The Best 12 String Electric Guitars
The 12-string guitar was commonly associated with acoustic blues and folk until in the 1960s, when George Harrison of the Beatles began using the Rickenbacker 12-string electric guitar. That in turn influenced Roger McGuinn of The Byrds, who also began using the Rickenbacker 12-string, and with major artists such as Tom Petty to follow. The instrument became an iconic part of pop culture. Other major guitar manufacturers began producing their versions of the electric 12-string. Today, high-end versions of these instruments are available, as are more budget-friendly alternatives.
Rickenbacker 360/12
Rickenbacker's 360/12 is the industry standard of electric 12-string guitars, in part due to it's association with The Beatles and The Byrds. It is semi hollow, has a slim neck for easy access and is famous for it's jangly chorus sound with stereo output. The guitar has a maple body and neck with a rosewood fretboard. Color options include black, maple wood grain, or the standard red fire glow.
Paul Reed Smith Custom 22/12
Paul Reed Smith's 12-string electric guitar, the Custom 22/12, features two humbuckers and a single coil Lindy Fralin pickup, a maple top, mahogany back and neck with a rosewood fretboard. The guitar has custom neck dimensions to make it extremely playable, and comes in color options such as Black Cherry, Blue Matteo and a variety of Sunburst finishes.
Fender XII Stratocaster
Fender offers a version of its famous Stratocaster as a 12-string. The XII features three standard, vintage-style pickups, an alder body, maple neck and a rosewood fretboard. A range of tones can be attained by using the 5 way switch to alter the pickup settings. The guitar has color options such as Burgundy Mist, Lake Placid Blue and vintage Sunburst.
Epiphone G-1275 double neck
Epiphone offers a version of the classic Gibson double-neck guita,r which consists of both a 12-string neck and a 6-string neck. This guitar was made famous by Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin and used by other rock super groups of the 1970s. The guitar has an alder body and each fretboard is made from rosewood. The four humbucker pickups are wound hot for rock tones and the color is cherry red. Be aware that double-neck guitars are heavy.
Dean Boca 12
The Dean Boca 12-string is a budget-friendly semi-hollow body with two humbucker pickups. It has a stop bar tailpiece and rosewood fingerboard. The guitar come in either black or cherry burst colors. It creates a good jangly sound for a fraction of the price of its competitors.
Play a guitar before you buy it
To find a guitar that suits your playing style is a matter of individual taste. Be sure to visit local music stores and play these and other 12-string electric guitars to see which suits your needs. Visit the websites listed in the reference and resource sections for photographs of the different color options and pricing.
