Guild F-2512E Maple Acoustic-Electric Guitar, 12-String
The F-2512E is quintessential Guild. Its 12-string jumbo construction results in a full-toned, impressively voiced acoustic with huge volume and projection.
$529.00
- 8 x$66.13
- No Credit Check6 x$88.17
- No Credit Check4 x$132.25
Overall User Ratings (based on 15 ratings)
Submitted October 14, 2020 by Johnny G in Fruitport, MI
"The Guild F-2512E Acoustic-Electric Jumbo Guitar"
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This Guild really impressed me especially for the price. I don't think you would be able to find a 12 string acoustic electric guitar that sounds this good for $500.00 Good luck trying to find one. I've played many $2000 + acoustic 12 string guitars that don't even come close as good as this one sounds. I had to keep telling myself I was playing a $500.00 guitar that sounds more like a $2000.00 guitar. Guilds have always been known for their 12 string guitars since 1954. They are the loudest 12 string guitars on the planet and their projection is 2nd to none. I own two Martin 12 string guitars. One a Dreadnought and the other a Jumbo. This one I would never be ashamed to play on stage as I am sure people will think I'm playing a very expensive guitar. The only thing I can say negative about it is that I will have to have my guitar tech tweak it a bit as the action is just a tad too high but it's is still very playable. But out of the box you couldn't ask for a better guitar. It does not come with a case of any kind so it would be a good idea to invest in a nice hard shell case by SKB or any other reputable brand. Gig bags just don't cut it for me. Buy this guitar as I am sure you will not want to ever let it go and you'll never regret it as it's the best $500.00 you ever spent. It is most definitely a keeper and would be welcomed in anyone's stable. I play only 12 string guitars. I plead insanity. I am just crazy about 12 string guitars. Oh yea!!
Musical Background:
Mostly folk
Musical Style:
Folk/Folk Rock
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Submitted September 10, 2022 by a customer from gmail.com
"Looks good, sounds great"
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I'll preface with the note that I'm primarily an electric player, and I usually play a variety of styles from blues to classic rock to VERY heavy metal (with a focus on the latter) on guitars with wide/thin/flat "shred" type neck profiles (think Ibanez or Jackson). So, I'll be comparing neck profiles, fretwork, and playability to these types of guitars. I'll also be considering that this is a $550 import, not a $2K+ flagship model. With all that in mind, this beast is more than I was hoping for! This is my second "real" acoustic guitar (I'm not counting the crappy classical that my parents got me at a yard sale when I was 9), and my first 12-string - I am very pleased.
Sound
First things first: IT'S LOUD! I've played other Guild jumbos before, so I was expecting that, but it's been long enough that it was still a bit of a shock to hear and feel it again. They are NOT kidding when they say that the arched-back jumbo body really projects. Even so, it's really, really responsive to picking dynamics - you can get a much gentler sound if you pick lighter, and it doesn't compress too much when you hit it hard. I've read other reviewers mention it sounding a little brighter than they expected, and I noticed this as well, but this is pretty normal for a new acoustic guitar; the soundboard will "open up" after you play it for a while. Still, there's plenty of bass on tap, and the midrange is present but controllable - exactly what I was hoping for (and one of the biggest reasons I prefer jumbos over dreadnoughts).
Features
The specs that zZounds publishes differ from what's on the Guild site in one respect: zZounds says the fretboard and bridge are rosewood, while Guild says that they're pau ferro. To me they look and feel like pau ferro, but that's not a problem; just something that zZounds might want to update for accuracy. I actually like the tiny bit of extra "zing" from the pau ferro; it's like a cross between rosewood and ebony that feels and sounds nice to my ears. Everything else is on point: spruce top, bound maple body, mahogany neck, and what looks like real mother-of-pearl fretboard inlays and rosette. The Fishman/Guild piezo pickup and volume/tone preamp are very basic, but I especially like two things about them: The soundhole-mounted controls are a lot less noticeable than the more expansive preamps that usually sit on the side of the body, and I LOVE that they put the battery box in a jack-plate near the bottom strap pin instead of using an endpin jack.
Ease of Use
HERE's where things get really awesome! As noted above, it's loud, but responsive to picking adjustments. The change in tone as you play closer to the bridge or neck is especially notable; you can cut back on a lot of that "zing" by playing closer to the neck. I usually don't have guitars with pickguards, but in this case, the guard is shaped perfectly to cover exactly the area it needs to and nothing else - excellent design there. I haven't even listened to it plugged in yet; I've only plugged it in so I could tune it with the TU-3, but I'm sure it's "good enough" (seriously, is anyone buying a guitar like this to hear it through a piezo pickup? I'm not). Then..... The Neck. Dude, I am REALLY stoked on this neck! Since it's not only an acoustic but a 12-string, I was prepared for it to be a lot less comfortable than my shred machines from Jackson, Ibanez, and Dean, but I have to say I'm impressed. Yea obviously it's thicker than those, but it's surprisingly NOT a baseball bat or 2x4. I haven't put a caliper on it, but I'd compare it to the thickness of some Schecter or ESP necks, but with a more D-shaped profile. Absolutely love it! The only complaint that I could imagine some people making is that there's no cutaway, so access above the 14th fret is nonexistent - but again, that's not what I wanted this for, so it's not a problem for me.
Quality
Chinese-built guitars have a middling reputation, and I'm sure there are examples of poor QC out there, but I guess I've been really lucky so far - this one looks, feels, and sounds really solid. I haven't found any of the issues you would normally look for in a guitar at this price point. Fretwork is clean and level (even after I adjusted the truss rod for the low action that I like), no glue drip, binding is tight and symmetrical, tuners are all straight and tight, nut and bridge are cut correctly, and no finish flaws that I can find. The nut pings a little when you tune, but this is normal with a bone nut, and I'm sure it will go away after I lube it up a bit.There ARE a couple things that some people used to more expensive guitars might object to. The bits of MOP used for the rosette aren't cut COMPLETELY clean, there are tiny sections between where you can see a bit of filler if you look really closely. The boards used for the top and body aren't totally even-grained; there are color variations across them that are noticeable, but again, that's expected at this price range and not a problem for me (I kinda like it). Finally, the ONLY thing I don't love about this guitar: Satin finish. This is something that helps keep costs down, and some people actually prefer it, but I'm a sucker for the high-gloss finishes on everything. Not a deal-breaker; I might just grab some polish and see how shiny I can get it ;)
Value
100% worth the money and then some! I've been after a Guild jumbo 12-string for most of my life, and I am STOKED that I have one. It more than meets my expectations; I'm barely playing my electrics since I got it a couple weeks ago.
Manufacturer Support
Haven't had to call them yet, and I seriously doubt that I will. But if I ever do, Guild has an excellent reputation for taking care of their customers, so not worried about that.
The Wow Factor
"Appeal"? Are you kidding me? Let's put it this way: I failed to advise my lovely lady that this was on the way, so at first she's like "Dude, don't you have an acoustic? Why do you need another one?" Then I tuned it up and busted out a little "Every Time I Look At You", and she figured it out pretty quick from there. Yea, it's pretty appealing.
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Submitted June 5, 2021 by a customer from yahoo.com
"More than I hoped for!"
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This is my first time buying a 12 string, and I hate to admit that this wasn't my first choice. But man am I glad I got it! This Guild has a rich and beautiful sound to it, and is pretty much ready to play out of the box. My only gripe about it, is that the pictures provided don't show the electronic parts, but other than that, I'm really happy with it! 10/10 would recommend!
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Submitted December 7, 2023 by a customer from gmail.com
"WOW!!!"
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Got my Guild 2512 today and I can summarize my reaction of this guitar with one word, WOW! Loud, articulate and flawless construction. The velvety satin finish feels great especially under the neck with the only flaw is it nearly hides an otherwise nice lightly flamed and birdseyed back and sides, even the sides are bookmatched! Top is well matched too. Sounds bright and chimney without an over emphasis on the bass like rosewood can which should help a lot in cutting through a mix without a lot of EQ. The Fishman electronics are not quite what I would call stellar but certainly more than adequate. For the usual $540 price point I have to give this guitar an absolute 5 stars let alone at the current sale price, I'm completely floored!! My final remarks are if you have been considering any acoustic 12 purchase I recommend this all maple Guild Jumbo and especially now while they are still on sale!
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Submitted June 30, 2020 by Joseph Olson in Las Vegas, NV
"Fantastic Value"
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Guild does it again this time with a budget in mind. Easy playing and great tone. After going to the music store and trying every 12-string from Taylor, Fender, Martin, Gibson and on and on Guild in my opinion makes the best sounding 12-string. I tried their F-212 at $4,000 and this one at a much more reasonable $499 I didn't notice a quality or sound quality drop. Came perfectly setup straight out of the box. This can be used as a practice or would hold up well in any performance scenario.
Musical Background:
Have played professionally and jam at home
Musical Style:
rock, country, folk
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Submitted April 5, 2022 by a customer from aol.com
"Guild F2512 Killer 12 String"
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Cannot beat the value of this guitar under $600, great sound, great action, great materials.Plays like a guitar of twice the cost. Cant go wrong with this one
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Submitted March 18, 2023 by Gem Bargellini in Edgewater, FL
"Boom!"
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Right out of the box this guitar had me. Tuned it up and man what a sound. Action was perfect all the way up the neck. Not a blemish anywhere to be found..highly recommend this guitar!!
Musical Background:
Advanced beginner
Musical Style:
Country rock
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Submitted March 27, 2019 by Chris S in Riverview, FL
"First Guild Ever"
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So...I've been playing for 35 years or so and have owned a few dozen 12 strings including acoustic, electric, and acoustic-electric. There's ALWAYS compromise with a 12, and this one is no exception. The pros: sharp looks, a superb neck, decent gig bag, great price point. The cons: The electronics are super basic - volume only, and the country of origin - China. This one will suit my needs for acoustic 12 string recording while plugged in, but not so much when mic'ed up, as it is a tad, just a tad, bit tinny to my ears. The beauty of this neck profile made this one a keeper for me. I can EQ out the tinniness with an EQ when recording when plugged in and that was it's primary function for me. It's not going to have much in the way of resale value, but that's ok due to it's low price point. I'd buy it again, it suits my needs perfectly. Haven't needed manufacturer support, so can't comment on that or warranty.
Musical Background:
36 years experience guitar/bass/some piano and drums
Musical Style:
Rock, blues, shoegaze
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Submitted July 6, 2021 by Barney P in Seattle area, WA
"So many 12s, so little time, this one will do just fine..."
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12 strings, I've had a fewThis one will do.The sound is greatIt plays just fineBut you gotta keep tuning itMuch of the timeThe body is bulkyBut the neck feels greatIt's all about the soundFor heaven's sakeI was gonna get an exotic BreedloveAnd up grade...But for what I do...I have it made.Thanks zZounds...For all you did...Barney P.Washington ex-navy squid
Musical Background:
Lots of stuff
Musical Style:
Guitar influences: Gilmour, Garcia, Harrison, Cash, et. al
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Submitted March 13, 2023 by a customer from icloud.com
"My first 12 string!"
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Out of the box all it needed was tuning. The guitar is loud and clear. Soft and deep as well. Plugged in it’s range is incredible. Very well pleased and highly recommend this for any level guitarist.
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Submitted January 6, 2022 by david gover in hampton, GA
"2512 e"
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Lets dispell some incorrect info first. The materials used on this model ,are not the same as used in USA made guild 12 strings. This is not a 2000.00 dollar guitar . What this is , is a damn fine guitar,for a lot less money than its worth. I own 5 12 strings , . payed a lot more for a few. But this guild 2512 is the real deal.Great playing /sounding guitar. one suggestion, use nickle, nickle bronze, or monel strings. Tune it down 1/2 step. then adjust your truss rod accordingly.
Musical Background:
40+ years
Musical Style:
southern rock, blues, 60,s 70,s music
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Submitted February 11, 2023 by a customer from gmail.com
"Guild F2512E"
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Bought this guitar with with the awesome no credit check policy. For the money this is a solid guitar. I've owned several Guild guitars in my day and still have no complaints. I was impressed with the build quality of this one. With it not being one of their high end models I would definitely recommend buying to someone who is looking for an affordable well crafted guitar. As far as the tone? I can't complain...... the pickup sounds a little to shimmery to my ears but it comes with a high frequency tilt to adjust for harshness. Like I said for the money I think it's worth it.
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Submitted April 6, 2021 by a customer from Yahoo.com
"The Guild F2512E"
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I just got mine today and right out of the box it was in tune and the action was spot on. This is no $500.00 Guitar! Guild has a similar model the 512 and it leaves me saying why??? It is a $3700.00 guitar and not one damned bit better it must be a case of when two fools meet. Admitted the 512 has a bound headstock and some weird icon and the maple used is more figured but that price for essentially the same guitar is just ridiculous. Maybe if it had Brazillion Rosewood back and sides and 1,000 year old cedar top? Naaaaaa it still wouldn't be a better guitar. If you want to get the bargain of the century buy this F2512E you won't find a $2,000.00 dollar guitar that will play any better and my guess would be it is as good as their $3700.00 guitar. Remember the Jumbo 12 strings have been their specialty for decades so they know what they are doing.
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Submitted March 23, 2019 by Don Moore in CLARKESVILLE, GA
"Great 12 string"
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It's a Guild. Has the sound, good action out of the box. Holds a tune well. This guitar is a steal.
Musical Background:
10 years, acoustic, home
Musical Style:
Rock, folk, country, bluegrass.
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Submitted April 8, 2021 by a customer from Yahoo.com
"A Must Buy the F2512 E"
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I bought mine from zZounds April 3 or 4th but my previous appraisal of this guitar was not posted maybe it was because I told the truth about how stupid it would be to pay $3700.00 for the same guitar only with a slightly different number the over priced one is the F 1512 E. It is made in USA but the $500.00 0ne is called a westwardly and is made in China. It is not a $500.00 guitar any more than the F1512 is a &3700.00 0ne. The difference is the $500.00 F 2512 is as good and plays as good as guitars costing $2,000.00 or more. There is a difference the over priced one has a figured maple side and back good for violins but meaningless as a guitar tone wood and it has purfling around the headstock and a Guild icon. Despite the descriptions both are made out of maple with sitka spruce tops. Other than these minor cosmetic differences they are the exact same guitar(s)
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