1988 Guild JF-50NT Jumbo Vintage Acoustic Guitar Spruce & Rosewood, USA-Made w/ Case

Up for sale, a 1988 Guild JF-50NT Jumbo acoustic guitar in 100% original condition, complete with original hardshell case. Crafted in the USA at Guild’s Westerly, RI factory, this absolute cannon of a guitar was only available in ‘87-’88, exceedingly rare and one of only a couple hundred ever made. This JF-50NT was produced during the George Gruhn and Kim Walker-helmed era of Guild production, featuring solid rosewood back and sides with an X-braced Sitka spruce top and a full 17” wide lower bout. This jumbo is a true powerhouse with deep resonance and clear, ringing sustain. A satisfying strummer, the JF50 offers plenty of warmth and tonal breadth, with a rich, blooming bass register that delivers a smooth growl when digging in hard with a flatpick. Trebles are sweet and punchy, and midrange frequencies are complex and textured. Weighing 5lbs 8oz, this Guild has been professionally setup with 12-53 bronze strings and comfortable action. The mahogany neck features a slender C-shaped profile carve with nicely rounded shoulders, measuring .805” deep at the 1st fret and .890” deep at the 9th. The ebony fretboard features pearloid dot inlay and original slender fretwire which shows wear relegated to the “cowboy chord” range. There are notable grooves beneath the B and High E strings on frets 1-3, and progressively fainter wear beneath the plain strings until fret 7. This JF-50 plays cleanly up the 25 5/8” scale with 14 frets clear of the body and a straight neck with a responsive, optimally adjusted truss rod. The nut measures just shy of a full 1 11/16”. The “snakehead”-shaped headstock (another Gruhn-era spec) features a pearloid Guild logo and Chesterfield inlay. The original Grover Rotomatic tuners turn smooth and hold accurate pitch. On the body, the solid ebony bridge sits flush with the top and the original saddle sits quite low, yet offers easy-playing action in every register. Action currently sits at 7/64” on the bass side at the 12th fret, and 5/64” on the treble side, well within spec for a proper setup. The Natural nitro lacquer gloss finish is framed by multi-ply binding on the top and back, exhibiting prominent pick wear, particularly into the spruce on the treble-side edge soundhole edge. There are various dings across the top and back (more prominent on top), modest buckle wear across the back, and two notable crack repairs behind the bridge, both of which are structurally sound. There are two additional smaller cracks in the rosewood rim at the bass-side waist, also professionally addressed. The gloss finish on the neck profile is clean and smooth with just a couple minor marks. The original Guild-branded hardshell case is included. The tolex has begun peeling off in a few locations, but the case is entirely functional, with original latches and handle intact (one handle mount is slightly split).