Hi folks,
Time for me to introduce myself to the forum. I've been a lurking member for quite a while so seems about the right time to finally show my face. I've played guitar since about a week after seeing the Beatles on Sullivan (I think I just showed my age) and have owned a lot of guitars in since including many Guilds. Have to admit I'm a big Martin six-string fan but when it comes to 12's and electrics, nothing beats a Guild.
I worked for a large Minnesota Martin and Guild dealer for twenty years and had a lot of opportunities to deal with the reps and factories. During that time I got to pick up my 1973 F-512 at the Westerly factory, talked them into building me a blonde SF-6 in 1983 (took some arm twisting but they finally agreed), and along the way a few more fun little Guilds came my way.
I currently have a couple of F-512's, the 1973 that I picked up at the factory and a 1972 that I found a few years ago (EIR but with the 612 style inlays). My wife has an 1972 F-312 (also with the 612 style inlays), the SF-6, a couple electrics with acorns, a Nightbird and a Paloma (my current favorite). Still looking for a F-612 (got to play one at the factory in 1973 so I know there's at least one out there), but if I never find one, they're probably too big anyways. I've had some correspondence with Hans regarding my F-312 and SF-6, never have figured out how the 312 ended up with the inlays although Han's book does mention that they were used on various special orders from the late 60's to the early 70's.
Being the F-612 lurker that I am, I've been following the John Denver 12-string stories for a while and have some information that might spread some light on the speculation. About ten years ago a friend and I went to LA for the annual Carl Wilson Cancer Walk and while there checked out the guitar stores on the Sunset Strip. Across from Guitar Center Hollywood is a little guitar shop called Valdez Guitars. First thing I noticed when we walked in was a series of large framed autographed posters of past customers including one of JD with his F-612. I found an older gentleman and asked about the photo and was told that they had done extensive work to John's F-612 including a new top and fingerboard. When you check out the store's website and click on the "Custom Works" tab on the right side, you will see the following: "John Denver - made a new soundboard for his Guild F-612, inlaid a three cluster mother-of-pearl design on a new ebony fingerboard, made keyboard-type binding for the body and neck, and refinished the entire instrument."
So, here's my 2 cents worth:
Contrary to popular theories, I think JD only had two Guild 12-strings. The first being the F-412 Custom as seen on the cover of Rhymes and Reasons and Poems Prayers and Promises and the second being the F-612 which originally had the standard Guild bridge and fingerboard and was later rebuilt by Valdez with the new top, pickguard, bridge and fingerboard that we see in so many of the later photos. I don't think he ever had an F-512 and have never seen a photo showing him with a 512. All the photos of Guild 12's on the JD Guitar Research site show these two guitars (the later with the two different tops and fingerboards). Maybe someday we'll get this JD 12-string history resolved.
Sorry for the long read, but very happy to finally becoming an active member to the site. It's amazing how much collective Guild knowledge can be found here. I know, someone will probably send a reply "this post is worthless without pictures". I will figure out the photo posting system and will post some pics of my little Guild family.
Greg
Time for me to introduce myself to the forum. I've been a lurking member for quite a while so seems about the right time to finally show my face. I've played guitar since about a week after seeing the Beatles on Sullivan (I think I just showed my age) and have owned a lot of guitars in since including many Guilds. Have to admit I'm a big Martin six-string fan but when it comes to 12's and electrics, nothing beats a Guild.
I worked for a large Minnesota Martin and Guild dealer for twenty years and had a lot of opportunities to deal with the reps and factories. During that time I got to pick up my 1973 F-512 at the Westerly factory, talked them into building me a blonde SF-6 in 1983 (took some arm twisting but they finally agreed), and along the way a few more fun little Guilds came my way.
I currently have a couple of F-512's, the 1973 that I picked up at the factory and a 1972 that I found a few years ago (EIR but with the 612 style inlays). My wife has an 1972 F-312 (also with the 612 style inlays), the SF-6, a couple electrics with acorns, a Nightbird and a Paloma (my current favorite). Still looking for a F-612 (got to play one at the factory in 1973 so I know there's at least one out there), but if I never find one, they're probably too big anyways. I've had some correspondence with Hans regarding my F-312 and SF-6, never have figured out how the 312 ended up with the inlays although Han's book does mention that they were used on various special orders from the late 60's to the early 70's.
Being the F-612 lurker that I am, I've been following the John Denver 12-string stories for a while and have some information that might spread some light on the speculation. About ten years ago a friend and I went to LA for the annual Carl Wilson Cancer Walk and while there checked out the guitar stores on the Sunset Strip. Across from Guitar Center Hollywood is a little guitar shop called Valdez Guitars. First thing I noticed when we walked in was a series of large framed autographed posters of past customers including one of JD with his F-612. I found an older gentleman and asked about the photo and was told that they had done extensive work to John's F-612 including a new top and fingerboard. When you check out the store's website and click on the "Custom Works" tab on the right side, you will see the following: "John Denver - made a new soundboard for his Guild F-612, inlaid a three cluster mother-of-pearl design on a new ebony fingerboard, made keyboard-type binding for the body and neck, and refinished the entire instrument."
So, here's my 2 cents worth:
Contrary to popular theories, I think JD only had two Guild 12-strings. The first being the F-412 Custom as seen on the cover of Rhymes and Reasons and Poems Prayers and Promises and the second being the F-612 which originally had the standard Guild bridge and fingerboard and was later rebuilt by Valdez with the new top, pickguard, bridge and fingerboard that we see in so many of the later photos. I don't think he ever had an F-512 and have never seen a photo showing him with a 512. All the photos of Guild 12's on the JD Guitar Research site show these two guitars (the later with the two different tops and fingerboards). Maybe someday we'll get this JD 12-string history resolved.
Sorry for the long read, but very happy to finally becoming an active member to the site. It's amazing how much collective Guild knowledge can be found here. I know, someone will probably send a reply "this post is worthless without pictures". I will figure out the photo posting system and will post some pics of my little Guild family.
Greg
