Re: recommend me an electric 12-string..

noirengineer · Post by **noirengineer** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:02 pm

I really want a nice twelve-stringer electric guitar.. any suggestions?
so far I'm really leaning towards the rickenbacker 360/12 with "rick-o-sound"
I want that bright "stereo" type twang tone, but it seems like a lot to spend
right now, especially since it's not a main axe.. although i'd still be interested
in their rivals and any cheaper "pawn-style" alternatives..

soundhack · Post by **soundhack** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:34 pm

the dano sound is in the same ballpark as the rick sound (bright single coil, small hollow body). there's usually one or two on ebay. not a lot out there in electric 12 strings right now... there's the 12 string strat, dipinto, dean boca, and jerry jones.

how about some pictures...

soundhack · Post by **soundhack** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:37 pm

oh and i forgot about eastwood....

DB · Post by DB » Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:57 pm

Have you PLAYED a Ric yet? Yes they sound great, but the necks are narrow, string spacing is tight, and intonation can be a bitch. I'm speaking from experience with a 660/12 TP and 360/12.

May I suggest a Fender Electric XII? Not quite the Ric tone, but still really nice, wider playable neck, and no intonation issues. By the way, Page used one on Stairway to Heaven -- that will give you an idea of the tone.

DB

soundhack · Post by **soundhack** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:10 pm

the green one is a jerry jones 12 string...

like DB says - a rick is close spaced and difficult to play (i have a 6 string 360, and thats almost too tight). i'd check out the dano, and the jerry jones. the combination of single coils and hollow body gives you a pretty close sound to a rick.

btw, danos are cheap guitars - construction can be hit and miss. jerry jones will be much more consistent (jerry jones is intended to be a quality version of a dano).

i'd have no problems with the fender xii either (but they are rather rare).

garyelcrrt · Post by **garyelcrrt** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:24 pm

You might give serious consideration to an Epiphone Elitist Riviera 12-string. Mine is perfect for fit/finish, action a bit high from the factory but easily corrected.

Ooo. Sorry about the size. Haven't figured out resize yet.

soundhack · Post by **soundhack** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:30 pm

one other - phantom guitar works makes their guitars in 12 (both teardrop and coffin). this clip will give you an idea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t3puGzPAkg

though that's a 9 string!

Post by **Jay** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 10:37 am

I went through this awhile back and ended up choosing an Electric XII (even though I wanted to spend under 1k

). The only real insight I can offer was that I hated the Eastwood but YMMV. The Dano's look killer though and the Jerry Jones even more so.

Here's an old post on the same subject too...
index.php?topic=1669.0

idiotbear · Post by **idiotbear** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 10:42 am

You can get old Vox Phantom XIIs for reasonable money (by vintage standards). I played one from about 1979 the same day I played a 100% original '65 Fender Electric XII, and the Vox was better. The Electric XII looks nicer, IMHO, but I loved the sound of the Vox.

I love Ricks, but as has been observed before, the necks can be a little bit of an acquired taste.

Post by **i love sharin foo** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 4:58 pm

garyelcrrt wrote: You might give serious consideration to an Epiphone Elitist Riviera 12-string. Mine is perfect for fit/finish, action a bit high from the factory but easily corrected.

Ooo. Sorry about the size. Haven't figured out resize yet.

O h man! That is beautiful! I really wanted one of the regular 6 strinf Rivieras for a while. I bet the 12 string sounds great

Do you have any more photos? That finish looks really, really good.

Justin

northern_dirt · Post by **northern_dirt** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 5:49 pm

I have the dano 12 string..
Its ok... I really have nothing to comapre it to..
but Id liek soemthing eventually a little better made..
a fender xii if I can find one that doesnt break the bank..

northern_dirt · Post by **northern_dirt** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 8:18 pm

Well, it currently needs the intonation corrected..
but it seems to lose tune pretty fast.. Might need to
just play it more, I got it about 2 months ago and the guy
put new strings on it..

I paid $350 for it, and there really isnt any other electric
12's in that range, at least not up here.. it does seem to
be pretty cheaply made, but it gets the job done.. playing the
5th strings open and letting it resonate while playing notes up
the neck on the 4th set of strings sounds pretty cool and trippy
you get a sorta sitaresque buzzing out of it..

northern_dirt · Post by **northern_dirt** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 8:27 pm

Yeah I enjoy it.. and it really piqued my interest in a fender xii..

I had only tried out acoustic 12's years ago (16-18 years) and found I had trouble playing them..
They arnet so hard now

tremolite · Post by **tremolite** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 9:23 pm

This is my old Dano. It played really nice and would intonate near perfectly. The PU's were certainly not the best and the electronics overall could certainly benefit from an upgrade. Overall though it was a structurally sound instrument, worth every bit of the $300 I paid for it brand new. I would recommend always using a compressor pedal with any electric XII to even things out and really emphasize the "kerrrang." I also used Pyramid Gold flat's on this guitar which was probably the best thing I ever did for it. The best strings for XII's bar none.

soundhack · Post by **soundhack** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 9:31 pm

scanning ebay for 12 strings i came across this one... that B tailpiece is pretty awesome.