For a long time now I've been toying with the idea of buying an electric 12-string. But all the ones I see are either hugely expensive, fugly or both. In an ideal world what I'd really like is an original Fender Electric XII, but they seem to be £3k plus if you can find one at all. Likewise the original Vox Teardrops and so on, and they have a bad reputation for playability. The other Fender 12-strings all fall into the fugly category to me, including the "reissue" Electric XII. I don't get on with Rickenbackers. Not awfully keen on Danelectro, Italia etc. What else is out there? Budget... roughly what I could get in trade for a ’70s Fender Mustang, I guess.
Comments
There are also various 80s Japanese ones from the brief resurgence back then - Aria, Ibanez etc. Or a Charvel Surfcaster from the 90s (which have very wide-flat necks).
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Burns Double Six.
To be honest, having tried many and owned several other electric 12's, I would go for a Danelectro - they sound good and play nicely and used ones can be found at a decent price.
I've had a Burns re-issue Double Six that I found very uninspiring; massive and unfriendly neck and rather lifeless pickups.
If you can find one, the old DeArmond S73-12 is excellent - I very much regret selling mine. Very playable neck and fantastic pickups offering very good variety of sounds. However these seem to have become like the proverbial hens' teeth.
I'd recommend avoiding the old Hondo Fame electric 12, basically because the one I had (well still own in a state of disrepair) was such a dog.
Aria used to do one back in the day... not sure of the designation, although on googling, I found a thread on this very site. Very nice guitar but I would imagine also difficult to find and also expensive.
There are of course the Vintage (brand!) 335-style 12's which are quite reasonable (I've seen them for less than £400 new on ebay) although I've not tried one.
Also, Fender did a bungled re-hash of the Electric XII a year or two ago, which has it's fans, although again, I haven't seen one for a while, but they do have the look of the original although not vintage spec.
Bandcamp
Spotify, Apple et al
R.
Eqd Speaker Cranker clone
Monte Allums TR-2 Plus mod kit
Trading feedback: http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/60602/
R.
Eqd Speaker Cranker clone
Monte Allums TR-2 Plus mod kit
Trading feedback: http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/60602/
If I was after another 12 I'd certainly look at it - make them an offer, do some haggling!
Trading feedback: Previous (+18) and Current
Also this (put down the pitchfork's lads) https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_rb_612cs_classic_series.htm
Loads of others at all price points too https://www.thomann.de/gb/12_string_guitars.html?oa=prd
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Bandcamp
Oh man I really like the look of the the Pacifica in that thread...
:-)