WTB: 12 string

[Ankaret]

Hi LTG,

Seriously desparate for a 12'er. On somewhat of a budget, would LOVE an F112 in great shape. Would totally consider a good price on GAD series too like an F212 GAD.

Non-Guilds considered as well, but obviously...Im at LTG for a reason!

;-)

Let me know what you got for sale...?

Cheers

 

[Brad Little]

I may be ostracized for this, but keep your eye out on eBay for Dorado 12 strings. They were made in Japan to Gretsch specs in the 70s. I've had two of their lower priced models, cost around $100, solid tops and decent action with a trapeze tailpiece. They had some fancier models with inlay on the necks, but they are more money. I've been playing 12 string since 1965, and would not hesitate to get another Dorado if I were in the market for a backup.
Brad

 

[frettedstrings]

Keep an eye on the Guitar Center Website. Look at there Used instruments listing. Enter Guild and select Guitars and do a National Search. I found my 1967 Guild F212 for $599 at the GC in Boston, Mass.

 

[Ankaret]

thanks for the recommendations...!

I would love to buy it from someone trust-able like on LTG, or being able to see and play the guitar. Guitar center used search can turn up some great stuff, but Id be so nervous ordering a vintage 12'er. Just yesterday saw some vintage archtops they were selling for loads of $ and at least a couple of them had action hiked up unplayably high, probably needing a neck reset to become playable again...yikes!

*sigh

but that sounds like an absolutely killer deal on the F212!

 

[charliea]

This F112 on eBay looks pretty good, and the price is right. http://cgi.ebay.com/GUILD-F112-ACOUSTIC ... 4153ea38ef

 

[12stringer]

pm sent re my F395s 12 string guitar.

 

[Ankaret]

This F112 on eBay looks pretty good, and the price is right. http://cgi.ebay.com/GUILD-F112-ACOUSTIC ... 4153ea38ef

SOLD! Done and done. Only thing that worries me is the bit about the bridge being shaved, it looks ok in the photo but who knows. Fingers crossed! Asked for speedy shipping hoping it arrives by the 4th so that I can pick it on stage that night at a solo gig!

Thanks for the help LTG, Ill update with photos and audio if all turns out well!

 

[twocorgis]

This F112 on eBay looks pretty good, and the price is right. http://cgi.ebay.com/GUILD-F112-ACOUSTIC ... 4153ea38ef

SOLD! Done and done. Only thing that worries me is the bit about the bridge being shaved, it looks ok in the photo but who knows. Fingers crossed! Asked for speedy shipping hoping it arrives by the 4th so that I can pick it on stage that night at a solo gig!

Thanks for the help LTG, Ill update with photos and audio if all turns out well!

Congrats Ankaret! It's good to see the seller has a return policy, too.

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

[charliea]

Congratulations! You can tell with a glance that the bridge has been shaved, but I'm about convinced that most Guild 12-strings will need the treatment, sooner or later. Both of my maple jumbos have shaved bridges. The rosewood, which is brand new, came from the factory with very little saddle to spare, and will probably need attention in 10-20yrs. Let us know how it works out!

 

[Ankaret]

Im very excited for this guitar to arrive, ships tomorrow!

So who wants to tell me what the bridge shaving business is all about...? Is it shaved off the bottom and re-glued? Is this done to compensate for a forward bowing neck angle? What's the dealio? I never heard of this...unless we're simply talking about shaving the bridge saddle.

 

[charliea]

It's sanded off the top. Over a period of time, due to string tension, every guitar is going to fold in on itself. Happens faster with 12-strings, as they're under a lot more strain. There comes a time when you can't take enough off the saddle for adequate break angle, especially for the rear row of strings. While a lot of guys start to yell neck reset at this point, that can be expensive and unnecessary overkill. A long-term, and possibly permanent, solution is to sand 1/16-1/8 off the top of the bridge, often accompanied by slotting the pin holes, then lower the saddle as necessary. I don't have vast experience but of the four older Guild 12-strings I've owned, three needed this treatment. Works fine, and most people don't even notice that it's been done.

 

[Ankaret]

It's sanded off the top. Over a period of time, due to string tension, every guitar is going to fold in on itself. Happens faster with 12-strings, as they're under a lot more strain. There comes a time when you can't take enough off the saddle for adequate break angle, especially for the rear row of strings. While a lot of guys start to yell neck reset at this point, that can be expensive and unnecessary overkill. A long-term, and possibly permanent, solution is to sand 1/16-1/8 off the top of the bridge, often accompanied by slotting the pin holes, then lower the saddle as necessary. I don't have vast experience but of the four older Guild 12-strings I've owned, three needed this treatment. Works fine, and most people don't even notice that it's been done.

Got it. Thanks for the info. Never really delved into the world of 12 string and although I know the top bellies quicker and the neck gets yanked into an undesirable angle faster I never heard of the bridge shaving solution, so that made me a bit nervous. But if it's a common practice to keep these vintage guilds singing I won't complain!

 

[Ankaret]

bad news.

Guitar arrived, it sounds fantastic BUT the bridge shave is totally maxing out the playability of this guitar without a neck reset. The angle of the neck to the body is far from ideal and the finish cracks in the neck appear to be more than that, wood cracks from the double truss rod being overtightened probably in an attempt to compensate for the poor neck angle. The line up perfectly with the placement of the truss rods in the neck. It's a beautiful guitar and would be perfect with about $1000.00 worth of work put into it, but with that kind of money Id rather just buy another that's ready to go.

Luckily, with a little persuasion the seller was kind enough to let me ship the guitar back for a refund. Highly recommended seller, just be clear about return stipulations before committing to buy in these situations.

SO still on the market. The sound of this F112 was PERFECT for what Im looking for. Very responsive to fingerpicking (which is what Ill mostly be doing on it) and a very balanced and rich/detailed tone. So ideally Id love to find one that doesn't need major work like re-fret/re-set done, an F112 that is.

Other option is Im seriously thinking about pulling the trigger on a newer Guild, in that price range and the closest to the F112 would be the GAD F212. Anyone had good/bad experiences with it? How does the size compare to an F112? String spacing good for fingerpicking like the F112?

The GAD F212 would be nice because it's still all solid woods, AND I wouldn't have to worry about getting any work done on it as they're fairly new and Im assuming built pretty tough. Though Im sure they won't have the beautiful aged tone of a vintage F112

:-(

 

[frettedstrings]

Ankaret,

I have seen several Vintage F112's out there, for sale, lately. The F212 has a slightly larger body than the F112. I would say about the size of a Dreadnaught but with the jumbo bell shape. I recently purchased a 1967 Guild F 212 from a Guitar Center in Boston, for $585. I am in the process of buying and installing some tuners that would be like the originals and I will be selling the Grovers that came on the guitar. I want that Original Look.

 

[Ankaret]

WOW what a beautiful guitar. I want one! I will have to be on the prowl at Guitar Centers then?

 

[frettedstrings]

www.guitarcenter.com

USED GUITARS
NATIONAL SEARCH

 

[MAM]

Ank, If your interested PM me. Its a '78.

 

[adorshki]

WOW what a beautiful guitar. I want one! I will have to be on the prowl at Guitar Centers then?

Don't limit yourself to GC. That was pure chance. THIS forum is the best place you can possibly watch, 'cause people are posting sightings from all over the country all the time.
Note MAM's post above for example.