Guild F-47R, 2012

[schoolie]

In a moment of weakness, I put an offer in on a 2012 F-47R. It arrived today, and I'm pretty happy with it so far. I had to make a new saddle because the saddle that it came with had six shims, and was leaning. It has a few scratches on the back and some weather checking on the top, but much better than expectations. Somebody has played it, so that's good in my book. PIckup and electronics are gone, but I would have removed them anyway. Maybe I'll install a no-jack. On the heavier side for its size, over 5lbs.
The neck is overset, but no cracks and braces look secure. Not sure about the tone and volume yet. I just put new strings on it so I'll have to let it settle a bit. It might be happier with medium strings.

After playing it for some time, I realize it sounds and feels a lot like my Martin J-40. Lovely, deep tone with pick or fingers. Actions is still a little low but that saddle height is out of control already.

 

[GGJaguar]

Beautiful guitar, congrats! I have one of those on my radar screen.

 

[ReevesRd]

Congratulations! I have a 2013 F-47M AB. I love the Grand Orchestra body and the Red Spruce top.

 

[schoolie]

Yes, it's a very comfortable guitar, and maybe the red spruce gives it a little more depth and volume.

 

[jeffcoop]

Congratulations! I have one of these as well, a "B stock" that I bought at LMG IV in New Hartford in 2013 (as far as I can tell, there is and never was anything wrong with it). This has become the guitar I play most frequently when I'm not playing a dreadnought.

 

[schoolie]

After the strings settled down, the sound is fantastic on this one. Jeffcoop, do you prefer medium or light strings on your F-47?

 

[jeffcoop]

After the strings settled down, the sound is fantastic on this one. Jeffcoop, do you prefer medium or light strings on your F-47?

I use lights. To be honest, I haven't tried mediums, as I worry about the added tension on a standard scale neck. But that's just my paranoia; I'm not saying others shouldn't make a different cost-benefit analysis. (It matters, I think, that I use Elixirs, which I've been told have a higher tension than other strings).

 

[schoolie]

Thanks, Jeff! I have lights on all my guitars now, so no reason to change now. I have tried mediums on other guitars, but didn't really see any benefit for my playing style.

 

[MikeCourts]

In a moment of weakness, I put an offer in on a 2012 F-47R. It arrived today, and I'm pretty happy with it so far. I had to make a new saddle because the saddle that it came with had six shims, and was leaning. It has a few scratches on the back and some weather checking on the top, but much better than expectations. Somebody has played it, so that's good in my book. PIckup and electronics are gone, but I would have removed them anyway. Maybe I'll install a no-jack. On the heavier side for its size, over 5lbs.
The neck is overset, but no cracks and braces look secure. Not sure about the tone and volume yet. I just put new strings on it so I'll have to let it settle a bit. It might be happier with medium strings.

After playing it for some time, I realize it sounds and feels a lot like my Martin J-40. Lovely, deep tone with pick or fingers. Actions is still a little low but that saddle height is out of control already.

Are the F models for the Hartford plant?

 

[schoolie]

Are the F models for the Hartford plant?

My guitar was made at the New Hartford, CT factory, but I believe the F models go way back to the 50s in Hoboken. Not positive when the F-47 was introduced, but I think sometime in the 1960s.

 

[ReevesRd]

Are the F models for the Hartford plant?

Not positive when the F-47 was introduced, but I think sometime in the 1960s.

An F-model would not necessarily have the same body shape as the next one in the line, but they were all narrow-waist instruments with a higher model number, indicating a bigger and more expensive guitar.

Bluegrass F-47 introduced: 1964
Introduced in the 1963 catalog as the "Bluegrass Model", ..., the model was soon renamed the Bluegrass F-47. It was basically a mahogany version of the F-40, which had been discontinued that same year.

Information was taken from The Guild Guitar Book by Hans Moust


I think that F stood for Flat Top. The F models came before the D - dreadnought models. I've also heard some say F stood for Folk.

 

[Wellington]

Holy HELL that's a nice guitar, aesthetically that just might be my favourite model I've seen of Guild!

 

[MikeCourts]

Holy HELL that's a nice guitar, aesthetically that just might be my favourite model I've seen of Guild!

Which?

 

[chazmo]

An F-model would not necessarily have the same body shape as the next one in the line, but they were all narrow-waist instruments with a higher model number, indicating a bigger and more expensive guitar.

Bluegrass F-47 introduced: 1964
Introduced in the 1963 catalog as the "Bluegrass Model", ..., the model was soon renamed the Bluegrass F-47. It was basically a mahogany version of the F-40, which had been discontinued that same year.

Information was taken from The Guild Guitar Book by Hans Moust


I think that F stood for Flat Top. The F models came before the D - dreadnought models. I've also heard some say F stood for Folk.

Also, @MikeCourts , don't draw too many conclusions when you see the letter. As I recall there may not be exceptions to "F" being the two curve shape guitars, and "D" being dreadnought shape, but there are lots of exceptions with other letter combinations... Anyway, best not to make any generalizations about the model naming scheme(s).

Best wishes, and welcome to LTG!

 

[jeffcoop]

Also, @MikeCourts , don't draw too many conclusions when you see the letter. As I recall there may not be exceptions to "F" being the two curve shape guitars, and "D" being dreadnought shape, but there are lots of exceptions with other letter combinations... Anyway, best not to make any generalizations about the model naming scheme(s).

Best wishes, and welcome to LTG!

The really confusing letter, I think, is G (though there certainly was a fair bit of variation within F).

 

[Rayk]

Nice and congrats

 

[chazmo]

Oh, and schoolie, that's a beautiful F-47R!!! Congrats! I'm jealous!

 

[schoolie]

Thanks, Chazmo! I like it so much that I'm thinking about selling my J-40.

 

[MikeCourts]

Also, @MikeCourts , don't draw too many conclusions when you see the letter. As I recall there may not be exceptions to "F" being the two curve shape guitars, and "D" being dreadnought shape, but there are lots of exceptions with other letter combinations... Anyway, best not to make any generalizations about the model naming scheme(s).

Best wishes, and welcome to LTG!

Yeah. I can’t keep up on their models. Crazy but interesting

 

[lonesome picker]

How does the dimensions of a F-47 compare to the "GF" series?