Bit by the 12 string bug...........

[emd-run8]

New here. I just can't help it. Whenever I play a 6 stringer now, they just sound thin or something. Its a disease I guess........or tonal affliction maybe? Kidding, but joined up to talk with Guild fans and hopefully get some confirmation of what I think I've been hearing all these years. What I think when I hear a Guild 12'er is that Guilds have this very broad middle-range sort of tone that is neither too bright nor too bassy------just VERY broad with a distinct attention grabbing punch. That's what I hear and I just love it. The Taylors I have played seem too bright to me although they are very sensitive and seem to make sound if you breath on them the right way. I have never had the pleasure to play a Guild 12'er but have played a few Martin 12s and one Larrivee and they were nice but didn't really grab me with their tone, but they do seem very solid and robust. Guilds just seem to have a unique tone that touches all the buttons.

Anyway, what I would really like to know is whether or not there are any structural differences between the american Guilds and the GAD series Guilds? I don't expect I'll be able to afford an american one but an antique burst GAD JF30-12 would be about right I think, provided they are "guild" enough ya know? Thanks all.

 

[killdeer43]

Welcome to the clubhouse emd.
Guilds are simply the best sounding 12 strings out there, and you can find good deals on Westerly-made 12 strings on eBay/Craigs list all the time. Don't settle for a GAD, IMHO.

Just sit back and you'll soon be overwhelmed with testimonials about Guild 12 strings. Lots of love on this forum for our Guilds.

Stay tuned and stay in tune,
Joe

 

[devellis]

Welcome aboard. I'm on the hunt for a 12-string as well. Don't know much about the GADs but others here will have lots of information for you. Good folks here.

 

[dapmdave]

Welcome to LTG.

You are in the right place, as Guild 12-string guitars are the best bang for the buck. Probably the best regardless of the buck.

Dave

 

[bunuel]

There's nothing better than a 12-string for some uses. There's no better 12s than Guilds & despite that they are still pretty good deals. If you're on a budget, trying find a solid but cosmetically beat up older D212, F112, or F212. They can be great deals & still sound heavenly. Older guitars sound better anyway. The best sounding F112 I ever had looked pretty ragged, but played and sounded great and was plenty cheap. I'd never have let it go if hadn't stumbled onto an insane deal on a Westerly F412 years ago.

I'd stay away from the GADs. QC is spotty, they haven't held their value & they're unlikely to in the future. I'd go after '70-'80s era takamines or upper end yamahas 12s over the GADs--many of those takamines & yamahas can sound pretty good, tho not as good as decent westerly era 12. There's a very good reason that the westerly 12s are considered the "gold" standard among 12s and not just here on the Guild forum.

 

[killdeer43]

Allow me to chime in once more and paraphrase Horace Greeley who borrowed from John B. L. Soule when he said, "Go West(erly) young man."

My avatar speaks of my preference, and the 12s out of Westerly are just phenomenal, IMHO. My D4-12, for instance, is as easy to play as any guitar I've ever laid my hands on and it sounds great!
Ditto on the F-112.

*A Sunday morning cruise through the eBay Guilds turned up several 12s. Check and see if 'yours' is in the mix. :wink:

Joe

 

[bruzmuse]

Welcome emd.

My JF30-12 plays, sounds and feels as beautiful as she looks. The Guild 12's are what kept my interest in Guilds for many, many years. Finally I snagged one and haven't looked back. The resonance is amazing and the depth of the tones just keep me engaged listening to what she has to say.

12's do have a full sound and their place and their grace for sure.

I love 'em.

Bru

 

[wileypickett]

Pardon the cross posting:

I have three Guild 12 strings up on eBay right now:

1.) a Hoboken F-112 (1968, first year of manufacture)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0592406030

2.) a Westerly JF-30 (sunburst)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0592402068

3.) and a Westerly F4-12-NT (mahogany sides and back).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0592413562

BTW: If anyone on LTG is interested on any of these guitars, and wins the bid, I'll discount the price by 10% or cut the shipping cost in half, whichever is greater. Just let me know when the auction ends so I can adjust the invoice.

I echo the sentiments above -- the GADs sound dull compared to the old Westerlys -- though, who knows?, maybe they'll get better with time.

But if you're committed to new, rather than vintage, the currently made 412s and 512s are quite respectable guitars, IMHO. They're well-made, they sound good, they play nicely. They're pricey, but they come with a warranty.

Cheers!

Glenn Jones
Cambridge, MA

 

[emd-run8]

Thanks all. Being primarily a singer, I think I'm a pretty good judge of tone. When I hear SRV's unplugged MTV set from '90 or Tom Keifer's tone on songs like Heartbreak Station (both JF 30-12s or are they F412s?) I just go----oh yeah, that's it for sure. I originally thought of 12 strings because I'm not much of a guitar player and thought that if I got a guitar that sounded like 2 or 3, then that would help! :lol: Now that I've played more I've just become enamored with the sound. From McTell on up, it is just incredible and seems to me to be just the sort of guitar for backing yourself up. Almost like a piano with frets maybe?! Better than that for sure. While I'm here, has anyone had experience with RainSong guitars? My cousin mentioned them to me and said he had heard one of their 12 strings and was impressed with their sound, being Kevlar and all. Oh, and I'll throw in a shameless plug for my cousin if that's OK-----www.timothyodonovan.com. A great songwriter currently working in the Atlanta area. Proud to call him blood.