaser's uncle is correct -- that it is indeed a GF30.

Not yout fault, but also not what the buyer thought they were getting.

(GF30s are nice guitars BTW -- someone will surely want it.)

 

[SFIV1967]

Between around 1978 EDIT: mid 80's and 1998 there was no F-30 model from Guild as far as I can read in the literature.
The GF-30 model (wider than a F-30) was available from around 1987 till 1991.
I probaly would consider a GF-30 as almost "better" than a F-30 but if one is looking for a F-30 a GF-30 does not fit in size and also it has maple back and sides and a 70's as well as a late 90's F-30 had mahogany back and sides. (the F-30R had rosewood).
So I guess you probably have to take her back and list her again. Should be easy to sell a nice "GF-30 SB"!
S/N GF300342 should be a 1988 "GF-30 SB" as far as the S/N lists say.

1987 catalog:




Jan 1988 and June 1988 price list:


1990 catalog:



Ralf

 

[twocorgis]

Sometimes the internal model designation ended up on the label instead of the "proper" model number. Here's what the label on my old GF30 looked like.

 

[bobouz]

Between around 1978 and 1998 there was no F-30 model from Guild as far as I can read in the literature.

It’s not very often that you get to “Ralf” Ralf! The mini-jumbo shaped F-30 (mahogany body) was discontinued in 1986 per Gruhn. My 1980 catalog has it, and I’ve seen quite a few examples of early to mid ‘80s F-30s over the years. The GF-30 came out the following year in 1987 with a maple body and was discontinued in 1991.

Edit: Catalog #9000, the F-30 was listed as having a mahogany body with an arched back.

 

[HeyMikey]

We actually discussed this one. If is a very nice looking GF30.

https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/gf30-sb-on-reverb-1250.215221/

 

[West R Lee]

Just me personally, but I think I'd rather have the GF than the F.

West

 

[GradeIII]

Just me personally, but I think I'd rather have the GF than the F.

West

It could be yours. I'm refunding the guy's money.

 

[West R Lee]

It could be yours. I'm refunding the guy's money.

Post pictures here Grade, I'd like to see it.

West

 

[bobouz]

Just me personally, but I think I'd rather have the GF than the F.

West

Two rather different animals, with the F-30 having a 15” body vs the GF’s 16” body, and of course the different body woods. Potentially fine quality instruments either way!

 

[GradeIII]

Post pictures here Grade, I'd like to see it.

West

 

[West R Lee]

Two rather different animals, with the F-30 having a 15” body vs the GF’s 16” body, and of course the different body woods. Potentially fine quality instruments either way!

Yes they are. I'd prefer the GF.

West

 

[West R Lee]

Oh yea, I remember this one from Reverb I think. Nice.

West

 

[LQNgineer]

Here is the link to models and serial numbers for all Guild guitars. It seemed a bit confusing to me as well based join the information on your label. I would recommend you check this list as I came to the conclusion the instrument was made in 1987 based upon the serial numbering. http://support.guildguitars.com/2012/dating/Dating_Your_Guild.pdf
Check it out and contact Guild directly to try and lock down the date and specifically the model and serial number of your instrument.

 

[bobouz]

Uh Oh - Call out the upside down TRC rescue unit!

 

[GradeIII]

Thank you everyone for your insights and knowledge. Based upon the "Dating your Guild" web page, it appears I have a GF30, made in 1988. I have contacted Guild for confirmation, but am not holding out much hope that they'll follow up. I will be contacting Reverb to initiate a return and relisting the guitar for sale. Again, thanks for the insightful messages.

 

[SFIV1967]

...as I came to the conclusion the instrument was made in 1987 based upon the serial numbering. http://support.guildguitars.com/2012/dating/Dating_Your_Guild.pdf
Check it out and contact Guild directly to try and lock down the date and specifically the model and serial number of your instrument.

You are reading the charts incorrect: "This chart details the year, model and last serial number produced for each instrument during that period.". So as I said before it should be 1988. However there are many errors in that list, Hans has many times corrected such info.
Also contacting Guild for anything before 2014 is useless. They only know anything after 2014. The model and serial number are very clear if you read above posts.

Ralf

 

[plaidseason]

It's confusing enough to have an F30 and a GF30. But there are also multiple versions of the F30, arched back OM-ish, solid back OM-ish, solid back mini-jumbo ish, 90s short-scale 000-ish, and then back to long-scale OM-ish. Meanwhile, the GF30 is more similar to an original F40.

While I myself am on the lookout for a short-scale 90s F30, I agree with others that the a 16" mini-jumbo is an unrivaled all-around-er. And one of my few guitar buying regrets is missing out on a sweet deal on a GF30 a few years back.

 

[SFIV1967]

It’s not very often that you get to “Ralf” Ralf! The mini-jumbo shaped F-30 (mahogany body) was discontinued in 1986 per Gruhn.

I accept that! I obviously read something wrong. Thanks for pointing that out. Still waiting for Hans' Volume II for clarification...

Ralf

 

[GGJaguar]

Still waiting for Hans' Volume II for clarification...

Doesn't matter. We will still get Hans'd because we forgot what we read in the new book, just like we do now with the old book.