Acoustic Guitar Magazine | 7 years ago

As new guitars start to emerge from Guild’s Oxnard, California, plant, I am hearing a characteristic sound that’s probably the result of luthier Ren Ferguson’s finely attuned sonic palette. The latest to emerge is the M-40E Troubadour, which features a solid Sitka spruce top on a solid African mahogany body. Last year, I reviewed the all-mahogany Guild M-20, also known as the Nick Drake guitar, one of the first guitars produced by the nascent Guild factory in Southern California. From the M-40E’s beautiful satin-antique burst finish to its sparkling midrange, I see and hear striking similarities to the M-20. The M-40E is based on the 1960s-era Guild F-20 model. It is a concert-sized instrument that packs a punch, especially when plugged in.

Looks can be deceiving. With its smoky sunburst finish and diminutive size, from a short distance, the M-40E could almost be called cute. The grain of the solid Sitka spruce top beautifully shows through the finish. The African mahogany back and sides are stained Cabernet Red. The open-geared tuners, with their cream buttons, have a cool vintage vibe. There are some other nice touches, such as the bone nut and saddle, and the Indian rosewood fretboard and bridge. I’m not a huge fan of the binding, which is listed as “cream” although it looks a couple of shades whiter, but that’s a small quibble. A peek inside the guitar shows an X-braced top with some interesting little diamond-shaped additions. The frets are dressed nicely and overall workmanship is impeccable.

The satin finish feels silky smooth against your body and your fretting hand, a feature that translates into easy navigation of the rosewood fretboard. The C-shaped neck profile and 1-3/4-inch nut, as well as a comfortable 2-1/4-inches of string spacing at the bridge, provide a comfortable fit for fingerpicking.
At a Glance: Guild M-40E Troubadour

BODY Concert size; solid Sitka spruce top; solid African mahogany back and sides; satin finish

NECK Mahogany; 20-fret rosewood fingerboard; 24-3/4-inch scale; 1-3/4-inch nut; Guild nickel vintage-style open-geared tuners

ELECTRONICS LR Baggs Element VTC pickup

CASE Guild hardshell case with built-in humidifier

PRICE $1,599 (for M-40, natural finish, no pickup); $1,899.99 with options as tested (M-40E, with pickup and sunburst finish)

Made in U.S.

MORE INFO: http://acousticguitar.com/guild-m-40e-troubadour-review/