Guild D-240E, F2412-E and M240-E

GEAR ROUNDUP
summer 2016 87
Guild D-240E
£359
A solid (topped) and dependable dread’
The
Concert model’s Westerly
sibling is a good ol’
dreadnought. And there’s a reason why
it’s the most popular acoustic shape, it
usually yields an all round performance
that will suite most needs. And true to
form we find that lower end warmth
that the M-240E doesn’t have to spare
is present and correct here.
Feature-wise it’s the same recipe
as the smaller guitar. A classic Sitka
Spruce look in matte but with that Guild
headstock better proportioned here to
the larger dreadnought body shape.
Like its smaller sibling, those Guild open
gear tuners are stable when we try a
few alternate tunings. It’s a balanced
guitar in sound, as a good dreadnought
should be, though in terms of projection
it doesn’t sound like the subtle looking
Archback design makes as much
audible difference compared to the
more diminutive M240. It turns in a fine
performance though, notably warm for
a spruce-topped guitar, without losing
harmonic definition.
First impressions when plugging in
are mixed. We find the AP-1’s nine-volt
battery in its pouch sliding around
inside the body; they’ve become
separated from the Velcro fixture near
the base of the neck. It’s easily remedied,
though not without taking the strings off
first, but it might be something to keep
an eye on to prevent potential damage.
The AP-1 looks to be styled after
Fishman’s Sonitone system (found
on the higher end Westerly electros)
though we note that on all three of these
guitars, the signal cuts in and out as we
adjust volume. More surprising still is
our test D240 yields around 50 per cent
less plugged in output than the concert
model (we even change the battery to
make sure). But there is a payoff; there’s
less plasticky piezo quack here and an
electro performance that’s more organic
compared to the M240.
Guild F2512-E
MAPLE
£439
Is a splurge on a 12-string finally justified?
iT’s
said that everyone should
play a 12-string at least once
– there’s pedals and Nashville tuning
that will kind of get you in the ballpark
but nothing rivals the real deal, and the
glorious harmonic chime it brings. And
of course, Hotel California’s intro is the
mother of 12-string songs, so obviously
its the first thing we play. With that out
the way, it’s time to take stock. Because
Guild is a brand that has a reputation
for jumbo 12-strings, but this is its most
affordable yet; expectation weighs
heavy. It’s certainly a looker – the maple
is clean and eye-catching. Newcomers
to 12s will be a little bewildered at first
by the string spacing when they pick this
up, and it’ll take some time but it’s pretty
straightforward to tune in principle; the
third to sixth stings are each paired by
one an octave higher but just need to be
tuned as you normally would (two Es,
two As, and so on). Yes, it takes twice
as long but you’re rewarded with a lush
shimmering phasing sound that’s full
of resonance. Arpeggios are a real treat
here, with a rich tonality that’s well-
balanced across the spectrum.
Plugging in reveals the F2512-E
to have the most resonant top for
percussive playing (indeed John Butler
utilises a 12-string guitar with the
G strings removed for his signature
instrumental track, Ocean) and the
chorus-like nature of the tone does seem
to work pretty well with the AP-1 piezo
here without sounding harsh.
Of course, this is a niche instrument
that isn’t going to be an everyday guitar
for most people, but the price means
that it could finally tip the balance for
those who’ve always wanted a 12-string
for their home studio, or have a few
songs live that would really come alive
with one. Not to mention that Eagles
cover version…
TGR283.gear_round.indd 87 7/14/16 3:08 PM