Guild F-512R 12 String Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (2014)
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Guild F-512R Model 12 String Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (2014), New Hartford, CT, serial # 311643905.
This lovely 12-string guitar appears to be a "ghost" leftover from the sudden closure of Guild's New Hartford CT. factory, which happened in 2014. The facility was producing what many found to be the best instruments under the company's name since the 1960s Hoboken days, but the corporate owners pulled the plug on the operation almost without warning closing another chapter in the history of this venerable American brand.
This is an F-512R, Guild's fanciest stock 12 string since the late '60s. It may have been leftover B-stock or possibly a warranty return, as it has seen some extensive post-factory repair work although only around 10 or so years old. The neck has been reset and spruce grain cracks in the top below the fingerboard extension repaired, solidly but visibly. In addition the bridge appears to have been reglued and a grain split in the lower top repaired running from the back of the bridge to the rear edge just below the centerline.
The back of the headstock has a small die-stamp reading "USED" and the serial number on the original label covered with a sticker with a different format number that does not jibe with the conventional New Hartford Guild system. The guitar is in the original Guild HSC with the correct hangtag booklet and a toolkit baggie marked with the matching number, dated 2014. Together these would seem to indicate the instrument was a write off from the closed factory sold outside Guild's regular dealer network.
The F-512 is one of Guild's finest instruments, a jumbo rosewood 12-string with fancy appointments including an abalone soundhole ring, muiltibound top, laminated mahogany neck with a multi-bound, split block inlaid ebony fingerboard and multibound G-shield headstock. In the '70s the model was most associated with John Denver. In this New Hartford period they were built scallop braced with a vintage style maple bridgeplate and usually have a much more responsive sound than examples from the '70s through the early 2000s. Whatever this guitar's story it is a great playing, superbly rich sounding 12-string, a great gigging example of this very deluxe model.
Overall length is 44 in. (111.8 cm.), 17 1/4 in. (43.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 13/16 in. (46 mm.).
As noted this guitar shows fairly extensive repair work for a recently made instrument, very solidly done but cosmetically visible. The sealed spruce grain splits above the soundhole have some glue spread over the finish and a thin patch added under the fingerboard. There is very light finish chipping around the heel from the neck reset, and some visible glue stains internally around the heelblock. The area around the rim of the bridge has a few small finish chips and marks.
The finish overall has some small dings, dents, scrapes and a few glue spots but no major wear. The neck angle is excellent with a tall slightly compensated saddle, the original frets show virtually no wear and regardless of its pedigree this is a very fine playing and sounding instrument, a great gigging example of this most deluxe of 12 strings. We don't know what the story was, but this guitar has the feel of a rescue puppy that's full of love! Very Good + Condition.
This lovely 12-string guitar appears to be a "ghost" leftover from the sudden closure of Guild's New Hartford CT. factory, which happened in 2014. The facility was producing what many found to be the best instruments under the company's name since the 1960s Hoboken days, but the corporate owners pulled the plug on the operation almost without warning closing another chapter in the history of this venerable American brand.
This is an F-512R, Guild's fanciest stock 12 string since the late '60s. It may have been leftover B-stock or possibly a warranty return, as it has seen some extensive post-factory repair work although only around 10 or so years old. The neck has been reset and spruce grain cracks in the top below the fingerboard extension repaired, solidly but visibly. In addition the bridge appears to have been reglued and a grain split in the lower top repaired running from the back of the bridge to the rear edge just below the centerline.
The back of the headstock has a small die-stamp reading "USED" and the serial number on the original label covered with a sticker with a different format number that does not jibe with the conventional New Hartford Guild system. The guitar is in the original Guild HSC with the correct hangtag booklet and a toolkit baggie marked with the matching number, dated 2014. Together these would seem to indicate the instrument was a write off from the closed factory sold outside Guild's regular dealer network.
The F-512 is one of Guild's finest instruments, a jumbo rosewood 12-string with fancy appointments including an abalone soundhole ring, muiltibound top, laminated mahogany neck with a multi-bound, split block inlaid ebony fingerboard and multibound G-shield headstock. In the '70s the model was most associated with John Denver. In this New Hartford period they were built scallop braced with a vintage style maple bridgeplate and usually have a much more responsive sound than examples from the '70s through the early 2000s. Whatever this guitar's story it is a great playing, superbly rich sounding 12-string, a great gigging example of this very deluxe model.
Overall length is 44 in. (111.8 cm.), 17 1/4 in. (43.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 13/16 in. (46 mm.).
As noted this guitar shows fairly extensive repair work for a recently made instrument, very solidly done but cosmetically visible. The sealed spruce grain splits above the soundhole have some glue spread over the finish and a thin patch added under the fingerboard. There is very light finish chipping around the heel from the neck reset, and some visible glue stains internally around the heelblock. The area around the rim of the bridge has a few small finish chips and marks.
The finish overall has some small dings, dents, scrapes and a few glue spots but no major wear. The neck angle is excellent with a tall slightly compensated saddle, the original frets show virtually no wear and regardless of its pedigree this is a very fine playing and sounding instrument, a great gigging example of this most deluxe of 12 strings. We don't know what the story was, but this guitar has the feel of a rescue puppy that's full of love! Very Good + Condition.