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Should I purchase a Guild 12 string acoustic guitar?

IMMUSICRULZ

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Joined
May 25, 2021
Messages
616
I have heard many, many good things about Guild 12 string acoustic guitars and thought I might need some help.

A lot of them are very very expensive, but some of the cheapest I have seen are somewhere between $400 and $600. That's a decent enough price.

Martin and Ovation also make some pretty good 12 string acoustic guitars. Guild is also pretty good on basses, electric guitars and acoustic 6 string guitars.
I just love the shimmering, shimmering sound of 12 strings. The strings harmonize very well. Very flatwound sounding strings.

Part of the reason why I want a Guild 12 string acoustic is because Roger Hodgson of Supertramp uses them on his solo tours. He must really like Guild instruments.

I currently own a First Act Acoustic guitar (which has 2 strings broken off of it, so I guess it can now be converted to a 4 string acoustic tenor guitar.)
I also own a natural finish Epiphone J200 acoustic guitar that I received from my mother as a Christmas present. My friend Ben also owns an Epiphone J200 acoustic guitar. I've heard that Guild 12 String acoustic guitars are better played with a natural finish, but I have also seen black and sunburst colored guitars.

If you agree that I should ask my parents for a Guild 12 string acoustic guitar for Christmas, please let me know. I have an acoustic amp. A few instrument stores in my city carry Guild guitars. I really wish that Fender still owned the rights to the Guild brand, because I thought that Fender did a pretty good job distributing the sales of Guild guitars.

And if you have any pictures of a Guild guitar, I'd like to see them.
 

Big Al

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Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
The best 12 string acoustic guitar, imo. I used a jumbo maple arched back F50 for decades and it was superb. Hard on the fingers for long sessions but you get used to it. Tuning is a pain but they hold pitch well. The Ovation is really nice and plays well but I find I like the electric sound better. The acoustic sound is distinctive and sounds great but not like a Guild or Martin.

The less expensive Martins with pressure laminate back, side and top with multi ply neck are amazingly good. Some have solid spruce tops and are durable and sound great in an affordable classic Martin dreadnaught style.

Supertramp was a great band and a favorite of mine.
 

Ken Fortunato

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Staff member
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Feb 26, 2006
Messages
2,742
I bought a new Guild F-512 from Troy at Wildwood back in January... I couldn't be happier... This guitar is STELLAR in every way...

It's a little pricey, but worth every penny, to me... It plays like a dream, which is important for a 12 string... I can play it all day long without any fretting hand fatigue...

c194827_lg1.jpg
 
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Geno Gibson Fan

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Joined
Sep 26, 2018
Messages
6
I still own an Ovation 12 (Pacemaker made in Conn) that I bought new in 1983. You can pick up a made in the US of A one for $400 or so with a case. Some people don't like the round back, but I have not had an issue with the shape and the neck/action is low and buzz-free. It sounds terrific and plugged in it's amazing. You can get a made not in the USA Guild for a little more $$$ but ... I find that a 12 string is something that I pick up on occasion but it will never be my main/only guitar. I don't know you but suspect after the newness wears off you'll find it more something you pick up occasionally but will go for a 6 string most of the time. And if you tire of it your USA Ovation you can always re-sell it for what you paid.
 

goldtop0

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Aug 19, 2003
Messages
8,931
Guild 12s always felt sturdier to me than Gibsons and a first pick for top quality 12 string sound and looks..........go for it.
 

jrgtr42

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Joined
Mar 24, 2005
Messages
2,308
Guilds are great 12-strings.
Honestly, even the Takamine 12st are very good - obviously depending on the model, as with any brand.
Depending on your budget, you can get a good one - or not so good.
Look at what the original selling price on whatever model you're looking at was, and what the average sales price for a used one.
If the one you're looking at is drastically lower than the average, beware there may be something wrong with it, and with a 12-string, there's so much extra tension from the strings, if something wants to let go, it'll go sideways real fast.
 

IMMUSICRULZ

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May 25, 2021
Messages
616
Not to mention that 12 string guitars are usually less expensive than 6 string guitars.
 

tdarian

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Jun 25, 2008
Messages
3,575
My first “real guitar” was a Guild F112. By the time I graduated college the fretboard was well worn. I often strung it up as a 6 string, great guitars!
 

Iguana

Active member
Joined
Aug 22, 2018
Messages
108
I currently own a Guild f2512. I think that’s the one you mentioned. If not it’s certainly in that price range. It’s a great sounding 12 string. Way better than the price would indicate. I owned an Ovation Celebrity Deluxe for a long time too. The Ovations tend to have thinner necks and a very distinct unplugged sound. The Guild on the other hand has a thicker neck and sounds like what you would expect a 12 string acoustic to sound like. At the end of the day, I prefer the Guild but play as many 12 strings as you can get your hands on. Figure out what you can comfortably play and what sounds good to you.
 

O Riley

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2021
Messages
85
Sounds like your on the right track, and you have some really cool parents.

I'm looking forward to hearing more on your quest for tone.
Have a very Merry Christmas Brother!
 

wild.joz

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Joined
Mar 19, 2008
Messages
1,934
Beautiful guitars. Ive been lusting on one for at least 20 years when I first tried one. It was a cathedral and played like butter.
 
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