Dating my Guild JF-30-12

[FenderNashville]

I went to Guitar Center today to buy a used (but in MINT condition...no signs of playing) Guild JF-30-12 that was made in the Rhode Island plant. This plant was operational for guild from 1966-1995 (and in some cases, a little later).

Many guitarists consider the Rhode Island plant to be the ultimate plant for Guild guitars.

Being that I saw this brand new looking JF-30-12 on the wall for $800 (w/ the original case and documentation), I snagged it right away like any sane person would. I felt like I literally stole the guitar and that this was possible the best deal I've ever gotten in the music era.

Then I went straight to my luthier without stopping anywhere else, and he gave it his blessing. Said it was one of the nicest 12 strings he's seen and played in years. He said that I scored. Nut was already cut perfectly. Bridge is at a perfect height. He tightened the truss rods, and that's all he said he could do with it-- this is coming from a guy that sets up guitars for many famous musicians. He said that there was literally no signs of play. We're both guessing that it was locked in the case for many years without even being played on.

Anyhow, is there anyway to determine the year? The guitar itself looks like it was made yesterday, so it's hard to determine from the pristine physical condition. But the case looks like it could be 80s-90s due to the aging of the latch mechanism. It has the old-school "Guild" logo on it.

I'll post some pictures later, but any initial thoughts or guesses?

[jwsamuel]

On the Guild website. Here you go:

Dating Your Guild

If that doesn't work, try here:

Westerly Guild Guitars

Jim

[FenderNashville]

Wow! Thanks!

Serial # is JF301620.

I'm guessing this guitar was made in 1987 from the chart, and one of the earlier 1987 models. Sound about right?

Bet you can't tell the age by the pictures:











Here's the JF-30-12 (Westerly) right next to my JF-30 (Corona):

[FenderNashville]

Yeah, this thing sounds really good. I don't see a reason to get any other 12 string.

[zombywoof]

Congrats - I love Guild acoustics, especially their 12 strings. Although I have never owned one as recent as yours, I have owned NYC, Hoboken and Westerly-made Guilds. While the NYC Guilds tend to be a bit different breed, there is really no advantage of a Hoboken or Westerly-made Guild over the other other than the Hoboken guitars are far rarer.

Enjoy!

[FenderNashville]

Yeah. The only thing I have left is to buy myself a nice premium dreadnaught.

I'm definitely willing to give the Guild D55 a try before settling on a Martin or a Taylor. Guild is serious business at a better price.

[jwsamuel]

Originally Posted by FenderNashville

I'm definitely willing to give the Guild D55 a try before settling on a Martin or a Taylor. Guild is serious business at a better price.

Don't forget the D-50 and D-40. There are two models of each:

D-50 Bluegrass Special - Rosewood/red spruce (adi) top
D-50 Standard - Rosewood/sitka spruce top
D-40 Bluegrass Jubilee - Mahogany/red spruce top
D-40 Standard - Mahogany/sitka spruce top

Jim

[zombywoof]

Originally Posted by FenderNashville

Yeah. The only thing I have left is to buy myself a nice premium dreadnaught.

I'm definitely willing to give the Guild D55 a try before settling on a Martin or a Taylor. Guild is serious business at a better price.

In my opinion Guilds are probably the most undervalued guitars out there.

The D55 is without a doubt the loudest acoustic dread I have ever played.

[FenderNashville]

Originally Posted by zombywoof

In my opinion Guilds are probably the most undervalued guitars out there.

The D55 is without a doubt the loudest acoustic dread I have ever played.

I'm stoked to try one out. I'll have to find a Guild dealer near me.

I like my Corona built JF-30 (with some medium elixirs, it has some great deep and boomy sparkle). It just has a nice, USA sound. But I'm sure that premium rosewood USA Guild dreadnaught may give me a darker, tighter, and more balanced tone. Acoustics that play like Pianos are where it's at...they just pure out tone and almost play themselves...it takes some soul searching to find these (I've found some Martin and Taylors that do this).

I bought the JF30 a couple years ago used for $700. It sounds excellent. It was never meant to be kept as a "life-time" guitar, but honestly, I'm having trouble finding a $1,000 guitar that can beat it hands-down in most categories. I look forward to seeing if a Guild D55 (or any that jwsamuel listed above) can best it for the money.

The Jumbos have a louder sound. Maybe the D55 is just what I've been looking for. Finding the "perfect' acoustic is really something that takes years, let me tell you. Maybe I'll wind up being 100% all-Guild when it comes to acoustics. Can't be a bad thing?

[Retropicker]

Excellent find and price. It's got to sound big being a maple jumbo. I have a 72 F48 & newer CO-1C. Both fine guitars

[FenderNashville]

Guild is the greatest acoustic company around, seriously! The funny thing is, not many seem to think this because their resale is pretty low, which benefits me. :)

I still love my Corona JF-30. It's the acoustic that I literally judge all other acoustics to. I haven't grown tired of it (which admit it, happens to 90% of instruments that we own) and it always brings a smile to my face when I play it.

The Westerly JF-30-12 is a treat. I don't plan on ever selling it either. It's been in The Rain Song tuning for a couple months now. Stays in tune nicely and plays nicely at off-tuning. Very pristine quality.

So now I've grown the bug to collect Guilds. I've got a cool Guild barstool, too.

There's a gentleman locally who is selling a Guild D50 that was made in the 70s. Some of the neck's paint has worn off, and the case is kinda beat. The Guitar itself, from the pictures, looks pretty good (with some minor playing scars). Tuners look original. I may go look at it tomorrow. Anything that I should look out for. What would make it obvious that the neck would need a reset? How much should I pay for this? (I'm thinking $500-700 based on condition for a good deal).

[Bill Ashton]

First indicator would be if there is very little bridge saddle left, a neck reset may be in its future. Of course there is the interplay between the nut height, neck relief and bridge saddle height, but at first look a very low saddle could be the key.

Low saddle on an old Samick:



Normal/high saddle on a Huss and Dalton:



You could also sight down the neck, and the top of the fingerboard should be about where the bottom of the bridge saddle is...

Good luck, hope it is a good find for you!

[chulaivet1966]

Originally Posted by jwsamuel

Don't forget the D-50 and D-40.

I love my 1973 Guild D40 Sunburst and I test drove all the competition prior to buying.
I purchased it in April of '78 for 300$.

On the D50....I still kick myself in the a$$ for not buying our lead guitarists Guild D50 back in 1976!

Back to topic

[FenderNashville]

I'm officially on the hunt for a Guild D55. This is hard.

[burtwangcaster]

Great guitar and killer deal. I owned a 1972 F-212 and a F-212 XL. Unbeatable 12 strings in my book. Sounded better than my 1991 Taylor 655. Have owned a F-50 six string since new in 1978, talk about a big sound,better than a 70's era Gibson J-200 IMHO and availlable at half the price. Guilds have, unjustly, a rep for being 'over-built'. It sometimes takes a tune-up by a good luthier to remidy a Guild that has gone to sleep. The more you play it the better it will sound. I found a re-fret with 6105's really helped my F-50. Made playing leads a breeze. I gave up trying to retire my old friend because I can't find a new acoustic under $2000 bucks that compares. Hang on to that one,[ unless you want to sell it to me !]

[zombywoof]

Originally Posted by burtwangcaster

Have owned a F-50 six string since new in 1978, talk about a big sound,better than a 70's era Gibson J-200 IMHO and availlable at half the price

Problem it is hard to find any jumbo that does not sound better than a 1970s Gibson acoustic. Now if you can find a jumbo better sounding that say a 1950s or even early 1960s J-200 (one you have removed that ridiculous floating brace) than you have something to brag about.

[FenderNashville]

New D55 ordered. Never played on one before.

It's not replacing any of my guilds, though. If it doesn't beat the JF30, it's going back!

I'm sure I'll be blown away.

[FenderNashville]

New gear day is tomorrow. The excitement grows!