Vox Phantom XII

Vox Phantom XII is the lower-cost alternative to any other electric `12-string! It has 22 frets, and pickups are single-coil, mounted on the pickguard. I recommend disabling the whammy bar! It's a 12--why hassle the tuning that's already a challenge?

Oh, the tailpiece is a beauty--hardend steel pins spike the ball-loops for quick changing. One drawback to this thing is the stretched pentagon shape--I used to instal a hammock of cloth on my guitar stand to keep from losing the thing in a crash!
The tuners are adequate, but an upgrade would be nice. The truss rod has held this thing flat for nearly 40 years.
Unlike a Rickenbacker, a big handed guy like me finds the width completely easy.
I also intalled a phase switch for the gnarliest treble sounds when you rock the 5-way pickup switch twixt brideg and middle. And the Neck pickup provides a real bassy tone if you need it. I advise light mediums on this---you'll get more rich tone, and still find the action easy on the digits. I've used this ax with a bit of overdrive and played LOVE IN VAIN on it---lead and arpeggiations...it rors. It has guts.
If you find one with the case, grab it! Everyone will wonder if it's tommy-gun or what!!!
Ebay has one as I write, at around $600. I have seen them mint, with back padding that snaps on, for as much as $1500. This was found in Des Moines in 1977 for $125. Thank you, God!!

The sound is the best non-Ric you can find. I used it with all kinds of amps, and direct to board when recording. Compression will help add harmonics and overtones, but it's basic sound is great. Ask Tom Petty or Greg Kihn.
The electronics are based on a Strat, but the knobs spin counter-clockwise to up the gain or brighten the tone. Let me say right here, that to heck with keeping it original--do what I did and throw away those pickups. I put Duncans on the bridge and neck, and a Lawrence humbuking Hot Rails in the center. The middle is the sweet spot for harmonics, and used to get line noise from every source!
The year on this is probably 1964, made in Italy by the same folks who made the EKO acoustics. Which I also love...I installed an EMG saddle pickup in mine. They both came with "zero" frets...and the action is incredible. Wide, low and ebony on the fretboard. These things are the Rodney Dangerfiled of 12's---but you have to respect the sound and playing ease.

Action, fit, finish were all I expected.

I gigged with this for 20 years. Apart from dings on the black fiberglass finish, it's held up great. Never carried a backup. Once, a cast aluminum knob melted at a gig with anti-polarized 220 in the house! Still works, though.

Not applicable.

I own a Ric 330-12, and love that sound, but training the fingers to the fretboard is a struggle! This guitar is a breeze, totally.
If I lost it, I'd get a Carvin DC120, for the standard strung 12 sound. Or a Ric 660-12, with the wider neck.
Hey, Jon Hall: Why doesn't Rickenbacker make a model based on the McGuinn 12, with a 1 15/16 wide neck, treble boost and double compression---and not limit the darn run??? I'll buy one, thanks--Mapleglo, please!