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Description

This is a rather unusual example of what for the price is one of the great Guild 12-strings of all time (as far as I'm concerned): not quite as big and cumbersome as the more jumbo-size F series, but with an arched back which projects its rich sound more effectively than its braced flat-back cousins. Some folks may be aware of them because Tom Petty plays one extensively in the "Concert for George" and elsewhere, but the D-212 is sufficiently unusual not to be listed in the Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars, and even George Gruhn barely mentions it. According to the Guild website, fewer than 3,000 were produced from 1981 to 1986, and judging from this one's serial number (AA100393) it was one of the first 500 in 1981.

Basically, the D-212 is the twelve-string version of the tremendously popular D-25, with a few obvious upgrades. It has a solid spruce top and solid mahogany sides, but the back is laminated mahogany to allow for the arched shape with minimal bracing (less weight, more resonance). The 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard on the mahogany neck has pearl dot position markers and ends at a 1 13/16" nut. At the other end of the 25 ½" scale is the rosewood bridge with its black white-dot bridge pins, set off nicely by the tortoise pickguard and the w-b-w rosette and purfling, and black binding. The black-face headstock features the full inlaid pearl Guild logo and Chesterfield (an upgrade from the D-25, of course), and open six-per-side strip chrome tuners. Although there's not a lot of abalone and stuff tricking it up, the bright Cherry finish on top makes this one good-looking guitar!

Considering this guitar has been making music for 39 years, it is now in very good playing condition. There are no cracks or major dings in the finish, the binding is tight, the bridge is secure, the neck is straight, there's only light fret wear—it will be ready to play as soon as you open the box. The cherry finish on the top is evidently a re-finish, and obviously it is colorful and dramatic, although the pick guard looks to be a replacement. There is almost no finish crazing or finish wear on the back and sides, and as you can see in the pictures there are no significant cosmetic concerns--just a few drips of clear coat on the sides from the top re-finish. The only downer is a crack along the grain of the neck which apparently was repaired long ago. The action is very good for a vintage twelve-string at 4/32” at the 12th fret low E, and the Guild dual truss rod design makes adjustment easy.

And of course the sound is excellent. Guild has always been kind of the "gold standard" for twelve-strings, but the arched back and aged tonewoods of this guitar make it particularly powerful for the price. If you think I'm exaggerating, check out the reviews on the Harmony Central website for even more enthusiastic praise of the D-212, praise which definitely applies to this one as well.

It currently is in a well-padded gig bag for light-weight protection, but for an additional $25 I will supply a good vintage chip board case. Please let me know which you prefer.

Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.

I have tried to be perfectly clear and accurate in describing this instrument, so its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy it.

Thank you for your interest in this cool Guild music machine.

ALUMPSTER'S GUITARS

ALUMPSTER'S GUITARS

1981
Guild
Good
Cherry
GigBag
9 Years
ALUMPSTER'S GUITARS
ARTHUR H LUMPKIN
803-731-0515
Online Only
4:14 PM
24/7 by e-mail: akmgj@bellsouth.net. I'm old; I don't sleep much.

Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.

From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.

I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.