New M20 - is it to small

[DogsPart2]

Hello ,

Geezer here, looking for a smaller strumming/picking guitar.

The current M20 is looking very nice and may be what I am looking for (short scale, price point and glowing reviews), however I am not so sure it will satisfy my strumming jones.

My only other acoustic is a Gibson J185 which I love and is not going anywhere.

I have previously owned D55 and a wonderful G37B (wish I could have that one back).

Advice and feedback appreciated as I plan to make a purchase within the next few weeks. (also looking at the Gibson L00 Studio).

 

[jedzep]

In my experience with 50's/60's and Oxnard's version, you'll hit the srumming ceiling quickly on the way up to 'vigorous'. For an all mahogany guitar I'd look for a Martin 000-15 or 15S (12 fretter). I love the restrained delicate tone of the Guilds, but if you need a touch more 'uumph', you'll probably be disappointed.

The L00 is spruce, so it will have different voicing. I love my '35. The Gibson will have more woody 'grit'.

For small guitars that can be strummed/flatpicked assertively, I think the F30 is high on the list as well. I feel it's one of the great 'thousand dollar' guitars out there, especially from Hoboken days.

 

[AcornHouse]

I disagree. I get quite “vigorous” at the end of this, and never felt like it couldn’t handle it. Will it have the overall volume of a larger guitar? Of course not. But it’ll get plenty loud.
Disclaimer: mine is vintage Hoboken, so it’s not exactly the same, but the body shape and size is, so it will have similar attributes.

You already have a full size dread in your Gibson; the M20 will be a nice counterpart to it. (And, yes, I also love the F30.)

 

[Gabby84]

My Oxnard m20 handles vigorous strumming quite well, as much as a parlor can. If you want a spruce top, I’ve heard great things about the F30

 

[SFIV1967]

Something fresh regarding this topic!

Jeremy Sheppard Guild buy

Rare he ever buys a new guitar.

letstalkguild.com

Ralf

 

[DogsPart2]

Thank you all for your comments,

I disagree. I get quite “vigorous” at the end of this, and never felt like it couldn’t handle it. Will it have the overall volume of a larger guitar? Of course not. But it’ll get plenty loud.
Disclaimer: mine is vintage Hoboken, so it’s not exactly the same, but the body shape and size is, so it will have similar attributes.

You already have a full size dread in your Gibson; the M20 will be a nice counterpart to it. (And, yes, I also love the F30.)

Thank you so much for this. It is exactly what I am looking for.

 

[mavuser]

Chris, great video, and great singing. Thought it was going to be cowgirl in the sand, at first. that M-20 sounds great

 

[jedzep]

Well, guys. To my ear Chris helps my point. The guitar is loud enough, but I hear the characteristic warmth turn harsh under that 'vigorous' strumming. It's miked, so there's that variable, but bottom line, I never drove my M20s, nor any smaller guitar that hard because they all have a max out point.

Of course, it's all opinion, and I do have a skin graft on one eardrum.

 

[Antney]

Well, guys. To my ear Chris helps my point. The guitar is loud enough, but I hear the characteristic warmth turn harsh under that 'vigorous' strumming. It's miked, so there's that variable, but bottom line, I never drove my M20s, nor any smaller guitar that hard because they all have a max out point.

Of course, it's all opinion, and I do have a skin graft on one eardrum.

I thought the same thing. The more he dug in the tinnier the tone went. Beautiful sounding box when played to its limits, but all guitars have limits. The attraction and comfort of the size obviously sacrifices the tonal range of the instrument.

 

[StevesBoogie]

Howdy folks. New poster here. And more importantly, a new, proud, and ecstatic owner of a new Guild M-20E, received 10 days ago.

My personal take is: You will be thrilled with the M-20. It handles strumming just fine. I do understand your question, as that thought came to me before purchasing. To be clear, though, I really wanted this guitar for fingerpicking and blues, and not necessarily a pure 'strumming' guitar. Oddly enough, the very first thing I tested on the guitar when it came was strumming! I have two originals that are decades old that have some great strumming patterns and this guitar responded magnificently.

I am not sure that you want to do vigorous strumming on this particular guitar. Like I said, it handles strumming just fine. But I just don't believe it's the right tool in the toolbox for a vigorous style.

But, this guitar shines brightest with fingerpicking, especially with a low E tuned to D. It just really resonates. I have never had such an addicting guitar.

I have only owned two other acoustics in my life and the first was a dreadnought and the second is a Martin OMC-16E-KOA which I currently still own, but will be selling, as the M-20 has supplanted, in dominating fashion, my need for the Martin.

The best fitting video on YouTube is the one from Wildwood Guitars, and the excellent guitarist in the video describes how it 'projects'. He nailed it perfectly. Not only does he explain the magic of this guitar, but the pieces he chose to play on it are just perfect for this guitar, not mention his stellar playing.

I continue to be amazed at how gorgeous this guitar sounds. Perhaps it's the all mahogany, perhaps as I got older I am more attracted to a less booming sound, or perhaps Guild is building stunning guitars in Oxnard CA.

I hope this helps! I thought my post was going to be short and sweet, but apparently not, sorry about that!

 

[walrus]

Great first post, SB! Welcome!

walrus

 

[mavuser]

u may want to try an F-20
(Oxnard version i believe is M-40?)
and 11 gauge strings on these small bodied guitars to me sound best

 

[howardjeffreymusic]

I owned an Oxnard M20 for a short time. Guitar just didn't do it for me. . Shallow tone, and not because it's small. Honking overtones on the low "B" note drove me crazy. I did like the way it played a lot but basically a toneless box compared to an F30, a 000-18 or any other small body guitar I own or have owned. Good news, it sold on Reverb in a day for a good price.