JF 30-12

[Paul C]

New here. Looking for info on my JF 30-12. Serial # CT 000527. I know it was made in Corona, CA early 2000s but is there a way to find an exact year? Guitar has Fishman electronics. Could they have been factory installed? Color of guitar is red. Does that enhance or diminish value?

 

[Balderdash]

Hi Paul !!
Welcome aboard!
There are a lot of super sharp folks here, including a lot of JF30-12 fans, that will be along soon to help you with your question... Do you have pictures you can post? This gang loves pictures… How long have you had your guitar? What strings do you like on it ?

 

[hansmoust]

Hello Paul C

Welcome! Serial # CT000527 would be a serial number for a Guild JF30; a JF30-12 should have a serial number that starts with CTT.
If it does start with CT, there was a mistake made, which obviously is possible.

If the serial number is indeed CT000527, it was most likely made during the year 2003.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Paul C]

Hello Paul C

Welcome! Serial # CT000527 would be a serial number for a Guild JF30; a JF30-12 should have a serial number that starts with CTT.
If it does start with CT, there was a mistake made, which obviously is possible.

If the serial number is indeed CT000527, it was most likely made during the year 2003.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

Yes, it is CTT. My error. Thank you for the info.

 

[Paul C]

Here are photos of my Guild. Does anybody know if electronics were factory installed or if the color enhances or diminishes value. Also, what kind of specs? Thanks.

 

[fronobulax]

Welcome.

Not sure about the electronics. Guild did use Fishman systems but the ones (for other models) in the 2003 catalog at https://www.gad.net/Blog/2010/08/14/guild-guitar-catalog-2003/ seem to have a Guild logo on the control panel. But they are identified as Fishman Prefix so the catalog illustration may be of a prototype or something mocked up for the catalog. There are not a lot of examples of non-factory PU installs where the "barn door" is cut into the side so if I were forced to make a choice I'd lean towards factory but there is room for doubt.

You can get some specs in the catalog linked to above. If those are not what you were looking for then a specific spec request might get an answer.

Color and value is an interesting question. For the most part I can't recall people paying a premium for a color except when it is a pretty rare color and they personally like it. I'm not certain how unusual the Transparent Red would be. It was a catalog color. Where color seems to make a difference is not in price but in whether the buyer is even in interested or not. Some people, for example, don't like sunbursts and so walk away even if the instrument is a bargain.

 

[Paul C]

Thank you very much!

 

[chazmo]

Welcome aboard, Paul.

I think that Fishman electronics was factory for Corona. I'm not sure, though. Nice guitar!

 

[56LPC]

I have a 2003 JF30-12 from Corona as well. Mine is opaque black (ebony fretboard and bridge) and it has a Fishman pickup as well. The preamp on mine is much simpler - an endpin based system with no controls o the guitar at all. I believe it to be factory, as I purchased the same era system retail back in the day and this one has no FISHMAN branding on the internal preamp "shell" while the retail one does.

I personally think the red is unique and cool, as is the black I have - and the sunburst Corona JF30-12 that keeps getting posted around here is more conservative, but absolutely gorgeous. Natural acoustics are wonderful, but there is plenty room for variety in my opinion.

-Douglas C.

 

[beecee]

I personally think the red is unique and cool, as is the black I have - and the sunburst Corona JF30-12 that keeps getting posted around here is more conservative, but absolutely gorgeous. Natural acoustics are wonderful, but there is plenty room for variety in my opinion.

-Douglas C.

Gee....who could that be??? @Cougar

 

[GGJaguar]

That's a really pretty 12er! Love the clear red finish!

 

[Cougar]

Here are photos of my Guild. Does anybody know if electronics were factory installed or if the color enhances or diminishes value. Also, what kind of specs? Thanks.

What a beauty! And welcome to LTG! Yeah, I think the special color enhances the value a little, but not by a huge amount. Depends on the buyer of course, lol. An ebony fretboard probably does more to enhance the value!

56LPC:
I have a 2003 JF30-12 from Corona as well. Mine is opaque black (ebony fretboard and bridge) and it has a Fishman pickup as well. The preamp on mine is much simpler - an endpin based system with no controls o the guitar at all. I believe it to be factory, as I purchased the same era system retail back in the day and this one has no FISHMAN branding on the internal preamp "shell" while the retail one does.

I personally think the red is unique and cool, as is the black I have - and the sunburst Corona JF30-12 that keeps getting posted around here is more conservative, but absolutely gorgeous. Natural acoustics are wonderful, but there is plenty room for variety in my opinion.

-Douglas C.

Welcome to you as well, Doug! Yeah, mine just has a passive pickup with endpin jack. And black is beautiful! I had a blue one, too, that was built in Westerly. It just couldn't compete with my burst out of Corona, so I let her go....