What the heck size is a F-30 anyway?

[E-Type]

I love the idea of adding a Guild jumbo to my stable. I tried a 2019 F-40 and it was great, but a bit large. Then I saw that Guild made some 16" wide mini-jumbos -- the early 1970s F-47 comes to mind. I then saw that early 70s F-30s that looked a lot like the F-47 size, but with less bling. But then I started seeing more F-30s (and information about them), that made it sound like the F-30 was more of a 000 style and only 15.25" wide. Is the F-47 the only 16" wide mini-jumbo, or did the size of the F-30 bounce around? To further confuse me, it also seems like the 1980s GF-30 was 16" while the JF-30 was 17.25" wide.

Can anyone confirm that a 1972-1973 F-30 is more like an F-47? Thanks!

 

[fronobulax]

The F30 is my personal poster child for a Guild model where the specs are meaningless until you specify a time period because they did bounce around. The New Hartford F30 was "orchestra sized" but I don't have measurements recorded anywhere.

My unreliable memory says that a GF-X, JF-X and F-X are not necessarily comparable for some values of X that yield valid model numbers.

My unreliable memory sees F47 and tries to remember whether that is a model that @adorshki is quite knowledgeable about.

 

[Guildedagain]

I would describe it a "voluptuous" looks like a fertility doll, in the classifieds you see it referred to as "volumptuous" or "full figured".

What Al will tell you is that it shares the F-112 body size, in fact mine seems to be part F112, a change of mind or need at factory.

 

[schoolie]

I know this has been posted, but this is a video of John Oates playing the 1964 F-30 that was owned by MS John Hurt

 

[ReevesRd]

In the 70s the F-30 had 15 1/2" bottom bout, the F-47 had a 16"

Yes, the F-30 did change over the years. My NH F-30 is 15"

 

[E-Type]

I would describe it a "voluptuous" looks like a fertility doll, in the classifieds you see it referred to as "volumptuous" or "full figured".

What Al will tell you is that it shares the F-112 body size, in fact mine seems to be part F112, a change of mind or need at factory.

What a beauty!!! What year? How wide is it? 16"?

 

[ReevesRd]

I love the idea of adding a Guild jumbo to my stable. I tried a 2019 F-40 and it was great, but a bit large. Then I saw that Guild made some 16" wide mini-jumbos -- the early 1970s F-47 comes to mind. I then saw that early 70s F-30s that looked a lot like the F-47 size, but with less bling. But then I started seeing more F-30s (and information about them), that made it sound like the F-30 was more of a 000 style and only 15.25" wide. Is the F-47 the only 16" wide mini-jumbo, or did the size of the F-30 bounce around? To further confuse me, it also seems like the 1980s GF-30 was 16" while the JF-30 was 17.25" wide.

Can anyone confirm that a 1972-1973 F-30 is more like an F-47? Thanks!

The F-47 top bout is smaller than the F-30. The F-47 has a bound neck with block inlays. So I'd say the 72-73 F-30 and F-47 were similar but different.

 

[jedzep]

My '63 is very close to Martin OM or 000, with 15.25 bout width, but a bit longer from the bridge to the bottom edge. Same 4" bout depth with vastly different woodier Gibson-like tone. Perfect size and sound for me. Same as the John Hurt model.

 

[ReevesRd]

My '63 is very close to Martin OM or 000, with 15.25 bout width, but a bit longer from the bridge to the bottom edge. Same 4" bout depth with vastly different woodier Gibson-like tone. Perfect size and sound for me. Same as the John Hurt model.

I like it without a PG

 

[Guildedagain]

What's striking about my '71 F30 is the lack of balance, instead of more traditional "36-24-36" hourglass figure, you get 11-9.25-15.25 quite the ginormous difference between the tiny waist and the big bottom.

 

[Westerly Wood]

It's not a jumbo, that I know for sure

 

[jedzep]

That 11" upper bout width on your '71 is a full 3/4" narrower than mine. Almost like they couldn't decide on the best dimensions.

 

[bobouz]

Just grabbed this shot for a quickie comparison:
- 1973 F30R on the right (15-1/4” lower bout)
- 1974 F40 on the left (16-1/8” lower bout)

 

[walrus]

Slight veer - what's the story of your avatar, E-Type? I can't decide if I'm amused by it or scared silly!

walrus

 

[E-Type]

Slight veer - what's the story of your avatar, E-Type? I can't decide if I'm amused by it or scared silly!

walrus

I have this D-25 (see below). A friend was watching the movie Frank and sent a screen grab of this scene and I turned it into my avatar.

 

[E-Type]

Just grabbed this shot for a quickie comparison:
- 1973 F30R on the right (15-1/4” lower bout)
- 1974 F40 on the left (16-1/8” lower bout)

Ah, now I'll be looking at '74 F40s!!! So cool!

 

[Guildedagain]

Slight veer - what's the story of your avatar, E-Type? I can't decide if I'm amused by it or scared silly!

walrus

Tool videos? ;[]

 

[E-Type]

An early 1970s F-40 might actually be more of what I'mlookin for. So hard to sort all of this out. Sadly, the ones on Reverb are $3200 and $4700.

 

[Neal]

My ‘74 F-30 is 15.25” across the lower bout, but that is only half the story. It is a very deep 5” at the end pin, an eight of an inch deeper than my ‘73 D-35.

Here they are together. E-Type, I just sent you a PM.

 

[adorshki]

I love the idea of adding a Guild jumbo to my stable. I tried a 2019 F-40 and it was great, but a bit large. Then I saw that Guild made some 16" wide mini-jumbos -- the early 1970s F-47 comes to mind. I then saw that early 70s F-30s that looked a lot like the F-47 size, but with less bling. But then I started seeing more F-30s (and information about them), that made it sound like the F-30 was more of a 000 style and only 15.25" wide. or did the size of the F-30 bounce around?

Hi E-type, welcome aboard!

Let's take the short answer first:
There was never a full 16" lower bout F30. IIRC they topped out at about 15-3/4 inches at one point but were most often 15-1/4 to 15-1/2" lower bout.

To further confuse me, it also seems like the 1980s GF-30 was 16" while the JF-30 was 17.25" wide.

"Yes". In that system the letters denoted body size and numbers denoted bling. "GF" equalled 16" lower bout F-body by definition and "JF" denoted 17" lower bout F-body. There was no "F30"-sized guitar at that time.

Is the F-47 the only 16" wide mini-jumbo,

No. First one was the F40 with maple arch back, from '54- '63, then F47 came in with 'hog flatback. F40 returned ca '74, then George Gruhn came in with 2 new 16" F-bodies, F-44 and F-46, which soon became the "GF" series. Any model with an "F-4x" type model number is a 16" lower bout, as well as all GF's. There are also a couple of outliers in the F30ce, F35ce, and the F65ce, all of which were introduced when the F30 was on hiatus. So an early '90's F30ce is NOT an "F30" body.

There was also the "CV" series from Tacoma, caveats apply there so don't jump on one without checking with us first, especially if it's got a funny-looking bar-code sticker over the s/n.

An early 1970s F-40 might actually be more of what I'mlookin for. So hard to sort all of this out. Sadly, the ones on Reverb are $3200 and $4700.

Up until New Hartford in 2011, F40's had arched maple backs by definition. They were relatively low production and highly desirable.

If you want 'hog, stick with the F47 family, examples of which were offered in maple and rosewood as well as 'hog, continuously from the mid '80's through close of New Hartford in 2014. They became the backbone of Guild's Acoustic Cutaway Electric family, thus, "F47ce". Also as mentioned, New Hartford F40's are 16" 'hog bodies.

Oxnard doesn't offer that 16" platform. Yes that's me you hear in the background blowing raspberries at 'em.