Jumbos: Newish, vs older, vs old... how to choose?

[bobouz]

I’ve long considered the JF-30 one of the best buys out there in a 17” jumbo, and the wood selection was typically first rate. This one’s a ‘94:

 

[Br1ck]

Play as many as you can. Easier said than done. I must say, I had an F 40, probably an 80s guitar, that I could not wait to get rid of. Way too bright.

 

[PreacherBob]

I’ve long considered the JF-30 one of the best buys out there in a 17” jumbo, and the wood selection was typically first rate. This one’s a ‘94:

I love the JF30! I have a ‘94 natural like this one, and a ‘96 antique burst. I have a Fishman Matrix VT in one and K&K mini in the other. These are great workhorses as for jumbos. I rotate them in every week with a couple of groups. I left one on my stool and it fell off when I walked off, it even sounds better now!

 

[davidbeinct]

There’s a GF50 on the Guild acoustic group on Facebook for sale right now. Facebook links never work for me here but if you look you should be able to find it.

 

[E-Type]

There’s a GF50 on the Guild acoustic group on Facebook for sale right now. Facebook links never work for me here but if you look you should be able to find it.

Do you mean the "Guild Guitars: Buy - Sell - Trade" group? I just asked to join.

 

[davidbeinct]

Do you mean the "Guild Guitars: Buy - Sell - Trade" group? I just asked to join.

No it’s called Guild Acoustics. Here I’ll try to link it:

Log into Facebook

Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

www.facebook.com

 

[E-Type]

No it’s called Guild Acoustics. Here I’ll try to link it:

Log into Facebook

Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

www.facebook.com

I just found it. I have been talking to that seller about both that GF-50 and his F-44. I really like the F-44, but the saddle is about as low as it can go before needing a reset.

 

[Boneman]

Even 10+ years later, on the JF30-12 they certainly did use awesome wood selections. Good luck in the hunt! Jumbos with 12 strings are even twice as fun. Lol

 

[E-Type]

Even 10+ years later, on the JF30-12 they certainly did use awesome wood selections. Good luck in the hunt! Jumbos with 12 strings are even twice as fun. Lol

Haha, my wrists tendonitis flares up just LOOKING at a 12-string!

 

[GF60]

I own a GF60. It's maple, 16" lower bout with a flat back. I bought it new in 1988, so almost 36 yrs old. I love it. I prefer the 16" over the 17" jumbos.

Here it is now...

Shortly after I bought it...

 

[GGJaguar]

That's a beautiful GF-60! I'll bet it's well-broken in now and sounds fabulous.

 

[jeffcoop]

Discussion of the GF guitars as me thoroughly confused, now. If the GF-50, say, was 16" rather than 17", isn''t it more comparable to an F-47R? Am I missing something?

 

[E-Type]

Discussion of the GF guitars as me thoroughly confused, now. If the GF-50, say, was 16" rather than 17", isn''t it more comparable to an F-47R? Am I missing something?

You are correct! The F-30 is 15" or 15.5" across. The F-40, F-42, F-44, F46, F47 are all 16" across (except that the Oxnard F-40s are 17" across). There was an F-48 that was 17" across also, so not all the 4x numbers are 16".

I finally figured out the Guild issue. For the dreadnoughts, D signifies the size and shape and the number signifies the tonewood used and bling. But for the F "shape" (mini-jumbo or jumbo), the number can designate either size, or tonewood/construction, or bling. The GF vs JF codes actually made a lot of sense.

 

[E-Type]

I own a GF60. It's maple, 16" lower bout with a flat back. I bought it new in 1988, so almost 36 yrs old. I love it. I prefer the 16" over the 17" jumbos.

Here it is now...

Shortly after I bought it...

When one of these (well, an F-44) was available about 6 weeks ago, I didn't have funds. If I could find one that doesn't need a reset, I'd be all over it.

 

[kitniyatran]

I’ve long considered the JF-30 one of the best buys out there in a 17” jumbo, and the wood selection was typically first rate. This one’s a ‘94:

Plus one on the quality of the JF30, and the beauty of the woods used. I have one of similar vintage to this and it's a marvelous guitar that I bought when I was looking for something smaller than a Dreadnought believe it or not.

 

[banjomike]

Cool old Barney Kessel DeLuxe in that video. They were never a very popular guitar, but they were sure good sounding jazz tune units.

 

[GGJaguar]

Barney Kessel