Eastwood Guitars Specter 12

This is a Korean made copy of the 12 string Vox Phantom. 3 pickups in a Str*t configuration; only available in black. I bought mine from a seller on eBay in 2004, but the guitar was available from the myrareguitars.com guy a while back.

I had been looking for a 12 string electric at the time (ya know, to help broaden the sound palette), but I didn't want to spend the kind of money needed to get a full-on Rickenbacker. I was eyeing some other models (danelectros, fender etc.), and I stumbled across this guy's website (myrareguitars.com/eastwood; if you are into retro styled guitars you've got to check this site out). I was going to buy it from there but I found a cheaper, newish one on ebay.

As to the sound, the pickups sound kinda cheap; well...because they are cheap. There's a huge volume discrepancy between the neck and bridge pickups and they're a little noisy. But you do get a nice 12-string sound out of it; you also can get those funky str*t sounds out of it. It's essentially like the current Fender 12-string Stratocaster, except for the funky body shape and it's probably not as well made. I tend to prefer the neck pick up; it gives a fuller tone (think "Thank You" by Led Zep...actually Jimmy did use the Vox Phantom 12 on those early recordings!). The middle and treble pickups are usable and pretty much get close to the Byrds sound; I'm not as fanatical as that other reviewer...

I received my guitar in great shape, didn't have to adjust anything! The neck seems well suited for 12 strings.

Everything about the guitar seems fairly stable. The strap pins are a bit iffy; the one at the end of the body is situated weirdly at a slope so I may consider replacing them. Also, the body shape is uncomfortable and it is neck heavy so you'll have to keep your hand on it (I think this has been mentioned already).

I haven't dealt directly with the company.

I'm not a big expert on twelve string guitars but this one is just really fun to play. I'm getting great sounds out of it for my recordings (psych/power pop type stuff); and it's just cool looking to boot! This company also has some other cool guitars (I'm eyeing a "sidejack" mosrite copy with bigsby right now!!). If I lost this one (perish the thought) I don't know what I'd do, as I don't think it's available anymore. Maybe I'd go with a strat 12 string, but it wouldn't have the same vibe!

same features as the other guy's guitar..it is black with 3 single coil pickups and a stud tailpiece..--headstock is grafted on to the neck--its seems solid enough-----i bought mine new on ebay--the world's marketplace--frets are good...tuners seem ok..nut is shite.......

ok--i'm gonna tell you guys how to make this 300 dollar guitar play and sound cool-- --to get the real byrds and beatle sound out of it..but you gotta work with it---(i dont care what the previous reviewer said..this guitar will NOT give a true byrds or beatles record sound..the way it arrives to your door)..
--to begin with---this guitar arrived to me with the worst setup that you can imagine----it was made in korea, boxed up...shipped over on a boat..and the guy that sells them---myrareguitars.com, he doesnt do jack to them--he just ships them to you---mine had a hell of a neck bow---the action was way high and the pickups were all out of balance height wise----i didn't get mad---i got my tools out--i wasnt expecting a prize for 300 bucks----most 60's guitar fans realize..that to get the true byrds/beatles sound..you need to use pyramid flatwound strings---they're magic...---my guitar sounded like crap with the factory strings----i put some pyramid light gauge flatwound strings on it--the set starts with a 10 gauge little 'e' string---the sound they produce is amazing(10 fold better than what comes on this guitar)---unfortunately---they have so much metal in them, they create a lot of tension....after i put them on, the neck bowed even more...i had to tweak the living hell out of the neck to get the action low-----this guitar has a really wide neck...so, its very easy to make chords and to do single line stuff without running into all the other strings...that's the big plus on this guitar-plus..it looks real cool too...----if you can't do setup work..dont put these strings on this guitar....take it to a good tech..the nut on this guitar will not accomodate pyramid flats on the 2 big strings---...the slots are cut very narrow......you will have to file the slots out some....and the nut is plastic and it breaks real easy..so ..beware...thats 40 more bucks you gotta pay a tech......i ended up having to lower my bridge all the way down and having to tweak the truss rod about to the limit---but...i got it right...i got the action superlow.....but..beware..overtweaking can bust your fretboard...i got lucky----mine plays really easy now....since this guitar has a bolt on neck, you could possibly shim the neck...but that only lowers the overall action, it doesn't take a bow out of the neck...................so.....on to the story...........the extra secret you need...to turn this 300 piece of korean wood into a tone machine----you need 2 things----a good compressor (like the keeley clone of the gray ross compressor...and a treble booster (like the keeley java boost or the dallas rangemaster or the z vex SUPER HARD ON..(this is what i use..i highly recommend this pedal)............put the pyramids on...tweak the living hell out of the shitty korean neck---run it through a good compressor and then through a treble booster and you got THE sound....i mean...dead on to a BYRDS record----you dont need no vox amp if you aint got one--i use a princeton reverb and the sound is amazing---i had to work for about 2 hours...but i got this guitar to work for me----i would highly recommend this guitar over a danelectro 12....they have the most stupid set up..the truss rod adjustment is....on the heel of the neck...you have to take the neck off of the body to adjust the neck....this..could take, literally, days....of adjusting...stringing...readjusting..etc...not a good idea..dano.....so---if you already have a good compressor (i dont mean a shitty one) and a treble booster----then the 25 dollars for the pyramid strings will get you there----let me tell you BYRDS fans a fact...roger (jim) Mcguinn didnt get his trademark 12 string sound from just playing his new 12 string rick through an amp and then straight to tape..the columbia engineers compresed the dog doodoo out of his signal..they used 2 compressors in fact...they squeezed his sound down really hard and made it shrill , yet fat and singing......and very easy to mix ...in my opinion, you c

from the factory--set up is a joke---read my above comment on this matter...it can be fixed...but it has to be by YOU...or a tech--the nut on this guitar is a plastic piece of crap--for 300 bucks...this guitar isnt bad...it isnt real heavy....and it looks very cool too

the guitar is way neck heavy...meaning ..the headstock dives towards the floor when you let go of the neck----ricks dont do that..but they cost a whole lot---my advice......hold on to he neck-- .......also..the guitar is about impossible to play when you are seated.....thats just a function of the shape..not a manufacturing flaw..

they guy i got mine from is the importer--he will answer your email...

i give the sound after i set it up--a 9.......before i set it up---i give it a 6........no 300 dollar guitar is worth a 10 rating---i wish there was one out there...but...come on..be realisitic here....

this is the eastwood guitars 12-string version of the vox phantom.2003?made in china,21 frets,bolt on maple neck,rosewood fretboard,light body..not sure what kind of wood,3 single coils,1 volume,2 tone controls..one has push/pull for lead/rhythm,5 way switch.same features as the specter6 minus the whammy bar.glossy black finish w/white pickguard and chrome hardware/knobs.mine came with a right angle cable.

60's flashback in a box..i tuned it up,plugged into a fender hot rod deluxe and it was beatles/hollies/byrds/paul revere and the raiders..rock&roll..exactly what i hoped for when i bought this.the 3 stock pickups and tone controls give a wide variety of sounds and i see no need to upgrade them as i've done on some other imports.very quiet and when i add compression&some chorus it's a joy to listen to.the push/pull tone control adds a nice dimension like a brightness switch to use mid-song.great range of tones available to you.i love it.

other than tuning(the only drawback of a 12-string)the guitar was set up fine.tuners are firm,frets nicely done-no sharp edges or buzzing,neck is wide soft c-shape,action low,finish/hardware all good qualty.impressive for the price.

seems very well put together and looks like it will hold up fine.only time will tell but it is a solid guitar.

great communication during the buying process.guitar comes with 1 year warranty.have no doubt about their support if needed.

this is a wonderful guitar,especially at this price point.been playing over 35years.old enough to remember some of those vintage guitars looked better than they played.this is the best of the old and new in a great product line.without a doubt i will buy again from myrareguitars.com. and highly recommend them.