New Member

[Dave Baird]

I hope this is the right place to post this. I have just had my account authorised (thanks administrators). This looks like a great place to browse and learn about Guild guitars. I currently own two Martin 12 strings (D12 20 and D12 35) and I find myself drawn to the idea of supplementing them with a nice Guild 12 string. I hope I can learn a bit about them before I jump in and make a purchase, and I am sure this is the place to do that. My predilection is for all solid guitars and I am currently leaning towards an F212XL...BUT...I am open to any and all suggestions, so any help or opinions will be welcome.

 

[Dr Izza Plumber]

Welcome to the Geezers' Club! :wink:

 

[chazmo]

Hi Dave,

Good to see you over here. There are a bunch of folks who visit UMGF here too.

-- Chaz

 

[coastie99]

Hello Dave, and welcome to the club.

Lots of expert and articulate people here with 12 strings; you couldn't be in a better place.

By the way, your countryman JerryR is a bona fide subversive, and should be avoided at all cost !
It wouldn't surprise me at all if the authorities have him under surveillance.

 

[capnjuan]

Hi Dave and welcome! cj

 

[cjd-player]

Hello Dave.

Welcome to the forum. I'm not a twelve-stringer myself (I get confused easily when numerals get into double digits :? ), but there are lots of 12ers here. I hope you enjoy the view.

 

[fungusyoung]

Welcome aboard, Dave! The F212XL is not a bad option. I'd love to get one of those, but I also wouldn't mind an F112, D25-12 or G312. There are several options out there... just let the experts here know your preferences in terms of body style/size, tone woods, new/vintage, etc. and you're likely to get all the feedback you need.

 

[Dave Baird]

Thanks for the welcome folks. I find that I have dozens of questions seething around in my head about Guild 12's, and more particularly the F212XL. I don't have a handle on how Guild sizing works, but I am sure there must be a system that makes sense. I know that I want a jumbo or mini jumbo sized 12 string, so I guess the first question has to be - which Guild fits the bill? I would prefer mahogany or maple as the tone woods with either sitka or adirondack tops. Again, I have no idea if these guitars exist - any comments? I would also like to find out more about nut widths and string spacing at the saddle on the guitars that match my size ideas. Is there somewhere that I can find out more about the specs of inactive and current models? I am also keen to find out more about the modern GAD series 12 strings - quality, tone etc...any advice? I am sorry about all the questions, but living in a small Scottish town, there are no Guild dealers near at hand.

 

[Graham]

There are several options out there... just let the experts here know your preferences in terms of body style/size, tone woods, new/vintage, etc. and you're likely to get all the feedback you need.

+1 to that.

Welcome to LTG Dave, hopefully you'll stay a spell and help us all feel better about the British. :shock: Someone sent Jerry here and it's kinda been like Clarence from It's A Wonderful Life :shock: I mean he's a nice guy and all and he means well, but, never mind, you'll see for yourself.

 

[Jahn]

Welcome! The F212XL is a big boy, if you've played the guild jumbos out there like the F50 you know how big! It's just that the F512 is the rosewood version, the F412 is the maple version, and the F212XL is the hog version, all big boys.

To borrow a handy guide from another thread, lookeehere-

Jumbo: F-50, F-412, F-512, F-212XL

Mini-jumbo: F-47, F-40, F-212

Auditorium size: F-30, F-112

The bolded ones are the hog 12s. Hope that helps!

 

[chazmo]

Dave,

If you don't already have a copy, you should get your hands on Hans Moust's book. It covers all the models from the early years, and it's quite authoritative. Hans is a frequent contributor here too. Jahn's post is pretty accurate though. Of the super jumbos (17" bout), those are the three 12ers that you'll find. There are examples of F412 specials in rosewood, and the model naming scheme got peculiar when things swapped over to the JF series... But, those are really the choices.

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

Dave, you will love the sound of a Guild Jumbo 12 string.
There isn't a better sounding 12 string made!
Because you already have 2 Martin 12 strings, I dont know if you will like the smaller body 12 strings. I suggest that you look at the Jumbos.
I like Maple best with Rosewood comming in second.
I hope that you will be able to find what you are looking for.
We will need pictures when you find it!
TMG

 

[Dave Baird]

Thanks again guys. Jahn - that breakdown on sizes is a great help - I have played both the F412 and the F512 so I now know what the size will be like. I own Martins from size 5 up to Dreads, and have no prefrence on guitar size. I guess that nut width would be the next thing to investigate. I will look for a copy of the recommended book - it sounds like a well worthwhile investment.

 

[krysh]

...and welcome from germany, dave.

 

[fungusyoung]

Here's some Guild 12 spec. info from another thread........


Dreads: D & G

D-4-12: Sitka spruce top, mahogany back, sides & neck, satin finish
12 string version of the D4

D15-12: All mahogany top (satin finish), back (arched) & sides
Early/mid 80's release, based on D15

D212: Spruce top, mahogany back/sides, mahogany (laminated) neck
The D212 (at times refered to as D25-12) was pretty much built at the standards of the D25 and had (or had at certain times) Engelmann tops.

D212-M: Spruce top (stained dark), mahogany back/sides, mahogany (laminated) neck

D25-12: Spruce top, mahogany back/sides

D412: Sitka spruce top, mahogany sides, arched mahogany back, mahogany (laminated) neck
The D412 (at times D40-12) had Sitka tops and should have the slightly fancier D40 features, upgraded rosette and added purfling. Back was arched or flat depending on year. Gained thickness of the top somewhere in the late '70s.

G212: Spruce top, mahogany back/sides
The G212 was based on the D40. Also came in a cutaway model.

G312: Sitka spruce top, rosewood back/sides, mahogany (laminated) neck
12 string version of the D50


JF Series

JF4-12: Spruce top, mahogany back and sides

JF30-12: Spruce top, flamed maple back/sides

JF55-12: Spruce top, rosewood back/sides

JF65-12: Spruce top, flamed maple back/sides

JF100-12: Spruce top, rosewood back and sides, maple binding

JF100-C-12: As above with hand-carved heel


F Series

F112: Spruce top, mahogany back/sides, tortoise or black body binding; 19.25 L, 15.25 W, 4.5 D

F212: Spruce top, mahogany back/sides, white body binding; 20 L, 15.875 W, 5 D

F212XL: Spruce top, mahogany back/sides; 21 L, 17 W, 5 D (this is the only mahogany model in this size)
F212XL is wider and deeper than the F212...also has nicer woods and Chesterfield logo

F312: Spruce top, rosewood back/sides; 21 L, 17 W, 5 D

F412: Spruce top, flamed maple back/sides; 21 L, 17 W, 5 D

F512: Spruce top, rosewood back/sides; 21 L, 17 W, 5 D

F612: Spruce top, rosewood back/sides; 21 L, 18 W, 5.25 D
18" lower bout

 

[mole2]

Hey Dave, Welcome Aboard. You're in the right place for information about Guilds...and a friendly bunch of people too.

 

[sausgirl]

Hello Dave!
Everyone-Dave is a friend of mine from the UMGF(no cracks remember-especially you Graham! )
Dave is a great guy and has a huge group of guitars.
So happy to see you here.
There are great people and fantastic info on Guilds.
See you here too
Jan

 

[Default]

Everyone-Dave is a friend of mine from the UMGF(no cracks remember-especially you Graham! )

Graham's a plumber?

Howdy!

 

[Dave Baird]

Hi Jan - great to see you here.

 

[JerryR]

Hello Dave, and welcome to the club.

Lots of expert and articulate people here with 12 strings; you couldn't be in a better place.

By the way, your countryman JerryR is a bona fide subversive, and should be avoided at all cost !
It wouldn't surprise me at all if the authorities have him under surveillance.

Dave - don't listen to Gary, and in case you are still reeling from the insult (Dumfries last time I checked was North of the Border), I have all my maternal ancestry hailing from 'up there' so I am not totally a Sassenach :mrgreen: