I read in an older issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine ( in the 1990's?) an article about someone who picked up a Guild guitar and was told it was the one John Hurt picked up in NY.... I remember the model because it is the one I have... a Guild GF-30. It is a shallow jumbo, probably the same size as a J-30 but thinner. Not much ornamentation, but it has maple sides and back, and the braces appear to be shaved a bit. The back does not have braces, but it is formed a little to reinforce it, kind of like the forming on a Starfire electric. The neck is three piece; mostly maple with a mahogany stripe up the back.

I can imagine that the guitar stood out to him in the shop because mine has excellent balance from string to string, the neck plays easy, and the sound does not boom like most other jumbos. I wouldn't trade it for any other guitar I've played. I don't know if it sounds as good on stage, but in my living room at home it sounds just right. I have played a lot of ordinary Guild guitars, but this one is extraordinary.

I have also seen and played an Epiphone acoustic from the early 50s (pre Gibson, I don't recall the model) that was essentially identical in appearance and construction, but it didn't play or sound anywhere as good as that Guild GF-30. It had some pretty cool construction details though.

RB