Koa F 512
- Thread starter mclkar54
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Well, TK would be 2008, mclkar, but I'm actually not aware of any F-512s in Koa. I presume the 2012 model must've been what they call a GSR, but again hadn't heard of it (I could be forgetting, but I would've thought I'd remember something like that). As for one from 2008... I'm really suspicious about that. Do you have pictures to prove it?
just a couple pics a guy on the guild guitar owners forum posted. im pretty sure that 60 were made in 2013, but im also reasonably sure that this 2008 ,i saw was funky. # 1 the label doesnt have custom shop printed on it. and the two i have seen from 2013 had custom shop across the top of inside label
fronobulax
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2012 would have been New Hartford and I am reasonably certain that they did not produce a Koa 512. In 2013 they did, however produce a 60th Anniversary model that was Koa, based on the F-30 and was the first product from New Hartford to use "custom shop" labeling. There were 60 instruments in that run. I might politely suggest you have confused the 60th Anniversary with the Koa F-512s produced in Tacoma circa 2007 based upon the TK serial prefix.
GG, thanks for the pictures. Where did you get them?
For one thing, that sticker looks wrong for a Tacoma. They did not print them like that (they were handwritten) and they were not black/white like that. The headstock also looks wrong. Is this a fake? I don't think that interior shot is showing Koa wood, so maybe that's a laminated back (if it's really koa on the outside)? Also, rosewood fingerboard? I'm not sure, there's a lot to be suspicious about here.
Having said that, the back brace with the etched "Guild" on it is not so easy to fake.
Caveat emptor, mclkar!
For one thing, that sticker looks wrong for a Tacoma. They did not print them like that (they were handwritten) and they were not black/white like that. The headstock also looks wrong. Is this a fake? I don't think that interior shot is showing Koa wood, so maybe that's a laminated back (if it's really koa on the outside)? Also, rosewood fingerboard? I'm not sure, there's a lot to be suspicious about here.
Having said that, the back brace with the etched "Guild" on it is not so easy to fake.
Caveat emptor, mclkar!
So, I saw this guitar in OfferUp for $250 locally just as I was trying to find a 12 string acoustic with electronics or with the possibility of electronics. The seller said it may be a "reproduction" because he has never seen an F512 in Koa ever. I checked the guitar and it is excellent plays great, sounds great, great action. Came with a cheap Donner branded Soundhole pickup that I have not even tried to see if I like it.
Some of my friends saw it and said that it can not be a fake. I did some research and found zilch. But here are my arguments
Reasons for it not being a fake: it's way too good and required immense effort to produce a guitar easily identifiable as fake, beging the question "Why?"
Reasons for it being a fake:
Nobody seems to have seen an F512 in Koa (I'm been told the wood is Koa by people that know woods better than me)
The serial number does not conform to the format of the Tacoma Factory (should be a T followed by a letter, representing year, and 6 digits, this one has 7).
Truss rod is in the soundhole but it has a faux truss rod cover. I've been told conflicting info about this... Some people say it proofs it is fake, some people say they have seen Guild do this.
What do you think? If it's fake any reason you can think to do this much effort? If it isn't... What is it?!?
Some of my friends saw it and said that it can not be a fake. I did some research and found zilch. But here are my arguments
Reasons for it not being a fake: it's way too good and required immense effort to produce a guitar easily identifiable as fake, beging the question "Why?"
Reasons for it being a fake:
Nobody seems to have seen an F512 in Koa (I'm been told the wood is Koa by people that know woods better than me)
The serial number does not conform to the format of the Tacoma Factory (should be a T followed by a letter, representing year, and 6 digits, this one has 7).
Truss rod is in the soundhole but it has a faux truss rod cover. I've been told conflicting info about this... Some people say it proofs it is fake, some people say they have seen Guild do this.
What do you think? If it's fake any reason you can think to do this much effort? If it isn't... What is it?!?
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As frono said, I think you have this wrong. They produced 60 koa F-30-based anniversary guitars, but not F-512s.
Having said that, for the pictures GG posted above, you have my comments in the previous post.
I bought a very nice (but also a very fake) Jumbo Koa guitar. I knew that when I bought it but I still wanted to try it. It was nice but obviously tough if not near impossible to sell. I ended up giving it to me playing partner and he still uses it occasionally. Not saying yours is a fake Guild, just saying mine was.
In case it isn't clear I own this guitar. So if you have any questions is suggestions to confirm it's "fakeness" just let me know.
In order to avoid being thrown out from the group as a fake guilder
I swear I have owned and repaired no less than 6 Guild F4CE one of my favorite models ever. Everytime I fell into the temptation of selling them for a lot more money than I have paid.
Ah, great. Well you ARE a fake guilder, but you're in great company since so is Richard and a few others here as well. 
At least you know, now, aoctavio. And, as far as I know, Guild did not make any koa F-512s... ever...
Did you get it for $250? That really is a low price for that thing, whatever it is. I hope it's playable!
At least you know, now, aoctavio. And, as far as I know, Guild did not make any koa F-512s... ever...
Did you get it for $250? That really is a low price for that thing, whatever it is. I hope it's playable!
By the way, what is the "guild guitar owners forum?"
It plays real nice. It is boomy, great definition, decent action. I still haven't touch it much (changed a string because it broke and another one because it was pulling the pin). It is perfect for what I wanted which was a 12 string with electronics for gigging. I own a Takamine from the 70s without electronics, it has okeyish action but the truss rod is maxed out. Don't want to modify my childhood guitar, so the FF512 (the first F is for FakeAh, great. Well you ARE a fake guilder, but you're in great company since so is Richard and a few others here as well.
At least you know, now, aoctavio. And, as far as I know, Guild did not make any koa F-512s... ever...
Did you get it for $250? That really is a low price for that thing, whatever it is. I hope it's playable!
) will be my victim. It's so pretty that I think I'm going to put an L.R. Baggs Anthem hybrid system in it. All hidden and decent sound.
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It's a group in Facebook. I showed the guitar there, they were the ones who suggested I came here for an answer.
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Facebook Guild groups tend to collectively spew some really high end misinformation. There are a few of us here who try to straighten them out from time to time but it’s often an uphill battle.
Makes me think it must be 1/100th of the frustration Hans must feel some days.
fronobulax
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I know differently. The 60th Anniversary was an F30 and a six string. I've been wrong before but in this case I'd really like a better source than your knowledge.
davismanLV
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Even though it's not a "real" Guild, if you got it for $250 and it sounds great and it's got electronics AND it looks great, then what a deal!! It would only be a bad thing if you paid "real Guild" money for it. I like the way it looks!!