F-512 (rosewood): new vs. vintage?

PH_Graphics

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Sorry to have been absent for a few days, but there was a Covid-19 death last week at a senior living center less than a mile from my house. Many other residents and several staff at that facility have since tested positive for the virus, and the center regularly bused residents to grocery and retail stores around town -- many of them the same stores my wife and I frequent. They didn't stop the busing until the day after the resident died because he was only tested and diagnosed post-mortem. So, my attention has been focused elsewhere.

But, three issues for today: first, I started this thread to gather opinions about which era(s) of used F-512's to seek out and which, if any, to avoid, and in the process learned about the JF-55-12. Then about 1987's JF-65R-12. Then about the JF100 and JF100C-12's. Are there any other jumbo rosewood 12-string model designations I should be alert for in my search for what has now become an "F-512-ish" Guild? (I do know of the F-612 but don't think I need to worry about coming across one of those -- or affording it if I did.)

Second, I'm the person who started the "Has anyone ever seen this pick guard before?" thread

https://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/showthread.php?188345-Has-anyone-ever-seen-this-pick-guard-before

back in 2016 prior to having a lot of work done on my F-412. For any of you who remember that thread and have ever wondered about the outcome, I did provide the information on all of the final decisions regarding what work was done and much of the thought process that went into the details in post #64 in that thread (and I did post a link to some photos in #65), but I made that post something like 2 and a half years after the final pre-renovation post, so not many saw it. I have made one minor change to the guitar since then: swapping out the ebony volume and tone knobs I thought I wanted (in order for them to be in keeping with the new ebony bridge and black pick guard) for brass knobs with MOP inserts. I think the new knobs do a much better job of blending in with the guitar's top. I just thought the ebony ones were too visually intrusive. If you want to see a photo of that '68 F-412 as it exists today, here is a link:
https://thepaulhundleygallery.com/#/gallery/f-412/f-412-2020-03-21-4000px-ss/http://

Finally, I don't know how many have seen the post making its way around Facebook asking people to post photos of them with their guitars. Since we are under mandatory lock-down (basically house arrest) I had time to take that picture last night. The link immediately above also has that photo, or you can see it at Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10218382492168469&set=p.10218382492168469&type=3&theater

Stay healthy!
 
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Cougar

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...If you want to see a photo of that '68 F-412 as it exists today, here is a link....

Wow, that's quite a mod on that 412! Gotta love that Dykes model, too.

And the golf course shots! I'm diggin' 'em!
 

chazmo

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PH, I don't have a FB account, so can't participate there (not that I would). Very cool F-412, by the way.

We just had a member get a brand new F-512 from Oxnard. I haven't played one, but my Tacoma version (and all the New Hartford versions I played) are just wonderful. I'm not sure if there's any way to go wrong in this decision. One thing to note is that late in Tacoma (and onward), Guild moved to a single truss-rod flanked by two carbon rods in the neck of the F-412/512. Prior to that, the necks had two truss rods in them. AFAIK, there's only been good reaction to the single truss-rod necks, but of course the primary thing to "watch out" for in an older Guild is whether it needs neck work or not. Probably many of the older ones will.

Good luck in the hunt.
 

PH_Graphics

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Wow, that's quite a mod on that 412!

Well, since the necessity for an oversize bridge could not be avoided, a true restoration was not possible. At that point I was free, I felt, to have them produce the best looking guitar (withing reason) that I could think of. My view of great design can be summed up in two words: simple elegance. Simple meaning a lack of unneeded details and embellishments, and elegant meaning visually cohesive and with some panache, but minimalist. I've long believed that guitars with ebony fret boards needed ebony bridges and black pick guards, so that's what I now have.

And the golf course shots! I'm diggin' 'em!

Thank you very much. I've worked very hard to refine those for almost 30 years, now. I hope you can see the tendency toward simple elegance in those, too.
 

Coop47

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I have a '77 F-512 that I got for a great price, but all things being equal I'd go for the more comfortable (for me, slimmer) neck profile. I've heard nothing but good things about the Oxnard and New Hartford builds. Good luck!
 

PH_Graphics

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One thing to note is that late in Tacoma (and onward), Guild moved to a single truss-rod flanked by two carbon rods in the neck of the F-412/512. Prior to that, the necks had two truss rods in them.

Yes, the narrower neck is something I definitely I want to check out. And the only F-512 I know of that's within about a 3 hour drive is a 2019. My main problem with that, right now, is that I called the store and they said they don't have any way of disinfecting guitars between people playing them. I really want to try out a 512, but I'm not sure I want to get sick in the process.
 

PH_Graphics

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I have a '77 F-512 that I got for a great price, but all things being equal I'd go for the more comfortable (for me, slimmer) neck profile. I've heard nothing but good things about the Oxnard and New Hartford builds. Good luck!

Thanks. As i said to chazmo, the slimmer neck is definitely of interest to me.
 
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I had a F512 from 1979 (Rhode Island) but foolishly sold it last year. The local distributer had a special offer on a new Oxnard F512 which I purchased.
Compared to the Rhode Island one, which I thought was pretty damn good, it seems to me the Oxnard one is superior not just the slimmer neck, but the overall tone. still the great bass response but more treble than I could ever extract from the Rhode island model.
So in my very humble opinion, Oxnard have made a great 12 string guitar even better
 

PH_Graphics

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So in my very humble opinion, Oxnard have made a great 12 string guitar even better

Thanks for your input. Unless I can find a JF-55-12, it looks like Oxnard will be my first priority. It's frustrating to know that there's a used ('19) one just 2 hours from here, but attempting to play it for the next few months is likely to be a very bad idea. Is yours an electric? If so, what do you think of the sound when plugged in?

Be well.
 

Greg Feo

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Sorry to have been absent for a few days, but there was a Covid-19 death last week at a senior living center less than a mile from my house. Many other residents and several staff at that facility have since tested positive for the virus, and the center regularly bused residents to grocery and retail stores around town -- many of them the same stores my wife and I frequent. They didn't stop the busing until the day after the resident died because he was only tested and diagnosed post-mortem. So, my attention has been focused elsewhere.

But, three issues for today: first, I started this thread to gather opinions about which era(s) of used F-512's to seek out and which, if any, to avoid, and in the process learned about the JF-55-12. Then about 1987's JF-65R-12. Then about the JF100 and JF100C-12's. Are there any other jumbo rosewood 12-string model designations I should be alert for in my search for what has now become an "F-512-ish" Guild? (I do know of the F-612 but don't think I need to worry about coming across one of those -- or affording it if I did.)

Second, I'm the person who started the "Has anyone ever seen this pick guard before?" thread

https://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/showthread.php?188345-Has-anyone-ever-seen-this-pick-guard-before

back in 2016 prior to having a lot of work done on my F-412. For any of you who remember that thread and have ever wondered about the outcome, I did provide the information on all of the final decisions regarding what work was done and much of the thought process that went into the details in post #64 in that thread (and I did post a link to some photos in #65), but I made that post something like 2 and a half years after the final pre-renovation post, so not many saw it. I have made one minor change to the guitar since then: swapping out the ebony volume and tone knobs I thought I wanted (in order for them to be in keeping with the new ebony bridge and black pick guard) for brass knobs with MOP inserts. I think the new knobs do a much better job of blending in with the guitar's top. I just thought the ebony ones were too visually intrusive. If you want to see a photo of that '68 F-412 as it exists today, here is a link:
https://thepaulhundleygallery.com/#/gallery/f-412/f-412-2020-03-21-4000px-ss/http://

Finally, I don't know how many have seen the post making its way around Facebook asking people to post photos of them with their guitars. Since we are under mandatory lock-down (basically house arrest) I had time to take that picture last night. The link immediately above also has that photo, or you can see it at Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10218382492168469&set=p.10218382492168469&type=3&theater

Stay healthy!
fb Link not working?
What's your name? PH?
 

PH_Graphics

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[QUOTE="Greg Feo, post: 1877198, member:
fb Link not working?
What's your name? PH?
[/QUOTE]

Hi, Greg. The link is working for me, but if you go to fb and search for Paul Hundley you'll find me. (Both my business and personal fb pages will show up, but go to the personal, not the business, page. The linked post was made on March 21.
 

Greg Feo

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You?
 

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adorshki

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No, our Paul Hundley is in Grafton WI (hover over his avatar and location info shows up).
His first link worked for me, as a far as seeing pic of Paul with his Guilds:
 
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Hi PH Graphics. No mine is not electric. I have played it through my Rhode NT1 mic but the volume and tone of the beast unplugged are such
that I seldom make the effort of amplifying. Different matter of course if you're planning live gigs.
 
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