Guild F30

My Guild F-30 was manufactured in Westerly, Rhode Island circa 1998, right about the time Fender was moving production to Corona, California. I bought it new with the hard case and it costed approximately $600.00. It's all mahogony except for the spruce top and the rosewood fingerboard. The finish is brown sunburst. The case is perfect, and the fit is really good,

As far as acoustic guitars go, this one seems the same. I use mine tuned "conventionally" with .013 strings, which some would consider heavy.

This F-30 is nice because it is small and easy to play. It stays in tune with itself remarkably despite string changes. The intonation thing really wows me.

I really like that the bass notes are solid and don't overwhelm the pretty high notes. This is, without exception, the best acoustic guitar I have played that allows each string to sing independently.

You may or may not like the tone of a particular instrument. I'm going to call the sound of my F-30 moderately bright. It fits well in a mix, while sounding big.

When the new instrument arrived, it was okay. I immediately put on new strings, and adjusted the truss rod. The adjustment was easy, and I have never had to change it since. This instrument has been shipped worldwide as we moved, and the neck hasn't varied to me.

During a move from Japan to Rhode Island, the plastic guard on the neck butt became dislodged. I reglued it, and it has been fine ever since.

The action on this F-30 is superb. No buzz, and no blisters. Very fine indeed.

The finish has lasted well. I thoroughly clean the guitar when it gets too cruddy. The pickguard gets its share of abuse, and over time this is to be expected.

Overall, the action is a ten; the fit and finish are an eight.

I have used this axe only a few times in front of people in a bar, or on another stage. I play the bass professionally, so this instrument is used mainly at home for composition and joy. It gets beat around pretty good. Also, the above comments regarding moving reveal this F-30 to be a world-class traveler.

Fender is a weird bird.

In my 45 years of playing, I have seen a few axes come and go. This F-30 is a real keeper. The combination of ruggedness, tone, and really, really good intonation make it a joy to play and own.

The work-a-day bass stuff needs to be different; this guitar is a pal to me and easy to play even with medium-gauge strings. I imagine this particular one is not replaceable. It is my sweet companion while musically dreaming. There is nothing about it I dislike.

My bass rig is an Eden WT550 with Eden 1X12 and 2X10 cabinets. My principal bass is a Fender Hotrod Precision Bass with DR roundwound strings. I also play a straight Fender Pbass with LaBella flatwounds. I also own an Epiphone Sheraton guitar, and a Fender Hotrod Deluxe amp, as well as an Orange Tiny Terror amp and a custom 1X12 cabinet.

Guild F-30, bought 1965 for $150 including hardshell case. Spruce top, dark-stained mahogany back and sides, rosewood fingerboard. Made in Hoboken NJ, bought at Manny's on 48th St in New York City. This is interesting: the guitar was very cheaply made: wretched tuners, one of which broke after a year, a filled spot on the headstock which was covered by the dark stain, soft plastic saddle (uncompensated, of course). And yet it's aged incredibly well. All it's had done over the years is had Grover tuners installed, and had the bridge re-glued and a compensated saddle installed a couple of years ago.

Perfect for finger picking. I bought it because I saw Mississippi John Hurt playing one at Newport and I wanted to play that kind of music. String spacing is good for alternating bass picking. The neck is just right for chord forms that use the thumb, and it produces a bright, balanced sound with light gauge strings. Not loud, very much a personal guitar, but it's been a joy to play for all these 40+ years.

Factory set-up must have been okay. This guitar has never had (or needed) a neck adjustment since 1965.

This is a lightly-built guitar. I think this accounts for its very responsive playability. The hardware it came with was poor.

I only asked for support once, when a tuner broke a little more than a year after I bought it. They wrote back promptly to tell me to F* off, the guitar was out of warranty. Totally unimpressive.

This guitar has been a wonderful companion fro many many years. It was my third guitar-following a no-name, East German pawnshop guitar (the neck came off) and a Stella (borrowed). It was my first good guitar. I got it after playing for a couple of years. It's not too pretty to look at-I did a poor job refinishing it 30 years ago, but it's still a fine guitar. I never wanted another until I picked up a Marc Beneteau a couple of years ago, and bought that one too.

Would I buy another? The F-30 has changed a lot over the years-even in the 70's they were built much heavier and usually with Rosewood back and sides. If something happened to this one, I would look for another, but only from the same era.

I have a '65 F30 with the sunbirst finish. Oh man I love it.

I was travelling through the US when I stopped into More Music in downtown Santa Cruz, California on a whim. I played this F30 for a few minutes, and fell in love. When I went back to my truck and played the Fender accoustic I was travelling with, I could have left it by the roadside, so disappointed I was by the contrast. And formally, I had really loved the Fender!

As it was, I traded in the Fender, and a significant portion of my travelling money and walked out with the Guild.

What has always impressed me about this guitar is the playability. I am amazed that others on this site have talked about lowering the action and such. That must have been done to mine before I bought it. It has such a thin neck and small body, and my only complaint is that I become spoiled to other guitars when I play this one too often. I've always thought that this would be the perfect guitar for a smooth jazz player-- although my own playing is nothing of the sort

As for the finish-- it has held up very well. Other than the big patch of raw wood about the pick guard where the finish has worn away from my spazmastic strumming.

Here is where you can tell me how crazy I am. Until it found itself in my hands, this guitar lived in California all of its life. It had one owner, who got it for a graduation present and used it with light guage strings.

After I bought it, I took it back to cold Canada and have been using medium strings ever since.

It has needed a little work along the way. I had to have the bridge replaced. It is back in the shop now to have the frets worked, the action slightly raised and the intonation hopefully improved (when I first bought this guitar it had PERFECT intonation!).

Let me sum this up. In my opinion, this is a wonderful guitar with a very rich sound, lacking only in a deep low end. It is perfect for jamming with a small group in an intimate setting. And I am slowly trashing it!

I can't wait to get my F30 back from the shop... and that is what led me to embarking on the web search that led me to this page.

The Guild F30 (mine is a 1979 model issue) is a 15" across the bout Folk or Grand Auditorium style guitar. But it does have a body depth greater than many dreadnaughts I have played or owned. The sound is not thin (as some reviewers suggest)It has a definite ringing midrange tonality...but it does project. I bought this back in 1979 from Victor's Music in Ridgewood NJ. I had it for a few years and sold it to my buddy Dennis. I had (and still have to some degree) a desire to alternate guitars quite often (my wife is forcing me to kick this habit and hang on to what I get. In any case, my pal Dennis decides he doesn't really play guitar that much anymore and wants to sell it.....he asks me what it is worth...and I refer him to Gruhn's and the internet. But while I am doing this I think here is a chance to own a guitar that I onced owned!!!! And...it is 25 years old to boot. So, I bought it back at the going rate for vintage guitars like this ($650)...just to note, Dennis paid me $250 back in 1982-82 (it cost me $325 new in 1979). As for features...well, it has a body and a neck!!!

This guitar has aged very well.....oh, cosmetically it needs some refurbishing.....I cleaned it up....(it has the original case and my original wty booklet, cool, huh?). It has what I believe to be very close to an Everly Brothers guitar sound (the Everly Bros. model has always been a fave of mine...I remember I ordered one from Eastchester Music in Eastchester NY back in '69..but it came with tiny pickguard....in a natural color...not in the black....when I opened the carton with Mike from the store...we were both taken aback...it was NOT the Everly model I ordered from the 1966 Gibson catalog (the green parchment one)...I sent it back (kinda wish I hadn't cos now those models are worth some dinero, too. But I most likely would have traded it off anyway...so it is kind of moot. But the point is...I like the Everly Model's looks and sound....and I feel this F30 is very much akin to that....the size and shape are identical..but the woods are different (The F30 is all solid Spruce and mahogany,while the EB is spruce over maple). I wish I could afford the Gibson version of the EB..but at $2000...no way! So, I ordered the Epiphone Everly Brothers model (The Don Everly model) and will get the looks from it...and the sound from the F30.

Guilds from that era are notoriously hard to play...with their thick and chunky necks. So, what I do is to downtune to D-D and capo the second fret. File down the saddle (from underneath of course)...and get lower action that way. And the guitar sounds better (as in more mellow) this way. With that done....this guitar is a joy to play and wonderful to hear. The 25 years have really improved the tone and the appearance...and I am glad to have an old friend back with me.

I will keep this one this time....my wife will kill me if I don't.

I bought it new from Bill's Music Shop in Yonkers NY in 1963. (Took lessons from Bill, who became a personal friend. Bill played for a group called the Hudson Valley Boys in the 50s and early 60s). Its a flat back mahogany with white clear finished top. Rosewood neck, etc. After 20 plus years of enjoying its sound, my son absconded with it and learned to play. I did without for 10 years and when it came home it was still in as new condition except for a few belt buckle scratches on the back. When I bought it I considered a D-28, but was told that I wasn't enough of a player for a Martin. I guess I'm still not. I rate it a 9.5

My F-30 has an excellent sound but it is a bit light on intensity so I use it only for family gatherings at home and for relaxing. The belt scratches and aging aparently didn't hurt it because the sound has improved over the years.

The bridge has always been a bit high. It still is and I may one day have it lowered a bit, but am concerned that when I ring it hard it might buzz if its cut too low. I wasn't capable of judging flaws when I bought it. I had been taking lessons on a Gibson when Bill got his Guild ditributorship. When Bill checked it out when it came from the factory and he said I had to have it.

It has lasted! Never beat it up, never considered giving it hard use.

Never needed any.

1966 Sunburst finish. I bought the guitar used in 1969 and have had it ever since. The finish has held up beautifully over all these years. Lots opf people have borrowed it and loved it. Now my teenage daughters' friends love to use it. Over the years, I've had plenty of offers, but I won't sell it. I have had the neck adjusted, and when I first bought it, I had the action lowered a bit. This smallish guitar is great for the small player. Sound isn't as big and full as Martins but is great for the raw quality you want for blues. The guitar is light but real sturdy. I have never needed support.

tunig pegs are original & have always stayed in tune with very little adjusting.

I don't play with a band but this guitar is not loud enough to stand up to alot of other bigger guitars (mike it????)

I have been playing for around 37 years though I'm not great. Mostly just play for my own enjoyment. I own a vintage 40's Epiphone/50's Martin hybrid which has a much fuller, richer tone but is also alot bigger. It would probably be very tough to replace as mine is still in very fine condition but I love the overall character of this guitar.

1966 Sunburst finish. I bought the guitar used in 1969 and have had it ever since. The finish has held up beautifully over all these years. Lots opf people have borrowed it and loved it. Now my teenage daughters' friends love to use it. Over the years, I've had plenty of offers, but I won't sell it. I have had the neck adjusted, and when I first bought it, I had the action lowered a bit. This smallish guitar is great for the small player. Sound isn't as big and full as Martins but is great for the raw quality you want for blues. The guitar is light but real sturdy. I have never needed support.

tunig pegs are original & have always stayed in tune with very little adjusting.

I don't play with a band but this guitar is not loud enough to stand up to alot of other bigger guitars (mike it????)

I have been playing for around 37 years though I'm not great. Mostly just play for my own enjoyment. I own a vintage 40's Epiphone/50's Martin hybrid which has a much fuller, richer tone but is also alot bigger. It would probably be very tough to replace as mine is still in very fine condition but I love the overall character of this guitar.

1968, Westerly R.I., similar to Martin 000-18, but with a deeper
body. The Sunburst finish was considered an "upgrade", including
a bound headstock and "Chesterfield" headstock inlay. Some ribbon
figure to the mahogany, a tiny knot under the pickguard on an other-
wise nice top. The original tuners are 3 on a plate, and are the
worst feature on the guitar. Gotoh 3 on a plate Kluson style
make a good replacement. Grovers are too heavy. A veteran luthier
said this was the only one he has seen with tapered bracing.

I'm a 35 year fingerstyle player, usually a pre-war Martin OO-18. Plenty of bass for this size guitar, more than the 00, but doesn't deliver the upper middle and treble as the old Martin. My luthier
and I agree that it is bass-unbalanced, too mellow, but listeners
often prefer this sound.

I knew when I bought this guitar it would need a neck reset, I'm spoiled by perfect pro set-ups. The neck had collapsed into the body
about a 64th of an inch, a hard to detect flaw that is not uncommon
on old Guilds. Old Guild necks are very hard to get off-get an
experienced pro. The original tuners are terrible by today's standards.

I bought this guitar for performance, not wanting to take that old Martin out of the house. Compared to a scalloped braced Martin,
this guitar is very durable.

I always deal with the same private luthier- 30 year authorized
Martin. Recommend same.

I wanted an F-30 for a long time, an old friend had a great one,
and Mississippi John Hurt is a hero of sorts. Even after the neck reset, the cost was similar to a new Taylor, but with superior materials and a "vintage" collectability. Its great to look at,
sounds good, not a prewar OOO Martin, or current Eric Clapton
model, but a good buy on the vintage market if pre-1971.

Made 2001, now discontinued, parlor sized guitar. The details are as below.

This is the best sounding guitar of its size I have ever heard and it is new. Normally acoustics get better as they age, but it is hard to imagine how this could get better. It has precision and balance and a stunning tone. Very resonant, but great clarity: a fingerpicker's dream come true.

Was properly set up and is easy to play. The frets were a bit harsh from the off, but will bed in nicely over the next year or do, I am sure. The rest of the build was just fine, unfussy, unpretentious and done properly. The wood is well matched, but the finish isn't the best I've seen.

It has a low action and a really comfortable neck. Outstanding to play, (once the frets wear in) and the beautiful neck was final nail in the coffin for Martin, Taylor and L'arrivee (and the price was better too).

The sound, however, in incredible. The case is also a quality item.

I would not want to drop this from a great height. It is a very light guitar and I suspect thst physical strength is not going to be its long suit. It is rugged for the weight, but it is a light guitar.

The neck and tuners (Grovers), will I am sure last and the body will also, but I suspect it may not be that able to resist a big physical shock, like being dropped off stage: and I'm not going to test that theory!

I have played over 35 years. I have owned a lot of stuff over the years, including acoustics by Gibson, Yamaha and a stack of quality electrics and semis. Have borrowed/played dozens more. This one I bought for my wife, who wanted a smallish, light and good guitar. Did she ever get one! It is a lot better than my old Gibson acoustic.

You tend to think Martin or Taylor for a quality small acoustic. Think Guild. This clobbers the ones I tried. No one who plays it wants to put it down. I was out listening to a guy gigging the other week using a Martin 000 and this sounded so much better it made one want to cry.

The documentation that comes with this is a bit sparse and I am sure that once they move them to Calif, the quality will disintegrate, but this is a heck of a guitar. Get a Rhode island one while you can.

May, 1972. Mahogany back/sides w/ spruce top. Gloss finish. Original tuners. Original hard case. I finally had to do some work on the tuners a few years ago (some were really loose and some were almost frozen up) but they're fine now. They could probably stand to be replaced but it's not a necessity.

A bit light on the bass, but overall very good, especially for a slightly smaller guitar. My mother bought it used in 1973; someone was playing it when she walked into the music store and she bought it on the spot because she couldn't pass up the sound. It had been beaten up pretty badly in the first year and a half of it's life--there is wear down into the grain of the wood between the saddle and pick guard, and the back had been split (and then repaired at the factory), but it still sounded very good. Even, not too bright but not muddy. Kind of mellow.

I've been told to shoot anyone who tries to alter the set-up.

No complaints. Even the repair in the back has held up fine for the last 30 years.

Never needed them.

Really nice little guitar. I'm on the small side and the shape fits me much better than the big dreadnoughts. My "beater" guitar is an Alvarez Regent 5212, which isn't bad, but it's just not in the same class as the Guild.