Guild

Description

The Guild M-40E Standard concert acoustic-electric guitar carries forward a proud legacy of American craftsmanship, offering rich tone and timeless aesthetics in a compact, highly playable package. Handcrafted in Guild’s Oxnard, California, factory, it pairs a solid Sitka spruce top with solid African mahogany back and sides for exceptional balance and warmth. A C-shaped mahogany neck and smooth Indian rosewood fingerboard make for effortless fretting and expressive playing, while the integrated LR Baggs Element VTC electronics ensure studio-quality tone in any setting. Pairing time-honored construction with modern performance, the M-40E is an ideal companion for singer-songwriters, fingerstyle players and anyone seeking a versatile acoustic-electric with vintage soul.

Solid Sitka Spruce and African Mahogany for Warm, Balanced Tone

The M-40E’s tone begins with a solid Sitka spruce top, chosen for its clarity, dynamic response and sparkling high end. Paired with solid African mahogany back and sides, it yields a warm, balanced voice with rich overtones and a natural compression that flatters both strumming and fingerstyle playing. The concert-sized body keeps projection focused and intimate, making it ideal for recording or solo performance. Forward-shifted scalloped Adirondack spruce bracing further enhances resonance and sustain, bringing added liveliness and nuance to every note. Whether played softly or driven harder, the M-40E responds with the articulate, woody tone that defines Guild’s most cherished small-body acoustics.

Comfortable Mahogany Neck and Smooth Indian Rosewood Fingerboard

Playability is where the M-40E truly shines. Its mahogany neck features a comfortable C-shaped profile that feels substantial yet effortless across its 24.75" scale. The shorter scale offers a slightly slinkier string tension, making complex chords and expressive bends more accessible. An Indian rosewood fingerboard adds warmth and smoothness under the fingers, while pearloid dot inlays provide classic understated elegance. With a 12" radius and 1-34" nut width, it’s a familiar platform that supports everything from fast flatpicking runs to delicate fingerstyle passages and jazzy chord comping.

LR Baggs Electronics for Natural Amplified Tone

The M-40E comes equipped with the acclaimed LR Baggs Element VTC system, delivering transparent, organic tone that captures the true acoustic voice of the instrument. The undersaddle transducer responds to the guitar’s entire dynamic range, from gentle fingerpicking to assertive strumming, while minimizing feedback and unwanted coloration. Straightforward, soundhole-mounted volume and tone controls keep your setup streamlined without cluttering the guitar’s aesthetic. Whether running through an acoustic amp or direct to a PA, the Element VTC preserves every nuance of the M-40E’s natural warmth—making it a professional, performance-ready companion straight out of the case.

Timeless Appointments and Premium Guild Hardware

Visually, the M-40E embodies Guild’s refined Americana heritage. The gloss nitrocellulose finish highlights the depth and grain of the tonewoods, complemented by white body binding and a tortoiseshell pickguard. Nickel open-gear tuners with cream oval buttons lend classic character while ensuring rock-solid tuning stability. An Indian rosewood bridge with a compensated bone saddle enhances intonation and sustain, while the matching bone nut improves tonal consistency across strings. Finishing touches like the pearloid Guild Peak headstock inlay and black keystone truss rod cover bring subtle sophistication. Every detail is carefully executed to balance authenticity, durability and enduring style.

A True Guild Classic, Reimagined for Modern Players

The Guild M-40E Standard Concert acoustic-electric guitar captures the soul of Guild’s early small-body acoustics, refined for today’s versatile musicians. With its solid tonewoods, gloss nitro finish and professional-grade electronics, it delivers a level of tone, feel and craftsmanship that rewards a lifetime of playing. A deluxe humidified hardshell case and certificate of authenticity come included, underscoring its premium quality. For artists who value musical honesty and timeless design, the M-40E offers a direct connection between inspiration and sound—built to last, made to create and ready to perform anywhere your music takes you.

Guild M-40E Standard Concert Acoustic-Electric Guitar Pacific Sunset Burst
Guild M-40E Standard Concert Acoustic-Electric Guitar Pacific Sunset Burst
Guild M-40E Standard Concert Acoustic-Electric Guitar Pacific Sunset Burst

Features

  • Solid Sitka spruce top adds brightness and clarity to every note
  • Solid African mahogany back and sides deliver warm, balanced tone
  • Forward-shifted scalloped Adirondack spruce bracing improves projection and dynamics
  • LR Baggs Element VTC pickup system provides natural tone for live settings
  • 24-3/4" scale length offers reduced string tension for easier bends and improved playability
  • C-shaped mahogany neck provides a comfortable grip during long sessions
  • Bone nut and saddle enhance sustain and ensure consistent note articulation
  • Guild Deluxe Vintage open-gear tuners ensure reliable and precise tuning stability
  • Vintage gloss nitrocellulose finish lets the wood age and breathe naturally
  • Humidified wood case protects the guitar during storage and travel
warning

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including Formaldehyde (gas), which is known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov

Specs

Body
  • Body style: Concert
  • Top wood: Solid Sitka spruce
  • Back and sides wood: Solid African mahogany
  • Top bracing: Forward-shifted scalloped Adirondack spruce
  • Back bracing: Sitka spruce
  • Body binding: White
  • Body finish: Vintage gloss nitrocellulose lacquer
Neck
  • Neck shape: C profile
  • Neck wood: Mahogany
  • Scale length: 24-3/4"
  • Fingerboard wood: Indian rosewood
  • Fingerboard radius: 12"
  • Number of frets: 20
  • Neck joint: Mortise-and-tenon
  • Truss rod: Dual-action
Hardware
  • Bridge wood: Indian rosewood
  • Saddle material: Compensated bone
  • Nut material: Bone
  • Nut width: 1-3/4"
  • Tuning machines: Guild Deluxe Vintage open-gear
  • Pickguard: Tortoiseshell celluloid
Electronics
  • Pickup system: LR Baggs Element VTC
  • Controls: Volume and tone
Other
  • Case: Guild deluxe humidified wood case
  • Included accessories: Certificate of authenticity, canvas bag, picks
  • Orientation: Right handed
  • Number of strings: 6

Warranty

Limited lifetime warranty.

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