Comparing 12 Strings (with pics and video)

[portsider]

I’ve been A-B ing my F112 and my G312. I can’t really find anything to dislike about either one. The dread may have a bit more volume and chime and certainly looks classier with the ebony board and bridge. The F112 still plays great and sounds great.

The back view sure is different. My first exposure to Guild 12s was my friend's F312. I have never gotten to own one and now they're ridiculously priced so when I saw a G312 for cheap, I jumped. I'm glad I did.

F112s are probably the best deal in USA made 12s. They can still be gotten in playable shape for less than a grand.

The G312 plays easily with light gauge EJ38s while the F112 needs extra light EJ41s. I can’t figure out why that is but I’m not really worried. I'm not sure I need to own both of these 12's, but when did that stop anyone in this forum.

 

[GGJaguar]

I sure liked my G-312. I would be first in line if they reissued it with the current single truss rod (slim) neck.

 

[PreacherBob]

I’ve been A-B ing my F112 and my G312. I can’t really find anything to dislike about either one. The dread may have a bit more volume and chime and certainly looks classier with the ebony board and bridge. The F112 still plays great and sounds great.

The back view sure is different. My first exposure to Guild 12s was my friend's F312. I have never gotten to own one and now they're ridiculously priced so when I saw a G312 for cheap, I jumped. I'm glad I did.

F112s are probably the best deal in USA made 12s. They can still be gotten in playable shape for less than a grand.

The G312 plays easily with light gauge EJ38s while the F112 needs extra light EJ41s. I can’t figure out why that is but I’m not really worried. I'm not sure I need to own both of these 12's, but when did that stop anyone in this forum.

How do the neck profiles compare, especially from first to the fifth fret. Is one chunkier than the other?

 

[chazmo]

I'm not sure I need to own both of these 12's, but when did that stop anyone in this forum.

Hehehehe... Not I!

 

[rmoretti49]

Both of those guitars look very nice!

I own a D212 (which later was called the D12-25, I believe). Does anyone know how the G212 is different?

 

[kostask]

.......
The G312 plays easily with light gauge EJ38s while the F112 needs extra light EJ41s. I can’t figure out why that is but I’m not really worried. I'm not sure I need to own both of these 12's, but when did that stop anyone in this forum.
.....

if you mean that the action is easier with the G312 with the same string gauge, it means that the F112 probably needs a setup. Neck relief, nut slot height, fret height, saddle height, etc. can all impact playability. I am assuming that the scale lengths on both are the same. Humidity could even play a part, but since the guitars are at the same location, I don't think that is making a difference in this case.

If you are talking about the guitars sounding the best with different string gauges, that is more tied to the design to the guitar. It is not unusual for different guitars to sound best with different string gauges or even different brands of strings. That is why there are innumerable string threads, and different people liking different strings on their guitars, even if we could eliminate that one guitar's sound may appeal to a group of people, and that same guitar sounds dull/lifeless to others.

 

[portsider]

How do the neck profiles compare, especially from first to the fifth fret. Is one chunkier than the other?

Yes the G312 is definitely chunkier especially on the first 5 frets. It takes a little adjustment but not a deal breaker by any means.

 

[portsider]

if you mean that the action is easier with the G312 with the same string gauge, it means that the F112 probably needs a setup. Neck relief, nut slot height, fret height, saddle height, etc. can all impact playability. I am assuming that the scale lengths on both are the same. Humidity could even play a part, but since the guitars are at the same location, I don't think that is making a difference in this case.

If you are talking about the guitars sounding the best with different string gauges, that is more tied to the design to the guitar. It is not unusual for different guitars to sound best with different string gauges or even different brands of strings. That is why there are innumerable string threads, and different people liking different strings on their guitars, even if we could eliminate that one guitar's sound may appeal to a group of people, and that same guitar sounds dull/lifeless to others.

I’m referring only to the ease of fingering.
I eyeballed the two guitars and the setups look the same all the way up the neck.
The nut may be a little lower on the G312 since the octave D string rings a bit when I hit it with the nail.
I think it’s more the ergonomics of the thicker neck that makes it easier to finger the heavier strings.
Right now they both play fine so I’m doing nothing but play them.

 

[davenumber2]

Both of those guitars look very nice!

I own a D212 (which later was called the D12-25, I believe). Does anyone know how the G212 is different?

If I’m not mistaken the D212 is arch backed/mahogany and is the 12 string version of the D25. The G312 is flat backed/rosewood and is the 12 string version of the D50.

 

[rmoretti49]

If I’m not mistaken the D212 is arch backed/mahogany and is the 12 string version of the D25. The G312 is flat backed/rosewood and is the 12 string version of the D50.

Thank you very much for this. It makes sense to me.

 

[portsider]

I did a quick video yesterday comparing (in order):
D2612 ce China a couple of years laminated striped ebony sides and arched back.
F112 1978 Westerly Spruce top solid hog sides and back.
G312 1979 Westerly Spruce top Solid Indian rosewood sides and back.
D15 1992 Westerly all hog arched back.
F50 2007 Tacoma spruce top solid maple sides arched maple back.
To my ear the Westerlys are mellower probably since they've had much longer to get played in.
The G312 and D15 seem to be brighter and the D2612 has a really prominent top end. The F50 seems to be the best for hard strumming.
All in all I could happily live with any one of them but they're all a bit different.
First I did a strum that is basically Bob Dylan's Spanish Harlem Incident . Second is a fingerpicked and strummed part of one of my own songs. Forgive the sloppy bits I rushed through before the Niners game came on and I just wanted so compare the guitars' sounds.

 

[GGJaguar]

That was great, thanks for sharing!

 

[beecee]

Your reaction to strumming the D-15 was pretty telling!

That G312 has me reconsidering a RW 12.

Thanks for sharing!!

 

[portsider]

Your reaction to strumming the D-15 was pretty telling!

That G312 has me reconsidering a RW 12.

Thanks for sharing!!

Yeah the D15 is the lightest of the bunch and just rings and rings. I think the F50 sounds more "adult" and is a lot of fun to play. Ive had trouble the last few years with my thumb catching a wrong string on bass runs (my nail seems to curl more as I get older). Playing a six string pretty much eliminates the issue.
If you have the scratch , Iceman has a heck of a nice F512 listed in the for sale section.

 

[rmoretti49]

I would add that I seldom see G212's up for sale. Many people opt for the "king of the hill" F512, so there are more of those around.

 

[beecee]

I've had a few F-512's and some "newer" F-312's as well....wanted to love each, NH and Westerly F-512's, just didn't bond with them.

Then again, I jumped on an underpriced D-55 online at GC for the heck of it and it was the one I liked and kept.

Really like the maple and hog, (my JF-30-12 is a killer) but again...that G312!!!

 

[portsider]

I've had a few F-512's and some "newer" F-312's as well....wanted to love each, NH and Westerly F-512's, just didn't bond with them.

Then again, I jumped on an underpriced D-55 online at GC for the heck of it and it was the one I liked and kept.

Really like the maple and hog, (my JF-30-12 is a killer) but again...that G312!!!

I was shopping for a maple jumbo, but the F412s were more than I wanted to pay or had issues and the JF3012s were priced like I thought the F412s should be so I kept at it and this G312 popped up with a fresh neck reset at an extremely attractive price and I am so glad I grabbed it.

 

[chazmo]

I was shopping for a maple jumbo, but the F412s were more than I wanted to pay or had issues and the JF3012s were priced like I thought the F412s should be so I kept at it and this G312 popped up with a fresh neck reset at an extremely attractive price and I am so glad I grabbed it.

Congrats on your G-312! I never bonded with one I had, but it was a super nice guitar.

Just so everyone reading knows, a G-312 is the 12-string version of the D-50.