Guild Crossroads F45-CE Acoustic/Electric Natural 1982
Guild Crossroads F45-CE, natural finish, made in USA 1982. The 80s was a wild time in the guitar universe, and big stuff was happening at both Fender and Gibson, as well as everywhere else. Guild formed in 1952, and enjoyed great sales of their sturdy flat and arch top models through the folk music boom of the 1960s and 70s. By the 80s, folk was experiencing a downturn, and the universe of shred/glam/metal had taken hold in a big way, and Guild were producing wild pointy electric guitars alongside their more conventional offerings. Some of that shred-DNA got mixed up with the folk stuff, and they produced the Crossroads series: acoustic flat tops, but with a 24-fret shred-friendly neck, a florentine cutaway body, mini oval soundhole and a fun arched mahogany back. It's a quirky recipe, but it's really quite cool in a era-specific kinda way. The neck is truly very comfortable: it's got a 42mm nut and a slim C shape akin to many Strat style guitars we get through, and the upper access is certainly far beyond what's usually possible. The intonation all the way up to the top frets is pretty impressive too, it really is a nicely executed instrument. The top is made from some bookmatched super finely grained spruce, and the back and sides have the lovely detailed grain and rich red-brown colour of quality mahogany too; it's made from pretty serious tonewoods. The unplugged tone is dry, detailed and warm, with a pleasing crisp snap to the treble, airy wide mids and a focused, musical bass. The original TASS pickup has been replcaed with a ribbon system by LR Baggs, and as per usual with their stuff, it's an accurate, enjoyable sound without many feedback issues. I reckon these Westerly era Guild acoustics are some of the most underrated USA-made guitars going around, so nab yourself a super-playable 80s folk-shred beast while the going is good.
Model: Guild Crossroads F45-CE
Made: USA, 1982, Westerley Rhode Island factory
Serial: GB100484
Finish: natural, gloss poly
Body: solid flat sitka spruce top, solid mahogany sides, laminate arched mahogany back, 408mm across, 94mm deep
Neck: mahogany, rosewood fretboard, 24 frets, 16" radius, 24.75" scale, 42mm nut, dovetail join, slim C shape
Weight: 2.475kg
Mods: pickup replaced
Pickup: LR Baggs Ribbon Transducer (RT) System, active w/ volume and tone controls
Accessories: original case
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has MARKS. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, MARKS. The back has MARKS. The sides have MARKS. The front has MARKS.
Overall: very good condition (7/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good. Setup with 12/54 Moonshiners strings.
Fret Life: 8/10, minor wear only