Lucky me! After missing this previous one, I was searching allofcraigslist earlier this week for Guild 212XL and one showed up for sale a few minutes away down the street. 1976 212XL in great condition (I think). The fella bought it brand new and has treated it very well ever since. He can't play anymore because of arthritis and was selling for a very good price. He said he always played it tuned down two steps and kept it in a case with humidity packs. It was un able to test it out. We were unable to tune it. Long story, but while I was there I noticed the saddle was in backwards (higher on the high strings and bending in towards the sound hole) and he had the light strings and heavy strings backwards (I think some 12-strings get strung this way, but for this one the nut slots seemed to be filed for thin strings above the thick ones). He pooped a string trying to tune it then I popped two trying my self. I purchased anyways because this thing look pristine (very minor bellying, straight neck, low action, full saddle and bridge). I have some worries though. When I got it home I restrung it and tuned it down 2 steps with some cracking and popping noises involved. I noticed the bridge lifting a little bit on the high E side and a decent dent in the top where the partially lifting bridge is pulling up on the top. I took off tension and feel I should get the bridge repaired before tightening strings again. I stummed a little bit, but with light strings and it being tuned down 2 steps it nothing to get excited about yet.
