Paul Simon's Guild

[DCannon]

I could never get the hang of strumming like this with a thumb pick. :shock:

In the 2nd clip I posted (scarborough fair), doesn't look like he is using a thumb pick, or any finger picks.

But yeah, I agree.. I'd rather just use my fingers, or a flatpick to strum.

Right. It seems he only used a thumb pick on more upbeat songs with both fingerpicking and integrated stumming. On soft, slow fingerpicking-only songs like Scarborough Fair, he went sans thumb pick.

Unable to get the hang of strumming with a thumb pick, over the years I learned to fingerpick using a flatpick in order to incorporate strumming into some fingerpicked tunes, but I'm much more comfortable fingerpicking with just my fingers or occasionally a thumb pick.

DC

 

[theactor19]

Thanks DCannon!

Also I noticed that the new F-30R (and the old ones) have a rosewood fingerboard, as opposed to the ebony fingerboard that Paul Simon had on his specially made ones. Would this have a big impact in tone/playability?

 

[DCannon]

Thanks DCannon!

Also I noticed that the new F-30R (and the old ones) have a rosewood fingerboard, as opposed to the ebony fingerboard that Paul Simon had on his specially made ones. Would this have a big impact in tone/playability?

I also find it odd that Guild didn't include an ebony fretboard on the new F-30R. My '72 F-30R came with ebony. I've heard varying opinions regarding tonal differences between rosewood and ebony boards, but personally I'd think it would be minimal...if any. Maybe those more in the know can chime in here. I love ebony fretboards but have a couple guitars, as well as an Irish bouzouki with rosewood boards and sound incredible and play well. I have a Martin OM-16 with a micarta fretboard that sounds and plays great. I've not played a new F-30R Standard, but considering Guild's quality, a rosewood fretboard wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.

DC

 

[theactor19]

Thanks!

Could someone confirm if the videos I posted in the first post of this thread are in fact his Guild F-30 Specials? I'm reading that Paul also used a Martin in the 60s as well. Here are the links again:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPTOY8FrvNw

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWyPhQkZNLw

 

[GardMan]

Definitely Guild in the first... a couple of brief headstock shots. Pick guard shape is Guild in the second, but I never saw the headstock. I would presume they both are the F-30 special.

 

[DCannon]

Yup....both are with his F-30R #2.

Here's the complete "Old Freinds" video with Paul picking up the guitar at the beginning, and the larger pick guard of the #2 can easily be seen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSw-DrxAhEU

Same guitar in the second video. Simon's F-30R Special #2's pick guard nearly touched the bridge, and has the two outstanding light spots at the front of the pick guard, near the edge. You can see the largest of these two spots in both videos. Here's his F-30R Special #2:

Check out this link:
http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~ino_gui/PaulSimonsGear.htm

DC

 

[killdeer43]

That F30R #2 is extremely drool-worthy. Yum! :wink:

Joe

 

[DCannon]

Hey Joe, as they say on Psych.... You know that's right!

DC

 

[theactor19]

Love the picture, and thanks for confirming!

So I am currently saving up cash. Should be able to pull the trigger in roughly under 2 months. Would love to get an exactly replica of Paul's F-30 Special #2, but I'm guessing that would be the custom made route, which would be a lot more dough than I'm willing to spend. So just gonna go with a new F-30R. Am I making the right decision?

Regarding the fretboard, I recall playing a classical years ago that had an ebony fretboard and I remember it being so so comfortable and smooth, and hammer-ons and pull-offs being a dream. That being said, this classical costed 10 grand, so I'm guessing its not the ebony that is making it have perfect playability, rather the craftsmanship.

 

[steamfurnace]

The change in the fretboard may be due to the shrinking availability of ebony.
Martin Guitars has changed a number of their models from ebony to "richlite," which is a paper/resin compound.
Bob Taylor of Taylor guitars recently bought into an ebony plantation/sawmill to improve the sustainability of this wood, and hopefully make it more readily available to guitar makers in the future.

 

[killdeer43]

So just gonna go with a new F-30R. Am I making the right decision?

After you've played it for a while, you can tell us. :wink:

*Just an observation, but if you have the money to buy a new Guild F-30R, life must be pretty good, all things considered.

Just sayin',
Joe

 

[theactor19]

Well I don't exactly have the money. I am saving for it plus selling a few things to purchase it. I've been playing guitar for a while and practice 2-3 hours a day, so I feel its time I treat myself to nice acoustic, considering I've never owned a really nice one.

I'm wondering if I should go the used route? I'm always weary of doing this with acoustic guitars (don't mind as much with electrics). But I'm thinking if I plan on having the F-30R for the rest of my life, does it make sense to go brand new?

 

[SFIV1967]

Would love to get an exactly replica of Paul's F-30 Special #2,...

As far as I understood both also were built from Brazilian Rosewood which would be extremely costly as custom made guitar today...Also the headstock veneer today is different from his guitars, the F-30R today has no Chesterfield logo on it, so you would need to look for a vintage model on ebay or Gbase or Craigslist to get the same kind of look. So "exact replica" is basically impossible.
Ralf

 

[theactor19]

Most important thing to me is tone and playability. If it plays really smooth and has the same tone as his, I will be more than happy. Doesn't have to be exact to the tee, but a similar look, tone, and feel.

 

[DCannon]

As Ralf said, it would be very difficult to find an available F-30R like Simon's from the years when Guild was still making them with ebony boards, black headstock veneer with crown/chesterfield inlay under the logo, and Grover tuners. It'd be the old 'needle in a haystack' to find one for sale and in good condition.

I think you'd be happy with a new F-30R. If you really feel the need to make it look closer to Simon's guitar, you can always use something like Fret Doctor or Roché-Thomas Fingerboard oil to darken the fretboard without dying it. I've used both and they do a great job. And you can easily change out the pick guard for the older style like Paul's. The new F-30R comes with Gotoh tuners, and again, you can switch them out for Grover 102C to be the same as his. With a little effort and not much of an extra cash outlay, you can get it closer to his guitar as far as appearance. The only things you wouldn't be able to duplicate are the black headstock overlay with the crown/chesterfield inlay below the GUILD logo, and the special truss rod cover with white edge, which isn't the typical Guild shape. But as you say, and I'm pleased to hear, your main concern is tone and playability and don't think you'd be disappointed. But guitars can vary, so just in case, order from a vendor that offers a no-hassle return period.

Not long after getting my F-130R, I changed out the pick guard with the old style and replaced the tuners with Grover 102C. The fretboard is already pretty dark...close to ebony, and the guitar looks great. But best of all, it sounds fantastic and plays like a dream. Just to show you what a couple changes can do, here it is before and after the new pick guard and Grover tuners.

and a couple more....

DC

 

[pjheff]

Most important thing to me is tone and playability. If it plays really smooth and has the same tone as his, I will be more than happy. Doesn't have to be exact to the tee, but a similar look, tone, and feel.

Not exact but perhaps you'd be interested: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=36223

Pat

 

[DCannon]

Most important thing to me is tone and playability. If it plays really smooth and has the same tone as his, I will be more than happy. Doesn't have to be exact to the tee, but a similar look, tone, and feel.

Not exact but perhaps you'd be interested: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=36223

Pat

Looks to be in good shape, but stars as fret markers???? :shock: And 1-5/8" nut width???? :shock: Ouch.

DC

 

[SFIV1967]

Looks to be in good shape, but stars as fret markers?

Might not be everybody's taste but the Everly Brothers used such stars a lot: http://home.provide.net/~cfh/everly.html
Ralf

 

[theactor19]

Beautiful photos DCannon!

I know I said tone and playability are my two main focuses, but in the link to that guitar for sale, I'm really not a fan of the star inlays on the fret board. I prefer a more classic styling.

2 quick question:

1) Should I consider going the used route? I don't mind doing so with electric guitars, but am weary when it comes to acoustics. I take really good care of my instruments, so being the first owner is definitely attracting, but still wanted to get some input on this.

2) How do we feel about this listing: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Guild-F-30R-Stan ... 604wt_1107
It says that it has been on display in their shop, so people have tried it, but now they are offing it on ebay to clear space in their showroom for other guitars. This worries me since if people were trying out this guitar, but no one wanted to buy it, perhaps this one is a dud (just average in sound/playability). Thoughts?

 

[killdeer43]

It says that it has been on display in their shop, so people have tried it, but now they are offing it on ebay to clear space in their showroom for other guitars. This worries me since if people were trying out this guitar, but no one wanted to buy it, perhaps this one is a dud (just average in sound/playability). Thoughts?

If I might interject, that wouldn't bother me as much as if I didn't like it. I can think of any number of reasons why other people might not like my F112-6 but I love it.
The same concept applies to so many things and you always have to consider that we're all different and we all have different tastes/standards, etc., etc.

Yada, yada, yada..... 8)
Joe