Like the F212

[idealassets]

I am intersted in getting an F212. I'm not very enthused about the GAD F212 due to me wanting a full pick guard, American made, and also like older guitars. (Just like old Corvettes, old Harleys, and old boats) I have never heard or seen one of these, but still want one. Does the F212 not put out as much volume as the F412 & F512? Also what kind of tone can you get from the F212? As compared to the jumbo's.

I passed on 2 of these last summer on ebay when I emailed the sellers asking "where are the fret markers"? Both sellers were not very knowledgeable and said they never really thought about it before. Also I was trying to get up to speed with my knowledge of guitars in general at that time.

So also perhaps someone could tell me- why did Guild put such bold (and cool) fret markers on the larger 12's, but put none (on the front) of the F212?

Thanks,
Craig

 

[adorshki]

So also perhaps someone could tell me- why did Guild put such bold (and cool) fret markers on the larger 12's, but put none (on the front) of the F212?
Thanks,
Craig

It's a bling thing. As a general rule of thumb, the higher the model number, the better the bling.
Sometime's the bling's the same but the woods on the back and sides are different.(412=maple, 512=rosewood)
It's also possible that when the F212 was current, they decided the little dot markers just didn't look right on the slightly wider fretboards. Or maybe there was an actual tooling difficulty with routing the dot recesses, again 'cause the fretboard was slightly wider than a normal 6'er. But that's me wildly speculating again.
I think they're actually on the side of the board on those.

 

[killdeer43]

It's the older brother to my F-112 (formerly), which also has the clean fretboard, and I like it. Position markers are on the side of the neck, and that's quite enough "bling" for me, coming as I do from simple peasant stock! :lol:

Both are great little 12 strings and I just might get another one some day...... 8)

Joe

 

[Christopher Cozad]

I am intersted in getting an F212...

...I have never heard or seen one of these, but still want one...

Craig, I think that statement may qualify as one of the best I have ever read on any forum. A general sentiment shared by many here, I am certain. ;~}

Does the F212 not put out as much volume as the F412 & F512?

The F212 puts out plenty of volume. The F model comes (came) in 2 sizes, the F212 and the F212 XL, with the latter being the same dimensions as the F412 and F512. I am unaware of any volume measurement tests comparing the three guitars (that would be kind of fun to do, wouldn't it?), but I do not believe the F212 (or 212 XL) sacrifices anything in volume to it's more expensive siblings.

Also what kind of tone can you get from the F212? As compared to the jumbo's.

Remember, the F model is a jumbo. The 212 is mahogany, the 412 is maple, and the 512 is rosewood. The differences in the sound of those tonewoods has been discussed many, many times here and elsewhere. While some may have a preference of one wood over another, most all will agree that any of the three woods on a Guild 12 string sound great!

So also perhaps someone could tell me- why did Guild put such bold (and cool) fret markers on the larger 12's, but put none (on the front) of the F212?

My guess would be cost. For many years mahogany guitars were available at lower prices than maple or rosewood versions. Staying consistent with the 'power without the price' theme, by leaving the chunks of mother of pearl and abalone off the fretboard the 212's could be even better values. An F212 with the diamond position markers would be lovely, indeed!

 

[Brad Little]

I have a 1964 F-212 and a 2010 F-512, so can address some of your questions. My 212 is louder than my 512, how much is due to its age I can't say. As to tone, I would say that the 212 has what I think of as a bluesier tone whereas the 512 is a mellow sound. I know that this is very subjective, but that's how I see (or really hear) it.
As to the fret markers on the fingerboard, I would echo what somebody said about lower cost. Before the F-112, the 212 was the entry level Guild 12. I bought mine because it sounded nice and was $100 less than the Gibson I really wanted-thank God I couldn't swing the extra $100. They didn't even have the Guild Chesterfield in the headstock until around 1967.
Brad

 

[idealassets]

Chris/ Brad thanks for the helpful info. Sounds very sensible to me, and the Guild cost factor is probably right on. Brad- it was your lucky day that you were $100 short to get the F212. Did you get it used? If I knew anything about guitars back then it would come in handy today.

I have seen a few F212's on ebay lately but really do plan to hold out & pay more for a nicer condition guitar.

I like a nice looking guitar and say on a humorous note that I do not want to have the trademark, such as Willy Nelson with "extra soundhole", or a local fellow that has his trademark duct tape coming unravelled as it literally holds his Takamine jumbo together.

So I am convinced of one thing- if I see a nice F212 "someday, yes it will be mine".

-Craig

 

[Brad Little]

Brad- it was your lucky day that you were $100 short to get the F212. Did you get it used? -Craig

No, got it new in 1965, actually, my mother bought it, and she might have gone the extra $100 but I didn't want to push my luck. My father wouldn't have approved... :roll:
Brad

 

[idealassets]

Brad, Good move back in '65 for you. For some unexplained reason I always find lots of vintage Gibson's floating around, but a definate scarcity of 1960's Guild or Martins available. Check for example the Elderly Instument website in Lansing, MI elderly.com.

Last time I was at Elderly in person I saw a full rack of 1930's Gibson archtops for around $1500, or so for sale. But I saw less than 1/2 dozen Guild's total, and no Martin's older than early 90's. I can't say that's indicative in general of the actual market, or not.

After seeing no Guild 12's so far that day, I then drove another 200 miles to Sweetwater in Ft Wayne, IN and bought the 2010 F512 that they let me demo. The salesman informed me that it was unusual for a person living in the midwest to come in the door and buy one in person, normally they sell via the internet and ship them out.

Its quite a marvel how in a literal sea of guitars at these shops, it becomes very evident which ones really stand out amongst all the others. And thats why I just love to see at that "G" on the guitar.

Craig

 

[micklevanon]

Its quite a marvel how in a literal sea of guitars at these shops, it becomes very evident which ones really stand out amongst all the others. And thats why I just love to see at that "G" on the guitar.

+1

 

[frettedstrings]

Ok, go ahead and make me brag about my '67 F212. :roll: Very good volume. :shock: Great Note Separation. Fabulous Tone. Great Condition. 8) All Original. Paid $585. :shock:
Best 12 String that I have ever owned.

Pictured From Guitar Center (Boston) Advertisement

Open back Tuners From dapmdave

From The Back

East River Folk Society Coffee House

At Home

 

[killdeer43]

C'mon, Tim, don't be shy. Show us some more photos! :lol: :wink:

Joe

 

[idealassets]

Tim, I like your F212. When did youbuy it? And did you find it in the motor city?

I am still looking for an F212 to buy. Hopefully one will turn up somewhere. Most for sale on ebay are cracked through, so I am not going for them.

I am about 100 miles north of you. When is your next open mic in Wyondotte? I may be interested in checking it out. I would bring my F512 to play. I have relatives that live in Wayne. So I have "a hotel" room.

Thanks for your pic's.
Craig

 

[idealassets]

How do you copy an image onto LTG? When I go to copy it onto a posting the "paste" is not highlighted, and it doesn't work.

I want to also put my pic on my posts.

Thasnk you,
Craig

 

[frettedstrings]

Tim, I like your F212. When did youbuy it? And did you find it in the motor city?

I am still looking for an F212 to buy. Hopefully one will turn up somewhere. Most for sale on ebay are cracked through, so I am not going for them.

I am about 100 miles north of you. When is your next open mic in Wyandotte? I may be interested in checking it out. I would bring my F512 to play. I have relatives that live in Wayne. So I have "a hotel" room.

Thanks for your pic's.
Craig

Craig,

Next Open mic / Coffee House (East River Folk Society) is Saturday, February 12th. I hope you can make down.
I bought my F212 at Guitar Center in Boston. Found it on their website and I had to have it. I figured it would sell really quickly.
Yes, bring your F512....There are a lot of Martin and Gibson guys running around but I always so off my Guilds.

-Tim

 

[frettedstrings]

C'mon, Tim, don't be shy. Show us some more photos! :lol: :wink:

Joe

Thats about all the pics for now, but once more are taken, you can bet that I will get them post on LTG. :lol:

 

[GardMan]

How do you copy an image onto LTG? When I go to copy it onto a posting the "paste" is not highlighted, and it doesn't work.

I want to also put my pic on my posts.

Thasnk you,
Craig

Craig,
With the exception of your avatar, all images have to be hosted on another server. Here's a "How To..."
D

 

[frettedstrings]

How do you copy an image onto LTG? When I go to copy it onto a posting the "paste" is not highlighted, and it doesn't work.

I want to also put my pic on my posts.

Thasnk you,
Craig

Try this link, Craig,

http://www.photobucket.com

 

[frettedstrings]

Craig,

Did you see this '67 F212 on Ebay?


http://cgi.ebay.com/1967-Vintage-Gu...r-/270697516381?pt=Guitar&hash=item3f06d44d5d

 

[idealassets]

fretted,
Thanks for the info. Of all the F212's currently on ebay, I mentioned in an earlier posting that I am looking for one that will cost more, but without all the problems that I have seen, such as "the worst of 4 cracks through the wood is only 3 inches long", etc.

There are quite a few local guitar enthusiasts that are looking forward to seeing me play on a Guild 12-string. And when that moment arrives I don't want to show them a Guild that looks or sounds bad.

Craig

 

[capnjuan]

Hi Craig: then you don't want this one. Apart from the stress fractures on the lower bass bout, instead of getting the neck reset and the bridge re-fastened, somebody shaved the bridge and ... :evil: :evil: put screws through it. But ... the seller says it's a $2,000 guitar thus a steal at $1,295 ... it's a steal at $300