Goya G-30

My guitar was made in early 1970s. The Goya G-30 (later called the GG-30) was the USA rebranded designation for the Levin model 111, a Swedish guitar. These were imported to the USA from the mid-1950s until Martin bought the Goya name and Levin factory in the mid-1970s and closed the factory a couple of years later. The "Goya" brand was then attached to certain guitars produced in Korea. The G-30 has spruce top and solid flame (tiger) maple back and sides, mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, rosewood bridge, bone nut and saddle. It has a beautifully thin neck and feels extremely comfortable to play. It was a high end instrument in the 50s and 60s (it can be seen on some photos of the folk singer "Melanie"). The preceding reviewer indicates that he purchased his G-30 for $350 in the 1960s. If I recall correctly, $350 would have bought 2300 rides on the New York City subway in the 1960s. This is a classical guitar but, as such, it has many unusual features: - "Grand concert" body shape (similar to "folk" guitar shape), so it doesn't fit correctly in standard classical guitar cases. - Six individual machine heads, rather than two blocks of three. - Duralinium (?) rod in neck. It's actually very pretty, but part of that attractiveness comes from the colour contrast of the mahogany neck against the maple body, and it is very refreshing to have a break in the monotony of so many classical guitars that have "Torres" shaped dark wood bodies.

Once again, this guitar deviates from what one normally expects from a classical guitar. Classical guitars are generally made to "project" sound, both trebles and bases. The G-30 adds mellow tones to the base notes, like a husky voiced female blues singer. The peak resonant frequency seems to be at around the base B or C note (on the A string). It's hard to explain this but the G-30 gives me a sense that the sound emanates from the body, whereas most classical guitars give a sense that sound emanates from the strings.

The guitar was about thirty years old when I bought it, so I can't comment on factory setup. The body is beautifully made and finished, even at its advanced age.

I have heard that the tops of some G-30s have cracked naturally and required repair. But since G-30s haven't been made in over twenty-five years, you can probably assume that all G-30s will have settled in by now. Mine has a few cracks in the finish (just the finish) of the top.

My machine heads don't seem as smooth as they should be, but they are smooth enough to get it properly tuned with ease.

The factory no longer exists. It was closed by the late 1970s. C F Martin was the last owner and they continued to use the "Goya" name until about the late 1990s. But Customer Service at C F Martin don't seem to know anything about G-30s. The best source of information can be obtained by typing "Vintage Goya Guitars" on an internet browser. (If you think about it, you can't get customer support for Stradivarius or Amati violins either).

I've been playing off and on for about 35 years and I've wanted a G-30 for all that time. Now that I have one, if I lost it, I'd desperately try to replace it. I love its sound, its feel, its looks and its recollection of a bygone era.

I also have two Alvarez Yairis, a DY-73 (dreadnought) and CY-140 (classical). I have high regard for the Yairis but there are other companies which make equivalent instruments. I can't find any instrument on the market which is similar to the Goya G-30, and they are very hard to find.

Year of manufacture early 60's, Sweden, #209715
Spruce top, maple sides and back, ebony finger board. My father has its mate a couple of numbers earlier. The pair have been one owner rides. And have aged beutifully since bought at Quigley's in the early 60's. Mine has clear plates while Dads has white. This the only differance in the two. Both have deep melow sounds, but I think my has more play time thus aging the faster of the two. So it sounds better;-)

I think for the money you could not go wrong buying a Goya. If you can find one. I really would like to find a G-45. And one of my students lusts for my G-30. So I must find another for them.