Operation "My 1st acoustic Guild"

[Muovinen]

I can feel the GAS filling me up inside again...

Just had the opportunity to play an acoustic Guild for the first time. Recognized the headstock at a local shop and automaticly grabbed the guitar and started playing. It was a F47 RCE with minor dings and scratches and some very old strings. The guitar had been in the shop for years so they had dropped the price from 3000+ euros to 2000+ euros :O The strings made playing not that enjoyable but still the guitar made me think about getting myself my 1st Guild acoustic. I don't know much about acoustics in general so I thought I'd use the expertise of all you Guild-goofs to get me started What is the right Guild for me?

Some points to consider:
I'm not in a hurry and not afraid to buy used.
My budget is limited but expandable.
I live in Finland - not many Guilds around.
I play rock/pop so it's mostly strumming or fingerpicking style I use.
I value a balanced sound (not too much bass/treble) with articulate mids.
Good electronics would be nice because I record a lot.

Some other points I should consider? I'm open for suggestions and tips.

 

[DCannon]

Hi,

Based on your considerations, it sounds like you would like the F-30, F-30R, or possibly the GAD series F-130R. All are nicely balanced with excellent articulation and good for strumming and fingerstyle. If budget is a concern, the GADs are exceptional bargains with quality solid tops/backs/sides, excellent construction and workmanship. You can get onboard electronics but to me, the factory pickup system isn't the best. You'd do better by buying one without a pickup and adding something like a K&K or JJB.

Just some suggestions....and good luck!

 

[adorshki]

What is the right Guild for me?

and

I live in Finland - not many Guilds around.

The right Guild for you is the one that's there now.
You can always change up later but I'd go for that "bird in the hand" to get started.
It's got everything you want.
:wink:

 

[West R Lee]

I didn't hear you mention size or body style of your preferred guitar? Small body, dread, jumbo? But I do think that your best buy in a Guild is going to be to buy used.

West

 

[Muovinen]

I didn't hear you mention size or body style of your preferred guitar? Small body, dread, jumbo? But I do think that your best buy in a Guild is going to be to buy used.

West

As I mentioned, I don't know much about acoustics but I would take jumbos out of the game. Easy and light playability is in my top priorities. I tried several dreadnoughts (one Takamine was very nice) and few small bodies too. I liked the dry articulation of the small body acoustics but in the long run I might end up missing that warm lowend. That 2000e F47RCE is still a bit too expensive for me and I'm willing to do some work to maybe find something used (vintage) and even more fitting for me. It's a pity it had such old strings on - I couldn't get the right feel with it. At this moment I would say my budget is around 1000 euros.

 

[DCannon]

and

The right Guild for you is the one that's there now.
You can always change up later but I'd go for that "bird in the hand" to get started.
It's got everything you want.
:wink:

The shop's "lower" price of the used F-47rce is still high, which is most likely the reason it's been there so long and is still there. 2000 euros translates to ~$2600 US and the going price for a used F-47rce in good condition is ~$1500 US or 1150 euros. The 2001 catalog price was $2199 US. Check this out: http://acousticpickers.blogspot.com/2012/02/whats-buzz.html

The only way I'd buy the one the OP played is to make sure all is in good shape and the setup is okay (saddle height, relief, etc), and get the price down. I also wouldn't buy it without first playing it with new strings.

 

[West R Lee]

For me, given the parameters the OP has set, the D25 keeps coming to mind (D30 might not be a bad choice either). The middle of the road tone of mahogany, with sufficient bass and great mids, the dread body style, and still one of the, if not the best buy out there. Sounds to me like you may be able to buy in the U.S. and ship cheaper than you can buy there.......provided of course you can find a seller willing to ship.

West

 

[adorshki]

The only way I'd buy the one the OP played is to make sure all is in good shape and the setup is okay (saddle height, relief, etc), and get the price down. I also wouldn't buy it without first playing it with new strings.

True all that, but I was more focused on his comment about their rarity in Finland. I was wondering how many Guilds there really are in Finland that he could play?

 

[SFIV1967]

Pekka, was it the F-47RCE at Musiikki-Kullas? I wonder how old that one is. Did you note down the serial number? Or what the label said, where it was built? It's probably 11 years old or so and from Corona. I still know a couple of Corona build "NOS" guitars hanging around in shops in Germany since >10 years and some of those dealers won't come down in price, crazy I think...
Did it still have this "snake" headstock where the lower part of the headstock is wider than the top? http://westerlyguildguitars.com/guitars/f47rce.html
In any case €2000 is way too expensive for that one I would say...The shop would need to come down a lot in price...
Ralf

 

[West R Lee]

True all that, but I was more focused on his comment about their rarity in Finland. I was wondering how many Guilds there really are in Finland that he could play?

Another reason I suggested his buying from someone in the U.S. and shipping. There have been LTG members who have done that for our overseas brothers, and we can check them out prior. But no, I'm not volunteering, though I've done it. : )) Just a thought.

West

 

[Muovinen]

Pekka, was it the F-47RCE at Musiikki-Kullas? I wonder how old that one is. Did you note down the serial number? Or what the label said, where it was built? It's probably 11 years old or so and from Corona. I still know a couple of Corona build "NOS" guitars hanging around in shops in Germany since >10 years and some of those dealers won't come down in price, crazy I think...

Ralf the Google-King, yes it was! And it was made in Corona which is a bit of a turn off for me. The neck, frets and action are fine but there are some cosmetic issues for sure. The price is way too high.

Did it still have this "snake" headstock where the lower part of the headstock is wider than the top? http://westerlyguildguitars.com/guitars/f47rce.html
In any case €2000 is way too expensive for that one I would say...The shop would need to come down a lot in price...
Ralf

Yeah, the headstock was like that. Another thing I didn't care for that much. But what I liked a lot was the body shape and the venetian cut-away! I really should get a test run with fresh strings to give my final judgement.

Buying a used one from the US is a good option but I will be on the lookout for a used one here in Finland. There are some acoustic Guilds now and then for sale (more than electrics for sure) but it's pure lottery what models they turn out to be.

 

[Wilfred]

I don't know if you're comfortable with buying via eBay? There's a small(er) but steady flow of used Guilds being offered from sellers in the EU, Germany and the UK for instance. The advantage being the lack of exchange rates and import taxes. Several business sellers are actual shops you can also deal with directly, reducing the eBay influence to a useful search engine.

 

[Muovinen]

I don't know if you're comfortable with buying via eBay? There's a small(er) but steady flow of used Guilds being offered from sellers in the EU, Germany and the UK for instance. The advantage being the lack of exchange rates and import taxes. Several business sellers are actual shops you can also deal with directly, reducing the eBay influence to a useful search engine.

No import taxes? How come? I've never used eBay but I could try to learn it. I'll also look into the few models suggested here.

 

[SFIV1967]

No import taxes? How come?

Wilfred referred to buying from ebay in EU vs importing from outside EU.
Ralf

 

[Muovinen]

Right, of course. I've tried to get some sense out of eBay but I'm getting confused with all the different versions (countries). I try to make a search from the Finnish eBay and only get items in the UK. Then made a search from somewhere else (don't ask me where) and only got items from US and in dollar prices I think German eBay would be the first thing to look at but the language barrier is way too high. I have a really short fuse with this type of stuff and typically go with the easiest method in the end

edith: some progress with eBay but instead of acoustics found a gorgeous SFIV from Germany for 2500e

 

[SFIV1967]

I've tried to get some sense out of eBay but I'm getting confused with all the different versions (countries).

One easy way is to go to ebay.co.uk, log in there with you normal log in, click on "Advanced Search" > Location > Only show items > From Preferred locations > European Union
This should give you anything that is listed in the EU. (provided you entered Guild as keyword and Musical Instruments as category)

...instead of acoustics found a gorgeous SFIV from Germany for 2500e

Agreed, that seems to be a very nice condition 1972 one! But the price would need to come down a bit I think.

Ralf