Guild 12 strings new vs old

[flagstaffcharli]

I’ve been looking for one too.

Back in February I bought an F412 from Tacoma with the single truss rod. It was a dream guitar on every level. And I got a good deal. I can’t afford a new one - not even in the neighborhood.

Unfortunately, the guy who sold it to me had some regret; the guitar had been a gift from his brother. He recently asked if I’d sell it back. So I did, knowing it’s unlikely that I’ll find another pristine F412 for that price.

I think I’m going to have to be very patient.

In the past I’ve owned a Taylor 355 and a GA-3-12, a Larrivee OM-03-12, an old Gibson B25-12, and a great 1970 Guild F212. All nice guitars! But the F412 was in its own league. I imagine an F512 is in the same league.

Today I played an import Breedlove, a couple nice Taylors, an Eastman, and a Larrivee L03-12. Again, all pretty nice guitars, and I’m trying to keep an open mind because I might not find an affordable F412 again. But I’ve been spoiled. I know what I really want in a 12-string.

Good luck! Maybe we shouldn’t be talking about this here. We’re probably driving up prices when people do decide to sell!

[Oldguy64]

I’ve only recently become a Guild owner.
Mine is an F2512-maple.
I bought mine with damage.
I’ve had it repaired.
I’m using the lightest strings I could find.
It’s glorious.

[HeyMikey]

One just popped up at a decent price that would be worth investigating. FYI, its a 2008 not 2011. No affiliation.

https://reverb.com/item/29580705-gui...que-burst-2011

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[mcduffnw]

Originally Posted by Spicy Kid

Hello all!

I am new here

I really like the 70s guild guitars but I am looking for a 12 strings guitar.
I really liked the 512 but I cannot find it from the 70s or even 80s (JF55)...
So my options are:
1. 70s 212XL
2. A new 512
3. Just to be patience.

What to do?

Many many thanks for your help!

So...I am assuming that you are here in the USA yes?

If so, then if you really want a 70's Westerly Era Guild F-512, you will just have to be both patient AND persistent, and constantly be checking on the internet for the guitar you want to pop up for sale. Besides Ebay and Reverb, Guitar Center's website is a very good spot to check for older Guild Guitars, as in the "Let's Talk Guild" forum site.

As far as the year of Guild F-512. All of the years, and all of the factories, Hoboken, Westerly, Corona CA, Tacoma WA, New Hartford CT, and now Oxnard CA, are equally well made and terrific sounding. The Tacoma, New Hartford, and Oxnard models do have somewhat slimmer necks, not that the Hoboken, Westerly, and Corona models were all that much thicker.

You really can not go wrong with any year, or any factory.

You just have to really be persistent in tracking through all the possible sites where you could find one.

Good Luck!

duff
Be A Player...Not A Polisher

[Mobile1]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy_YGwNH6jc


I played one of these recently and was very impressed. It was priced at $799.

FYI, I own a 1992 Guild JF-65-12 too. If I didn't already have the Guild I'd have bought this.

[Spicy Kid]

Originally Posted by mcduffnw

So...I am assuming that you are here in the USA yes?

If so, then if you really want a 70's Westerly Era Guild F-512, you will just have to be both patient AND persistent, and constantly be checking on the internet for the guitar you want to pop up for sale. Besides Ebay and Reverb, Guitar Center's website is a very good spot to check for older Guild Guitars, as in the "Let's Talk Guild" forum site.

As far as the year of Guild F-512. All of the years, and all of the factories, Hoboken, Westerly, Corona CA, Tacoma WA, New Hartford CT, and now Oxnard CA, are equally well made and terrific sounding. The Tacoma, New Hartford, and Oxnard models do have somewhat slimmer necks, not that the Hoboken, Westerly, and Corona models were all that much thicker.

You really can not go wrong with any year, or any factory.

You just have to really be persistent in tracking through all the possible sites where you could find one.

Good Luck!

duff
Be A Player...Not A Polisher

Thank you all for the answers.
I live in Israel...not USA...
I guess that I will get a new 512!
Thank you!

[Stomp]

I have a 1979 Guild F512 which is a keeper, I've had a D25-12 and a JF30-12, both were excellent too, the JF30-12 in particular.

Some of the late '70s F512 guitars like mine have padauk necks, a wood that must have been difficult to work with and heavier than mahogany or maple but super stable.

I don't think you can go wrong with any Guild 12 string, they have an excellent pedigree.

[Spicy Kid]

Amazing guitars!

[pbla4024]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

The cheaper 'made in China' Guild F-2512 is also a rosewood jumbo 12-string that gained a lot of respect too.

F-2512 is maple back and sides. F-1512 is rosewood back and sides.

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by pbla4024

F-2512 is maple back and sides. F-1512 is rosewood back and sides.

You're right .. I got my 1's and 2's mixed up.

[Spicy Kid]

So I have found a F512 from 1979. But.... I am not sure...
If to get that or a new one.....
What do you think?

[Glennwillow]

Originally Posted by Spicy Kid

So I have found a F512 from 1979. But.... I am not sure...
If to get that or a new one.....
What do you think?

If the guitar is in very good condition and it doesn't need a neck reset, then buying an older, 1979 F512 would probably be a good deal compared to the cost of buying a new one. If it needs a neck reset, then maybe not.

In the USA a new Guild F512 with no electronics costs $3700 as shown HERE.

If a used F512 costs $2000 and a neck reset along with refret costs a total of $1000, it's debatable whether buying on older guitar makes sense. On the other hand if the older guitar costs $1000 even with a neck reset you might be money ahead, again, assuming the older guitar is in good condition.

- Glenn

[dhockenbury]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

If the guitar is in very good condition and it doesn't need a neck reset, then buying an older, 1979 F512 would probably be a good deal compared to the cost of buying a new one. If it needs a neck reset, then maybe not.

In the USA a new Guild F512 with no electronics costs $3700 as shown HERE.

If a used F512 costs $2000 and a neck reset along with refret costs a total of $1000, it's debatable whether buying on older guitar makes sense. On the other hand if the older guitar costs $1000 even with a neck reset you might be money ahead, again, assuming the older guitar is in good condition.

- Glenn

Glenn, I purchased a new F-512 three months ago for considerably less than $3700.

[BudHa]

Like dhockenbury, I also purchased a new F512 rosewood, without electronics, a few weeks ago for much less than $3700. Typical price of a used one did not make sense considering the price of a new one with a new warranty. Also, decent used F512's don't seem to hit the market very often.

The F512 rosewood is a really great guitar. None to be found around me, so I bought online depending on what others think about the F512 and my experience with a 1990 JF30-12. I could not be happier with the guitar.