12 String F-412 - Tacoma vs New Hartford

[chazmo]

Bill, real gracious of you to praise my 12er collection!! Any/all of them are here for you to borrow anytime, buddy. Must be time to meet up in Worcester soon for some more Coney dogs!!

I used to bring 'em all to the LMG meets, but I can't remember if the Martin D-12-20 was part of the herd then. That's a sweet guitar, with a very understated tone compared to the Guilds. Always fun to A/B these beauties.

 

[Jimmer]

I did a show with Kaki King in NYC recently. Hanging out backstage prior to show time I got to play her F312. Really nice sounding guitar.

I have several Guild 12s myself, a D4-12, a JF30 12, an F212XL, an F412 and an F512, all Westerly made. The D4-12 is probably easiest to play, but sound-wise the F512 is top of the heap. (IMO.)

Glenn

That sounds like a cool show. I've been wanting to catch a Kaki King show this year but she always seems to be in Europe when I check her website. I've read about her shows on the Ovation Fan Club website. I didn't know she plays a Guild 12er.

 

[Iron blimp]

Hey Jimmer,
In in CT too and I just picked up a JF65-12. Its a Westerly guitar and also a rescue - It's still in the shop getting some top cracks repaired and I decided to install the new LR Baggs Lyric system. I've always wanted a real, Westerly-made Guild twelver and this one crossed my path locally.
I'm curious why a Westerly guitar is not one of your options? The Westerly, RI factory churned out some of the best guitars ever made IMHO. Anyway, be patient and look on Craigslist, GBase and Reverb and you'll find what your looking for. Good luck!

 

[Jimmer]

I get a bit weak when I see the Guild 12 strings here, too. I don't need one at all. My Ovation fills the bill just fine. I would love to try one out, someday, but I don't have the itch to snag one.

I've got an Ovation 12 String as well, it's a 1755. The Ovation plays extremely well with very low action. The neck is built like a tank so no worries about it handling the extra string pull.

I've wanted a Guild 412 now for some time ever since I heard a couple of them.

 

[Jimmer]

Hey Jimmer,
In in CT too and I just picked up a JF65-12. Its a Westerly guitar and also a rescue - It's still in the shop getting some top cracks repaired and I decided to install the new LR Baggs Lyric system. I've always wanted a real, Westerly-made Guild twelver and this one crossed my path locally.
I'm curious why a Westerly guitar is not one of your options? The Westerly, RI factory churned out some of the best guitars ever made IMHO. Anyway, be patient and look on Craigslist, GBase and Reverb and you'll find what your looking for. Good luck!

I kind of feel like any 12 String guitar I buy I want to be sure that it's sturdy enough. Not overbuilt but built to last a long time without wilting from the added string tension. I know that the New Hartford Guilds fit that description because I got to see them being built at the factory and was impressed by the materials and workmanship. I remember reading about the tweaks that the New Hartford folks made to the construction design and thought they had the right idea (can't remember where I read that now). Also, I prefer to buy newer guitars for much the same reason.

Anyway, I did finally find a New Hartford Guild F412 and it just arrived yesterday!!!

It's in great shape and sounds glorious. It came with DTAR and I bought it from the original owner. I've only played it a couple of hours but the action is very low and it plays just as well as my Ovation 12 String, which is saying something. The sound is lovely and quite different in timber to the Ovation. Also, the intonation is quite good for a 12 String when you consider how challenging it is to get the intonation of a 12 String as well tempered as a 6 String.

I know, I know, I need to some pictures...coming soon.

 

[Cougar]

Anyway, I did finally find a New Hartford Guild F412 and it just arrived yesterday!!!
It's in great shape and sounds glorious. It came with DTAR and I bought it from the original owner.

Oh man, major congrats! I've got to get a DTAR put in my Tacoma F412. Till then, notwithstanding the title of this thread, it's the Corona burst JF30-12 that I pick up first. I much prefer plugging that baby IN.

 

[Rayk]

I wish I shared the Dtar love , It's not the dual unit unfortunately. I guess I just don't like under saddle pickip sound by itself .

 

[kostask]

All DTAR units can have both a volume/tone module and a microphone added in. The preamp board is common to all DTAR pickup systems; in the Multi-source/Duo systems, they wire the microphone/controls in. In the Wavelength/Solo systems, they don't, but the connections are available. They even have instructions on how to wire in a second source (see the seymourduncan.com website >Products >Acoustic >Wavelength Duo). Then scroll down to Resources, and there is a link "Installation Instructions for Second Source". It even has the resistor values needed to balance out the volume between the added mic and the UST, along with values on how to provide proper power for microphones that need it.

 

[Rayk]

All DTAR units can have both a volume/tone module and a microphone added in. The preamp board is common to all DTAR pickup systems; in the Multi-source/Duo systems, they wire the microphone/controls in. In the Wavelength/Solo systems, they don't, but the connections are available. They even have instructions on how to wire in a second source (see the seymourduncan.com website >Products >Acoustic >Wavelength Duo). Then scroll down to Resources, and there is a link "Installation Instructions for Second Source". It even has the resistor values needed to balance out the volume between the added mic and the UST, along with values on how to provide proper power for microphones that need it.

I was thinking of upgrading to the duel source a while back looked it up briefly then forgot about it . It's on the F212 and I'm ashamed to say I have not played it as much as I hoped so another reason why I did not give it much thought .

I need to see how much it is unless someone knows off hand also linkage would help .
Thanks for reminding me kostask

 

[Cougar]

It's on the F212 and I'm ashamed to say I have not played it as much as I hoped....

You need to play that thing more, Ray!

I need to see how much it is....

Most places have them for $195. Django Books has them for $159.

 

[Jimmer]

Well after two weeks with the new guitar I have to say that I'm really impressed. It has such a beautiful voice rich with overtones. It's about as easy to play as a 12 string can be for me. I'm starting to rethink how to play certain songs so that I use more open string chords.

Had to put in new batteries but the pickup works nicely though I've only tried it out once. I looked back at the thread and I have the dual source pickup. When I tried it out I thought one of the knobs was tone but now I realize that one is volume and the other is blend between the two sources.

It holds tune exceptionally well especially when you consider that it's a 12 string.