Hi......I'm New Here

[Gary0319]

Hi All,

My name is Gary, and I'm an acoustic guitar junkie (or so my wife thinks).

I'm new here to the Guild Forum, having spent most of my time over the last few years on the Acoustic Guitar Forum and the Larrivee Forum. I'm 65 years young and I've been playing for about 8 years, now; self taught. Over this period of time I've bought and sold more guitars than I can, or care to, count. I've a continuing love affair with small bodied acoustics, especially pre-NT neck Taylors from the 90's, and most recently the Larrivee line. I owned 5 Larrivees in the last 18 months and still keep a limited run all-mahogany 12 fret OM that was the original Larrivee Forum Guitar from a few years ago; 17 were made and mine is #9.

I've been a Mahogany guy for most of these years years, but recently have been leaning towards Rosewood. My last pruchase, about a month ago, was my Yamaha FG730S....my only dread, my only 1 11/16 nut, and my only Rosewood (albeit a laminate). What a wonderful instrument at an incredible price. I coudn't resist it.

So what am I doing here, one might ask?

Well, that little Yamaha got me thinking that I might like to try a smaller bodied rosewood (OM or OOO), and I've always liked the looks of the Guild GAD, particularly the bursts. So I figured if I wanted to learn more about the Guilds, GADs and others, this would be the place.

So......I'll just hang around here for awhile, if you don't mind, and ask some beginner-Guild questions.

Thanks for having me,

Gary

 

[Tunes]

Gary,

Welcome aboard. If your looking for superior information and discussion on Guild's - you have come to the right place! If your looking for sanity and adult-like behavior - well somedays that's an issue.

There is one thing we all have in common, a love of guitars, Guilds and GAS. Looks like you got GAS in a big way Gary - I think you'll feel right at home here.

Good to have ya!

 

[dreadnut]

Welcome to the GAS support group, Gary! Of course, hanging out here will only fuel your addiction. :twisted:

I think you need to get your hands on a rosewood Guild. I'll only give mine up when they pry my cold, dead fingers off the frets :lol:

 

[jgmaute]

Welcome Gary, you've landed in a great place to find out about Guilds...and hang with some good folks...kick your shoes off, relax your mind.

My first really good guitar, and still my guitar of choice is my Martin 00-21NY. Nice small body, 1 7/8", 12-fret to the body, slot head, rosewood. That said, you'll notice I've got three Guilds. Nothing can beat a Guild 12 and my D55 gives me a nice huge sound that rings forever.

My latest Guild is a 30RASB, could be your WTB type. I use it to play at the beach (Tuesdays April - October) and also when I'm flying somewhere. (I actually wanted an old F-20 or F-30 but couldn't find one.) I love the size, neck (1 3/4), appearance (nice solid woods, inlays, etc) feel, and sound. It's great for fingerpicking but can also stand up to some serious strumming and flat picking. Fortunately I found it on ebay, it had been damaged in shipping and I only paid $300. I had the 2 cracks fixed and the guitar set up by Randy Wood (who by the way told me I done good with the buy). It's the only one I've played and I really like it.

All my guitars are rosewood; I'm looking to add a small bodied hog as my next guitar. There's an old (early 60s I think) small bodied hog F-30 burst that is beat to crap but sounds and plays great I've been looking at but haven't made the leap yet. If it's still around when I get some $ it will join my Guild family.

Welcome and ask away, you can also find out a lot by searching the forums.
joan

 

[fronobulax]

Hi All,
My name is Gary, and I'm an acoustic guitar junkie (or so my wife thinks).

Welcome, and pretty cool that you started guitar somewhat later in life.

 

[Scratch]

Welcome to LTG, Gary! If you stop buying after your first Guild purchase, you'll set a record. Have you considered a vintage Guild vs. the GAD line? Uh oh... just opened that can up again!

 

[Gary0319]

Thanks for the warm welcome, all

I'm looking forward to gleaning all the info I can from you.

Now just to set the record straight. I live in Sarasota, Florida where 65 years old is not "later in life" it's hardly middle age around here. Someday I'll tell you stories of me and my playing partner (he's 70) and how we play at assisted living centers where the "old folks" live. But, I regress (or was it digress?), whatever, I forgot.

Joan, you are right. Your Gad 30R is just what I had in mind..........which brings me to my first question.

There seems to be a never ending supply of "used" GADs on the e-bay that are stamped "used" on th headstocks. I'm assuming thee are refurbished or "seconds". My question is.......Why so many?? Also rarely do I see resales of these "seconds". What happens to them. I think I rather get a pre-owned, but not a "second". Would $500 be a good guestimate for a used non-refurbished GAD30R, and would the $500 be better used towards a USA Guild.

Thanks again for the welcome,

Gary

 

[Scratch]

My 2 cents, Gary. Hard to go wrong with the right USA made Guild... $500.00 will land a vintage D25 or D4. LTG is a great place to buy/sell... Others will be along with opinions; you can count on it!!!

 

[Gary0319]

Thanks Scratch,

I'm really looking for a smaller body then a Dread or Jumbo. Can I stay in my budget area for a smaller body USA Guild, and if so, what model numbers should I look for?

Thanks again,

Gary

 

[GardMan]

Hey Gary,
Welcome to LTG. Glad you found your way overe here from AGF.

I am afraid I can't offer a lot of help re: rosewood small bodied Guilds. Don't know that there were that many offered... of course there was the F-50R, but that was a large "jumbo" body. There might have been something in the "A" series made in the mid-90s... A-50? But I don't know what the actual body size is. Also perhaps in the GF or GV series from the Gruhn era at Guild... (I think the GV-52 is large bodied... don't really know the specs of any of them). Lastly... and something a bit off the beaten path... for a couple years in the mid-70s (?), Guild made a small-bodied rosewood dread... the G-75, I think. The neck and scale were standard dread, but the body was an inch or so smaller all around. Basically, a small-bodied D-50. In 3 years watching, I have only seen one for sale on eBay.

Good luck in your search,
Dave

 

[Graham]

Hey Gary, welcome to LTG.

If you can, check out an F-47R. Rosewood/Spruce 16" lower bout. Very comfortable. I have the mahogany version now and am picking up the R next week.

 

[cjd-player]

Welcome Gary.

Hope you enjoy your stay.

 

[fronobulax]

Now just to set the record straight. I live in Sarasota, Florida where 65 years old is not "later in life" it's hardly middle age around here.

I was only using "later in life" relative to the folks who started playing in their teens. There are a few folks here who purchased what is now their vintage Guild, when it was new

There seems to be a never ending supply of "used" GADs on the e-bay that are stamped "used" on th headstocks. I'm assuming thee are refurbished or "seconds". My question is.......Why so many??

They are seconds although there is much debate as to what made them seconds, why there are so many of them, and how selling seconds helps or hurts the market for the firsts. An awful lot of people advocate holding out for a used vintage model at a similar price.

 

[jgmaute]

Thanks for the warm welcome, all

I'm looking forward to gleaning all the info I can from you.

Now just to set the record straight. I live in Sarasota, Florida where 65 years old is not "later in life" it's hardly middle age around here. Someday I'll tell you stories of me and my playing partner (he's 70) and how we play at assisted living centers where the "old folks" live. But, I regress (or was it digress?), whatever, I forgot.

Joan, you are right. Your Gad 30R is just what I had in mind..........which brings me to my first question.

There seems to be a never ending supply of "used" GADs on the e-bay that are stamped "used" on th headstocks. I'm assuming thee are refurbished or "seconds". My question is.......Why so many?? Also rarely do I see resales of these "seconds". What happens to them. I think I rather get a pre-owned, but not a "second". Would $500 be a good guestimate for a used non-refurbished GAD30R, and would the $500 be better used towards a USA Guild.

Thanks again for the welcome,

Gary

Gary I've been watching ebay, craigslist, and the other forums for over a year now. It's very rare to find an old Guild F-20 or F-30 (and the few I've found usually go for way over $500) and the only F-30R I've seen is currently on hold at Elderly for $800. I've got friends who love my GAD 30R and we've been watching for another...you're right, there are a lot with the "used" stamped on them, I don't know that that would bother me much. I would like to see a pretty good discount for the used/refurb guitars (it's not always there). I haven't seen a lot of truly "used"..ie pre-owned GAD 30Rs. I don't know what happens to the guitars when they are bought but one could make a leap that owners like them and don't get rid of them often. Honestly I'd prefer an older small bodied Guild but I just haven't been able to find one in my price range and the way I keep guitars one day my newest will be an "old Guild".

Good luck with your hunt, joan

 

[Gary0319]

Wow! Good Stuff......

Graham, I figured the F-47R was the one with the best fit, spec-wise. But, too $pendy for my budget right now. It looks like I'll be in the GAD series, at least for this go-around.

Joan, thanks for your insight on the refurbs. I think I'll look for a private party sale at about the same price as a "new" refurb (let me know if you pass on one that I might be inerested in). I actually prefer pre-owned guitars. Sometimes I think a little of the spirit of the previous owner comes with the guitar. At least I've always found that a few new tunes or chord progressions seems to pop out of every pre-owned I've purchased.

Fronobulax, I didn't take any offense to the later in life comment. Just a smart alec come back on my part, sorry.

Next question.... Can anyone supply me with the body dimensions of a GAD 30(R). I'd like to compare it to my Larrivee OM. Maybe I missed them on the Guild site, so if they are there, just give me a poke and I'll try agian.

Thanks again for all the info,

Gary

 

[JerryR]

Hi and welcome Gary

 

[Graham]

Graham, I figured the F-47R was the one with the best fit, spec-wise. But, too $pendy for my budget right now. It looks like I'll be in the GAD series, at least for this go-around.
Gary

I'm picking up an F47RCE next week for $750. It's a blem, but we'll see what that's all about.

Deals are out there!

 

[Scratch]

I tried for an F47 RW last weekend, but lost out... Just picked up a blem CV1 off eBay; this is OM size based on the F40 body with 1 3/4" nut. There's a local guy interested in the F25... Crayons now authorized...

 

[Graham]

I tried for an F47 RW last weekend, but lost out... Just picked up a blem CV1 off eBay; this is OM size based on the F40 body with 1 3/4" nut. There's a local guy interested in the F25... Crayons now authorized...

Pics upon arrival please. :mrgreen:

 

[Scratch]

Same, same F47!!!