Looking for info on this Guild

[John3]

I’m hoping I can get some help on this Guild that I inherited from my father. He passed away last year and I had no idea he owned it. The S/N is 5566 and the Guild website has it listed as being made in 1957 in Hoboken, NJ. I believe it is a F-30 Aragon based on some internet searches. There isn’t a sticker inside or one that I can see.

Any and all information is greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!

 

[Cougar]

Wow! What an oldie! Looks like it's in good shape!

 

[chazmo]

Hi, John,

Welcome to LTG.

I think you've got the information correct. Sorry about the binding separation around the waist of the guitar, which is not uncommon. Otherwise that is a really nice F-30.

Sorry to hear about your father's passing as the reason for you having the guitar.

 

[chazmo]

Oh, some details about the guitar is that the back is an arched, laminate maple back and a (solid) Sitka spruce top.

 

[John3]

Wow! What an oldie! Looks like it's in good shape!

Thanks, it’s in good shape except for the binding and normal wear, the pick guard came unglued and shriveled up so that had to be replaced but otherwise all original

 

[John3]

Hi, John,

Welcome to LTG.

I think you've got the information correct. Sorry about the binding separation around the waist of the guitar, which is not uncommon. Otherwise that is a really nice F-30.

Sorry to hear about your father's passing as the reason for you having the guitar.

Thanks, I may get new binding at some point

 

[John3]

Oh, some details about the guitar is that the back is an arched, laminate maple back and a (solid) Sitka spruce top.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Walter Broes]

It's nothing special. I'll trade you a brand new Takamine for it!

 

[John3]

It's nothing special. I'll trade you a brand new Takamine for it!

Haha not a chance!

 

[GGJaguar]

Welcome to LTG! That model is a bit of a holy grail guitar for some folks. Thanks for sharing the photos!!

 

[John3]

Welcome to LTG! That model is a bit of a holy grail guitar for some folks. Thanks for sharing the photos!!

Wow, holy grail? I’m guessing because they rare and hard to find?

 

[GGJaguar]

Wow, holy grail? I’m guessing because they rare and hard to find?

Because of the way they sound. For many players, that guitar is "just right". It's not as big as a dreadnaught, but not as small as a parlor guitar. It's not too bright or midrangey or boomy. It has a even tonal response. Good for strumming or fingerstyle. For the record, I prefer dreadnaughts.

 

[SFIV1967]

Welcome to LTG!

Yes, it's a 1957 made "Aragon F-30", the old literature also showed it as "Aragon-F30".

December 1956 pricelist:



1956 catalog:

The paper label inside the sound hole which got lost would have looked like that one:



Ralf

 

[John3]

Because of the way they sound. For many players, that guitar is "just right". It's not as big as a dreadnaught, but not as small as a parlor guitar. It's not too bright or midrangey or boomy. It has a even tonal response. Good for strumming or fingerstyle. For the record, I prefer dreadnaughts.

I’m a banjo player and don’t know much about guitars but I love the warm tone from this one

 

[John3]

Welcome to LTG!

Yes, it's a 1957 made "Aragon F-30", the old literature also showed it as "Aragon-F30".

December 1956 pricelist:



1956 catalog:

The paper label inside the sound hole which got lost would have looked like that one:



Ralf

Thanks for the info!

 

[tonepoet]

Welcome to LTG!

Yes, it's a 1957 made "Aragon F-30", the old literature also showed it as "Aragon-F30".

December 1956 pricelist:



1956 catalog:

The paper label inside the sound hole which got lost would have looked like that one:



Ralf

Hey Ralf, Do you have any of this type of price list/catalog info from the 1950s on the M-20?

 

[mavuser]

Hey Ralf, Do you have any of this type of price list/catalog info from the 1950s on the M-20?

From https://www.gad.net/Blog/knowledge-base/c-1960/

1960 Catalog:

 

[tonepoet]

@mavuser Isn't it interesting that they didn't bother giving the model a name beyond "Economy"? I mean, C'mon, maybe just "Little Dude" or "Buckaroo" or something other than "Economy".

I just call mine "Bud" after the name of the friend I bought it from.

 

[mavuser]

@tonepoet yes, i'd call that a fail. the "student" or "student troubador" or something to that effect would have been better (troubadour jr...)

edit:
"the bustler!"

 

[adorshki]

@tonepoet yes, i'd call that a fail. the "student" or "student troubador" or something to that effect would have been better (troubadour jr...)

edit:
"the bustler!"

I'm thinking about how they were supposed to be very big for Guild in school music education programs.
"Economy" might have been the ideal subliminal influence name for those buyers.