OK, I need some Advice!!!!!!!

[JimbowF212]

Here goes;
As you All should know, I have the dreadnaught body style covered nicely by my Martins and my Old Maderia, I am planning on using my Dad's old D-28 for fingerstyle and my D-35V for flatpicking of course, they will both get used for each style from time to time but, this will be the major roll for each Axe. Now to the advice I need. I feel a different body style guitar is needed for a second fingerstyle Axe. Since I have the two Martin's and don't feel I need another, I would like to add a Guild to the assembly and I need YOUR suggestions to help with the decision. I want Guild suggestions and reasons for your suggestions. This is for research for purchase so don't hold back I want YOUR personal opinions and reasons to back it up and I will take all suggestions into consideration. I value ALL YOUR opinions and I Thank You ALL in advance for your HELP!!!!! Please Keep in mind that I am looking for body styles other than the Dreads.

 

[cjd-player]

Graham's F47s are both fabulous fingerstyle guitars. His F47CE is mahogany and his F47RCE is rosewood.

His mahogany is one of the few mahogany guitars that I have played that I like. I've never played an F47MCE (maple).

They both have very easy playability, 1-3/4 " nuts, and great string spacing for fingerstyle. Cutaways are good if you can navigate up the fingerboard. I like the F47's better than a dread for fingerstyle because the smaller bodies have a faster response and quicker decay than a dread. That helps to keep the notes separated for fingerstyle. For my tastes, fingerstyle on a dread can sometimes have too much sustain and blending of the notes, and if the guitar has a boomy bass, it can overwhelm the treble string notes.

 

[Ridgemont]

They both have very easy playability, 1-3/4 " nuts, and great string spacing for fingerstyle. Cutaways are good if you can navigate up the fingerboard. I like the F47's better than a dread for fingerstyle because the smaller bodies have a faster response and quicker decay than a dread. That helps to keep the notes separated for fingerstyle. For my tastes, fingerstyle on a dread can sometimes have too much sustain and blending of the notes, and if the guitar has a boomy bass, it can overwhelm the treble string notes.

Is the 1 3/4 inch nut a post production modification? Guild currently advertises these models with 1 11/16 ". I am asking because I also want a fingerstyle instrument with a 1 3/4 inch nut.

Jimbow, what type of tonewood are you interested in? You have quite a rosewood collection so I wasn't sure if you were looking for something different.

I agree with cjd-player in that the boomy bass of a dread will overpower the treble. I find this to be true with my D25.

I have always been impressed with the F47R. I have played a handful and have always found them to be well balanced with a quick response. Even though they have a 16" lower bout (typical of a grand orchestra versus a 15" OM), they will max out with hard strumming, but are great for fingerstyle. In terms of tonewoods, I prefer mahogany, but would not recommend the F40 based on the examples I have played. They did have that crisp hog bite that I was hoping for. I haven't played a new F30 so no info for you there.

If you remember, I too am looking for a small bodied fingerstyle hog guitar, but plan to go outside the Guild line to find something with my desired specs.

-Ridgemont

 

[cjd-player]

Is the 1 3/4 inch nut a post production modification?

-Ridgemont

I don't believe so. Graham's are both Corona, CA models.

Maybe th 1-3/4 nuts were a Corona thing.

 

[killdeer43]

If you remember, I too am looking for a small bodied fingerstyle hog guitar, but plan to go outside the Guild line to find something with my desired specs.

-Ridgemont

And once again, I encourage you to try out the Epiphone Masterbilt EF-500, in either the M for mahogany or the R for rosewood. They're both 000-size, 1 3/4" nut, and great little finger-pickers.

I have the M and my son-in-law has the R, and they're great music makers. :wink:

Joe

 

[Ian]

Hi Jim,

I'm not a fingerstyle type player (waay too hard for me...), but my guitar buddy Kevin is. He was playing my old F30 last week and loving it. He's hoping to get some more time on it tonight, but he's out of luck cos it's my turn !! The F30 did sound really nice played like that, MJH played one, sounds really sweet. There's a couple for sale at New Hope Traders, dont know if they are anyplace close to you ?

Cheers, Ian

NB Watch out for the nut width, mine is 1 5/8, also gets really tight up the dusty end of the neck...

 

[killdeer43]

Hi Jim,

I'm not a fingerstyle type player (waay too hard for me...)

There seems to be some sort of stigma attached to finger picking.
If you can chew gum and walk, I can teach you basic finger picking in a one-hour lesson.
Half-hour if you can chew gum and walk on your hands!! :wink:

It's not "waay too hard."

Joe

 

[Ian]

Hey Joe,

That sounds fair enough, want to pop over tommorow night and give me a lesson ?

Cheers, Ian

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

Hey Joe,

That sounds fair enough, want to pop over tommorow night and give me a lesson ?

Cheers, Ian

Hear, hear!

I propose Kilroy posts a video of his finger picking lesson on Youtube for all to enjoy!!

Then we could judge for ourselves just how difficult it is to master.

Joe, you could do it with or with out your Santa suit, nyuck, nyuck, nyuck........

just kiddin'

~nw

 

[West R Lee]

Personally, I think you can play any Guild acoustic body fingerstyle. There are several members here who play fingerstyle on dreads, jumbos and what Martin would call an auditorium style body....you know, the little ones.....the little F bodies. I think it's more of a question of what feels good in your lap, not playability. I'm a sucker for dreads myself, but Frosty sure tears up a jumbo fingerstyle, Steelpickin' and cjd-player both fingerpick the heck out of dreads, and big ol' Russ likes a small body, but does quite well on a jumbo, in fact I think it's his favorite.

West

 

[killdeer43]

Hey Joe,

That sounds fair enough, want to pop over tommorow night and give me a lesson ?

Cheers, Ian

Just leave the light on and I'll get there as soon as I can. :wink:

Joe

 

[killdeer43]

Hear, hear!
I propose Kilroy posts a video of his finger picking lesson on Youtube for all to enjoy!!
Then we could judge for ourselves just how difficult it is to master.
Joe, you could do it with or with out your Santa suit, nyuck, nyuck, nyuck........
just kiddin'
~nw

Lots to address here:
1. As soon as I see "Kilroy" I'll ask if he has the necessary video gear and we'll jump on it.
2. As far as the "mastering" part of that equation, that's another few lessons down the road, and a lifetime of dedication/practice.
3. I could post a photo of me without the Santa suit if need be. :lol:

Joe

 

[killdeer43]

And to get back to Jimbow's original request, I think he's hoping for "some advice" for a smaller-bodied guitar. He has the dreads, and they're mighty good ones, too, even though they're not Guilds. :wink:

So....where are we now on that search, Jimbow? Any progress at all to report?

Joe

 

[cjd-player]

3. I could post a photo of me without the Santa suit if need be.
Joe

I doubt that anyone is that desparete to learn. :shock:

 

[killdeer43]

3. I could post a photo of me without the Santa suit if need be.
Joe

I doubt that anyone is that desperate to learn. :shock:

Just checking in and responding accordingly.
What's a fellow to do? :lol:

Joe

 

[Beal]

I think what New Hartford is making is 1.7" nuts, in between 1 11/16 and 1 3/4

They are making several smaller body guitars there now and slightly shorter scales too. Maybe on of those would be a good alternative to a dread.

 

[Ian]

3. I could post a photo of me without the Santa suit if need be.
Joe

I doubt that anyone is that desparete to learn. :shock:

I didn't realize that a proviso of the "free lessons" was that I had to sit on Santa's knee. :lol:

(I'll choose to ignore the nice spelling of "desperate" this time cjd, but It'll be some more homework tonight for you...)

Hi Beal, Have you played any of the new smaller bodied Guilds yet ? Are they doing an F30 ?

Cheers, Ian

 

[Ridgemont]

I think what New Hartford is making is 1.7" nuts, in between 1 11/16 and 1 3/4

They are making several smaller body guitars there now and slightly shorter scales too. Maybe on of those would be a good alternative to a dread.

I really hope that is true. I would really like to get my hands on an F30 with a larger nut. The only guild option I have had so far is the GAD 30, which is nice, but not an F30.

 

[cjd-player]

(I'll choose to ignore the nice spelling of "desperate" this time cjd, but It'll be some more homework tonight for you...)
Ian

:lol:
Happens when I'm playing guitar too ...

wrong finger, wrong place, wrong time

 

[Ian]

I think what New Hartford is making is 1.7" nuts, in between 1 11/16 and 1 3/4

They are making several smaller body guitars there now and slightly shorter scales too. Maybe on of those would be a good alternative to a dread.

I really hope that is true. I would really like to get my hands on an F30 with a larger nut. The only guild option I have had so far is the GAD 30, which is nice, but not an F30.

Me too, I'd love to have a play on one of those. Problem is that they are likely to be REALLY expensive over here, much the same $'s as a vintage 000 18 from the US I'd be picking. And that's going to be the issue for me I'm afraid, as I'm realizing since I've got my old F30 just how wonderful old Guitars can be.