Maple Jumbo

[lapetrarca]

Just picked up a Guild Junior Jumbo that I like a lot. Have both the four and six string versions.

Both nice guitars.

[J Patrick]

…the Santa Cruz F is another small jumbo….

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by leew3

Taylor made what they called the 'GS maple' through the early 2000's. As the name implies, is the Grand Symphony body shape, maple B/S with a spruce top. A beautiful and great sounding guitar (I own a 2006 with a lovely 3 piece back).

I’ve heard it often and played it a couple of times…that guitar is “killer”!

[RJVB]

Dowina's GA shape is basically a small jumbo and it should exist in their maple-backed top of the line Acero series. They make pretty dawn good instruments too.

EDIT: and I meant pretty d•••n good )

[brad4d8]

https://guildguitars.com/g/f-55e-maple-in-natural/
As someone pointed out, also look for used Westerly made models, F50 blond or JF-30.

[MikeMcKee]

John Walker Ruby River

[Steve DeRosa]

Check out an old Westerly-built (USA) Guild F-40 - their answer to the Gibson J-185, and highly underrated...

[Stonehauler]

Originally Posted by cliff_the_stiff

Taylor’s 600 series is typically maple.

Of the Taylor line, the 618e is probably what the OP is looking for. It's a Grand Orchestra Maple back and sides and at 16 and 3/4" across, it's a big guitar

[occimoron]

Originally Posted by sinistral

Not sure of the exact dimensions, but I would definitely include the 618 in the Jumbo category. If only Taylor offered a stock version without the electronics.

Yeah, I've got a Taylor 614, but it has a long scale length. It is a great neck, but I want a short scale, 1-3/4 Nut. My Collings SJ looks and sounds beautiful, but it's got a fatter, long scale neck with 1-11/16 nut. So far, the J-185 is the only guitar I've seen with European maple back and sides, short scale, 1.72 inch nut width. The new ones are pretty pricey for a factory made guitar, and I'm not wild about the aesthetics.

[occimoron]

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa

Check out an old Westerly-built (USA) Guild F-40 - their answer to the Gibson J-185, and highly underrated...

I believe the Guilds come with a 1-11/16 nut width, long scale. I like that 1-3/4" nut, short scale. I tried an F-47 recently.

[occimoron]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

Iris make a AB model with J-185 like specifications - available in Maple.

The AB Model is our third model in the Iris Guitar Company line-up. Introduced in 2020, It’s modeled on the J-185 and would be considered a small jumbo.
Dimensions

Body Length: 20-3/8”
Total Length: 41”
Lower Bout: 16-1/8”
Upper Bout: 11-3/8”
Waist: 9-3/8”
Depth: 4-5/8”

Thanks, I just checked out the Iris website, and that AB looks pretty pretty good. I'll keep my eyes out for a used one; new ones have a 12 to 14 month wait!

[RJVB]

Originally Posted by occimoron

It is a great neck, but I want a short scale, 1-3/4 Nut.

Allow me to plug Dowina once more: they do custom builds, and you'll probably get European maple AND spruce (Dolomites). No idea about delays or the reality of ordering from the US but you could contact them (they're pretty [re]active on Instagram).

[sinistral]

Originally Posted by occimoron

Yeah, I've got a Taylor 614, but it has a long scale length. It is a great neck, but I want a short scale, 1-3/4 Nut. My Collings SJ looks and sounds beautiful, but it's got a fatter, long scale neck with 1-11/16 nut. So far, the J-185 is the only guitar I've seen with European maple back and sides, short scale, 1.72 inch nut width. The new ones are pretty pricey for a factory made guitar, and I'm not wild about the aesthetics.

Originally Posted by occimoron

Thanks, I just checked out the Iris website, and that AB looks pretty pretty good. I'll keep my eyes out for a used one; new ones have a 12 to 14 month wait!

Yeah, I wasn’t accounting for the scale length. I have a 614ce as well, and I don’t find it to be too bright, which is the common complaint about guitars with maple back and sides or Taylors more generally.

Regarding the Iris AB, if you limit yourself to used ones, you may not be able to find one with the specs you are looking for. The standard scale length for Iris guitars is 25", with a nut width of 1-11/16". You can get a 1-3/4” nut width without an upcharge, and I believe you could get a shorter scale length, but there might be an upcharge for that. If you order one, you can get exactly what you want (and I highly recommend the Adi top upgrade and the “crackle-gloss” finish, which I don’t see on their website, but I know they offer).

[Rockysdad]

Larrivee L body, Flamed Maple/Sitka Spruce
Great guitar !
16” lower bout, 25.5” scale length.

[PJ Rich]

Great discussion. The discussion about lower-bout size is interesting, but perhaps more on scale length is in order?

Jumbo sj-200 scale length seems to be 25.5 inches and these smaller jumbo j-185 and others seem to be 24.75 inches.