12 String Guild that is Mid-sized?

2AD_Vet

2AD_Vet

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I have a DV52 and I really like the size an shape of it. I would like to add a 12 string version to my playing options. I looked on the Guild website but couldn't really decipher what options are the same size/shape of my existing guitar. I don't want a jumbo or full size dreadnought.

Is there a version made (past or present) that is more the size of my current guitar? If so, what model numbers should I start looking for? (not looking for a 4k guitar though)

Thanks!
 
The D25-12 is a dreadnought 12 string. All Guild (the DV52 included) dreads are basically the same size body.

I know the D25 was available in both flatback and archback, not sure about the D25-12.
 
If you want a 12 string that's the same size/shape as your DV52 (which is a full-size dreadnought), I would highly recommend a D212/D25-12. Both are basically the same, except the older D212 has a Chesterfield on the headstock. If you want to go smaller than that, your options are the F212 (16" lower bout, OM depth) or the F112 (15" lower bout, OM depth). I can't say enough good things about my '96 D25-12.

52006450033_d761d6e36f_h.jpg
 
I may be wrong, but I think that the F212 and F112 still have a fairly deep body. Almost dreadnought depth rather than the typical 4" OM depth. My '76 F212 is about 4 3/4" at the deepest.
 
Ebay has a couple listed. One of them is a Madiera A-12 by Guild, what is that? Is it a sub-brand? Another one that is common is the Guild F512. What is the story on that one? It is only $350?
 
2AD_Vet said:
Ebay has a couple listed. One of them is a Madiera A-12 by Guild, what is that? Is it a sub-brand? Another one that is common is the Guild F512. What is the story on that one? It is only $350?
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F512s are a $2000 guitar. Be very wary of that one.
Madeira is a cheap guitar.
 
twocorgis said:
Possible for the F212 (I've never played one), but the F112 is definitely based on the OM size F30 body.
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From what I can tell, it looks like the earlier Hoboken era ones are OM shaped and later ones are based on the mid '70s F30, which was the deep body mini-jumbo shape. We are both right!
 
2AD_Vet said:
Ebay has a couple listed. One of them is a Madiera A-12 by Guild, what is that?
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Made in Japan. Can't vouch for google's AI description, but it says "The Guild Madeira A-12 is a 1970s 12-string dreadnought acoustic guitar, typically made in Japan, featuring a spruce top (often laminate, but some models like the A-12AS have a solid top), laminate mahogany back and sides, and a mahogany neck with a rosewood fingerboard...."
2AD_Vet said:
Another one that is common is the Guild F512. What is the story on that one? It is only $350?
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OMG China has flooded ebay with those Chinese fakes! I think reverb.com is a little more reputable when it comes to musical instruments. (F512 is a jumbo, $2,000 minimum.) Here is a reverb search for Guild 12-strings made in the U.S. Good luck in your search!
 
2AD_Vet said:
I don't want a jumbo or full size dreadnought.
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Good luck. I don't know of any 12 string smaller than a dreadnought that is currently available.

A couple of years ago my wife got me a Takamine 12 string dreadnought and it is a comfortable body size, though the neck is wider.

www.takamine.com

product-details

Takimine | The Hardest Working Guitar
www.takamine.com www.takamine.com

It is not stunning in the sound department but very playable. I have a Guild JF30-12 that plays and sounds excellent. The jumbo size is very desirable in a 12 string.

My very first Guild was my JF30-12 because I wanted the roughest toughest 12 string I could find.

Also look at the neck radius. It makes more of a difference than you might think on a 12 string. The Takamine has a 12" radius while the new Guild 212 has a 16" radius.


I have a couple other cheap 12 strings that bellied and/or suffered head stock breaks. Don't buy a cheap 12 string. Trust me on this. The string tension does a number of things to the guitar that will render it unplayable.
 
The only Guilds that might fit your needs here would be a used F-112, or maybe F-212 which is a little larger. The F-112 is roughly shaped like a OM/OOO but is a hair thicker body and the F-212 is a mini jumbo, similar to a Grand Auditorium.
 
For a list of Guild's 12-string dreadnaught models from the Westerly factory, see post #2 in this link... Some show up regularly on Reverb or eBay, but some are rare or have only a single known example. Those shown in bold have brace-less, arched, laminated backs.

Wilmywood said:
All Guild (the DV52 included) dreads are basically the same size body.
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This isn't entirely true... the G-41 (1975-76) is a long-scale "super-sized" D-40 with a 17" lower bout, while the G-75 (1974-76) is a 3/4 sized D-50 with a 15" lower bout (standard scale). But, AFAIK, all the dread 12-strings were standard dreadnaught size.
 
GardMan said:
For a list of Guild's 12-string dreadnaught models from the Westerly factory, see post #2 in this link... Some show up regularly on Reverb or eBay, but some are rare or have only a single known example. Those shown in bold have brace-less, arched, laminated backs.


This isn't entirely true... the G-41 (1975-76) is a long-scale "super-sized" D-40 with a 17" lower bout, while the G-75 (1974-76) is a 3/4 sized D-50 with a 15" lower bout (standard scale). But, AFAIK, all the dread 12-strings were standard dreadnaught size.
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I was, of course, talking about the usual suspects, not the two year and rarer models. And mostly the DV52 and the D25, in this case. I've had G37s, DV52, DV62, DCE-1, D4, GAD25, DV-6, D-30 - all the same size, all fit the same case just right.
 
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2AD_Vet said:
Ebay has a couple listed. One of them is a Madiera A-12 by Guild, what is that? Is it a sub-brand? Another one that is common is the Guild F512. What is the story on that one? It is only $350?
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Madeira was Guild's first imported line, there were 2 generations of 'em. GuiId actually sent pre-cut and sized stock to the makers, they aren't just generic pieces with a Guild label slapped on.

F512 was Guild's top of the line twelve-string, full 17" jumbo lower bout, rosewood body. F412 is its maple body counter part.
As others have mentioned, if you like the size of your DV52, then you should be looking at D-series twelvers, like D212 and D2512, and G212 and 312 (70's era dreadnought twelves, but likely subject to some serious aging issues by now, and not all that commonly seen either.)

Personally I also suggest checking out the F212 ('hog body) and F312 sizes (rosewood body), they're 16"lower bout jumbos and due to the narrower waist lots of us find 'em actually more comfortable to play than dreads.

They no longer offer that size in American builds.
 
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Boomstick said:
The only Guilds that might fit your needs here would be a used F-112, or maybe F-212 which is a little larger. The F-112 is roughly shaped like a OM/OOO but is a hair thicker body and the F-212 is a mini jumbo, similar to a Grand Auditorium.
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The F 112 is my favorite 12 string, Guild or otherwise. It puts out a ton of sound while retaining as much clarity as a 12 string can.
 
thanks for all the inputs folks, after reading it all and looking at the websites it looks like the D 1212 might be the right fit for me. Anybody have any experience with that one?
 
2AD_Vet said:
thanks for all the inputs folks, after reading it all and looking at the websites it looks like the D 1212 might be the right fit for me. Anybody have any experience with that one?
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Not personally, but the imports in general get good reviews for sound quality.
NOTE it's got a 'hog top. It's gonna have a somewhat darker voice than a spruce top.

They only ever made 2 models like that before, in '84-'85, the D15-12 and D17-12 (Slightly blingier than D15). That always makes me suspect the configuration really appeals to a narrow niche. Similar issues with arched back rosewood bodies, only ever made 5 types in the US over the first 45 years and none lasted longer than a couple-3 years.

Also, a new member posted a link to a vintage D25-12 in this thread, post 12 if it might be of interest:
https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/guild-d35.229313/#post-2249286
 
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