Cougar
Enlightened Member
Wow, a 12-fret 12-string! That baby must really sing! And that back is something special - I couldn't even guess! Major congrats!
NGD - D55-12
- Thread starter awagner
- Start date
blakeb2193
Member
Beautiful Guitar Wagner. What a great guild. That is one of a kind for sure!!
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
What a duo !!! Two very very rare Guilds! Together with your D-70-12 and JF-100-12 that is one super quartet!
2013-2014 Orpheum 12-fret slope-shoulders, 2014 Orpheum slotted-headstock 6-strings, 2014 Orpheum slotted-headstock 12-strings.
Previously the GAD-F40P and currently the P-240.
Ralf
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Here are some pictures of the wood. It definitely looks more like EIR From the inside.
I don’t recall seeing vertical bands like these in any other guitars.
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
Ren Ferguson reintroduced them to the Orpheum line in New Hartford. It's clear where he came from, Gibson switched from fabric side stays to wood side stays end of the fourties.
Here is a picture of an Orpheum:
Ralf
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Took the guitar in for an evaluation today. Definitely EIR back and sides. The guitar had a neck reset at some point but no issues whatsoever. Did not even need a setup.
Great report and enjoyed the begeebbies out of it
GardMan
Enlightened Member
Ren Ferguson reintroduced them to the Orpheum line in New Hartford. It's clear where he came from, Gibson switched from fabric side stays to wood side stays end of the fourties. Here is a picture of an Orpheum:
Ralf
IIRC, of my 12 past and present Guild dreads, spanning build years from from 1971-1995... only two lacked side reinforcements such as those: my 1981 D-46 and 1982 D-70. My earlier dreads (which happen to be more low-end models) had cloth reinforcements. The later ones (which happen to be high end models, DVs and a D-55) have rosewood strips.
Wow the Grand Piano of Guild 12 strings. Beautiful!
awagner, I know I'm reviving a year-old thread, but curious:
1. When you compare the Guild D-55-12 to the Martin D12-45, what are your thoughts?
2. Have you kept the Martin?
Best wishes. Sorry I missed this one when it came out, but Ralf pointed me at it. Very cool!
1. When you compare the Guild D-55-12 to the Martin D12-45, what are your thoughts?
2. Have you kept the Martin?
Best wishes. Sorry I missed this one when it came out, but Ralf pointed me at it. Very cool!
The Martin and the Guild are both slope shouldered, 12-fret, 12 string dreadnoughts. Major differences between them, however.
The Martin has lots of bling, is quite beautiful, and it sounds very nice. But the Guild is a far superior guitar.
Martin 12s (at least the ones I have encountered) cannot be tuned to standard pitch. Just not designed to withstand that much string tension.
So you have to tune the Martin down a whole step and capo on the second fret to play in standard tuning. That only leaves you with 10 frets to work with. Admittedly, I don't often play that far up the fretboard on my 12s, but I still think it is a major drawback.
And it's a slothead, which is a major pain in the ass, especially on 12 strings.
The Guild, on the other hand, is more solidly built, super comfortable to play, and sounds fantastic.
I always wanted to own a D12-45 (after all, that's the acoustic 12 McGuinn plays), but it is a huge disappointment. Fortunately, it has significant value, and I don't think I am going to have any problem selling it for $5,000, which is crazy.
Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't pay half of that for it, particularly since I can (and did) acquire a (probably) one-of-a-kind vintage Guild D55-12 for that amount.
I just put the Martin up for sale on consignment with TR Crandall, but if anyone is interested, especially after reading my assessment of it, PM me.
The Martin has lots of bling, is quite beautiful, and it sounds very nice. But the Guild is a far superior guitar.
Martin 12s (at least the ones I have encountered) cannot be tuned to standard pitch. Just not designed to withstand that much string tension.
So you have to tune the Martin down a whole step and capo on the second fret to play in standard tuning. That only leaves you with 10 frets to work with. Admittedly, I don't often play that far up the fretboard on my 12s, but I still think it is a major drawback.
And it's a slothead, which is a major pain in the ass, especially on 12 strings.
The Guild, on the other hand, is more solidly built, super comfortable to play, and sounds fantastic.
I always wanted to own a D12-45 (after all, that's the acoustic 12 McGuinn plays), but it is a huge disappointment. Fortunately, it has significant value, and I don't think I am going to have any problem selling it for $5,000, which is crazy.
Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't pay half of that for it, particularly since I can (and did) acquire a (probably) one-of-a-kind vintage Guild D55-12 for that amount.
I just put the Martin up for sale on consignment with TR Crandall, but if anyone is interested, especially after reading my assessment of it, PM me.