F212XL on Gbase.

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Hello Gary,

I just wanted to look out for a F-212XL here in Germany because I don't really want to buy a guitar before I have not seen or tested it. It is hard to get Guilds here in Germany. There are only a few shops which have Guilds, but these are only the Fender-Guilds...
There is one very good shop here (by car in 30 minutes available) which have vintage guitars (they trade and repair them, make neck-resets and so on) and they also build new guitars like they are build many years ago. I told them to search for a near mint 12-String for me but I have to wait a bit...
I am sure, that they will find the right for me - it would only be a question of the price. If you wold take a look at their page - here is the link:
http://www.antique-acoustics.de/

So have a nice day - Dietmar
 

gilligan

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f212xl on gbase

I've been keeping an eye out for one of these guys, too. This one at Willie's has been there for quite some time now (makes me wonder why--of course I could call them and ask). And anyone have an idea of a ballpark price to fix a repair such as a 'lifting bridge'? Isn't that a major repair? I know this is a decent price, but I'd rather not buy a guitar that will need this kind of immediate repair.

Thanks for any comments.

gilligan
 

coastie99

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Mr Magic Takamine and Gilligan.

My own personal pick, if I wanted one, would be this one......

http://www.rumbleseatmusic.com

Go to Acoustics, and look for Guild.

Nice and "unadorned", just like a guitar should be. Nice 'burst" finish too, rather than an acre of spruce. Just my personal preference.

While you're there, take a look at their Fender & Gibson electrics. You may want to have a large glass of Schnapps at the ready, though.

And if you should be swayed, don't be afraid to haggle over the price. I asked for, and got, a substantial price reduction on my SF4 that I bought at Rumbleseat.
 

West R Lee

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That is a nice one and if they do negotiate, all the better. Heck, $750 isn't bad.

West
 
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Hello Gary 'coastie99',

I took a look at the Guild on rumbleseatmusic. It looks nice, but I search for a Jumbo, not a Dread. I own a JF-30 and have no problems with the 17" sized body of the guitar. Is the sound of the 12-String Dread much different from a Jumbo like the F-212XL?

Hello Gilligan,

I have not any experience with repairs but isn't the bridge not only clued (hope the word is right) on the top? Otherwise I also would not buy a guitar, which must be first repaired. If the bridge is lifting a bit, the guitar may stood a longer time in a too dry room. Then it also could be that the spruce top is - how is the right word? - 'fallen in'? The top should be 'arched' - maybe in this case it is flat - thats not good...
By the way - where are you from, that you know 'Henkes & Blazer'?

Have a nice day - Dietmar
 

coastie99

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M. Magic Takamine.

Good heavens, I should have spotted the difference shouldn't I ? I simply assumed that XL meant a higher level of trim.
As you can see, I know very little about twelve strings !

Did you look at the Fender and Gibson electrics while you were at the Rumbleseat site ? And did you have that glass of Schnapps ready when you saw some of the prices ?

Your English is just fine by the way. Easier to understand than American !!!
 
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Hello Gary,

in this case the XL stands for the larger body. There is also a 'normal' F-212.

Yes - I looked at the electrics and found a 'very cheap' 1953 Fender Telecaster 'Blackguard' "Butterscotch" there :)

When I am at home this afternoon I will take some cold beer because I don't like Schnaps :)

All these vintage guitars are very expensive, and I would never not buy one if I had enough money to do this.

I need time to write in english because many words are missing, so I have often to rewrite them... but many thanks for the 'flowers'.

Best regards - Dietmar
 

gilligan

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f212xl on gbase

Thanks Coastie for pointing that out. Like Mr. Magic Takamine, I too would prefer the jumbo body, but would certainly not pass up an opportunity to get a dread until that perfect XL comes along (or just to add to my collection).

I have the specs for the G-212 from Hans’ book, but that info is only until 1977 (hey there Hans, didn’t I read somewhere that you were working on a post-1977 Guild book?) Anyone know what, if any, changes were made to the model over those years and/or where I can find this info.

Mr. Magic Takamine, I’m from the Philadelphia area. I don’t know what ‘Henkes & Blazer’ is—maybe you have my name confused with another contributor’s comments. By the way, I love the HSS Strats (I used to have a Standard Strat HSS), I prefer the sound of that pick-up configuration—but that’s enough, this is the Guild discussion.
 
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Hello Gilligan,

Henkes & Blazer are the names of the two Guitar-Makers where I bought my Guild JF-30.
You wrote this: I've been keeping an eye out for one of these guys, too.

So I understood that you mean these two (Wilhelm Henkes and Rudolph Blazer) from Antique-Acoustics here in Germany, which Link I had posted before...

I also have Hans' book - it is really great. I asked a few days ago here for a warm sounding twelve-string, specially for the F-212XL - and Hans wrote back following:

Hello Dietmar,

The F-212XL was listed throughout the '80s but not many were sold after 1985. In 1987 the model wasn't even listed in the price lists but in spite of that some were produced and the last ones were done in 1989. In 1998 the model was reintroduced and it stayed in the line until the Westerly plant closed in 2001.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust

I am also interested in the reintroduced models, if there are any changes. If I should search for a model before 1985 or better after 1998...

I say goodby to all and till tomorrow

Dietmar
 

coastie99

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Hello again Dietmar.

There is a forum member here named Bing k who is a music store owner, and Guild dealer.
I have read very favourable comments about him, and am thinking that since he is in the business, it may be worthwhile your contacting him regarding your search for a twelve string.
He will probably be in contact with a network of dealers, one of whom may have what you're looking for.

If it's not too difficult for you, would you like to tell us all a little more about yourself and the Guild scene in Germany ?
I like to hear about people from other countries, and I know that there are others here too that feel the same.

Kind regards, Coastie.
 
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Hello Coastie and all others!

All right, I will try to write about me and the Guild scene here in Germany. I am 36 years old and started to learn playing in the summer of 2004. When I was a young boy at the age of twelve years I played for 1.5 years accordion. I stopped learning it because I had problems to spread my fingers for some chords I should play. My teacher let me play one and the same song many weeks again and again and I could not do it - so I was very angry and so I lost the interest completely for this instrument. When I was 19 years old I wanted to learn guitar playing but "I don't get the curve" (so we say in Germany).

Two years ago (in 2004) we sat in the garden, had a barbecue and a nice party. A friend of me took out his Guitar and played a few famous songs like "Southern California", "Father and Son" and so on. I got a feeling, I can't describe - but one thing was clear: I want to learn this, too! So I called one of my earlier girl-friends to borrow her Concert-Guitar. I bought a new set of strings and a beginners book. So I started to learn playing Guitar on my own. Just three months later I decided to must have an own guitar and asked her if she would sell her guitar to me. She denied because many feelings (memories) hangs on her guitar but I can borrow the guitar, so long I want to have it...

This friend, who played on the party bought at this time a new Takamine EF508CTS and put his Takamine G334 as trade-in to the shop. There I bouht it for the same price, he got from the dealer. (My friend doesn't know, that I was searching for a guitar...). At this time a beginners course (part one of three) for guitar playing was already closed and the second course already started two times. So I joined this second course and played along. Since the third Part ended I play just for me. I learned many chords, a bit harmony for myself and never get tired. I play every day about 30 minutes up to two hours or more.

A long text till now... it follows more about guitars:

It was at Christmas in 2004, I played just half a year with my Takamine G334 and saw a Takamine NP-18C at the guitar shop (also used but near mint). I must have it... Since then I played this guitar. My G334 stayed in the case. It followed in the early 2005 a Fender USA Deluxe fat Strat. The Takamines are very good, but I wanted to have a further acoustic guitar with a "big, fat sound" which brings my complete body in vibration from the hair to the feet :)
So I asked another good friend (he plays guitar since he was a boy and plays in a very good cover-band) for a famous acoustic guitar. So he was it, who told me the adress of "Antique-Acoustics" in Tübingen in Germany. Only 30 minutes by car to drive. I took my phone and called them. They told me that they are specialised in vintage guitars and that the prices for them are partial very high - not absolute this what I am searching for. But they also advised me to come and see - maybe there is a guitar, which I would like...
So I sat in my car and took a look there. It was fantastic!!! Many old Gibsons, Martins and Guilds with sounds that you don't want to lay them back out of your arms. Some new (mint) Stanfords and two mint Guilds from the year 2000 out of Rhode Island.
I took a seat and Wilhelm (one of the owners) gave me the JF-30. I began to pick some strings very careful and one thing was clear at the first moment - it was my guitar! I drove back home and had a sleepless night. I only just wanted to look at the guitars, but not necessarily buy the first one. So it comes, that I took freetime the next day afternoon and drove with my car again to Antique-Acoustics. As Wilhelm saw me, he smiled a bit... I told him about my sleepless night and that I must have this Guild.

Oh man, what a long story, sorry...

Now we come to the unfortunately shortest story - the Guild scene...
I don't know anybody else in my circle of friends, who own a Guild. There are only three people within me, who still play guitar since the course. All others gave up with their concert guitars. I was the only who started with a steelstring and the other two bougt one a Cort 730 and the other a Taylor 214. The others, I know are playing Takamine, Washburn, Ibanez or Yamaha. My teacher also owns a Martin but no one plays Guild - sorry...

I think, the reasons are the very high prices here in Germany for American Guitars and that we have not very much dealers which you can first test one of these Guitars.

So, I am ready with the story of me... hope you enjoy it and find not so many errors in the grammar or the words. It is very nice for me to write in english, so many words come out of "the edge of my brain". I think I should read more books in englisch not only some handbooks for computers or DVD-Players and other electrical machines - but I have no time to do this - must play guitar :) all free time...

Best regards, Dietmar.
 

Jeff

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"I don't get the curve"

Nice story, guitar lovers poetry.

Probably enough material in your post to write a Country song.

Nice catchy chorus; "There ain't enough good guitars in my town & I Don't Get the Accordian Curve"
 
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Hello Jeff,

it is a pleasure to me, that you like the story how I became a guitarist. But I am not able to write a Country song. I play along the songs which ich can find on http://www.chordie.com or in any songbooks like in a German book called "Das Ding" (the ting). There are many well known songs from the Beatles, Arlo Guthrie, Barcley James Harvest, Paul McCartney, Kansas, Styx, John Denver and so on in this book.
I like those old songs very much, but I also play also the newer songs which you can hear this time on the radio. At the moment I like "Nine Million Bicycles In Beijing" from Katie Melua very much. I pick the chords with a own pattern - but to sing this song is very difficult like the most songs from Katie Melua...
Maybe I be able to write own songs in the future. But this will take a long time. I just want to learn the complete Fretboard not only strumming or picking chords. I want to learn playing single Notes. But there is a long way...

So I will "get the curve" to keep on working in the office now. I am here the administrator of the complete IT (computers, servers and all the things around within user support) here in the company. But it is also a very good change to read/write here to push up my english.

Best regards, Dietmar
 

gilligan

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Mr Magic Takamine,

Great story--I played music with a fellow student for a little while when I was in college (he was better than I and was helping me out and giving me some pointers) and I always remembered something he said one day: "It becomes an obsession". I always repeat this to people I run into who are at or near the beginning of their 'life as a guitarist'. Like your story will do for you, this phrase becomes very inspirational for me time and time again. I guess I have an obsession with being obsessed.

Secondly, there is a black 2000 F212XL for $1250 at Gruhn Guitars (gruhn.com). I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for but have a look.

gilligan
 
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Hello again, Gilligan!

You mean this black one at the Miscellaneaus Flat Tops:
http://www.gruhn.com/catalog/am.htm http://www.gruhn.com/photo/AM5965.jpg

I have seen this guitar a few days or a week before as I searched the internet carefully. That would be a possible candidate if I could not find one in sunburst (like my JF-30) or in natural. Black is not my first choice. You can't see the structure of the wood but you can see all scratches on it...

A further possible candidate would be a JF-55-12, but then I must save more money.

Dietmar
 

Benee Wafers

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Hello Mr. Magic Takamine
Just to let you know that I was very lucky some months ago to buy a 1977 Guild F212XL. I found it on e bay for a very resonable price.
Man I am so happy with this guitar. Its sound, its tone, its ring, its sustain
is all magical. I now tune it down to D and use a capo in order to play in E, in order to reduce stress on the bridge and sound board.
I highly recommend that you be patient and wait until this model finds you. It will be well worth it. I also think the Gruhn price is too much.
Benee Wafers
 

gilligan

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Benee Wafers,

Thanks for mentioning about the Gruhn price being too much. I figured they would be high because of their name, but I was curious about weather they negotiated much. Anyone have any experience with them?

gilligan
 
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