OM Sized Guild USA Rosewood?

[Mightymole]

Hi I am looking at Guild Acoustics. I have a little trouble deciphering models. Does Guild have or had USA built Orchestra sized models with Rosewood back and sides? It seems the F-30's are mahogany. Any info on models etc. would be great.

 

[davismanLV]

The F-30R's are rosewood back and sides. More folks will be along shortly with more info.

 

[GGJaguar]

Tom is right. An OM typically has a 15" lower bout and that's what the F-30 has. The F-30R is the US-built model with a rosewood body while the F-130R is the non-US rosewood version.

 

[GGJaguar]

I think it was available in the 2007-12 time period, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

 

[Rayk]

Tom is right. An OM typically has a 15" lower bout and that's what the F-30 has. The F-30R is the US-built model with a rosewood body while the F-130R is the non-US rosewood version.

Hey that’s 15 1/4 buddy size matters ! Lmao

 

[plaidseason]

I think it was available in the 2007-12 time period, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

There were definitely some F30rs made in the 1990s. And even better, the F30r-ls, which is a harder find.

 

[SFIV1967]

Currently there is no US made OM size model offered by Guild.
But there are the New Hartford made Orpheum Orchestra models, the F-30R Standard and F-30RCE from before 2014, the GSR F-30R. There wasn't really a F-30R production model made during Corona and Tacoma times as far as I know. Before 2001 they were made in Westerly and some in the Custom shop in Nashville. The first F-30 Rosewood appeared about 1967 made for Paul Simon and became a production model in 1973.




Ralf

 

[jeffcoop]

Ralf, by the time Guild introduced the F30R as a production model in 1973, hadn't Guild shifted the body shape the mini-jumbo already, rather than the classic OM-style shape that Paul Simon played? The OM-style F30R came later, definitely in the late '90s, perhaps before, but I don't think it was in the 1970s.

 

[davismanLV]

Whoa!!! Did Ralf just get Coop'd???

 

[Rayk]

Currently there is no US made OM size model offered by Guild.
But there are the New Hartford made Orpheum Orchestra models, the F-30R Standard and F-30RCE from before 2014, the GSR F-30R. There wasn't really a F-30R production model made during Corona and Tacoma times as far as I know. Before 2001 they were made in Westerly and some in the Custom shop in Nashville. The first F-30 Rosewood appeared about 1967 made for Paul Simon and became a production model in 1973.




Ralf

Barely any you can find for sale . Lol when I win the lotto I’m buying Guild !

 

[Mightymole]

Thanks for the awesome info, very helpful. Perhaps this next question should go on to a new thread, if so I could start one. I have been an electric player but want to get a nice acoustic that does well with strumming and fingerstyle. While trying guitars locally (no guilds around here unfortunately) the om size seems to sit pretty nicely in the middle. I have a mahogany/cedar Takamine, so was hoping to find a rosewood spruce type. Is there a guild model that you feel is a good all arounder? It seems that the f-30r's are a little scarce.

 

[SFIV1967]

Ralf, by the time Guild introduced the F30R as a production model in 1973, hadn't Guild shifted the body shape the mini-jumbo already, rather than the classic OM-style shape that Paul Simon played? The OM-style F30R came later, definitely in the late '90s, perhaps before, but I don't think it was in the 1970s.

Yes, according to Hans book page 118 the F-30R production model which started 1973 had a 15 1/2" body and was discontinued end of 1975. And yes, she had the look of a mini jumbo as this 1973 one from our member @Jahn shows (which I guess was your former one?):



In 1976 she reappeared with F-50 appointments in the catalogs (headstock, neck), and yes, again mini-jumbo shape. That lasted till about 1978 only.



She was only reintroduced in Westerly in year 1998 with the OM shape:





And may I shamelessly promote my 2010 New Hartford made GSR F-30R with bearclaw sitka spruce top?



Ralf

 

[Rayk]

Thanks for the awesome info, very helpful. Perhaps this next question should go on to a new thread, if so I could start one. I have been an electric player but want to get a nice acoustic that does well with strumming and fingerstyle. While trying guitars locally (no guilds around here unfortunately) the om size seems to sit pretty nicely in the middle. I have a mahogany/cedar Takamine, so was hoping to find a rosewood spruce type. Is there a guild model that you feel is a good all arounder? It seems that the f-30r's are a little scarce.

Not sure if it’s been mention but you could look into the contemporary series also out of production but more pop up for sale .

the CV-1 and CV-2 are F40 boby styles more in the grand auditorium size with 16” lower bouts . Cv-1 is Sitka /rosewood , Madagascar rosewood for the bridge and finger board . . The CV-2 Adirondack/ maple , Ebony for the Bridge and finger board . The Co-2 and CO-2 are The F30 body type . Co-2 Adirondack mahogany , ebony bridge and finger board . The CO-1 is cedar /mahogany, Madagascar for the bridge and fret board . These are the basic specs .

They do have a bad history which you read all about here but if you do look into them here make sure you find the good info also . Lol

I love them

 

[jte]

There was also the A50 flat-top introduced just before the FMIC purchase. I measured mine and compared it to Martin's sizes and figure the A50 was sort of in between the 000 and OM sizes. Mines braced kind of heavy, but it's a nice sounding guitar for fingerpicking and has some of the bark of an arch-top. I love it.

They didn't make many it sems and the often-suggested serial number list are inaccurate. I got mine mid-December of the year before FMIC officially took over ownership on Jan 1st. The store became a new dealer and got their formal acknowledgement of the dealer ship in early November. But before he got any of the guitars he got a letter saying that FMIC was buying Guild effective Jan 1st and all dealerships would be re-evaluated so he wasn't sure he would get any instruments. Then he got the guitars about a week after the letter announcing the sale. Anyway, the serial number list starts the A50 with A50-00079 in '96 and I bought #A500003 in December 1995.

 

[JohnW63]

"It seems that the f-30r's are a little scarce."

"The Co-2 and CO-2 are The F30 body type ."

A nice CO-1 or CO2 are not that easy to find either, but I agree with RayK. I good one would be a good choice. The CO-2 with a spruce top would be the better strummer for more aggressive playing and the CO-1 for finger-style. I like cedar because it gets louder with less effort but it won't ring out as loud as spruce if you need to play harder. It all depends on the use. I'll try a loudness test between my F47R and the CO-1.

 

[plaidseason]

For the sake clarity (or grumbling?), a 14 fret 000 and an OM are as a (general) rule, the same body shape/size, with OM just implying a longer scale length. The 90s F30/F30r reissues are short scale. The custom shop F30r-ls and I think, Westerly made F30RL, are long scale.

 

[AcornHouse]

Here’s my ‘99 F-30R in action.

 

[jeffcoop]

Very nicely done, and the F30R sounds terrific. That short-scale late-90s F30R is one of the few guitars left that I find tempting.

 

[Mightymole]

Wow thanks for the great knowledge on these particular Guilds. I am still on the hunt.

 

[jeffcoop]

What kind of 6 string do you have?

If it helps, I tend to play one until I get bored and then grab another from the closet. There is something about re-connecting with an old friend that is better, to me, than buying a new guitar. Most are higher end Guild acoustics and they are perfectly happy sitting in the closet waiting for their turn.

I don't play 12 String, so I can't help there.

Here’s my ‘99 F-30R in action.

Very nicely done, and the F30R sounds terrific. That short-scale late-90s F30R is one of the few guitars left that I find tempting.

kI meant late '90s, of course. One of the disadvantages of posting while nearly blind.