Late to the Party...

[Neal]

OK, I'm back.

I've been on a long, expensive trip to Martin and Gibson vintageguitarland, but just snagged an F-40 Valencia (either Tacoma or New Hartford, not sure) off of Reverb.

I have been haunted for years by the only guitar I have ever sold that I regret letting go, a 2007 Tacoma-made F-30 Aragon, and this guitar is essentially its big brother (Adirondack top, tortoise binding, unique small G headstock logo).

What confused me when perusing the Reverb listings is that this F-40 was surrounded by larger, newer 17" sitka/mahogany guitars that look more like F-48's. I trust that these new jumbos are fine guitars, but it sure makes things confusing for someone shopping used who doesn't know Guild's history.

I'm sure this has been discussed at length on LTG, but why in the world would Guild/Cordoba name a new jumbo guitar after a discontinued, iconic 16" model? Same reason the F-50 is now an F-55? And, for that matter, what the heck is a "Troubadour"?

Sorry. Rant over.

 

[fronobulax]

https://guildguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/guild-acoustic-naming-structure.pdf

 

[AcornHouse]

OK, I'm back.

I've been on a long, expensive trip to Martin and Gibson vintageguitarland, but just snagged an F-40 Valencia (either Tacoma or New Hartford, not sure) off of Reverb.

I have been haunted for years by the only guitar I have ever sold that I regret letting go, a 2007 Tacoma-made F-30 Aragon, and this guitar is essentially its big brother (Adirondack top, tortoise binding, unique small G headstock logo).

What confused me when perusing the Reverb listings is that this F-40 was surrounded by larger, newer 17" sitka/mahogany guitars that look more like F-48's. I trust that these new jumbos are fine guitars, but it sure makes things confusing for someone shopping used who doesn't know Guild's history.

I'm sure this has been discussed at length on LTG, but why in the world would Guild/Cordoba name a new jumbo guitar after a discontinued, iconic 16" model? Same reason the F-50 is now an F-55? And, for that matter, what the heck is a "Troubadour"?

Sorry. Rant over.

I’ve ranted plenty myself about the non-sensical name musical chairs by the current owners.
The Troubadour, however, is not a new name. It was the original moniker for the F-20, which Oxnard is now calling the M-40, because of course they do.

 

[chazmo]

Bwahahaha...

A rose by any other name....

Welcome back to the fold, Neal!

 

[Neal]

Thanks, Frono. Now I get the logic.

 

[Westerly Wood]

good to see you again Neal.

 

[fronobulax]

Thanks, Frono. Now I get the logic.

A cynic, such as myself, might note that Guild is in the business of selling new guitars, that vintage Guilds compete very well with new ones, and so there is an economic incentive to muddy the waters with inconsistent model names, especially across factory and ownership lines.

Two or three times I have searched for and purchased new book that sounded of interest, only to find out it was a reprint of something I already owned but with a slightly different title.

 

[adorshki]

OK, I'm back.

Welcome back.
:smile:

What confused me when perusing the Reverb listings is that this F-40 was surrounded by larger, newer 17" sitka/mahogany guitars that look more like F-48's.

Yes. Oxnard even says it was inspired by the F48 on their site so WhyTF just not call it an F48?

I trust that these new jumbos are fine guitars, but it sure makes things confusing for someone shopping used who doesn't know Guild's history.
I'm sure this has been discussed at length on LTG, but why in the world would Guild/Cordoba name a new jumbo guitar after a discontinued, iconic 16" model?

Same reason the F-50 is now an F-55?
Well at least that one conforms to their model numbering system but in the case of the 16" jumbo body, there isn't a slot for one .
Which is even more disturbing than using Guild's 2nd oldest model number for a guitar that bears no resemblance to its heritage.

https://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/showthread.php?195241-F40-Lovers-Unite!!&highlight=lovers+unite

 

[Neal]

Oh, yeah, I OWN a Troubadour!

They kept the Troubadour, but deep sixed the Aragon, Valencia and Navarre. Got it!

 

[Cougar]

They kept the Troubadour, but deep sixed the Aragon, Valencia and Navarre. Got it!

Good to see you back! Early on I decided I just couldn't keep up with all these different models and names and numberings. I can barely remember the various plants. I just stumble into a good deal, I guess, and then I play 'em. :tiger: