High End Dreadnaught 12 String

[WaltW]

The question has run around in my head for decades: Why has Guild or any other guitar maker not made a 12 string Dreadnaught with higher level appointments like a D55 / D72 Guild or D42 / D45 Martin. They both have manufactured higher end conventional shaped guitars ie Guild F-512 and Martin J-40.
For this little guy, 5'7" a dreadnaught is more comfortable to play and I've always liked a nicely appointed instrument, they don't sound different to me but, it's another sense, sight, that can be stimulated.
I actually had a J-42 made by Martin Custom Shop in 1990, when money was less frugally spent by me. It was beautiful to look at but there was something seriously different about it than a stock J-40 12 that I had played. i finally sold it in 1994 during my divorce because I needed the $$.
I considered a D-42 Martin Custom 12 recently but the $9200. price tag changed my mind. Does anyone here have any inside knowledge about Guild's reasons or at least some opinions. Does guild have a custom Shop, with the recent Yamaha acquisition, that an inquiry can be spoken to?

 

[Rocky]

I think it's a combination of factors.

• Most people don't use a 12-string as their main instrument. It's just something to add tonal variation. As such, they aren't as likely to spend as much money on that type of instrument.
• Dreadnaught 12-strings (IMHO) don't sound nearly as good as larger or smaller bodied 12-strings. People who buy dreadnaught 12's (again IMHO) buy them because they feel familiar to the dreadnaught 6-strings they already own, and not for tonal qualities.
• People who are serious about their 12-strings buy a Guild Jumbo, which are available with bling.

Most high end shops don't even carry 12-strings unless they're in on consignment. They don't move very quickly.

I'm not particularly large, and I went with a Breedlove 12-string -'concerto' size, I think. Slightly smaller body, tighter waist. It sounds better, even if it's not a particularly high end model.

 

[Wilmywood]

There is a page on Guild's website for such inquiries

Contact Us | Guild Guitars

guildguitars.com

 

[FNG]

Guild has made some pretty fancy 12 string dreads..but not in production numbers.

 

[twocorgis]

There are a few D55-12s that were made in Westerly IIRC, and I think at least one of them is owned by our members. The rest of the fancy Guild 12ers are all 17" jumbos.

 

[WaltW]

Thank You gentlemen for the information. I had no idea that any had been made at all. The D8012 certainly has a lot of Abalone and that Cherry Burst? sets off the visual nicely.
I actually have, found since I asked the question, that Martin made a limited run Roger McGuinn M42 12. One sold used for ONLY $14,000+. In my younger days............maybe! Retired now.............I'll stick with my D312SB.

 

[twocorgis]

I'll stick with my D312SB.

Do you mean "G312SB"? For some unexplained reason (but consistent with Guild's inconsistent naming conventions), the 12 string versions of the D40 and D50 were known as "G212" and "G312", respectively.

 

[WaltW]

Wooooops!
Old habits don't change easily for me. I've always thought of it as a D for dreadnaught. I changed my signature description too!

 

[Cougar]

The question has run around in my head for decades: Why has Guild or any other guitar maker not made a 12 string Dreadnaught with higher level appointments....

Well, it's not the higher level appointments, but it's a Guild dread 12 over on reverb. Almost looks like an ebony fretboard, but I think it's just a dark rosewood.....

 

[kostask]

You don't need a dreadnought 12 string necessarily if you are looking for a smaller bodied 12 string. There is the F312, which is an OM sized 12 string in rosewood. I'm not sure about how your desire for fancy appointments and what is on the F312 match up, but it was the higher end "small" (as in F112/F212/F312 sized, approximately OM sized) 12 string in the line up. They are out there, but there aren't a lot of them out there.

 

[twocorgis]

Well, it's not the higher level appointments, but it's a Guild dread 12 over on reverb. Almost looks like an ebony fretboard, but I think it's just a dark rosewood.....

I agree, and that's a lot like my '96. Beautiful, bling or no bling.

 

[NM156]

I used to have a D25-12. I guess it was a lot like a D25, not like those amazing Guild jumbos in the GC acoustic room. Still wish I had it but I was moving cross country and had to downsize.

 

[Rob Reilly]

I bought this Takamine F400 dreadnought new in 1976. At that time the price was $258, and to put it in perspective, a Guild F112 was about $310.
This is the model that from 20 feet away can be mistaken for a Martin D12-28, and is sometimes called the lawsuit model, because Martin may have threatened legal action against Takamine.
It certainly is beautiful workmanship, with rosewood back and sides that I just fell in love with. It was my primary performance guitar until I got into Guilds, and I still get it out once in awhile.

 

[Aristera]

Although not a Guild, my Fender Master Designed 12-string dred was built at the same time and by the same folks who built the Orpheum's. Jason McIntyre's sig is under the top too. Bling.

 

[wileypickett]

I bought this Takamine F400 dreadnought new in 1976. At that time the price was $258, and to put it in perspective, a Guild F112 was about $310.
This is the model that from 20 feet away can be mistaken for a Martin D12-28, and is sometimes called the lawsuit model, because Martin may have threatened legal action against Takamine.
It certainly is beautiful workmanship, with rosewood back and sides that I just fell in love with. It was my primary performance guitar until I got into Guilds, and I still get it out once in awhile.

This exact model was one of my first 12-strings too! Bought it in a music store in Louisiana while visiting friends down there, and had one of the funniest instrument buying experiences ever.

I'd been trying out the guitar in the shop, and noticed some minor issue. I don't remember what it was, but the owner came by while I was playing it and asked if I needed help. I asked if the price was firm, and I pointed out whatever it was.

He said, "Let's talk to our tech guy," and led me into a little repair and set-up room off the main part of the store. As we entered, the tech looked up from whatever he was working on, and before either of us could say anything he had the guitar in his hands. Barely pausing to take a breath, he went into a litany of all that was wrong with it: "The action is poor; I suspect the neck is bowed, and [knocking on the back of the guitar], there may be a problem with loose braces. The top appears to be dried out -- you're supposed to keep your guitars hydrated, y'know. We'd need to fix all these things and do a proper set-up before we could even think about selling it."

It was clear to the owner and me that the tech assumed this was a guitar I'd just brought in off the street to sell, and before he realized his mistake, went into "evaluation mode," really downplaying its value. The owner and I looked at each other for a brief second, our mouths hanging open, then he burst out laughing and said, "I think we can do something on that price!"

The tech guy just looked puzzled, like, "Hey, what's so funny?"

I'm sure the owner had a few choice words for him after I left -- or maybe they both just had a good laugh.

The guitar wasn't at all bad for what it was and served me well until I upgraded.

 

[F-412Spec]

Here's a typical Martin D-45 12 string. Plenty of bling for me anyway....

 

[GGJaguar]

Here's a typical Martin D-45 12 string.

A 12-fret body, too. Delicious!