F30s - can you tell me the difference between these two?

[Timeline88]

So, I'm in the market for a new acoustic guitar and having never really gone acoustic guitar shopping, I'm doing a lot of looking around and research about body sizes, woods etc. It's all quite new to me, to be honest because I've always made do with a battered old EKO Ranger VI my Dad's friend found on a skip when I was about 13...

Step-in the F30. Seems to me like a good balance between dreadnought and small bodied which I'm hoping will lend itself more towards finger style but still record well strummed if I'm overdubbing or putting down an acoustic rhythm track and that kind of thing.

There are two for sale in the UK, both New Hartford, and both in 2010 by serial number. One label is written simply 'F30' and the other, 'F30R std'. The 'F30' has a 'G' inlayed logo on the headstock and DTAR pickup, whereas the 'F30R std' has just the 'Guild' inlay and no pickup.

I'd assumed that both were Standard series guitars but am I wrong? Can someone tell me the difference between them? There is a fair difference in price, so I'm wondering whether one is a bargain or whether one is overpriced...

Any thoughts on New Hartford F30s also welcome! Thanks!

'F30' link

'F30R Std' link

 

[Westerly Wood]

The F30 might have a wider body depth than the F30R. I know my F30R depth is 4", while a typical F30 should be 5" depth , and that does affect output volume and overall tone. I would find out for sure, as I would not be surprised if the dimensions are not the same between those two F30s you are considering.

That being said, they are terrific finger picking/style acoustics. And very well built. You can strum the F30 too, but it is not like a dread.

I know I am super glad I got the F30R while I had the chance. I would like the F30 hog b/s too Very comfortable playing guitars, easy on the shoulder.

I will wait for others to chime in here on exact specs of the New Hartford era Guilds...dimensions changed over the eras...

 

[Aecon13]

The F30R means it's a rosewood bodied guitar, where the F30 is a mahogany. This particular model has changed its specs as many times as any guitar I've seen, so you should check with both sellers to find out the exact specs, if they're not already listed. This guitar could be an OM (which is probably what you want in your situation), or a small Jumbo.

I'm personally looking for the opposite of what you're looking for. I'm looking for a comfortable body guitar that can hold up well for heavy strumming, and wondering if the small jumbo version of this model would be sufficient for me.

 

[HeyMikey]

The New Hartford guitars are terrific. Two important distinctions... The F30R Standard has a 1-3/4 inch nut width. The F30 (traditional series) has a 1-11/16 nut width. Both will have the same body dimensions with a lower bout of slightly larger than 15 x 4 inches.

 

[Timeline88]

Amazing, thanks all for your help!

@Westerly Wood I'll see if I can find the spec sheets via GADs catalogue archive as the sellers haven't posted them but judging by how much the F30 seems to have varied over time, it would seem that could be forgiven! I'm torn between thinking I'd like the extra depth for that bit more projection but then rosewood b/s sounds appealing for finger style.

@Aecon13 I just spotted that in the description, haha - couldn't see the (rose)wood for the trees so to speak. 9 times out of 10, I'm playing at home on my sofa, so I think the OM probably is right for me. Good luck with your search too!

@HeyMikey I've only heard good things about New Hartford, so great to hear you're backing them too. That's quite a big nut width on the F30R, then. I'm used to a 43mm nut but I'm not sure how I'd fair with a 44.5mm nut. Do you think the 'F30' shown here is standard or traditional, out of interest?

 

[geoguy]

As far as price goes, the "Traditional" F30 (at 1100 BP, or USD 1510) is a better value than the "Standard" F30R (at 1349 BP, or USD 1850).

I know that prices are higher outside the USA, but that Standard F30R seems ambitiously over-priced, in my opinion.

 

[Timeline88]

Thanks @geoguy, I've just been pouring through GAD's catalogue archive and I've realised that they didn't introduce the 'Traditional' / 'Standard' distinction until the 2011, which suggests that the 'F30' is a Traditional model and probably represents better value over the F30R.

 

[Westerly Wood]

The F30R means it's a rosewood bodied guitar, where the F30 is a mahogany. This particular model has changed its specs as many times as any guitar I've seen, so you should check with both sellers to find out the exact specs, if they're not already listed. This guitar could be an OM (which is probably what you want in your situation), or a small Jumbo.

I'm personally looking for the opposite of what you're looking for. I'm looking for a comfortable body guitar that can hold up well for heavy strumming, and wondering if the small jumbo version of this model would be sufficient for me.

F40 then, for sure.

 

[HeyMikey]

I always like to double check with the seller and ask them to measure the nut width. However New Hartford models are more consistent than earlier Guilds. I prefer the Standard series explicitly because of the wider nut over the traditional (not marked STD) series but both are excellent.

 

[geoguy]

F40 then, for sure.

Yes, F40 or F47 might be worth considering, if you want a guitar that holds up well while strumming.

 

[Aecon13]

Yes, F40 or F47 might be worth considering, if you want a guitar that holds up well while strumming.

Okay, I'll hold out until I find one in my price range then.

Thanks!

 

[fronobulax]

To repeat, a New Hartford F-30 Traditional has a 1 11/16" nut whereas the NH F-30 Standard has a 1 3/4" nut. The Traditional has a tortoise shell binding and the Standard has an ivory or off white binding. The Standard will have a satin finish. The MSRP for the Traditional was a couple hundred USD higher. I used to have all this memorized because Mrs. Fro fell in love with the orchestra size, played both on a factory tour and then spend at least a month trying to choose. She didn't care about the nut width and really preferred the Traditional so the debate was really whether the features she liked were worth the extra cost. We got the Traditional.

 

[HeyMikey]

A lot of it comes down to personal preference and it depends on the sound you are going for and if it is to accompany vocals etc.

I prefer rosewood guitars more for my general pop tune style of playing. However for heavy strumming or faster changes I like mahogany better. I named my F30 Rocco for that reason - because it had a great mid range punch without getting muddy.

It doesn’t make as much of a difference on the smaller F30 size which are by nature not as bottom heavy or resonant as larger bodies. Just something to think about.

Frono... The Standards also come in gloss finish.

 

[Timeline88]

I've sent a message to the seller of the F30 to double-check the key measurements and whether he's prepared to ship. Not an ideal time for a cross-country drive! Fingers crossed. Thanks again.

 

[walrus]

You can't go wrong with a NH Guild! I love my F-30RCE!

walrus

 

[fronobulax]

Frono... The Standards also come in gloss finish.

I suspect if I had said "satin neck" we wouldn't be having this conversation? My bad if so.

 

[walrus]

I suspect if I had said "satin neck" we wouldn't be having this conversation? My bad if so.

Agreed. But in reality, the satin neck only lasts about two weeks! My F-30RCE neck is now a gloss neck!

walrus

 

[Timeline88]

So, the seller of the F30 has decided to take it off the market now and says he'll re-list later in the year at a higher price. Marvellous. Thanks for your input all the same; I'll see if another comes up and hopefully by then, travelling to collect it will be less of an issue.

 

[HeyMikey]

There will be others.

 

[Timeline88]

So, I have a chance on a F-30 from Tacoma, 2006 which is being sold by GuitarGuitar (a national chain here in the UK). They've described it as a Standard but the 2006 catalogs don't show a Standard, just the Traditional - is this correct? It seems to have the tort binding.

I've sent them a message asking about whether it has a case as they don't mention it but at £999 that seems like a good price for the UK.

Here it is: https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/px201216365066001--guild-2006-f-30-pre-owned