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Guild F-512E 12-string Acoustic-electric Guitar - Antique Sunburst

12-string Acoustic-electric Guitar with Spruce Top, Rosewood Back and Sides, Ebony Fingerboard - Antique Sunburst
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Guild F-512E 12-string Acoustic-electric Guitar - Antique Sunburst
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The Definitive 12-string Acoustic Guitar

Guild defined the 12-string sound with some of the most sought-after models ever produced. Having more strings shouldn’t lead to a muddier sound, and that's why legends like Tom Petty, David Gilmour, and Stevie Ray Vaughan all turned to Guild jumbo acoustics for their 12-strings needs. The F-512E is a faithful acoustic-electric re-creation of those early California-built 12-string acoustics that defined a generation. Complete with a jumbo rosewood body, Sitka spruce top, scalloped internal bracing, and an LR Baggs Anthem acoustic pickup, the F-512E delivers significantly more volume and clarity than a standard 12-string guitar. Focused bass, shimmering highs, and resonant mids with excellent response to player dynamics truly set this guitar a notch above the rest — if you’re after a US-made 12-string guitar with unbeatable clarity, the Guild F-512E is the instrument for you.

Premium jumbo projection

The jumbo body has a look and sound that’s helped performers turn heads and own the stage for decades. An impressive feat of 12-string engineering, the Guild F-512E's jumbo body gives doubled notes extra room to bloom and develop their volume, shape, and definition. Such complex depth is what made Guild 12-strings the obvious choice for many top artists, including John Denver and Pete Townsend of The Who. Extra room in the sound chamber also means more dynamic range and response. Strumming hard forces more air through the instrument — thus creating louder and more musical vibrations. Meanwhile, strumming soft retains dynamic resonance that's balanced and full. Additionally, tucked inside the F-512E is scalloped Adirondack spruce, adding stability. The bottom line? You can trust the F-512E sounds like a 12-string should — rich and full, but never muffled.

Classic tonewoods with a nitro finish

Premium tonewoods ensure the Guild F-512E delivers top-of-the-line tone with a classic look and feel that's complete with a modern nitro finish. Its AAA Sitka spruce top is a natural winner that sets the modern standard for acoustic guitars with full, meaty tone, rich fundamentals, and fewer overtones to muddy your 12-string’s clarity. Solid rosewood back and sides deliver booming lows and chiming highs, a perfect pairing with the jumbo body, while the 3-piece neck made of mahogany with a center walnut strip supports the body with a sturdy but smooth "C"-shaped neck. The crowning touch is the F-512E’s hearty and dark ebony fingerboard with oversized block inlays and railroad purfling for an eye-catching neck that also contributes to tone. This tonewood collection is truly a work of art. When it’s time to bust out a 12-string for the studio or the stage, Sweetwater guitarists know to reach for a Guild F-512E.

Deluxe LR Baggs electronics

The onboard LR Baggs Anthem Acoustic Pickup is the result of over 30 years of development. It’s strictly a well-designed microphone that picks up your guitar — clean, clear, and full of dynamics. While many guitar mics are prone to feedback or sound thin, the LR Baggs Anthem is like having your acoustic's natural sound turned up loud, so its just like it should be: organic and warm without any feedback. Plus, the Anthem Pickup has built-in volume and tone controls for dialing in your sound just how you like it.

Guild F-512E 12-string Acoustic-electric Guitar Features:

  • Jumbo body
  • Solid rosewood back and sides yield loud, clear projection with exceptional definition
  • Scalloped spruce sound hole bracing for extra response, balanced bass, and added volume
  • Resonant solid AAA Sitka Spruce top
  • 3-piece mahogany neck with center walnut strip and “C” shape profile
  • Bound fingerboard, headstock, and body
  • Ebony fingerboard with natural mother-of-pearl and abalone inlays
  • Railroad track purfling and backstrip
  • Gotoh SE700 tuners
  • Premium nitrocellulose finish
  • LR Baggs Anthem pickup with volume and tone controls

Why Buy Your Guitar from Sweetwater?

See how Sweetwater goes to great lengths to give you the very best online guitar buying experience. From our online Guitar Gallery that allows you to see and select the exact instrument you want to our 55-point Inspection process and our in-house guitar techs, we take the guesswork out of buying your next guitar online.

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Tech Specs

  • String Type: Steel
  • Number of Strings: 12
  • Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
  • Body Shape: Jumbo
  • Body Style: No Cutaway
  • Back & Sides Wood: Solid Indian Rosewood
  • Top Wood: AAA Sitka Spruce
  • Finish: Nitrocellulose lacquer
  • Color: Antique Sunburst
  • Body Bracing: Scalloped Adirondack Spruce
  • Binding: White with B/W/B/W Trim
  • Neck Wood: 3-piece Mahogany/Walnut/Mahogany
  • Neck Shape: C profile
  • Radius: 12"
  • Fingerboard Material: Ebony
  • Fingerboard Inlay: Mother-of-pearl and Abalone Blocks
  • Number of Frets: 20
  • Scale Length: 25.625"
  • Nut Width: 1.875"
  • Nut/Saddle Material: Bone/Bone
  • Bridge Material: Rosewood
  • Tuning Machines: Gotoh Gold SE701 Open-gear
  • Electronics: LR Baggs Anthem System with Volume and Tone Control
  • Strings: D'Addario EXP, .010-.047
  • Case Included: Hardshell Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: 99-744-0320

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Customer Reviews

Write your review
Rated 5/5

Guild F-512E So Sweet

Wow what a sweet guitar. Fit & finish is perfect. The sound is amazing! Rosewood back & sides with soli spruce top, need I say more? The pickup sounds great as well! Couldn't be any bettered, I am absolutely loving it!!!!!
Rated 5/5

Guild F-512E 12-String - Antique Sunburst

Guild does it again for me. I already owned a Guild 6-string which receives compliments when I play, so I knew I had to give the F512e a try and I immediately was drawn by its great tones. It also plays very nice and feels good in my hand. If you are looking for a lifetime 12-string, this one is it!
Rated 5/5

Guild 512E in Rosewood

I now understand why so many people consider the Guild 512 the gold standard for 12 sting guitars. Unlike guitars I've purchase before where I open the case and immediately reach for the instrument; This time I opened the case and gazed at the impeccable workmanship. The build on the Guild is phenomenal due to the attention to detail.

The mother of pearl inlays with the abalone, ebony fingerboard, Indian Rosewood bridge, bone nut and saddle, Gotoh tuning machines are just some of the things that leaped out at me when I opened the case

Tonal qualities are hard to describe other than just saying they are amazing. The bass tones due to the Rosewood back and sides create a synergy with the mid-range and highs. The mid-range is warm and the highs are not overly sharp and do not create a tonal contrast that's unpleasant; rather, they penetrate the bass and mid-range revealing a tonal sound like none I've heard before. The non-arched back still allows for superior projection in contrast to a standard dreadnought shape instrument. Lastly, the sustain is amazing.

The action/playability far exceeded my expectations. The LRBaggs is a very nice fit with the 512e.
Rated 5/5

Guild F-512E 12-String - Antique Sunburst

The MOTHER of 12-strings for sure! I have owned several 12-string acoustic guitars over the years, always knowing that someday I was going to acquire the dream 12-string, and this is it. The construction is over-the-top, perfect intonation, low action, and extremely well balanced sound, with the low-end vibrating right through your body. Excellent electronics when needed, in which the natural sound remains true. The only negative is that it might interfere with your sleep… it has a way of beckoning you to play it all the time!
Rated 4.5/5

Worth the Wait

Waited so many years to buy a 12 string of this quality, yet I must say it was well worth the wait! I own a Yamaha Red Label that is almost 50 years old...played so much I had it refretted in first two positions. Then, about 4 years ago, bought a Taylor 150e...very nice for the price but left me wanting more bass and a bit more flash, and I recently learned even on their higher end 12 strings, Taylor is no longer making a dreadnought shape which I truly wanted.

This guitar chimes like a bell, and adds the bass I had been looking for all along. The inlay, frets, and feel on the neck are wonderful. Despite being a very hefty instrument with a jumbo body, it is easy to play and Greg Baum was so helpful getting the action set for me even during the very busy GearFest 2019 sales activity. I have been playing it almost daily since purchase and it does keep me up very late some nights. The color and build quality are second to none, and it truly is the Cadillac of 12 string guitars. Once again, many thanks to Greg Baum who helped me as I considered this amazing guitar. Even the case it over the top beautiful, and fits the instrument like a glove. Only reason I did not rate this a 5 was I prefer the Gotoh tuners over the ones Guild uses - that 1:21 gear ratio is tough to beat, but that is really minor on a guitar of this quality.

Sweetwater is truly second to none when buying any gear, and Greg Baum gives the best assistance.

When customers come to Sweetwater looking for great, affordable acoustic guitars, we're always quick to tell them about Guild. At the same time, Guild has brought us some real beauties over the years, ranging from top-end acoustic guitars to timeless jazz boxes, and we're happy to say our most seasoned players agree that these instruments are second to none. As one of the prime Guild dealers, we know that when we sell one of these instruments, whoever gets it is going to love it and play it a lot, especially after we put it through our 55-point Evaluation to ensure it leaves our climate-controlled warehouse in perfect condition. Whether you're looking for your first acoustic guitar or your next archtop, ask your Sales Engineer about Guild.

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