Guild F-55E, Jumbo - Antique Burst Review

Design Issues

This model of guitar has a design flaw, in that the pickup (Anthem) is not compatible with the guitar. With the Anthem pickup system, the undersaddle pickup does not pick up all 6 strings. Perhaps there is a problem with the guitar's size? But the result is that the high 'E' string does not get captured by the pickup. It's hard to notice for the player, due to the acoustic volume… read more of the guitar at close proximity. I didn't realize what was happening until I listened to the guitar with headphones. Anyone listening to the guitar purely via the pickup (the audience, for example) would notice. The guitar itself is amazing. It is truly my dream guitar, which makes it all the more disappointing that I can't use it when playing out. If you are interested in this guitar, I would recommend getting the non-electric version and adding pickups after the fact. Usually, I try to buy guitars with the pickups pre-installed, but that assumes a higher level of quality control.. One other thing to watch out for, related to straps. The headstock of this guitar runs the strings unusually low to the surface, so it is impossible to get even the thinnest of single strings underneath them - making it impossible to use a 'tie-on' strap. I actually contacted Guild, and they told me most people have a strap pin installed. Be careful, however, because that will invalidate Guild's warrantee. It seems unfair to the customer, but that is their policy.

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Excellent

I picked up the demo version of the F-55E from Sweetwater (saved a couple hundred bucks because it had two very small and insignificant nicks on the pick guard). I am extremely happy with this purchase. For my acoustic guitar needs, I've generally played Martin dreadnoughts for many years. But I had fond memories of a Guild dreadnought I had as a college student (which I ended… read more up selling when I needed to buy a Fender Jazz bass for my band back in the day) and have always thought highly of Guild as a brand. I had no idea the changes that Guild as a company has been through over the years. I knew Fender bought them a while back, but didn't know they'd been sold to a new outfit recently. But when mulling this purchase, I trusted the Guild brand would remain high quality and I was not wrong. First, this a great looking guitar. I've never owned a sunburst, always opting for natural finishes, but I am glad I made the change. Also, this is my first jumbo after many dreadnoughts, and I'm happy with that change as well. In terms of appearance, this guitar stands out in a crowd. I am very pleased with the sound as well. This guitar has a rich, deep low end that my Martin dreadnought can't compete with. The high end also shimmers in a way that my Martin doesn't. The action is smooth and it's quite simply just an easy guitar to pick up and play (not that my Martin isn't as well). I put down the few extra hundred bucks to get the electrified version of the F-55 because, well, why not? When you're spending almost four grand on a guitar, why not plunk down a couple hundred to have the option of plugging into an amp if you want to? I've only plugged in a couple times thus far, but it works well and it's a snap to operate. I look forward to years of fun with this guitar and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to upgrade. Most people I know who are serious players generally have mid-range Martins, Taylors, and the like that probably cost $1000 or less. When you get into the $3-$4k range, some people are simply priced out of the market. This Guild, however, at this price, is certainly an investment and it's worth it. You won't need another acoustic guitar.

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F-55E Bad A-- Guitar

Just a week or so into it but I can put this guitar down. The range from crisp highs to thundering low end is pure joy. Other guitars include Taylor and Martin. This beauty spans the range of both and then some. This is my first jumbo and I am really enjoying how comfortable my strumming arm feels across the larger body. My first guitar with white neck binding so for me there is… read more some visual adjustment when viewing neck/fret edge. This guitar has really exceeded my expectations. Great job to the folks at Guild! Keep on rocking.

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The Guild F55: A new tradition is born

I'd been looking for a mint preowned New Hartford F50R burst for while but couldn't find one. So when the new Oxnard F55e hit the market, I decided to give it try. And I'm really glad that I did. First off, the fit and finish of this guitar is impeccable, not to mention the guitar looks gorgeous. The burst finish looks even better in person. For someone who is used to vintage Guild's,… read more there are few differences to mention: The guitar feels much lighter and is braced differently than its predecessor. The neck is a shallower C profile and is very comfortable. Guilds often have chunkier necks, but this one feels slimmer. The nut width is a true 1 11/16" which would seem on the narrow side, but I must say string spacing does not feel cramped. The lighter bracing also means lighter strings. The guitar comes stock with 12-53s rather then the mediums you would normally find on a F50R. The lighter build and lighter strings make it more comfortable to hold and easier to play.This thing has got some serious low end and power and an awesomely deep rich warm tone. The bass response is obviously its strong suit. I would describe it as thick, tight and focused… not boomy at all. The highs are crisp and clean and the mids are well rounded. I could imagine though that a diehard vintage Guild fan might be slightly put off by this F55e"s more "modern" tone (for lack of a better term). If I had to describe it, I would call it a hybrid between the classic Guild tone and the dry woody Gibson tone. Kinda like the love child of a SJ200 and a F50R. But that"s just my take, YMMV! This guitar was made for strumming. But it also plays well with flat picking and finger style. The dryer tone and tighter focused bass give it better note separation and warmth than my NH D55 which has looser bass and sustains for days, which can sometimes get a little muddy on the low end. The LR Baggs Anthem pickup also sounds fantastic. I would say, it slightly pulls up the mids giving it even better string to string balance when plugged in.My overall impression of this F55e is excellent. It meets and even surpasses my expectations. In my humble opinion, Cordoba have done a fine job and I think they have a winner on their hands. I think they managed to honor the Guild tradition all while incorporating a lighter and more modern feel to the instrument.For anyone looking for a jumbo, you definitely should consider an F55.

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