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So, I've been jonesing for an acoustic 12 string for recording and maybe to schlep yet another gtr to my solo gigs.

I've been goin gback and forth trying to decide between older Guilds (many consider then THE best 12's) and a more "modern" gtr that has a cutaway, and an onboard pickup system.

Musicians Friend was running a 20% off sale over the weekend so i pulled the trigger on one of those Chinese "Guilds". Now keep in mind, i had picked up one of those Chinese Guilds for the fiddle gal in Mere Mortals about a yr ago and it is the bees knees.

anyway....i ordered the F-2512E Deluxe a jumbo acoustic/elec w fishman p/u that after the discount ran a mere $465 shipped. It arrived today and it's going back.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/guild-f-2512e-deluxe-12-string-acoustic-electric-guitar?CAWELAID=420003170000770665&source=3GOA6ARA&CAWELAID=420003170000770665&gclid=CJf52rKSndMCFUW5wAodb6ECZg

First off...the tone is real thin....yeah, it IS a maple instrument (or maple laminate) but i've played older Guilds that were full on maple that DID have some bottom end booty. This one...not so much so. Nada.

And the real deal breaker....fret buzz from the 12th thru 15 fret on the high E string. not good.

They agreed to take it back and eat the shipping (as i expected and hoped). Kudos, MF.

Next up....i'm meeting up w someone from KC who's got a '67 Epiphone Serenader 12 string. he wants $700 (good price) and we'll meet up in Columbia on Monday when he has to pass thru on his way to St Louis.

Fingers crossed.

I would never choose a maple body for a 12-string acoustic. 12-strings are jangly enough as is.
Fret buzz on only one string, could just be a badly cut saddle, unless you see any twist in the neck. Buying any acoustic guitar sight-unseen/played is always a crap shoot. That's one thing (maybe the only thing) I like about Guitar Center - order the guitar to be picked up at the local store. When there, open it up, check it out. Something wrong with it, say "uh uh", tell them to re-order, or just get your refund.

The lead guitarist in our Beatles thing has an old Guild 12-string, he put a dual-source K+K in it (piezo + mic). He had some serious bellying of the top going on by the bridge, able to stick a piece of paper under the bridge edges, but was able to reinforce it enough from inside that the bridge should be ok for a while yet (hope so, as he'll be using it for our upcoming shows!)

GuitarMikeB wrote:I would never choose a maple body for a 12-string acoustic. 12-strings are jangly enough as is.

well, the other 12er that keeps coming up for me and remains in the running is a Guild F30-12. they're all maple and every one i've played has had lovely bottom end. there's one close by in a local store. nice gtr but he's asking a little too much for it.

Fret buzz on only one string, could just be a badly cut saddle, unless you see any twist in the neck.

nah..the saddle is fine. neck has just the right amt of relief. as best as i can tell it has a high fret. if i liked the gtr otherwise i'd deal w it.

Buying any acoustic guitar sight-unseen/played is always a crap shoot.

agreed, and that's why i never buy ANY instr sight unplayed WITHOUT the option of returning it.


i've been lucky as i only got stiffed once w an ebay purchase.....an old KAY archtop i picked up for $60 that had a completely useless neck on it. the seller refused to take it back but i eventually sold it someone to use as wall art and actually made a few bucks.

The lead guitarist in our Beatles thing has an old Guild 12-string, he put a dual-source K+K in it (piezo + mic). He had some serious bellying of the top going on by the bridge, able to stick a piece of paper under the bridge edges, but was able to reinforce it enough from inside that the bridge should be ok for a while yet (hope so, as he'll be using it for our upcoming shows!)

i wonder if maybe he or the previous owner used strings that were too heavy. that's a lot of tension to put on a 12er's brdg, top, and neck heel. older GUILDS are known for their outstanding build quality and 60's and 70's Guild 12 strings are considered by many to be the go-to 12er.

a lot of folks run 10-47 strings if they are tuning up to concert pitch.

12 strings huh? Beautiful if they are payed attention too like a diva.
Instead of 6 strings changing neck tension, you have 12. Even a concert piano has the same problem. Maybe that's why a really good piano tech actually makes money.

I love the sound of a well manicured 12 string. However as Mike points out it brings out the major problem of tuning that much tension across a little piece of wood. Tuning a 12 string is a tradeoff between being exact and just getting to get it to sound good. I'm glad you got your money back. Hope you find what you are looking for.

I have a Guild 12 string and I absolutely love it. I have no problems with tuning stability. My Girlfriend bought it for me for my birthday late last year. It does not have any electronics it is only for acoustic. I pick it up and play it when sitting around in my living room. It was a heavily discounted deal on clearance that list for $900.00 and she picked it up for $399.00 from Sweetwater. It is stunningly beautiful, actually better looking than most high end Taylor's I have seen. Having said all that I am NOT looking forward to changing the strings and it is due!

My 12 string is an Ibanez. Bought it used for $100 because the electronics weren't working. Cost me $75 to get new preamp and a set up done on it, no problems since.
Acoustically, the sound is 'ok' - it's a shallow body, so there's not a lot of oomph - but plugged in, it sounds pretty good and certainly meets my limited needs. I've had it for 5 years now, use 10s and always keep it at concert pitch, never had an issue with it.
One issue with 12-string tuning/intonation are how the nuts are cut - typically, if you look across the strings at the nut you will see that the tops of the strings (that is the edge furthest away from the guitar body) are level, so when you press the strings down at any fret the octave strings are stretched further and go a little sharp. it takes a good luthier to cut the nut so that the bottoms of the strings are all level instead of the tops. Taylor does theirs this way.
Capoing a 12-string presents challenges for the same reason. there's a capo made that has separate little tabs for the octave and primary strings that can be adjusted, but its a PITA to put into place.

mike, i never heard of those 12 string capos...yep, does sound like a PITA.

glen, thanks for weighing in and the well wishes re. the ongoing hunt.

haley, it sounds like you gotta keeper.....oh, and the gtr sounds nice too!

I had a 12 String Fender acoustic at one time but there was that dark morning I woke up, opened the case and the massive tension of the 12 strings had snapped the neck in two.

I've read but no sure I believe, that 12 strings put several tons of stress on the neck.

Talbot