NGD 1999 F30-NT

[Norrissey]

I had been looking for an orchestra size acoustic for a little while. I was actually thinking of getting a Martin - a friend has a 000-15M that I love. Just hadn't found a nice deal on one yet. Anyway, a 1999 F30-NT HG popped up at my local Guitar Center yesterday. Condition - "Good" which usually means so-so or worse, I went to see it more out of curiosity than any sense that I would buy it and much to my surprise I fell in love with the guitar and bought it. It is very light and has super even, resonant sound and it turned out it was pretty much mint with a very clean factory case. The neck block is dated December 15, 1998 so I'm quite sure it would have left the factory in 1999. I actually don't know much about this reissue model. If anyone has any knowledge to share please do! This guitar has a nicely installed K&K mini duo pickup, not sure if this was factory or if it would have been installed by a previous owner. Pics below.

 

[Stuball48]

Congratulations - looks Brand New.
Play in good health.

 

[zulu]

A clean, lean machine. Congrats!

 

[richt54]

I’m curious as to the F series guitars. The F-40 and F-50 are Jumbos but the F-30 is an OM. The 2 f212s you have are they Jumbo or smaller? Anyway it‘s Westerly build and having the Chesterfield on the headstock must make it a traditional rather than a standard. Not certain of that designation either. Main thing is getting the sound and enjoyment out of it. So enjoy!

 

[Norrissey]

Thanks @richt54
I'm not an expert but in terms of talking about Guild acoustics it's worth keeping in mind that in about 1972-3 Guild started building their acoustic guitars heavier for warranty reasons. Before that they were quite light. As well as building them heavier they slightly altered the shape of some models and they totally updated the shape and size of the F30. Then in the '90s the builds of some guitars, like the DV52 and my new F30 got lighter again.
My 1970 F212 is a lighter build guitar based on the shape of the F47. Not really a jumbo, the lower bout is 16"
My 1977 F212XL is a heavy build jumbo with a 17" lower bout. Totally different from my F212
I don't have pics of them side by side but below are photos of each guitar. The F212 is the one with the more pronounced wood grain on the left. Both great guitars! The F212 is very comfortable to play with a very pretty, bright sound, the F212XL is a big boy with a big neck and a big sound with a nice low end.

 

[Boneman]

Looks pristine, nice find! Congrats and HNGD!

 

[jeffcoop]

That's a great find. The F-30 of the late 1990s was a return to the original shape and lighter build for the F30, following a stretch in the 1970s and 1980s in which the F30 was given a more rounded, mini-jumbo type shape and (like all Guilds at the time, beginning in 1973 or so) a heavier build. There seems to be some variability from guitar to guitar among these late-'90s F30s, but it sound like you've found a good one. The K&K Pure Mini is definitely a later addition, but it's a good pickup that I've been using regularly for almost a decade, and it should match well with your guitar (I have one in a Tacoma-built F30 Aragon from 2007).

Guitar Center's used selection is so hit-or-miss. I certainly have played a number of used guitars at the local store that were in poor condition and sounded dead. But I also have two guitars that I bought used from GC and that I adore. I'm glad you found a good one.

 

[GGJaguar]

Very nice, congrats! I love the original body shape!

 

[Walter Broes]

Oh, that is nice! Congratulations!

 

[Cougar]

Condition - "Good" which usually means so-so or worse....

That's right. For GC, "good" does not usually mean good.

....much to my surprise I fell in love with the guitar and bought it..... it turned out it was pretty much mint with a very clean factory case.

Fantastic! What a score! Major congrats!

 

[GGJaguar]

For GC, "good" does not usually mean good.

And "Great" doesn't usually mean great. That Orpheum 12-fret dread I checked out was listed as "Great". It had dings and play wear that I'd call VGC+ maybe EXC-, but the lifting bridge takes it from "Great" to "Good" in my book.

 

[HeyMikey]

Congratulations Norrissey! She looks quite better then “good” from the pictures. Terrific that you were able to inspect and play it first. Enjoy!

 

[walrus]

That's a beauty! I love my F-30! Congratulations!

I wonder if that is a short scale? I could be wrong but I thought in the late 90's it was a possibility...

walrus

 

[Norrissey]

I wonder if that is a short scale?

Thanks for the congratulations @walrus and everyone else! I'm actually not sure if it is short scale. I will measure it when get home from work this evening. I just searched and found a note from Hans indicating that it should be short scale. (if I'm reading correctly)

From Hans in a previous discussion about late '90s F30s:
When the guitar was reissued in the '90s it was the short scale again until the Custom Shop came out with the long scale versions etc. etc.

 

[plaidseason]

Fantastic buy! I was following this one. Every time I think I'm missing my long-scale F30r-ls I eventually conclude that it's a short-scale F30 that I'm after. And yes, the 90s Westerly F30s were definitely short scale.

 

[D30Man]

Really nice F-30!!! Looks better than "good" which is certainly rare for sure!
I really like the stained mahogany on those. Just a classy looking instrument. Congrats!