Guild F47rce likely Corona 2nd

[Cfaris]

Hey everyone! First post here and I’m excited to be part of the group. I will be heading out tomorrow to look at a F47rce sold on Fb marketplace. From lurking in here I am realizing this is likely a factory 2nd from the corona factory. Likely making it a 2002-2003 build? Would this guitar be worth the $600-$800 price tag if it plays well? The biggest problem I see from the pics is the checking on the front and general usage wear and tear. I’ll attach the pictures I have and would love to hear some opinions!

 

[wileypickett]

$600.00 to $800.00?! Run, don't walk!

 

[SFIV1967]

$600.00 to $800.00?! Run, don't walk!

You mean "run away" or "run to buy her"? I hope you mean "buy her". It's a MIRC refurbished one but US made.

Ralf

 

[wileypickett]

If it was me, I'd be running to buy. Or at least running to check it out. "Factory Second" typically means there was something imperfect in the finish; not likely there's anything wrong with it structurally.

And the Corona Guilds have a good reputation.

 

[Cfaris]

Thanks for the responses. I'm definitely going to check it out this afternoon. Would be trading a rifle with slightly more value than that, but I haven't shot the rifle in years and I'd play the guitar everyday, so I'm really hoping when I run into it that its in good shape. Currently playing an old '98 Tak and really wanting to step up a bit.

 

[chazmo]

Definitely check it out and make sure the playability is there! That's an excellent price, even for a MIRC reclamation, if it's in good shape. Very likely it just had some small blemish when they built it. Check the finish very closely.

Good luck!

 

[HeyMikey]

Good luck today! Bring a string gauge, or ruler and piece of paper to measure the string height off the 12th fret and at the saddle. Action is normally 3/32” on the low E. For every 1/32 too high at the 12th you need 2/32 extra saddle height to sand down.

 

[Cfaris]

Well I went and pulled the trigger. When I got there I found out it’s not the original case (boo!) but it looked like it had been in the case for years. As you can see from the pics there is considerable checking on the face of the soundboard but zero cracks. The rest of the guitar is in pristine condition with little to no dings anywhere on the back, sides, neck, or headstock. As mentioned before, definitely a refurbished instrument due to the serial being struck.

I got it home and put it right on the bench and gave it a deep deep cleaning. It was funky! Polished it and put some new strings on. I noticed the saddle had a shim under it and I removed it and it plays excellent so I’ll just leave it off.

Here are some pics home and cleaned up! Second pic is close up of checking.

 

[HeyMikey]

Congrats. I’m glad it worked out for you. Maybe the finish checking was the issue. As long as it plays and sounds nice you did well. Enjoy playing her!

 

[fuman]

These are great guitars and I think they are underappreciated. Enjoy!

 

[ReevesRd]

I've been watching this guitar for a while on FB Marketplace. I shared it on online offerings.
The F-47 is a versatile model. Congratulations! Welcome to LTG.

 

[Cfaris]

I've been watching this guitar for a while on FB Marketplace. I shared it on online offerings.
The F-47 is a versatile model. Congratulations! Welcome to LTG.

Right on, I'm in Cookeville just about an hour away from the guy who listed it. I already love it more than my Tak for sure. Sounds so nice.

 

[chazmo]

That's fantastic, @Cfaris! That's the deal of the year as far as I can see!

The checking may have been the reason for it being a 2nd, but we can't really tell. It's very interesting that MIRC (probably) obscured the branded serial number on the back of the headstock. What I'm used to seeing is another branding of "USED" stamped there.

Anyway, if the guitar is stable now and plays easily after all these years (at least 20), then I think you've got a great lifetime player if you like it. Congrats!

I can't really tell, but it looks like your saddle might be a little off (or in backwards)? If it doesn't intonate well, you might want to consider a new one that's properly compensated.

 

[Bill Ashton]

Any connection to Rick Faris of the bluegrass group Special Consensus? If so, send it to him to sort out, he's also a luthier...

That aside, you probably did real good. I got an F47R when they did the New Hartford "closing sale," which also had two
Masonite strips under the bridge saddle, but mine did not have electronics. I assumed that they were there as a space-holder
for the piezo p/u used at the time. As yours has electronics, I find that kinda odd, but if the action and neck relief is OK, then you
probably have no worries.

Based on the "repairs" that MIRC did to an Epiphone "Lucille" my son bought...without my intervention...I can say their "repairs"
if any are flawless. The guitar may have been consigned to them due to a finish flaw, hard to ever know, but if it plays well thats
what they are all about

 

[Cfaris]

I can't really tell, but it looks like your saddle might be a little off (or in backwards)? If it doesn't intonate well, you might want to consider a new one that's properly compensated.

You have a good eye and I am a doofus.

 

[Cfaris]

Any connection to Rick Faris of the bluegrass group Special Consensus

Nope, at least not that I know of!

 

[wileypickett]

Congrats!

 

[ReevesRd]

Did you turn the TRC around? It's upside down in the photo.

 

[Cfaris]

Did you turn the TRC around? It's upside down in the photo.

Damn, this was the right forum to come to! I didn’t do this one, but thanks for pointing out so I can fix it!

 

[HeyMikey]

Oh, you do not want to piss of the Guild TRC Police. No sir!