Guild F212 XL

Stared with a Harmony 12-string, got an EKO Ranger XII E in the Navy. Self-taught, got a Gibson 335 when I got out and have a few others, only sold one, gave one away and demolished one. I'm playing folk-rock, blues, rock n roll and original stuff.

I was introduced to my 212 by a friend who saw it and had to get a job to buy it in '74. Had to pay full price ($775 w/ case - Akron Music Center) It's been my baby for 35 years.

It sounds great, good intonation, does well with a bone saddle or a brass one. Consistent. Double truss rod helps alot.

Guild's finish started checking after two years and they didn't bother with it when I sent it back to them (what a mistake) in the late 80's as the bridge was coming up. They left out the bridge hold-downs that Virgil Lay put in for me when they replaced the bridge, the saddle was way off intonation-wise and the finish wasn't touched out side of asome kind of black stuff across a check scrape on the back of the neck. I sanded it all down a couple of years ago when it was flaking off and did a temp finish until I learn how to do it better or can afford a RAL refinish job. I did put a Highlander pickup system in it and it sounds like a 12-string when it's amped, so I can use it all the time, if I want. I bought a Carvin electric 12-string because the neck was similar, I can reccomend that one.

Under the beautiful looking finish lies a sweetheart of a 12-string. Plays extremely well. Great action. Very forgiving of me, that's for sure. I think I'm gonna have it put in the crematorium with me (gotta have your sword to get to Valhalla).

All the 212's, 312's 412's and 512's of that vintage have been really good soundingguitars. The Guild 12-strings I've been picking up lately just ain't got it. I wonder what happened. I've been considering asking Taylor to make me one with this neck's measurements. That might be as near as I would get to this one.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com