The Fender Electric XII was introduced in 1965 to meet the rising demand for twelve-string guitars in the mid-1960s music scene. It featured a unique offset body similar to Fender's Jazzmaster and Jaguar, made from alder, and had a distinctive oversized headstock.

Equipped with two split-coil pickups, each with dedicated volume and tone controls, this guitar reduced the hum typical of single-coil pickups. The covers have gone missing on the neck pickup but newer covers are included in the sale. It also included a three-way pickup selector switch for various tonal combinations.

One notable aspect of the Electric XII was its innovative "synchronised" bridge with individual saddles for each string, complemented by a floating tailpiece. The guitar became popular across different musical genres, including rock, folk, and psychedelia, and was played by iconic groups such as The Rolling Stones, The Byrds, The Yardbirds, and The Animals. The Electric 12 was most famously used by Jimmy Page, who used it for the studio recording of Led Zeppelin's famous "Stairway to Heaven"! 

The Electric XII was not particularly popular during its run, and by 1969, it was dropped from the Fender line before being reintroduced as a part of the Alternate Reality series in 2019. The body overstock was used for the Fender Custom (a.k.a. Fender Maverick).

This instrument's rich, articulate sound, superb playability, and distinctive aesthetics underscore why it was favoured by some of the world's leading artists, earning it a special place in music history.

About This Fender Electric XII

This Fender XII is in excellent condition for its 60 years, sounds great and comes with case keys from the original store Manny's Music New York that sold this guitar when new in 1967. It comes with an original Fender hard shell case which is in very good condition. The guitar is serial number 154198 making it a 1966 build.

Despite being nearly 60 years old, this guitar is in excellent condition, sporting its original sunburst finish with minimal wear. The medium 'C' profile neck is well-maintained and easy to play.

About Manny's Music New York

Manny Goldrich (1904 – 1968), originally a saxophone salesman, founded Manny's Musical Instruments & Accessories Inc. in 1935 on West 48th Street. From its start until 1965, Manny's was located at 120 West 48th Street. "Music Row" was so named because of the many music shops clustered there.  In 1965, Rockefeller Center offered to buy the property, and purchased a new building for Manny's at 156 West 48th Street. The store hit its heyday in the 1960s, after British invasion bands started to visit America. Prices were low and product ranges wider than in Europe.

Features:

• Alder body with an offset double-cutaway design
• Sunburst finish
• Maple neck with a "C" shape profile
• 25.5-inch scale length
• Rosewood fretboard with pearloid dot inlays
• 22 frets
• Large "hockey stick" headstock
• Original Kluson Deluxe tuners
• Two original split-coil pickups
• Volume and tone controls for each pickup
• Three-way pickup selector switch
• Synchronised bridge with individual adjustable saddles
• Floating tremolo tailpiece
• Chrome hardware finish
• Tortoiseshell 13-hole three-ply celluloid pickguard
• Synthetic bone nut
• Adjustable truss rod
• Original Fender hard shell case