Finally here’s a few snaps of the Last of the Mohicans:
My “new” 2014 F-30, “Standard,” 1 ¾ nut, but w/accoutrements not ordinarily found on Standards. Likely the last F-30 Sunburst made in New Hartford (April 17), it received a bit of extra attention in those final days. Besides the wonderful cut of Mahogany on the back (the seam is nearly invisible), these 5 distinctions make it an F-30 Standard disguised as a “Traditional” Aragon.
- Tortoise binding
- Nitro-gloss top & body—and gloss neck
- Scalloped bracing
- Headstock “G” inlaid below “GUILD” NH F-30’s G inlay below “GUILD” usually appeared only on more expensive Traditional (Aragon) models
- I think it has a red Spruce top? It doesn’t look or sound like Sitka
Size? F-30's varied, evolving & morphing continually—and erratically. Mine seems to be somewhat normal. I sold my SKB Larrivee OM case, because the F-30 was too big to fit.
- Lower bout 15”
- Lower depth 4 ¼”
- Upper bout 11 ¾””
- Upper depth 3 ¾ “
I can’t tell if the top is Sitka or Red Spruce?. It rings with that wonderful jangly F-30 sound but with a Rosewood kind of richness at the low end. What you can see of the top, besides being perfectly matched, it has a wonderful grain. My Larrivee Alpine Sitka had finer grain. This is my first sunburst guitar. Amazing instrument. Someone put a lot of care into making it.
The esteemed ‘tommym’ in this forum has said:
<<NH Standard Series was produced only from late 2010 to early 2013.... They generally had simpler ornamentation, Sitka tops, and two-piece necks with a satin finish. Later in their run, the gloss nitro back was replaced with satin (sometime in 2012)>>
Well, mine was made on April 17, 2014. It has a hog neck w/Rosewood fretboard. It’s completely gloss, inclu neck, scallop bracing, tortoise binding, and ‘G’ headstock inlay, usually reserved for Traditionals. So it’s clearly a mutt—but a very fine mutt indeed.
Anyone know how can I tell if a guitar has an Adirondack (red) spruce top? Mine sure sounds like it. I've never heard such a balanced Woody tone.
I wondered who signed-off on my guitar: “CJ” ? So, with a bit of detective work, I reached out to Joe Martocchio, ex-Production Supervisor of Ovation, Guild, Fender Custom & Hamer. For 20yrs, Joe cut & matched all the pieces for each guitar. “CJ” said it was Chris Jarvis.
Joe & Chris were also the builders that Sr Ovation Engineer, Darren Wallace hired back in 2015, after re-opening the New Hartford shop to build Ovation customs. A noble effort, but the bean-counters won yet again. That effort lasted 3yrs. Chris is a master luthier who worked at Westerly their last 2yrs, then at New Hartford, during its entire 15yr run (1999-2014). In addition to building guitars, Chris also did most of the final quality-control inspection at NH. No guitar left the shop unless “CJ” blessed it. So, if you still have your build-card and it says “CJ” light a candle at the altar of your choice and give thanks.
Everyone knows Ren Ferguson—or at least pays homage to him. On spaceship GUILD, he is Yoda. But it’s guys like Joe & Chris who are the true unsung heroes of our guitars.
~Will
https://www.dropbox.com/home/GUILD F-30 guitar?preview=GUILD+F-30k.JPG
https://www.dropbox.com/home/GUILD F-30 guitar?preview=GUILD+F-30d.JPG
https://www.dropbox.com/home/GUILD F-30 guitar?preview=GUILD+F-30i.JPG
https://www.dropbox.com/home/GUILD F-30 guitar?preview=GUILD+F-30e.JPG
https://www.dropbox.com/home/GUILD F-30 guitar?preview=GUILD+F-30g.JPG
https://www.dropbox.com/home/GUILD F-30 guitar?preview=GUILD+F-30b.JPG
https://www.dropbox.com/home/GUILD F-30 guitar?preview=GUILD+F-30h.JPG