An upper-class acoustic for a plebeian price.

The GAD-30 R from Guild is a stunningly good guitar for a very moderate price. It features the orchestra body style with many quality appointments: Solid Sitka spruce top and solid Indian rosewood back, sides and bridge. Ebony fingerboard on mahogany neck, bone nut and saddle, wood bindings, mother-of-pearl inlays, tortoise shell pickguard and abalone dot inlays are all features you'd expect at a much higher price. And it includes a Guild hardshell case.

Guild GAD-30R Acoustic Design Series Orchestra Features:

• Body Style: Orchestra
• Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
• Bracing: Guild Scalloped
• Back: Solid Indian Rosewood
• Sides: Solid Indian Rosewood
• Bridge: Indian Rosewood Pin Bridge
• Neck: 1-Piece Mahogany
• Fretboard: Ebony (12" Radius)
• Width at Nut: 1-3/4"
• No. of Frets: 20
• Scale Length: 25 1/2"
• Hardware: Chrome
• Machine Heads: Grover Sta-Tite Tuners
• Finish: High Gloss (Polyester)
• Dovetail Neck Joint
• Ornate Mother-of-Pearl Position Inlays
• Abalone Side Dot Position Inlays
• Mother-of-Pearl Headstock Logo
• Ebony Bridge Pins with MOP Dots
• Ebony End Pin with MOP Dot
• Bone Nut and Saddle
• Wood Body Bindings
• Tortoise Shell Pickguard
• Back Center Wood Mosaic Inlay
• Case: Includes Deluxe Hardshell Case
• Strings: Replace with Guild L350 Phosphor Bronze,
• p/n 3500350000, Gauges .012, .016, .025, .032, .042, .053

Guild GAD-30R Acoustic Design Series Orchestra Includes:

• Guild hardshell case

Order today and treasure it for a lifetime.

Guild GAD-30R Acoustic Design Series Orchestra

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Average of 19 User Ratings

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Best Acoustic Bang for the buck...

Posted by DD from Alexandria, VA on Jul 14, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Amateur Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Blues, Rock, Folk

As noted by several reviews here, this is a great acoustic guitar for the price. The materials are very nice, producing a good tone and feel, not to mention it's very pleasing to the eye. I bought the natural wood grain, and I couldn't be more pleased as it looks much better in person than in the photos here. The workmanship is that of a guitar easily twice its price, and it plays just as good as many acoustics I've played in the $1200-1800 range. That said, if you've ever played a top-end Martin or something in that range, this Guild is not that... but you wouldn't expect it to be! It's lightweight and a good size, not producing a booming resonance but a warm, rich sound. As also noted, the case is a vintage looking tweed that was much better than I expected to come with the guitar. Overall, this is a 4.5* instrument when you factor everything in... there are better acoustics out there, but none that even get close to sniffing the price of this little gem.

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A Little Gem

Posted by Dan-O from Salt Lake City on Apr 14, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: hobbyist

Reviewer's Play Style: country blues

I just bought mine very slightly used. I already own a Martin D-16, Gibson J-200, and Guild CO-2. I wanted something like the Guild, but less pricey, that I would feel more comfortable traveling with. I thought this might be very much like it, and I was right. Everything about it made me feel at home immediately. I did change the strings and bridge pins. It came with Extra Light strings, and I put on light Martin "Eric Claptons". The ebony bridge pins were not in good shape, one was split and a couple more were ragged. I put in Tusq. Other than that, this thing is beautifully made, no excess glue inside, I love the ebony fingerboard like my CO-2. I have not done a side-by-side tone comparison, no need. This GAD-30R is an amazing value, plays like guitars costing many times more. I will be happy with this for a long time, and no longer fear the airlines. At least not quite so much.

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I love my GAD30R

Posted by GuildGirl from NJ on Jan 4, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: beginner guitarist

Reviewer's Play Style: fingerstyle

I've owned this guitar for about 8 months now. I'm a beginner, but have made great progress with this baby. Even when I mess up, this guitar sounds great. After trying some different string set-ups, I went back to the original strings she came with - GUILD phosphor bronze lights. I am an average sized woman and this guitar is just so comfortable in my arms.

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It's A Very Convenient Guitar

Posted by Clydesdale from Jackson, Mississippi on Nov 4, 2008

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Folk Rock

I have owned my Guild GAD 30 for some time now, probably about six months. I have played it for family and friends and around the house. I would say it is a great guitar for the money. The wood is beautiful, the tone is superb for its size and the case is cool too. The only thing I would not do with it is play it at a large venue gig. It just doesn't project well enough for that kind of gig.

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The perfect acoustic.

Posted by Ian Alderman from Eielson AFB, AK on Jul 21, 2008

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Rock

So yes, all 5 across the board may be quite a bit biased, but this guitar deserves it. For the price, you really can't do much better, considering what all you get from this guitar. You get ALL solid woods, Grover Sta-Tites, real wood binding, a cool Tweed case, and my dealer threw in a whole bunch of stuff free of charge. It is light, but a durable guitar to say the least. I would love to see Guild put Nitro finishes on these guitars and wonder what kind of tone I'd get if I did. Now however, it's an intimate tone, perfect to accompany singing. It doesn't have the boom of my low end Martin, and that makes me happy actually. This guitar is more even toned to me, and I like the quieter voice. Overall, a VERY nice guitar that would still be a steal at it's retail price. My lust for higher end Taylors, Gibsons and Martins has ended and this probably will be the last acoustic I own.

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Guild GAD-30R Acoustic Design Series Orchestra

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