Guild D4-12

This guitar looks about ten or more years old. I haven't had time to research the seriel number.

This is by no means a fancy guitar. Just black dot inlay, black headstock lettering and the traditional guild shaped pickguard. Yet, its an extremely handsome guitar, sort of transcending definition of an ordinary dreadnaught.

I've a Taylor 455 that I've never been totally happy with and bought the Guild D4-12 based on a review comparing the Taylor and Guild twelve-strings. I am knocked out. Even though the strings on this unit appear to need replacement, the sound is supurb. The tone is even through the base, mid and treble ranges. I'm a finger stylist and its as if I'm playing a piano and hitting every note with eqaual force. Cannot imagine how great it'll sound with new strings.

It fits the descriptions I've read of a solid, sturdy and relatively heavy guitar. It seems twice as heavy as a Martin DM-12 that I owned ( and which sounded too thin for a twelve string). It reminds me of an old little Stella that I had as a teen, thick and tough as a fireplug.

Some may not like the thickness of the neck but even though I've small hands, I've no trouble playing this guitar.

As I've already indicated, this guitar may as well be made of petrified wood.
It'll be playing long after I'm gone (I'm 50).

Can't say, though I've heard good things about Guild

Understand I'm not generous with 9's and 10's like many - leaves no room left at the top. I'm just so please with the Guild D4-12 because it seems like it was made by people who really cared about their craft and product.

This is a 2001 model, or so I'm guessing; I picked it up new for almost nothing, so I'm pretty sure it was old stock. No shop wear though. As far as features go, it's pretty straightforward...spruce top, Grover tuners, legendary Guild build and sound. I'd love to see some more decoration on the guitar, but what do you expect for $450? :)

It sounds like a concert...like an entire orchestra. I love Guilds for their big, bassy sound, and this one is no different. I think it's the prettiest sounding 12 I've ever played, but that's just me. You can hear every string, and the lows still come through even with all the high you get from a 12.

I play this guitar live using a Fishman Rare Earth Humbucking pickup through a Trace Elliot TA-100R Concert acoustic amp. The sound reproduction is perfect, and I'd recommend that setup to anyone. Trace is the best, you can't beat Fishmans, and Guilds...well; I wouldn't buy another acoustic guitar.

Action out of the shop was a bit high due to a slight bow in the neck. A quick trip to the my luthier fixed that, and now she's down as low as I can get it with no buzz. Action feels great; I play this one at shows for a whole set at times with no appreciable finger weariness. That's saying something for a 12.

There are no cosmetic flaws in the guitar. Well, I dropped a mic cord end on the edge of it, so there's a tiny one now though. I don't care...I like this one so much I'll keep it forever, I think. so no worries there. Like I said earlier, it would be cool to see some more abalone and pretty stuff, but that's not really what this guitar is about, and it's pretty enough just plain.

Built like a rock. I think I could drive a truck over it and take it to a gig. Guild builds them strong and heavy, so no worries here. I play rhythm in an acoustic band, and my guitars (this Guild and a DCE-1) get a workout! This one takes it with no problem.

Called them once to ask if it was cool if I had my luthier work on the bowed neck. They were cool with that and very nice.

I love it. I've wanted one for ages to compliment the DCE-1 I already have, and this shop I bought it from must have been crazy when they sold it to me for $450, so I couldn't turn it down. Overall, I love it. Heartstopping sound, awesome build, and good looks. I'd buy one again in a heartbeat..an even faster one if I ever found a deal like that again.

Let me qualify and say that I have been plyaing Guilds for over 30 years and own several. However, all Guilds are not created equal. The older models are wonderful, but some of the newer ones are equally as solid - just not aged yet. This is one of Guild's two dreadnaught 12-string models, both of which have been sadly discontinued. It has a rosewood neck and fretboard, mahogany back and sides and a Sitka spruce top. The finish is satin or hand-rubbed. There are no extras, only fretboard inlay dots and the name is black paint on the peghead. One of the most important features is the arched back which gives enormous projection potential. The tuners and bridge are all Guild standard and there are, again, no frills or extras. BUT, many of the more prominant makers (listening Martin?) could learn a great deal about the basics of solid guitar building from modesl like this.

This is my road guitar. I have a Shure SM-11 lavalier mic. mounted in a suspension harness below the bridge and connected to an XLR jeck in the endblock. After nearly 25 years of using this method on all of my guitars, sound engineers are ALWAYS stunned by the simplicity and effectiveness - and honesty of the sound. The sound acoustically is big and clear with a great balance across the strings. The action is great and light, even using heavier strings (54-12). Variety of sound depends on technique, but this guitar delivers - whether palming or muting, or letting it ring in all of its open (Vestapol in C) glory. I never tire of playing or hearing this guitar. It sounds the way an acoustic 12 should sound, clean and jangly without extraneous buzz or noise.

This is a tricky question. I do not play in standard tuning, so the set-up was great for standard - I suppose, but I had my luthier set it up for my open tuning. He did an exquisite job and the guitar handled the transition with no surprises. That changed the action slightly (I had it raised a wee bit), but it had great action before. The physical integrity was also evaluated at the time and got exemplary marks. I really like the hand-rubbed finish, but experience tells me there's a lot to be said for high gloss in sound. Comparing this guitar to other Guilds with high gloss, however, show it to be a slightly lighter sound. Not much of a problem, but if wishes were fishes...

It isn't impossible to damage a Guild (I know, I have), but one must work at it. They are made that well. Other manufacturers scrimp to save money, but Guild's quality has very seldom waivered when it comes to making one of the most durable guitars on the market. Look around...Guild has made thousands of acoustic guitars since 1952 and how often do you see them up for resale? Not often because people keep them. This 12-string acoustic is solid evidence they are still at it. Gig without a backup? Ha! With airline restrictions, backups are not a consideration. That's why this is a warhorse. If you can only take one guitar - better make it something like this.

I've dealt with the company on and off over the years. The people in Westerly, Rhode Island are great. However, now that it's owned by Fender, sometimes it is difficult to get through the corporate structure to get to the factory. Now, sadly, they are moving the factory to California. I hope they have the wisdom to take the people. I've never dealt with their warranty, but I would say that they are as good as their word...but check the fine print anyway.

Once again, I have been playing Guilds over 30 years and playing guitar slightly longer. I currently own 5 Guilds, my main studio guitar being a 1975 Guild G-37 6 string. But on the road, I use this D4-12. If I lost this 12, I would search out another Guild Dreadnaught 12 string used, as they are no longer in production. No other 12-string on the market compares. I hate nothing about any of the Guilds I have owned (many). They are sturdy and dependable and the sound is exceptional from Guild to Guild. I love the action, the balance, the tone...everything. Obviously, everyone has personal needs and taste - guitars like this fit mine to a "t".