GF30 vs. Custom Build

[davidbeinct]

What would you do? My wife has given me the go-ahead for a 60th birthday guitar. I have been emailing with a custom builder in Mass who can build me a carved maple archback mini jumbo. I have always regretted selling my GF30 (although I love the Waterloo WL-K the sale helped fund) and that’s the main reason I’m leaning towards the custom built carved archback.
Now however there’s a GF30 for sale here that looks intriguing. Very good shape. I figured this group would be somewhat biased towards the Guild but might also help me decide.
Pros of the GF30: known quantity, cheaper always appealing to my wife, obviously a gorgeous guitar. Cons: heavy (although I mostly play seated), not my absolute favorite neck but I got along fine with it before.
Pros of a custom build: I’d have my very own guitar that no one else has, lighter, neck to my preference.
Unknowns: would the custom build sound better? Would the carved back actually make any difference over the Guild laminate? I wouldn’t pull the trigger with a deposit until I get the chance to try one of the builder’s other guitars, but it’s physically impossible to play a custom built guitar before it’s built.
So what say you, Guild fans?

 

[chazmo]

Mind if I ask which builder?

 

[davidbeinct]

Mind if I ask which builder?

Brier Road Guitars. He seems a little under the radar but gets good reviews. He builds both flattops and archtops which is why I reached out to him about a carved archback flattop guitar.

 

[davismanLV]

Here's just one thing to consider in all this. Carved wood is going to be lighter than a laminate. Hence the custom build being lighter. But also it will be weaker. A laminated wood product pressed into a shape is a tad heavier but also much stronger than solid wood. I doubt the difference is huge, but it is there. I'm not sure the additional cost for the carving vs. pressed laminated is going to do a lot sonically for the sound. But you never know. Just throwing that out there.

 

[chazmo]

Thanks, David. Don't know Brier Road, but would also suggest Bill Tippin and Pete Maricle as MA builders. Tippin is very well-known (and expensive). Pete has done some beautiful builds that I have played.

Good luck!

 

[plaidseason]

I imagine there's a price difference between the GF30 and the custom build.

The one "argument" I'll make for the GF30 is that for all the talk in recent years of "traditional" builds, the GF30 is closest to an original F40 Valencia in construction, with the arched maple back.

But a custom build . . . that's another story altogether. I still have pictures and a price list that Kim Walker sent me 23-ish years ago . . . when I maybe could've afforded a custom build. Kim's prices are a bit higher now!

 

[davidbeinct]

I imagine there's a price difference between the GF30 and the custom build.

The one "argument" I'll make for the GF30 is that for all the talk in recent years of "traditional" builds, the GF30 is closest to an original F40 Valencia in construction, with the arched maple back.

But a custom build . . . that's another story altogether. I still have pictures and a price list that Kim Walker sent me 23-ish years ago . . . when I maybe could've afforded a custom build. Kim's prices are a bit higher now!

Yeah too bad for me but great for him. His shop is a strenuous but doable bicycle ride from my house but the only reason to do it would be the beautiful scenery as my budget can’t touch one of his builds.

 

[tommym]

GF30 vs. Custom Build

Based on your pros/cons of the GF30, I can't imagine it being a great 60th birthday guitar, unless you will also be getting a 61st, 62nd, etc. birthday guitar too. If so, then I'd definitely go with the GF30 if it's readily available, in good condition, and has an acceptable price.

I've commissioned guitars in the past, and it has been a mixed bag of results. More money does not necessarily correlate to more or better results. It becomes more of an issue when it comes down to personal ergonomic needs. Trying to articulate those needs over the phone or e-mail can be challenging, especially for those of us who lack a guitar builder's vocabulary. Some luthiers are game for anything you can throw at them, others live in a more defined comfort zone of their choosing.

More money doesn't always get you a dovetail neck joint, HHG construction, or a Nitrocellulose finish. None of that matters to me, but it may to you. All of this needs to be ironed out prior to you placing a deposit on a commissioned guitar.

Tommy

 

[Cougar]

What would you do?

I'd say forget the unknown custom and nab that known GF30.

 

[geoguy]

^^^ This . . .

And perhaps go for the custom build if the GF30 doesn't absolutely float your boat.

 

[Stagefright]

Too many risks associated with a custom build for my tastes. Along with the unknown behavior of the finished product there is the real risk that you would take a big loss should you want to unload the local builder custom guitar. Even worse if you need to sell it quickly. If I had to do custom for some reason, I would lean heavily towards Collings.

I am a big fan of my GF-50 and would be surprised to hear a custom anything significantly outperform what I already have. You once owned a GF-30, so you are the only one qualified to determine if that regret is the itch you are trying to scratch.

 

[PreacherBob]

Too many risks associated with a custom build for my tastes. Along with the unknown behavior of the finished product there is the real risk that you would take a big loss should you want to unload the local builder custom guitar. Even worse if you need to sell it quickly. If I had to do custom for some reason, I would lean heavily towards Collings.

I am a big fan of my GF-50 and would be surprised to hear a custom anything significantly outperform what I already have. You once owned a GF-30, so you are the only one qualified to determine if that regret is the itch you are trying to scratch.

Yeah Stagefright makes sense. $1000 for the GF30 is about the bottom of the depreciation scale for that guitar, and it appears to be in exceptional condition. You will always get that back. Players are funny about custom builds, unless its like a Collings or Bourgeois. it’s rare you would return your investment, and it takes like forever to sell them. I’ve had two, still have one. And remember, the novelty of having new things, almost always wears out after a while. Except for the few guys that still have the same guitars or cars they purchased new 50 years ago. Wished I was that way. Sometimes I look at photos of things I sold after the novelty wore off, and just about cry wondering what possessed me to part with them. I’d get the GF30. Sounds great and the safest investment. As far as weight, strap a JF30 on and do a 1 1/2 hour set on stage, that GF30 will feel like a pillow.

 

[bobouz]

My only flirtation with something akin to a custom order was around 1979. The guitar was a sunburst Guild F-40, which I special-ordered because none were available locally. I had already purchased three Guilds from this very small dealer, and I was committed to it without a straightforward return option. Expecting a very light amberish sunburst as I’d seen in the catalog example, when the guitar arrived, it was instead an extremely dark burst - and to boot, the neck profile did not match my previous three Guilds as I had anticipated. A lesson learned the hard way!

 

[plaidseason]

Yeah too bad for me but great for him. His shop is a strenuous but doable bicycle ride from my house but the only reason to do it would be the beautiful scenery as my budget can’t touch one of his builds.

For the record, it would've been a cherry back and sides mini-jumbo. And I think Kim is as great as any builder alive today.

 

[dreadnut]

I would need to play them side by side. Can you play one of his previous builds?

But if you got the go-ahead from the Mrs. on a custom built, that would be hard to pass up. Carved maple back sounds pretty deluxe.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

All other things being equal, carved wood sounds a lot better than pressed wood. That's why so many jazz artists have them. They're a fussy - uh - discerning breed. Likewise. pro mandolin and fiddle players heavily favor carved.

Have you played any Brier Road guitars? If you can afford one and if you're the type who's careful with humidity, knocks, and exposure, I'd do some test driving. It'll give you some idea of how well they're crafted and whether you and Mr. Brier are on the same wavelength. If the stars line up, it seems worth jumping at.

But if you're as careless as I am with your instruments, the Guild is probably the smart move. You'll have something you can take camping, leave in hot and cold cars, and replace more easily if it meets a grim demise.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I would need to play them side by side. . . .

Hm. I think the only way he can do that is to buy the Guild and take it over to Brier Road.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

My only flirtation with something akin to a custom order was around 1979. The guitar was a sunburst Guild F-40, which I special-ordered because none were available locally. I had already purchased three Guilds from this very small dealer, and I was committed to it without a straightforward return option. Expecting a very light amberish sunburst as I’d seen in the catalog example, when the guitar arrived, it was instead an extremely dark burst - and to boot, the neck profile did not match my previous three Guilds as I had anticipated. A lesson learned the hard way!

Is that why you filled it with milk?

 

[davismanLV]

All other things being equal, carved wood sounds a lot better than pressed wood. That's why so many jazz artists have them. They're a fussy - uh - discerning breed. Likewise. pro mandolin and fiddle players heavily favor carved.

Have you played any Brier Road guitars? If you can afford one and if you're the type who's careful with humidity, knocks, and exposure, I'd do some test driving. It'll give you some idea of how well they're crafted and whether you and Mr. Brier are on the same wavelength. If the stars line up, it seems worth jumping at.

But if you're as careless as I am with your instruments, the Guild is probably the smart move. You'll have something you can take camping, leave in hot and cold cars, and replace more easily if it meets a grim demise.

Huge difference between a carved SOUNDBOARD vs. a back. Soundboard solid vs. laminate is big. Back and sides, not so much, although they all contribute.

 

[davidbeinct]

Heard back from the seller of the GF30. He has someone who is interested but if that falls through he will let me know. I’m definitely going to visit Brier Road and he said he has other guitars I can play. I can always look at others too if I’m not smitten with his work and the GF30 isn’t available. Birthday is in October so I have time.