M-40 - anyone tried one?

[deejayen]

After trying a handful of acoustics recently, mainly Martin dreadnoughts and a lone Guild F-55, I'm wondering if a smaller guitar might be an interesting choice.

I played a used (2013?) Gibson LG-2 American Eagle, and quite liked that. I'm hoping to go back next weekend for a second try-out.

However, I've had another look at the Guild website, and seen the M-40. I think this is slightly smaller than the LG-2, but has a wider fretboard (1 3/4" at the nut) which I might prefer.

I don't think there are any M-40's in stock within a few hundred miles of me, so I'd probably have to buy it mail-order.

I just wondered what they're like. Do they sound like the LG-2, or are they more jangly\boxy etc?

 

[ReevesRd]

The M-40 has a nice overall tone for a small-body guitar. Well balanced between highs, mids, and lows. I use it for finger-picking and light strumming. The M-40 is basically the F-20. Think of a smaller F-30. Still see several on Reverb. I've not played an LG-2, so I can't give you a comparison.

 

[jedzep]

My M40 didn't last long, bought new the first year they were available. I'll admit to not giving it much of a test run, feeling it was a little underwhelming for country blues flat picking, but most comfortable to play. I owned a 60's F20 as well, and again, felt I needed a little more volume. I'm better in the 000 zone, so I hunted down a 60's F30.

My only LG2s were 1950s era, and very punchy and dry, which I liked, but I needed a wider string spacing. Maybe modern versions have a wider nut. I loved the tone, all except for what I felt was a muted low E. I needed a little more bass.

 

[Westerly Wood]

My M40 didn't last long, bought new the first year they were available. I'll admit to not giving it much of a test run, feeling it was a little underwhelming for country blues flat picking, but most comfortable to play. I owned a 60's F20 as well, and again, felt I needed a little more volume. I'm better in the 000 zone, so I hunted down a 60's F30.

My only LG2s were 1950s era, and very punchy and dry, which I liked, but I needed a wider string spacing. Maybe modern versions have a wider nut. I loved the tone, all except for what I felt was a muted low E. I needed a little more bass.

I was gonna say, how about an F30?

 

[deejayen]

Thanks for that. It seems that the M-40 might not be too promising.

The F-30 isn't a current model, so it could be difficult to find one (I'm in the UK).

 

[ReevesRd]

There's one in London, but it's priced high.
F-30 2000 Natural

Guild F30 2000 Natural | Reverb

Classic Guild We are happy to offer the following classic US produced Guild Guild F302000 ( Circa ) Serial No Natural / Spruce Top Mahogany Back / Sides Original paperwork Original Case Condition 9.75/10 ( Near New Unplayed ) Note - Great p...

reverb.com

 

[Bill Ashton]

Wow! "High" is not the word for the price, I don't think...'geez!

 

[twocorgis]

If you can find a mid-'90s F20, Id say go for it. I owned a beautiful '94 "prototype" that I wouldn't mind having back. It was standard scale (most others are short), 1 11/16" nut (most others are 1 5/8, which is unplayable for me), and had an arched back (all others are flat), It had a great punchy tone, and was a perfect couch guitar, I keep looking for another, but there's not many of them out there. The flat back, short scale ones sound too boxy for me.

F20NT

Explore this photo album by Twocorgis on Flickr!

flic.kr

 

[schoolie]

I don't have much to compare it to in this form factor, but I'm very happy with my M-40. It's very well made, and I think it sounds great, especially fingerpicked. It might be a tad overbuilt for a concert guitar, but it has opened up over time.

 

[jedzep]

As I said, I didn't give mine a chance. I'm sure by now I'd like it, as I'm a lover of small guitars.

 

[plaidseason]

I think 90s short-scale F30 is probably closer to an LG-2 in sound/volume than an M40/flat back F20.

Both a 90s era F30 and the LG2 are always on my radar. They're perfect stage and songwriting guitars.

An arched back F20 is a different animal, and probably right my ally too.