Sunday, July 10, 2016

Goya G-312 Acoustic Guitar Review

Hello!

Today we are going to look at something a little different today - a pretty cool budget acoustic guitar that I picked up from Craigslist. This is an early 1990s Goya G-312 6-string dreadnaught.

Goya guitars were an offshoot of Sweden’s Levin, and were an effort for the company to enter the US Market. Martin bought the Goya brand in 1976 and used it to produce budget instruments overseas. This was particularly important to them as around that time many Japanese companies were building guitars that looked just like theirs, and it was hurting their business. So, the Goya brand was Martin’s effort to fight back. Initial production was in Japan, and eventually was moved to Korea. Martin gave up on this experiment in 1996 and eventually sold the name to a food company. Goyas are generally good guitars, though they were not wildly successful.

The G-312 guitar that we are looking at today was probably built in Korea, though it is hard to get an exact date as there is no serial number and very little information about these instruments online. I am thinking it is from the early 1990s. The model name is a complete mystery, as this is pretty much a copy of the Martin D-18 dreadnaught and nothing seems to correspond to this. The “G” might stand for “guitar” or “Goya” or “good enough.” Who knows? As far as the “312,” that is anybody’s guess.

The triple-bound body has the traditional broad-shouldered shape, and there are 14 frets clear from the body. The top appears to be solid spruce, and the back and sides are mahogany, though I cannot tell if it is solid or a laminate. I am going with laminate until I figure out otherwise. The neck is mahogany with a rosewood overlay and a silkscreen inlaid logo that is fading, and the fretboard is rosewood too. The bridge is painted to look like ebony. Sad.

This guitar had been played regularly and was kept in a loving home, so it did not really need much attention when I got it. It has a good set-up and there are no repairs or unsightly damage to speak of.

It plays very well. The neck has a pleasantly rounded profile that is fairly slim and fast, and the tone is very rich and loud. The sounds is well balanced from string to string, though I think it would be nice to find a compensated bridge saddle as the intonation is just a touch off. Also, the sealed tuners are cheap and do not hold as well as I would like them to. But, it is certainly good enough for anything I will be doing with it, especially at the bargain basement price I paid for it.

I rarely see Goya guitars on the market as once players get their hands on them they do not let them go. Generally they are solid instruments, but it is a good idea to try before you buy (be careful with eBay), as I have run into a few clunkers and shoddy repairs. If you have one, post a comment below, I am curious what you think!

Mahalo!

34 comments:

  1. Hi,
    great post here. I still have my g312 I bought about 30 years ago and still sounds and plays great(ish)!

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  2. Hi Will

    They are really nice guitars for the money, and are certainly good enough for what most people are going to do with them.

    Thanks for checking in!

    Rex

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  3. I have a later model of this guitar, the bridge is not painted and the tuning pegs are different. It's been through hell and back and still has a warm and full sound. Thanks for this post.

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  4. I just got one as a gift in mint condition. He said he bought it in a pawn shop 30+ years ago. It has original closed Grover tuners. Supposed to be made in Japan around 1982. Dunno but sounds great and I'm definitely blessed to have it!

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    Replies
    1. Theses guitar are super paid a$100 for 5000 dollar sound ty goya I was told theses guitar parts where ship from USA awesome buy

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  5. I just got one this past week, and I think it is fantastic. I am no pro, more like a decent novice, learning really, but I play whole songs, and I love the way they sound on it and the action is very comfortable!

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    Replies
    1. You don't really need to pay 2 grand to get a good player, do you?

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  6. I like to play a guitar but i didn't it. But i have more interest to learn this and for this i buy one. Thank you so much for share your enjoy with us and we are very inspired to see you music love..

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    Replies
    1. Right on brother, thanks for the kind words!

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  7. Just picked up one of these, with a nice case, for $40.00. The saddle is very low, but taking the straightedge from the fretboard to the top of the bridge, it just misses clearance, so I don't think it is near a neck reset. But the saddle is very low. String height in front of the bridge, from soundboard to strings about 3/8" approx. Cutting it close, and again, with a very low saddle.

    Whomever had this used needle-nose pliers to remove the bridge pins. They are chewed up, but functional. My top is laminate spruce. No serial #. Made in Korea - my guess is early 80's, as the truss rod is inside the guitar like the Yamaha FGii models of the same era. The thing booms, with strings probably two years old, or more. Hoping I can get another saddle and maybe get a little lower action w/the truss rod, as I think there may be relief there (bending the neck back a bit gives me this hope!) I know truss rod adjustments have nothing to do really w/action, but I think an adjustment will help (how can it hurt?!) Action about 1/8" at the bass E, but again, with hardly any saddle. There is basically no break-angle at the treble E. Not much break angle in the other stings. Still, it sounds pretty good!

    A bit of bellying behind the bridge, but nothing radical. I am going to try and put a Tusq saddle replacement and see how high the action goes. Worst case scenario, I got a ncie case and some picks for $40.00! Wish me luck. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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    1. Added and shaved down a Tusq saddle and added Tusq bridge pins... Action at 12th fret 3/32". New Elixir nanoweb Custom Lights... She's back in service!

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    2. Hi! Glad to hear you got it set up the way you like it. Thanks for checking in! Rex

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  8. I just bought one in a pawn shop for $100.. you're right the tuners are the weakesr part of the guitar.. I had trouble locating a pesky buzz, which turned out to be one of the tuners needing attention..
    All in all, I'm really impressed with the G312.. great sounding guitar and literally sounds better than my $2,000 Taylor ... thanks for your post. . I appreciate the manufacturer history and specs. .

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    1. What else are you going to get for $100 - isn't this an awesome guitar for the money? Thanks for sharing your story, and play it in peace!

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  9. I have one I bought at an auction 30 years ago . Grover tuners and the C F Martin label . Plays great . It had a very high action on it when I got it and being an electric guy that had to go . It has a semi v neck great sound and stays in tune

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  10. I have a G312 that I believe was built in the early 90's. I got it about 25 years ago. The model number is G312 N. The serial number is 92111028. It has the C. F. Martin label on the inside. The keys are sealed and shaped like my Martin D35. It has be my throe-around guitar for many years. It plays and sounds good. The bridge area began to rise creating a hump in the front. I bought a humidifier sponge for acoustic guitars, put some paperback books on the raised area, and closed the case. The pressure and humidity helped. The bulge dispersed and the buzzing of the strings went away. I have not had any problems for the last six months. Repass

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  11. Are the sides and back Laminate?
    Top is solid? My version has the CF Martin logo on the head and closed Grovers
    Looking for an answer--thank you!

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  13. guitar songs that you may also enjoy. If you don't like the old songs, then list the songs you want to play and then pick the easiest based on the former two criteria. Learning guitar is definitely more enjoyable if you also like the songs you're playing. Guitar cover songs

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  14. I bought a g 312 with grover tuners and cf martin label, plays great tunes and stays in tune very rich tone action is great sounds better then my Taylor a lot of volume and clean notes l, was found up in an attic, was covered in dust but cleaned up new is at least 30 years old...

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  15. I have a goya label ssys cf martin nazareth pa.53c312.i had it about 24 years looks and sounds great

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  18. I have a Hoyas G380 and I love it I think it's a copy of a Gibson, I'm now looking at a Goya G 312 it really looks like a Martin D18 it plays well and sounds well I'm just wander in is 275.00 a good price for it?

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  19. I have a G318C.. the c is cutaway I think.. love my Goya!
    Mine says CF Martin in it and made in Korea.

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  22. Hi, I've had my Goya for many years and it's one of my "go to" guitars. Playability is just right for me. It's a G-312 and I'm curious about it's age. The Serial number for my favorite blonde is : 9204000032. Any help would be appreciated. Johndnorris1965@yahoo.com

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  23. I am the middle man if a free - to free delivery of Goya G312 serial # 92044430 (so close to 9204000032 the June 25, 2023 "anonymous" post The story is my local guitar teacher acquired the guitar when the owner passed on and she was asked to find a good home for the guitar, then I mentioned a lady in a local Baptist church had been looking for a guitar to lead music, So the arrangement is in place, I have enjoyed the guitar for a month and will deliver it next Sunday when I serve as the visiting preacher in her church.

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