So are the Guild 12’s really all that?

Rambozo96 · Sep 9, 2020

Not meant as a sacrilegious statement I just keep hearing the old and even current Guild 12’s held in fairly high regard. I never been a massive 12 string fan and somewhat fallen out of love with them some years ago as all I keep is a battered EKO 12 as it was always quite low maintenance with its trapeze bridge and bolt on neck and built quite heavily so all your usual structural problems that comes with the wear and tear on a 12 seems to be eliminated but at the cost of tone as the neck block is a massive hunk of plywood, top back and sides is a bit thick and I think it’s heavily braced. Though it isn’t very resonant and I remember I didn’t really care about acoustics in general until I got around to buying one with great tone. So that aside which model encapsulated the holy grail Guild 12 string tone? Is it the jumbos? Dreads? Will I do just fine with a F112? I seem to find those all the time for under a grand even with all the major work done.

thanks in advance!

fronobulax · Sep 9, 2020

Not quite following you. I think you are saying you didn't care for 12's but have had a change of heart or at least a willingness to look at "better" 12's. You are (justifiably, considering where you are posting) willing to limit your search to Guilds and (without really helping to define it) "tone" is what you are most interested in. Correct

As is my habit, I will inadvertently make an outrageous statement that will attract several folks to this thread to correct that

Like with 6 string acoustics, tone and volume are usually a function of wood and size. So if you want to fill the room with your glorious tone you head for the bigger ones 412, 512 (and 612 if this is all about the journey and not the destination). If sheer volume is not what is driving you then you should probably just grab a 112 or 212 that fits your budget with the expectation that, if it doesn't work for you, you can sell it and upgrade later. You might get lucky. Mrs. Fro. had never played a 12 or wanted to and spent a weekend with a D-25-12 that is now hers. She loves it and has no interest in trying any other 12, perhaps because ignorance can be an antidote to G.A.S.

Westerly Wood · Sep 9, 2020

i have played a lot of other 12 string makes and models over the years. none really come close to the depth of tone, sound, projection of a Guild 12 string.

still, why Leo Kottke never played one is beyond my comprehension. I think he did not like the neck.

Nuuska · Sep 9, 2020

Westerly Wood said:
...still, why Leo Kottke never played one is beyond my comprehension. I think he did not like the neck.

He DID PLAY Guild - he played my F512 more than once - and he liked it - but I suppose he was after different sound. He did not say anything about not liking this or that. So maybe it simply wasn't his cup of tea. He had lots of guitars in his house - most of them in storage room.

And later - he played one US-made acoustic 6-string in my house for a good while - finally put it down and gave his verdict : "What a tub!" - so he did not like that one though it had good neck etc - but definitely not the sound. And though it was my guitar he was honestly just not liking it - no reason to be polite about such things.

The Guilds of Grot · Sep 9, 2020

Nuuska said:
He DID PLAY Guild - he played my F512 more than once - and he liked it - but I suppose he was after different sound. He did not say anything about not liking this or that. So maybe it simply wasn't his cup of tea. He had lots of guitars in his house - most of them in storage room.

And later - he played one US-made acoustic 6-string in my house for a good while - finally put it down and gave his verdict : "What a tub!" - so he did not like that one though it had good neck etc - but definitely not the sound. And though it was my guitar he was honestly just not liking it - no reason to be polite about such things.

Pix or it never happened!

awagner · Sep 9, 2020

I believe he had problems with his hands and had Taylor design a custom model for him, which became the basis of the Taylor production model.

Westerly Wood · Sep 9, 2020

Nuuska said:
He DID PLAY Guild - he played my F512 more than once - and he liked it - but I suppose he was after different sound. He did not say anything about not liking this or that. So maybe it simply wasn't his cup of tea. He had lots of guitars in his house - most of them in storage room.

And later - he played one US-made acoustic 6-string in my house for a good while - finally put it down and gave his verdict : "What a tub!" - so he did not like that one though it had good neck etc - but definitely not the sound. And though it was my guitar he was honestly just not liking it - no reason to be polite about such things.

awesome story!

i saw him once in madison wi, and got back stage as his son's best friend growin up was there with e. so i got to shake his hand and talk a bit. i told him about my old martin d35 and he said he had one and it was one of his faves but it got stolen at a gig.

Rambozo96 · Sep 9, 2020

fronobulax said:
Not quite following you. I think you are saying you didn't care for 12's but have had a change of heart or at least a willingness to look at "better" 12's. You are (justifiably, considering where you are posting) willing to limit your search to Guilds and (without really helping to define it) "tone" is what you are most interested in. Correct

As is my habit, I will inadvertently make an outrageous statement that will attract several folks to this thread to correct that

Like with 6 string acoustics, tone and volume are usually a function of wood and size. So if you want to fill the room with your glorious tone you head for the bigger ones 412, 512 (and 612 if this is all about the journey and not the destination). If sheer volume is not what is driving you then you should probably just grab a 112 or 212 that fits your budget with the expectation that, if it doesn't work for you, you can sell it and upgrade later. You might get lucky. Mrs. Fro. had never played a 12 or wanted to and spent a weekend with a D-25-12 that is now hers. She loves it and has no interest in trying any other 12, perhaps because ignorance can be an antidote to G.A.S.

What I was trying to say was I think if I had something that sounded great maybe I’d be more inclined to play a 12’er. Like I said I used to not care much for acoustics at all when I had some cheapie Kona that eventually got a neck twist beyond repair. Decided to scope out for something that actually sounds great and now I am primarily an acoustic player. I’m thinking if I upgraded maybe I would play a 12 string more often.

dreadnut · Sep 9, 2020

My F-512 sounded like a Steinway piano. But the neck was so wide it hurt my hand to play it, so I sold it. I'm thinking the 112's and 212's probably have skinnier necks.

The Guilds of Grot · Sep 9, 2020

dreadnut said:
My F-512 sounded like a Steinway piano. But the neck was so wide it hurt my hand to play it, so I sold it. I'm thinking the 112's and 212's probably have skinnier necks.

Why would you think that?

Default · Sep 9, 2020

Had a F-112 for a while, and it was all sugar and chime. The small body was very comfortable to play.

donnylang · Sep 9, 2020

If you don't like 12 strings, it's not likely a Guild will change that - it's still a 12-string. I think where Guilds sound different is they tend to be more guttural and punchy than the boomy & delicate Martins, and the breezy Gibsons.

My opinion at this point is every guitar is different. But if you think this sounds cool, you'll probably like some Guild 12s:

chazmo · Sep 9, 2020

dreadnut · Sep 9, 2020

The Guilds of Grot said:
Why would you think that?

This is my assumption based on the fact that they don't have the double inlay stripe running down both sides of the fingerboard outside the strings.

HeyMikey · Sep 9, 2020

dreadnut said:
My F-512 sounded like a Steinway piano. But the neck was so wide it hurt my hand to play it, so I sold it. I'm thinking the 112's and 212's probably have skinnier necks.

I think it varies as it does with 6 strings based on individual hand finishing and periods of manufacture. For example I know of a couple F312’s which are the same size as 212s that have full 2 inch wide nuts.

beecee · Sep 9, 2020

try one!

And try a jumbo...look at my sig...wileypickett summed it up perfectly.

I just shipped off my F-512 today to a fellow LTG'r. Sad? yeah...but I still have my JF-30, F-212 and F-412.

Something about a maple 12 I really like

tommym · Sep 9, 2020

Rambozo96 said:
.... So that aside which model encapsulated the holy grail Guild 12 string tone? Is it the jumbos? Dreads? Will I do just fine with a F112? I seem to find those all the time for under a grand even with all the major work done.

thanks in advance!

The "holy grail" of Guild 12 strings? I never played one, but the F-612 (no longer in production) might be a candidate for that list.

I have owned F-112's (Sitka / Mahogany) in the past and they were not even close to the F-512 (Sitka / EIR) in tone. Two totally different animals. In my quest for a Guild Sitka / Mahogany Jumbo, I ended up with two Taylor 555 Jumbos. No regrets with the Taylors at all as I still own one of them. My friend was so impressed with the Taylor 555 Jumbo, that he bought the other one and it is still his go-to 12 string to this very day! I think he'd be totally blown away with the Guild F-612!

Tommy

Brucebubs · Sep 9, 2020

I thought my Morris 12-string was fair until I bought a Maton.
I thought my Maton was OK until I bought a Taylor.
I thought my Taylor was great until I bought my Guild.
I thought my Guild was fantastic until I bought my Martin.

Actually the Guild still is fantastic. The Martin is amazing but any better than a F-512? ... probably not.

HeyMikey · Sep 9, 2020

Rambozo96,

To me Guild 12 strings have "the sound" that is ingrained in my head. Its what I grew up hearing so naturally they are the holy grail of 12 strings to me. However, I think it comes down to what you want from the guitar. Its no different than with 6-strings. Rosewood vs mahogany vs maple. Small body vs medium vs jumbo. There are many variables to achieve different tones, projection, and dynamics. My F112 small body hog back is beautifully melodic and hypnotic for lighter, slower songs and picking. However you would do much better with a larger model if you are doing harder strumming and looking for more bass. Maybe a jumbo is too big physically for you. It was for me, though I love the sound of a larger 12. Try different ones in stores, from CL, etc. so you are able to get a feel for which ones appeal to you. You've come to the right place to ask opinions and get a feel for what's out there. Good luck in your search.

GGJaguar · Sep 10, 2020

I think HeyMikey summed it up best. Good luck with your search!

So are the Guild 12’s really all that?

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