For 12-string Lovers
- Thread starter Don
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killdeer43
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One of each, please sir! A fellow can dream, can't he? :wink:Don said:
Joe
Why pick?
Oh, and now add the F-212XL STD:
Oh, and now add the F-212XL STD:
Graham
Venerated Member
Chazmo said:Why pick?
Oh, and now add the F-212XL STD:
Nice Charlie!!!
From left to right, Guild, Guild, Guild, Taylor, ?
Model numbers please!!
Scratch
Enlightened Member
Don said:
Now you've done it!!!
Got one of each and I love 'em all for different reasons.
The JF30-12 is boomier and an absolute blast to play. I gig out with it occasionally. A fellow once asked where I placed the synthesizer; then discovered it was 'Zeke', amped up. Then of course he wanted to hold it. I told him he could have about two beers ago... Something about a maple 12er...
The F212c could be my favorite guitar, although not played out as much. I love the mahogany sound, especially in small, intimate unplugged settings and this is what it is suited to...
I sold my F512 and kept the G312 because it just played better. To me, rosewood 12ers through an amp can get muddy, so I usually play it unplugged at home. It is the only 12er kept at 440 concert. The other two are stepped down to 'D'...
If I could add just one more 12er it would most likely be an F112...
killdeer43
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How about a former F-112?Scratch said:
At least you got to feel the body size. 8)
Joe
Scratch
Enlightened Member
That small-body 12er size has me infatuated. Retirement has my wallet underinflated... Sheesh... :roll:
killdeer43
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Isn't it funny how that works? I was talking to someone just this morning about timing.....! :wink:Scratch said:
Joe
Tnx, Graham. Yeah, 6 12-strings in the stable these days. I'm pretty satisfied with this bunch.Graham said:
I think this number is going to stay as it is unless an LTGer decides to lighten my load. Anyway...Back row L-R: 1978 Guild G-312, 2006 Guild F-512, 1980 Ibanez AW-75
Front L-R: 1994 Guild JF-30-12, 1984 Taylor 655
killdeer43
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I'm always happy to lighten loads.......Chazmo said:
Great looking family portrait, BTW.
Best,
Joe
At the moment, I'm torn between my '64 F212 and my 2010 512, I would say the 212 is louder and has more guts, but it could be largely due to its age and playing time. I've only amped the 512 through a small PA at our monthly folk society and two concerts, but haven't noticed it as muddy, may be the DTar system at work. The 212 has been played through a 60's DeArmond 12 string soundhole pickup and a Gibson amp, a first generation Barcus Berry stick on pickup and various amps,and now a Baggs M1 and various amps, sounds good with the Baggs, but I'm going to have to search around, I think I still have the DeArmond someplace. I played a 90s JF-30 12 at our local GC, and if it weren't priced about $300-400 over what I would pay, it might be with its brothers. Then I could give a real appraisal of the differences.
Brad
Brad
johnny3j
Member
I have a '75 F112 hog, a '79 F512 rosewood and a '96 JF30-12 maple.
Here's my opinion:
1975 F112 - spruce top, mahogany back & sides
Pros:
Love the neck profile
Lightest of the three
More pronounced mids than the other two
Great sustain
It has the coolness of a no-Bling but name guitar like a Martin D18
Love the mini Jumbo wasp waisted body shape
Easiest to hold & play (for me at least)
Listen to the F112 in a sing-along session
Cons:
Not particularly loud (compared to the other two)
1979 F512NT - spruce top, rosewood back & sides
Pros:
It's iconic, as a young 'un my first face to face sighting of a 12 string was of this guitar in the early 70s, owning one makes you feel as though you've arrived.
It's a beast, but looks like a beauty.
Huge sound. To my mind, this and the F412 is where it's at in terms of 12-string guitar.
Listen to to the Guild F512 in a confined rehearsal space
Listen to Ralph Towner's custom Rosewood Guild 12 in a recording studio
Listen to the Guild F412 in a stadium
Cons:
Bloody neck-heavy! (F512)
1996 JF30-12 - spruce top, maple back & sides
Pros:
Great value for money, one to get if you want a Guild Jumbo 12 at a reasonable price.
Westerly's last great 12.
Great string separation & definition.
Excellent volume and projection.
Better weight-balanced than either of the other two.
Check out this incredible 10 string "JF30-10" with scalloped fretboard, florentine cutaway and raised strings modified by luthier Michel Pellerin
Cons:
Not as much bass response as the F512
The iced tea sunburst finish on my JF30-12 proved not to be as durable as the finish on the other two, a small area of finish on the underside lower bout disappeared leaving bare wood, the other two exhibit the "cracked window" effect when "dinged".
However, like all newer guitars, the first cut is the deepest.
My 0.1 cent - YMMV.
Here's my opinion:
1975 F112 - spruce top, mahogany back & sides
Pros:
Love the neck profile
Lightest of the three
More pronounced mids than the other two
Great sustain
It has the coolness of a no-Bling but name guitar like a Martin D18
Love the mini Jumbo wasp waisted body shape
Easiest to hold & play (for me at least)
Listen to the F112 in a sing-along session
Cons:
Not particularly loud (compared to the other two)
1979 F512NT - spruce top, rosewood back & sides
Pros:
It's iconic, as a young 'un my first face to face sighting of a 12 string was of this guitar in the early 70s, owning one makes you feel as though you've arrived.
It's a beast, but looks like a beauty.
Huge sound. To my mind, this and the F412 is where it's at in terms of 12-string guitar.
Listen to to the Guild F512 in a confined rehearsal space
Listen to Ralph Towner's custom Rosewood Guild 12 in a recording studio
Listen to the Guild F412 in a stadium
Cons:
Bloody neck-heavy! (F512)
1996 JF30-12 - spruce top, maple back & sides
Pros:
Great value for money, one to get if you want a Guild Jumbo 12 at a reasonable price.
Westerly's last great 12.
Great string separation & definition.
Excellent volume and projection.
Better weight-balanced than either of the other two.
Check out this incredible 10 string "JF30-10" with scalloped fretboard, florentine cutaway and raised strings modified by luthier Michel Pellerin
Cons:
Not as much bass response as the F512
The iced tea sunburst finish on my JF30-12 proved not to be as durable as the finish on the other two, a small area of finish on the underside lower bout disappeared leaving bare wood, the other two exhibit the "cracked window" effect when "dinged".
However, like all newer guitars, the first cut is the deepest.
My 0.1 cent - YMMV.
Don said:
I am assuming you are referring to the choice between 12-string tonewoods for the backs and sides, with the tops being spruce.
Relatively speaking, mahogany is usually more economical. That is *not* to say it is 'cheap'.
Each wood has it's own identifiable tonal characteristics, and here are the understatements of the year:
Mahogany is warm and strong in the midranges. (F212)
Maple is very bright sounding, and strong in the treble range.( F412)
Rosewood is warm like mahogany, brighter than mahogany but less so than maple, and is renowned for it's bass response. (F512)
You didn't ask, but jumbos tend to be 'louder' than dreadnoughts and the volume can affect the perception of what is actually tone. Regardless of tonewoods used the important thing is that, when it comes to purchasing your next 12-string, it be a Guild.
Christopher
Don
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WOW!!! Dudes that was AWESOME!!! Thank you. So far I have a D212M which I adore and my dear friend (Who is currently babysitting it) covets. I'm looking at a JF-30-12 on eBay and wondering whether to take the plunge again. I tried hard for the G312 on eBay a couple weeks ago but got sniped in the last minute. Big disappointment there, I REALLY wanted that rosewood 12. And it was a sunburst! Needless to say any of you cats find yourselves needing to part with a twelve, ANY twelve, PM me first. By all means keep the comments rolling in. I'm learning by leaps and bounds listening to all of you.
Cheers!
Don Koehler
Cheers!
Don Koehler
shepke
Member
Mahogany - but that's probably just because both of my current Guild 12 strings are mahogany. On the other hand, someday I hope to pick up a rosewood Guild; ideally an F512 (although I'd settle for a nice Hobokan F312 in a pinch). But then, on the third hand, there are certain days when I'm into Lyrachord. What can I say? Decisions, decisions.
Just to stoke the fire a little, here's a quote of Leo Kotke's from the book "Gibson's Fabulous Flattop Guitars". "I prefer one [a 12 string] that has mahogany rather than rosewood because the note sounds warmer, more apparent. friendly, more musical. That's true of any guitar, but especially true of the 12 string. You get more high end ring with a rosewood 12 string and you don't need much of that."
Just to stoke the fire a little, here's a quote of Leo Kotke's from the book "Gibson's Fabulous Flattop Guitars". "I prefer one [a 12 string] that has mahogany rather than rosewood because the note sounds warmer, more apparent. friendly, more musical. That's true of any guitar, but especially true of the 12 string. You get more high end ring with a rosewood 12 string and you don't need much of that."
12stringer
Senior Member
Chazmo said:Oh, and now add the F-212XL STD:
Mmmmmmmmahogany :wink:
Been playing 12ers for almost 40 yrs. For me, inn a 12, it's maple for definition, especially for recording & band work. The F412 is heavy (as is a 512), but after having a great 112, 212, & 512 as well, the maple-backed 412 is the clear winner.
I love how rosewood sounds played solo, but it's richness gets lost with bands & is tough to record, esp. due to the bass response.
I'm not fond of maple-back 6s, so it took me decades before I even bothered to try a 412, but once I did I realized that it's the right back for 12. Sold my killer 70s 512 very soon thereafter.
Mahogany's a close 2nd...the 212, esp. good older ones, remain the best bang for buck. Mebbe in the known 12er universe.
Though, all of the guild 12s I've played though have been fine & there's no doubt that good ones are the best 12s ever made.
Easily.
I love how rosewood sounds played solo, but it's richness gets lost with bands & is tough to record, esp. due to the bass response.
I'm not fond of maple-back 6s, so it took me decades before I even bothered to try a 412, but once I did I realized that it's the right back for 12. Sold my killer 70s 512 very soon thereafter.
Mahogany's a close 2nd...the 212, esp. good older ones, remain the best bang for buck. Mebbe in the known 12er universe.
Though, all of the guild 12s I've played though have been fine & there's no doubt that good ones are the best 12s ever made.
Easily.
taabru45
Enlightened Member
Cons:
Bloody neck-heavy! (F512)
Its possible .your neck is Paduch, which looks like mahogany but can have black streaks in it. Its considerably heavier and oilier so the finish sometimes tends to 'leave' the neck. I have an 80 F512 and it has a mahogany neck, don't find it neck heavy at all. either way.....still the yardstick which you can measure other 12s against...Steffan
Bloody neck-heavy! (F512)
Its possible .your neck is Paduch, which looks like mahogany but can have black streaks in it. Its considerably heavier and oilier so the finish sometimes tends to 'leave' the neck. I have an 80 F512 and it has a mahogany neck, don't find it neck heavy at all. either way.....still the yardstick which you can measure other 12s against...Steffan
12stringer said:
Yeah, I have two of each now. The Ibby on the far right is a mahogany dreadnaught. Totally awesome guitar. I worked an entire summer in an electronics store in 1981 to buy that baby. Blew everything else I tried away.
micklevanon
Member
johnny3j said:
Johnny, according to your signature you seem to have missed one! What about that D25-12? How does that stack up against the jumbos? I ask only because I'm looking at a D25-12. My only other 12 string was an Alvarez maple jumbo, which I no longer have.
thanks
mick