My first Guild - a 12 string - questions and a pic...

[rcadian]

So here is my new (and first!) Guild 12 string - a sunburst F512. I bought it third hand from a member of another forum. It looks beautiful and arrived packed really professionally. The really quick pic (with my reflection in the left shoulder section) doesn't do it's shine and sparkle justice - more, better ones, next week. Before I spend some time noodling, I have a couple of questions for the 12 string experts among you...

It is a Tacoma built model but doesn't have a serial number stamped on the back of the headstock...does that signify anything?

The pick guard is a little scuffed, not significantly, but if I wanted to replace it, where would I order a new one from?

I don't think it has a fully compensated saddle, so if I was to get one, how much difference does that make?

I'll be taking it to my luthier next week for a string change, a look over and a setup. There are lights on it at the moment - what strings would you recommend (I'm really just a strummer of songs like Maggie May, Wish You Were, Knockin On Heaven's Door, etc)?


I also want to say I'm happy - and proud - to be a member of the Guild 12 string club...and this forum...

Thanks, everyone...

Rc

 

[chazmo]

Was that mikeoso's?

Nice! Congrats! An F-512 is a heckuva way to start off your Guild experience.

Tacoma's are not branded on the headstock.

I think the compensated saddle started mid-2006. Yours may pre-date that.

 

[GardMan]

Very nice! Enjoy!

 

[brian f]

I don't own a 12'er, but I would imagine that to fully compensate a saddle on one would be difficult, with the octave strings, etc. A standard compensated saddle (like what you would find on a 6 string) would seem to only compensate for the primary/unison strings and not for the octave strings. Maybe your luthier can do some fancy filing work.

Really awesome guitar!! I wouldn't mess with that pickguard. A little character is good IMO.

 

[krysh]

welcome and congrats to this beatutiful f512.

 

[Roman]

Beautiful guitar! Congratulations.

You can purchase some plastic restore products. There is one that I've used (I can't remember the name right off) but it's a three step process . . . heavy scratch remover, light scratch remover and finally a polisher. That might work . . .

As far as compensated saddle, if your harmonics are on at the 12th fret, then there's not an issue . . . usually the "B" string(s) is the only one compensated on most acoustics.

Enjoy . . . a gorgeous instrument!

 

[pit_s_xroad]

wonderful guitar... Congrats and enjoy
...that's the kind I want to add to my collection someday
in the future... depending on the budget availability... :wink:

PIT..

 

[Metalman]

There are lights on it at the moment - what strings would you recommend (I'm really just a strummer of songs like Maggie May, Wish You Were, Knockin On Heaven's Door, etc)?


So, rcadian,

Where are the lights located; do you have to plug them into a regular wall outlet in order to see them?

Never heard of installing lights on a guitar, but that must look pretty cool. Kinda hurts the resale value . . .

Ahem . . . congratulations on your new 12-string! And welcome to the forum. We got a lot of nutty guys and girls around here.

Dennis

 

[Jeff_L]

There are lights on it at the moment - what strings would you recommend (I'm really just a strummer of songs like Maggie May, Wish You Were, Knockin On Heaven's Door, etc)?


So, rcadian,

Where are the lights located; do you have to plug them into a regular wall outlet in order to see them?

Never heard of installing lights on a guitar, but that must look pretty cool. Kinda hurts the resale value . . .

Ahem . . . congratulations on your new 12-string! And welcome to the forum. We got a lot of nutty guys and girls around here.

Dennis

There's one in every crowd, isn't there? :wink:

All I can do is repeat Dennis' last line - Ahem . . . congratulations on your new 12-string! And welcome to the forum. We got a lot of nutty guys and girls around here.

Jeff

 

[taabru45]

..........you gotta be careful with words around here, lights, mediums, heavy, extra light, could be talking cigarettes, psychics, pickups, or beer......i.e. happy medium=laughing psychic. :lol:
Are you going to tune to concert 440, or drop it down one or two frets, and use a capo sometimes? I've always been happy with lights, at concert on mine, but now I'm trying it down a 1/2 tone and like it. Beautiful guitar. I've also replaced the high octave G string with an unwound 20 at pitch and it accents the lower strings. You might try that too. Steffan

 

[Tony Burns]

Congrats on the new guitar ! I wouldnt worry about the compensated saddle - when you take in in for a set-up have your luthier check out the tonation- a decent one will be able to compensate the one you have - and if its not bone -go that way and have it compensated .Its actually better to have it set up yourself to your way of playing than buying it already that way.

 

[rcadian]

Thanks everyone...I'm tuning down half a step and playing capoed at the first fret - easy to play there. I think a new saddle can't hurt but I can get all the harmonics at the 12th fret...and - Metalman - I think I'll keep the lights on it...which reminds me...Not sure if this (bad) joke works in America (I'm Scottish)..but there was guy who got up in the morning and found a 747 Jumbo and a Cessna parked at the top of his stairs...turns out he'd left the landing lights on all night...Boom, boom!

Not sure if my luthier is as good as the LTG favoured magic luthier, but will post pics next week when its comes back from its (hopefully not extreme) makeover...

In the meantime, time to knock out some of those great 12 string songs...

Rc

 

[taabru45]

Well........walk right in :!: :wink: Steffan
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=aF-OiTiDJHE
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=If2_OtpWd3I
Plus, a nice vid on playing it
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=BGmM27-FK6I&NR=1

 

[BobsterMan]

T H I S . J U S T . I N

In a string of bird strikes, three small light planes crashed into a cemetery over Oklahoma at 3:30 this morning, killing all on board. Recovery work is ongoing by local Emergency Responders, but by first light, it was known that at least 536 bodies had been recovered.

My first Guild was a 12'ver, and i was so impressed that within a year I had me a 6-string too. Enjoy. I know you will.

 

[count savage]

Congratulations. You just made the best guitar purchase in your life. You'll love the F 512. There are a few really distinctive and unique guitars out there and this is one of them.

 

[JerryR]

We got a lot of nutty guys and girls around here. [/color]

Jeff

Oi - I resembles that remark :!:

 

[Jeff_L]

We got a lot of nutty guys and girls around here. [/color]

Jeff

Oi - I resembles that remark :!:

Jerry, I can't take credit for that line, I was just quoting Dennis.

But it's nice to know you look in the mirror now and then! :mrgreen:

Jeff

 

[Van_Cowart]

Was that mikeoso's?

Nice! Congrats! An F-512 is a heckuva way to start off your Guild experience.

Tacoma's are not branded on the headstock.

I think the compensated saddle started mid-2006. Yours may pre-date that.

You're gonna love it.........you're just gonna love it!

 

[rcadian]

You're gonna love it.........you're just gonna love it!

I do love it...but it's at the luthier's place and has been since Tuesday. Was supposed to be back today - but the guy's wife is in hospital and he has had a stomach bug, so he is now aiming for tomorrow evening so I have it back for the weekend. That I will love...

Rc

 

[rcadian]

So she came back to me last week...I'm calling her Sundance. New (D'Addario light) strings and a new compensated bone saddle. Lowered action and fine intonation all the way up the neck. Awesome sound. Been playing along to some of Scratch's soundclick songs...

The pics are of my two high end guitars and the super-lovely new saddle.