I recently purchased the Guild Model JF30 Jumbo Acoustic guitar from ZoZoMusic. At the time of my purchase I was unaware that this Guild line of Guitars is made in China. I thought that this may be a problem as far a quality goes.

 Years (and years) ago I was a very familiar face at a local music store where, hanging majestically on the wall, was a big, blond, jumbo Guild acoustic that, to the dismay of the store owner, I'd come and play about twice a week leaving my fingerprints all over the beautiful blond. It was my dream guitar, but well beyond my financial means. I vowed to someday own one. Of course, when I camr across the GAD-JF30 on Ebay, looking in the photos as grand as that Guild of my youth, at less than half of it's retail price and less than a quarter of the price of that Guild that I'd played so many years ago, suffice it to say I was hot to trot to get my hands on it.

 This particular seller sold Guild seconds, guitars that had some tiny flaw that prevented Guild from selling it at retail. ZoZoMusic buys these guitars and has whatever flaw professionally repaired. In the case of my jumbo blond there was a tiny, almost impossible to detect crack just below the bridge which ZoZoMusic to pains to point out. The crack was repaired in such a was that I need a magnifying glass to see.

 When I received the guitar I was focused on quality, as I'd by then found out that it was made in China. By all appearences this guitar was every bit as well-made as the American-made Guild I had coveted thirty years ago. The wood was outstanding! The flamed maple sides and back were absolutely stunning and flawless. The sitka spruce top, mohogany neck, and ebony fingerboard were equally beautiful. But, the most impressive thing was the construction. This beautiful guitar was put together as well as any $3000 Martin or Gibson.

 Now the sound. My Guild has the volume that you would expect, and hope for, in a jumbo-bodied guitar without being overpowering. The highs have a sustain that you can still hear the next morning and the lows can be felt as a soothing vibration in your chest. The MOP inlays on the head, fretboard and on each ebony bridgepin are flawlessly executed. Needless to say, any reservations I may have had about it's eastern origin were, well, needless.

 The Guild GAD-JF30 is, in my opinion, as good as any guitar priced at three times it's suggested retail price of $1200.00, and to get it for the price ($499) that I did was the best investment I've ever made. I believe these guitars will be sought after for many years to come. I'm sure glad I got mine now!

 It took 30 years but I finally have that beautiful blond that I'd lusted after so long ago and she aged so much better than me!