NGW pt 2: Oxnard F-512E

[Longnose Gar]

Last week was the NH F-50 std. This week 2019 Oxnard F-512E. I had a great experience with this seller on Reverb. He bought the guitar heavily discounted from Sweetwater's ebay auction site (Jeff's Music Gear). The guitar was listed as having an overset neck. The seller found that the neck was fine, but there were a few hairline cracks in the top below the bridge (see here). He thinks the cracks resulted from lack of humidity. Thanks to opinions on LTG, I felt good about taking a chance on this guitar for $1,800. When I opened it, I couldn't see the cracks at all. I had to shine a flashlight on them. They are below the surface of the finish. So maybe in the wood, or maybe just deeper in the finish? I doubt I ever would have noticed the cracks if the seller hadn't gone out of his way to point them out. I can easily imagine someone else reselling the guitar for twice as much. About the guitar:

- Sounds awesome. Maybe I like it better than the JF55-12 I sold to richt54.
- Neck doesn't feel quite as good as the F2512 I used to have. Not as slim. But it might be the setup and/or I kind of like satin necks. But I like it better than my former JF55-12 and D4-12.
- The seller installed a new tusq saddle that fit more snugly than the factory saddle. This makes the action higher. Seller is sending me the original saddle in the mail. I'm optimistic with the factory saddle I won't need a luthier setup.
- Anthem pickup works great and seller already had it set how I like for my PA system.
- If I have a complaint about this guitar, and also the Oxnard D-55E I used to have, it's the strap on the case lid. It's not long enough. The lid doesn't rest open. It wants to fall shut. Once it fell on my D-55 and the latch put a big ding in the top.
- I'm a happy camper. This is my fifth Guild 12-string, searching for the right tone and neck. Maybe this is the one. At any rate, it may be the only guitar I actually got a good deal on.

 

[GGJaguar]

Top o' the line! Glad it worked out to your satisfaction. Enjoy!

 

[Westerly Wood]

yeah, that is like Guild flagship 12 string guitar. Since Guilds make the best 12 strings out there (that are not handmade/boutiques), I would say you won today.

 

[chazmo]

Congrats, Dan. Knew you'd be happy. Have someone look at a setup for you if you're at all uncomfortable playing it.

Awesome.

 

[Longnose Gar]

Sorry haven't fixed the TRC yet. I know that's the most important thing.

 

[richt54]

Based upon my experience with my Oxnard made F-40, I would expect your guitar to be a lighter built, very resonant 12 string. They probably also have the scalloped Adi braces. The thing probably rings like a bell. I’m happy with the beast JF55-112 from Westerly for sure. Hopefully you incorporate it into your regular playing and it finds a voice in your head. How are the cracks or craze lines? Finish or wood? Anyway, enjoy!

 

[chazmo]

Oh, as for the case strap... We've heard that before, Dan.

Get in the habit of putting one hand on the lid to secure it open when you're inserting or removing the guitar. I had this same problem with a friend's Taylor once, and she was VERY nice to forgive me for "gator"ing her guitar... Never again. Sigh. Yeah, keep a hand on that thing!

 

[Longnose Gar]

Oh, as for the case strap... We've heard that before, Dan.

Get in the habit of putting one hand on the lid to secure it open when you're inserting or removing the guitar. I had this same problem with a friend's Taylor once, and she was VERY nice to forgive me for "gator"ing her guitar... Never again. Sigh. Yeah, keep a hand on that thing!

Yes, it's a mistake you only make once.

 

[Longnose Gar]

Based upon my experience with my Oxnard made F-40, I would expect your guitar to be a lighter built, very resonant 12 string. They probably also have the scalloped Adi braces. The thing probably rings like a bell. I’m happy with the beast JF55-112 from Westerly for sure. Hopefully you incorporate it into your regular playing and it finds a voice in your head. How are the cracks or craze lines? Finish or wood? Anyway, enjoy!

It's lighter than the JF55-12, which makes me more likely to pick it up. I prefer the overall feel. Yes it rings. I think more resonant than the JF-55, but hard to know without a side by side comparison.

 

[Cougar]

I felt good about taking a chance on this guitar for $1,800....

Super major congrats! I could tell the superior tone from my F512 immediately. The guitar just has presence! I expect yours must be similar. Jumbo Guild 12ers just can't be beat!

 

[steverok]

Congrats on the score. Love the sparkly tone of mine. Noticeably lighter and easier to handle than my JF65-12.

 

[davismanLV]

Sounds like good news all around, Dan!! Congrats! It's absolutely beautiful. And I have the same humidifier. Actually, two of them!

 

[Longnose Gar]

Sounds like good news all around, Dan!! Congrats! It's absolutely beautiful.

Indeed good news. Part of my problem bonding with 12-strings in the past has been that I play rhythm guitar almost exclusively thumb strummed or finger picked. No plectrum. With 12-string, much of the magic is withheld with that soft playing. This Oxnard is different. Subtle magical overtones appear with soft strumming. I wrote a song on it (that makes it a successful purchase right there), and the song sounds better on the 12 than on a 6. That's what wasn't happening for me before.

And I have the same humidifier. Actually, two of them!

I have two also. Get's the job done. Noisily.

 

[davismanLV]

I have two also. Get's the job done. Noisily.

I keep the fan setting on low. If it's higher or on auto, that thing will scream!!

 

[Longnose Gar]

I keep the fan setting on low. If it's higher or on auto, that thing will scream!!

Mine screams on low. Have to turn it off and use the ultrasonics if I want to hear the guitar.

 

[rmoretti49]

That is a beauty, and a great deal! Interesting to hear your comments of comparisons with the JF55-12, which I happen to own. I'm sure that the differences in neck feel and weight of the guitar are significant.

 

[Longnose Gar]

That is a beauty, and a great deal! Interesting to hear your comments of comparisons with the JF55-12, which I happen to own. I'm sure that the differences in neck feel and weight of the guitar are significant.

My JF55-12 was 7.2 lbs. The F-512 is 6 lbs. Both have the Anthem pickup. 1.2 lbs in weight is like 1/16" on the nut. Significant.
The F-512 has a slimmer neck, which is what I wanted. Although it doesn't seem as slim as my F-2512 was.
Tonally, all I can say is I prefer the F-512 for my soft thumb strumming style.

 

[rmoretti49]

Before I bought my JF55-12, I had bought a used F512, which I returned because it had a significantly underset neck. Though I am only comparing the tone in my memory, I think the F512 was somewhat brighter than the JF55-12 that I own. For a 12 string, I find the JF55-12 to be darker in tone, something a bit unique, or at least different, than the usual jangly 12 string sound.

By the way, much of my early playing on my first 12 string (a Guild D212 which I still own) was using bare thumb and fingers -- like you. I would think the F512 would be better for that than the JF55-12.

 

[richt54]

Guild makes the best 12 strings. The CMG builds their Guilds lighter in all aspects compared to the 90‘s version by Fender. That’s my reasoning as to why the current F512’s respond more to a lighter touch. I use a thumb pick when I play your guitar Dan. I mainly play finger style but only bare fingers with my F40. The 2018 CMG F40 feels so much lighter than my 2009 Fender NH D55. You should post a video of you playing the F512. I would love to hear it.

 

[maxr]

The photo looks like this guitar has six-on-a-plate tuners. Are those a good deal lighter than the individual Grovers many Guild 12s have?