1973 F-112 on AGF

[lpa53]

A poster on the Acoustic Guitar Forum has put up a 1973 Guild F-112 for around $750 (with a PUTW pickup). I've once played a 512 and it was pretty nice. I know this one's much plainer but is the sound of it the same? Do the F-112s of that time have a good or bad rep?

I currently have a 2007 Simon & Patrick Woodland Cedar 12 and though it has a nice sound, is not all that easy to play with its wide and rather flat neck. I think the AGF poster lives near me so I'm hoping I can take a look at 'er.

 

[12 string]

The F-112 is a "small or mini jumbo", 15" at the lower bout. It has mahogany back and sides with a sitka spruce top. The sound isn't as big as the 17" jumbos, and it doesn't sound like rosewood. It still has a remarkably loud voice, very brilliant, and with a super fast response. It's about the most under-rated guitar that I know of.

' Strang

 

[killdeer43]

I recently acquired a '76 F-112 and I can echo Strang's sentiments about the sound that comes out of that little box.
It's easy to hold and easy to play, and I can't wait to get it set up properly. Until I do, I'll enjoy it as....a 6 string. :wink:

It also hangs/fits really well in a little built-in nook/recess that I added when I built our place 10 years ago. Nothing's been there since I built it, but now....

Joe

 

[adorshki]

Do the F-112s of that time have a good or bad rep?

As far as tone and original build quality, I have never seen a bad review of ANY Guild 12 string.

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

Be sure to find out the condition of the neck.
Very good chance that it will need a re-set.
Be sure to let us know more as you find out.
I hope it's a good one and you get it.

 

[fungusyoung]

Be sure to find out the condition of the neck.
Very good chance that it will need a re-set.
Be sure to let us know more as you find out.
I hope it's a good one any you get it.

Absolutely agree with this.

But, if you're confident it's OK, buy it! These are amazing guitars. My '73
will happily get a neck re-set when the time comes.

 

[chazzan]

definately worth checking out! IMO I bought a 74 f-112 at Tobias in 1999 for $535! worth every penny

a great little guitar- that has it's own very musical sound. it has a long scale so it plays in tune, and records well!

this guitar made me a fan of Guilds! I have owned 6 westerly Guilds and they were all made well- the only one I sold was an 81 D-25 that was too large for me to comfortably play

 

[lpa53]

Thanks for the advice, all. I should note that I'm a bit confused about the various versions there may be of this model. Most I've seen have the Chesterfield logo (as does my '74 D-50) but this one has a natural finish as seen in this link:

http://www.rocknrollvintage.com/proddetail.asp?prod=1973-Guild-F112-NT-Natural

And some I see listed on eBay and here have NT after the F112. What's the story? Did it change after '73?

I should also note the the guitar has a PUTW #27 installed, and I've read some not-so-haappy reviews of that setup.

 

[killdeer43]

I can't help with the pickup, but I can say that "NT" and the "Chesterfield logo" are two separate issues.

Here's mine with an 'NT' finish and a 'Chesterfield logo' on the headstock. I guess I don't understand your confusion. You might say that I'm confused. :? :wink: Could you repeat the question?

Joe

 

[fungusyoung]

"NT" is no big deal, that just means natural top. Think they normally put the "NT" on the label, but sometimes folks don't mention it as part of the serial #.

Wow, I'm amazed at the differences in the headstock of the one from the link you posted vs. mine, especially if they're really both 73's.

Hans, if you're reading, is that unusual? Sorry if this has been discussed before.

I'm also not familiar with that pickup, but it could probably be inexpensively replaced with a K&K Pure Western standard. I've played mine out a lot, and I get compliments on the guitar's tone every single time (and I suck!).

 

[lpa53]

I can't help with the pickup, but I can say that "NT" and the "Chesterfield logo" are two separate issues.

Here's mine with an 'NT' finish and a 'Chesterfield logo' on the headstock. I guess I don't understand your confusion. You might say that I'm confused. :? :wink: Could you repeat the question?

Joe

I didn't look close enough at the way the seller named his guitar. He added "natural" after the NT and I guess I was thinking perhaps that accounted for the headstock difference.

I put the image of the one for sale together with yours and they look different in more ways than just the headstock. Both bouts on the one on the right appear to me to be flatter top and bottom and the waist is more angled. The distance from the saddle to the first row of pins may also be different. (Gee, I feel like I'm looking at one of those find-the-difference pics we'd while away the time with at the dentists when we were kids.)

What type of tuners are on yours? I've seen some photos on the web showing open-gear tuners.

 

[killdeer43]

"Find the differences." Great way to kill time at any number of places! Why not here?
For starters, mine has open tuners; and I do see the difference in the distance between the saddles and the pins.
I also can tell (and this is really picky) that mine is a bit more upright than the one on the right.
It also appears that the bridge on the right is bigger (wider/deeper) than the one on mine.

This is fun! I wonder if Hans will weigh in on this one. He always holds the keys to this joint we call home! :wink:

Color me intrigued,
Joe

 

[killdeer43]

OK, right out of the old Blue Book, 11th Edition is a clue:

"The earliest models may not have the Chesterfield headstock inlay. In 1976, the body size changed to 15.375 in. body width and 4.875 in. body depth."

How's that?

Joe

 

[chazzan]

my guess is that the seller has the wrong year- I bet it is from 1983!

ask for the serial # and date it yourself

even if it is an 83 it should still sound very good!

 

[taabru45]

Well I have had the F112R since new in 1980. Big tone monster, like having a harpsichord in your lap. :lol:
I've had the F112 for maybe about a year or so, Love it. Feels like it belongs in your lap. replaced the tuners with a strip of Ping, which used the same holes, now tunes easily and stays there. Great souns, and mine had an I Beam. no complaints there. Very understated but bold in what it puts out... lovely guitar. 72 vintage and it has the gold lettering only. Steffan

 

[12 string]

My first 112 was a 1970 (stolen in 1989) and had a plain headstock, no black overlay, and gold lettering only. The 1976 I now have has the black overlay and Chesterfield logo. There is also a later version with an arched back.

' Strang

 

[Treem]

Here is a 68 just to compare with..
http://cgi.ebay.com/GUILD-F112-12-S...QQptZGuitar?hash=item53deb52b39#ht_2221wt_941
8)

 

[fungusyoung]

Here's maybe a better front view of my '73 (to the right of my beloved JF30-12 which is now with Chazmo):

Makes me wonder if the Chesterfield headstock ever made an appearance on these before '73. Between this & the changes to the D25, seems like Guild was transitioning a few items around that time.

 

[lpa53]

OK, right out of the old Blue Book, 11th Edition is a clue:

"The earliest models may not have the Chesterfield headstock inlay. In 1976, the body size changed to 15.375 in. body width and 4.875 in. body depth."

How's that?

Joe

That's a pretty deep body for the 76. Concerning the headstock I'd assume that the Chesterfield logo came with the black headstock overlay, hence the natural one on the left. Confusing though on when exactly they changed over. Perhaps they even mixed some natural headstocks in after the "official" change.

I also noticed from some of these I've seen on eBay that the prices vary widely, the one linked above selling for $450, a lot less than the one on AGF. Of course with eBay you don't know what you're getting.

I'll write the owner for the serial number.

 

[lpa53]

The owner said the serial number is 52295, which may put it around 1971. But that's still odd considering one 1968 posted here had the black headstock and Chesterfield logo. But that listing could also be incorrectly dated.

It will come down to the sound and playability of course - and whether I can sell my Simon & Patrick. Seems I should have waited on that one and gotten what I really wanted - and that's actually a 512!