School Me On Guild 12 Strings
 

So I've decided to start saving up for a 12 string. I used to own a Takamine 12 string Dread with electronics. I sold it because I didn't play it much as I found it difficult to play. If I knew then what I know now I'd have probably kept it and had a setup done on it.

Alas, I've started looking around at 12 strings that won't absolutely break the bank. My requirements are all solid wood and large body, and easy to play. I looked at the Taylor 356 and 456 and they do seem like solid, easy to play instruments, but then in my quest I came across the Guild GAD Series F-1512. Solid Sitka over solid EIR, and a Jumbo (as opposed to a GS/mini jumbo) body, at pretty much the same price point as the 356 and/or 456.

I'm thinking a jumbo body with rosewood might be more to my liking. Now, I know there's that saying if you want a guitar that plays like a Taylor buy a Taylor. I have no expectations that a Guild will play exactly like a Taylor. I would like it to play easily with low action though. I know I can get it set up, but just how easy can you make a Guild 12 play?

Any advice or information is appreciated.

My Guild 12 string is extremely easy to play.

Guilds have big fat necks. You might like, or not. Make sure you play before buying.

I own a 2001 Guild F-412.
It is a factory 2nd from Corona when Fender shifted Guild from Westerly.
It has a faulty clear top coat only.
It has Maple back and sides and features an unbraced arch back.
The neck is dead straight and it holds tune for months.
It is very loud and clear with a balanced tone, just a nice bass/treble mix.
It is heavy, probably one of the last dual truss rod models before Fender modified the neck.
Very low action, I love this guitar and would replace it with the same if I lost it.
I also have a Taylor 355 which is a slightly unfair comparison because the Guild is a higher spec model.
The Taylor has a thinner neck profile that some may prefer, I'm comfortable with both guitars.
The Taylor was the guitar that convinced me that the jumbo body was the right direction for the 12-string sound I was wanting but it was the Guild that went 'bang there it is!' The Guild makes the Taylor sound a little too jangly.
I don't have a rosewood Guild F-512 but my Martin Grand J12-40E Special is a full size rosewood jumbo 12-string and one of the few guitars that rated a tiny bit higher than the F-512 - but at twice the cost it was dropped from production after just 3 years, only 231 were ever built. It has a much richer, deeper, warmer tone than my Guild F-412.
I use the same strings on all my 12-strings D'Addario EXP38's and keep them all tuned down a 1/2 step.
Another beautiful rosewood jumbo 12-string is the Taylor 855.
This Guild F-412 listed here in the AGF classifieds is an absolute bargain, it's just under twice the cost of a new Taylor 150e for 10 times more guitar! http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=367389
If I didn't already have one, I'd buy this myself.

In 1974 I ordered a new F-512 and still have it. It's a great guitar! It is also very heavy but I kind of like that. I play it at concert pitch just like my 6 string guitars and play the same style of strumming, flat picking, and finger picking. I find it to be very loud, which is cool, stays in tune, and is not difficult to play.

USA-built Guilds are in a class of their own when it comes to 12 strings (although, there are some mighty fine Martin D-12-20's around too).

My '71 Guild F-312NT plays effortlessly up and down the next and sounds absolutely incredible:

http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/...psf3fc526c.jpg

Go for a nice Guild, USA-built if you can spare the change.

I had a Guild 212XL for a number of years. I think of it as having a wide (but not fat) neck. Dual truss rod. Broad shoulders on the neck. It was a substantial/heavy guitar, too.

I thought it was very easy to play, and I liked the tone much more than the handful of Taylor 12's I've tried. In fact, I thought that guitar sounded EXACTLY like a 12 string should sound. Loved it. It was the first time I loved the sound of a mahogany guitar.

Definitely worth considering, Lynn.

My personal opinion is that FOR ME, they do not play as easy as a Taylor, but tone wise they are great. I have no experience with that particular model though.

My 456ce is EIR back and sides. Perhaps if you are after rosewood, you could look for a similar one. Taylor has put EIR on lower series limited editions multiple times in the past. In fact there is such thing as a 455Rce which was a limited 12 string jumbo with sitka over EIR...

That way you can get everything you desire.

I've seen this statement several times and it just doesn't seem to be the case with my guitars. I've run these measurements on the forum a couple of times before but I'll do it again. Measurements taken with digital Vernier calipers - top of the string to back of the neck.
Taylor 355 - 1st fret; 23.11 mm 9th fret; 25.19 mm
Martin G J12-40E S - 1st fret; 23.28 mm 9th fret; 26.69 mm
Guild F-412 - 1st fret; 24.82 mm 9th fret; 28.12 mm
Morris B-50 - 1st fret; 27.17 mm 9th fret; 30.35 mm

So you can see my Martin is very close to the Taylor and my Japanese Morris 12-string is much thicker than all of them!