Guild F46

1986 Guild F-46-NT; Grand Auditorium, Solid East Indian Rosewood back & sides, Solid Spruce top, scalloped bracing, Oversize sound hole, Guild & sheild pearl headstock inlays, pearl split diamond fingerboard markers, Ebony fingerboard and bridge, 1 11/16 wide 3 ply neck(mahg/maple/mahg), bound fingerboard and headstock, closed butterbean tuners, long scale, 20 fret fingerboard, 10 ply top binding, hearingbone back seam & sound hole purfing. Built in Waverly, LI, NY, USA.

This review was origionally submitted as a Guild F-44 but further research and a lengthly discussion with (the) George Gruhn confirmed that it is a George Gruhn designed Guild F-46 built in 1986 and is quite rare. Records show that there where only 121 of these built between 1983 and 1986 and mine was #90. Many thanks to George Gruhn for this wonderful design and the time he spent talking on the phone with me about it and his time at Guild.

I bought this guitar at auction on reputation and experience with similar instruments. Sound characteristics similar to the Martin 0000-28(formally M-28); bright, balanced, resonant, lots of harmonics. Replaced the bridge saddle with compensated TUSQ which produced a large improvement in string seperation and harmonic overtones. This is one wonderful instrument. It is equally at home with fingerstyle or pick. The sound is better balanced and more dynamic than I expected.

Action still good but needed some minor fret work. I can see that this box was beautifully built, finished and appointed when new. The spruce top is fine grained with no noticable runout. The rosewood back is wonderfully figured and bookmatched with the grain matching the body shape. I prefer the ebony fretboard and bridge for long life, wear resistance and tone quality. The bindings and purfing were a quality accent even though this was not the top of the line F model.

This F44 was a old road warrior with some battle damage. It was dehumidified to the point of causing a minor bridge crack and some fingerboard cracks. Had well done but noticable headstock repair. Also has a major top gouge that needed steaming out. However, there are no cracks and little finish checking in the top or body which is astounding. Guilds are built to play!!! The beauty still comes through all the abuse.

Guild web site has no e-mail contact for questions. Phone only(with a substancial wait).
There seems to be some confusion on serial numbers in the dating spreadsheet on Guild's web site. The serial number with a KJ prefix on my F-44 denotes a 1986 F46 in Guild's SN listing but my F-44 instrument clearly labled as a F-44-NT. The F-44's have a KH prefix on the Guild web site.

This instrument is a nice compliment to my stable of guitars. I have been playing guitar and collecting what I could afford off and on for 30 years, always looking for instruments to give me variations in tone and timber. In addition to the Guild F-46, I have a 1974 Gibson SJN Deluxe in mahogany, a 1971 Martin D-12-20 in mahogany, a 1974 Martin D-35, and a 1999 Yairi DY-38 in maple. The Guild F-46 gives me a balanced projected tone to compliment the boominess of the Gibson, the brilliance of the maple Yairi and the drive of the Martin D-35 without needing to increase the national debt.