F512 with or without Baggs pickup

[kjd14]

Pulling the trigger on a F512. I don't gig anymore, I'm about to turn 50, and just never really 'connected' with my Taylor 365ce. I'm old school, and did keep 1 custom amp for the 'just in case I need it, I have it'. Plan to play 99.9% of the time unplugged, at home, sitting outside next to the water or near the fire pit, country, classic rock, maybe eventually blue grass but not sure. Also keeping my GS Mini b/c it's just the best travel guitar. Does it make sense just to get it with the Baggs if the $300 doesn't really matter? or Keep it 'classic' without it? Not sure why I'm hung up on this so much. I guess I feel like seeing the Baggs right there in front of you is a constant reminder that it's not vintage (and it's not) but again, I'm old school. But does it not make economic sense to just get it. And or, is there any 'modification' to the saddle, etc of the guitar that has any tonal our sound impact to playing it uplugged? I feel myself leaning towards the non-E model.

Must be going through a mid-life crisis.. I never liked burst guitars. My first 'les paul' copy was a burst and i hated it so much i gave it away. But I find myself for some reason really drawn to the burst model (spruce top). I assume no tonal affects as a result of applying this effect to the top.

any last suggestions before i pull the trigger on the F512 Burst (spruce)?

cheers!

 

[davismanLV]

I don't play out at all, but if I have a choice at purchase time, I'd get one. My Breedlove has L.R. Baggs pickup installed and I enjoy plugging in every now and again. At least I have the option. Not sure why you think it's gonna look that different. It's two little low-key knobs just inside the soundhole. If you're gonna buy it why not have the option of plugging in or not? That seems like an easy decision to me. my DV-72 has a pickup installed but I have no idea what kind. I think it's passive but next string change I'll look for a battery. Tried to plug it in one time and nothing. I'd get the p/u!!

 

[kjd14]

Thanks Tom. Appreciate your comments.
Some of the pics i see online make it 'appear to me' that it's pretty noticeable, but maybe that is purposely exaggerated on the pics to show it's the E model.

 

[GAD]

How often do you look up the soundhole from that angle? Still, I’m surprised it’s not black like on my NH D55.

 

[davismanLV]

How often do you look up the soundhole from that angle? Still, I’m surprised it’s not black like on my NH D55.

EXACTLY!! It's black on my Breedlove as well, and you hardly ever even notice!! Why they chose light colored plastic for the housing is beyond me, but I'd still get it. I might pull the thing off and spray it flat black so it's less noticeable. But still, you're not gonna see it when you're playing.

 

[kjd14]

gad and davisman.. yep black would make sense. i like the idea of painting it black if it happens be annoy me. appears to be natural on the natural on this pic. yeah you think black would be a no brainer on the burst. thanks for your input.

 

[davismanLV]

Please note that there are two things that make it more obvious on the Guild. One, of course, is the color!! Two, is the way they've mounted it under the soundhole!! They could've recessed it much more than they have. On my Breedlove, when you view the soundhole from the top, the only thing you can see are the two round knobs, not the actual housing of the thing.

Just now tried to take a photo showing what it looked like and honestly I had a super difficult time getting it to show up and I had to carry the guitar to the living room in direct light even still, it just disappears!! See?

I wonder if bracing is keeping them from mounting it in a more pleasing way?? Makes you wonder, huh??

 

[kjd14]

tom.. that is a perfect mount on your guitar.... and great color guitar. yeah.. makes you wonder for sure if the bracing is in the way. i guess that would make sense.. but they definately should have made it black so it's less obvious.

 

[GAD]

Just realized this was in the Archtop forum. Moving to Acoustics.

 

[Br1ck]

Get it without the pickups, then put a set of Dazzos in it and get a SunnAudio Stage DI or a RedEye pre. This assumes you have some open mics in the area. Start stock and mic the guitar until you get hooked on open mics.

Is there a reason you don't want to hunt down a vintage guitar?

 

[kjd14]

Br1ck. i'd prefer a vintage guitar.. that's generally what i do. i currently have a vintage piano, violin, trumpet, and sax. seems like the prices i'm seeing on vintage are the same or higher than new and it comes with a warranty and i don't have to worry about this one having any undisclosed issues. but yeah.. i love vintage and found a martin that really got my attention as well, similiar to the f512

 

[davismanLV]

Just realized this was in the Archtop forum. Moving to Acoustics.

Sorry, Gary. I noticed that earlier and meant to say something but then I got caught up in the subject and forgot!!

 

[Budha]

I bought a new F-512 rosewood last fall and love it. It is an awesome guitar. The maple or rosewood F512 are both great.

 

[kjd14]

yeah. i mean in the past i found some really good deals on vintage instruments, and couldn't be happier with those buys... great instrument, character, sound, price.

But it seems to me in this current market, vintage is at times as much or more than new.... so it begs the question, does it make sense to pay more to buy a vintage F512 than new? I know the wood would gain some tone-age from 'experienced', but again, enough of a difference to be worth more than new? maybe it does.. i'm curious of your thoughts. I wish to be < $4k.

Other than Revirb or local CL ads, where else is there to spot a quality vintage?

 

[GAD]

I should preface this by saying I have not played an Oxnard acoustic so this is quite unfair, but I would buy a vintage Guild over a new Guild any day of the week. That's certainly true with the electrics, but when it comes to warranty on a new acoustic I couldn't care less. PayPal and Reverb/Ebay protection has protected me quite well from getting guitars that aren't as advertised, and if you buy an acoustic from a well-known member here on LTG you're probably getting the best of the best anyway.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Based on what you shared in your opening post, I would not bother with a pup. Can always get one added after the fact if all a sudden you start playing live. Congrats on the F512.

 

[fronobulax]

I should preface this by saying I have not played an Oxnard acoustic so this is quite unfair, but I would buy a vintage Guild over a new Guild any day of the week. That's certainly true with the electrics, but when it comes to warranty on a new acoustic I couldn't care less. PayPal and Reverb/Ebay protection has protected me quite well from getting guitars that aren't as advertised, and if you buy an acoustic from a well-known member here on LTG you're probably getting the best of the best anyway.

I will note that PayPal and eBay/Reverb protection do not protect you from manufacturing defects. If your fear is that the instrument will not meet the factory specs or otherwise not "work" as it is supposed to then you really want to buy new and have a manufacturer's and/or selling dealer's warranty. If your fear is that the seller will not describe the instrument properly or that there are flaws that were not noticed then PayPal etc. will protect you. But the choice between new or used involves choosing what you are most afraid of.

Tangentially a long time ago someone looked at new and used prices and decided a new, factory, warranty was worth about $400 in the marketplace. Not sure whether that was especially a good analysis or whether it is still valid but it is still, IMO, a good place to start.

 

[GGJaguar]

And or, is there any 'modification' to the saddle, etc of the guitar that has any tonal our sound impact to playing it uplugged? I feel myself leaning towards the non-E model.

I'm in the camp that an acoustic should be "pure" and not amplified. There are folks on AGF and UMGF that swear that under-saddle ribbon pickups degrade the acoustic tone. Although it theoretically make sense, I can't say that it really is an issue. My Oxnard F-412 has the Baggs system and my Martin Grand J40-12 has the D-TAR system (they are roughly the same). The Martin was only offered with the pickup and I loved the acoustic sound so I bought it anyway. I got a killer deal on the F-412 so I once again overlooked the electronics and it sounds great acoustically. With that said, I have gigged my Martin plugged in a few times and it sounded reasonably good to my ears. These days, I only play them acoustically and have removed the batteries from the holders in the guitars.

 

[kjd14]

wow.. getting a lot of good feedback here from everyone... very much appreciate all the responses and opinions.

 

[Coop47]

I should preface this by saying I have not played an Oxnard acoustic so this is quite unfair, but I would buy a vintage Guild over a new Guild any day of the week.

FWIW, I have a 1977 F512 that I like a lot, but I'd love to try a newer one with a single truss rod and (as I understand it) a thinner, lighter neck. I have a couple of Oxnard acoustic Guilds and they're excellent guitars.

(However, I'd certainly defer to our fearless leader on all things electric, and pretty much everything else.)

Regarding q pickup, I'd forego it unless you knew you were going to use it. If you ever needed it, installing a K&K would be unobtrusive and pretty low impact.

My Oxnard F55 has the Baggs and I do think it's more conspicuous than it needs to be.