Hey guys! I’ve got the opportunity to buy a ‘95 JF 30/12 in great condition. Any insight on the guitar/what you think a fair price would be? Do many of you own the same model from a similar time period? Would love to hear your thoughts. Cheers!
Opinions on the JF 30/12 (1995)
- Thread starter jrea
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Cougar
Enlightened Member
Hey jrea, welcome to LTG! My first Guild was a 2002 Corona-built JF30-12 in great condition. What can I say -- It is a spectacular 12-string. I think it's still my favorite even though I've also got an Oxnard-built F512 and recently picked up a super-nice New Hartford-built F212XL. If I'm not mistaken, 1995 Guilds were built in Westerly, RI, but even though Guild factories moved around quite a bit, Guild guitars are consistently excellent throughout all those moves.
If the 1995 you're looking at is truly in great condition, with plenty of saddle and a decent neck angle, I guess somewhere around the $1500 range would be a good price these days, although most great condition JF30-12s that have sold on reverb recently are actually between $1500-2000. But regardless, I heartily recommend this model -- it's much like the F412 but with a bit less bling. And really, there is nothing like a jumbo Guild 12-string!
If the 1995 you're looking at is truly in great condition, with plenty of saddle and a decent neck angle, I guess somewhere around the $1500 range would be a good price these days, although most great condition JF30-12s that have sold on reverb recently are actually between $1500-2000. But regardless, I heartily recommend this model -- it's much like the F412 but with a bit less bling. And really, there is nothing like a jumbo Guild 12-string!
Agreed with the thoughts above, although I'm partial to the rosewood and mahogany bodied jumbo 12s. Having said that, I owned a '95 JF-30-12 for many years and loved it before selling it to another LTG member. You will not be disappointed.
rmoretti49
Member
As a comparison, I paid $2400 for a 1994 JF55-12 in great condition. The higher price reflects solid rosewood back and sides.
wileypickett
Enlightened Member
My introduction to Guild was the discovery of a used Westerly JF30 12-string (blonde) on my local Craigslist. Two weeks later I sold my Taylor 12-string. I still have it, as well as one in walnut.
That led me to checking out Guild's six-strings as well, and -- have mercy! -- here I am today, years later, with more Guilds than you can shake a stick at.
That led me to checking out Guild's six-strings as well, and -- have mercy! -- here I am today, years later, with more Guilds than you can shake a stick at.
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Cougar
Enlightened Member
Nice! As I understand it, the JF55-12 is essentially a (temporarily) renamed F512, so I think the higher price is more a matter of the ebony fretboard, the fancy abalone fret markers, the "G badge" on the headstock, and a AAA sitka soundboard.
I was thinking that the F412 and F512 had about the same value "even though" the F412, like the JF30-12, has the braceless arched laminate maple back, which I consider a feature, not a shortcoming. But after browsing reverb, I'm not so sure. There are 17 used F512s that start at $3,000 and go up to $5,000. There are only 3 used F412s, and a 2010 in reported excellent condition is only $2,000. Somebody ought to snap that up!
adorshki
Reverential Member
Interesting. Angle-checker that I am, I wonder if that speaks more to the asking price of those 512's?
Without looking at the s/n lists to get a handle on available figures, one would suspect more F412's/JF65-12's were built, or at least similar quantities, and quite likely more if JF30-12's are included. So that ratio seems skewed for some reason.
Undoubtedly those 512's would sell at some price but is it possible "the Market" doesn't put as much value on rosewood as sellers seem to? (I'll reserve verified Brazilian rosewood as being in its own special category)
So did the perceived market value of rosewood go up due to all the CITES regs? If so, why are there so many more unsold F512's than 412's?
Does it say anything about the popularity of the maple vs the rosewood sound?
Cougar
Enlightened Member
I don't know what it is, but I seem to recall that the relative scarcity of F412s is not just a current thing. Now, I didn't check sold listings, so I went back and did that. Still just 11 used F412s that went for between $1,000 and $2,800 while there were 20 used F512s between $2,000 and $5,000.
Boneman
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Don’t ask me I’m biased, I’d say grab it. If it truly is in great condition, then you definitely cannot go wrong. Not sure about 2K, but $1500 is probably about right. If they really want to move it ask for a couple hundred off. Even still, it’s a Guild 12 string, you won’t be disappointed.
Not to mention the abalone inlays and other bling.
Thanks for the replies, all! Sadly, I waited a day too long to reach out and missed out, but I’ll be keeping my eye out for another. I did, however, manage to score a 1973 m-85 bass from the same seller, which was a good compromise. Do any of you own or have had experience with these basses?
Tom O
Member
There are six JF-30-12s on Reverb for under $2000. I bought a Corona JF-30-12 on ebay. It is a real sounding twelve and is a keeper.