New M40 (aka F20) - That M240 Was a Gateway Drug

[plaidseason]

After picking up that M240e (now with a Fishman Rare Earth Humbucker) and playing it a lot - two long gigs, and kitchen demos for seven songs, I started thinking a lot about about F20s and then a particular Oxnard M40 on Reverb. This is in addition to continually thinking about short-scale F30s, LG-2s, and that custom 000 (from a family friend) that I'm planning on for 2024.

I semi-obsessively watched videos of people playing Oxnard M40s, including one by my friend Ian who works at a local higher end acoustic shop. And then . . . I went back onto Reverb and looked over that sunburst M40 from 2018, and ordered it.

It came in this week. It's in fantastic shape overall with a few minor "factory" issues. But it's lovely and it's built and sounds like a guitar that costs quite a bit more. With shipping and Conn. sale's tax I was out the door for $1307, which is notably less than one would pay for a used Martin 0-18 or 00-18.

It plays wonderfully, and projects way more than you'd expect from an 0/00 guitar. It's undoubtedly a few steps up from the M240 (which sounds great).

I'll post pictures when I get it back from the best luthier I know (who I now currently only live two miles away from). I'm having it setup. Plus having a Fishman Rare Earth single coil installed. I plan to use it for gigs in less "rustic" venues, along with my M240e.

Here's the Reverb listing:

Guild USA M-40 Troubadour | Reverb

Reverb is a marketplace bringing together a wide-spanning community to buy, sell, and discuss all things music gear.

reverb.com

 

[SFIV1967]

Nice burst! Congratulations!
Hope your luthier puts the TRC correctly on...

Ralf

 

[twocorgis]

I've never been much of a fan of the F/M20s with the short scale and 1 5/8" nuts, and always used to prefer the later F20s with standard scale, arch back, and 1 11/16" nut.

That all changed when I bought my Oxnard M40 last year. Mine has some minor cosmetic issues, and if my calculations are correct is the 230th guitar produced at the Oxnard plant. But it is flat out terrific, and has very little of that boxy sound that a lot of small body guitars often have. It's light as a feather, and super resonant, and I just love it. I got it for a ridiculous price, too, especially considering that it came with a new generation LR Baggs iBeam pickup already installed, which also sounds great. It's a keeper!

 

[GGJaguar]

A real beauty, congrats!

 

[twocorgis]

A real beauty, congrats!

Here's mine.

It has some odd finish checking along the bottom of the top.

The seller failed to adequately pad the bottom of the guitar when he shipped it, and it sustained some damage by the output jack. I brought it to my luthier, and he said that there wasn't much that could be done about it, and that other than cosmetically, it wasn't a big deal. When I notified the seller about it, he gave me a very generous partial refund, and I was happy.

Everything that really matters about the guitar is fine, so I plan to just keep playing it!

 

[plaidseason]

Nice burst! Congratulations!
Hope your luthier puts the TRC correctly on...

Ralf

I fixed that in the first 24 hours! I can't live like that.

 

[GGJaguar]

Here's mine.

Wow, the top is getting that dark orangey color as Sitka spruce ages. Nice!

 

[plaidseason]

Here's mine.

It has some odd finish checking along the bottom of the top.

The seller failed to adequately pad the bottom of the guitar when he shipped it, and it sustained some damage by the output jack. I brought it to my luthier, and he said that there wasn't much that could be done about it, and that other than cosmetically, it wasn't a big deal. When I notified the seller about it, he gave me a vey generous partial refund, and I was happy.

Everything that really matters about the guitar is fine, so I plan to just keep playing it!

This one has some barely noticeable finish issues on the faceplate (almost like glitter, but probably splattered glue?). One of the seams on the three piece headstock has some space on bottom/neck side - I almost thought it was spitting/cracking, but it's fine.

I like your natural top. I could either way on these.

I plan on just really playing mine too. Elsewhere, I've mentioned that a few years back I was looking for a "nicer" live guitar - not as nice as my F44 (which mostly stays home), but a step up from Simon & Patrick folk. But I didn't find one, after playing lots of guitars, in the $1300-1500 range - nothing beat out the S&P. It turns out this is it.

 

[twocorgis]

This one has some barely noticeable finish issues on the faceplate (almost like glitter, but probably splattered glue?). One of the seams on the three piece headstock has some space on bottom/neck side - I almost thought it was spitting/cracking, but it's fine.

I like your natural top. I could either way on these.

I plan on just really playing mine too. Elsewhere, I've mentioned that a few years back I was looking for a "nicer" live guitar - not as nice as my F44 (which mostly stays home), but a step up from Simon & Patrick folk. But I didn't find one, after playing lots of guitars, in the $1300-1500 range - nothing beat out the S&P. It turns out this is it.

I generally prefer natural tops, because I like to see the wood. And I think that for what you can buy these for used, they'e an unbeatable value, especially relative to small body Martins. And I'm far from a Martin hater.

 

[plaidseason]

I generally prefer natural tops, because I like to see the wood. And I think that for what you can buy these for used, they'e an unbeatable value, especially relative to small body Martins. And I'm far from a Martin hater.

The price comparison blows my mind. More so, when I saw it in person. "Oh . . . this was a really smart buy!"

 

[Boneman]

Happy new guitar day! I really like that concert size, too. Interesting they discontinued it, but still lots out in the market. I might seek one out to compare against my import all hog version

 

[plaidseason]

Happy new guitar day! I really like that concert size, too. Interesting they discontinued it, but still lots out in the market. I might seek one out to compare against my import all hog version

These days I'm living back in my hometown, which also where my (and one of the better luthiers anywhere) lives. He's only two miles away.

In addition to a bunch of Martins (he's a Martin warranty guy) and super cool Mossman, there was also a Oxnard M20 in for a setup.

The import M240 is pretty great, not as nuanced as the M40, but it projects well with the arched back.