This hasn’t happened in quite a while. But why should MasterCard and Visa get all my dough? I should just go buy the damn guitar (a Guild F212XL)!
Haven’t bought a new acoustic guitar since 1968. That would be my Yamaha FG300, an exact (?) copy of a Gibson Hummingbird, or so they told me. I don’t know about that, but I’ve played that axe almost to death. It’s been everywhere with me, from Maine to Mexico in fact, and a whole raft of other places, some not so hospitable to guitars. By now the pickguard’s gone, one tuner doesn’t match, the neck is twisted, the top’s pulling up, and you gotta love a high action. What I’ve always done is capo the thing up, sometimes way up, to get a brighter tone. But the old girl can’t be set up properly, she’s too far gone without a “neck reset.” Who knew what years of 90 percent humidity and 100 percent neglect would do? It’s hard to play, but I do love that guitar. I just can’t take it anywhere, if you know what I mean.
I’ve always loved 12-strings. No, the Yamaha’s a six, but my electric guitar is a Gibson ES-335 12-striing. This Guild F212XL has been in a certain store for at least nine months. I saw it there last August, and just last Tuesday when I went back, there it still was, hanging in the same place. “I think that’s my guitar,” I told my wife when I got back to the car.
Of course I need a new guitar. I’m a writer, aren’t I? It’s obviously waiting for me. This is real life, I can really do this. I can go down there and buy a guitar. I can take what’s in the bank and do it. I could be dead tomorrow, and people would say, “it’s sure too bad he croaked before he got to play that Guild.” You know they would. But this thing is solid and shiny and loud. It’s a good axe. I can ride it into my grave.
My honey’s real piano is a beautiful shiny black Kawai baby grand up in Dubuque. She has her girlhood piano with her here, the one her parents said they’d buy for her if she first learned to play two things: Paderewski’s Minuet in G and “The Missouri Walz.” (I’ll let you guess which of those came from her dad.) They were anything but rich, but she did, and they bought her the Hamilton. It’s a very fine upright and part of the family. The Kawai is solid and shiny and has the most beautiful voice. Not to be morbid about this, but she can ride that one to her grave as well. She just needs a studio where the black beauty can fit.
Yes, she’s a professional. Well, so am I. I’m experiencing a fine buzz from all this, and it’s been a while, I can tell you that. Maybe things are looking up! Check your wallets and the sky.
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
John, I say go for it. Easy for me to say, there is a Harley Davidson out there (with my name on it) I have yet to pick up.
Sigh.
Ya gotta figure out a way to go for it, John. When guitarlust reaches this point, it’s no longer JUST A GUITAR!
I made the mistake/good sense of bringing Jan along when I went I tried out a Godin LGXT…she sat on the floor of the music shop and said, “You need that guitar.” Well, I didn’t get the LGXT, but a beautiful black xtSA instead and she got to open the box and see it before I did because I was at work when it arrived. And it’s sounds just as beautiful and she loves to hear it just as much and I love playing it just as much…and when it’s all said and done, isn’t that what it’s all about?
My friend and cohort in crime, I mean music! Darrell Burgan (he of http://www.stillstream.com fame) and I will be performing next Saturday afternoon (3:00-5:00 p.m. Dallas/Fort Worth Time) at the Art Six Coffeehouse Art Festival up in Denton. With any luck, we’ll have a recording for rebroadcast later that evening on Darrell’s regular saturday night show, the Blue Water Drift Dive, 10:00 pm – 2:00 am Eastern, on stillstream.com. I’ll be playing this beautiful new guitar, so you might want to tune in then…
I need a Harley too. You wouldn’t believe how many of them are in town now.
Is that because of the “Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally” John? Looking at my second favorite Taos area web cam ( the Mountain cam is still out of service) which is at the Plaza http://store.therealsouthwest.com/taos-plaza-cam.html I see a lot of motorcycles cruising the plaza drive ?? And here we are again stuck in Oklahoma… maybe I should sell the old drums and buy a guitar
Understandable
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I saw my first Guild 12-sting about 30yrs ago in the hands of some proud Leo Kottke fan.
The beast is like a time machine to me…I remember that very day in summer of ’76 as if it was yesterday…
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So I’ll get a USD400,- 12-string Yamaha and spend USD1400,- for a used motorcycle.
Also a Yamaha…
John, IMHO, you’re entitled. Ars longa, vita brevis. Just be glad you’re a guitar player, and not a conductor.
Ars lona, vita brevis, No kidding! That’s really why, too.
I got it. It’s beautiful.
I happened to read your blog praising your FG300. I now longer play. Sitting in my closet is MY FG300; in virtually mint condition except that the pick guard needs to be glued down in the middle (you obviously know of the pick guard thing with these guitars). I have to make room for grandkids who are moving in. I am going to sell this guitar. It was manufactured in May, 1974. Excellent condition, no cracks, etc., all original. Has the pick guard; it’s just coming up in the middle! Interested by any chance? Yup, it’s one sweet sounding instrument…
Ah Chris, of course I’m interested. But I don’t have a pot to piss in at the moment. It sounds like a real treasure, though.
All my best to you and the grandkids. You’re a lucky man.
John,
I have owned and played a 335/12 for 28 years
and could tell you a sad story about someone who sold a
68 strat for not a lot…
buy it john.
keep lovin the 12′s,
des
Oh, I bought it, all right: http://www.fotofeed.com/8-19-06.html. And I love it to death!
My 335/12 is doing fine, too. And I have quite a story about that. Might post it soon.
Just to let you know… I had a Guild F412 Jumbo ( handmade by the 3 Amigo’s) in 1973… Maple with ebony fretboard,m/pearl inlay, walnut neck, it is still in absolutely mint -perfect condition. No cracks on top, intonation is flawless. John Denver and Ralph Townsend also had one made by the same luthiers. It has been a treasure to play and own and I believe Guild did make /produce the best 12 strings ever made ( before Fender bought them out ). You should get the guitar and start enjoying yourself!
I really appreciate the input and your comments, Richard. I did buy the Guild, and while I don’t think it’s in as good a shape as yours — the action is a wee bit high, and I don’t think we’re talking the same luthiers — it’s very nice and sounds wonderful. I play it all the time.
Oh yeah: it’s either a ’76 or a ’79, I forget which at the moment. Pre-Fender, at any rate.
congratulations on the guild 12 John.
I have a 1967 f-212 ,a 1973 f-212XL and another f-212xl on the way..I love guild jumbo twelves.Just curious john,what model is your guild? I had a nice 1980 f-512 which I sold to roger hodgson formerly of supertramp a few years back.He was buying a bunch of guild
twelves to take on tour and tune in different tunings.I miss that guitar.
I have been searching for the legendary f-612,,the rare ” john denver”
guild 12 .I Have seen only about three for sale over the years.I was always disapointed that denver pretty much retired the guilds for taylor guitars which I do not like.always wondered if john’s guilds were all played out ( yeah right) or if he just wanted a different sound.any comments anyone?
john sorry,I guess I already knew the model of your guild….
I had a ’74 Guild F212XL for a long time, until arthritis stopped me on 12 strings. If you buy the one you saw you will have a lifetime of fond picking. You deserve it!
Art, you musta googled this old post up! To answer your question (in case you come back), I did buy it, and it’s been just wonderful.