Guild F-30NT Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1968), made in Hoboken, NJ, serial # AI-1931, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard.
The often very fine sounding Guild flattops of the 1960's are surprisingly hard to find these days, despite being a popular choice in their day. This is a 1968 natural-top F-30, the midline, mid-size model in Guild's line. The F-30 stood in the company's line above the all mahogany M-20 (famously regarded as the "Nick Drake" guitar) and F-20, the same size and shape with a spruce top. The somewhat larger F-30 is more similar in size to a Martin 000, and is a smooth finger-or-flatpicking guitar with a vibrant midrange sound which works equally well as a strummed chord machine. This is an extremely well-built and responsive guitar, much lighter than Rhode-Island made 1970's Guilds and easily on par-or better- compared with similar size Martin or Gibson offerings from the same era.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 15 1/4 in. (38.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). This F-30 is in very fine condition overall-the guitar has had a neckset so the bridge top has not been lowered as is common with many of these. The finish has only minor signs of wear, and is still quite bright and unfaded. The back has more wear and scuffing than the front, and the top center seal has been resealed. The plastic headstock veneer has shrunken slightly as is also common with these but has less lifting than many. Overall one of the cleanest of these we have had; and a fine playing, and a very good sounding one as well. Excellent - Condition.
