1996 Guild® F-65CE ANTIQUE SUNBURST, Very Good, Original Hard, $1,395.00
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This wonderful Guild F-65CE guitar was made in the fabled Westerly, Rhode Island, plant in 1996, judging from its serial number (AF650273) and the Guild website. Usually seen—if at all--in spruce and maple, a few were issued starting in 1994 with a solid figured maple top and beautiful curly maple back and sides, like this one, particularly stunning in this Antique Sunburst finish. Other characteristics include a thin body (3”) in a soft cutaway, a large tortoise pick guard, an oval sound hole with an abalone rosette, a bound ebony fingerboard with pearl block/abalone wedge inlay, gold Grover Rotomatic tuners, and a pearl “G” shield logo. The ebony bridge has white abalone-dot pins, coordinating beautifully with the multi-stripe and abalone inlaid rosette. This is one fine-looking guitar!
The maple F-65CE quickly became almost legendary, both for its good looks and for its powerful but wonderfully balanced sound; its last MSRP was $2300 (in 2001!), but it was discontinued when Fender took over the Guild operation. This particular guitar has been dominating lesser instruments for 19 years, and the resonance of its aged woods will continue to improve with its new generation of players. Its classic good looks make it stand out in a crowd, but it’s the huge, clear sound that will make other musicians turn around to check it out.
The Guild F-65CE has a "folk" or mini-jumbo body style, with a full 16" rounded lower bout but a more pinched waist than a dreadnought, making it easier to handle for many players without sacrificing its powerful bass. The neck is thin and fast, with a 25 5/8” scale, the nut is a comfortable 1 11/16,” and the action is currently set up at 4/32” at the 12th fret low E. Despite its 3” depth, this configuration makes the F-65CE surprisingly resonant when played unplugged, but when the Fishman Prefix On-Board Blender System electronics are turned loose, the clarity and power are amazing!
Considering its 19 years of music-making, it’s not surprising that there are a few cosmetic items to report: there are some small dings and scratches, such as the chip in the finish at the base of the heel and a ¼” ding in the back of the neck. There is some slight fret wear, especially in the first three frets, but nowhere near enough wear to necessitate replacement or even dressing. There is a professionally repaired break in the binding on the lower side of the neck at the cutaway. This is not quite a museum piece.
However, while it is a truly attractive instrument, it is also not just a pretty curiosity, but a real Guild, “Made to be Played,” and it has been making music and turning heads for a generation. It has now been thoroughly checked out and set up, and Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, it will pass into the hands of a player able to make music and turn heads for a generation or two to come.
The included original hard shell case is in good condition, with the Guild logo discreetly displayed on the arched top. All of the five latches work perfectly, the plush lining is soft and odor-free, and structurally it is solid as a rock. It fits perfectly, of course, offers outstanding protection, and is a cool vintage complement for this beautiful vintage guitar.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashiers and personal checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I have made every effort to describe and illustrate this guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. Its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.
Product Specs:
Condition: Very good
Make: Guild
Model: F-65CE
Finish: Antique Sunburst
Categories: Built-in Electronics, Jumbo
Year: 1996
Made In: United States
Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.