So are the Guild 12’s really all that?

Cougar

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So are the Guild 12’s really all that?


Yes. All that and more.

So that aside which model encapsulated the holy grail Guild 12 string tone? Is it the jumbos? Dreads? Will I do just fine with a F112? I seem to find those all the time for under a grand even with all the major work done.

They're all great in their own way. But if you want a holy grail 12er, then you want a Guild jumbo. Simply spectacular.

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12 string

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The F-112 is a very brilliant sounding and fast responding guitar. It's a small box but it delivers a surprisingly big sound. It's a professional model in every way. I wish Guild would reintroduce it, maybe with a short scale.

That said, my F-512 is the favorite.

Yeah, Guild 12 strings really are all that.

' Strang
 

Guildedagain

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I jumped on a rarity of a Hoboken 112 and no regrets there. The guitars sounds like a choir of angels. I haven't played it in a while but when I did, I couldn't even look at a 6 string, no interest. I have since recovered, but I don't get the 112 out of its snakeskin case because it is mind altering as well as habit forming.

The modest F112 delivers the goods. Has 12 strings, check. A tiny body, maybe without a ton of bass. I remember it being very flat in EQ, which is good. I don't like what I consider to be three courses of two strings (F guitars) or two courses of three strings (D guitars) fighting each other for volume. It's also very sweet sounding, pretty. I took it to a big regional Jam, pretty ladies start dancing magically, not even making this up and won't go into details about lithe young underdressed contorsionist exhibitionists, I'm still trying to unsee that because I'm married ;]]

So what is it missing that the other ones have?

F212 bigger body double bound white binding not black like F112 same woods hog/spruce.

F312 Rosewood/Spruce double bound, bound fingerboard.

F412 More better than 312, maybe bigger. Maple back and sides.

F512 featured on Tommy, you'll probably never gets your hands on it, specs don't even matter, but basically more better again than the F412, probably bigger. Also Maple/Spruce, beautifully flamed maple back and sides.

F612 I've heard of it, or I think I heard of it.

What's the takeway from all this?

F112 is by by far and away the best bang for the buck in a 12 string guitar that has ever existed.

Look for one.

This is #12 to come out of Hoboken in '68, I got lucky I guess. Sold in Jenkintown, an hour and a half away from Hoboken, one owner.

These are day of receipt opening the case pics.

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6L6

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For me, USA-built Guild 12's can't be beat. However, a good Martin D-12-20 can give them a run!

My '71 Guild F-312NT is the best sounding/easiest playing 12 I've ever had in my hands. It goes to my final dirt nap with me.

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chazmo

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6, that is just a beautiful player of an instrument. An F-312 will always be on my bucket list, although I still want to A/B one against my 12-fret Orpheum someday.

Just curious; when did you put the compensated saddle on? Did you feel it made a difference to you?
 

Rayk

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Are Guild 12' s really all that ? Yup !


Huh where did Guilkt come from ?? Lol
 
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6L6

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"Just curious; when did you put the compensated saddle on? Did you feel it made a difference to you?"

The fully compensated saddle was put on by a previous owner, chazmo. It is incredible! The guitar plays in tune up and down the neck! Whoever built that saddle and installed it was a genius.
 

twocorgis

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In a word yes. My 2010 F512 is far and away the best 12 string I've ever played. For pure bang for the buck, my '96 D25-12 (now living with a good friend) is tough to beat.
 

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Westerly Wood

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"anyway, you dont want to hear that rubbish" LOL
Gilmour, dogging his own tune that like everyone knows and tries to play or has tried to. so funny.
 

crank

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Perhaps not the best place for OP to get an unbiased answer . Oh, BTW, my F412 sounds freakin awesome.
 

twocorgis

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I'll tell Mrs. Fro. but I don't think she'd let you have it back ;-)

That one wasn't mine, I think Mrs. Fro's came through Ladytexan and Default. Mine was a sunburst with a lot of runout, but it sure sounded great.

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Living with my bestie now.
 

Rayk

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That one wasn't mine, I think Mrs. Fro's came through Ladytexan and Default. Mine was a sunburst with a lot of runout, but it sure sounded great.

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Living with my bestie now.
That is one Sexy beast ! Run out or not !
 

GGJaguar

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The sunburst overrides the run out, IMHO. Stunning. I had a Martin D-18VS 12-fretter that had at least that much run out and it sounded great. Sadly, it did not have a great sunburst finish.
 

richardp69

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I'm not a real 12 string fan but I've owned quite a few including Guild, Taylor, Gibson and Martin. I know I'm a bit biased but to my ear anyway,the Guild 12ers (be it Maple, RW or Mahogany) really do sound better to me. Surprisingly, the Taylor was next best and I'm not typically a fan of the Taylor sound.
 

twocorgis

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The sunburst overrides the run out, IMHO. Stunning. I had a Martin D-18VS 12-fretter that had at least that much run out and it sounded great. Sadly, it did not have a great sunburst finish.

I loved that guitar and still do (my bestie owns it), and thought it represented the very best of late Westerly Guild manufacturing. I couldn't rationalize having two 12ers, and preferred the slimmer neck profile of the the single truss rod New Hartford models, but there's still a part of me that wishes I never sold it. Just a great guitar.
 
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