A JF-30 photo

[deejayen]

I bought an old and slightly tatty JF-30 around Christmastime.

I took it home., cleaned it, fitted new strings and played it for a bit.

Then I took it in for a refret, new nut and saddle and a set-up. I'm still waiting for it, but have come across a quick snap I took of it. It's a poor quality photo, and I've mucked around with it a bit because it came out looking dark and blue...



The maple back might not be the prettiest, but the neck is nice to catch sight of when you're playing it.

It's quite a pleasant sounding guitar - maybe not quite ideal for what I play, but I'll postpone judgement until after the set-up, if it ever comes back!

I have an appointment at the chiropractor tomorrow - I'm not sure if starting to play acoustics again has caused some sort of sprain or injury, or if playing the guitar just aggravates something I've done to my arm, but hopefully they'll sort me out so that I can play the Guild, if it ever comes back!

 

[deejayen]

The last time I spoke with the tech he said it looks like the guitar has had at least one previous refret as the fret slots had superglue in them. So, the guitar has probably been played quite a lot over the years.

 

[GGJaguar]

Sounds like the guitar is going to be in great playing shape when it gets back. Hopefully you'll get back into great playing shape, too, so you can enjoy it!

 

[chazmo]

Best of luck with the work being done on your JF-30, @deejayen . I hope your arm heals soon and you can get back to it. I like those '90s JF-30s with the striped maple neck. Yum!

 

[Cougar]

I'm hoping you get it back before too long. I think JF30s and JF30-12s are one of Guild's best models.

 

[deejayen]

Thanks!

I think I might be pining for it, as I found myself staring at its photograph somewhat wistfully!

It had 11's on it, but I've given the tech a set of DR 12's to install (I can't remember now if they're Sunbeams or Rares). I think possibly the latter, as I seem to remember installing Sunbeam 11's after I bought the guitar. Is the guitar likely to be happy with 12's?

I think the guitar is quite well balanced across the strings, but slightly thinner (or 'compressed') on the treble. Perhaps the refret and set-up will change that. It's not as loud as you'd expect for the size of its body, but that doesn't bother me. It's quite rich when strumming fairly gently, and has a bit of bass if you dig in when picking, but overall it's just a good sound with less character than the other acoustic I bought last year (a used Gibson LG-2 from around 2013 or 2015).

 

[deejayen]

It had an undersaddle pickup fitted (possibly an old Fishman) which didn't work, so I've asked for that to be removed when the tech installs the new bone saddle.

 

[chazmo]

Thanks!

I think I might be pining for it, as I found myself staring at its photograph somewhat wistfully!

It had 11's on it, but I've given the tech a set of DR 12's to install (I can't remember now if they're Sunbeams or Rares). I think possibly the latter, as I seem to remember installing Sunbeam 11's after I bought the guitar. Is the guitar likely to be happy with 12's?

I think the guitar is quite well balanced across the strings, but slightly thinner (or 'compressed') on the treble. Perhaps the refret and set-up will change that. It's not as loud as you'd expect for the size of its body, but that doesn't bother me. It's quite rich when strumming fairly gently, and has a bit of bass if you dig in when picking, but overall it's just a good sound with less character than the other acoustic I bought last year (a used Gibson LG-2 from around 2013 or 2015).

It's likely to sing like an angel with 12s. You're talking about a 6-string JF-30, right?

 

[chazmo]

It had an undersaddle pickup fitted (possibly an old Fishman) which didn't work, so I've asked for that to be removed when the tech installs the new bone saddle.

For reference, we were just having a discussion about some recent electronics if you're interested in replacing rather than entirely removing:

L. R. Baggs HiFi system

Hi folks, Wondering if anyone has installed / tried the recently-introduced L. R. Baggs system. This has bridge plate attachments (rather than under-saddle or soundhole magnetic). It looks and sounds pretty neat (at least from the demo). The electronics are enclosed in the endpin jack...

letstalkguild.com

 

[deejayen]

It's likely to sing like an angel with 12s. You're talking about a 6-string JF-30, right?

Yes, the 6-string.

I can't wait to hear it - hope I get it back soon!

 

[deejayen]

For reference, we were just having a discussion about some recent electronics if you're interested in replacing rather than entirely removing:

L. R. Baggs HiFi system

Hi folks, Wondering if anyone has installed / tried the recently-introduced L. R. Baggs system. This has bridge plate attachments (rather than under-saddle or soundhole magnetic). It looks and sounds pretty neat (at least from the demo). The electronics are enclosed in the endpin jack...

letstalkguild.com

Thanks very much. I might end up having a pickup of some sort fitted in the future, but for now I'd like to have the guitar without one.

 

[Christopher Cozad]

...I think I might be pining for it, as I found myself staring at its photograph somewhat wistfully!...

This factor, alone, will endear you to the LTG forum. You are definitely among friends.

...I think the guitar is quite well balanced across the strings, but slightly thinner (or 'compressed') on the treble. Perhaps the refret and set-up will change that. It's not as loud as you'd expect for the size of its body, but that doesn't bother me. It's quite rich when strumming fairly gently, and has a bit of bass if you dig in when picking, but overall it's just a good sound with less character than the other acoustic I bought last year...

Many LTG forum members have the benefit of owning/playing several Guild models spanning many decades. A common takeaway from this experience is a rather selective appreciation for what I think can safely be called, the “Guild sound.” This understanding tends to relax the “holy grail” guitar hunt mentality, the “This Martin is better than that Taylor” type of dialogue that darkens the skies of so many other forums.

That is not to say that everyone prefers the “Guild sound.” We all have our preferences. But the sound of a Guild guitar has a way of grabbing you, and refusing to let go.

 

[deejayen]

Thanks, Christopher!

I'm extremely pleased I bought the guitar. I had a few visits to the shop (which is a 400+ mile round trip from me) to try it, and each time I liked it more. Often, a guitar I liked on a first visit will disappoint on a subsequent visit. I knew it had potential, and despite preferring old strings, I could tell that the strings fitted to the guitar were 'faulty' because my picking fingers could feel something sticky on the strings! One thing I noticed was that when the tech in the shop played the guitar I thought it sounded beautful, and that's not always the case.

When I eventually haggled a deal and got it home, I gave the guitar a good clean which removed a layer of dirt, and fitted new strings, and the guitar transformed into something else! It wasn't bright like some guitars can become with new strings, but richer and 'better'.

I suspect it still has even more to give, hence my decision to go ahead with the refret and setup etc.