12-string Acoustic Recommendations?

[josephpnorman]

Hi--I'm in the market for a nice 12-string acoustic. Do you have any Guild recommendations?

Edit: Budget = $1,500

 

[Heath]

You bet we will, but knowing your budget would be helpful.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Depends on your budget. But if it’s a classic Guild 12 string sound you’re after, I like the following USA models. They can be all found used on reverb:

F212. Mahogany back and sides.
F412 Maple back and sides.
F512. Rosewood back and sides.

my favorite is the F312, rosewood back and sides but not as blingy as the 512.

an F112 are great too, hog back and sides.

Then there are the dreads.
D212
D25-12
G212
G312

 

[josephpnorman]

You bet we will, but knowing your budget would be helpful.

$1,500.

 

[Westerly Wood]

$1,500.

well, i would scour reverb for a F412 or even F512, while 1500 is low for those, you never know, might get a killer score.
easily get a F212 for that. they should be under that used.

 

[HeyMikey]

Depends on your budget. But if it’s a classic Guild 12 string sound you’re after, I like the following USA models. They can be all found used on reverb:

F212. Mahogany back and sides.
F412 Maple back and sides.
F512. Rosewood back and sides.

my favorite is the F312, rosewood back and sides but not as blingy as the 512.

an F112 are great too, hog back and sides.

Then there are the dreads.
D212
D25-12
G212
G312

Hi Jose. What type of music/style do you play? Are you a picker or strummer?

In your price range for a new D1512 solid wood is MIC but has good reviews.

For used look for the ones Woody mentioned. You can likely find a very good condition US made F112, F212, D212, D25-12, G212, or G312. The F112 is small and great for finger picking but shy on the low end and volume if you are a strummer. F212 is a great all around and comfortable 12, as are the dread shaped others mentioned.

An F312 (rare), 412, and 512 are top of the food chain but are more likely $2K+, but sometimes you can find a good deal.

With all used guitars and especially 12-strings structural condition matters. You need to first assess the neck angle, bellying, bridge lift and cracks to determine the potential for some of the more common repairs.

 

[wileypickett]

IMO Guild's jumbos are where the rubber really hits the road. In addition to the other F models (jumbos) recommended above, you might also consider the JF30 12-string: jumbo; maple back and sides; archback. Very fond of mine.

 

[chazmo]

In that price range, F-212XL.

 

[adorshki]

Hi--I'm in the market for a nice 12-string acoustic. Do you have any Guild recommendations?

Edit: Budget = $1,500

Joseph, given all the suggestions, you may find a little decoder helpful particularly for F bodies:

F112 was based on F30, flatbacked 'hog body, 15" lower bout width (which fluctuated by fractions of a inch over time)

F212/312: Based on F47 16" lower bout width, F212='hog body, F312=rosewood, both flatbacked.

F412: Based on F50, 17" lower bout maple archback. JF30-12 was a "blinged down" version.

F512: Based of F50R, 17" lower bout rosewood flatback although a couple of archback one-offs have been seen here.

F212XL: 17" lower bout version of F212.

Dreadnought bodies are all 15-3/4" lower bout

G212 based on D40 hog body flatback
G312 based on D50 rosewood flatback
D212/D25-12 based on D25 'hog body archback

At least some very very early F212's had almost 2" wide nuts and very flat boards, some players like this build style, otherwise, 1-13/16 nut was the universal "spec", don't recall ever seeing anything narrower on a Guild 12.

So if you've got an ideal tonewood and size that'll help you focus the search.

The MIC models are generally very close in spec size/tonewood to the US model they're based on, and can be ID'd by a "GAD" in front of the model number or the "1" or "2" following the F or D in the model number.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Joseph, given all the suggestions, you may find a little decoder helpful particularly for F bodies:

great summary here Al:

F112 was based on F30, flatbacked 'hog body, 15" lower bout width (which fluctuated by fractions of a inch over time)

F212/312: Based on F47 16" lower bout width, F212='hog body, F312=rosewood, both flatbacked.

F412: Based on F50, 17" lower bout maple archback. JF30-12 was a "blinged down" version.

F512: Based of F50R, 17" lower bout rosewood flatback although a couple of archback one-offs have been seen here.

F212XL: 17" lower bout version of F212.

 

[Br1ck]

It depends on what you are going to do with it. A friend plays Leo Kottke style on his F 112, and I'm convinced the F 112 is the best for that. It has a clarity larger 12 strings lack. The bigger guitars put out a lot of sound, and that might be what you want. They all are a different flavor of good. A 12 string from the heavy build era might be in better structural shape.

 

[Heath]

Or just do what we all do, get one (or five) of each!

 

[Cougar]

Hi--I'm in the market for a nice 12-string acoustic. Do you have any Guild recommendations?

As suggested by the responses above, ANY Guild 12-string is highly recommended! I join with wileypickett in really loving the 17" lower bout jumbos. Used guitar prices seem to be pretty high these days, but a JF30-12 should definitely be within your budget. Mine was built in Corona, California, and it is simply spectacular.

 

[dreadnut]

Good luck finding a 312...

 

[wileypickett]

Or just do what we all do, get one (or five) of each!

I resemble that remark!

 

[adorshki]

I resemble that remark!

Yeah but at least you're a catch-and-release kind of guy...gives others guys another chance to live the dream, too.

 

[jciampa]

I just picked up a Westerly G212 and can't recommend it enough.

 

[chazmo]

^ Congrats, jciampa!

 

[Boneman]

I'll chime in with the D1212, can get two brand new ones for that price range at the moment. Just posted a NGD thread on my new one

 

[algionfriddo]

I have a 1979 Guild F212XL NT. It is fantastic. I play it tuned to concert pitch but keep it tuned a full step down after I'm done with a session. I added a K&K Pure Mini with a sound wheel. I run it through a Zoom A3 pre-amp. The sound is fantastic. Unplugged it is a booming powerhouse with amazing chime. Fills a large room with a wonderful tone. I've had it since the early 80's. It just recently had a neck reset and Mike Lull Guitars (Seattle) did a great job. I also had them put it on their PLEK machine. Plays like a dream. No top-out on heavy strumming. I'd never sell it. Guild makes the best 12 string acoustics.