Up for sale we have an all-original 1966 Fender Electric XII in custom color Olympic White finish with original black Tolex hardshell case.
An iconic and increasingly collectible piece of Fender history, this 1966 Fender Electric XII represents Leo Fender’s innovative answer to the growing demand for electric 12-string guitars during the height of the British Invasion and folk-rock explosion. Finished in its classic Olympic White nitrocellulose lacquer finish (which has gracefully aged to a warm cream hue), the Electric XII remains one of the most distinctive and sonically versatile instruments Fender ever produced.

This particular example has been played and enjoyed over the years but retains all of its original parts and components. It shows its age with heavy cosmetic wear throughout the body. Small dings and dents are scattered across the top, back and edges as well as heavy lacquer checking on all finished surfaces. The backside of the body has the word “Crud” written in darker original finish, perhaps the word was written in masking tape or something similar and was later removed leaving the word behind where the light didn’t get to it. Luckily its on the backside of the guitar! The original tortoise shell pickguard is present and crack-free. The neck is in very nice condition with only a small handful of pinhead sized dings along the backside. The clear gloss finish has been knocked down from years of playing leaving a very smooth and inviting playing surface that feels excellent in the hand. There are some scuffs and dings along the top edge of the headstock as well as a fair bit of lacquer checking on the rear and face. The original frets are present and do show some play wear with wider flattened crowns where the strings make contact but have good life left in them overall. Notes ring clean and clear with no dead spots. The neck is also very straight and sets up well with a low action. Truss rod access is located at the heel of the neck and functions as intended. Overall this is a fantastic playing and sounding example and is dripping with mid-1960’s Fender vibe.
Specs:

- 25 1/2” scale length

- solid Alder body with Off-Set waist and comfort contour cutaways at the belly and forearm

- 4-ply tortoise shell nitrate pickguard

- equipped with its original pair of split-coil single coil pickups with Master volume and Master tone controls

- 4-position rotary pickup selector switch

- pot codes are dated to the 30th week of 1965

- stoptail bridge with string-thru-body construction and twelve independent adjustable saddles

- Maple neck with comfortable wide and flat C-shape profile measuring .810” deep at the first fret and .860” deep at the twelfth fret

- black ink stamp at the heel of the neck reads “12JAN66B”

- width at the nut measures 1 9/16”

- Rosewood fingerboard features a 7.25” radius, pearl dot inlaid fret markers and 21 original medium jumbo frets

- headstock sports matching Olympic White finish, original Fender Electric XII waterslide decal and 6X6 Fender “F” tuners

- overall weight: 8 lbs. 10.5 oz.

The guitar will be properly packed in its original hardshell case with care prior to shipment. In-store trades only. Please reach out with any further questions. Thanks for taking a look!