Jumbo questions

[deejayen]

How would a JF-30 from around 1992 compare to the current crop of jumbos, such as the F-55 Maple?

I might be able to get my hands on one of these older guitars. In which factory would it have been made, and what are Guild guitars from that era generally like?

Looking at the current guitars, I've suddenly noticed the F-40 guitars with mahogany back & sides. I generally mahogany over rosewood, so am thinking an F-90 might be an option if buying new. I think it would be between an F-40 and an F-55 Maple. Has anyone compared these?

Also, what's the difference between the F-40 Standard and the F-40 Traditional. I'm not sure the listed specs tell the full story!

 

[Rocky]

Welcome!

1992 would be a pre-FMIC, Westerly built guitar. I admit I can't keep all the model names straight, so I'll defer to the experts.

How does one have less than one Guild guitar?

 

[schoolie]

I think the biggest differences between the current F40 traditional and the standard are the dovetail neck joint, red spruce bracing. The new F40 standard has a gloss finish, but I think the last generation had matte finish. It looks like the current standard model doesn't have the 3-piece laminated neck, like the traditional.

 

[deejayen]

Thanks very much. I spotted the dovetail neck joint, but wasn't sure if that had simply been omitted from the Standard's specs. On the Standard's description page it mentions forward shifted scalloped Adirondack bracing, but not in the spec sheet, so that was another thing I'm not sure about. They both list a gloss finish, albeit with slightly different wording.

That Guild Total thing is strange! I've never owned a Guild, so can't even put it down to once having owned one and then gotten rid of it!

 

[chazmo]

CMG has always been cagey about the neck joint. I don't know why they continue to do this. They know it's important to us, but they continue to refuse to disclose that detail (except for the "Traditional" guitars) in their specs. Anyway, when they introduced the Standards they didn't say, and I don't think any of us knows (yet) what they're using -- presumably mortise and tenon joint.

 

[Cougar]

How would a JF-30 from around 1992 compare to the current crop of jumbos, such as the F-55 Maple?

My guess is, it would compare well. It just wouldn't have the F55 Maple bling -- fret markers, headstock 'badge', AAA top, probably wouldn't have an ebony fretboard. Still, it would likely be a killer Guild jumbo.

 

[E-Type]

I am sort of on the same journey the OP is on. First, there was a F-50. In the 60s-early 70s, they were lighter, but then more structure was added in the 70s and they started weighing over 6 lbs. In the late 1980s they switched to the JF-XX models with the JF-65 essentially being the new F-50 and the JF-30 the less fancy version. I have heard that George Gruhn's involvement led to certain "improvements" of some models (making them lighter?), but I don't know if any of that applies to the JF-30/JF-65 (the JF-55 is 1990s version of the F-50R). AFAIK, they used shaved, but not scalloped bracing. One of the catalogs mentions not using scalloped bracing on jumbos because the tops were too big).

From what I can tell, not too many changes were made in the move to Corona (2001-2003), but then in Tacoma they switched back to calling it a F-50 and they started using Adirondack spruce scalloped bracing and made other structural changes to lighten the guitars. This evolution continued in New Hartford and in Oxnard. As much as people revere the 1970s F-50s, it is hard to imagine that tonally the Tacoma/New Hartford/Oxnard guitars are obviously and clearly much better, but they are definitely lighter weight.

And lets not forget the short lived 1970s F-48 (mahogany flat back) jumbo and the 1990s (mahogany arched back) JF4 jumbo.

Also keep in mind that the size of necks varied more in the 70s-90s as they were more handmade then. Later factories seem to have more consistency in terms of width, chunkiness, and fretboard radius.

From listening to lots of youtube videos (and discussion board posts), I believe that the (arch back) maple guitars have the most focused sound while the rosewood versions are more rumbly and complex. I think I am settled on looking for an arched-back maple version because I think it might work better with a K&K pure mini (and sit better in a mix). From personal experience, I think more vibrations in the body might create more overtones and a fuller sound. However, pickups might not like that. The arched back seems to create a more solid back, giving it a more focused sound, but with mainly the top creating vibrations, it is more articulate and works better with the K&K. Now, to be honest, I am getting this from my own experience with two D-25s, one arched-back and one flat.

I wish I knew how the new F-40 flat-back mahogany fit into this discussion as those are the only new Oxnard jumbos I could afford!

 

[deejayen]

Thanks again.

I'm hoping to play the old JF-30 tomorrow if I can make the journey. I did speak to someone in the shop who knows my playing style, and they said they just didn't think it was my sort of guitar! They said it was a big strumming guitar (I suppose I'm more of a melodic picker) but although their advice put me off at first, I think it's still worth trying the guitar for myself. As Cougar said, the guitar doesn't have a lot of bling, but that doesn't bother me. It also looks to have collected a number of dings over its first 30 years, and I'm not sure what condition it's in, but it'll let me hear a maple-backed Guild jumbo.

I seem to like spruce/mahogany guitars, so I think one of the F-40 jumbos would be a nice guitar. It probably has a nice, satisfying deep bass.

 

[Cougar]

I did speak to someone in the shop who knows my playing style, and they said they just didn't think it was my sort of guitar! They said it was a big strumming guitar (I suppose I'm more of a melodic picker)....

Well, I don't know why a jumbo JF30 can't be fine as a picker...

....I seem to like spruce/mahogany guitars, so I think one of the F-40 jumbos would be a nice guitar. It probably has a nice, satisfying deep bass.

Certainly nothing wrong with an F40. I did have an F212XL -- a jumbo 12-string with spruce/mahogany... I preferred the arched maple backed JF30-12. The arched maple certainly has a nice deep bass.... But basically, with Guild, you can't go wrong!

 

[BradHK]

Well, I don't know why a jumbo JF30 can't be fine as a picker...

Agreed! That is how I use my jumbo (sorry, not a Guild but a Martin JDPII) and it works great for that style.

 

[wileypickett]

They said it was a big strumming guitar (I suppose I'm more of a melodic picker) but although their advice put me off at first, I think it's still worth trying the guitar for myself.

I'm strictly a fingerstyle player and the JF30 12-string works just fine with that style -- as do any of the Guild jumbo 12-strings IMO.

 

[PreacherBob]

Yep I‘m a Jumbo regular all the way. I’ve got two dreads I use some, but I mostly rotate two JF30s, a JF65, and two older F40 arched back maple mini jumbos. For 12 strings I use a ’79 and ‘72 F212XL. Pickups in everything. I’ve gotten use to resting my arm on top when sitting down. With the dreads I don’t know where to rest my elbow.

 

[bobouz]

I’ve been very impressed by my two early ‘90s Guilds: a ’92 D6-nt-hg, and a ‘94 JF-30. Great build quality & tone, and both retain perfect neck angles. Btw yes, as others have said, the JF-30 can be a fine finger-picker, which is essentially all I do. For some time now, I’ve considered the JF-30 to be one of the best-buys out there, but each guitar needs to be assessed re its own unique merits. Have fun with the process!

 

[kitniyatran]

Agreed! That is how I use my jumbo (sorry, not a Guild but a Martin JDPII) and it works great for that style.

I agree my JF30 is a wonderful guitar for just about anything and it's about the vintage you're looking at

 

[adorshki]

Thanks very much. I spotted the dovetail neck joint, but wasn't sure if that had simply been omitted from the Standard's specs. On the Standard's description page it mentions forward shifted scalloped Adirondack bracing, but not in the spec sheet, so that was another thing I'm not sure about. They both list a gloss finish, albeit with slightly different wording.

That Guild Total thing is strange! I've never owned a Guild, so can't even put it down to once having owned one and then gotten rid of it!

It's telling you you're missing something.

 

[deejayen]

I had a quick play of the old JF-30, and quite liked it, but ran out of time after going to another shop, so I couldn't go back for another go.

String spacing/neck width was different from what I'm used to - I suspect the Guild is a bit narrower.

I wasn't sure about the treble balance - it might have been the strings, and it's probably the sort of guitar I'd need to play at home and get used to.

I noticed the neck was maple - the current F-55 Maple has a mahogany neck.

I wasn't sure about the overall condition - it was a bit dinged up, with non-original case and non-original pickup, but I think the setup was fine. Action seemed low, but maybe not the highest saddle, although the salesman said it was good. I noticed some bridge pins were at slightly different heights. I'm not a tech so find it difficult to spot any issues such as twisted neck, bracing issues, fret issues, raised bridge/bellied top etc etc.