I purchased this guitar in 1970-71 from a pawn shop. I’m thinking of selling it and so I was looking up the serial number. I don’t find the serial number anywhere. If you look at the picture, it’s a 212xl following the serial number, which seems to not have enough digits, there is something that looks like it might be SS or possibly 55. Anybody have any idea about this serial number? It’s not listed in any of the list of numbers.
F212
- Thread starter Mostam
- Start date
I have a '69 F212XL (great jumbo 12 string!) Serial # AE 405, just a few before yours
When I first purchased it Hans Moust (@hansmoust), the excellent Guild historian, told me that for some reason Guild did not keep records of the serial numbers of the F212XL in the late '60s, early '70s. So, that is probably why you are not finding the number online. Hans estimated that my guitar was a '69. Because your guitar's serial number is so close to mine I would guess it's a '69 also. My guitar's label does not have the 'SS' or '55' like yours. I don't know what that indicates.
When I first purchased it Hans Moust (@hansmoust), the excellent Guild historian, told me that for some reason Guild did not keep records of the serial numbers of the F212XL in the late '60s, early '70s. So, that is probably why you are not finding the number online. Hans estimated that my guitar was a '69. Because your guitar's serial number is so close to mine I would guess it's a '69 also. My guitar's label does not have the 'SS' or '55' like yours. I don't know what that indicates.
Br1ck
Senior Member
Could it be a special order short scale? Just grabbing at straws.
Thank you Norrissey. I could not tell if the first letter of the serial number was an a or an H. The handwriting on this serial number leaves a lot to be desired. I'm away from the guitar right now, but when I get a chance to check it I will measure the scale and see if perhaps the SS is short scale. What's the difference between the regular 212 and the 212 XL? The body size looks about the same to me.I purchased this guitar in 1970-71 from a pawn shop. I’m thinking of selling it and so I was looking up the serial number. I don’t find the serial number anywhere. If you look at the picture, it’s a 212xl following the serial number, which seems to not have enough digits, there is something that looks like it might be SS or possibly 55. Anybody have any idea about this serial number? It’s not listed in any of the list of numbers.
The 212XL is a jumbo with a 17" lower bout. I don't know the dimensions of an F212 off the top of my head but it is smaller, probably a 15 or 16" lower bout.
Could you post more pics of the guitar? Maybe there is some clue on the guitar somewhere indicating what the 'SS' means. Perhaps it is short for "Special Spec" and the guitar has a non-standard feature.
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adorshki
Reverential Member
F212's and 312's used the F47 outline, 16" lower bout F-body.
adorshki
Reverential Member
Hi, welcome Mostam! F212 was 16" lower bout width, F212XL was 17". And yep Guild had some notorious label writers, we even joke about 'em occasionally.
I was wondering if that could actually be a "55", possibly a finish code, although those were normally alphabetic on the label which would tend to reinforce that it's actually an "SS". Also, the double underline on the second S is unusual as if they were really trying to point something out.
Here are some photos. There’s a small problem with the finish on the right hand side of the neck extension. On the back of the neck, there’s a place where a piece of the finish just flakes off. Otherwise, the instrument is rocksolid and the neck is dead straight , and the action is wonderful. I was thinking of selling it. Now that I’ve researched it a bit. I see that it’s a pretty unique instrument. There are not that many Hoboken F212 XLs around. Aside from these finish problems, the instrument is totally rocksolid. 
Hmm. From the photos your guitar looks pretty much like mine. That's a rosewood bridge right? The mystery of the "SS" continues!
Assuming your guitar was built in 1969 and I'm pretty sure it was (based on the serial # being close to my guitar's), it would have been built in the Westerly factory, not Hoboken. For the first couple of years they were in operation Westerly was using up a surplus of Hoboken labels. My guitar also has a Hoboken label. Still, these early F212XLs are pretty rare and I much prefer mine to the more common heavier build F212XLs that Guild produced from '73 on. (I used to have a '77, the '69 has more subtle tones and a prettier sound to my ear) Below is a link to the intrepid Gary Donahue's history of the Guild factories in case you want to reference it.
Assuming your guitar was built in 1969 and I'm pretty sure it was (based on the serial # being close to my guitar's), it would have been built in the Westerly factory, not Hoboken. For the first couple of years they were in operation Westerly was using up a surplus of Hoboken labels. My guitar also has a Hoboken label. Still, these early F212XLs are pretty rare and I much prefer mine to the more common heavier build F212XLs that Guild produced from '73 on. (I used to have a '77, the '69 has more subtle tones and a prettier sound to my ear) Below is a link to the intrepid Gary Donahue's history of the Guild factories in case you want to reference it.
Guild Guitar Factories | GAD's Ramblings
I think we as guitarists tend to think of guitar factories as glorious magical places where our favorite instruments are born. Reality paints a different picture, however, because guitars aren’t born. Guitars are made, and they’re made in factories. A random question on a forum made me wonder...
www.gad.net
Could it be something as simple as the label writer wanted his initials there?
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
@mavuser once talked about a M-20 from the same era and he said the "SS" (or S5?) means "factory second" at that time! (usually a tiny cosmetial issue only)
There wasn't space in the first line, so they put the SS/S5 on the second line end. Both labels have the two strokes below the SS.
I don't know how he came to that conclusion, Hans might have told him?
Ralf
There wasn't space in the first line, so they put the SS/S5 on the second line end. Both labels have the two strokes below the SS.
I don't know how he came to that conclusion, Hans might have told him?
Ralf
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SFIV1967
Venerated Member
Welcome aboard, Mostam.
Looks like the lacquer was scraped off that part of the neck. Probably with a capo.
Interesting about the SS/S5 on the label. I like the theory that that's a factory second, but that's of course meaningless at this age/point.
Well, if you choose to sell it, I hope you offer it on the LTG site. I'm sure someone here would want it.
Best wishes.
Looks like the lacquer was scraped off that part of the neck. Probably with a capo.
Interesting about the SS/S5 on the label. I like the theory that that's a factory second, but that's of course meaningless at this age/point.
Well, if you choose to sell it, I hope you offer it on the LTG site. I'm sure someone here would want it.
Best wishes.
