Starter questions about a F-2512e?

[RyanRC]

Hello all.

Just joined the forum as I just picked up my first 12 string which is a F-2512e from Guitar Center.

If its not already known, they seem to have one being sold there at the moment that I actually got a reply from Guild tech support asking them about it to confirm this, that is special run just for GC.

So I am not sure if models like this are talked about much here, but if they are one of my first questions is while setup specs are generally personal I know, as a base to start with I was wondering if anyone knows what some good general string action and neck relief measurements that typically work well with these?

As well if there are any particulars for these kind of measurements such as which fret to hold down for your string clearances and things like that or any oddities that would be good to know for a well done setup?

Guess one more I have is, does anyone have a good resource for a 4mm neck relief wrench that will work with this model?

I actually have a couple that look like normal size 4mm allen keys, but it seems even for the long ends they are just short of even touching the adjustment screw. So perhaps this is a normal thing for Guilds like this and there are ones well known to reach and work well amongst the more strings.

Thanks greatly for any help.

 

[davenumber2]

For setup specs I typically go with 6/64'' low E and 4/64'' high e, sometimes 5/64'' on the low depending on the guitar (measured at the 12th fret). Relief .005-.006''. I measure the relief with feeler gauges at the 7th fret with a capo on the first fret (takes nut height out of the equation) and the low E string fretted at the body joint. For filing nut slots I depress the string at the 3rd fret and look for just a hair of clearance over the first fret. I don't measure there.

Set the relief, then do the nut slots, then set the action by sanding the bottom of the saddle. I don't know what type of saddle these come with but 12 strings need good compensation due to the fact that the string and its octave string are such different thicknesses. Taylor sells a "double compensated" saddle for about $30. You could also do it yourself but takes time and patience.

Setting up the 2512 should be the same as setting up any other guitar.

Hope that helps some.

 

[Cougar]

Just joined the forum as I just picked up my first 12 string which is a F-2512e from Guitar Center.

Major congrats! Welcome to LTG!

 

[rmoretti49]

Ryan,

I have been following the thread on your new F 2512e on the AGF. I just want to remind you about making a decision on whether you will tune to standard or tune down, as I do (full step). The decision will make a difference in what strings you might use, and in the setup needed. I'm sure you'd rather have the setup done once, rather than twice.

 

[Boomstick]

I got a F-250E and it has that same deep truss rod. I found these 4 and 5mm from another thread and they work great!

Amazon.com

 

[RyanRC]

For setup specs I typically go with 6/64'' low E and 4/64'' high e, sometimes 5/64'' on the low depending on the guitar (measured at the 12th fret). Relief .005-.006''. I measure the relief with feeler gauges at the 7th fret with a capo on the first fret (takes nut height out of the equation) and the low E string fretted at the body joint. For filing nut slots I depress the string at the 3rd fret and look for just a hair of clearance over the first fret. I don't measure there.

Set the relief, then do the nut slots, then set the action by sanding the bottom of the saddle. I don't know what type of saddle these come with but 12 strings need good compensation due to the fact that the string and its octave string are such different thicknesses. Taylor sells a "double compensated" saddle for about $30. You could also do it yourself but takes time and patience.

Setting up the 2512 should be the same as setting up any other guitar.

Hope that helps some.

Hello davenumber2 and thanks greatly for the info.

To note, I met with my Luthier yesterday and showed him the guitar, and while again these are starter numbers as whatever works best or you like is the goal, but just to mention that his suggestions were just about the same as yours.

So in going over the guitar just now I have:

Neck Relief: .007

String Clearance: Low E: hair above 6/64”, High E: hair below 5/64”

Which for this I might suspect that if come down with that relief a bit, those hair numbers will probably fall right into place.

Nut Slot Clearance: a .0015 gauge fit easily between all strings at the first fret, a .002 did as well but did get slightly snug on the B & High E strings. This might suggest more of a equal cut to each, but over all seems to be in spec.

One odd thing I did notice in going over all it just now and am not sure how critical this is, but kinda feel like it might be, is the spacing of the strings as they come over the saddle, as currently they seemed to be of something of a variety to each set, and in ways that would not make sense.

For this I have attached as good of a straight on pic as I could to help explain, but while this is not taking into account the diameters, the outside spacing of each set is:

E: .130
B: .157
G: .165
D: .160
A: .145
E: .194

So again, perhaps this is not critical, but it just seems to me like it might be as when you strum, or even more when you are trying to pic individual strings, wouldn't it be better to have the right kind of spacing that works as it should between the strings?

For this I checked basically the same thing at the nut and there it worked as I might expect where there was something of a equal and progressive transition from being larger at the Low E, to less at the High E.

So don't know if this is some that would be a good thing to look out for when stringing a 12, but I might think it is?

Currently as it is this way and I think there might even be slight dents in the saddle for this I am not going to mess with it, but as I plan to change the strings next am just wondering if this is something I should look for?

Thanks for the help.

 

[RyanRC]

Major congrats! Welcome to LTG!

Hello Cougar, thanks for the congrats and also the welcome.

 

[RyanRC]

Ryan,

I have been following the thread on your new F 2512e on the AGF. I just want to remind you about making a decision on whether you will tune to standard or tune down, as I do (full step). The decision will make a difference in what strings you might use, and in the setup needed. I'm sure you'd rather have the setup done once, rather than twice.

Hello RM.

Yeah, am kinda going through the steps to be sure I will ultimately keep the guitar before I do certain things, and next I will probably replace the strings once I get those and the 4mm Allen wrench.

Think too when I order the strings I will grab that capo I have been discussing and if that works well and after the string change I can try the lower down tuning, as for the moment I don't have a capo that really is going to work well for that.

So kinda feel that will not be a fair chance as the idea

If all that goes well, then will see what I can do for a case.

But for sure am going to give this a try.

Thanks

 

[RyanRC]

I got a F-250E and it has that same deep truss rod. I found these 4 and 5mm from another thread and they work great!

Amazon.com

Thank so much for the this Broomstick, and the link, as it's great to find one that others know work.