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USA built Guild M-40
Hi
I currently play a Guild Westerly M-140 (Chinese built), but have been looking at the new US built Ren Ferguson M-40 and wondered if anyone had any experience of this model? Looking at the Guild website, the specs are very similar between the two models except country of manufacture, and the M-40 has a nicer case - both are South African mahogany (Sipo/Sapele). I notice that whilst both have C shaped necks, the M-40 has 12" neck radius compared to 16" on the M-140 - this sounds quite significant, will it be very noticeable upon playing the guitar (assume 12" is less deep than 16")? Can't find many comments/reviews on the Internet re the M-40, so wondered if anyone had tried one? I was originally looking at the new Martin 00-18 as I like this body size, but the string spacing at the bridge is the rather narrow 2 5/32" - I play purely fingerstyle. Cheers Rich |
#2
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M40
You may gut also a want to post this on the Let's Talk Guild web site. Lots of people there who are very very knowledgeable about Guild.
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#3
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Quote:
A smaller radius has more curvature, while a larger radius is more flat. For reference the 16" radius on your current guitar is consistent with the radius that Martin uses. The 12" radius on the newer Guild is consistent with Gibson acoustics (the Ren Ferguson connection?). If you are looking for the difference it is detectable, but I don't find the difference between a 12" and 16" fretboard all that noticeable during normal play. If you are comfortable with the flatter board on the M140, you would likely feel right at home with the slight additional curvature on the newer M40.
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Looking for an excuse to "downsize", i.e. buy a new 00 |
#4
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Quote:
Many thanks La Palma C for that clear explanation - really appreciated. I had been reading Internet comments re the radius variations, but could not fully understand the real impact and how noticeable the difference would be. Cheers Rich |
#5
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No problem! Glad to be of help
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Looking for an excuse to "downsize", i.e. buy a new 00 |
#6
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Some folks never notice the difference. I've got more guitars than I need, and I have no idea what the fretboard radius's are on any of them. I now under stand the Guild likes the 12", and has for a long time. Since I have some Guilds, both US and overseas made, those are probably 12". It just doesn't feel that much different to me.
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2010 Guild F47R 2009 G & L Tribute "Legacy" 1975 Ovation Legend 1986 Ovation 1758 12 String 2007 Walden G2070 2008 Guild D55 Prototype 1998 Guild Starfire IV 2016 Guild Newark St. X-175 Sunburst 1996 Ovation 1768-7LTD " custom " |
#7
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Hi
Thanks all for the contributions. I was trying to understand the difference between the 2 models, and guess that the USA one is hand built with probably better woods and has a satin finish. The other thing that stood out re the specs was the fretboard radius, which had initially due to the numbers seemed significant to me - clearly not really the case. Cheers Rich |
#8
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I can't help but just wanted to say I really want to play one. Gotta wait til they have been out a while and start coming up used I guess.
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#9
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Hi
On the Internet / forums there are actually far more reviews / comments re the new M-20, all mahogany model. Same body size as the M-40, but all Mahog with no binding/bling - looks cool and very similar to the Martin 15 series, but with more finger style friendly specs. These guitars are on offer with a couple of dealers here in the UK, so may look at that model instead. Cheers Rich |
#10
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Quote:
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#11
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Quote:
I find a 12" hard to play cleanly, and much prefer 16-17"
__________________
Larrivee OM-03RE; O-01 Martin D-35; Guild F-212; Tacoma Roadking Breedlove American Series C20/SR Rainsong SFTA-FLE; WS3000; CH-PA Taylor GA3-12, Guild F-212 https://markhorning.bandcamp.com/music |
#12
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That's interesting - my current guitar is 16" which i find very comfortable and so I think I may look to stick with that profile, through a Martin. The folk on Lets Talk Guild were raising issues re the M-20 finish and potential factory issues (plus Ren Fergusson has now left the company), which has given me additional concerns re buying this model. May now revert to plan A which was a future purchase of a Martin 000-18/ 000-18GE or possibly the 000-28EC. Cheers Rich |
#13
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For the cost of one of those Martin's you could score a really NICE ,used, USA made Guild...or two.
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2010 Guild F47R 2009 G & L Tribute "Legacy" 1975 Ovation Legend 1986 Ovation 1758 12 String 2007 Walden G2070 2008 Guild D55 Prototype 1998 Guild Starfire IV 2016 Guild Newark St. X-175 Sunburst 1996 Ovation 1768-7LTD " custom " |
#14
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Very true. Used US built Guild Dreadnoughts seem way underpriced on the used market. An F-20 or F-30 (or M-20 etc) will cost hundreds more than Guild's dread size models.
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Larrivee OM-03RE; O-01 Martin D-35; Guild F-212; Tacoma Roadking Breedlove American Series C20/SR Rainsong SFTA-FLE; WS3000; CH-PA Taylor GA3-12, Guild F-212 https://markhorning.bandcamp.com/music |