If anything it's probably better for the neck in the long term. 12-strings of all kinds are notorious for developing unfixable bows over the years.X-Ray Spex wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2020 7:34 amGood to know it's a viable option, I wonder if there'd be any long term issues for the truss rod from the lack of tension.bessieboporbach wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2020 7:30 amI tried it. Sounded and felt really nice. Honestly as a 6-string it just kind of sounds like a much less noisy Jazzmaster. The really wide fretboard helps deal with the string spacing issues that some JMs have.X-Ray Spex wrote: ↑Wed Aug 05, 2020 8:33 amSo is anyone playing these as a 6 string yet? Always loved the pickups and the shape but 12 strings is just 6 too many for me.
Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String
- bessieboporbach
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:40 am
Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String
- burpgun
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 835
- Joined: Sun Dec 20, 2009 10:15 am
- Location: east coast
Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String
How'd you get that price? I just paid $9 for shipping for a pearloid guard for a sherwood green Mustang bass and got it in three days. It was the cheapest option too.Jubaea wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2020 7:54 am$29 for the pickguard, $103 for shipping, are they crazy ?burpgun wrote: ↑Wed Aug 05, 2020 6:50 amHey folks, you can get a replacement pick guard for your AR XII now, in just about whatever color scheme you want. Wavering between black and pearloid for my white XII. https://www.wdmusic.com/wd-custom-pickg ... tails.html
- Jubaea
- PAT PEND
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Sat Jul 13, 2019 1:39 am
Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String
I'm in France, and they only offer me UPS ... the last time I bought a pickguard from WD, I paid $ 36 for shipping to France with USPS.burpgun wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2020 8:23 amHow'd you get that price? I just paid $9 for shipping for a pearloid guard for a sherwood green Mustang bass and got it in three days. It was the cheapest option too.Jubaea wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2020 7:54 am$29 for the pickguard, $103 for shipping, are they crazy ?burpgun wrote: ↑Wed Aug 05, 2020 6:50 amHey folks, you can get a replacement pick guard for your AR XII now, in just about whatever color scheme you want. Wavering between black and pearloid for my white XII. https://www.wdmusic.com/wd-custom-pickg ... tails.html
@vargasrockmusic
- SignoftheDragon
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 2314
- Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2010 11:06 am
- Location: Utah, USA
- Contact:
Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String
I just want y'all to know that this is heresy of the highest order. We've waited DECADES for a real Fender XII reissue, and y'all are already talking about clipping their wings?bessieboporbach wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2020 8:21 amIf anything it's probably better for the neck in the long term. 12-strings of all kinds are notorious for developing unfixable bows over the years.X-Ray Spex wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2020 7:34 amGood to know it's a viable option, I wonder if there'd be any long term issues for the truss rod from the lack of tension.bessieboporbach wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2020 7:30 am
I tried it. Sounded and felt really nice. Honestly as a 6-string it just kind of sounds like a much less noisy Jazzmaster. The really wide fretboard helps deal with the string spacing issues that some JMs have.
Re: the neck-bowing issue- I think that for the most part that notoriety comes from cheaply made and poorly cared for instruments. Sure, I've come across a few bowed necks in my time, but maybe just barely over the average you'd see on 6-string guitars. My (all-time-favorite) Surfcaster 12-strings have the most obscenely thin necks of any 12er i've played, (think Ibanez shredder-guitar thin) but I've never found one with a neck-bow issue. I'm pretty sure that most manufacturers of the last several decades have figured out ways to compensate for the extra string tension, etc.
- Musjagjazz
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 447
- Joined: Sun Jul 21, 2013 8:57 am
Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String
Any case pics yet?SignoftheDragon wrote: ↑Tue Jun 16, 2020 8:33 amAlright- the case question:
I bought 2 Gator GW-JAG model cases (Best Offer'd on ebay - $110 each with free shipping) and they will work splendidly- after a slight modification.
The interior of the case has some foam padding at the butt end that needs to be compressed ALL THE WAY to the wood to make room for the tip of the headstock to clear the top of the case when it closes. The case specs actually read an inch short for the 42" long guitar, but there's about 1 1/4" of padding combined at the top and bottom ends.
(pic coming)
I bought a couple bar clamps at Harbor Freight ($4bux each) to squoosh the foam down- I'll leave them on for a few days to give it memory, and then close the guitars in to let the shape settle.
(pic coming)
The custom-build Texas Toast XII (built from the Faction Guitars template) is about 1/8" shorter than the Fender in total length- imperceptible except for the tight tolerances for the case fit. It fits ever-so-slightly easier, but they both are snug in their new hardshell cocoons!
(pic coming)
- bessieboporbach
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:40 am
Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String
You're probably right, but I've heard of a lot of Strat XIIs and Danelectros that have gone screwy over the years.SignoftheDragon wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 8:09 amI just want y'all to know that this is heresy of the highest order. We've waited DECADES for a real Fender XII reissue, and y'all are already talking about clipping their wings?bessieboporbach wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2020 8:21 amIf anything it's probably better for the neck in the long term. 12-strings of all kinds are notorious for developing unfixable bows over the years.X-Ray Spex wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2020 7:34 am
Good to know it's a viable option, I wonder if there'd be any long term issues for the truss rod from the lack of tension.
Re: the neck-bowing issue- I think that for the most part that notoriety comes from cheaply made and poorly cared for instruments. Sure, I've come across a few bowed necks in my time, but maybe just barely over the average you'd see on 6-string guitars. My (all-time-favorite) Surfcaster 12-strings have the most obscenely thin necks of any 12er i've played, (think Ibanez shredder-guitar thin) but I've never found one with a neck-bow issue. I'm pretty sure that most manufacturers of the last several decades have figured out ways to compensate for the extra string tension, etc.
The Alternative Reality XII has some beef to the neck though so I think it'll be ok. Playing it as a six-string is something I save for when it's time to change the strings. I too have been waiting decades for it and I'm happy with the way God made it!
- X-Ray Spex
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 1269
- Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2014 7:18 am
Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String
My logic is that we might've gotten the XII reissue but we still haven't gotten a proper Maverick reissue (I don't count the Dorado as a proper reissue due to the Gibson Scale, wrong bridge and wrong pickups). By putting 6 strings only on the XII you essentially get a hardtail Maverick with the correct pickups etc.SignoftheDragon wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 8:09 amI just want y'all to know that this is heresy of the highest order. We've waited DECADES for a real Fender XII reissue, and y'all are already talking about clipping their wings?bessieboporbach wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2020 8:21 amIf anything it's probably better for the neck in the long term. 12-strings of all kinds are notorious for developing unfixable bows over the years.X-Ray Spex wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2020 7:34 am
Good to know it's a viable option, I wonder if there'd be any long term issues for the truss rod from the lack of tension.
Re: the neck-bowing issue- I think that for the most part that notoriety comes from cheaply made and poorly cared for instruments. Sure, I've come across a few bowed necks in my time, but maybe just barely over the average you'd see on 6-string guitars. My (all-time-favorite) Surfcaster 12-strings have the most obscenely thin necks of any 12er i've played, (think Ibanez shredder-guitar thin) but I've never found one with a neck-bow issue. I'm pretty sure that most manufacturers of the last several decades have figured out ways to compensate for the extra string tension, etc.
''It's not what you play, it's what you play'' - Troy Van Leeuwen
- burpgun
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 835
- Joined: Sun Dec 20, 2009 10:15 am
- Location: east coast
Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String
I’m not sure if this got answered somewhere in this mega thread but are the AR XII pickups really recreations of the originals? Mine him in a way that makes me think they’re just singles separated to look like the vintage ones, which I assume were wired like P-bass pickups. Feel free to school me here.
- bessieboporbach
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:40 am
Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String
They are not recreations of the originals, no, but the originals were not like P bass pickups. They were not reverse wound, reverse polarity so they were not noise cancelling, unlike P bass pickups. And neither are the new AR ones.burpgun wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2020 8:18 amI’m not sure if this got answered somewhere in this mega thread but are the AR XII pickups really recreations of the originals? Mine him in a way that makes me think they’re just singles separated to look like the vintage ones, which I assume were wired like P-bass pickups. Feel free to school me here.
- burpgun
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 835
- Joined: Sun Dec 20, 2009 10:15 am
- Location: east coast
Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String
Thanks for that. Was there some reason to do the split coils then? I have zero experience with an original XII, so if there's something I'm missing out on, I have no idea. No complaints with the pickups in the AR XII, I'll add.bessieboporbach wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2020 1:27 pmThey are not recreations of the originals, no, but the originals were not like P bass pickups. They were not reverse wound, reverse polarity so they were not noise cancelling, unlike P bass pickups. And neither are the new AR ones.burpgun wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2020 8:18 amI’m not sure if this got answered somewhere in this mega thread but are the AR XII pickups really recreations of the originals? Mine him in a way that makes me think they’re just singles separated to look like the vintage ones, which I assume were wired like P-bass pickups. Feel free to school me here.
- bessieboporbach
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:40 am
Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String
I genuinely have no idea why the original XII pickups weren't RWRP (noise-cancelling) like P-bass pickups, but there must have been a reason. Generally the rationale for Leo Fender's electronics tweaks was to reduce noise and distortion and increase treble output, so he probably thought that the split but not RWRP design of the XII would achieve one or more of those goals.burpgun wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2020 1:49 pmThanks for that. Was there some reason to do the split coils then? I have zero experience with an original XII, so if there's something I'm missing out on, I have no idea. No complaints with the pickups in the AR XII, I'll add.bessieboporbach wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2020 1:27 pmThey are not recreations of the originals, no, but the originals were not like P bass pickups. They were not reverse wound, reverse polarity so they were not noise cancelling, unlike P bass pickups. And neither are the new AR ones.burpgun wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2020 8:18 amI’m not sure if this got answered somewhere in this mega thread but are the AR XII pickups really recreations of the originals? Mine him in a way that makes me think they’re just singles separated to look like the vintage ones, which I assume were wired like P-bass pickups. Feel free to school me here.
It was the last pickup he designed at Fender and he did revisit the split-coil design at G&L, so he must have thought there was something to it.
- unreal77
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 468
- Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2011 10:10 am
Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String
Is Fender going to keep making these? I need to know so I can search for a used one in case...
- bessieboporbach
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2020 4:40 am
Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String
Except for earlier mock-ups, all Alternate Reality XIIs were manufactured in 2019.
As for whether they're going to make XIIs again any time soon, your guess is as good as anyone's. The custom shop makes XIIs very occasionally. Any future mass-produced model is perhaps more likely to be badged Squier.
- AnArmyOfJuan
- PAT PEND
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 2:33 pm
- Location: Detroit, MI
Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String
I'm hoping to pick one up in the next week or two (an unnamed store has two in stock that I've played previously), and I happen to already have a G&G case for my VM Bass VI that I'm pretty sure it'll fit into. I felt silly buying a $200 case for my (at the time) $350 Bass VI, but if the XII fits it'll make a lot more sense.
- AaronXII
- PAT PEND
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Tue Jun 16, 2020 4:11 pm
- Contact:
Re: Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII 12-String
Replaced pick guard with 3 Layer white guard
Switched our the 3way toggle for a 4 way rotary switch to get an extra tonal option.
+ Daka-ware leveler knob for vintage XII vibes.
Switched our the 3way toggle for a 4 way rotary switch to get an extra tonal option.
+ Daka-ware leveler knob for vintage XII vibes.
- Bridge
- Bridge + Neck ( Series )
- Bridge + Neck ( Parallel )
- Neck