Will they ever bring back the GF?

[fuman]

I'm jonesing for a Guild. Especially a Guild GF/F-44/F-46/GV. Any chance they will ever reissue this body style? Or does Gruhn own the design rights?

 

[Westerly Wood]

I doubt they will ever reissue that..
I mean they just announced a GSR line of satin finish acoustics, so, a GF might be out of their wheelhouse.

At this point, I would love it if they just tuck with the traditionals for a while...

 

[adorshki]

I'm jonesing for a Guild. Especially a Guild GF/F-44/F-46/GV. Any chance they will ever reissue this body style? Or does Gruhn own the design rights?

Fuman, don't now how much you've been watching, but I'm a big lover of that body (16" jumbo outline) myself.

I highly doubt Gruhn would own the design rights as I don't think there's anything that makes the body/design "different enough from other makers' builds" that it's "copyrightable."

But that's all speculation, as any attempt to predict Cordoba Music Group/Oxnard's actions would be.

What's not speculation is that there never was, nor is there currently, even a "slot" in their model numbering system for the 16" jumbo body:

link in case that's unreadable:

https://guildguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/guild-acoustic-naming-structure-2019-web.pdf

So whatcha got there is "Parlor" (import only, right now at least, and say what??); and in "old Guildspeak": F20, F30, ("DS" also import only), Dreadnought, and F50 (Now F55 and F40)

The F40 was known as a Grand Auditorium (or Grand Orchestra) outline and should appear either right after the F30 or just before the F50, but nothing....

I've become quite cynical and pessimistic about the prospects myself, especially since they decided to use the F40 name on a 17" jumbo body.

Grrrr.....

On the other hand I feel it justifies any snark I choose to direct at 'em at any time.

 

[GGJaguar]

This is the body shape they need to bring back in both flatback and archback flavors. So delicious!

 

[Westerly Wood]

This is the body shape they need to bring back in both flatback and archback flavors. So delicious!

that is a great sunburst too!
i still think Gibson has the better burst, but Guilds are right up there, close on its heels.

 

[adorshki]

This is the body shape they need to bring back in both flatback and archback flavors. So delicious!

And now that I think about it, "GF" would make the ideal model number prefix for that body if they ever decide to do it.
Shouldn't be a problem as they acquired all Guild intellectual property IIRC, so they already "own" the right to use the old model numbers, as they have with the M20 and the D40.

 

[bobouz]

The '70s mini-jumbo F-40 in it's 16" body size & shape (see avatar) is my all-time Guild favorite.

Like Al, I'd love to see Guild go back down that road, but at this point, it seems like Cordoba has locked onto the three USA body sizes they have. We'll probably continue to see variations on the theme, but within the confines of the current trifecta.

 

[Rambozo96]

I’d be very shocked if they did. IIRC that entire series was short lived. I think it got discontinued after the early 90’s or so. Maybe in a Korean made reissue perhaps.

 

[plaidseason]

A year or so ago, the folks at Guild did tease an photo of an F44, saying something like, "Should we reissue this one?" But it may have been mostly for fun.

 

[Rayk]

This is the body shape they need to bring back in both flatback and archback flavors. So delicious!

Yeah man !

 

[SFIV1967]

To add a teaser for Al, the Guild webpage actually shows that they still have the old CV and F-40 tools in Oxnard (see about in the middle):

Ralf

 

[GGJaguar]

they still have the old CV and F-40 tools in Oxnard

That's excellent! I hope they put them to use soon!

 

[adorshki]

I’d be very shocked if they did. IIRC that entire series was short lived. I think it got discontinued after the early 90’s or so. Maybe in a Korean made reissue perhaps.

To me, as beautiful as they are, I see 'em as the Gruhn era version of the F40, in more flavors than ever before. A stage in the evolution of the "F40 family".

 

[Rambozo96]

To me, as beautiful as they are, I see 'em as the Gruhn era version of the F40, in more flavors than ever before. A stage in the evolution of the "F40 family".

Oh of course the Gruhn designed stuff is high on my list of stuff to collect. I think it’s the unfortunate matter of the majority of players not appreciating the George Gruhn design those guitars possess. Unless of course George could in some way endorse it so it has credibility right off the bat!

 

[adorshki]

To add a teaser for Al, the Guild webpage actually shows that they still have the old CV and F-40 tools in Oxnard (see about in the middle):

Ralf

Curse you Red Baron. Now I can't make anymore jokes about 'em being lost. Unless....

Ah-hah, yes, that must be it: They finally found 'em!!!!

There is still hope. Now: Do they know how to use hide glue?

 

[adorshki]

Oh of course the Gruhn designed stuff is high on my list of stuff to collect. I think it’s the unfortunate matter of the majority of players not appreciating the George Gruhn design those guitars possess. Unless of course George could in some way endorse it so it has credibility right off the bat!

Some of 'em have his name on the label, "Designed (or was it co-designed?) by George Gruhn". Was sure I've seen it in price pages and catalogs too, but by golly the critical years ('84-'85 ) aren't in GAD's database. Hmmm wonder if it was GG Jaguar's page?

 

[SFIV1967]

Some of 'em have his name on the label, "Designed (or was it co-designed?) by George Gruhn".

Ralf