12 String?

[kdavid]

not wanting to open a can o'wormz here, but ive been told by no less an authority on the family finances than my wife that when birthday time rolls around, i will be able to get the 12-string im looking for.
having had a few over the years, i know what sound im looking for--the sound my first 12'er had (before its untimely departure many years ago) Medium strings tuned to C# or D i'd like deep rumbling with nary the shimmer that i hear in most 12's. this brings me to my question: jumbo or dreadnaught, arched or flatback
that is shall be a Guild is a given & i intend to go used & hopefully, Westerly.
its going to be a long 6 months :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

It could also be a very fun 6 months.
Only you will know the 12 string sound that you are looking for.
Many here feel that Maple is the best choice for a 12 string.
I had a JF-30-12 that was a great sounding 12 string but the body size and thick neck took it's toll on my.
I quit playing it because it became uncomfortable for me to play.
I have only played one F512R and it was very nice.
I haven't played a Mahogany 12 string sense I sold my D-25-12 many years ago, so I can't help you with how they sound.

You may have to buy your 12 string sight unseen, so be sure you get a return policy just in case.
Enjoy the chase and I hope that you get a great one.

 

[taabru45]

Well I have both ends of the spectrum an old beauty. F512, and a beat up old F112, both have their Guild voice, and In Jan. I'll be getting my 112 back with the nut re-cut to reverse the lowest 4 string sets...I had it that way before getting the work done, but the slots are wrong, however, the tone is a lot more bass full, and I like it a lot....Doyle Dykes did that with his bottom 2 string sets, on his 12, and said he'll do it to the next set too....one day... catch him if you ever get the chance, or youtube him....just because... Steffan

 

[Christopher Cozad]

not wanting to open a can o'wormz here...

Where would the fun be in that?

... Medium strings tuned to C# or D... deep rumbling with nary the shimmer...

While you didn't ask about tonewoods, your requirements would cause me to think you would be happier with a rosewood guitar. Maple will certainly lend 'shimmer', though tuning down will lessen that effect. Mahogany has a unique sound when the guitar is set up with heavier strings and tuned down 1 to 1.5 steps, a sound that many fingerstyle players like. There is a certain brightness, a certain snap to mahogany that can be distinguished on the attack of the strings. Rosewood (my personal preference) rounds the sharp corners off that mahogany sound; it is a bit mellower.

... my question: jumbo or dreadnaught...

For 'deep rumbling' I would suggest jumbo, but it may be important to consider the size of the guitar and how you play it. Guild jumbos are an acquired fit. You kind of have to twist your back to get your arm over the lower bout, a posture that can contribute to back strain if you play for extended periods of time. A dreadnaught fits the body a bit easier and will sound great; it just will be missing that extra bit of real estate that makes a Guild jumbo 12-string sound the way it does.

... arched or flatback...

The maple jumbo has an arched back, while the mahogany and rosewood jumbos are flat and braced.

... its going to be a long 6 months...

The wait may be tougher on your extended LTG family than it is on you.

If, between now and then, you can get a chance to play a couple of different Guild 12-string models to compare your decision may be a lot easier.

Christopher

 

[charliea]

I'm no expert, and I've only tried five: my current two maple jumbos and rosewood jumbo, a mahogany dread D212 and rosewood dread G312. From what you've said, of the ones in my experience you'd prefer the G312. It's a very loud guitar that can give you a lot of that Leadbelly "quack" in the bass. Jumbo Guilds have a distinctive ringing sound, most noticeable in the maple guitars, that I personally prefer but if you want the powerful bass "thud", go rosewood dread.

 

[avagadro]

good luck and happy hunting

 

[12 string]

In my experience the F-512 is as good as it gets. Jumbos have a more refined sound, dreads tend to be more raucus. If you want to tune way low (C or B) maple (JF-30 12, JF-65 12 or F-412) would be better. I've never seen nor heard of a Guild maple dread 12er but it sure seems like a good idea to me.

' Strang

 

[Dadaist]

Having owned a D-212 SB, F-212XL and now own '80 F-412, all I can say is that if you want a real "Lap Piano", go for a Jumbo in Maple with an arched back.
To prove my point I jammed with twelve guitarists this evening......I play fingerstyle, without picks with my fingertips. Everyone else was playing Martin or Taylor Dreads most of them with flat picks....the host asked me after one of my songs if I could play a little softer as my guitar was overpowering my half of the room....

David

 

[taabru45]

Having owned a D-212 SB, F-212XL and now own '80 F-412, all I can say is that if you want a real "Lap Piano", go for a Jumbo in Maple with an arched back.
To prove my point I jammed with twelve guitarists this evening......I play fingerstyle, without picks with my fingertips. Everyone else was playing Martin or Taylor Dreads most of them with flat picks....the host asked me after one my songs if I could play a little softer as my guitar was overpowering my half of the room....

David

O V E R P O W E R away my friend ...overpower away.... :lol: :lol: :lol: Steffan

 

[12 string]

Having owned a D-212 SB, F-212XL and now own '80 F-412, all I can say is that if you want a real "Lap Piano", go for a Jumbo in Maple with an arched back.
To prove my point I jammed with twelve guitarists this evening......I play fingerstyle, without picks with my fingertips. Everyone else was playing Martin or Taylor Dreads most of them with flat picks....the host asked me after one my songs if I could play a little softer as my guitar was overpowering my half of the room....

David

O V E R P O W E R away my friend ...overpower away.... :lol: :lol: :lol: Steffan

Yep, go for it!

' Strang (another David)

 

[charliea]

Having owned a D-212 SB, F-212XL and now own '80 F-412, all I can say is that if you want a real "Lap Piano", go for a Jumbo in Maple with an arched back.
To prove my point I jammed with twelve guitarists this evening......I play fingerstyle, without picks with my fingertips. Everyone else was playing Martin or Taylor Dreads most of them with flat picks....the host asked me after one my songs if I could play a little softer as my guitar was overpowering my half of the room....

David

O V E R P O W E R away my friend ...overpower away.... :lol: :lol: :lol: Steffan

Yep, go for it!

' Strang (another David)

I'll lend you my fingerpicks!

 

[Brad Little]

Over the weekend I did an A/B on my 212 and 512. With the sound difference, I think the 212 is closer to what you want, going on intuition. As such, I think that a 212XL would have even more of that sound. Of course, only you can tell for sure. Bear in mind that I've always kept my 12s at concert pitch except for an occasional dropped D tuning so I'm really just estimating it's sound in a D tuning.
Brad

 

[6L6]

LOVE my '06 F-412!!!

6

 

[Dadaist]

Charlie A:
Naw...thanks for the offer of the fingerpicks....but for whatever reason (I'm Left-Handed..but play guitar Right Handed.?)...I've never ever been able to get use to them.
As loud as the F-412 is with just fingertips....they'd make me play outside with anything else....and it's cold this time of year.

Was once told by Mr. National Guitar, Bob Brozman through an email....that you really couldn't get the right attack and sound without them....a few months later at the SoCal NAMM show I was jamming with Doug MacLeod at the National Booth (He was playing some incredible blues..I was attempting, poorly, to keep up.....). I mentioned what Mr. Brozman had stated....and He rolled his eyes and said most of the Old Blues Guys never used picks.....and He didn't.

I've tried them off and on for the last forty-five years...had quite a collection at one time....old Nationals..several different styles...gave them away to friends who used them. They just seem to snag the strings. So, I play with just the tips, no nails, of my fingers...pretty good callous built up....

David

 

[kdavid]

Having owned a D-212 SB, F-212XL and now own '80 F-412, all I can say is that if you want a real "Lap Piano", go for a Jumbo in Maple with an arched back.
To prove my point I jammed with twelve guitarists this evening......I play fingerstyle, without picks with my fingertips. Everyone else was playing Martin or Taylor Dreads most of them with flat picks....the host asked me after one my songs if I could play a little softer as my guitar was overpowering my half of the room....

David

O V E R P O W E R away my friend ...overpower away.... :lol: :lol: :lol: Steffan

:lol: :lol: :lol:

so far ive got a lot to chew over here--keep 'em coming my brothers

 

[adorshki]

I mentioned what Mr. Brozman had stated....and He rolled his eyes and said most of the Old Blues Guys never used picks.....and He didn't.

You're in a jam
playing bareback and they ask you if you could tone it down a bit? Maybe you could pull out a pair of nail clippers and make a show of trimming 'em...just to make it look like you're trying to co-operate... :lol:

They just seem to snag the strings. So, I play with just the tips, no nails, of my fingers...pretty good callous built up....
David

I could never get the hang of fingerpicks either. BTW the F65ce sounds great bareback! I do let a little nail get in there when I strum though.

 

[Horse]

My experience is limited to the F-112 and F-212, but I love them both.

So long as she is a player, you cannot go wrong with an old Guild 12'er.

The waiting is the hardest part.

Ditto. And you said used/Westerly. Probably not too difficult to find. Craigslist and eBay often
cough up old F-212s. Best if you can go have a look first. If you're in a large metropolitan area
I'd say you'll have your 12 in a matter of a week or two with dedicated searching.

Good Luck.

 

[William63]

My experience with an 512 was that it was a warm but loud tone monster! Oh, how I long for another!

 

[kdavid]

Ditto. And you said used/Westerly. Probably not too difficult to find. Craigslist and eBay often
cough up old F-212s. Best if you can go have a look first. If you're in a large metropolitan area
I'd say you'll have your 12 in a matter of a week or two with dedicated searching.

Good Luck.[/quote]

i live about 90 minutes from Phoenix, & have spotted one there already, thanks to one of our bretheren