1980/81 Guild D212 EM

For your consideration, Garrett Park Guitars presents this Guild D212 EM 12-String Acoustic/Electric — a classic USA-made dreadnought that delivers vintage tone, robust projection, and the distinctive depth only a Guild 12-string can provide. Based on the “AA” serial-number prefix and known production ranges, we estimate this guitar was built circa 1980–1981; Guild’s official records for this era are incomplete, so an exact year cannot be confirmed. At any rate, this workhorse instrument combines professional playability with character-rich resonance, making it ideal for stage, studio, or home performance.

At the heart of this guitar is a solid spruce top paired with mahogany back and sides, providing a full-bodied, open-voiced tonal spectrum with clarity, warmth, and harmonic richness. Its construction reflects Guild’s high-quality craftsmanship, and the instrument retains its original electronics, including a built-in factory pickup and a convenient volume control, ensuring a reliable amplified performance without compromising acoustic integrity.

This D212 EM shows honest, player-grade wear, including a professionally repaired headstock break—the neck and headstock are fully stable and set up for immediate play. With 12 strings and a dreadnought body, it projects with authority, offering chiming trebles, articulate mids, and a rich, resonant low end that responds dynamically to fingerstyle or pick-driven playing. The guitar comes complete with its original hardshell case, preserving its vintage presentation.

Whether you are a working musician in search of a reliable, character-filled 12-string or a collector seeking an American-made Guild from the early 1980s, this D212 EM represents a rare opportunity to own a thoroughly playable, historically significant instrument.

Specifications

Model & Year

• Model: D212 EM 
• Year of Manufacture: 1980–1981
  • Note on Dating: Guild’s official serial number records for the D212 EM are incomplete for the late 1970s and early 1980s. Based on the “AA” prefix and known serial-number ranges, we estimate this guitar was built circa 1980–1981, but an exact year cannot be confirmed.
• Serial Number: AA100759
• Country of Manufacture: USA

Body

• Back & Sides: Mahogany
• Top Wood: Solid Spruce
• Body Shape: Dreadnought, 12-string
• Bracing / Voicing: Traditional Guild X-bracing
• Binding / Purfling: Ivoroid-style trim

Neck

• Wood: Mahogany
• Shape / Profile: Medium vintage profile
• Nut Width: 1.78″
• Scale Length: 25.5″

Fingerboard & Bridge

• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Bridge: Rosewood
• Saddle & Nut: Plastic

Electronics

• Pickup: Factory Guild acoustic/electric pickup
• Controls: Volume control integrated into body

Hardware

• Tuners: Kluson Deluxe
• Pickguard: Tortoise

Condition

• Cosmetic: Good player-grade condition with honest wear; professionally repaired headstock break, stable and fully functional
• Structural: Excellent—neck and body stable, no active issues

Case & Accessories

• Case: Original hardshell case