Guild JF50

[bozscaggs]

I have recently spotted a JF50 at a local guitar shop. The serial # on back of the headstock is JF500030,and just below is stamped 3-83. There is no label inside the sound hole and JF50 is stamped on the neck block. Anyone with any info on this guitar, like where it was made,year it was made,or any issues you may know about. It plays and sounds real nice, the finish has quite a bit of checking and has had a brace repaired. Other than that it seems to be in pretty sound shape and the asking price seems fair. I am just trying to find out as much as I can about it before I get to interested in a purchase. Any help,comments or pictures of other J50's will be appreciated!

 

[dapmdave]

The dating chart on Guild's website indicates that the guitar is from 1987, which (I think) is the first year of production for the JF-50, and the only year that you'll find a month/date on the back of the headstock. Sometimes those dates are hard to read. It was made in Westerly.

These are pretty rare. Only 112 were made.

Dave

 

[Dadaist]

The dating chart on Guild's website indicates that the guitar is from 1987, which (I think) is the first year of production for the JF-50, and the only year that you'll find a month/date on the back of the headstock. Sometimes those dates are hard to read. It was made in Westerly.

These are pretty rare. Only 112 were made.

Dave

I always wonder when I see low production numbers in a given year. From what I've been able to find out, it meant that none of the Dealers were ordering more than that amount of that particular model at that time. Don't know if that would affect the present or future value?

It might or might not...I'd be more concerned with how it played and if the bridge was firmly attached. You're not necessary talking about a limited edition that differed from other years of the same guitar.

I could be mistaken, but a JF-50 isn't a whole lot different
than the F-50 that preceeded it or the JF-55 that came after....though the JF-55 got a bit fancy on that soundhole rosette.

Whatever model F-50 you choose....they're big, loud, wonderful guitars....I just acquired one of the JFs and am simply amazed everytime it comes out of its' case.


David

 

[twocorgis]

I could be mistaken, but a JF-50 isn't a whole lot different
than the F-50 that preceeded it or the JF-55 that came after....though the JF-55 got a bit fancy on that soundhole rosette.

Whatever model F-50 you choose....they're big, loud, wonderful guitars....I just acquired one of the JFs and am simply amazed everytime it comes out of its' case.


David

In Guild's very confusing naming convention, F50=JF50=JF65. The JF55 has Rosewood back and sides. Regardless, they are outstanding guitars, though my taste tends to run more to the Rosewood side of things when it comes to Guild Jumbos.

 

[Guest]

I can vouch for the room filling goodness of the F-50. I got mine about 3 months ago.This guitar is a Tacoma built beauty made in 2006 and as from what I have been told was never put out to retail. I never was a big fan of Guilds and had never liked the tone of a maple guitar and a Jumbo was not high on my list of desireable guitars. I found most of them sounded like they had wet newspaper inside. I saw this guitar, its a beautiful sunburst and thought that it was surely one of the prettiest guitars I had ever laid eyes on. I picked it up and hit an open E and the room was filled with tone and voulume. This guitar has an amazing tone that is so different than my Dreadnaught Martin and Gibsons. I have smallish hands and thought the thick neck would cause me problems but it has not one bit. I installed some Dr. Duck supreme strings and its just a tone monster. The bass doesn't over power like some dreads but its there and the mids and highs just shimmer.

 

[hansmoust]

I have recently spotted a JF50 at a local guitar shop. The serial # on back of the headstock is JF500030,and just below is stamped 3-83.

Hello bozscaggs,

That info doesn't fit in with what I have in my database.
The next time you visit that store, take another look at both the serial number and the date that's stamped underneath it.

Is there a possibility that the serial # reads JF500080 and that the date is 3-88 ?

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[taabru45]

I have recently spotted a JF50 at a local guitar shop. The serial # on back of the headstock is JF500030,and just below is stamped 3-83.

Hello bozscaggs,

That info doesn't fit in with what I have in my database.
The next time you visit that store, take another look at both the serial number and the date that's stamped underneath it.

Is there a possibility that the serial # reads JF500080 and that the date is 3-88 ?

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

I'd bet on it.........in a heartbeat. :lol: :lol: ....Happy New Year Hans