Your Opinion: Yammie Or Guild?

[drathbun]

I'm looking for some feedback on 12 string choices.

What would you suggest is the better option?

Option A:

I love old Yamaha red label guitars. My very first acoustic guitar in 1970 was a Yamaha FG140. A couple of years ago I bought a 1968 Yamaha FG 150 on ebay for $85, adjusted the neck and saddle, replaced the tuners and bridge pins and, although it looks totally beat up, it is a lovely little player.

Now and then there are Yamaha red label (Nippon Gakki - Japan made) FG 230 12 strings available. There's one on ebay right now that looks like it will go relatively cheap because it clearly needs a neck reset (many of the old red labels need resets). I could get that Yammie and reset the neck all for about the cost of one of the older (early '80's) Guilds you see now and then.

Option B:

Just spend the ~$500 to $600 on a good old Guild 12 string.

Option C:
Buy a brand new solid top Yamaha 12 string for ~$400

The only 12 strings I've played that have that jangle sound I like are cheap Yammies, Guilds and very expensive Taylors.

[dbirchett]

Get the Guild and don't look back!

[Johnny M]

My opinion is biased as I have a Guild F212 ...

I'd check out Larrivee's 03 series 12 string too.  Although I haven't played one, I would bet the sound like angels!  Hopefully some of the Larrivee 12 string players will chime in here.

Best of luck on your 12 string quest.

John in Japan

[Randy_R]

You can get a used Larrivee D-02 or D-03 12 string for $600 if you shop around.

Great sound and playability. A D-03-12 was the first Larrivee I owned, and I fell in love with it... :lol:

[Ratishna]

The Guild will hold its value, might even increase.  The Yama-ha-ha-ha?  Don't think so.

E. Shoaf

[naboz]

drath,
I know what you mean about Yamahas, they are a nice "low-end" guitar--and I have played some of their 12's that were just fine.  That said, I shopped for a used Larrivee 12, and ended up with a D03-12, that, after a trip to Elderly for some fix'emup, ended up costing me $550!  It is a really choice sounding 12 after the tune up and some ebony/abl. bridge pins--and the mahogany has some nice quilting to it, and the top has the most silking I have ever seen...did I mention I like my Larrivee 12  :)
...see if you can find a Larrivee used!

[Caleb]

i'll be the voice of the minority here --- go with the yamaha. if it sounds good, plays good, feels good, and gets the job done, there is only one reason one would not go for it : gutiar player ego.

resale is a legit issue, but i don't buy stuff to sell...i buy stuff to use. the yamaha makes sense for lots of reasons. not saying that a guild is not a good guitar, because it is. just makes sense to me to save money when you can.  

[mazareth]

For me Guild is the standard by which all other 12 string guitars are measured. My playing partner in crime (see URL) has a beatup, but amazing sounding '73 F412. Every so often a guitarist will come up to him at a gig or open mic and try to buy it off of him.

He told me that he had it a local music store for setup a few years back. The regional Guild rep happened to be in the store when he was picking it up. The rep bought out the Guild catalog and offered him any guitar in the catalog in an even up trade. He still has the guitar.

Mark

[drathbun]

Great feedback folks! I should qualify my statements a little with a couple of facts. First, I have a Larrivee L03-12. I bought it to match my L03 (which I've since sold to upgrade to L05). Regardless of how beautiful the Larrivee is and how nicely it plays and feels, it doesn't sound like my old Yamaha (1987 FG 420) I sold years ago. I think I need more volume and range that a D style body affords a 12 string. I've played a D-03-12 but it is out of my price range. I'm looking to trade the Larrivee for a Guild straight up - or sell the Larry and get an old fixer upper (like the red tag) and put some of the cash into it.

I also MUST say... I LOVE my Larrivee L05 (my main axe) and will NEVER sell it!

[hsojeel]

guild

[Randy_R]

I love Guilds.. but have come to love the Larrivee 12 strings as well. If I think my D-03-13 is great, then my J-10-12maple is super and gives nothing away.

[drathbun]

I love Guilds.. but have come to love the Larrivee 12 strings as well. If I think my D-03-13 is great, then my J-10-12maple is super and gives nothing away.

You have a 13 string?  :o  How cools is that???  :D  

[Randy_R]

I love Guilds.. but have come to love the Larrivee 12 strings as well. If I think my D-03-13 is great, then my J-10-12maple is super and gives nothing away.

You have a 13 string?  :o  How cools is that???  :D

Yep.

I just put on 2 high octave G strings when I string it up. That way if one breaks, I have a hot standby...  ;)

[mazareth]

Hi Randy,

Have you ever A/B'd the J10-12 up against a Guild F412? I'd be curious as to how they compare...

Mark

[Randy_R]

Hi Randy,

Have you ever A/B'd the J10-12 up against a Guild F412? I'd be curious as to how they compare...

Mark

If I ever get down Unclrob's way, I might be able to do that.

Last time I played a F412 was years ago and none of the locals have one that I know of.

[Johnny M]

Just saw this on AGF http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/...ead.php?t=60613

For sale '68 FG230 red label nippon gakki 12 string. Big body, big neck,BIG tone! Players guitar-well worn,good action, no cracks-case included-200.00 plus shipping. God bless, Pastor Harry
pastorharry@kidspot.org

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[drathbun]

I wonder what the shipping from Hawaii to Calgary would be? More than the guitar is worth??  :P  

[KenS]

I'd go with Guild - their 12 strings are legendary.

Ken

[mcozma]

Guild.

[leesguitar]

IN 1975 I BOUGHT A YAMAHA FG2000 WHICH WAS THEIR TOP OF THE RANGE HANDMADE ACOUSTIC, I ALWAYS REGRETTED SWAPPING IT FOR A GIBSON SG. NOW 30YRS LATER I OWN A LL11 HANDCRAFTED MODEL WHICH IS A SUPERB GUITAR BUT IM SELLING TO FINANCE A LARRIVEE. MY PROBLEM IS THE STIGMA ATTATCHED TO WHATS WRITTEN ON THE HEADSTOCK, IF ITS NOT MARTIN OR TAYLOR A SENSE OF NOT BEING UP TO SCRATCH COMES INTO PLAY. IN THE UK WE WERE BROUGHT UP ON A STABLE DIET OF LOWER END YAMAHAS AND WASHBURNS, AND TO BE HONEST IVE PLAYED A LARGE NUMBER OF HIGH END ACOUSTICS WHICH COULDNT HOLD A TORCH TO AN AVERAGE PRICED YAMAHA   SORRY GUYS  ITS YAMAHA FOR ME