F 212 XL

[Bernie]

There is an F 212 XL to sell for what seems a decent price...I'm not familiar with Guild 12 strings, although I know (or I've heard/read) they are considered by many to be among the very best when it comes to 12 strings.
What about this particular model ; I know it's sitka over mahogany, with rosewood fingerboard... Is this one among the top of the line, and what would they be worth in the U.S. ? I wonder about the size too, as I'm not tall (does XL mean - like in clothing - that they are very large ? ). It's quite old (85) and supposed to be in a good shape for its age. I'm considering to go and see it maybe...

 

[Norrissey]

Hello Bernie,
The 212XLs are big guitars, they have thick and quite wide necks and big bodies with a 17" lower bout. They have the same dimensions as the more pricey F512s and F412s. For some reason the mahogany back and sides F212XLs are much more reasonably priced in the used market than the other models and they are still excellent guitars. An '85 would be a pretty heavy build version. I used to have a '77 and it was a canon, big sound. Now I own a '69 F212XL which is lighter and slightly smaller all around than the '70s and '80s ones and to be honest I do think it has a sweeter sound. As always with used/vintage guitars it's best to go and try it out to see if you like it. The '70s and '80s F212XLs generally sell in the $1100-1500 range.

 

[chazmo]

Yup, it's Guild's "jumbo" body style, Bernie, with a 17-inch-wide lower bout.

Personally, I love all the jumbo 12s, but the F-512 is my favorite among them. But they're all great! I'm sure you'll love the F-212XL. The key, of course, as Norrissey said is to see if you like it. Make sure you buy with a satisfactory return policy.

Good luck!

 

[Westerly Wood]

I had one for a little season. It was huge. Big sound and definitely a good fit for my 6' 4" frame back then.
But I traded it for a Gibson Hbird due to left wrist surgery, recovery and needing a thinner neck.
Besides, I never could figure what to do with the 6 superflous strings.

 

[Cougar]

I had one for a little season. It was huge. Big sound....

Me too. Yeah, it's a jumbo. Gotta have a jumbo! Didn't some F212XLs come with an ebony fretboard? Mine was the usual rosewood board, and it was a cutaway. Beautiful thing! Alas, I just liked my maple archback JF30-12 better (which does have an ebony board), so I let the F212XL go.

 

[rmoretti49]

Especially if this is your first 12 string, you will want to try it out in person. As others have mentioned, the neck profile and width are different than what you are likely used to experiencing. If you like it after trying it, consider making the purchase conditional upon evaluation by a good guitar technician. Older 12 strings, no matter how good, sometimes have problems with structural things such as neck angle. A good tech can tell you if the guitar needs work now or in the near future.

 

[wileypickett]

I like the F212XL as much as the F412 and F512. It's got its own sound, but has all the authority of Guild's top-tier jumbo 12s IMO.

Yes, try to inspect it in person first if you can.

 

[Bernie]

Not my first 12 strings as I had bought a Lag acoustic-electric (I liked their onboard amplification) and guitar seemed good for its price range. But it's a Jumbo too and that is quite big for me..
Guild's owner lives at the opposite side of the country, but sometimes goes down south (where I live), not so far from where I am (about 150kms). So I asked him to warn me whenever he does (it's France, not many Guilds, even less 12 strings, condition looks good and it's been looked after by a luthier recently and plays very well owner said)...I would check it out very likely if he comes down before guitar sells

Thanks for your comments and advices... I've never done much 12 strings playing, so I'm not sure I would buy it, even if as described, but it's quite unique an opportunity here to get a real good affordable 12 strings... So here I am, I would need to see it to decide from there.

 

[Heath]

My ‘68 F212XL has an ebony fingerboard with factory custom inlays.

 

[Rayk]

My 212XLCE is 2013 I believe. It is no doubt an amazing guitar with tone to spare . I am primarily a Rosewood guy but I love my 2 mahogany Guild guitars just as much as my Rosewoods .
If you go to members music and search you can a few different examples of it and others .

 

[M.S.Cone]

I've had my F-212XL since new, 2012 or so, built in New Hartford. It is a big guitar, as large as the F-512, which, if I had the dough would love to have one of those in my possession. However, my F-212 is the only guitar I own that I would never sell. It's articulate, loud, and loves to be tuned down. Tuned to CFCFAD or CGCEGC, it sounds like a piano. I string it with Martin Flexcore strings as I feel they are the best match for the tonewoods of the body and top. I am biased, but I prefer the sound of a mahogany-bodied guitar to one with a rosewood body. That said, I just recently played an F-512 rosewood that I would love to have if I had the dough. Beautiful guitar!

In the past, I have also owned a 2000 JF-30 12, maple-bodied, Westerly Rhode Island built. It was a beast, with its gorgeous arched maple back. Though going on memory, it was heavier overall and had that "overbuilt" Westerly quality to it. It was a great guitar, but I had to let it go when I lived in NYC with no money.

If you can check out the guitar in person and the price is right, I would say, "Go for it!" Take this suggestion with some salt though, as I have a soft spot for both Guild guitars in general and 12 strings specifically.

Good luck!

 

[chazmo]

I've had my F-212XL since new, 2012 or so, built in New Hartford. It is a big guitar, as large as the F-512, which, if I had the dough would love to have one of those in my possession. However, my F-212 is the only guitar I own that I would never sell. It's articulate, loud, and loves to be tuned down. Tuned to CFCFAD or CGCEGC, it sounds like a piano. I string it with Martin Flexcore strings as I feel they are the best match for the tonewoods of the body and top. I am biased, but I prefer the sound of a mahogany-bodied guitar to one with a rosewood body. That said, I just recently played an F-512 rosewood that I would love to have if I had the dough. Beautiful guitar!

In the past, I have also owned a 2000 JF-30 12, maple-bodied, Westerly Rhode Island built. It was a beast, with its gorgeous arched maple back. Though going on memory, it was heavier overall and had that "overbuilt" Westerly quality to it. It was a great guitar, but I had to let it go when I lived in NYC with no money.

If you can check out the guitar in person and the price is right, I would say, "Go for it!" Take this suggestion with some salt though, as I have a soft spot for both Guild guitars in general and 12 strings specifically.

Good luck!

Me too, M.S.Cone! I will note that -- from New Hartford -- this was a Standard series guitar which had different appointments from the traditional F-212XL when Westerly built them.

Anyway, Bernie, keep us posted!