Guild GAD-JF30 Natural 2004 All-Solid Jumbo – AAAA Maple, MOP Floral Inlays, Ebony
Time Machine Guitar

For sale is a rarely played 2004 Guild GAD-JF-30 Jumbo Acoustic Guitar. This is a highly resonant, all-solid tone wood engine with low action and phenomenal playability, a player. It still has the protective plastic factory plastic on the pick guard and case logo. Almost certainly coming from a MIRC warehouse, the guitar had sat for 22 years un-played. Action is low and the guitar is plays easily. The entire saddle is in place, uncut. There is no fret wear.

The GAD-JF30 is a premium tier model in the Guild Acoustic Design (GAD) series. This is the highly coveted 1st edition model with high-end cosmetic appointments in line with the historic US-made JF30. Appointments include premium 1970s-style Mother-of-Pearl inlays, all-Mahogany bindings and Grade AAAA solid Flamed Maple back and sides. Later versions switched to simple white dot markers and plastic bindings.

Additional premium appointments include solid Ebony fretboard and bridge, Grover Rotomatic tuners, solid bone nut and and solid bone saddle with MOP inlays. The listing also offers the Original Guild Deluxe Tweed Arched Hard Shell Case with plush interior. While the exterior tweed fabric shows some minor wear, all latches, hinges, and the handle are 100% functional and structurally perfect.

Condition is Excellent. Offered as B-Stock, at Guitar Center where I got it, a quick inspection showed indications of MIRC handling. MIRC (Musical Instrument Reclamation Corporation), in Nashville, buys thousands of guitars that do not meet inspection qualifications, due to what might be something as simple as a light scratch, nick or finish flaw. They inspect and correct problems as possible, set them up, and in some cases make no change at all, then simply sell them at highly discounted prices to many major and independent outlets.

This particular guitar has slight traces of white paint under the finish at the top of the headstock that are completely smooth to the touch and entirely cosmetic (see image). As well there are a few almost invisible cosmetic flaws. It was a quick MIRC turnaround.

MIRC handling explains why the last 3 digits of the neck heel block number are safely blacked out and a new serial number pasted over the label serial number. As part of protocol, MIRC also stamped a small “used” indication on the back of the headstock (even though a guitar may not be used). These safeguards where done to void the original warranty, as ownership had transferred to MIRC.

By decoding the untouched internal 10-digit heel block stamp (0402280XXX), this has been verified and confirmed by premium appointments as a highly desirable, very early first-year production model from February 2004.

I’ve had the guitar for two months, but stopped playing it early on when I got a Gibson jumbo unexpectedly at a low price. Otherwise, the Guild is in Excellent shape, entirely intact and ready to be enjoyed daily. After playing it again, I would absolutely keep this if I could; it’s an inspiring play. I found the guitar leading me to improvise on material I already knew towards revisions in music I thought was already finished – the kind of guitar a player wants. But the Gibson makes it no longer necessary and I need to move on to a different guitar in its place.

SPECIFICATIONS

Material & Construction

• Top Wood: Solid Sitka Spruce

• Back & Sides Wood: Grade AAAA Solid Flamed Maple

• Neck: One-piece Mahogany

• Neck Joint: Traditional dovetail neck joint

• Sculpted x-bracing

• Fretboard & Bridge: Solid Ebony

• Mahogany Wood Bindings front and back

exclusive to early run 2004 production

• Nut & Saddle: Genuine Bone, saddle is compensated

• First Generation 1970s-style MOP Floral Pearl Inlays

exclusive to early run 2004 production

• Guild and Chesterfield MOP Headstock Inlays

exclusive to early run 2004 production

• Tuners: Grover Rotomatic

Dimension & Geometry

• Body Style: Jumbo, based on Guild’s 1954 jumbo blueprint

• Scale Length: 25.5 inches

• Nut Width: 1-11/16 inches

• Fretboard Radius: 12 inches

• Number of Frets: 20 frets

Measured

• Upper Bout width: 12-1/8 inches

• Waist: 10-1/8 inches

• Lower Bout width: 16-5/8 inches

• Body Upper depth: 3-13/16 inches

• Body Lower depth: 4-3/4 inches

• Length: 42-3/4 inches

Case

• Guild Deluxe Arched Tweed Hard Shell Case

Pictures are part of description. Please ask any questions. This listing is also posted elsewhere and may be sold via other venue. All speed possible will be used to remove listings as soon as the offering is sold. Thanks for looking.