@Cougar any tips on what to look for when looking at a pre owned one are much appreciated. I’ve been a little Leary of wading into sharks.
Most guitar sellers are upstanding folks, especially Guild sellers.
As an example,
here is a JF30-12 up for sale on reverb. Problem is, you can't tell
how much saddle there is, and a low saddle robs a guitar of its volume and tone. (Plus it's an indication that the guitar may be due for an (expensive) neck reset before long, since shaving the saddle is how one lowers the action). Anyway, I'd ask the seller to take a photo showing the height of the saddle. Also, I guess you could just ask about
how easy/hard the action is, but best to ask the seller to measure the string height at the 12th fret. I forget what the "good" measurement is, but much higher than that is not good. The most expensive repair is a neck reset -- $400-700? -- and there's a
test to check the neck angle. I think those are the key things to check on. Well, also, what's the distance from the strings to the soundboard just in front of the bridge? -- another measurement that has an ideal number you're looking for (I forget what that is at the moment). There's also the general geometry of the top. You don't want it caved in! but that usually shows up on the neck angle test. I usually like a guitar in excellent to very good condition. "Good" condition often means "not very good" condition. Some guys don't mind nicks and scratches and even cracks and other indications that the guitar has "mojo." To each his own.
Generally, if you're looking for a good Guild 12-string, patience is a good quality to have. Initially, when I first became a member here, I wanted a burst F512. But at 4 grand, they were WAY out of my price range. After I got my JF30-12 (a great deal at less than $1K), I was pretty ecstatic with it (well, still am), and was in no hurry for the 512. Something like FIVE YEARS LATER, there was this Oxnard F512 on reverb (or was it ebay?) that was listed as "for parts or not working." But it looked fine except for a couple of cosmetic gouges in the edge of the top. I couldn't get anything out of the seller either, who said it was boxed up and he couldn't tell me anything more about it. Well dang, for $1,400 I took a chance. As it turns out, the small gouges were the only problem, I had them fixed, and the guitar is practically like new! Patience, grasshopper. Patience.