F4CE question

[Rebosbro]

I noticed that some F4’s have binding on front and back and some just front. Have my eye on a beauty that has binding on front and back. By the S/N, it was 30th from the last one made in 1999. Is it better quality than single binding?
Paul

 

[adorshki]

I noticed that some F4’s have binding on front and back and some just front. Have my eye on a beauty that has binding on front and back. By the S/N, it was 30th from the last one made in 1999. Is it better quality than single binding?
Paul

Hmm, never noticed that but it wouldn't surprise me if early versions had no back binding (like D4's) while later ones did (like D4's).
Binding itself does have some functional purpose in protecting the edges of the top and back and helping seal against moisture, so I'd call it a small quality upgrade.

 

[swiveltung]

The F4CE and the F5CE seem very similar and may have come both ways as far as binding goes ....IIRC? I really like them and have two; one is flat back, one is arched back, both have the binding front and back. A real bargain in a good old acoustic electric.
Very easy playing guitars although not real thick front to back. But big enough to project some decent volume. (3" deep x 16" body)

 

[Rebosbro]

Think it’s over priced at $850 with OHSC. In great shape and this shop usually negotiates
Paul

 

[swiveltung]

Very much so.

 

[jfilm]

My F4CE is stamped June 4 1992, and has binding on just the front, with arched back. Really fast neck, 1 5/8" nut, and short scale. I got it for a bargain price because the electronics were ripped out- love how it plays, though it's a bit quiet as just an acoustic because of the thin body, about 3". Looks like later models have different specs. If they made one with this neck but a deeper body (and louder acoustic sound) I'll probably start searching. Anyone know?

 

[swiveltung]

My F4CE is stamped June 4 1992, and has binding on just the front, with arched back. Really fast neck, 1 5/8" nut, and short scale. I got it for a bargain price because the electronics were ripped out- love how it plays, though it's a bit quiet as just an acoustic because of the thin body, about 3". Looks like later models have different specs. If they made one with this neck but a deeper body (and louder acoustic sound) I'll probably start searching. Anyone know?

Mine are 3" but have the true acoustic construction and binding front and back. Is yours a milled out body with a top and front binding? I cant remember if those with front binding only were milled out like the Songbird's were.?

 

[jfilm]

Mine are 3" but have the true acoustic construction and binding front and back. Is yours a milled out body with a top and front binding? I cant remember if those with front binding only were milled out like the Songbird's were.?

Not sure, it's a regular acoustic in its build, except for the arched back and no back braces. Here are some photos:

 

[adorshki]

Mine are 3" but have the true acoustic construction and binding front and back. Is yours a milled out body with a top and front binding? I cant remember if those with front binding only were milled out like the Songbird's were.?

Never milled out like Songbirds, different body completely.

 

[wileypickett]

The electronics were DOA when I got mine (I never plug in anyway) so I pulled the control panel and turned the opening into a sound-port.

It’s quite a decent sounding acoustic guitar in its own right IMO.

Good luck with yours!

 

[Bonneville88]

I had an F4CE-AMB for a time, a '94 according to the serial # pdf, all-hog arch-back.

 

[adorshki]

I had an F4CE-AMB for a time, a '94 according to the serial # pdf, all-hog arch-back.

All hog? (Yep was able able to zoom in on top and sure enough...!). By golly didn't realize they ever built 'em like that.

The '92 has 'em as spruce tops, but with that 24-fret fretboard (give-away's the dual dots), it's gotta be the "early version":

Hans has mentioned the change to 22-fret long-scale neck occurred some time in '94, at least for F65ce's, but the whole family changed by '96 as shown in the '96 catalog, but the '96 catalog doesn't specify top and pic is of black one ( ); '97 catalog shows spruce again

'Hog top, eh? That's our Guild!!

 

[swiveltung]

Evidently my two are an F4 and an F5 as one is gloss and one is satin finish. (I've got the soundhole filled on one so cant check the label) I use one often in a Duo thing I do. (well... used to do!) These are great guitars for performing. They don't tire you out like playing a true acoustic for 3 hours. Solo guitar in a duo (one guitar, two vocals) is an intense thing, no back up if you leave too much space! There have been times when we played the 3 hours straight with no break just to keep people around.

 

[Bonneville88]

And then there was also this all-hog F15 CE M, serial #F150243 - deep body compared the F4 variety.
If I recall correctly, other than the body depth and earlier generation electronics,
pretty much the same guitar as the earlier one I posted.

 

[portsider]

There have been times when we played the 3 hours straight with no break just to keep people around.

Oh yeah, been there done that!

 

[adorshki]

Evidently my two are an F4 and an F5 as one is gloss and one is satin finish.

.
Swivel, the F5 was rosewood back/sides, see that '92 catalog page I posted above.

What might be throwing you off is that the F5ce used one of guild's rarest build formulae: an arched rosewood back. Notice in the body shot in the '97 catalog, no back braces. So you maybe you thought they were both the same due to that ?

I only know of 2 other models that did that: the D5ce and some '67(IIRC) F50Rs built with laminated rosewood arched backs. Chaz's Cap was an example.

(I've got the soundhole filled on one so cant check the label) I use one often in a Duo thing I do. (well... used to do!) These are great guitars for performing. They don't tire you out like playing a true acoustic for 3 hours.

Copy that, but they are true acoustic flattops with separate back sides and top all joined by glue. Not routed bodies.

Solo guitar in a duo (one guitar, two vocals) is an intense thing, no back up if you leave too much space! There have been times when we played the 3 hours straight with no break just to keep people around.

Play on brothah!

 

[adorshki]

And then there was also this all-hog F15 CE M, serial #F150243 - deep body compared the F4 variety.
If I recall correctly, other than the body depth and earlier generation electronics,
pretty much the same guitar as the earlier one I posted.

Dang 'at's another one!!

 

[Bonneville88]

I chased that F15 on CL for over a year.
Can't explain why really - there was an oddly compelling / fascinating / beautiful austerity to it.
I think I just wanted to get one decent photo of it that captured its aesthetic character.
Didn't bond with it at all, but sold it to someone who contacted
me long afterward and said they played it every day and it was
their favorite guitar ever.

 

[swiveltung]

.
Swivel, the F5 was rosewood back/sides, see that '92 catalog page I posted above.

What might be throwing you off is that the F5ce used one of guild's rarest build formulae: an arched rosewood back. Notice in the body shot in the '97 catalog, no back braces. So you maybe you thought they were both the same due to that ?

I only know of 2 other models that did that: the D5ce and some '67(IIRC) F50Rs built with laminated rosewood arched backs. Chaz's Cap was an example.
Copy that, but they are true acoustic flattops with separate back sides and top all joined by glue. Not routed bodies.
Play on brothah!

Yeah, I guess maybe it's rosewood, looks a lot like Hog, but RW varies. I have a 70's Fender acoustic F65 (yamaha?) that has solid rosewood body and sides and is far darker and not so much black grains in it. This is an F5CE-NT. Interestingly, the outside of the back has those long black grains in the wood. The inside does not have those long black grains and looks like rosewood to me. Confusing.

OK, after all this I had to open up the other one. It's an F4CE-NT HR. Satin finish Mahogany instead of gloss and it has some arch on the back too. It's double bound also.
I thought one of these models was flat back? Also, isn't there a similar model that is milled out, neither of these are?

 

[jfilm]

The electronics were DOA when I got mine (I never plug in anyway) so I pulled the control panel and turned the opening into a sound-port.

It’s quite a decent sounding acoustic guitar in its own right IMO.

Good luck with yours!

Yes, that's what it is, a second sound-port! I think it sounds great, it's a perfect late night guitar, not too loud, super comfortable to play. Mine also looks like someone took an ice pick to the top in a couple of places. More sound ports!