NGD! 1958 Ghost Label F-20

[LateStart]

Thanks! I am really pleased. I have to get some new strings; but it sounds decent-ish even with old strings.

ANY IDEAS ON THE RIGHT STRINGS FOR THIS THING? I was thinking something light-ish to protect the weak bridge, etc.

 

[mavuser]

ANY IDEAS ON THE RIGHT STRINGS FOR THIS THING? I was thinking something light-ish to protect the weak bridge, etc.[/QahUOTE]

John Pearse SL550's.

I have a similar closet find F-20 and had the exact same concern about tension, also I prefer lighter gauge strings as I mostly play electric. Ralf on this forum suggested the John Pearse and my luthier said 11s would keep my action lowest, and have slightly less tension, if anything. I went with that and I'm very happy I did. Turns out I dont dislike acoustics as much as i though, i just dislike most acoustic strings i've played.

 

[mavuser]

man your 1958 F-20 is killer! congrats and enjoy. unreal find

 

[Ronald Reagan]

Does anyone else find it funny that the ghost is wearing a bow tie?

Neal

I don't find it odd that the ghost is wearing a bow tie, but I always found it strange that Donald Duck walked around in a shirt top only, yet in scenes where he came out of the shower he had a towel wrapped around his bottom half?

RR

 

[mario1956]

I think the binding can be reglued looks like it split on glued seams. That guitar is a beauty. Really love old stuff. So much character if only it could talk.
Are my eyes deceiving me or is that a one piece top? I don't see a seam. That top wood dosen't look like Sitka to me. Did Guild use Red or Englemann Spruce during that time?

Here's a pic of a '58 martin 000-18 and that is Sitka... your's doesn't look like that but I'm making a big deal over nothing. Just a guitar weenie and stuff like wood interests me.

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[LateStart]

The binds that tie...

I have been thinking a lot about the binding:

1) Try to re-glue to be 100% original, but there several very cracked and damaged area (just decay, not impact). See pictures.
2) New binding of the exact same kind. This was the 'low end' Guild and the binding was nothing special, so Celluloid would likely be the 'period correct'.
3) New Ivoroid with a pattern to match original. The best new material that looks original.
4) New wood binding - but it couldn't be white.

First choice is #3 so far. It seems like the "best" way to do the binding would be to remove the neck and do a reset at the same time as it flows under the back edge of the neck, see picture below.

As far as wood, here is the quote from Reverb (I don't know any better). It does look like a single piece of wood.

"Also known as the Troubadour, the F-20 was a smaller-sized acoustic flattop which predates any dreadnought produced by Guild. Initially, this guitar used Maple for its back and sides, but this changed to Mahogany in 1959.

Years of Production: 1956 - 1987

Body Style: Orchestra

Wood Composition: Mahogany back and sides, Spruce top, Rosewood fingerboard

Design Elements: Rosewood bridge, tortoiseshell pickguard, 24 3/4-inch scale length, dot inlays​

 

[mjoecups]

Hope you worked out your binding? Sorry if I am thread stealing.

The back and sides look like Mahogany? Maybe yours is a 1959?

I have what I think is an M20 that has the same sticker? I bought it from a woman in Seattle who was given it as a child, but never learned to play. It's immaculate and sounds fantastic.

I did have it setup here (25 years ago?) by a luthier friend, who re routed the saddle bed and made a new saddle. Aside from that it's perfect in it's factory oldness... It's very plain and has no binding to crack. Lucky me.

The writing on the tag isn't readable as far as I can see? It's all mahogany glossy back and sides and soundboard and it has the stenciled on gilded guild headstock mark (as above). I play it more than any of my other instruments.

Did they make the m20 in 1958-59? Someone once told it was a Burl Ives model, which I kind of liked ;~) That ghost sort of looks like Burl.

 

[F-412Spec]

Intersting timing for this zombie-thread resurrection. I just saw a ghost-label M-20 hanging in my local Guitar Center used section. Not too many of these old survivors around.

 

[HeyMikey]

Holy necro thread resurrection Batman! Have we been cast into some diabolical nine-year time warp?

I’m afraid so old chum. I’m … afraid … so.

 

[hansmoust]

Did they make the m20 in 1958-59? Someone once told it was a Burl Ives model, which I kind of liked ;~) That ghost sort of looks like Burl.

Yes, they did! The Burl Ives model was a Gretsch guitar that was also manufactured during that time; it had an actual picture of Burl Ives on the label.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl