Compare Guild American 12 String Guitars to Their Imports?

twocorgis said:

I've played JF30-12s from Westerly that weren't nearly as good as mine....

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Yeah, I picked up a limited edition woodgrain blue JF30-12 out of Westerly. It couldn't compete with my Corona-built and I eventually let her go.

twocorgis said:

Corona builds also had an ebony fretboard and bridge.

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Yes! I love my ebony fretboard!

twocorgis said:

Mine also had the nicest finish I think I've seen on any guitar.

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Yep -- I think Corona put out some of the nicest bursts you'll ever see on a Guild.

I like double pick guards on 12 string guitars.
In fact, I am trying to contact Guild about getting matching guards for my Guild Baritone.

Guild 12 string necks became too much for me to handle a few years ago.
That is why I purchased the Yamaha. It had a smaller and easier to play neck but it didn't have that "Guild Sound".

How are the necks on the newer import Guild 12 string guitars, compared to the American builds?
I understand that when Guild went away from the double truss rods that the necks became a bit smaller and easier to play.

As stated above, the new necks are quite slim, and the fingerboards very comfortable IMO.

A lot of the changes to the playability of 12-strings is down to Bob Taylor. I'm not so crazy about the Taylor sound, but his refining of the necks of 12-strings a few decades back, making them slimmer and easier to play, seems to have influenced every builder since, who had to follow suit in order to compete.