A Rock n' Roll 12 String from the Kings of Rock n' Roll! The 1965 Fender XII is the one that led the way!! Appears all Original except the case is a Hard Shell , similar to but probably not a Fender. There is some thing that appears to be residue from a sticker or label on the back of the head stock (see Pics), Sounds and Plays Great! Another one from the Vault!

Fender chimed in during the mid 1960s with a most distinctive electric 12-string guitar model, the aptly named Electric XII. It was around from 1965 to 1969, and if you’ve ever heard quintessential Led Zeppelin epic “Stairway to Heaven", you’ve heard this guitar. The Electric XII was a smartly designed, well-built and entirely new instrument. It was introduced in June 1965, four months after CBS ownership of Fender took effect and just as the Byrds’ jangly “Mr. Tambourine Man” single and album were topping the charts and ushering in the folk-rock boom (Gene Clark played a Firemist Gold prototype model when the CBS-signed Byrds played the song on the May 11, 1965, episode of NBC’s Hullabaloo; only the group’s second televised performance and, ironically, one of the very few times Clark was seen holding a guitar instead of a tambourine). The Electric XII debuted in a standard three-color sunburst nitrocellulose lacquer finish with a white pearloid pickguard (quickly replaced by tortoiseshell) and black amp-style control knobs. Custom-color finishes were also offered in early model years. Late-1965 models had white neck binding, and block inlays replaced dots in mid 1966. A black Fender headstock decal appeared in 1968, as did “F”-style tuners and thicker polyester finishes.

Perhaps the most striking visual element of the Electric XII, however, was its enormous “hockey stick” headstock, which also appeared on Fender’s Shenandoah and Villager acoustic 12-string models in summer 1965. Bulky and decidedly not sleek, the hockey-stick headstock seemed at odds with the smooth lines of the rest of the instrument, and it was a major departure from the six-on-a-side tuner layout that had been a hallmark of Fender electric guitars from the very beginning in the early 1950s Pete Townshend also put the instrument to good use. When the Who mimed along to “Magic Bus” on an Oct. 7, 1968, appearance on German TV’s Beat-Club, Townshend wielded his 1965 Fender Electric XII. More importantly, he too put it to great use in the studio—when the Who recorded Tommy in early 1969, Townshend used it on “Sparks” and “Underture". He has apparently owned more than one Electric XII and was photographed with one as recently as 2006.

Eric Clapton played an Electric XII on “Dance the Night Away", an uncharacteristically jangly track from 1967 Cream album Disraeli Gears (in a 2006 episode of Classic Albums that documents the making of the album, Clapton uses his Electric XII to demonstrate various chord voicings in the song). Other Electric XII players of that original era include John Pisano of Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, who used his quite a lot (1967’s “Wade in the Water” being a fine example), singer/songwriter Tim Buckley (1973 tracks “Dolphins” and “Honey Man", and many others), Beach Boy Carl Wilson (who was photographed with a 1965 prototype model), “Wrecking Crew” guitarist Billy Strange (who played one on 1966 Beach Boys classic “Sloop John B”), and the Velvet Underground’s Lou Reed and Sterling Morrison, who played theirs on “Beginning To See the Light” and “What Goes On” from the band’s eponymous 1969 third album. Johnny Winter played an Electric XII strung as a six-string at the 1969 Woodstock festival. (see video)

n stock now and ships in 1-2 business days after finalized payment. In case of any unforeseen delay in shipping, we will notify you as soon as possible. In the case of local pickup, we will contact you when your order is ready. Please read description carefully and in FULL. Purchase will only include the materials explicitly described and/or photographed.

See photos for condition and please contact us for any further details.

Unless explicitly stated, items not marked "Brand New" fall under our vintage/used policy and are therefore ineligible for return.

New items listed with a serial # in the description are for that specific item (you will receive the exact piece pictured).

If payment for your order is not received within 48 hours, we reserve the right to cancel your order outright.

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TRADES:

We are only able to process trades on items brought in person to our store. We are unable to accommodate trades over the internet/long distance. We are happy to assess any trades you can physically bring to our shop!

PAYMENT TERMS:

Guitar Showcase accepts PayPal or Reverb Direct payment for most listings. Please contact us for details or with any questions you have.

SALES TAX:

Reverb charges sales tax when it is deemed applicable, based on local sales tax rates.

SHIPPING TERMS:

Orders are shipped 1-2 business days after payment is received and verified, but due to occasional carrier delays we cannot guarantee exact arrival dates. All items are professionally packaged, and items that are more susceptible to damage are shipped fully insured with signature confirmation required. If you need special arrangements, please contact us before buying. In some cases where shipping may substantially exceed our estimated cost, we may require additional payment to cover the difference before shipping.

RETURNS - NEW GEAR:

Defective items can be taken to the nearest Factory Authorized Service Center. For items damaged in shipping, please contact us for help in processing a claim. If you just changed your mind or are unhappy with your purchase of a new item, please contact us directly before proceeding. Most new items may be returned within 3 days of receipt (see exceptions below*). The buyer is responsible for shipping cost both out and back, any Credit Card Fees, and a standard 15% restocking fee. (If you received Free Shipping on your order, the value of the uncharged shipping cost will be deducted from your refund.) Items must be returned complete with all original packaging, manuals, warranties, accessories, etc., in brand-new condition, and showing no signs of wear or use; if any of these conditions are lacking, the return may be subject to a further handling or restocking fee at Guitar Showcase’s discretion. Refunds will be processed only after evaluation of the returned item.

(*Exceptions: copyrighted works such as books, CDs, DVDs, and software are non-returnable; due to health regulations, mouth-blown instruments, headphones, earbuds or in-ear monitors, or any other product that has bodily contact - including microphones - are also non-returnable. Also see Used/Vintage Gear below.)

USED/VINTAGE GEAR:

Used and Vintage gear is, by definition, old and fragile. This gear is subject to age and handling wear. Scuffs and scrapes, dents and dings, repairs, modifications and replacements all are to be expected. So, while Guitar Showcase strives to accurately document and describe each piece we list, we can only accept responsibility for what we detail in the listing and what is visible in the photos. Guitar Showcase is eager to verify any additional details necessary to address any concerns you may have: just make sure to contact us with any questions you may have before submitting an offer or buying. Beyond this, Guitar Showcase can offer no guarantee and can accept no returns on Used or Vintage gear. Please be sure you know what you are buying, and please do not think that older, used and Vintage Instruments should be set up in perfect playing condition.

For high priced Vintage instruments, we highly recommend that you either have a local friend try the Instrument or come in and try it in person.

CONSIGNED GEAR:

Some of the gear in the Guitar Showcase Reverb store is listed on behalf of a consignor. These pieces are not the property of Guitar Showcase and as such we can accept no returns on any consigned equipment. Consigned gear is also subject to the same stipulations as Used and Vintage gear, as described above. Please make sure to contact us with any questions you may have before submitting an offer or buying any consignment item.

CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65 WARNINGS:

This product may expose you to chemicals which are known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information, go to Prop 65 website (on the OEHHA section of the ca.gov site).

California's Proposition 65 requires special warnings for products that contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm if those products expose consumers to such chemicals above certain threshold levels. We cannot reliably determine which products may contain such chemicals, so we are warning you that all the products we sell, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: New Electrical cords and cables, and especially used and vintage products, such as Guitars, Basses, Horns, Amplifiers, PA gear, Mixers, Patch Bays, Effects Pedals, Speakers, Keyboards, Processors, Interfaces, Microphones, Headphones, Cables, parts and accessories which were typically made using LEAD SOLDER, may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm, wash hands after handling.

WHO WE ARE:

Guitar Showcase, located in the heart of Silicon Valley in San Jose, CA has been serving musicians since 1965, and an Authorized Gibson, Fender and Martin dealer for over 60 years,offering the widest selection of new musical instruments as well as the most sought after vintage instruments on the planet. Our staff of seasoned musicians is ready to help you find the best instrument for you, whether you are a beginner looking for your first instrument, or a vintage collector looking for the crown jewel of your collection. Guitar Showcase is an authorized dealer for many of today’s biggest brands including Fender, Gibson, Paul Reed Smith, Mesa/Boogie, Ibanez, Marshall, Taylor, Martin, and many more… visit us or contact us to ask about our massive selection of new, used and vintage instruments, and when in Silicon Valley, please stop by for a visit and see the Vintage Vault with hundreds of iconic Vintage and Collector Instruments as well as hundreds of other instruments.