WTB Wanted F-512 12 String
- Thread starter tomvwash
- Start date
Wanted to Buy
Cougar
Enlightened Member
Patience, Tommy! I expect you'll have better luck than me. Here's a link to one of my first posts here where I note:
That was five years ago! I finally got my F512 just recently! (Of course, my JF30-12 (picked up in 2016?) has kept me quite happy during those years.)
For me, the long wait for the F512 was mainly due to the part about "priced within reason." If you're willing to lay down the big bucks, you can get one pretty quickly.
Best of luck, Tommy! F512 - made to be played and worth the wait!
fronobulax
Bassist, GAD and the Hot Mess Mods
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What are you looking for and why? Vintage vibe? An instrument that has settled in and opened up? Something you can afford? A warranty? Something from a factory with a "track record"? Something you can play next month?
I expect if you want reassurance that you'll be happy no matter which era/factory the guitar is from, then you will get it. So I think useful advice comes down to your budget and your patience.
Cougar
Enlightened Member
I've not played any other F512, but my Oxnard-built beauty is stellar as far as I'm concerned.
I'd look around for a little while. Do your research. The hunt is part of the fun! But after that, if you've got the cash, why the hell not? :tiger:
Yeah, Tom, it's best not to be in a rush. But if you are, you will NOT be disappointed with a new one. I haven't had a chance to play one yet, but the latest ones from Oxnard seem to be very similar (spec-wise) to what was built in New Hartford (and Tacoma before that). And, as Fro said, do some thinking about what you're looking for.
I bought mine, new, in 2007. It was a 2006 model (Tacoma) that had been sitting on the wall for 9 months and the store dropped the price 20% (below an otherwise reasonable price to begin with). Those days are gone, of course, but the used market for 12-strings is almost always pretty slow. I'm not saying there are a ton around, but patience will probably pay off.
I bought mine, new, in 2007. It was a 2006 model (Tacoma) that had been sitting on the wall for 9 months and the store dropped the price 20% (below an otherwise reasonable price to begin with). Those days are gone, of course, but the used market for 12-strings is almost always pretty slow. I'm not saying there are a ton around, but patience will probably pay off.
Here is a 2005 Tacoma Antique Burst F512 at Guitar Center. I actually checked it out in person. The strings are dead and the action is high, but cosmetically it is in excellent condition. It is listed for about $1,650, if I recall correctly (less than the on-line listed price).
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Guild/F5-12-12-String-Acoustic-Guitar.gc
If it does not actually need a neck reset, you might want to consider this one. Given the liberal return policy, not much risk.
Good luck!
As an aside, they also had a new Westerly Collection 2512E Maple for $499.00. Very nice guitar, and a steal for that price. Great entry level 12 string.
wileypickett
Enlightened Member
I agree with awagner -- the 2512s are underrated and a bargain for the money. (I have a bunch of 12-strings, including half a dozen Guilds; I quite like the 2512.)
Cougar
Enlightened Member
Oh, I didn't mean to imply I was on the hunt for an F512 for all of those years. After I got my JF30-12, I was in 12-string heaven (still am!) and not really looking.... except for an extraordinary deal, apparently. :tiger: I started with a long list of Epiphone Masterbilts, mind you. You do it your way, Tommy, and most importantly, have fun at it!
That Tacoma 'burst looks nice; they built some great Guilds there!
Cougar
Enlightened Member
Indeed. That is a great looking burst! Call them up and ask about the saddle height and neck angle....
fronobulax
Bassist, GAD and the Hot Mess Mods
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ruedi
Senior Member
Balderdash
Member
Awagner,
When you checked out this F512 in Yonkers, you said ”strings were dead”. Are you confident it was the strings and not partly some weakness in the character of that particular guitar ? I, too, am in the hunt for a 512.
Thanks.
Balderdash, you should probably post your own WTB thread. Your interest will probably not be noticed by reviving this old thread, but it's totally up to you. Good luck.
The strings were dead. They were rusted or dirty and sounded dull. Can’t say how the guitar would sound with new strings, but it would undoubtedly sound much better.
Balderdash
Member
Thanks. It’s still there. Since early March !
At that price, in really good shape, it would almost be worth going to Yonkers with a set of strings and restring it right there to see if it came alive.
wileypickett
Enlightened Member
Two things to consider: the fact that it's there all these months later may say something worrisome about it. The action being high would concern me, for instance, especially on a 12-string.
If you have the option to check it out in person, what better way to assess it? And if you like it, the fact that it's been there since March may work in your favor -- you might be able to talk them down price-wise.
GC isn't always open to haggling -- seems to depend on the manager -- but I've had occasional success. One manager was willing to drop the price; another wasn't but was willing to throw in a hardshell case for a guitar that didn't come with one.
Let us know!
If you have the option to check it out in person, what better way to assess it? And if you like it, the fact that it's been there since March may work in your favor -- you might be able to talk them down price-wise.
GC isn't always open to haggling -- seems to depend on the manager -- but I've had occasional success. One manager was willing to drop the price; another wasn't but was willing to throw in a hardshell case for a guitar that didn't come with one.
Let us know!