SmithfieldFair
Member
Just before the turn of the year, I happened to drop by E-bay and saw a posting for a 1991 F-15. This was one of those "odd" guitars that Guild made. You can see one on the Westerly Guild site (http://www.westerlyguildguitars.com/guitars/f15.html) with the exact finish. Now, I purchased the guitar for around $200 as a project guitar and because I was curious. It had some cracks in the top at the bass side of the lower bout. Turns out, it was in pretty rough shape. The cracks (2) were through the top and the braces were all loose underneath. The fret board showed some serious wear and really needed refretting. There are some makes around the nut that appear to be a combination of chips and finish 'melting' from a guitar stand. However, the Fishman electronics were working and it made for an interesting experiment - as I've never cared for the sound of acoustic-electric guitars and was never impressed with what I had heard from Fishman.
Here's the interesting things: 1) There were only 250 of this guitar made - so one doesn't see them that often. 2) Unlike most acoustic-electrics, this one has considerable weight (for sustain purposes) and depth. (I find most a-c models shallow physically, which translates to their acoustic sound being doinky and shallow with little to no distinct sound personality.) In truth, I believed myself to be purchasing this both as a project, and as a guitar my lead guitarist (J. David Praet) might use live. 3) It is also a cut-away and to me they always sound as if someone has taken a knife and cut away part of the sound. Sorry, but that's just me and acoustic-electrics and cut-aways have generally always disappointed me both acoustically and with their trite, shallow, doinky sound. I realize they serve a purpose for some people in certain applications, but not for me.
Anyway - I bought it and it came in and I was both amused and intrigued. It is what I would call a banger - that proverbial guitar that the Ovation Applause was so perfect for - nearly indestructable, even if it didn't sound great. Perfect for dragging around where one would never take one's better instruments. Well, after luthier Holger Notzel fixed the cracks, he did some slight cosmetic work here and there to make them visually less noticable. He also reattached the braces, refretted the neck, adjusted the neck, put in a new bone saddle - and added my standard ebony bridge pins (I also put on straplocks). Actually, it was a pretty good little guitar for about $300.00. I took it with me to a festival gig that weekend and let David have a go at it. Well, what it lacked in acoustic sound, it more than made up for as an amplified guitar. My apologies to Fishman - this pick-up and preamp sounded really good through the p.a.
I started playing this thing around the house and eventually decided I had gotten quite the bargain. I had it reset for my open tuning (Vestapol, D-A--D-F#-A-D) with slightly higher action. I was set to use 2 GF-25's at a concert we recently gave and took this F-15 along just as a back-up for David. Ha! The microphones in both GF-25's proved faulty (one cut in and out and the other refused to work at all - just wiring, but no time to fix pre-concert), so I was reduced to using this guitar. Wow! What a fun guitar and a fun night it proved to be.
I LOVE mahogany and this one has mahogany sides, top, arched back and neck - dark and rich. Still, I think it would sound better without the cut-away, but it's a guitar Guild should have stuck with. I have to give this guitar an "A".
If you have one, or have experience with one - what are your thoughts? If you have a chance to purchase one at a good price - you might seriously consider it. Just thought I'd share this with you all. All the best - dbs
Here's the interesting things: 1) There were only 250 of this guitar made - so one doesn't see them that often. 2) Unlike most acoustic-electrics, this one has considerable weight (for sustain purposes) and depth. (I find most a-c models shallow physically, which translates to their acoustic sound being doinky and shallow with little to no distinct sound personality.) In truth, I believed myself to be purchasing this both as a project, and as a guitar my lead guitarist (J. David Praet) might use live. 3) It is also a cut-away and to me they always sound as if someone has taken a knife and cut away part of the sound. Sorry, but that's just me and acoustic-electrics and cut-aways have generally always disappointed me both acoustically and with their trite, shallow, doinky sound. I realize they serve a purpose for some people in certain applications, but not for me.
Anyway - I bought it and it came in and I was both amused and intrigued. It is what I would call a banger - that proverbial guitar that the Ovation Applause was so perfect for - nearly indestructable, even if it didn't sound great. Perfect for dragging around where one would never take one's better instruments. Well, after luthier Holger Notzel fixed the cracks, he did some slight cosmetic work here and there to make them visually less noticable. He also reattached the braces, refretted the neck, adjusted the neck, put in a new bone saddle - and added my standard ebony bridge pins (I also put on straplocks). Actually, it was a pretty good little guitar for about $300.00. I took it with me to a festival gig that weekend and let David have a go at it. Well, what it lacked in acoustic sound, it more than made up for as an amplified guitar. My apologies to Fishman - this pick-up and preamp sounded really good through the p.a.
I started playing this thing around the house and eventually decided I had gotten quite the bargain. I had it reset for my open tuning (Vestapol, D-A--D-F#-A-D) with slightly higher action. I was set to use 2 GF-25's at a concert we recently gave and took this F-15 along just as a back-up for David. Ha! The microphones in both GF-25's proved faulty (one cut in and out and the other refused to work at all - just wiring, but no time to fix pre-concert), so I was reduced to using this guitar. Wow! What a fun guitar and a fun night it proved to be.
I LOVE mahogany and this one has mahogany sides, top, arched back and neck - dark and rich. Still, I think it would sound better without the cut-away, but it's a guitar Guild should have stuck with. I have to give this guitar an "A".
If you have one, or have experience with one - what are your thoughts? If you have a chance to purchase one at a good price - you might seriously consider it. Just thought I'd share this with you all. All the best - dbs
