12 String opinions

[Guest]

Hey there. I'm new to this forum and what brings me is finding out how much I missed playing when I dusted off my D35 (late 70's?) about a year ago. Next thing ya know I'm taking lessons (I'm 54), someone offered me a sweet deal on an American Strat, and I've become a Craigslist addict where I've picked up a Yamaha 12 string and an Ibenez accoustic bass and a Epiphone Dot. There's been some trading going on too. Anyway I'm having fun but I want to kinda narrow my collection into maybe a half dozen really good axes. OK make it eight. Ten. No more then twelve. At the top of my 12 string list is a Guild to go with my D35- a guitar I'll never trade or sell by the way. I'm partial to older instruments and I'd appreciate any info on the subject. I like big ballsy blues as well as some a dat rich Leo Kottke sound. I know there are a couple of different models and I'd like to hear opinons. Thanks

 

[BluesDan]

Welcome to LTG Gene!

You may want to move this one over to the "Acoustic" section of LTG for better "traffic". Alot of folks around here with good info. on the 12-ers. I love my G-212!

 

[Guildmark]

Hey, TBG. Welcome aboard!

I've mostly played 12-string for the past 31 years, since I ordered my G-312 from Westerley. I think most folks prefer the jumbos, but I love my dread. Guitars take on some qualities of the type of music they have played over the years. I guess that's why I like mine so much: it has played my style of music all that time. I don't think it sounds like any other 12-string, and it still gets a lot of compliments. I wouldn't mind having an F-412 or JF30-12, to also have a maple 12er in the stable, but I sure ain't parting with this one. You know....until I die, that is. And then my daughter gets it.

Anyway, nice to have you here.
Post well. Post often.

 

[Squawk]

I have a JF30-12 and it's the fullest sounding 12 acoustic I've ever played (admittingly, I haven't played too many others).

 

[lpdeluxe]

A good friend has a '78 J212XL (I think that's right -- a wide mahogany jumbo) that eats other twelves for breakfast. It's a big jumbo with a big neck, but it rules the rhythm section when he gets it out.

 

[chazmo]

Gene,

There are many excellent Guild 12 string models to choose from, as you already know. For that matter, I don't know if Guild has ever made a 12-string that I don't like. Haven't tried 'em all, but I'm inclined to say that there's not a dog in the bunch!

It'd be tough to just say "get one of these." I will tell you that my F-512 (rosewood jumbo) is the king in my world. It is responsive and sweet when finger-picked, and it blows the roof off when strummed. On the other hand, you already have a rosewood dread there with the Martin. You might like the more balanced sound of mahogany or even the drier sound of maple to mix things up.

Tough call.

Oh, if you're looking at new guitars and the price of the US-made Guild Traditional series guitars from New Hartford is too high for you, you might want to have a look at the GAD version of the F-212. I tried one of these last week, and it's all good (assuming you're not averse to an Asian-made guitar).