Often eclipsed by the shadow of its more famous sibling, the dreadnought, the humble jumbo doesn't always get the attention it deserves. While this large-body acoustic is capable of delivering a room-filling tone that is full of ground-shaking bass, it can often be ignored in favor of a less cumbersome alternative – sacrificing tone for playability.
Well, what if you didn't need to compromise? Enter the Guild F-55. Guild's jumbo is a symphony of bold curved lines, complimenting a traditional recipe of tonewoods that culminate in an instrument that sounds just as good as it looks.
Featuring a tight-grained solid Sitka spruce top with solid Indian rosewood back and sides, scalloped X-bracing, an elegant mahogany neck with walnut center strip, and a jet-black ebony fingerboard, this guitar perfectly harkens back to Guild's everlasting legacy, providing a timeless tone that is impossible not to love.
The spec sheet continues with the classic "V-block" inlays that pepper the fingerboard, while a set of gilded Gotoh tuners crown a large headstock with a classy abalone Guild logo. The entire instrument is then finished in a beautiful nitrocellulose lacquer and comes with a Guild-branded wooden case with a green interior.
Build quality & design
There is no mistaking that this is a high-end guitar that's been expertly crafted in Oxnard, California
Lifting the lid on the suitably retro hard case, I'm greeted with an absolutely stunning acoustic guitar that would look just as at home in the swinging sixties as it does today. The tight, even grain pattern of the pale solid spruce top is a work of art, perfectly framed by brilliant white binding and an ornate rosette of abalone and ABS rings.
The timeless charm continues to the rear of the guitar. The solid Indian rosewood back and sides are fully displayed under the sheen of the nitro finish, showcasing the high-quality woods used. There is no mistaking that this is a high-end guitar that's been expertly crafted in Oxnard, California.
Turning my attention to the neck, and praise for the F-55E shows no signs of slowing down. The mahogany neck with walnut center is every bit as gorgeous as the rest of the instrument. The shadowy black ebony board is illuminated with Guild's V-block inlay design, which is made from a combination of mother-of-pearl and abalone – continuing the elegant aesthetic of this fine guitar.
Playability
All things considered, the Guild F-55E is a joy to play, with every strum making me want to play more
Thankfully, it's not all style over substance, though. The C-shaped neck is slim without being skinny, and the 1 11/16" nut width leaves plenty of space without feeling too wide. The fretwork is on point, too. The Jescar 43080 fret wire is skillfully installed, leading to a playing surface that is an absolute joy to navigate.
Now, it goes without saying that jumbos, by their very nature, are large guitars, and some players can find them overwhelming to hold. Make no mistake, this is an enormous guitar, but it never feels like it when you are playing.
For reference, my go-to model is a J-45 Standard, and while the F-55E looks massive when compared to the Gibson workhorse, I never felt like I had to switch up my technique to accommodate the Guild's substantial size.
All things considered, the Guild F-55E is a joy to play, with every strum making me want to play more.
Sound
Acoustic guitar shapes explained: how they've changed and how they affect the sound
Build quality, check. Playability, check. Now, let's see if Guild can go for the hat-trick. Tonally, jumbos are known to be bellowing instruments with plenty of volume, bass, and top-end highs. Thankfully, the F-55 has these qualities in spades.
The sound is warm and inviting, with a powerful low-end thump that only comes from a jumbo acoustic. If I were to compare it to its stablemate, the maple-constructed Gibson SJ-200, I'd say the F-55 has additional mid-range, with a more vocal quality to the notes. The Gibson, on the other hand, is most definitely brighter, thanks to the maple back and sides, with a sharper attack.
Now, I'm not a particularly loud singer, but when using the F-55 to accompany myself through a few ropey renditions of some campfire classics, it quickly became evident that I wasn't going to be able to compete with the volume produced by this guitar. To say this model is loud is an understatement. So, if you are seeking a guitar that can be heard from across the house without being anywhere near an amplifier, then this is the flat-top for you.
That said, you do have the ability to plug this acoustic in if you need to. The amplified tone of the F-55 comes courtesy of the hugely popular LR Baggs Anthem pickup system. This discrete preamp perfectly combines a miniature condenser microphone with the LR Baggs Element pickup, delivering a true-to-life tone that sounds open, bright, and natural. Tucked away inside the soundhole, there are controls for volume, mix, and phase, making this a very versatile system for those playing live shows.
Final verdict
Okay, let's get straight to the point. I love the Guild F-55E. For me, it's the quintessential Guild model. From its traditionally handsome good looks to its extraordinary, all-encompassing tone, the F-55 stands tall as one of the best jumbo acoustic guitars ever made.
Yes, this is a large guitar, and I can see it being too cumbersome for smaller players, but unfortunately, that's the price you pay for this room-filling tone.
That said, if you like the specs of this model but fancy something more manageable, I'd suggest taking a look at the F-55's little brother, the D-55E. Keeping the appointments the same, the dreadnought variation is significantly smaller than the jumbo and still delivers an outstanding tone – albeit with noticeably less bass.
Specifications
- Body Shape: F - Jumbo
- Body Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
- Top Bracing: Scalloped X
- Back & Sides: Solid Indian Rosewood
- Neck: Mahogany with Walnut Center Strip
- Scale Length: 25 5/8" (651mm) "Neck Shape: C Shape
- Nut Width: 1 11/16" (43mm)
- Fingerboard: Ebony
- Fingerboard Radius: 12" (305mm) "Frets: 20 Jescar 43080
- Finish: Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Bridge: Ebony
- Tuning Machines: Gotoh SE700 Open-Gear
- Contact: Guild
