Guild F-30

[Guest]

Got a chance to buy a 1972 Guild F-30 for under $300. I haven't yet had the chance to play it (it's a couple of hours from my home) so that will of course be the final check, but just generally, what do you folks know/feel about this model? I've played Guild dreads before, but this not being a dread, I'm not quite sure what to expect. I'd like to get all the info I can before I make the drive. Thanks in advance for any help/info.

 

[Guest]

Got a chance to buy a 1972 Guild F-30 for under $300. I haven't yet had the chance to play it (it's a couple of hours from my home) so that will of course be the final check, but just generally, what do you folks know/feel about this model? I've played Guild dreads before, but this not being a dread, I'm not quite sure what to expect. I'd like to get all the info I can before I make the drive. Thanks in advance for any help/info.

 

[kydog]

The F30 series of acoustic guitars was among the earliest and most popular of Guild's flattop lines. The F30's of the mid-'60s are highly prized by collectors. In fact, they are so popular that we had a hard time finding a collector who would let us dissect one for the production dimensions.


Model Name F30
Body Style Concert
Top Solid Spruce
Bracing Hoboken X
Back Solid Mahogany
Sides Solid Mahogany
Bridge Rosewood
Neck Mahogany
Fretboard Rosewood
Width at nut 1 11/16"
No. of Frets
Depth
Width 15"
Scale Length 24 3/4"

 

[kydog]

The F30 series of acoustic guitars was among the earliest and most popular of Guild's flattop lines. The F30's of the mid-'60s are highly prized by collectors. In fact, they are so popular that we had a hard time finding a collector who would let us dissect one for the production dimensions.


Model Name F30
Body Style Concert
Top Solid Spruce
Bracing Hoboken X
Back Solid Mahogany
Sides Solid Mahogany
Bridge Rosewood
Neck Mahogany
Fretboard Rosewood
Width at nut 1 11/16"
No. of Frets
Depth
Width 15"
Scale Length 24 3/4"

 

[Punkybub]

If it's in one piece and playable, that sounds like a great deal. I have a '67 F-30 that is a honey - they made them lighter back then I think, and very resonant w/the mahogany back and sides. Just stellar guitars from what I've seen.

Like any old guitar it might need serious work like a reset or a refret, but at that price it's still at least a decent deal I'd think.

 

[Punkybub]

If it's in one piece and playable, that sounds like a great deal. I have a '67 F-30 that is a honey - they made them lighter back then I think, and very resonant w/the mahogany back and sides. Just stellar guitars from what I've seen.

Like any old guitar it might need serious work like a reset or a refret, but at that price it's still at least a decent deal I'd think.

 

[chazzan]

It is very much WORTH looking at- the 70's f-30 is like a mini jumbo- I have a 1978 one and it sounds great, loud and well balenced- I've had no problems with mine, build quality and otherwise.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[chazzan]

It is very much WORTH looking at- the 70's f-30 is like a mini jumbo- I have a 1978 one and it sounds great, loud and well balenced- I've had no problems with mine, build quality and otherwise.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[dayuhan]

Well, put it this way... assuming no serious issues, if you buy it and decide you don't want it, I'd take it off your hands. If nobody else here gets to it first, that is.

 

[dayuhan]

Well, put it this way... assuming no serious issues, if you buy it and decide you don't want it, I'd take it off your hands. If nobody else here gets to it first, that is.

 

[coastie99]

Good enough for Mississippi John Hurt !!

 

[coastie99]

Good enough for Mississippi John Hurt !!

 

[capnjuan]

Hi kaynray and welcome to LTG. You may find that the F30 isn't as loud as the Guild dreds you said you'd had experience with but the F30, arguably, will have a little bit better volume balance between bass and treble; less 'woofy' if you will. Good luck; hope it works out! CJ

 

[capnjuan]

Hi kaynray and welcome to LTG. You may find that the F30 isn't as loud as the Guild dreds you said you'd had experience with but the F30, arguably, will have a little bit better volume balance between bass and treble; less 'woofy' if you will. Good luck; hope it works out! CJ

 

[john_kidder]

Just buy, if it's in even reasonably good shape. Many on this board would likely give you a premium over $300 if you don't like it.

 

[john_kidder]

Just buy, if it's in even reasonably good shape. Many on this board would likely give you a premium over $300 if you don't like it.

 

[jgmaute]

I just played an old Guild F-30 today at Randy Woods. If I hadn't just bought my beach guitar I'd be seriously considering this one, it plays and sounds great. However it is really beat, this baby's been played. I wish I had thought to take a picture with my phone to post.

Basically there are a lot (and I mean a lot) of places where the finish is chipped or off. (back, neck, sides) There is a lot of wear around the bottom of the pick guard, clearly someone liked to strum and used a pick. I recognized the shape of the pick guard and head but had to look real close to see Guild on the headstock (I think it was stenciled). I couldn't find any cracks and like I said, it sounded great. It did have the label inside, I forgot to check for the serial # on the back of the headstock. It was made in Hoboken, F-30 SB, and as near as I could tell the serial number was A ? 2771 (I couldn't tell what was after the A, maybe a 2, maybe a dash.) It's on consignment for $625 including a gig bag so one for $300 sounds like a grabber to me.

I'm trying to see when it was made and can't figure it out based on the serial # and the charts I'm seeing. Can anyone help me with that?

 

[jgmaute]

I just played an old Guild F-30 today at Randy Woods. If I hadn't just bought my beach guitar I'd be seriously considering this one, it plays and sounds great. However it is really beat, this baby's been played. I wish I had thought to take a picture with my phone to post.

Basically there are a lot (and I mean a lot) of places where the finish is chipped or off. (back, neck, sides) There is a lot of wear around the bottom of the pick guard, clearly someone liked to strum and used a pick. I recognized the shape of the pick guard and head but had to look real close to see Guild on the headstock (I think it was stenciled). I couldn't find any cracks and like I said, it sounded great. It did have the label inside, I forgot to check for the serial # on the back of the headstock. It was made in Hoboken, F-30 SB, and as near as I could tell the serial number was A ? 2771 (I couldn't tell what was after the A, maybe a 2, maybe a dash.) It's on consignment for $625 including a gig bag so one for $300 sounds like a grabber to me.

I'm trying to see when it was made and can't figure it out based on the serial # and the charts I'm seeing. Can anyone help me with that?

 

[capnjuan]

According to Dan Cipriano / scroll down to F-30 and assuming the second character is an "I" and not a "2", it's a 1969 but none of the web-sources for Guild year/SN data are as reliable as Hans' data. ... maybe ... maybe not. CJ

 

[capnjuan]

According to Dan Cipriano / scroll down to F-30 and assuming the second character is an "I" and not a "2", it's a 1969 but none of the web-sources for Guild year/SN data are as reliable as Hans' data. ... maybe ... maybe not. CJ