I'm going to put together an unofficial spec sheet for the F512 and put it online here. Maybe it can be of some use to other owners who need the data from time to time. The Guild website has inaccurate (and rather incomplete) data online.
Let's see if we can gather all the information. I imagine some of these specs are common across all years of the F512, but I'm not positive. Also, I know that many of the details here will be the same for the F412 as well as the F50 and F50R. Maybe I can broaden the scope of this eventually. Part of the problem that sparked this effort, though, is cut-and-paste errors on the Guild website.
Anyway, while gathering the dimensions of the parts is something I will do for a 2006, Tacoma-era model, there are some things folks might know out there about my model and earlier models... Can you folks help if you're interested? I'd like to compile that data into one place (here, ultimately). [I'm editing in the answers to these initial questions (and comments) as I get them; soon I'll put all the data into tabular form for reference]:
1. The white plastic binding / purfling that's used throughout the guitar... Is it "boltaron?" Is it just "white plastic?" I know it's *not* ivoroid. [any specifics here would be helpful]
2. At the center of my 2006 soundhole rosette is a ring of (what looks like) pickguard material. It's red tortoise-shell. Is it plastic? Is the rest of the rosette and purfling just black and white plastic? I know some of you have abalone rosettes; does anyone know what years those were used?
3. What is the material on the front of the peghead that makes that signature, mirror-black surface? [answer: black plastic] While we're on the subject, does anyone know what materials are used to make the Guild script and shield? [answer: mother of pearl] I don't think this has changed through the years, but I don't know.
4. I *don't* have measurements for the old-style bridge. Can someone do that on theirs? Mine has the newer bridge shape.
5. Does anyone know if the 12" radius of the fretboard (published on Guild's site) is correct? I don't know how to measure that.
6. Does anyone know the material of the compensated saddle that's on my Tacoma? It didn't "feel" like plastic when I had it out last time. Someone suggested the "hot pin" method of testing to see whether it smells like plastic or hair, but I haven't done that...
7. I recall somewhere seeing the saddle dimensions for the older, non-compensated saddle. Does anyone have those? I'll measure the compensated saddle.
8. Am I correct that all years of F512 production used nitro-cellulose finishes? [answer: yes]
9. Are all years a 3-piece neck of mahogany/maple/mahogany? The maple strip is very narrow down the middle of my neck; are they all like that? Sorry, no picture for that.
10. Have F512s always used Grover gold-plated minis?
11. What is the material that the blocks (and embedded arrowheads) are made of inlayed into the fretboard? [answer: mother of pearl blocks with abalone triangles].
rosette, pickguard, and bridge:
peghead:
Let's see if we can gather all the information. I imagine some of these specs are common across all years of the F512, but I'm not positive. Also, I know that many of the details here will be the same for the F412 as well as the F50 and F50R. Maybe I can broaden the scope of this eventually. Part of the problem that sparked this effort, though, is cut-and-paste errors on the Guild website.
Anyway, while gathering the dimensions of the parts is something I will do for a 2006, Tacoma-era model, there are some things folks might know out there about my model and earlier models... Can you folks help if you're interested? I'd like to compile that data into one place (here, ultimately). [I'm editing in the answers to these initial questions (and comments) as I get them; soon I'll put all the data into tabular form for reference]:
1. The white plastic binding / purfling that's used throughout the guitar... Is it "boltaron?" Is it just "white plastic?" I know it's *not* ivoroid. [any specifics here would be helpful]
2. At the center of my 2006 soundhole rosette is a ring of (what looks like) pickguard material. It's red tortoise-shell. Is it plastic? Is the rest of the rosette and purfling just black and white plastic? I know some of you have abalone rosettes; does anyone know what years those were used?
3. What is the material on the front of the peghead that makes that signature, mirror-black surface? [answer: black plastic] While we're on the subject, does anyone know what materials are used to make the Guild script and shield? [answer: mother of pearl] I don't think this has changed through the years, but I don't know.
4. I *don't* have measurements for the old-style bridge. Can someone do that on theirs? Mine has the newer bridge shape.
5. Does anyone know if the 12" radius of the fretboard (published on Guild's site) is correct? I don't know how to measure that.
6. Does anyone know the material of the compensated saddle that's on my Tacoma? It didn't "feel" like plastic when I had it out last time. Someone suggested the "hot pin" method of testing to see whether it smells like plastic or hair, but I haven't done that...
7. I recall somewhere seeing the saddle dimensions for the older, non-compensated saddle. Does anyone have those? I'll measure the compensated saddle.
8. Am I correct that all years of F512 production used nitro-cellulose finishes? [answer: yes]
9. Are all years a 3-piece neck of mahogany/maple/mahogany? The maple strip is very narrow down the middle of my neck; are they all like that? Sorry, no picture for that.
10. Have F512s always used Grover gold-plated minis?
11. What is the material that the blocks (and embedded arrowheads) are made of inlayed into the fretboard? [answer: mother of pearl blocks with abalone triangles].
rosette, pickguard, and bridge:
peghead:
