Fender Electric XII Model 12 String Solid Body Electric Guitar (1966), made in Fullerton, California, sunburst lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
The "Electric XII" is perhaps not one of Fender's best-remembered creations, but is a good-sounding and extremely practical guitar. Introduced at the dawn of the CBS era, the Fender 12-string married the popular Jaguar/Jazzmaster body to a new neck with a distinctive "hockey stick" headstock. The electronics are unique as well, with two pickups each with two separate coil units, as pioneered by the Precision Bass. The bridge is beautifully engineered with 12 adjustable saddles, and it must be considered the best unit of its kind ever attempted.
Fender unfortunately missed the boat on the electric 12-string fad and by the time the "Electric XII" came to market in mid-65, Rickenbacker had already pretty much reaped the bulk of benefit of the Byrds' and Beatles' popularization of the sound. For all that, the guitar is a very good design and an excellent-sounding stage or recording instrument, albeit without the Rick's trademark jangle. Led Zeppelin, the Velvet Underground, and others have made classic recordings with this model, and much of its potential is perhaps still untapped.
Overall length is 42 7/8 in. (108.9 cm.), 14 in. (35.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
Very clean and original; minor wear overall. A fine-playing and sounding example. Excellent Condition.
