Why Guild’s 12-string design is one of the greatest engineering feats of the 20th century

[Wilmywood]

Why Guild’s 12-string design is one of the greatest engineering feats of the 20th century – and how it became a go-to acoustic for Jimmy Page, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Brian May​

By Chris Gill
published 2 days ago


We chart the history and innovations behind one of music's most popular 12-string acoustics – a guitar that can be heard on classic tracks from the likes of Led Zeppelin, Supertramp, Simon & Garfunkel and more.

I personally consider the Guild jumbo 12-string acoustic guitar one of the greatest engineering feats of the 20th century, right up there with electricity, the vacuum tube, personal computer, interstate highway, space shuttle, jet airplane, television, etc. Sure, it may simply be a flattop acoustic guitar model developed rather late in the game during the ‘60s, but to many players the Guild jumbo 12-string is to the acoustic guitar what a Steinway Model D concert grand is to the piano.


Jimmy Page rather eloquently described his first encounter with a Guild jumbo 12 (a very rare early ‘70s F-612 model) in his book Jimmy Page – The Anthology: “I was in Manny’s guitar shop in New York when the guy working there said, ‘There’s a guitar here you’ll want to buy, a Guild 12-string.’ I told him that I already had a 12-string Harmony, but he insisted: ‘No, you’ll want to buy this.’

“He went to the other side of the shop, which was quite a considerable distance, played a few chords on it, and the sound projected right across the shop. There was no question about it. I should have it.”

More @ https://www.guitarworld.com/feature...Rp8axAQHGJqwjfmauQTVMz-Fr_Qjv-Lz5yy7oszSBVNbw

 

[walrus]

Interesting article, but I question the writer's accuracy in saying that Jimmy Page played a Guild 12-string on "Over the Hills and Far Away". That's a pretty specifc claim with no evidence! I'm not really a Page expert, but I always understood him to have most likely played his Harmony Sovereign H1260 12-string on that song.

We've had a similar discussion about Page and Guild before with no definitive conclusion...

So, Jimmy Page had 2 F612s

New to me knowledge from a 5 watt world video on Jimmy Page's guitars. Probably yesterdays news to many of the long time forum guys.

letstalkguild.com

 

[adorshki]

Interesting article, but I question the writer's accuracy in saying that Jimmy Page played a Guild 12-string on "Over the Hills and Far Away". That's a pretty specifc claim with no evidence! I'm not really a Page expert, but I always understood him to have most likely played his Harmony Sovereign H1260 12-string on that song.

We've had a similar discussion about Page and Guild before with no definitive conclusion...

So, Jimmy Page had 2 F612s

New to me knowledge from a 5 watt world video on Jimmy Page's guitars. Probably yesterdays news to many of the long time forum guys.

letstalkguild.com

Not only that, but Beck had either an F212 or 312 (or both) in '65 for "For Your Love" and "Heart Full of Soul", which Page would have been exposed to when he joined up in '66.

Long before the "Beck's Bolero Supergroup" would have gone down like a Led Zeppelin.

 

[Guild Dawg]

Why Guild’s 12-string design is one of the greatest engineering feats of the 20th century – and how it became a go-to acoustic for Jimmy Page, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Brian May​

By Chris Gill
published 2 days ago


We chart the history and innovations behind one of music's most popular 12-string acoustics – a guitar that can be heard on classic tracks from the likes of Led Zeppelin, Supertramp, Simon & Garfunkel and more.

I personally consider the Guild jumbo 12-string acoustic guitar one of the greatest engineering feats of the 20th century, right up there with electricity, the vacuum tube, personal computer, interstate highway, space shuttle, jet airplane, television, etc. Sure, it may simply be a flattop acoustic guitar model developed rather late in the game during the ‘60s, but to many players the Guild jumbo 12-string is to the acoustic guitar what a Steinway Model D concert grand is to the piano.


Jimmy Page rather eloquently described his first encounter with a Guild jumbo 12 (a very rare early ‘70s F-612 model) in his book Jimmy Page – The Anthology: “I was in Manny’s guitar shop in New York when the guy working there said, ‘There’s a guitar here you’ll want to buy, a Guild 12-string.’ I told him that I already had a 12-string Harmony, but he insisted: ‘No, you’ll want to buy this.’

“He went to the other side of the shop, which was quite a considerable distance, played a few chords on it, and the sound projected right across the shop. There was no question about it. I should have it.”

More @ https://www.guitarworld.com/feature...Rp8axAQHGJqwjfmauQTVMz-Fr_Qjv-Lz5yy7oszSBVNbw

Was just going to post the link to this but you beat me to it. "News To Me" category: I don't think I'd ever heard mention of a Guild F-612 until this article.

 

[Boneman]

LTGers know the deal, I know I swear by my JF30-12.

 

[gjmalcyon]

Was just going to post the link to this but you beat me to it. "News To Me" category: I don't think I'd ever heard mention of a Guild F-612 until this article.

Our new and enhanced site searching capability (thank you, GAD), will find you a whole pile of information about that legendary instrument.

 

[Cougar]

....the Guild jumbo 12-string is to the acoustic guitar what a Steinway Model D concert grand is to the piano.

That's a good comparison! It just occurred to me -- I've got the equivalent of three grand pianos!

 

[Boneman]

Has anyone tried medium strings tuned to concert pitch on their JF30-12? Thinking about trying a set of D’addario EJ39s, and wonder if the tension might be too much or if can the Guild handle it?

 

[12 string]

I would advise against doing that. That's a set I would tune a whole tone (2 frets) low.

FWIW there are people who do that. I think forum member @Brad Little does.

 

[Brad Little]

I would advise against doing that. That's a set I would tune a whole tone (2 frets) low.

FWIW there are people who do that. I think forum member @Brad Little does.

Not these days, but for years (decades?) I kept mediums on my '64 F212 at concert pitch. It did wind up needing a neck reset, 2012 or so, but that's not unusual for any guitar that's about 50 years old. I use lights now, mostly because I don't play as much and I'm even older than my guitar.

 

[Cougar]

Has anyone tried medium strings tuned to concert pitch on their JF30-12? Thinking about trying a set of D’addario EJ39s, and wonder if the tension might be too much or if can the Guild handle it?

 

[chazmo]

Was just going to post the link to this but you beat me to it. "News To Me" category: I don't think I'd ever heard mention of a Guild F-612 until this article.

There weren't a ton of these made, Dawg, and these days they're practically unobtanium. Some of them self-destructed over the years, and a couple of members have even restored them from dumpster finds. But, the F-612 was Guild's largest jumbo style 12-string, with an 18" bout and some bespoke binding that's really cool.

John Denver had a couple and played them capoed while down-tuned a whole step, mostly in drop-D tuning. I think they had a 26.5" scale, but I'm not sure if I'm remembering that correctly over coffee.

Yeah, several well-known guitarists had one (or two) of them in the early '70s when they were made.

 

[chazmo]

Has anyone tried medium strings tuned to concert pitch on their JF30-12? Thinking about trying a set of D’addario EJ39s, and wonder if the tension might be too much or if can the Guild handle it?

Boneman, I wouldn't advise medium gauge strings on your 12-string tuned to pitch. You're fine with light or extra lights.

I believe it's @awagner who tunes to pitch on his (longer-scale) F-612, but I don't think he's using med. gauge. In any case, I wouldn't advise it.

 

[Boneman]

Hmm, ok duly noted, still will eventually try them but tuned to D or C#, and then while at it I also want to Doyle Dykes-ifye a nut to get the low octave E and A strings on top and see how that goes. Not looking forward to making my own 12 string nut but why not try? I’ll report back when done, but don’t hold your breath, might be a while. Unless you guys know a source one can get a premade one that just needs the final fine tuning for preference.

Quite honestly there’s nothing wrong with the light strings that came with it, and I could leave well enough alone, but so long as nothing is permanent I’m game to experiment

 

[12 string]

I think you will like/love the sounds of the lower tunings, especially if you fingerpick or do single-course flatpicking.

 

[Butch]

I am fortunate enough to own an F612 as well as 3 F512’s and an F212. The F612 is in pretty rough shape, but the sound is just indescribable. The F512’s each sound like a choir of angels, but the F612 sounds even better. I think that there are only 9 or 10 of them still in existence. They are truly remarkable works of art.

 

[chazmo]

I am fortunate enough to own an F612 as well as 3 F512’s and an F212. The F612 is in pretty rough shape, but the sound is just indescribable. The F512’s each sound like a choir of angels, but the F612 sounds even better. I think that there are only 9 or 10 of them still in existence. They are truly remarkable works of art.

Butch,

F612 restore or leave it alone

I have an F612. It’s definitely in rough shape. The top has a couple of cracks but they are stable and have been professionally repaired. It plays well and sounds like a choir of angels. Given its scarcity, should I have it restored or just leave it alone? Your thoughts?

letstalkguild.com

 

[tommy potatoes]

Just chiming in... I own an F-212 that I bought new, back in 1973. It's my second Guild 12 string. I bought my first one back in 1963, but traded it away. I'm looking for a hardshell case right now that actually fits, if anyone has any suggestions...

 

[chazmo]

Just chiming in... I own an F-212 that I bought new, back in 1973. It's my second Guild 12 string. I bought my first one back in 1963, but traded it away. I'm looking for a hardshell case right now that actually fits, if anyone has any suggestions...

Welcome aboard, tommy potatoes!

 

[rg2002]

Just chiming in... I own an F-212 that I bought new, back in 1973. It's my second Guild 12 string. I bought my first one back in 1963, but traded it away. I'm looking for a hardshell case right now that actually fits, if anyone has any suggestions...

My F212 fits in a Mono dread gigbag,
although you asked about hard cases.

I did just try to see if the F212 fits into my martin J size hard case, but it's a bit too long

Good luck!