Electric twelve string recommendations

For guitars of the straight waisted variety (or reverse offset).
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raindog13
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Electric twelve string recommendations

Post by raindog13 » Tue Aug 07, 2018 6:50 pm

Just watched a review of a Reverend Airwave. It seems like a pretty cool guitar. Anyone own one? How about other twelves? In a perfecct world, I'd get a Fender Electric XII, but I don't have at least $3000 to drop on one. Who recommends what?

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Re: Electric twelve string recommendations

Post by oid » Tue Aug 07, 2018 7:05 pm

Personally I like the cheap old heavily built acoustic 12 with the pickup of choice mounted in the sound hole. The decreased sympathetic vibration of the octave strings caused by the less than active solid/semi hollow bodies just ruins the fun of a 12 string for me.

For the proper electrics, Ric always had the best 12 string sound to me, but string changes suck on the octave strings with those stupid little grooves, definitely a form over function choice there.
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Re: Electric twelve string recommendations

Post by Unicorn Warrior » Tue Aug 07, 2018 7:09 pm

Had a vintage Vox Phantom 12 for a while. A fun guitar. They have crept up in price though.

Fender makes a MIJ strat 12 that can be found under a grand used.

Rics..although I've never tried


I used an old Goya acoustic 12 in the studio to layer some sounds and it sounded great.

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Re: Electric twelve string recommendations

Post by marqueemoon » Tue Aug 07, 2018 8:19 pm

The reissue Danos mostly get it right.

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Re: Electric twelve string recommendations

Post by sirspens » Tue Aug 07, 2018 9:47 pm

The Coronados came in 12s, as well.

I'm enjoying my new Coronado so much, I'm going to proselytize it. I imagine it would sound really good as a 12.

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Re: Electric twelve string recommendations

Post by oid » Tue Aug 07, 2018 11:08 pm

I bet a Coronado 12 would be pretty great, have not had the chance to try one of those yet.
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Re: Electric twelve string recommendations

Post by fortytwo » Wed Aug 08, 2018 1:27 am

Fender also made some 12 string Strats. They show up on ebay from time to time.

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Re: Electric twelve string recommendations

Post by Ceylon » Wed Aug 08, 2018 1:38 am

Despite there being a few things in the design I don't particularly agree with, the Revelation RJT-60/12, as an instrument, is a great 12-string built for the purpose of being a 12-string (wide, reinforced neck rather than a 6-string neck with more tuners) and comes in the Jazzmaster shape, so it sort of approximates the Electric XII.

I wish it didn't have a vibrato and the tone switch that it comes with, although someone else might be really into those exact features. What it is is a great playing, great sounding electric 12 for between 300-400€.

EDIT: I guess they stopped making them, but you could probably find one second hand.
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Re: Electric twelve string recommendations

Post by wingnutkj » Wed Aug 08, 2018 5:09 am

Seconded on the Revelation - great instruments at a very good price.

I've not tried a Reverend 12, but they make great guitars, and seem like a really good company who are doing interesting things. I've got a Wattplower bass, and I love it.
Kenny

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Re: Electric twelve string recommendations

Post by shadowplay » Wed Aug 08, 2018 6:45 am

Not affilated in any way but the 1960's red Baldwin 12 in for sale would be my first port of call if I was after an incredibly well priced 12'.

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Re: Electric twelve string recommendations

Post by raindog13 » Wed Aug 08, 2018 8:08 am

Ceylon wrote:
Wed Aug 08, 2018 1:38 am
Despite there being a few things in the design I don't particularly agree with, the Revelation RJT-60/12, as an instrument, is a great 12-string built for the purpose of being a 12-string (wide, reinforced neck rather than a 6-string neck with more tuners) and comes in the Jazzmaster shape, so it sort of approximates the Electric XII.

I wish it didn't have a vibrato and the tone switch that it comes with, although someone else might be really into those exact features. What it is is a great playing, great sounding electric 12 for between 300-400€.

EDIT: I guess they stopped making them, but you could probably find one second hand.

Aaannnddddd now I'm pining after one of these. Wow, what an awesome guitar for the price. The key is to now find one!

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Re: Electric twelve string recommendations

Post by DarnWeight » Wed Aug 08, 2018 8:22 am

if you play a lot of 12-string, you owe it to yourself to at least try out a couple of RICs. I had a 1993 Plus until very recently, and it was just the fact that I didn't play it enough that led to me trading it. Sound great, well made, unique feel. If I get the chance to pick up something cheaper down the line, that I won't mind sitting idle some of the time, it'll probably be a Dano.

The one I regret letting go of was a Phantom Guitarworks Teardrop XII (Vox style), a full hollow body. It probably played a little better than the RIC, and had a really unique 12-string sound...effortlessly nailed those Will Sargeant /Bunnymen sounds.

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Re: Electric twelve string recommendations

Post by Telliot » Wed Aug 08, 2018 8:25 am

marqueemoon wrote:
Tue Aug 07, 2018 8:19 pm
The reissue Danos mostly get it right.
Seriously. Don't sleep on these.
The cool thing about fretless is you can hit a note...and then renegotiate.

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Re: Electric twelve string recommendations

Post by pad » Wed Aug 08, 2018 9:25 am

Telliot wrote:
Wed Aug 08, 2018 8:25 am
marqueemoon wrote:
Tue Aug 07, 2018 8:19 pm
The reissue Danos mostly get it right.
Seriously. Don't sleep on these.
You should def. try them out!
A friend of mine owns one, i could never bound with it, but he really likes it a lot .
Even tho i love my Rickenbacker, but its 6string.

But I've had the topic pretty much on my own mind too and didn't found a real answer myself jet.
Does every 12string is somewhat a hit or miss situation?

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Re: Electric twelve string recommendations

Post by cestlamort » Wed Aug 08, 2018 11:39 am

I’ll echo the recommendations for a Rickenbacker- they’re a in different class. (Worth getting one of the new spacing nuts if it’s an older one).

Dream 12: old Guild Starfire xii (don’t know about the reissues but I’m suspicious of the stop tail)

Random old ones worth considering: Baldwin, ovation, hagstrom, eko

Smart newer bargain: danelectro

I had a Venus xii and didn’t really like it. Sounded okay but I think I prefer hollow or semi hollow instead.

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