NAMM 2019: New USA-made F-512 Maple and F-55 Maple (formerly F-412 and F-50)

SFIV1967

Venerated Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2010
Messages
18,442
Reaction score
8,956
Location
Bavaria / Germany
Guild Total
8
We had talked about it already a few days ago here, but now it is official:


"Guild is excited to announce the re-release of its iconic USA-made F-512 Maple and F-55 Maple, formerly known as the F-412 and F-50 respectively. Built-in Ventura County, California, these historic models feature arched flamed maple backs created on the same machine that has been pressing Guild guitars for the last 34 years. Guild Maples have been revered for their full, harp-like sound since the folk boom of the 1960s, and this latest generation lives up to their ancestors’ famed legacy.

“Being able to make the iconic Guild maple jumbo once again truly feels like a privilege,” says Córdoba Music Group President Jon Thomas. “We’re using equipment that has been passed down for decades, and we’re putting that same spirit and commitment to tradition into these guitars. We say it all the time, but it’s true—these are some of the best sounding guitars in Guild’s history.”


The F-512 Maple and F-55 Maple feature tight-grained solid AAA Sitka spruce tops and solid North American flamed maple sides for focused trebles and an articulate mid-range. Elegant cosmetic appointments and finishing touches include Guild’s classic “V-block” and G-shield mother-of-pearl inlays, bound fingerboard and headstock, “railroad track” fretboard purfling, gold Gotoh hardware, and a beautiful nitrocellulose lacquer finish in Blonde. The F-55 Maple and F-512 Maple ship in a hardshell humidity-controlled case and include a signed certificate of authenticity. Exceptional build quality and premium specifications make them worthy heirs to the historic Guild jumbo legacy.

Available with LR Baggs Electronics.

F-55 Maple in Blonde – $3,499 Street • $4,380 MSRP
F-55E Maple in Blonde – $3,699 Street • $4,750 MSRP

F-512 Maple in Blonde – $3,699 Street • $4,750 MSRP
F-512E Maple in Blonde – $3,999 Street • $5,000 MSRP
"


https://guildguitars.com/g/f-512-maple-in-natural/

https://guildguitars.com/g/f-55-maple-in-natural/



asdcbsd-402x1024.png
bkaudcn-420x1024.png



Source: https://guitargirlmag.com/news/namm...a-made-maple-guitars-are-back-in-production/#

I wonder if the sides are really solid or laminated, the press release and the specs show different.

Ralf
 
Last edited:

tommym

Member
Joined
May 5, 2013
Messages
894
Reaction score
315
I miss the aesthetics of a flamed maple neck on these models.

Tommy
 

AcornHouse

Venerated Member
Joined
May 22, 2011
Messages
10,214
Reaction score
7,213
Location
Bidwell, OH
Guild Total
21
*Insert rant about asinine name changes here*

In other news, my ‘06 Toyota RAV4 shall now be known as a ‘19 Jaguar F-class.
 

chazmo

Super Moderator
Joined
Nov 7, 2007
Messages
25,466
Reaction score
7,123
Location
Central Massachusetts
Hah, you guys're funny.

Damn, damn, damn!!!!! Great to see these (back) in production, regardless of the stupid name change!

Oh, and Tommy, I tend to agree with you about the maple neck, but that's actually been gone for quite a while. Also, my '90s JF-30-12 has that beautiful striped maple neck, but it is one honkin' heavy guitar. Not sure how much the maple adds to that, but I'm sure it's significant.
 

merlin6666

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2014
Messages
1,173
Reaction score
305
Location
Canada .... brrr
I really hope that my Guild dealer will get one of these. He has not got any US Guilds in after an initial D20 that has not sold and cancelled his D55 order much to my disappointment. Also it seems that the Westerly 100 level guitars of which he seems to have the whole series are not moving well. I don't think I will visit the store before NAMM but will talk to him a few days after. On a positive note he put a new billboard on his store to promote Guild.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2306840882660778&id=260675313944022
 

GAD

Reverential Morlock
Über-Morlock
Joined
Feb 11, 2009
Messages
22,585
Reaction score
17,803
Location
NJ (The nice part)
Guild Total
112
*Insert rant about asinine name changes here*/QUOTE]

Can do!

It's like the amount of cereal in the box being cut in half while the box size and the price stays the same.
It's like women's dress sizes all shifting to make people feel better about their sizes.
It's like a company wants to make money off of an iconic brand and model without actually delivering the iconic model from that brand.
It's like they're doing all of those things at once.

This just in: Guild has reissued the coveted Artist Award!*
M-120_nat_2-1500x630.jpg



* Formally the Guild GAD M120
 

richardp69

Enlightened Member
Gold Supporting
Joined
Aug 11, 2009
Messages
6,007
Reaction score
5,965
Location
Barton City, Michigan
Personally, I wish they wouldn't have done the naming/model stuff they did. I don't like it a bit. BUT, I also don't believe that's what is most important here. I've owned 4 models now from the new Oxnard facility and I can honestly say they have all equaled or surpassed my expectations. So, good on you Guild. Just keep building great guitars and the rest will take care of itself I think.
 

Brucebubs

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2018
Messages
2,154
Reaction score
1,552
Location
Eden, Australia
So please correct me if I'm wrong here - while the F-512 has always been the F-512 the F-412 became the JF-65M-12 in 1987 and reverted back to F-412 in 2002 and now it's a F-512 Maple even though it still has an unbraced arch back and not a braced back like the F-512.
It's a beautiful thing but Cordoba ...why?

I'm disappointed they changed the name but I'm even more disappointed I can't buy any new Guild from a USA dealer due to Cordoba policy.
 
Last edited:

tommym

Member
Joined
May 5, 2013
Messages
894
Reaction score
315
This just in: Guild has reissued the coveted artist award!*
m-120_nat_2-1500x630.jpg



* formally the guild gad m120

LOL!

It took me a few takes before I got it. I'm a little slow today. But that's a good one!

Tommy
 

D30Man

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2015
Messages
2,949
Reaction score
998
Location
Rockwall, TX
Guild Total
5
That maple f-55 would make a beautiful companion to my RW f-55... man that sure is pretty. I beat it sounds amazing. And agreed with Richard. I have enjoyed every Oxnard model I have picked up including the one I own obviously. I think Guild is doing a great job making new US made guitars.
 

adorshki

Reverential Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2009
Messages
34,176
Reaction score
6,790
Location
Sillycon Valley CA
In other news, my ‘06 Toyota RAV4 shall now be known as a ‘19 Jaguar F-class.
Toyota hasn't actually acquired Jaguar yet.


It's like a company wants to make money off of an iconic brand and model without actually delivering the iconic model from that brand.
Oh you've seen my pet rant about the F40?

Also, my '90s JF-30-12 has that beautiful striped maple neck, but it is one honkin' heavy guitar. Not sure how much the maple adds to that, but I'm sure it's significant.
No, it's not the maple as much as the weight of that full-size spare truss rod that was standard on full-size Guild 12-strings until '07.
Pretty soon they'll be able to do away with a truss rod altogether and get by with a run-flat.
 
Last edited:

GAD

Reverential Morlock
Über-Morlock
Joined
Feb 11, 2009
Messages
22,585
Reaction score
17,803
Location
NJ (The nice part)
Guild Total
112
Not correct, Bruce. The F-512 became the JF-55-12 during the same era that the F-412 became the JF-65-12

Wait, what? The 512 became the 55-12 while the 412 became the 65-12? :numbness:

If that's right then I suppose there's some sort of wacky precedence.
 

F312

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2008
Messages
2,760
Reaction score
958
Name that dog, oops wrong thread.

Ralph,
 

SFIV1967

Venerated Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2010
Messages
18,442
Reaction score
8,956
Location
Bavaria / Germany
Guild Total
8
Wait, what? The 512 became the 55-12 while the 412 became the 65-12? :numbness:.
Even worse, first there were a JF-65M-12 (F-412) and a JF-65R-12 (F-512) and they were renamed into JF-65-12 (F-412) and JF-55-12 (F-512)!
And there was a D-55 (Rosewood) which was renamed at the same time into D-65. And later reintroduced as D-55 again... And there was a D-66 renamed into D-60...both also Rosewood. Now a bit later the D-60 suddently re-appeared as a maple version! Basically a D-55 with Maple wood...Remember this one? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4hNwyFeq18

Oh well, CMG can play all kind of games in future renaming guitars with stupid names just looking at all the historical confusion...

Ralf
 
Top