Westerly model ID: JC30 AO7

[Grundy]

Hi all,

Nice to meet you.

A few months back I played a Guild maple jumbo at a studio and loved it. I've been looking out for one ever since. As luck would have it, a friend is selling some instruments and one of them is a Guild maple jumbo... but I can't find any reference to this exact model anywhere.

It's a JC30, the cutaway version of the JF30, but the label and documentation have the full model name as JC30 AO7. Can anyone shed any light on what the 'AO7' means? If you Google that model name, the only result is one that refers to this exact instrument (it was stolen and later recovered).

Also, I'd like to offer my friend a fair price for it, and would welcome any thoughts on what that might be. I'm in the UK where Guild acoustics are a bit more expensive than in the USA. This one is in very good condition with the original hard case.

 

[GGJaguar]

Welcome to LTG! I believe that's an internal designation that was inadvertently put on the label. We've seen these codes from time to time on various models (including electric guitars). Here's one example:

Guild J-30 jumbo arched back

This blonde beauty was left to me by a dear friend and I have been trying to get some info on it. It appears to me that Guild doesn't recognize Westerly Guilds. Can someone tell me anything about that? I am also trying to put some pics on here but that is not working for me for some reason...

letstalkguild.com

 

[Grundy]

Thanks!

I've just re-strung it and it really is a very nice guitar...

 

[GGJaguar]

it really is a very nice guitar...

Post a photo or two and tell us about. We love photos!

 

[Grundy]

Very well!

These are hasty phone pix, but I guess you all know what a Guild jumbo looks like anyway.

 

[adorshki]

Very well!

These are hasty phone pix, but I guess you all know what a Guild jumbo looks like anyway.

Welcome aboard Grundy!
Actually cutaway full-size jumbos are pretty uncommon, especially for Guild!

 

[Grundy]

Any thoughts on pricing? I can't find any JC30s for sale in the UK. There are a couple of JF30s which aren't selling at £1500.

 

[GGJaguar]

That's a real beauty!

 

[plaidseason]

I'm not sure I previously knew these existed.

 

[adorshki]

Any thoughts on pricing? I can't find any JC30s for sale in the UK. There are a couple of JF30s which aren't selling at £1500.

Correct model number would be "JF30-C" but they're extremely low production, one year only, and frankly I'm surprised the serial number is in the 300's, but they may have included those in with the regular JF30 s/n's. Things were pretty confused at Guild at the time.

 

[adorshki]

I'm not sure I previously knew these existed.

Caught me by surprise about a year ago, hadn't seen one in so long I'd forgotten, myself.

 

[SFIV1967]

It's a JC30, the cutaway version of the JF30, but the label and documentation have the full model name as JC30 AO7. Can anyone shed any light on what the 'AO7' means?

Al beat me, yes that is a JF-30C from 1988. The version with Fishman would have been the JF-30CE.

Shown in the 1988 catalog:


Jan 15, 1988 price list:


Nov 15, 1988 price list (left) and June 15, 1989 price list (right):



The "JC30 A07" is the internal factory code that was often wrongly written on the labels during that time. A07 simply means it is finished in natural and not in sunburst as far as I remember. We have discussed some here at LTG in the past. See also what Hans said:

Just curious about Guild cutaway on ebay

Isn't he? There are more vids of him at 'U-pipe' ;?) and his MySpace page is worth a look http://www.myspace.com/stanlassiter/ I was reading through this thread, and when i saw "MySpace" above I did a double take and checked the posting date. :) Nearly 10 years old!

letstalkguild.com

Ralf

 

[Grundy]

Thanks @SVIV1967 -- that's super helpful.

Hoping that if I buy this I will become a nice person like all other Gretsch owners seem to be!

 

[chazmo]

I'm guessing the "JC30" and "A07" on the label are part of some internal designation that made it's way into print.

As the other folks mentioned, Grundy, this is a JF-30C model. Enjoy!

I'm not sure what the price would be in the UK for one of these. In perfect condition, I'd expect a US version to sell for around $1,500US on the high side.

 

[plaidseason]

Caught me by surprise about a year ago, hadn't seen one in so long I'd forgotten, myself.

Now that I see the photo, I remember. 20 years ago I had all of this stuff stored and available in my head!

 

[SFIV1967]

Hoping that if I buy this I will become a nice person like all other Gretsch owners seem to be!

Can't talk about Gretsch but Guild certainly...

Ralf

 

[Grundy]

D'oh!

 

[adorshki]

Can't talk about Gretsch but Guild certainly...

Ralf

Barring a few disgruntled malcontents here and there.

 

[Grundy]

It is now mine!

Mwah ha ha (evil laugh).

Thanks for all your help, everyone.

 

[chazmo]

Congrats, Grundy! I thought it was already yours. Enjoy!