The Guild M-40 Standard concert acoustic guitar brings timeless design into the hands of today's players, pairing premium tonewoods with meticulous American craftsmanship. Hand-built in the USA, this concert-size model pairs a solid Sitka spruce top with solid African mahogany back and sides, yielding a tonal balance that's warm, articulate and inviting. Favored by singer-songwriters and fingerstyle guitarists, the M-40 offers a focused voice that projects clearly without overpowering. Its 24-3/4" scale length and C-shaped mahogany neck provide comfortable playability, while the wider nut width suits intricate chord voicings. With vintage-inspired appointments and an elegant nitrocellulose finish, the M-40 Standard is a professional-grade instrument that blends tradition with modern performance.
Solid Sitka Spruce and African Mahogany Deliver Rich, Balanced Sound
At the core of the Guild M-40 Standard's voice is its carefully selected tonewood pairing. A solid Sitka spruce top provides brightness and dynamic responsiveness, while the solid African mahogany back and sides contribute warmth and midrange presence. Together, these woods create a tonal character that's lively yet balanced, making the guitar equally at home in delicate fingerpicking passages or strummed accompaniment. The body is finished in a vintage gloss nitrocellulose lacquer, enhancing both resonance and aesthetics. With its timeless combination of spruce and mahogany, the M-40 embodies the classic acoustic sound that has inspired generations of players, while offering the refinement expected from a U.S.-built Guild.
Concert Body and Forward-Shifted Spruce Bracing for Enhanced Projection
The M-40 Standard features Guild's M-size concert body shape, prized for its comfortable dimensions and articulate voice. Smaller than a dreadnought, it emphasizes clarity and midrange definition, making it a natural fit for fingerstyle and vocal accompaniment. Beneath the top lies forward-shifted scalloped Adirondack spruce bracing, designed to maximize resonance and projection without sacrificing control. This carefully voiced bracing system allows the guitar to respond with sensitivity to a light touch while retaining headroom for more aggressive playing. Paired with the 24-3/4" scale length, the result is an acoustic that feels intimate yet delivers impressive volume and sustain, well-suited for both stage and studio environments.
Comfortable Mahogany Neck and Smooth-Playing Indian Rosewood Fingerboard
Playability is central to the M-40 Standard's appeal. Its mahogany neck, joined with a traditional mortise-and-tenon construction, is carved into a comfortable C shape that feels natural in hand. The wider 1-3/4" bone nut provides extra spacing for complex fingerings and fingerstyle accuracy, while the 12" radius Indian rosewood fingerboard ensures smooth chord transitions. Jescar frets with precise dressing and pearloid dot inlays complete the professional feel. Combined with a dual-action truss rod for quick and easy adjustments, the neck and fingerboard design ensure effortless playability across genres.
Premium Guild Hardware and Vintage-Inspired Appointments
Every detail of the M-40 Standard reflects Guild's dedication to functional beauty. The compensated bone saddle and bone nut optimize intonation and tonal transfer, working in tandem with the Indian rosewood bridge to enhance sustain. Guild Deluxe Vintage open-gear tuners with cream oval buttons provide tuning stability with a classic aesthetic. White body binding, a tortoiseshell pickguard and the pearloid Guild Peak headstock inlay contribute to its understated elegance. The natural nitrocellulose gloss finish not only highlights the wood's beauty but also improves resonance over time. Each instrument ships with a Guild deluxe humidified wood hardshell case and certificate of authenticity, ensuring protection and peace of mind.
A Modern Classic for Fingerstyle Players and Singer-Songwriters
With its solid tonewoods, premium appointments and time-tested American craftsmanship, the Guild M-40 Standard concert acoustic guitar is an heirloom-quality companion built for a lifetime of inspiration. Its concert-size body, classic C-shaped mahogany neck and responsive bracing make it especially suited to singer-songwriters, fingerstylists and recording musicians who demand clarity and warmth. The short scale and wide nut enhance playability, while the gloss nitro finish and vintage-inspired design details ensure timeless stage appeal. For those seeking a handcrafted U.S.-made acoustic with historic pedigree and modern refinements, the M-40 Standard delivers in every detail.