Guild JF-30 sunburst, year 2000 vs "new" GAD JF-30

Hi - my name is Dietmar and I come from Germany.
Today I found that great Forum as I searched at google.de for any Information about Guild-Guitars. Till last week I played only Takamine-guitars (so somebody gave me my Nickname...) Last week I bought a unused (new) Guild JF-30, which was manufactured on MAR 15 2000 in Rhode Island (serial: AJ301125). I got it from a shop here in Germany. It was a pure chance... I was in the shop to look around, got the Guitar to test and so I must have it... The owners of the shop are specialists for vintage american guitars. As they heared, that Guild would be no longer Guild, they bougt some of the last guitars from the Rhode-Island factory.

So - the reason for my posting is as follows. I search for any tests, books, flyers and so on for the Guild JF-30 and the year 2000 in which my guitar was build. I want to know, how they made it in the year 2000 and what happens to Guild-Guitars after 2000. The quality and so on...

Also very interested in the differences between the "old" JF-30 and the new GAD-JF-30 "by Fender"

Best regards - Dietmar

Hope my english ist understandable - it is a long time ago, I learned it...

Hi - my name is Dietmar and I come from Germany.
Today I found that great Forum as I searched at google.de for any Information about Guild-Guitars. Till last week I played only Takamine-guitars (so somebody gave me my Nickname...) Last week I bought a unused (new) Guild JF-30, which was manufactured on MAR 15 2000 in Rhode Island (serial: AJ301125). I got it from a shop here in Germany. It was a pure chance... I was in the shop to look around, got the Guitar to test and so I must have it... The owners of the shop are specialists for vintage american guitars. As they heared, that Guild would be no longer Guild, they bougt some of the last guitars from the Rhode-Island factory.

So - the reason for my posting is as follows. I search for any tests, books, flyers and so on for the Guild JF-30 and the year 2000 in which my guitar was build. I want to know, how they made it in the year 2000 and what happens to Guild-Guitars after 2000. The quality and so on...

Also very interested in the differences between the "old" JF-30 and the new GAD-JF-30 "by Fender"

Best regards - Dietmar

Hope my english ist understandable - it is a long time ago, I learned it...

You did well to get the real JF-30! The GAD Jf-30s are OK, but please don't speak of them in the same breath as a true "Guild JF-30." If you play them side by side, you will really know why I say that. No one will have to tell you.

You did well to get the real JF-30! The GAD Jf-30s are OK, but please don't speak of them in the same breath as a true "Guild JF-30." If you play them side by side, you will really know why I say that. No one will have to tell you.

Hello and thank you for your answer.
Then it is really true, that the new ones can not reach the quality of the Rhode Island-manufactured... When you hear the product managers of each trademarks (Guild, Taylor...) they say, that all new Instruments are better because the methods of manufacturing are better, the machines are newer and more precise as old machines and so on...

I have no chance to compare with newer models, but i believe that I have a good one! When I want to install a pre-amp, what can you suggest? A B-Band -Pickup, or better a piezo pickup from fishman? There are a lot of meanings between the two systems. One say Fishman is the best - others say that they sound not very good - a B-Band sounds much warmer and better...

How susceptible are these B-Band-films?

Best regards - Dietmar

Hello and thank you for your answer.
Then it is really true, that the new ones can not reach the quality of the Rhode Island-manufactured... When you hear the product managers of each trademarks (Guild, Taylor...) they say, that all new Instruments are better because the methods of manufacturing are better, the machines are newer and more precise as old machines and so on...

I have no chance to compare with newer models, but i believe that I have a good one! When I want to install a pre-amp, what can you suggest? A B-Band -Pickup, or better a piezo pickup from fishman? There are a lot of meanings between the two systems. One say Fishman is the best - others say that they sound not very good - a B-Band sounds much warmer and better...

How susceptible are these B-Band-films?

Best regards - Dietmar

"D"

May I suggest......

For a true acoustic balanced sound, I use a shure SM-57 aimed at the fret board just above the sound hole out about 4-6 inches. (I also like Sennheiser 835s.)

Next best thing is to get a dual system with a Piazzo pick-up under the bridge coupled with a mini-57 mounted inside the guitat on a mini-goose-neck.

"D"

May I suggest......

For a true acoustic balanced sound, I use a shure SM-57 aimed at the fret board just above the sound hole out about 4-6 inches. (I also like Sennheiser 835s.)

Next best thing is to get a dual system with a Piazzo pick-up under the bridge coupled with a mini-57 mounted inside the guitat on a mini-goose-neck.

Hello!

I have heared, that the SM-57 should be very good. But I don't want to use ist because I want to have it "on board". Where do I get more information about your suggested dual system? A mini-57 is also from shure, I think? With what pick-up system can I couple it?

Best regards

Dietmar

Hello!

I have heared, that the SM-57 should be very good. But I don't want to use ist because I want to have it "on board". Where do I get more information about your suggested dual system? A mini-57 is also from shure, I think? With what pick-up system can I couple it?

Best regards

Dietmar

The Jf-30 and the GAD JF30 are 2 entirely different instruments. The GAD
series of Guilds are great and are probably the best you can get at that price point.

The Americans such as the D55 and the F50 being built in Tacoma are just superb instruments. Top drawer all the way. I just set up another new D55 for the showroom here and it's just fantastic.

The Jf-30 and the GAD JF30 are 2 entirely different instruments. The GAD
series of Guilds are great and are probably the best you can get at that price point.

The Americans such as the D55 and the F50 being built in Tacoma are just superb instruments. Top drawer all the way. I just set up another new D55 for the showroom here and it's just fantastic.

Miking option

Dietmar -- I'm a long-time exclusive Guild user - Westerly's except for the one Hoboken - I am really disappointed in the Chinese Guilds and have only seen one Tacoma, which by comparison was only OK. There is something missing from the newer models - weight, depth of sound, articulation - that time will improve, but will not completely mend. That said, my further comments are based on long-term use of a miking system that has worked splendidly for me. I do not like acoustic-electrics and haven't found one system that accurately projects the sound of the guitar itself, though they are getting better - most still have a sizable "doink" factor.

The system I have been using on my small, jumbos, dreadnaughts, 6 & 12 string versions, concert size (like the M-20) and the B-50 bases is simple and all the same. I use the Shure SM11 lavalier microphone - very similar in pattern to the SM57. I suspend the mic. facing the bass side of the body and slightly to the back end (usually using a velcro strip attached to one of the braces - you'll have to experiment for yourself there) and then run the cord to a flush-mount XLR connector in the end block. (Positioning is slightly different on different models - try moving the mic. to get the right position for you.) It is simple, easy to install, has no batteries to change out, and goes into the PA with a mic. cord, or into a direct box for use with an amp or effects pedals (I don't use or advocate effects for acoustic music, actually). The P.A. is usually set flat with occasional gain boost in some settings (depending upon the sound system and size of the hall) and what "dead air" sound is more than compensated with the ambient sound of the hall. This system stifles any feedback and allows complete freedom to move around the stage.

The Shure SM11 is about $120-$150 here in the colonies/states and the flush mount connector is a few bob, so not really expensive. I hope this helps. The SHure isn't the only mic. possible, but it's what works for Smithfield Fair day in and day out - and we've been on the road for 18 years and 3 of us on a previous band since the 70's - all using the same set-up. Give it a try. Cheers! dbs

Dudley-Brian Smith
Smithfield Fair

Miking option

Dietmar -- I'm a long-time exclusive Guild user - Westerly's except for the one Hoboken - I am really disappointed in the Chinese Guilds and have only seen one Tacoma, which by comparison was only OK. There is something missing from the newer models - weight, depth of sound, articulation - that time will improve, but will not completely mend. That said, my further comments are based on long-term use of a miking system that has worked splendidly for me. I do not like acoustic-electrics and haven't found one system that accurately projects the sound of the guitar itself, though they are getting better - most still have a sizable "doink" factor.

The system I have been using on my small, jumbos, dreadnaughts, 6 & 12 string versions, concert size (like the M-20) and the B-50 bases is simple and all the same. I use the Shure SM11 lavalier microphone - very similar in pattern to the SM57. I suspend the mic. facing the bass side of the body and slightly to the back end (usually using a velcro strip attached to one of the braces - you'll have to experiment for yourself there) and then run the cord to a flush-mount XLR connector in the end block. (Positioning is slightly different on different models - try moving the mic. to get the right position for you.) It is simple, easy to install, has no batteries to change out, and goes into the PA with a mic. cord, or into a direct box for use with an amp or effects pedals (I don't use or advocate effects for acoustic music, actually). The P.A. is usually set flat with occasional gain boost in some settings (depending upon the sound system and size of the hall) and what "dead air" sound is more than compensated with the ambient sound of the hall. This system stifles any feedback and allows complete freedom to move around the stage.

The Shure SM11 is about $120-$150 here in the colonies/states and the flush mount connector is a few bob, so not really expensive. I hope this helps. The SHure isn't the only mic. possible, but it's what works for Smithfield Fair day in and day out - and we've been on the road for 18 years and 3 of us on a previous band since the 70's - all using the same set-up. Give it a try. Cheers! dbs

Dudley-Brian Smith
Smithfield Fair

Hello Dudley-Brain,

many thanks for your posting! Now I have to look out in Germany, where I can get one of these microphones and the connector for the end block. I will ask in the store in which I have bougt my JF-30 for the microphone and the cost of installing. For installing a B-Band-Pickup they want to have round about 200,- Euro completely. No one of my friends have a microphone system. They all use Piezo-Pickups. Either the original installed Takamine (in Takamine-Guitars) or in other Guitars later installed a Fishman-Pickup-System, but the most are piezo systems. Two Guitarshops suggest to use the B-Band-Pickup because they should sound better, not so hard as the piezo but the films from the B-Band must be loose performance by the time (say some poeple...)
I also think that the 'true' sound comes only by a good microphone. Do you know the fishman products? - They also have microphone-systems?

Best regards - Dietmar

Hello Dudley-Brain,

many thanks for your posting! Now I have to look out in Germany, where I can get one of these microphones and the connector for the end block. I will ask in the store in which I have bougt my JF-30 for the microphone and the cost of installing. For installing a B-Band-Pickup they want to have round about 200,- Euro completely. No one of my friends have a microphone system. They all use Piezo-Pickups. Either the original installed Takamine (in Takamine-Guitars) or in other Guitars later installed a Fishman-Pickup-System, but the most are piezo systems. Two Guitarshops suggest to use the B-Band-Pickup because they should sound better, not so hard as the piezo but the films from the B-Band must be loose performance by the time (say some poeple...)
I also think that the 'true' sound comes only by a good microphone. Do you know the fishman products? - They also have microphone-systems?

Best regards - Dietmar

Fishman

Dietmar -- Yes, I am familiar with the Fishman systems and as far as pick-ups go...they are, I suppose, one of the better pick-up systems - certainly get high marks from people who like pick-ups. Best of luck in deciding what to use - but if I were you, I would listen to a couple of guitars that use them, first acoustically, and then plugged in and decide what pick-up best represents the acoustic sound of THAT guitar. Then, you'll have a better idea of what will sound good on your guitar. Best . dbs

Dudley-Brian Smith
Smithfield Fair

Fishman

Dietmar -- Yes, I am familiar with the Fishman systems and as far as pick-ups go...they are, I suppose, one of the better pick-up systems - certainly get high marks from people who like pick-ups. Best of luck in deciding what to use - but if I were you, I would listen to a couple of guitars that use them, first acoustically, and then plugged in and decide what pick-up best represents the acoustic sound of THAT guitar. Then, you'll have a better idea of what will sound good on your guitar. Best . dbs

Dudley-Brian Smith
Smithfield Fair

Hello again,

at the weekend I will go to a Guitar-Shop next to here and will listen to some systems to decide, what to do...

Many thanks to all - have a nice week!

Dietmar

Hello again,

at the weekend I will go to a Guitar-Shop next to here and will listen to some systems to decide, what to do...

Many thanks to all - have a nice week!

Dietmar