How good guitars are when nearly sold

[Guildedagain]

Twice in one week, close calls with my mini jumbos, F112 and F30.

I listed them on CL, getting bites.

The F112 was scheduled for a meet-up, at a very cheap price, but when I mentioned to buyer I wouldn't budge at that price, I lost the sale and how lucky I am.

I'd restrung it, and - lesson learned - once a decent set of EJ38's were installed, there was absolutely nothing wrong with the guitar, the strings that were on it were what was wrong with the guitar. It doesn't really need a new bridge saddle or nut at all, it plays and sounds killer.

I was playing it last night, "like a choir of angels" and says to wife afterwards "It sounds great, doesn't it" and all she could muster was "It's loud".

And the F30, too beat looking for someone who wanted to check it out. Nothing to do with tone, just the spectacular aging was enough, no interest.

But I've been playing it for a couple days, with old EJ16's (secret sauce?) and wow, wow, wow. It's got big bass, sweet highs, and cutting mids. Intonation, spot on.

It rings out my favorite chords just the way I like them, big, bold, seasoned just right.


If you have guitars you fell out of love with, too many incoming since the old ones were purchased, put them up for sale and you'll be surprised how good they sound when on the chopping block.

The F30 had previously weighed in at 4lb.2oz, years ago on first weigh in after some intensive recuperative hydration, but here it is at its summer weight, so light.

 

[Cougar]

If you have guitars you fell out of love with, too many incoming since the old ones were purchased, put them up for sale and you'll be surprised how good they sound when on the chopping block.

Still in love with mine so no need to try that! Good to hear about your turnaround though!

 

[Guildedagain]

It's easy to make mistakes when in a downsizing mood, and even though I have other fabulous acoustic guitars, those two are quite unique, and special.

I'm still convinced that the F112 - OA113 - from a series that starts at OA101, was built with extra care because I'd heard many times that manufacturers would do that to impress the public, at NAMM or elsewhere within the first hundred guitars. There is a local guy who has an equally low serialed numbered D35, and he claims that it's a cut above any other D35 he's ever seen or played and I believe him.

He had a huge collection of vintage guitars, I waited too long to call him, he'd sold them all, but kept the D35 and I knew better than to ask to buy it.

Here's something of an anomaly about the F112, very wide grain at the outer edges. I usually associate this with older timbers from wetter times. And it has nice bearclaw, better than other Guilds of mine from different eras.

This is most likely Sitka Spruce?

 

[mavuser]

I previously owned a 1970 F-112 #OA 10xx, from the very end of the run that you refer to. It was the same exact shape and size as yours. the 1970 F-112 was absolutley holy grail (honestly every F-112 and F-212 is!). What you experienced was not limited to the first year or two, it is the mahogany F-30/112 specs with sitka spruce top for sure, as u suspected.

For a long time I owned my 1970 F-112 and also my 1975 F-112. They are different variants, and don't sound quite identical...but they were similar enough that I could not keep both. For years I debated which one I should ultimately keep. At some point the right trade came along (on this forum) for the 1970 F-112.

It was much later that I learned if you are playing *any F-112, F-212, F-212XL, D-25-12, D-212, G-212...There is no limit whatsoever to how good you can make that guitar sound. It actually turns out i prefer the D-212/D-25-12 necks over the F-112 necks. So I waffle back and forth over selling my 1975 F-112. The (original) case on mine is for an F-30, and I can't even fit my pinky between the top of the 12 string headstock and the top of the inside of the case. So I couldn't ship it that way. I had the same issue with the 1970 F-112 case. When I traded that both parties were motivated, and both original cases in the deal were not ship-worthy, so we worked out an extra case on both ends, as part of the deal.

 

[Guildedagain]

I tried sticking the F112 in the F30 case, but no go.

 

[mavuser]

I tried sticking the F112 in the F30 case, but no go.

your F-112 is probably in an F-30 case, just like mine. your sunburst F-30 is a later, different body style, so not relavent here. how much space is between the top of the 12 string headstock and the top inside the case?

 

[NM156]

In the late 90s, I briefly owned a D25-12, in the look of a D25-M. I've rarely if ever seen another, and certainly not for what the store trying to get rid of it charged. I returned it for a BOSS DR-550, which was easier to take cross country. Should've just left the Guild with my folks.

 

[HeyMikey]

That’s a great story Guilded. Enjoy your SGD (Same Guitar Day. )

 

[Guildedagain]

how much space is between the top of the 12 string headstock and the top inside the case?

Not much at all, can't even begin to stick a pinkie finger in that space, maybe 1/4".

 

[mavuser]

Not much at all, can't even begin to stick a pinkie finger in that space, maybe 1/4".

yup, same case I have. They used the same case for F-30 and F-112 thru at least 1975.

 

[lungimsam]

I’ve never experienced this phenomenon before with a guitar, but I had a bike once, and after not riding it for a long time was going to sell it and one day rediscovered its beauty like the first time I bought it….but I did eventually sell it. Hahaha!

 

[Guildedagain]

I’ve never experienced this phenomenon before with a guitar, but I had a bike once, and after not riding it for a long time was going to sell it and one day rediscovered its beauty like the first time I bought it….but I did eventually sell it. Hahaha!

Years ago I decided to sell my '77 BMW 320i, and a fella comes over to look at it, and it refused to start.

He left.

After he left the car started. Needless to say, I didn't sell it that day.

And another time at the same address, I decided to sell my 1989 BMW R100GS, and so I thought it would be a good idea to wash the engine, off to the carwash I went. Shortly after the carwash, the engine died, moisture got in the electrics, as expected with older machines.

Luckily it was a very slight downhill back to my house, so here I am pushing this beast, in leathers with helmet on, hot, sweaty and p*ssed off, but I made the appointment with buyer, with non running bike.

It was embarrassing, but he bought it anyway.

My favorite Strat was sold, shipped, spent a couple weeks away and came back, filthy and abused, and it's still my favorite Strat.

Some things just don't want to leave your care.