Back in the ’60s, Simon and Garfunkel were one of the best acts around. Though their setup was very simple, two voices and an acoustic guitar. During this time, Paul Simon was using a Guild acoustic guitar (the F-30 Special) which produced the most perfect acoustic guitar tone that I can think of. Warm, balanced, and extremely responsive.
Sometime in the ’70s and later, Paul Simon played many different acoustic guitars. Though something seemed lost in his acoustic tone I feel. Nothing sounded quite as beautiful as his Guild guitar.
This has led me to become very interested in a Guild acoustic guitar. I believe they are a real competitor to Martin and Gibsons.
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Each guitar and model has its own characteristics: the Guild you mention is big body, solid top with enough bracing to stand in for a conga drum. Then there are the strings Paul was using to take into account..next there are the differences in tone and sound between examples of the same model: one F30 won’t sound like another F30.
I have an F30R and it gets very close to Paul’s tone. Experimenting with strings is a big part as you mentioned. I’m finding I can get the “Old Friends” tone with silk and steel strings.
This person has missed ALL of the pertinent issues here! I agree, there will be variations within like model types. But in the 1960’s, when Paul bought and played the Guild F-30, one would find only slight and subtle differences between and within the F-30 model. Same with string type. If one is looking for that exact Paul Simon sound or tone, one needs to look at what kind of microphone he used, what kind of pre-amp, what kind of mixer board he used and what were his settings? How were the acoustics where he recorded, as opposed to yours? All of these will affect the tone WAY more than the things that this person has stated or suggested.
Paul played more than one F-30 during those years. If you examine them closely in photos you will be able to note the differences. The earlier one had a smaller pick guard and a volute on the back of the neck. The latter F-30 (on display at the rock-n-roll Hall of Fame) had a larger pick guard and no volute on back of the neck. I seem to remember reading in a guitar magazine where Paul Simon was interviewed concerning having Guild redesign the F-30. If memory serves me correctly he had the dimensions changed on the body making it slightly larger and thicker. I also think there might have been some special work to the internal bracing as well. And he had the back and sides made of Brazilian Rosewood as the F-30s of that time manufactured by Guild had Mahogany back and sides. According to Hans Moust, author of “The Guild Guitar Book,” Simon had a couple of these made. Getting back to the magazine interview I mentioned earlier Simon said that Guild made a limited run of the Guild F-30R Specials at the time.
I’ve played an F-47-NT since the 70’s, and I’m trying to solve some problems. I love the richness of the tone, but the guitar needs some work. Fix or replace? Hmm. I came to this site for info, in fact. I am almost exactly Paul Simon’s height, so I have small hands and short arms. Unfortunately, I don’t have his strength. It’s been tough to find a guitar that projects, has a small scale body with a narrow waist (I’m a female – stuff has to fit in the waist), great bracing, a narrow enough fretboard, and is of good enough quality that you can grow into for a long while. Does anybody know the difference between the F-30 and F-47NT? Would going down a size, if that’s pertinent, help my issues? Do they still make these? And who is the best person to work on mine if I go that route? I’ll appreciate any information I can get. Thanks.
If the F-30 is smaller than the F-47NT, then absolutely it’ll make a difference. Best to try it out first. If you like the way your F-47NT sounds and think the neck could feel good to you if it was fixed up, then I would suggest finding a reasonably priced tech to do the repairs. If the guitar is too far gone, or would cost too much to restore, consider buying a F-30.. but that’ll run you at least a grand.
He played a Guild 12 string guitar at Monterey Pop in 1967. It’s on YouTube, him and art singing Homeward Bound. Check it out.
I was VERY lucky to purchase one of the few F-30 Specials back in 1970 from Mannys in NYC. Traded it for a Martin D-28s, sorry every day. I’ve tried many guitars since, but still look every week in the adds for a used one. I think all were bought by performing artists. Live and learn.