The Guild M-240E Troubadour Archback in Vintage Sunburst is a compact electro-acoustic built around Guild’s distinctive arched-back construction, combining portability with a surprisingly full acoustic response.

Its solid Sitka spruce top is paired with mahogany sides and an arched mahogany back, while the compact M-Concert body and short 24.75" scale make it particularly comfortable for fingerstyle playing, songwriting, relaxed strumming and travel.

For amplification, Guild fitted the Troubadour with a DeArmond Tone Boss passive humbucking soundhole pickup. It keeps the vintage appearance intact while providing a simple built-in volume control and requiring no battery.

This individual guitar weighs just 3.6 lb, is offered in Very Good condition, and is supplied without a case or gigbag.

At A Glance

Pre-Owned Condition Report

Very Good Condition

This Guild M-240E Troubadour Archback is offered in Very Good condition.

Very Good condition means there are some signs of previous ownership consistent with careful use, while the instrument remains well presented and fully functional.

No faults, repairs or modifications have been supplied for this listing.

What’s Included?

✔ Guild M-240E Troubadour Archback Vintage Sunburst

✘ No Case or Gigbag Included
✘ No Additional Accessories Included

Condition Notes

This individual guitar has been graded Very Good and weighs approximately 3.6 lb.

Its exceptionally manageable weight complements the compact M-Concert body particularly well, making it an easy instrument to hold for extended practice, songwriting sessions and live acoustic work.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

This Pre-Owned Guild electro-acoustic has been inspected and assessed by the Fair Deal Music team before sale.

Our checks cover the neck, fret condition, nut, saddle, bridge, tuning machines, DeArmond pickup, onboard volume control, output connection, hardware, tuning stability, action and overall playability.

Service / Setup Work

All Pre-Owned acoustic and electro-acoustic guitars at Fair Deal Music are set up and checked before leaving the shop.

Our assessment includes neck relief, action, fret condition, nut and saddle, tuning stability, electronics and overall playability.

Acoustic instruments naturally react to changes in temperature and humidity, so minor setup movement can occur during transport or while the guitar acclimatises to a new environment.

Why Choose The Guild M-240E Troubadour?

Solid Sitka Spruce Top

The soundboard is solid Sitka spruce, giving the M-240E a responsive foundation that can handle both fingerstyle playing and light-to-moderate strumming.

Spruce is valued for its balance of clarity, dynamic range and projection, making it an excellent match for a compact acoustic body.

Guild Arched Mahogany Back

The arched back is one of the most interesting elements of the design.

Rather than using a conventional flat back, Guild shapes the mahogany back to create additional structural rigidity and projection. It also removes the need for some of the internal back bracing associated with a conventional flat-backed acoustic.

The result is a compact guitar capable of producing more presence than its dimensions might initially suggest.

Short 24.75" Scale

At 24.75 inches, the scale is shorter than the 25.4–25.5" lengths found on many full-sized acoustics.

That creates slightly lower string tension, making chords, bends and general fretting feel relaxed and approachable.

DeArmond Tone Boss Pickup

The Troubadour version is especially distinctive because it uses the DeArmond Tone Boss magnetic soundhole pickup rather than a conventional undersaddle piezo.

Its passive humbucking design is intended to minimise unwanted noise while delivering a warm amplified sound with simple onboard volume adjustment.

No Battery Required

Because the Tone Boss is passive, there is no onboard battery to monitor or replace.

Simply plug the guitar into a suitable acoustic amplifier, PA, DI or interface and adjust the pickup’s volume control as required.

Why Choose A Small-Body Acoustic Guitar?

A smaller acoustic can be much more comfortable than a dreadnought, particularly for seated playing, fingerstyle work and longer practice sessions.

The reduced dimensions also tend to emphasise clarity and immediacy rather than overwhelming bass response, helping individual notes remain defined.

For singer-songwriters, studio players and anyone primarily accompanying vocals, that controlled acoustic footprint can actually be an advantage because the guitar occupies its own space without dominating the arrangement.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

Guild M-240E Troubadour vs Taylor GS Mini

The GS Mini is another highly successful compact acoustic, with an even shorter scale and its own modern Taylor feel. The Guild offers a more vintage-inspired personality, an arched back and the unusual DeArmond magnetic pickup system.

M-240E Troubadour vs Guild M-240E Natural

Both share the same fundamental compact archback platform. The Troubadour distinguishes itself through its Vintage Sunburst finish and DeArmond Tone Boss pickup, giving it a noticeably more retro appearance and amplified character.

M-240E Troubadour vs Full-Size Dreadnought

A dreadnought offers greater low-end authority and maximum acoustic projection. The Troubadour prioritises comfort, note separation and portability, making it particularly attractive when a large acoustic feels unnecessary.

M-240E Troubadour vs Parlour Acoustic

Traditional parlour guitars can be even more compact and often have a more mid-focused voice. The Guild M-Concert body provides a useful middle ground between true parlour dimensions and a conventional full-sized acoustic.

Who Is It For?

Fingerstyle Players

The smaller body provides a balanced response with good note separation, while the shorter scale makes intricate fretting comfortable.

Singer-Songwriters

Its compact body sits comfortably against the player and works particularly well for writing, vocal accompaniment and informal performance.

Folk And Americana Players

The Vintage Sunburst finish, open-gear-style hardware and straightforward acoustic character complement traditional and roots-oriented playing particularly well.

Travelling Musicians

At just 3.6 lb, the guitar itself is exceptionally manageable for transport, although this particular Pre-Owned example does not include a case.

Electric Guitarists Wanting An Acoustic

The 24.75" scale will feel familiar to players accustomed to many Gibson-style electric guitars, making the transition to steel-string acoustic playing less dramatic.

Recording Musicians

The compact acoustic voice can sit very effectively in a mix, while the DeArmond magnetic pickup provides an alternative recorded texture to a conventional piezo system.

Suitable Genres And Uses

The M-240E Troubadour is particularly well suited to folk, acoustic blues, Americana, indie, singer-songwriter material, country, fingerstyle, acoustic pop, light strumming, home practice, songwriting, studio recording and amplified acoustic performance.

What Is An Archback Acoustic Guitar?

On a conventional acoustic guitar, the back is usually relatively flat and reinforced internally with braces.

Guild’s archback concept curves the back outward instead. The curved shape inherently adds rigidity and is a longstanding part of Guild’s acoustic design language.

For the player, the practical result is a guitar that can sound surprisingly full and projecting despite the M-240E’s compact body.

It also gives the instrument a distinct structural identity rather than simply making it a reduced-size version of a conventional flat-backed acoustic.

Story & Context: The Guild M-240E Troubadour

Guild has a long history with compact acoustic guitars, and the M-240E Troubadour was developed as a modern tribute to the Guild F-20, a small-bodied model that became particularly popular during the folk era of the 1960s.

The F-20 demonstrated that a smaller acoustic could be a serious musician’s instrument rather than simply a beginner or travel guitar.

Guild revisited that concept within its Westerly Collection, combining compact proportions with the company’s characteristic arched-back construction.

The Troubadour version adds an especially retro presentation through its satin Vintage Sunburst finish and DeArmond Tone Boss pickup, creating a model with strong visual links to the folk era while remaining practical for modern amplification.

Technical Specifications

Specification Note

The M-240E Troubadour was produced across more than one specification period.

Early examples were documented with rosewood fingerboards and bridges, while later versions use pau ferro. No serial number or production year has been supplied for this individual guitar, so those version-dependent materials have deliberately not been stated as fact.

Power Requirements

The DeArmond Tone Boss is passive and requires no battery or external power supply.

For amplified use, connect the guitar to a suitable acoustic amplifier, PA system, DI box, mixer or recording interface using a standard 1/4" instrument cable.

Why Buy Pre-Owned From Fair Deal Music?

Buying Pre-Owned can be a particularly good route to discontinued or changing specifications such as the M-240E Troubadour.

The Vintage Sunburst finish and DeArmond Tone Boss give this version a personality quite different from many modern compact electro-acoustics, while its 3.6 lb weight makes this individual example especially manageable.

Every Pre-Owned instrument at Fair Deal Music is individually checked and assessed before sale.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

★★★★★ 5/5

The Guild M-240E Troubadour Archback Vintage Sunburst is a compact acoustic with much more personality than a typical travel guitar.

The solid spruce top and arched mahogany back give it a proper acoustic foundation, while the short scale and extremely manageable 3.6 lb weight make it a pleasure to pick up for casual playing or longer sessions.

The passive DeArmond pickup is another highlight, giving the Troubadour a distinctive amplified option without batteries or a visually intrusive preamp panel.

Best suited for: Fingerstyle, folk, songwriting and players looking for a lightweight compact electro-acoustic.

Customers usually upgrade from: Entry-level acoustics, basic travel guitars and smaller laminate-top instruments.

Most commonly paired with: Acoustic amplifiers, PA systems, compact DI boxes, loopers and recording interfaces.

Our tip: This model responds particularly well to controlled fingerstyle and lighter strumming. You do not need to attack it like a large dreadnought to get a satisfying sound.

Showroom feedback: The arched back is what makes the M-240E especially interesting. It feels genuinely small and manageable, yet it does not give the impression of playing a novelty-sized acoustic.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

Our knowledgeable musician-led team can help you find the right instrument whether you're purchasing your first serious acoustic, upgrading an existing guitar or searching for something distinctive within the Pre-Owned market.

You can buy with confidence thanks to:

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians
• Carefully checked new and Pre-Owned musical equipment
• Birmingham showroom
• More than 6,000 Excellent customer reviews
• Secure ordering
• Fast UK delivery
• Friendly support before and after your purchase
• Decades of experience with new and second hand musical equipment

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next guitar could cost less than you think.

Fair Deal Music buys and part-exchanges a wide range of acoustic and electric guitars, basses, amplifiers, keyboards and other musical equipment.

Your existing gear could help reduce the cost of this Guild M-240E Troubadour. Contact our team for a no-obligation valuation and we'll be happy to discuss your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Guild M-240E Troubadour a solid-wood guitar?

The Sitka spruce top is solid. The back is specified as arched mahogany and the sides as mahogany; it should not be described as an all-solid instrument.

What is the scale length?

The Troubadour uses a comfortable 24.75" scale length.

What pickup is fitted?

It uses the DeArmond Tone Boss, a passive humbucking magnetic pickup mounted in the soundhole.

Does the pickup need a battery?

No. The Tone Boss is entirely passive.

Does it have onboard EQ?

The Tone Boss provides an onboard volume control, rather than a conventional multi-band acoustic preamp.

How much does this guitar weigh?

This individual example weighs approximately 3.6 lb.

Is it suitable as a travel guitar?

Yes. Its small M-Concert body and low weight make it particularly convenient for travel, although you would need to source a suitable case or gigbag for this example.

Is a case included?

No. This guitar is supplied without a case or gigbag.

Can I request a closer look before purchasing?

Yes. Our Request a Video Demo option is useful if you'd like to see the exact Very Good-condition presentation, Vintage Sunburst finish and hear the DeArmond pickup before purchasing.