Maccaferri G30 1950s With Paperwork and Hard Case
Description
No sales tax for US customers outside California.
Mario Maccaferri is one of the more fascinating figures in guitar history — a classically trained luthier who made his name building the guitars Django Reinhardt played, and who later reinvented himself in postwar America as a mass-market manufacturer of plastic instruments. The G30 is the centerpiece of that second act.
Produced in the early-to-mid 1950s through Maccaferri's French American Reeds Manufacturing Company, the G30 was molded entirely from Dow Styron, a high-impact polystyrene that was cutting-edge industrial material at the time. The body, neck, fretboard, bridge, saddle, nut, and internal bracing are all Styron — the neck reinforced with a wood and aluminum composite to maintain stability. Maccaferri sold millions of these, famously endorsed by Arthur Godfrey on national television. These guitars have a distinct acoustic voice — bright, present, with a surprising amount of sustain given their construction — and they occupy a genuinely unique place in the American guitar story.
This example presents well for its age. The white top and wood-grain patterned back and sides finish is original and in good shape, with no cracks. The body measures 17-3/4" in length with a 13-3/8" lower bout and 3-1/2" depth, giving it a full-sized acoustic silhouette that surprises people who expect something toy-like. The 24.75" scale length and 1-7/8" nut width make it a comfortable, familiar feel, and the 12" fretboard radius and D-profile neck (.831" at the first fret, .936" at the tenth) play more like a conventional guitar than you'd expect.
Action is set at 5/32" on both the first and sixth strings at the 12th fret — playable and reasonable. There's a zero fret at the nut. The neck condition is noted as fair, with a headstock faceplate reglue — a common repair on these and structurally sound when done right. The low E planetary-style banjo tuner does not hold tension and would need attention. The original hang tag is included, which is a genuinely rare survivor on a 70-year-old instrument.
The G30 sits at an interesting intersection: it's a legitimate piece of American manufacturing and design history, a playable guitar with its own tonal personality, and a collector's artifact that's increasingly hard to find in this condition. Jack White and Dave Grohl have both been associated with these, which says something about the kind of player drawn to an instrument that rewards curiosity over convention. If you're looking for a conversation piece that actually plays, or a slice of mid-century American ingenuity in original condition, this is a serious candidate.
A hard case is included.
Specifications:
Brand: Maccaferri
Model: G30
Era: 1950s
Weight: 3 lbs 10.5 oz
Overall Length: 36-7/8"
Body Length: 17-3/4"
Lower Bout: 13-3/8"
Waist: 8-7/8"
Upper Bout: 10"
Body Depth: 3-1/2"
Scale Length: 24.75"
Nut Width: 1-7/8"
Fretboard Radius: 12"
Neck Profile: D
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: .831"
Neck Thickness at 10th Fret: .936"
Fret Count: 21 (zero fret)
Action – 1st String at 12th Fret: 5/32"
Action – 6th String at 12th Fret: 5/32"
Top Material: Dow Styron Plastic
Back & Side Material: Dow Styron Plastic
Bracing Material: Dow Styron Plastic
Neck Material: Dow Styron Plastic, Wood, Aluminum
Fretboard Material: Dow Styron Plastic
Nut Material: Dow Styron Plastic
Bridge Material: Dow Styron Plastic
Saddle Material: Dow Styron Plastic
Bridge Plate Material: Dow Styron Plastic
Color: White Top, Wood Grain Back and Sides
Finish: Original, Good
Top Condition: Good
Back & Side Condition: Good
Fretboard Condition: Good
Fret Condition: Good
Bridge Condition: Good
Saddle Condition: Good, Original
Bridge Original: Yes
Bridge Plate Original: Yes
Neck Condition: Fair
Neck Repairs: Headstock faceplate reglue
Tuners: Planetary gear, 14:1 ratio, banjo-style; original — low E does not hold tension
Strap Buttons: Heel button only (original)
Pickup System: None
Bridge Pins: N/A
Case: Non-original, fair condition
Documentation: Original hang tag included
Excerpts from real online end-user reviews:
"Great sounding and fun to play — these plastic guitars have a soul and tone all to themselves." - Make'n Music
"I personally love the Maccaferri, I just feel there's something about them. I had a 1932 Selmer Maccaferri so yes I can truly appreciate these." - Ric's Vintage Guitars
"One of the most unique vintage guitars on the planet — favored by aficionados like Jack White and Dave Grohl." - Reverb
Be sure to check out the other cool guitar related stuff on our site
Vintage & Used Martin Acoustic Guitars
Guild Vintage & Used Acoustic Guitars
Folk instruments - vintage & used
Shipping policy:
There are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site. Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver. For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for Eastern states - customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air. Otherwise, ground shipping will be used. Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions. If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to . Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.
Mario Maccaferri is one of the more fascinating figures in guitar history — a classically trained luthier who made his name building the guitars Django Reinhardt played, and who later reinvented himself in postwar America as a mass-market manufacturer of plastic instruments. The G30 is the centerpiece of that second act.
Produced in the early-to-mid 1950s through Maccaferri's French American Reeds Manufacturing Company, the G30 was molded entirely from Dow Styron, a high-impact polystyrene that was cutting-edge industrial material at the time. The body, neck, fretboard, bridge, saddle, nut, and internal bracing are all Styron — the neck reinforced with a wood and aluminum composite to maintain stability. Maccaferri sold millions of these, famously endorsed by Arthur Godfrey on national television. These guitars have a distinct acoustic voice — bright, present, with a surprising amount of sustain given their construction — and they occupy a genuinely unique place in the American guitar story.
This example presents well for its age. The white top and wood-grain patterned back and sides finish is original and in good shape, with no cracks. The body measures 17-3/4" in length with a 13-3/8" lower bout and 3-1/2" depth, giving it a full-sized acoustic silhouette that surprises people who expect something toy-like. The 24.75" scale length and 1-7/8" nut width make it a comfortable, familiar feel, and the 12" fretboard radius and D-profile neck (.831" at the first fret, .936" at the tenth) play more like a conventional guitar than you'd expect.
Action is set at 5/32" on both the first and sixth strings at the 12th fret — playable and reasonable. There's a zero fret at the nut. The neck condition is noted as fair, with a headstock faceplate reglue — a common repair on these and structurally sound when done right. The low E planetary-style banjo tuner does not hold tension and would need attention. The original hang tag is included, which is a genuinely rare survivor on a 70-year-old instrument.
The G30 sits at an interesting intersection: it's a legitimate piece of American manufacturing and design history, a playable guitar with its own tonal personality, and a collector's artifact that's increasingly hard to find in this condition. Jack White and Dave Grohl have both been associated with these, which says something about the kind of player drawn to an instrument that rewards curiosity over convention. If you're looking for a conversation piece that actually plays, or a slice of mid-century American ingenuity in original condition, this is a serious candidate.
A hard case is included.
Specifications:
Brand: Maccaferri
Model: G30
Era: 1950s
Weight: 3 lbs 10.5 oz
Overall Length: 36-7/8"
Body Length: 17-3/4"
Lower Bout: 13-3/8"
Waist: 8-7/8"
Upper Bout: 10"
Body Depth: 3-1/2"
Scale Length: 24.75"
Nut Width: 1-7/8"
Fretboard Radius: 12"
Neck Profile: D
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: .831"
Neck Thickness at 10th Fret: .936"
Fret Count: 21 (zero fret)
Action – 1st String at 12th Fret: 5/32"
Action – 6th String at 12th Fret: 5/32"
Top Material: Dow Styron Plastic
Back & Side Material: Dow Styron Plastic
Bracing Material: Dow Styron Plastic
Neck Material: Dow Styron Plastic, Wood, Aluminum
Fretboard Material: Dow Styron Plastic
Nut Material: Dow Styron Plastic
Bridge Material: Dow Styron Plastic
Saddle Material: Dow Styron Plastic
Bridge Plate Material: Dow Styron Plastic
Color: White Top, Wood Grain Back and Sides
Finish: Original, Good
Top Condition: Good
Back & Side Condition: Good
Fretboard Condition: Good
Fret Condition: Good
Bridge Condition: Good
Saddle Condition: Good, Original
Bridge Original: Yes
Bridge Plate Original: Yes
Neck Condition: Fair
Neck Repairs: Headstock faceplate reglue
Tuners: Planetary gear, 14:1 ratio, banjo-style; original — low E does not hold tension
Strap Buttons: Heel button only (original)
Pickup System: None
Bridge Pins: N/A
Case: Non-original, fair condition
Documentation: Original hang tag included
Excerpts from real online end-user reviews:
"Great sounding and fun to play — these plastic guitars have a soul and tone all to themselves." - Make'n Music
"I personally love the Maccaferri, I just feel there's something about them. I had a 1932 Selmer Maccaferri so yes I can truly appreciate these." - Ric's Vintage Guitars
"One of the most unique vintage guitars on the planet — favored by aficionados like Jack White and Dave Grohl." - Reverb
Be sure to check out the other cool guitar related stuff on our site
Vintage & Used Martin Acoustic Guitars
Guild Vintage & Used Acoustic Guitars
Folk instruments - vintage & used
Shipping policy:
There are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site. Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver. For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for Eastern states - customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air. Otherwise, ground shipping will be used. Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions. If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to . Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.