Talk me out of buying a Fender Electric XII (Alternate Reality)

[Twang Deluxe]

Hello, since a year I dream of owning a Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII.

Pro: I play a lot of music from the 60s so there are many songs which I would like to play with it.

Cons: Price, no vintage specs (shape, no rotary switch, bridge), I already own a Martin D12x1 and nine other guitars

What do you think?
I'm also considering a Digitech Mosaic

 

[Twang Deluxe]

Has anyone of you already bought one?

 

[AAT65]

If I could find one I’d buy it! (Unless maybe it was the Sunburst...)

 

[bsman]

I just traded a couple of guitars for a Ric 330/12W and to an extent am regretting it. I know it will never get the same amount of play as my other guitars, but for that one trick, it's pretty cool. I had thought I would probably immediately flip it, but it's starting to grow on me.

Moral of the story: Never come here expecting to be talked out of making a purchase...

 

[rze99]

I won’t talk you out of it because I like the idea. Even as a Rickenbacker 330-12 owner.

 

[loopfinding]

if you want me to talk you out of it, i can only give my personal take...12 string acoustics are great both for solo arrangements and layering stuff. 12 string electrics have more specific cases, i wouldn't feel okay dropping that kind of money for something that limited. i'd be happier with a vintage spec maverick or something.

 

[hemingway]

I owned a 12-string once, but not for long. I wouldn't have one for free. I'd rather not play one or hear one ever again.

But if you want one I wouldn't talk you out of it.

 

[Danb541]

Hello, since a year I dream of owning a Fender Alternate Reality Electric XII.

Pro: I play a lot of music from the 60s so there are many songs which I would like to play with it.

Cons: Price, no vintage specs (shape, no rotary switch, bridge), I already own a Martin D12x1 and nine other guitars

What do you think?
I'm also considering a Digitech Mosaic

What? Are you crazy? Those things suck. Good luck keeping it in tune.

You asked to be talked out of it. There you go.

 

[SixStringSlinger]

The only way I won't buy one is if they come out with a Squier version before I pull the trigger. The bridge looks like an improvement to me (not that I've played a vintage XII), and is the shape really that different?

I would change the switch to a rotary one, which can't be that hard. And didn't the old ones have a series option? It would probably be cool either way.

They are a bit expensive and a bit of a niche guitar. But I want one.

 

[Twang Deluxe]

The only way I won't buy one is if they come out with a Squier version before I pull the trigger. The bridge looks like an improvement to me (not that I've played a vintage XII), and is the shape really that different?

A Squier would be very great

I would change the switch to a rotary one, which can't be that hard. And didn't the old ones have a series option? It would probably be cool either way.

They are a bit expensive and a bit of a niche guitar. But I want one.

 

[rze99]

What? Are you crazy? Those things suck. Good luck keeping it in tune.

You asked to be talked out of it. There you go.

Pathetic!

 

[rze99]

I wanted an electric 12 string forever and there was never a “good enough reason”. But when I got one I ended up using it live an 5 tracks in a set and it massively enhanced them. Ok it’s not gonna get played all day every day but what a fab thing to have in your stable. Once you get the hang of tuning it it’s easy. Keep the action low and use ground wound strings for a focused jangle.

 

[Danb541]

Pathetic!

I was joking...I thought it was obvious... my bad. He asked to be talked out of it. Just trying to help the guy. In reality, I think the guitar is super cool.

 

[41144]

As an Alternate Reality guitar ... that is a 'nice' one and a lack of 'vintage specs' might make it more playable.

But, and basically along with a couple of others, for the quoted music genre ....

There's a Ric 620 in Fireglo 12-string here in an independent Guitar store in Brum, new, for £2500! Same shop recently sold a midnight blue 330 12 string for c. £2700 ....

ie at the Fender price (looks like c. £2000 here) - you're really not far off a Ric !

 

[Chiogtr4x]

Johnny Winter strung one as a 6 string at Woodstock and it sounded great!

 

[Mike_LA]

Ok, here's my way to talk you out of it.
Patience..........
I also wanted a 12 string but like most I thought it wouldn't see enough play. This crystallized when I bought a beautiful Ric 381 12 string. A beautiful instrument but I traded it for 2 guitars that I thought I would use more. Don't regret that trade at all. Now, I still wanted a 12 string and kept my eye open for one. There were a few near misses but no sale. The one thing that I found was that there are a bunch of no name 12 string guitars that are pretty good. The one that I settled on is a Saratoga. Rumored to be a Jay Turser But it's well made,stays in tune, has a nice wide neck, nice pups, and under $400.

Worth the wait, I love it.

 

[Danb541]

Johnny Winter strung one as a 6 string at Woodstock and it sounded great!
View attachment 777244

That's pretty cool, great picture. I think Johnny could make about any guitar sound great. I'm a big fan of him, he could really rip some leads.

 

[Chiogtr4x]

That's pretty cool, great picture. I think Johnny could make about any guitar sound great. I'm a big fan of him, he could really rip some leads.

Just got his first album a week ago- familiar with the songs on it, but never owned recording
For this record he used a Fender Mustang and an Epiphone Wilshire ( pre-Firebird days)

He got his sound out of anything, any guitar. Just Amazing ( I got Second Winter last year!)

 

[rze99]

I was joking...I thought it was obvious... my bad. He asked to be talked out of it. Just trying to help the guy. In reality, I think the guitar is super cool.

I know. you were. I got it. He doesn’t want to talked out of it he wants support to buy it. We get it LOL. It’s what we are here for to encourage guitar people
M

 

[AAT65]

As an Alternate Reality guitar ... that is a 'nice' one and a lack of 'vintage specs' might make it more playable.

But, and basically along with a couple of others, for the quoted music genre ....

There's a Ric 620 in Fireglo 12-string here in an independent Guitar store in Brum, new, for £2500! Same shop recently sold a midnight blue 330 12 string for c. £2700 ....

ie at the Fender price (looks like c. £2000 here) - you're really not far off a Ric !

List price for an Alternate Reality Electric XII was I think £849 and some shops had them as cheap as £700 or so — so less than a third the cost of a new Ric — but as far as I can see they are all sold and haven’t started turning up on Reverb and eBay.
A vintage (1960s) Electric XII will definitely set you back at least £3k. (Which didn’t stop Thurston Moore just stuffing his back in a gig bag after his show...)
Here are some alternative Electric 12-strings I’m aware of in the £500-£1k bracket:

• Danelectro — DC59 12 and the new 59X 12
• Eastwood Surfcaster 12
• Reverend Airwave 12
• Italia Rimini 12 or Jeffrey Foskett
• Dean Boca 12

I’m very interested in getting an electric 12-string... I want to try a Ric to see if it’s worth looking for a secondhand one (though really they have too many knobs), otherwise the Surfcaster 12 is interesting and so are the Danelectros.