F55 questions

[deejayen]

I'm thinking about buying an acoustic, and recently played a new F55 with spruce top and rosewood back and sides. I thought the guitar was lovely, and the bass was quite addictive for some styles. However, the treble strings seemed to be a bit weak - a bit like playing an electric guitar acoustically (without an amp). I was playing with a light thumbpick and my nails. I'm just wondering if this is just how the F55 is, or can something be done to improve the string balance, such as a different type or gauge of strings?

Also, how would the version with maple back and sides compare?

 

[Stuball48]

Welcome to the LTG forum and excellent question. There will be others drop by and give you a more researched answer.
IMHO, I would say the maple version would be a little brighter, crisper, sharper sound. My mind has been trained to think, "the darker the wood the darker the sound and the lighter the wood the lighter the sound."
That last sentence I offered is filled with opinionated words.
Come back often.

 

[GGJaguar]

Welcome to LTG! The maple version has an arched back and has a different bass response compared to the flatback rosewood version. So that's one factor. String choice certainly can make a difference and there are string sets available that tend to be brighter and they may (or may not) pump up the treble volume. In addition, there are variations between different examples of the same model. The one you played may not sound the same as another. It's just the way it goes with acoustics. Good luck with your hunt!

 

[chazmo]

deejayen,

You've probably already done this, but make sure the string ends are secure against the bridge pins and that the saddle is firm in the bridge slot..

I don't think there's much difference in unwound strings out there, but I think the factory ones are coated D'Addario XT... Try replacing strings 1 and 2 with uncoated strings and see if that helps.

I have owned two and played many of the pre-Cordoba F-50R (and F-50 -- which are maple) and I've never found the high strings to be thuddy at all. That doesn't have any bearing on what you're noticing since this is a new guitar. Is it brand new (you are first owner)? If so, can you seek out another one to compare and possibly trade back.

There aren't many sonic duds out there in Guild-land, but it does happen from time to time.

Good luck!

 

[deejayen]

Thanks very much!

The guitar was at a dealer's, but I was passing through the area, and unfortunately, it's not local to me. After I'd played it and was trying a different guitar they took the F55 and installed new strings. However, they replaced them with coated strings (I didn't know the factory-fitted ones were also likely to have been coated), and I liked the guitar even less after that! I'm not a fan of the sound of new strings, and the ones they fitted also felt really weird.

The dealership only had this one large Guild alongside a couple of M-20's.

I don't have a dealership local to me, so trying a different F55 is going to be difficult!

 

[deejayen]

I'm not particularly looking for a jumbo, so I'm thinking it might also make sense for me to consider other models in the Guild line-up, such as the D55 and D40. I suppose the D55 is closest to the F55 - how similar (or not) do they sound?

 

[Rayk]

I'm not particularly looking for a jumbo, so I'm thinking it might also make sense for me to consider other models in the Guild line-up, such as the D55 and D40. I suppose the D55 is closest to the F55 - how similar (or not) do they sound?

The F55 has a more round fatter sound over the D55 . The F55 should have a well balanced range to all the strings but there’s always a chance that one could be a bit off in one way or another . I’d try to play another like model if jumbos are for you .

Either way you can’t go wrong with either .

Here’s a poor mans demo of the F55 . Forgive the blabbering for the first few minutes. I just got the guitar it needed a set up strings etc and I mention things that were on mind at the time . I never did a follow up to this because I ended up trading it for another Guild . Geez I can’t remember who that happened with ? Lol

Anyway gives you an idea , no EQ just some reverb . So it’s what it really sounds like . Lol

Tales From The Wind

Demo , just something I came up with to demo the Guild F55 with . I need work on it a lot more LOL

on.soundcloud.com

Lol I missed this one completely and totally forgot about it . This followed up the first one .

Winter Rain

just something I came up with . Winter Rain is play on a Guild F55

on.soundcloud.com

 

[deejayen]

Thanks Ray! It sounds massive! In your first intro you mentioned that the E and B strings were weak - did you resolve that?

 

[Rayk]

Thanks Ray! It sounds massive! In your first intro you mentioned that the E and B strings were weak - did you resolve that?

Honestly I believe the string change took care of that along with saddle adjustment .
Winter rain was done after that and she ringing beautifully in that .

Hind sight tells me I should have kept her but my love of OM’s won out plus I still had a desire to get a F512 so let her go . I let go a D55 also that I still think about . Lol

I’m a guitar whore but I’m trying to get better . Lmao

 

[SFIV1967]

I'm not particularly looking for a jumbo, so I'm thinking it might also make sense for me to consider other models in the Guild line-up, such as the D55 and D40. I suppose the D55 is closest to the F55 - how similar (or not) do they sound?

Always difficult to say. I don't have a D-55 but once was comparing a D-55 and a D-50 (both from the New Hartford factory) in a store. I started testing the D-50 and she was loud and big and amazing. She had an Adi top. I liked her! Next the D-55. And boy, was I disappointed at that moment! The D-55 was more mellow and more defined but not as loud. At the end I didn't know what to do. I was partial buying the D-50 but walked out without one. I think one needs to listen also to somebody else playing them infront as sometimes when you play them it is hard to tell if you like them longterm. And I'm not sure if I would have liked the D-50 that much being back home.
Ralf

 

[Rayk]

Always difficult to say. I don't have a D-55 but once was comparing a D-55 and a D-50 (both from the New Hartford factory) in a store. I started testing the D-50 and she was loud and big and amazing. She had an Adi top. I liked her! Next the D-55. And boy, was I disappointed at that moment! The D-55 was more mellow and more defined but not as loud. At the end I didn't know what to do. I was partial buying the D-50 but walked out without one. I think one needs to listen also to somebody else playing them infront as sometimes when you play them it is hard to tell if you like them longterm. And I'm not sure if I would have liked the D-50 that much being back home.
Ralf

I agree with the D55 being very warm but if you drive it she puts out more . My only experience is the one I had .

So speaking of that here’s my D55 but I warn you all ! I learned a valuable lesson that being I talk to much and pretty bad it to boot . So in the famous words from the monk in Monty Python the holy grail , skip a few pages brother ! Lol

Guild D55 Demo

Listen to Guild D55 Demo by Ray kohn #np on #SoundCloud

on.soundcloud.com

 

[SFIV1967]

I agree with the D55 being very warm but if you drive it she puts out more .

I remember a YouTube video of Wolfe Guitars in Florida, who used to be a Guild dealer. He demonstrated 3 new New Hartford D-55 and they all sounded great but there was a huge difference to my ears in the video between the sound of all 3! So it really also depends on a specific one sounding better than others. Unfortunatelly when NH was sold he deleted the video from his store YouTube page.

Ralf

 

[Rayk]

I remember a YouTube video of Wolfe Guitars in Florida, who used to be a Guild dealer. He demonstrated 3 new New Hartford D-55 and they all sounded great but there was a huge difference to my ears in the video between the sound of all 3! So it really also depends on a specific one sounding better than others. Unfortunatelly when NH was sold he deleted the video from his store YouTube page.

Ralf

I can believe that . I don’t want to but . If the tops were tap toned first we should have seen better consistency.

I know my personal views or my opinion sometimes comes across a bit negative but I’m just saying the truth as I see/ hear it .

Some of the Guilds that passed through my hands have had less than positive results .

I’m happy to say the ones I have , I assume the one’s we all have are keepers and not just a bad ear thinking it sounds good .

It’s hard to believe that 3 D55’s had that much difference . I assume they were all recorded exactly the same way ?

 

[deejayen]

Honestly I believe the string change took care of that along with saddle adjustment .
Winter rain was done after that and she ringing beautifully in that .

Hind sight tells me I should have kept her but my love of OM’s won out plus I still had a desire to get a F512 so let her go . I let go a D55 also that I still think about . Lol

I’m a guitar whore but I’m trying to get better . Lmao

Thanks, Ray. It was Winter Rain which sounded really massive. What adjustments did you make to the saddle?

 

[Uke]

Thanks very much!

The guitar was at a dealer's, but I was passing through the area, and unfortunately, it's not local to me. After I'd played it and was trying a different guitar they took the F55 and installed new strings. However, they replaced them with coated strings (I didn't know the factory-fitted ones were also likely to have been coated), and I liked the guitar even less after that! I'm not a fan of the sound of new strings, and the ones they fitted also felt really weird.

The dealership only had this one large Guild alongside a couple of M-20's.

I don't have a dealership local to me, so trying a different F55 is going to be difficult!

I've never been a fan of coated strings --- always felt it was counter intuitive to "coat" a guitar string. Just my opinion. I like Chazmo's suggestion that you replace the two treble strings with uncoated strings. Happy playing!

 

[Uke]

I'm not particularly looking for a jumbo, so I'm thinking it might also make sense for me to consider other models in the Guild line-up, such as the D55 and D40. I suppose the D55 is closest to the F55 - how similar (or not) do they sound?

D-55s sound much less "boomy" to me than F-55s.

 

[deejayen]

When I tried coated strings I hated them, and seem to remember removing them in pretty short order. Unfortunately, I don't really have access to the guitar I tried, so I may never know if uncoated strings would do the trick.

 

[Rayk]

Thanks, Ray. It was Winter Rain which sounded really massive. What adjustments did you make to the saddle?

height and light sanding and buffing on top .I know I mentioned some fret buzzing but I didn’t have to raise the saddle or adjust the neck . I think what happened is the guitar just acclimated a bit to its new home . She still had that new car smell .

Gosh I feel silly was one of the Richards here that has it now ? Lol

I always had short term memory issues with these things. lol

 

[SFIV1967]

It’s hard to believe that 3 D55’s had that much difference . I assume they were all recorded exactly the same way ?

He played them in his store after hours and had all 3 next to him, him sitting on a sofa. He played the same songs on each one. You could definitely hear a difference between each D-55. He said he just got them from New Hartford. It was a very good video, it's a pity it was deleted by him. I guess after he was no longer a Guild dealer he cleaned all things Guild from his homepage and Youtube.

Ralf

 

[Br1ck]

In general, I've never known strings to change the basic nature of any guitar I've ever known. It's like the motor in a car. You can tune that V 6, but if it's a V 8 you want, you need to buy one. Guitars are the definition of compromise. I was playing some nice Martins this week. Yes, the bass is seductive, but it comes at a price. I got home and my D 35 did not have it, but it was across the board a balanced guitar. I own a dry sounding Martin D 35 Custom. I played a new D 35 that was just all big bass. Forgot why I don't like them. No strings will give my Custom that classic D 35 low end mud.LOL

I'd suggest trying a D 55. The Gibson J 200 is another guitar perfect for some things, horrible for others. Want a huge bass thump you can sing Johnny Cash songs with? J 200 is perfect. The same as rosewood vs mahogany. Each does their own thing, you decide which you like. I played a Rich Robinson D 18, which was the classic straight braced era Martin. Next to it was a D 18 Authentic. As different from each other as a guitar could be that had the same model number. The RR was a bit more expensive and the relic job was outstanding. Give it forty years and it will be a dandy.