F4CE history

[amkaplan]

The F4/5CEs were produced in the 1990s. As mentioned above, the F4CE was the mahogany, lower end model, with the F5CE being a bit fancier, with gold hardware, more elaborate headstock logo, and rosewood sides and book-matched back.

Early F4/F5CEs were pre-Fender(?), as I understand it, with 24 frets, and later versions were 20 frets. I own a 1993 24 fret, and have seen the 20 fret version {photo off Reverb) much more commonly. I believe the changes occurred around 1994, so the majority of the guitars were the 20 fret model.

You can see from the attached photos that the 24 fret has the body starting below the 15th fret, with the sound hole even with the waist, and the 20 fret version has the body starting below the 14th fret and the sound hole well above the waist, and much farther from the bridge than on the 24 fret model. Interesting!

Cheers,

Allan

 

[Skooter]

My F4CE BK HG.

 

[Skooter]

The F4/5CEs were produced in the 1990s. As mentioned above, the F4CE was the mahogany, lower end model, with the F5CE being a bit fancier, with gold hardware, more elaborate headstock logo, and rosewood sides and book-matched back.

Early F4/F5CEs were pre-Fender(?), as I understand it, with 24 frets, and later versions were 20 frets. I own a 1993 24 fret, and have seen the 20 fret version {photo off Reverb) much more commonly. I believe the changes occurred around 1994, so the majority of the guitars were the 20 fret model.

You can see from the attached photos that the 24 fret has the body starting below the 15th fret, with the sound hole even with the waist, and the 20 fret version has the body starting below the 14th fret and the sound hole well above the waist, and much farther from the bridge than on the 24 fret model. Interesting!

Cheers,

Allan

Wonder why Guild switched to 20 fret version? Issues with 24 fret? Must have been some good reason. Thanks very much for the information and the photo comparisons.

 

[D30Man]

That black looks like it would be a hell of a lot of fun on stage.

 

[Guildedagain]

Wow, 20 frets, bizarre, but with 24 3/4" scale?

 

[adorshki]

Wonder why Guild switched to 20 fret version? Issues with 24 fret? Must have been some good reason. Thanks very much for the information and the photo comparisons.

For one thing, that 24-fret board was only made in 24-3/4 scale. The 20-fret version is a 25-5/8 scale. In an unplugged situation, the longer scale's gonna be intrinsically louder.

Early F4/F5CEs were pre-Fender(?), as I understand it, with 24 frets, and later versions were 20 frets. I own a 1993 24 fret, and have seen the 20 fret version {photo off Reverb) much more commonly. I believe the changes occurred around 1994, so the majority of the guitars were the 20 fret model.

Yes, Fender acquisition of Guild was finalized in November of '95, and the "Fxx" series went long scale (20 fret) as a running production change in later '94.

You can see from the attached photos that the 24 fret has the body starting below the 15th fret, with the sound hole even with the waist, and the 20 fret version has the body starting below the 14th fret and the sound hole well above the waist, and much farther from the bridge than on the 24 fret model. Interesting!

Because the change in scale length necessitated changing both the neck join location and the bridge placement, which in turn necessitated relocating bracing, and thus, the sound hole.

Wow, 20 frets, bizarre, but with 24 3/4" scale?

Nope, the 20-fret versions were 25-5/8 scale. What I really want is a 24-fret neck with a 1-11/16 nut, which they never made.

 

[Guildedagain]

To veer electrically, the implications of 24 frets moving the pickups towards the bridge are huge.

Not as much bass, can be a good thing. A very good thing.

 

[Skooter]

And the HG, high gloss F4CE models! Produced only from years 1998 - 2000? Cheerz

 

[adorshki]

And the HG, high gloss F4CE models! Produced only from years 1998 - 2000? Cheerz

Those all were 25-5/8 scale, being post '94. (In case that was the question )

 

[Skooter]

'Those all were 25-5/8 scale, being post '94. (In case that was the question '

So the model in question was manufactured 1995 - 2000?