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Photos provided by Guild Guitars
When an opportunity to came along to review the Guild F40 Standard I had no hesitation. Especially with an acoustic guitar that has a high price tag on it. Maybe for some artists it is an average cost for a high-quality product. However, my application normally would call for an electric guitar. Acoustic guitars are not out of my wheelhouse, and I am quite familiar with how they should look, sound and feel. With all products that I review, I immediate look at the packaging of the contents. Especially since it is shipping from California.
PACKAGING: I couldn’t complain about the packaging. Even with a meticulous eye, I couldn’t find any reason to pick at the way it arrived by the Manufacturer. Thus, the average consumer of the Guild product would be pleasantly surprised. However, the awakening didn’t happen until I unsealed the packaging.
THE CASE: Gig bag I would be remised by defining it as one. The black hard-shell case was an indication that it contained something of high value. The contents were fragile in nature. I literally thought Guild had prepared the F40 Standard just to impress me. As I looked on their website, it mentioned that it came with a hard case. So, my bubble burst for a moment. However, if I had been a consumer, I would have been amazed. Especially after opening the case to smell a hint of Mahogany wood and lacquer. Followed by this green velvet material to prevent scratches or dings to the guitar. After 30 minutes of staring at the guitar, I decided to pick it up for the official examination of the F40. This is where it usually gets better.
Guild F40 design and sound: I am extremely patient with the sound quality of a guitar when it comes out of the box. Not all guitars come from the factory tuned. Even the ones that indicate they are “built to play”. Yes, many guitars arrive without a tune. If they were tuned before they left the plant, and arrived sounding terrible, it is a sign of poor machine heads (tuners).
However, out of the box I was pleasantly surprised. The F140 Standard was tuned and ready to go. The machine heads were tight and fit for the head stock on this model. Guild uses only the finest tuning machines. These machines are pre-lubricated, die-cast sealed tuners that do not require periodic oiling for smooth operation. A small tension adjustment screw is located at the end of each tuner's button that also holds the button in place. The machine head can often be overlooked as one of the most important components on a guitar. Regardless of if your guitar is acoustic or electric, machine heads are crucial for a great experience with your investment. Especially with a guitar with an MSRP at $2,599.00.
Guild F-40 Specifications
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The sound was impeccable. If you could imagine an angelic sound leaving you with a sense of all, that is what the F40 is. That is the shortest answer I could come up with that would describe the sounds emanating from the Guild F40. I never enjoyed strumming a guitar than I do with this Guild model. Even the most novice of guitar players could experience the sound of a professional with just 4 chords alone.
I have reviewed acoustic guitars that have the same high-end brand name associated with it. There isn’t another acoustic guitar that has come close to the sound and performance of the F40 standard. At the price point of $2,599.00 a good investment for beginner guitarists? Yes. I believe, that starting beginners with guitars that sound horrible only increase the likelihood that they will fail. When I first started playing, I had this no-name acoustic that required several modifications for it to sound normal. The bridge was extremely high, and the wood used made the guitar heavier than what it needed to be. It seemed like a chore, instead of an enjoyable experience.
The sound, durability and workmanship make the F40 the perfect investment for a guitarist at all levels.
Please check back for additional feedback regarding the F40 Standard in a future issue of Guitar Thrills Magazine.
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