Guild F-412 Opinions

[Rich Cohen]

Wouldn't surprise me if your JF30-12, being very early production, got a leftover Westerly top intended for an F412.
But even the AA out of Corona was pretty damn impressive going by my D40.
And forgot about that rosewood vs ebony board detail (and bridge too for that matter, has even more sonic impact than the 'board.)
Don't think 412's ever got rosewood boards (as "standard"), but could be wrong about that one.
I'd forgotten very early F50's got 'em and had to be reminded recently, so maybe the early 412's got 'em too.
In fact the '78 catalog shows with ebony fretboard and rosewood bridge.
(The F512 too, for that matter)
https://www.gad.net/Blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Guild-1976-Catalog-Acoustic.pdf

I don't know. It's always a subjective question.I have a D-30 from Richard Peterson that is AWSOME, and well as pretty in that it is "Tennessee Orange." I'm in India right now with it, and can't wait to get back to the US and compare it to the D-60 Rich sold me recently before I left (not a lot of playing time on it). If I remember correctly they are both comparable in sound and depth, except for the bling. What to say? With respect to Guild specs and productions, I would say that on par the "standard" models are perhaps worth more of your money, in that they compare favorably with the blinged models, say for example the JF-30 versus the JF-65. But, everyone to their own opinion. And, of course, each example is an example unto itself, right? Some are duds, and others are not...nothing new here.
Best,
Rich