M240E Troubadour

107
OctOber 2017 Guitarist
reviewGUILD TROUBADOUR M-40E AND M-240E
rattlingly unpleasant. It’s not too shabby
through our VOX AC15 when EQ’d,
furthering this guitar’s potential versatility.
Verdict
There’s two different continuations of the
F-20 legacy here, and we admire Guild’s
commitment to offering distinct new
models to the market that each bring a
new experience to players. The caveat
is they’re not trying to please everyone
with a vanilla all-rounder approach.
The addition of the soundhole pickup to
the M-240E is a new option for gigging
players in a hotly contested area of the
market and currently a unique out-of-
the-box proposition. And the decision
to update the F-20 with a new name
and wider neck means it is not merely a
reissue in satin – though the classic F-20
shaped void that it now leaves is somewhat
surprising to see. But fingerstylists
especially may well delight in the change
and the result is a vintage voice of its own
in the pantheon of contemporary small-
bodied electro acoustics.
GUILD M40E
TROUBADOUR
PRICE: £1,785 (inc hardcase)
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Concert electro acoustic
TOP: Solid Sitka spruce
BACK/SIDES: Solid African
mahogany
MAX RIM DEPTH: 107mm
MAX BODY WIDTH: 350mm
NECK: Mahogany
SCALE LENGTH: 629mm (24.75”)
TUNERS: Guild vintage-style open
gear in nickel with cream buttons,
20:1 ratio
NUT/WIDTH: Bone, 44.5mm
FINGERBOARD: Indian rosewood,
305mm (12”) radius
FRETS: 20
BRIDGE/SPACING: Indian
rosewood/57mm
ELECTRICS: LR Baggs Element with
volume and tone control
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 1.3/2.86
RANGE OPTIONS: M-40 non-electro
model available in natural (£1,609)
and Antique Sunburst (£1,699);
M-140 concert-shape with solid
African mahogany back and sides
available with or without Fishman
Sonitone electronics (£699 and
£795 in natural only)
LEFT-HANDERS: No
FINISHES: Natural (as reviewed),
Antique Sunburst (£1,875)
GUILD M240E
TROUBADOUR
PRICE: £445 (inc gigbag)
ORIGIN: China
TYPE: Concert electro-acoustic
TOP: Solid Sitka spruce
BACK/SIDES: Laminated mahogany
MAX RIM DEPTH: 107mm
MAX BODY WIDTH: 350mm
NECK: Mahogany
SCALE LENGTH: 629mm (24.75”)
TUNERS: Guild vintage-style open
gear nickel, 14:1 ratio
NUT/WIDTH: Bone/42.86 mm
FINGERBOARD: Rosewood, 406mm
(16”) radius
FRETS: 20
BRIDGE/SPACING: Compensated
bone/55mm
ELECTRICS: DeArmond Tone Boss
magnetic humbucker soundhole-
mounted pickup (passive)
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 1.3/2.86
RANGE OPTIONS: The non-
Troubadour M240E Archback
available in natural with Guild’s AP-1
Active Acoustic Piezo Pickup (£385
with Kelly)
LEFT-HANDERS: No
FINISHES: Vintage sunburst
(as reviewed)
3. The traditional Guild
headstock on the
M-240E Troubadour
is adorned with open
gear tuners with
14:1 ratio
4. The M-240E’s
DeArmond Tone Boss
passive magnetic
pickup will be available
to buy separately
for £72.99
5. The M-40E’s 57mm
string spacing at the
bridge is wider than
the old F-20’s and it
makes for a distinct
playing experience
Pros: Good playability, installed
soundhole pickup offers something
different in a crowded marketplace
Cons: Action on our test model
is a little buzzy, no upper strap
button supplied
Pros Strong and muscular highs for
a small body, an update that isn’t
afraid to make bold changes
CONS F-20 fans may feel let down
with the neck changes and may not
suit smaller-handed players
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GIT425.rev_guild.indd 107 9/7/17 5:41 PM