I'm back, and I brought...

[Mikeoso]

OK, I've been gone awhile...been busy putting up a new building for the parrots and such, plus I let my F212XL get away. But, I just this minute pulled the trigger on an early '80s F512 on eBay, so I'm back in the fold....pictures and review when it gets here. meantime, until it gets here, I'd like to hear comparisons from people who've had the F212XL and the F512....just to keep my anxiety under control for awhile.

oh, BTW...anyone want to buy a couple Martins? :lol:

 

[12 string]

Mike, if you liked the F-212XL you'll love the F-512.

Congratulations!

' Strang

 

[dreadnut]

You'll find the -512 neck is a bit wider (because of the inlaid stripes?) so hopefully your fingers aren't as short as mine :wink:

But oh, what a huge sound! You're gonna love it! Mine was an '81.

 

[chazmo]

Mike, if the early '80s F512s sound and play like the current ones then you're in for one luscious, jumbo treat (just in time for Halloween)! Congrats! Looking forward to the pix.

I wasn't aware that the neck was wider on the F512 dread than the F212XL... I measured the nut on my Tacoma-built F512 at 1-7/8". I'll be interested to know if it's different on yours. 'Strang and I compared some dimensions a while back (viewtopic.php?p=67973#p67973) and there were some differences.

 

[Mikeoso]

I hope the binding does give me more room.. I like a lot of room between string courses...I have thick fingers. The most comfy necks I've ever played were those old 2" wide Gibson B-45-12s.

except for one old Martin D12-25, all my 12 strings have been mahogany...I'm looking forward to the rosewood difference. The seller says he'll try to ship today...Idaho to Iowa...hmmm...maybe Monday? we'll see.

here's the listing for it: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=320313039645

by the way...I've lost the link to the serial number list. could someone please check the date on this one for me? it's shown in the listing.

 

[GardMan]

Hey Mike, Nice snag! Glad to see someone from the forum got that one... I was watching it (I drive thru Pocatello a couple times a year, so considered it almost local), and figured it would go for the BIN, but didn't recognize your name (duh!) when you BINned it. Based on the SN, I pegged it as a '78 (unless there were some shenanigans with the SN lists that year). Enjoy! Dave

 

[Jeff_L]

Nice catch Mike, I'm glad it went to a LTG'er. I saw that one the other day and immediately started looking for some spare cash. Unfortunately I couldn't find enough.

Jeff

 

[chazmo]

Hey Mike, Nice snag! Glad to see someone from the forum got that one... I was watching it (I drive thru Pocatello a couple times a year, so considered it almost local), and figured it would go for the BIN, but didn't recognize your name (duh!) when you BINned it. Based on the SN, I pegged it as a '78 (unless there were some shenanigans with the SN lists that year). Enjoy! Dave

The Old Testament ends with 1977 serial numbers, but based on about 20,000 a year this is almost certainly a '78. I won't bother checking the Gruhn guide since Hans is the only reliable source of information on these years.

 

[Mikeoso]

aHA! a '78...better and better, I think. Jeff, Dave, I had it in my scope from the time it was listed, and finally decided it probably wasn't going to get knocked down cheap, and was worth the BIN to me, so I squeezed the trigger. The seller tells me there were 59 watchers on the auction when I fired, so I think I had to grab it or lose it. It's due in next Wednesday, so I hope to be able to use it to celebrate if "my" candidate gets it done on Tuesday. In any case, it'll go to the weekly jam next Thursday, and the gang can just get by without me playing bass for once.

 

[benwantland]

mike - where are you in iowa? I am from and live in Chariton, but I travel frequently throughout the state, play shows all over most weekends, and am currently on an extended stay in Mt Pleasant for my three months of annual "work"...

I'll bring my D55 and we can have some fun... especially if you're a drinker. If not, though, I have friends who go to church, and I can relate to that on some levels.

 

[capnjuan]

Welcome back Professor Mike and congratulations on your new (to you) Guild; I'm sure it will be everything you'd like it be! CJ

 

[Mikeoso]

mike - where are you in iowa? I am from and live in Chariton,

Ben, I live in the country near Muscatine, not all that far from Mt Pleasant. I have been known to indulge in a little Rocky Mountain Spring Water on occasion. we have a weekly Old Time jam every Thursday in Muscatine at 7 PM...maybe you can make it.

Capnjuan, I'm just gonna be tickled, satisfied too, I betcha!

you folks who have 512s, do you find that .010s (at concert pitch) will drive that top, or do I need some heavier wires?

 

[chazmo]

mike - where are you in iowa? I am from and live in Chariton,

Ben, I live in the country near Muscatine, not all that far from Mt Pleasant. I have been known to indulge in a little Rocky Mountain Spring Water on occasion. we have a weekly Old Time jam every Thursday in Muscatine at 7 PM...maybe you can make it.

Capnjuan, I'm just gonna be tickled, satisfied too, I betcha!

you folks who have 512s, do you find that .010s (at concert pitch) will drive that top, or do I need some heavier wires?

Mike, I'm using D'Addario light gauge PB EXP strings (EXP38)... These are .010sE-string... They sound great, and at concert pitch they'll rock your world. I like the uncoated strings even better. D'Addario also sells a .011 set, which they call custom light. Anyway, unless you're downtuning to lower than a full step (D), I think the light gauge work fine.

YMMV. -- chaz

 

[12 string]

Most of the time my 512 is strung from .012-.052 and tuned a whole tone low with the bottom pair tuned an additional whole tone lower (concert dropped C?). It has performed very well with every kind of set I've tried on it, but this seems to work the best. A .010-.047 set should work very well tuned anywhere from concert pitch to a whole tone low.

I have not noticed any difference in neck width or size between any of my Guild 12ers, 1 13/16" at the nut.

' Strang

 

[Mikeoso]

here are a couple pics

couple of my pals think it looks like Braz...but they didn't use Braz on any 512s did they?

 

[GuildFS4612CE]

By the 80's I wouldn't think there'd be any straightgrained BRAZ left in the world...

Oh, and lovely guitar

 

[chazmo]

So, Mikey... you likey?

Looks really nice, by the way. Seems like Guild has always found terrific rosewood to use for their axes! Oh, and Mike it's highly unlikely that's Brazilian. East Indian is what you gots.

 

[Mikeoso]

So, Mikey... you likey?

Yup, Mikey likes it! But, to tell the truth, it took me awhile to decide. The sound is so much brighter and more chimey than any 12 string I've ever played before, it startled me a little. I'm used to mostly mahogany 12s, but even the early '70s Martin D12-35 I had was never this bright. Oh, yeah...it's very loud too.

 

[chazmo]

So, Mikey... you likey?

Yup, Mikey likes it! But, to tell the truth, it took me awhile to decide. The sound is so much brighter and more chimey than any 12 string I've ever played before, it startled me a little. I'm used to mostly mahogany 12s, but even the early '70s Martin D12-35 I had was never this bright. Oh, yeah...it's very loud too.

I'm glad that's how you feel, Mike. It surely is loud, but what I like about my F512 is how responsive it is and how full it sounds when played gently too. Sucker fills my living room, and I can't play it once the family has gone to bed.

Not sure if you're running PBs or 80/20 on there now, but definitely give the string search time to see what sounds best to you. Personally, I find the PBs to be a richer sound. I haven't tried silk & steel yet, but I'm tempted...

Anyway, cool! Enjoy! I can only imagine what it was like to play the 18" version of this guitar (F612)... Probably never know, though.

 

[Mikeoso]

I can only imagine what it was like to play the 18" version of this guitar (F612)... Probably never know, though.

I have to guess that they made so few of those 612s because the strategic arms limitation treaty outlawed them. I played my 512 at a jam last week...one of the players complained that the Guild was "way too loud". I pointed out that I wasn't using a pick, or hitting it very hard. she claimed that she couldn't hear the banjo playing next to her. 'nuf said.