Guild F-512 reissue potential problems?

[DeepEnd]

I'm on the Guild email list and today I received the announcement that the F-512 is back in production: https://guildguitars.com/g/f-512-atb/. BTW, the link is to the sunburst version; a natural version is available too. While I was reading the description, this line stuck out:

Braced with delicate, scalloped Adirondack spruce,

Isn't "delicate, scalloped" bracing out of place on a 12-string? I've never had the privilege of owning one but the old Guild 12-strings were built like tanks. I foresee structural issues down the road and with a MSRP of $4750 I don't want a guitar that's "delicate." Anyone care to venture an opinion?

[Mikeo]

USA Guilds are built like a tank.

 

If there is a problem with them you will not know for 25 or 30 years.

 

They may list out for 5 grand, but for about 3600 you can own one.

Not bad.

 

That's what SRV played back in the day when he did MTV Unplugged.

 

[video=youtube;FQ_DdgxRSak]

 

 

Killer tune.

[video=youtube;iLDvl9qee9E]

 

 

My only 12 string is one of these in jet glo.

[video=youtube;2nUrEMP4n_I]

 

[video=youtube;zqg6JLZVtO4]

 

Now a totally different animal tone than the Guild is a 12 string is the Martin HD12-28. Still good.

 

[video=youtube;Haff7420bbo]

 

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[Idunno]

I owned the F412 for a number of years. The back was not braced because it was molded (coined) maple laminate that was inherently strong like a true monocoque structure. The top eventually began bellying and I installed a bridge doctor. The neck joint never budged and the twin truss rods kept it true. The BD contraption was a huge compromise because the sympathetic courses lost much of their break angle, impairing their volume in the mix, though it did restore the geometry of the top. So, I would agree with you on the bracing. That's its Achilles heel.

[DeepEnd]

USA Guilds are built like a tank. . . .

More appropriately, USA Guilds were built like a tank. "Built like a tank" doesn't include "delicate" bracing, IMHO. YMMV.

[Freeman Keller]

Since I have not seen the insides of a new Guild 12 string (or their specifications) I can't really comment on how they are braced. However, I do have plans that were suppossedly taken from a Guild which shows the braces as 5/16 and mildly scalloped. That is similar to my old Martin D12-28 and basically what I used when I built my OM 12. Taylor typically uses 5/16 braces but slightly thicker tops and adds a third tone bar. An interesting side note, when Leo Kottke started playing Taylors he took a pocket knife to the braces, the Kottke sig model has deeply scalloped braces for its characteristic low tuning.

 

 

Guild still have dovetail neck joints - their double truss rods help keep the neck itself under control but they still need resets just like any other guitar. They break if they are dropped

 

 

If I was in the market for a 12 string, a new Guild would be high on my list. I wouldn't be worried about the bracing - the fact that they still offer a lifetime warranty means Guild isn't too worried either.

[DeepEnd]

Since I have not seen the insides of a new Guild 12 string (or their specifications) I can't really comment on how they are braced. However, I do have plans that were suppossedly taken from a Guild which shows the braces as 5/16 and mildly scalloped. That is similar to my old Martin D12-28 and basically what I used when I built my OM 12. . . .

 

. . . If I was in the market for a 12 string, a new Guild would be high on my list. I wouldn't be worried about the bracing - the fact that they still offer a lifetime warranty means Guild isn't too worried either.

Thanks for the clarification. If the new Guilds are anything similar to the plans you cited they'll probably be fine. It's just that the word "delicate" threw me a curve. Plus, you've commented before that scalloped braces don't belong on a 12-string.