JF 65 or F 50 Maple ?

[Janpeter]

Dear friends of the Guilds;

if you had the choice between a good second hand JF 65 model or a brandnew Tacoma F 50 Maple - what was your choice - not regarding pickups questions, only sound and body.

Is there any structural difference between them? As what I could see on some rare photos the JF 65 neck had a 3-piece maple neck; the F 50s have palisander I guess that follows in a different colour of the neck. - Was the back of the JF 65 solid maple or also a slightly curved maple laminate?

I would be glad and thankful for your experiences and help!
Jan-Peter

 

[tjmangum]

This would, to me, be an apple and oranges question. The only thing they have in common are the woods. Size is different and the necks are different. While my JF65 has a great sound for a small guitar unplugged, you really have to play it through an amp to get the full possibility. An F50, being the classic jumbo that it is, sounds great unplugged. This is, of course, in my humble opinion and to my uneducated ear.
Good luck!
tj

 

[West R Lee]

My JF65 was built in 1997. Let me quote you something from a Spring '99 Guild Gallery Magazine , maybe this will help.

JF65

"The JF65 was introduced in mid '97, but the vintage guitar enthusiasts with know it as the F50"

JF55

They are the same guitar, as are the F50R and the JF55. On the JF55, the book says, "Origionally designated the F50R, the JF55 sports the same decorations as the JF65, but the body is solid rosewood."

West

 

[tjmangum]

Duh! I've been in the sun too much today. 8) I was reading it as "F65". My bad. It is apples to apples.
tj

 

[chazmo]

Janpeter, what is palisander?

So, other than a soundhole rosette that contains abalone on the JF65, the F50 should be almost the same guitar. If you have an opportunity to play them, I recommend just using your ears as the guide.

If not, I will only add that from a resale point of view, most Guild folks out there know the F50 model name well, but many are confused with the JF65 model name, just like TJ just experienced. Bottom line here is that if you want to resell the thing later, you're better off with the F50 (rather than trying to explain to someone that a JF65 is the same thing as an F50). Also, I'm a big fan of Tacoma's products, and I don't think you can go wrong. Just make sure there isn't a USED stamp on the back of the headstock and that the soundhole label is clean. Otherwise, someone may be trying to pawn off a factory second on you without you knowing it.

 

[krysh]

...what is palisander?.

rosewood

 

[chazmo]

Ah, thanks Krysh...

Janpeter, the F50 and JF65 are the same material -- arched laminate maple back (and maple sides), not rosewood -- and a spruce top. I'm not sure what the neck materials are.

The bridge of the Tacoma F50 is rosewood; the JF65 might be ebony -- not sure.

 

[sfIII]

Janpeter, what is palisander?

Having stayed in the Palisandre Hotel in Antananarivo, Madagascar, I can report that the smell of rosewood is quite nice. And one could make thousands of guitar from the wood used that hotel.

 

[chazmo]

Janpeter, what is palisander?

Having stayed in the Palisandre Hotel in Antananarivo, Madagascar, I can report that the smell of rosewood is quite nice. And one could make thousands of guitar from the wood used that hotel.

Madagascar Rosewood is definitely being used on some high-end guitars, sf. Taylor has been using it for some limited models, and many independent luthiers are using this wood as a substitute for Brazilian (which is essentially unobtanium inside the US). It certainly *looks* lovely.

I wonder if there's pressure on the Indian Rosewood supply these days. IR is a great tonewood!

 

[Janpeter]

Dear Chazmo; dear friends over there;

thanks for your help! Again it's a pity, too, that Hans book ends here where things certainly get interesting again. I will look out a while - and after all these many good votes for the Tacoma Guilds I might import one - rather than waiting for a good JF 65 ?!

Thanks again
Jan-Peter

 

[Rainsong]

Ah, thanks Krysh...

Janpeter, the F50 and JF65 are the same material -- arched laminate maple back (and maple sides), not rosewood -- and a spruce top. I'm not sure what the neck materials are.

The bridge of the Tacoma F50 is rosewood; the JF65 might be ebony -- not sure.

My JF55 has an ebony bridge. I've been told the only difference between a JF55 and F50R is the JF55 has an ebony bridge and an abalone rosette around the soundhole. I would assume that pertains to the Jf65 and F50 as well. According the the Westerly Guild website, the neck of the JF55 and F50 are both maple.

 

[chazmo]

Yup, sounds right rainsong. But, be clear, I was talking about the Tacoma-built F50 having a rosewood bridge, which I'm certain of. Earlier F50s might have ebony bridges (though my 1971 F50R is rosewood), but I'm not at all sure about that.

 

[12 string]

I think the "JFs" and the "Fs" all came with and without abalone rosettes at different times. My JF-65 12 does not have it, though I've seen some that do. It seems I've also seen some F-512s and 412s that had abalone rosettes though my F-512 doesn't have it either. Also, the bridges have been shifting back and forth between rosewood and ebony for some time.

' Strang

 

[chazmo]

Oh, I didn't know that "F" models ever had the abalone, 'Strang. Berry interesting!

So, really, the model name difference tells us absolutely nothing except the JFs were only built during a specific period (right?), and we should assume that the JF65 = F50, JF55 = F50R, JF65-12 = F412, and JF55-12 = F512.

 

[12 string]

Oh, I didn't know that "F" models ever had the abalone, 'Strang. Berry interesting!

So, really, the model name difference tells us absolutely nothing except the JFs were only built during a specific period (right?), and we should assume that the JF65 = F50, JF55 = F50R, JF65-12 = F412, and JF55-12 = F512.

That's my understanding. I'm not 100% sure of abalone on some of the "Fs", but I am 100% sure about no abalone on some of the "JFs".

' Strang

 

[fsl009]

What is the guitar weight comparison between the 80's F512 and JF55-12?

Thanks

Son Le

 

[12 string]

As far as I know the specs are the same. The only thing thing that changed was the name.