Designed in the late-'60s, the Guild F-412 is essentially the 12-string version of the F-50. Like the F-50, the F-412 features a 17"-wide jumbo body with the trademark Guild arched back. This design allows it to produce extraordinary volume, which is ideal for the complex harmonic overtones of a 12-string guitar. But even though its tone is huge, the F-412 remains balanced and articulate. In some circles, the F-412 is considered the superlative 12-strings. And with this 1971 in your hands, that's a hard one to argue!
This 1971 Guild F-412 is a powerful beast. Its tone is intensely harmonic and complex—such a fantastic 12-string! It sports a gorgeous blonde finish that has aged and patina-ed beautifully. It looks to have been hit with a lot of nicotine in the past (fortunately no lingering smell), and that gives the binding an incredible dark yellow hue. As evidenced by the wear around the sound-hole and on the back, someone loved this old 12er and played it a lot! But it's got plenty of songs and stories left in the tank.
This '71 F-412 found us in proper playing order, and it has had some repairs over the years. In particular, the neck has been reset, it has a new nut, and it has been refretted so that every note up and down the fingerboard rings clear and true. Also, the bridge has been reworked—it looks like it was once shaved down on the underside and then re-glued. There are two repaired cracks on the treble side—one that runs right along the edge of the fingerboard to the soundhole, and one that runs ~3" from the side right by that. Other than that, it has a reinforced bridge plate, and there is a headstock repair on the bass edge of the headstock. Since it is a multi-ply neck, the repair is only in the bass-side block of mahogany. There is also an after-market pickup under the hood.
As for playability, this '71 F-412 plays nicely tuned up in E. The action teeters on the high side, and there's not a lot of saddle for future adjustment. But where it is now, it's pretty nice! It takes a capo well, too, and the tone is next level. It's hard to imagine a better 12-string. It includes its original hardshell case.