12 String Semi Hollow Electric Guitar For Sale (2024 Update)

I own and play over 30 different guitars, but did not have an electric 12, & doing Tom Petty on my Danelectro 'Convertible' 6. Wish, but Ricki too rich for part-time play, so tried the great-price Danelectro 12, – looks great, sounds twangy, but neck a bit narrow for fancy clean fingerwork, and tuners, just like my Convertible, a bit of an issue, (more so when 12). Great MF deal on Boca Amber 12, and, unplayed, unseen, took a chance on this Dean. So GLAD I did! Dead true maple neck to die for & a tad wider than Ricki 300. Great bridge and I set unbelievably low action all the way from 1 up to 22 with no buzz and not 1 high fret. No need to turn rod. Mini Grovers R accurate; and HOLD! Humbuckers solid and clean with a bit less twang than lipsticks but I dial up treble boost on amp and Petty away. Absolute BEST BANG for buck, and constant compliments on beauty and playability. Thanks Dean and MF; a really well-built guitar that showed up with NO quality issues (unlike recent Gibson SG). Tip: Heavy neck (good) and headstock, so use a quality acoustic git-strap that ties off at head and Boca balances perfectly for stage play.GaleForce

The guitar I received (in Amber Sunburst) is pretty well made. The wood is of decent quality and very attractive. The fit and finish are good, although there were two areas in the body cutouts that had minor imperfections in the stain because of glue that got on the back when the cap was glued on. The inner edges of the binding on the F holes was not finished properly, but a little sanding fixed that. There is no sunburst to the finish, it is an even tone across the top. Unlike some of the other reviewers, my guitar was not set up perfectly. There was no fret buzz, but the neck relief was a bit too great and the nut action was much too high. Intonation was way off. Be aware that there are only 6 saddles on this bridge, so you don't have the ability to intonate the octave strings separately. This wasn't a too much of a problem, except on the G strings, where the difference between the low and high strings was about 16 cents. I was able to reduce that to about 6 cents by compensating the nut, but the low G goes sharp about 7 cents in the first two frets. After lowering the nut action and the bridge a bit, it plays very well without any fret buzz, and the intonation is acceptable. It sounds in tune and very full. The short scale and light gauge strings make it very easy to play. The neck is pretty wide and there's not much radius to it, so barre chords require a bit more pressure than I'm used to on a 6 string. Also, my capo (a D'Addario NS)works, but it requires a little more pressure to prevent muting of the middle strings because of the shallow radius. The pickups seem decent, and I'm able to get a variety of tones that are usable, even without individual volume and tone controls. I would eventually like to add separate controls for more choices. I find it sounds best through a clean Fender amp. The bridge pickup alone gives a bright jangly tone that almost sounds like a single coil, adding the neck pickup fills it out considerably without getting muddy. The neck pickup alone is a bit thick and dark, but could be useful. The headstock is heavy and the guitar does dive, but using a wide leather strap with a suede backing helps keep it in place. although you may want to relocate the strap button for better balance. Overall, a great value in an electric 12 string.aspenleaf

It looks nice, but far away from a professional guitar. The guitar is very top heavy, put on a strap and it'll hit the floor with the neck, terrible balance. Had to use strap that ties around the nut, then the strap is in the way when playing first fret. Had to run thru a pedal board to get a decent 12 string sound, the pickups are not single coils as a Rick. It barely holds tune long enuf to use for a few songs in a row. Now the worst part is where is the access panel on the back for servicing? There is none on my model. If U have to work on electronics U R in for a big surprise!Pete

A truly awesome instrument, finely built from quality materials, beautiful to play. The clean tones with some spring reverb give classic rock'n'roll, and run through the dirty channel on my Mesa Dual Rectifier produces a versatile range of blistering lead and power chord options. I am finding new sounds every day. The tremolo system is so smooth, and the neck is very easy to play on. Looks are a personal taste, and if you are spending this sort of money on an instrument you may want less bling – this model is very sparkly.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

The 'honeymoon impression' is that it is just about the best electric guitar I have ever had (along with my Baja Tele). Fantastic quality and a perfect factory set up. A curious cross between a Tele, Les Paul and a Gretsch. Sounds great through a Fender clean amp. The only slight drawback is that it comes set up for an unusually heavy bottom string set (50 bottom and light 10 top). Perfect weight for me but it would be difficult to find alternative brands if you wanted to experiment. The direct replacement Duesenberg strings can be got from Thomann.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

It’s totally different from all previous guitars, the tones and build quality are simply amazing and from whatever angle you look at the guitar it’s stunning. Very easy to play and totally versatile for a number of different playing styles.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

This one stands the test of time. What it does , it does the best in its class. Tom Petty incorporated his personal ideas into this particular design. The first thousand models were signature guitars and are now worth a lot of money. Rickenbacker however did not stop producing this guitar after the signature run because they knew a great thing was worth keeping. Tom Petty was not happy with that decision but it worked out wonderful for the rest of us . One suggestion to everyone is to buy a Janglebox pedal and play it through that in order to achieve the best potential so it delivers the purest classic shimmering chime 🎶😎🎶Billbass1

This guitar is not only gorgeous to look at, it sounds and plays like no other. I've been coveting this particular model & finish (360 Fireglo) for years, as they are hard to find — and worth the wait & money – no question. If you are new to Rickenbacker, they have a very unique feel that is both responsive and… WARNING, it makes it extremely hard to put down. The pick ups have a unique sound, superb range and versatility. You can add any effect to that and they just deliver out-of-this world tones. The little fifth "blend" knob is a great tool to balance your pick up sound. The more I play with this, the more stuff I discover. You can do rhythm or lead on ANY style, with 2 full octaves fretboard and easy reach to the highest frets, you can see why so many savvy guitarist have at least one of these beauties in their collection. BTW, this guitar comes with 2 cable jacks. The Rick "O" Sound (the hole for the cable on the bottom) will only work with a stereo cable when connected to two different inputs (amps/mixer). If you connect a regular cable to the Rick"O"Sound your neck pick up will not sound, it is not broken, it is because each pick up goes to a separate speaker with that mode (and it sounds like a fantastic beast). If you use the top guitar hole "standard" you will be good to go, because it still sounds amazing. Just don't connect cables to both holes simultaneously. The guitar came perfectly set up from the factory, the intonation, action and any calibration was spot on. Once I tuned it, it was close to impossible to put down. This is definitely an investment that passes down the generations as "inheritance." If you are interested in one of these beautiful guitars, please don't cheat yourself getting a "counterfeit" instrument. Even if you have to save for a while longer, it will be worth every cent and waiting minute. The pictures do not make them any justice. I am saving already for my next Rick (I'll do the 330 jetglo next).BeeZee

Set up to perfection.. plays like a dream…. Sound and feel is perfect for 60s jangle, but then softens beautifully for those early 70s proggy sounds that I don’t normally own up to . Bought at the same time as my Furch. Red… I have spoken of the first class service that I received in more detail in that review, and I shall spare you a repeat, as I am usually a curmudgeonly old bu**er, and it’s not normally in my nature to speak so highly and warmly of someone twice in one day!!!😃😃😃😃😃Martin K.

Overall: I have never purchased a guitar online but my have things changed. My Son ordered an Ibanez AS7312 as a gift for me. I unboxed it and it was stunning and I am particular. I looked high and low for a flaw but found none. I checked the neck relief, it was perfect, fret rocker, perfect – fret sprout, none, it was tuned 1/2 step down and the intonation was as close as you could with 6 saddles on a 12 string guitar. Then I plugged it in and I remembered why I missed my old 12 string so much. All I can say is great job Ibanez and great job zZounds.Stan

I have owned my Ibanez Artcore AS7312 for about a year now, and I will say it is one of the best guitars I own…..and I own many. I was looking for an electric 12 string without the price tag of a Rickenbacker. Even though I looked at this Ibanez many times, it took me a while to order it because I was trying to decide if on a semi hollow body design that the jangly, cutting thru sound that I was looking for would be there. When the guitar came in and I plugged it into my Fender Twin I could not have been happier. The sound continues to amaze me even after a year of hearing it. I don't think I realized at the time I ordered it that it had a solid maple block that the pickups were mounted into much less realize what a difference in the sound, and sustain that this would make. The solid center block, and the back and sides are all maple. The block gives the guitar bite and sustain, while the maple back and sides tends to project with a more brighter sound…….perfect for a great 12 string sound….at least to me anyway. I should have known Ibanez would know what they were doing, but I guess I more equate Ibanez with solid body guitars so it took me a while to order it. I equally enjoy just putting on 6 strings and playing it that way too. I have a '64 ES-335 but I actually like the sound to this guitar better probably because it sounds more like a solid body and that is mostly what I play. It was a little hard pressing down 12 strings until I read that a lot of players tune down a whole step and then capo back up to the 2nd fret. This made all this difference and was then easy to play. This guitar has a great action, great tone, and is pure elegance and eye candy on stage, lol If you're looking for a great 12 string electric at a decent price I would highly recommend this guitar.kareydunn1805

First of all the AR420 is a beautiful looking guitar with the abalone giving just a perfect amount of bling. The setup and action were great out of the box. The pickups are pretty good sounding alnicos and the tritone switching on each pickup give a wide variety of tones. The parallel sounds are a great alternative to the full humbucker and aren’t as thin as the split coils. The neck is very comfortable, fret ends are well finished and the hardware all seems fine. I find it very nice to play and easy to get the sounds I want. Design-wise the shape gives very good access to the upper frets but that also leads to the primary drawbacks, neither of which is an enormous issue for me but just annoying. Firstly the guitar is neck heavy so it does want to dive and secondly the pickup selector switch is directly above the neck pickup as it had to be brought forward towards the bridge due to the cutaway. That does make it susceptible to being knocked while playing with a resultant pickup selection change. Overall I am very happy with this guitar.Andrew C.

I waited until I had this awhile before submitting a review. I was a little disappointed that the fret ends overlapped the neck binding just a very tiny bit. But it's not noticeable at all when your playing and I've gotten totally over that. This thing is absolutely beautiful, it is so fun to play, and the Seymour Duncans are the best. Never has such fantastic tones came out of my little tube amp before. Those pups seal the deal. This thing has more sustain that any electric guitar I have ever owned. Some people complain about the giant ornamental headstock. But I believe that is partially responsible for adding sustain because it adds a lot of mass to the neck.Dave

My wife got me this for Christmas, at one of the "Deal of the Day" prices. As someone with 10+ guitars, including American Gibsons and Fenders, I can't recommend this enough, particularly at the DotD price. Out of the box, setup and intonation were fine, the action is nice and low, and it plays great. No buzzes anywhere on the fret board. Great tone unplugged, even better with the P-90s when plugged in. Quality wise – it gives up very little to guitars costing a lot more. The tuners work well, the bridge, knobs, and switch gear are all totally fine as well. The Duncan P-90 pickups sound fantastic, and you'd be hard pressed to find a lot of other guitars with American pickups at that price. The nut is plastic, so if you were looking for something to upgrade, that would be where I'd start. The frets could use a quick polishing and the board could use some lemon oil – but that's true of every single new guitar I've ever bought in this price range, so nothing new there. I love the blue burst color, and the guitar is super light in my hands. I really wanted a hollow or semi-hollow with P-90s, and this really scratched that itch at a fantastic price. I wouldn't hesitate to get another D'Angelico after owning this one!Amir

My D'Angelico SS Boardwalk came with 4 wire USA Seymour Duncan "HOT ROD" pickups (SH2 & SH4). It also has a 24 3/4" (Gibson) scale, a thin-taper C-cut neck, a 14" radius with medium jumbo frets, and a durable 2 piece maple neck which is flawlessly finished in thin Poly (not nitro). The factory fret-job is as least as good as my factory PLEKKED Gibson. The playability is great, and visually (as you can see) it's comparable to the ES-335 (I actually like the sound of USA Seymour Duncan SH pickups better than Burstbuckers).Tim

I waited until I had this awhile before submitting a review. I was a little disappointed that the fret ends overlapped the neck binding just a very tiny bit. But it's not noticeable at all when your playing and I've gotten totally over that. This thing is absolutely beautiful, it is so fun to play, and the Seymour Duncans are the best. Never has such fantastic tones came out of my little tube amp before. Those pups seal the deal. This thing has more sustain that any electric guitar I have ever owned. Some people complain about the giant ornamental headstock. But I believe that is partially responsible for adding sustain because it adds a lot of mass to the neck.Dave

My wife got me this for Christmas, at one of the "Deal of the Day" prices. As someone with 10+ guitars, including American Gibsons and Fenders, I can't recommend this enough, particularly at the DotD price. Out of the box, setup and intonation were fine, the action is nice and low, and it plays great. No buzzes anywhere on the fret board. Great tone unplugged, even better with the P-90s when plugged in. Quality wise – it gives up very little to guitars costing a lot more. The tuners work well, the bridge, knobs, and switch gear are all totally fine as well. The Duncan P-90 pickups sound fantastic, and you'd be hard pressed to find a lot of other guitars with American pickups at that price. The nut is plastic, so if you were looking for something to upgrade, that would be where I'd start. The frets could use a quick polishing and the board could use some lemon oil – but that's true of every single new guitar I've ever bought in this price range, so nothing new there. I love the blue burst color, and the guitar is super light in my hands. I really wanted a hollow or semi-hollow with P-90s, and this really scratched that itch at a fantastic price. I wouldn't hesitate to get another D'Angelico after owning this one!Amir

My D'Angelico SS Boardwalk came with 4 wire USA Seymour Duncan "HOT ROD" pickups (SH2 & SH4). It also has a 24 3/4" (Gibson) scale, a thin-taper C-cut neck, a 14" radius with medium jumbo frets, and a durable 2 piece maple neck which is flawlessly finished in thin Poly (not nitro). The factory fret-job is as least as good as my factory PLEKKED Gibson. The playability is great, and visually (as you can see) it's comparable to the ES-335 (I actually like the sound of USA Seymour Duncan SH pickups better than Burstbuckers).Tim

I use to own 330/12 I sold it foolishly, but Im glad I did. I love this one so much more, for starters its more authentic in look and feel, its modelled after the famous George Harrison Rick 12 string Its a stunning guitar in real life. I highly rate this guitar, 10/10 Not to mention the beautiful case it comes in Regards Andrew Armstrong (Australia)andrewma1959

Lefty Rics are few and far between, even more so for the twelves (no new ones have been produced for a number of years now). This one turned out to be very well cared for and in near mint condition for a twenty five year old guitar, and plays and sounds like the dream guitar I always believed it would be. Fellow lefties, keep the faith, keep an open mind and one day yours will turn up too.longnecklefty

My experience with Richards Guitars has been fabulous. From my first enquiry through delivery of my guitar the process went flawlessly and VERY much quicker than I had expected, given that I reside in Canada. It was Richard’s video, testing the Vintage VSA 500 that persuaded me to buy from them and as promised, their attention to detail, even during these pandemic restrictions has made me a great supporter of the company. I love the guitar and case. It is everything that Richard reported it to be and more. Thank you for your dedication and support Gerry Lisk Ottawa CanadaGerald L.

A huge thank you to the team for my wonderful VSA500 Walnut. Particularly to John who I dealt with for the majority of the process who's a credit to RGuitars. There was a delay to my order, at the fault of the supplier, however John was very helpful resolving any queries I had. I played the guitar both before and after setup as I live locally so had the luxury of visiting during the order process. The work Chris does on the guitars is excellent and I walked away with a guitar to fit my budget that I was confident in. It plays a treat. Richard made me feel welcome in the new workshop, took the time to talk to me about my guitar and show me around. Overall my experience was excellent. I would recommend to my friends and will visit again I'm sure.Luke F.

Guitar was well set up on arrival, however it had a lacquer crack on the back of the neck that possibly occurred in transit. Jack socket was loose. Volume pot not tightened and spinning enough to have broken solder on wire. Offered discount or exchange. Accepted refund and fixed pot and socket myself, applying serrated washers that should have been present during assembly. These issues should really have been noticed during inspection and/or set up. Fret ends not very well dressed. I did this myself, but you need to be experienced to do so. I now have a £379 guitar (bought for £290 after the refund) that sounds and plays like a considerably more expensive one and has a very good sunburst finish, but was a bit disappointed by the issues that should have been caught at some point. Also disappointed that I had to chase the refund after 10 days.William D.

The cool factor on this guitar is a solid 10. So many "quirky" things – the double pickguard, poly on the fingerboard, soviet-era rocket hardware…. This is my third Rick (two basses) and the workmanship on the frets/setup is second to none. But…it did take me three tries at the 330 to get an instrument that did not have unacceptable finish flaws. The first had "orange peel" along the edge of the body and headstock. I used to work for a major US guitar manufacturer, and I recognize that a right angle edge is difficult to finish, but for this price, a good finish is to be expected. #2 looked like whoever painted the inside of the f-hole black, was in a hurry and got paint on the top and then it was cleared over. Touch it up, THEN send it out. The third one had some finish bubbles on the headstock, but after three tries, sometimes better is the enemy of good and I kept it. When they get the finish applied properly – it is stunning. The Fireglow is much better than in pictures and draws you in and "moves".Reviewinbacker

I own a number of Fenders and Gibsons. Having always wanted a Rick and knowing its limitations, I bought one at the local GC. It is truly a beautiful guitar, set up was perfect out of the box for the pure nickel 10's I installed. No fret buzz whatsoever and really, really low action. Not a great neck for bending notes and that's why, in my opinion, this is a rhythm guitar. Tonewise, it's got one characteristic "Rick" tone, achieved with both pickups. Single pickup tones are ok but not noteworthy. In summary, I would not recommend this as your "only" electric, but certainly a worthy component of any musicvian's multi guitar collection. Get the Fireglow…it's the best colorBob the Strat Player

I own a Rickenbacker 330 in MapleGlo, which I purchased new in 2004. As I started to get into home studio recording, I went shopping for a Rickenbacker guitar, and literally bought the first one that I found, which, at the time, was probably the only one in town. I tweaked the set-up when I first got it, and it has only gotten better since, with almost zero maintenance, aside from string changes. It really is a great guitar, that sings wonderfully before even plugging it in, with a full chime, and smooth, blooming notes. I have long been a fan of Peter Buck from R.E.M., which was my original impetus for getting a Rickenbacker guitar, but once I got mine, it quickly worked its way into my own world of music and sound. I use D'Addario EXL115W strings on mine, with a wound G, which helps me play perfectly in tune, up and down the length of the fretboard. For jangle and chime, I tend to favor the middle pick-up position, with the 5th knob turned all the way to the neck pick-up, i.e., counter-clockwise, and the two tone knobs at the half-way point. The 330 does appear to have a slightly larger body than the 360, which I think lends itself to a fuller chime, although the 360 may rock a little better … I would say decide for yourself, if that is possible. In any case, I definitely and whole-heartedly recommend a Rickenbacker 330 in your favorite color. It is, in my estimation, the best rhythm guitar money can buy, made by a company which exhibits impeccable artistry and craftsmanship. Every Ric is exquisite, and the 330 is right up there with the very best of them.Steve

I am in love with this guitar! I always wanted an electric 12 string, and I'm delighted with this one. Andertons had it at the best price I was able to find anywhere, either in-store or online. It was perfectly set up and in perfect conditionReviewed by Andertons Music Co.

I just got my aqua model and I’m very happy. First off, it was in tune so it was great to be able to play it right away and not go thru nightmare tuning! The fit and finish is excellent as is the sound. Both plugged and unplugged. It plays so easily that I found myself playing leads in all positions. Unlike most 12 strings of the past. Definitely well worth the $$$.Brian Limmer

Never ever thought I'd own a Schecter. I always saw them as reserved for metal players, and I play alt.country. Saw this strange love child of a Rickenbacker and a Gretsch at the local candy store and had to try her out. Fit and finish are awesome. The retro look combines with a sort of psychedelic twistedness that makes the guitar fit in with my shows. Reverse sunburst?!? Yep. Droopy wing on the cutaway?!? Sure nuff cool. But the best part is how nicely the neck plays and how those humbuckers growl and bite. Hit the tap and sound like Luther from Johnny Cash's band. Hit it again and you're playing screaming leads. Love this guitar.Jake the Trailer Court Marshal

I purchased the TSH-1 (red) after a friend had told me that he had bought a Schecter and couldn't believe the quality for the price. He's more "shredder" than I, but I decided to check out Schecter and ran across the "retro" line. After digging through the models and various reviews I came to Musician's Friend to make the purchase. Service and packing were outstanding. I unpacked this thing and wow. Absolutely stunning guitar. Pictures on the web misrepresent the color making it look too red. It is really a deep, almost oxblood/ candy apple red to black burst. My friend was right: Fit, finish, and all around quality rivals the biggest brands. I can say that with confidence having sold a Gibson ES-335 a month ago. Nice guitar, but not for the price. So, yes. I replaced a high end Gibson with a much less expensive Schecter and couldn't be more happy that I did. Go watch the videos on you tube, the TSH sounds great, plays wonderfully, and looks freakin' amazing. Pardon me while I go spend the rest of my 335 money on more Schecter guitars.SchecterLove

I build custom vintage style strats for customers so I know what to look for. This is a great all around guitar with a nice smooth feel and wide varity of sound tones. The guitar is very well built along with a great design for a semi hollow body guitar. Easy to play. And comes set up much better than epiphone & Ibanez guitars. You can tell time was put into the factory setup. Great value for the money!cuzzmike

I was saving up for a Rick then got this instead. Great feel beautiful guitar. Bass contour control is great. You can get all the vintage 12 sounds and much more.Nick

Ok. I've had Danelectro, Fender and 3 Rickenbacker 12 strings. I like the extra sizzle.jangle that a 12 string provides. But they usually play very poorly and stay in tune even worse. Even the vaunted Rickenbacker was a general pain to deal with. But a POG doesn't give you the full effect, so I bought this Gretsch 12 string. The guiatr arrived flawless and after tuning was perfect. The classic tones, experimental tones even ripping leads….all quite possible on the Gretsch. Being a kid of 70's I grew up on the Monkees and the Nesmith factor was a big thing for me. But I'm blown away at how well this thing plays and well voiced it is. Ricky-like treble plus the bluesy twang of a Gretsch. Middle setting is especially useful. I run this through massive amounts of distortion sometimes and tune to dropped D. The Gretsch (with a compressor) can handle it all. You can rip leads effortlessly on this thing. It's an extremely useful instrument.Uncle Frank

I'm usually a semi-snobby MIUSA guitar guy – with multiple Gibson, Fenders and Martins, but this Chinese Made Gretsch is a thing of absolute beauty. Gretsch QC is remarkable and I've had others in the past decade that have been equally wonderful. The finish and details are fantastic, even down to binding on the F Holes. The neck is ridiculously playable for a 12 string and I've had fun learning all the classic 12 strings songs, in addition to trying some new stuff. Tuning is easy, and it stays in tune really well. I'll be getting a professional setup done on this soon, but out of the box this guitar was exactly what I was looking to have to noodle around with, but be nice enough to hold a permanent spot. If you are looking to add an electric 12 String to your lineup, this is the one. They've been dipping in and out of stock, so keep an eye out or pre-order one. It took me about a month from when I "reserved".Darren

All of these guitar companies market their guitars with pictures of nice, dark, fretboards, that look like dark Rosewood, or even Ebony. They do that because they know that's what people want, but then what you often end up getting is an ugly, dull, light brown or grayish looking board.Pablo

I bought mine new and it's everything positive others say about it. Don't know what bobz429 is talking about. Obviously he has a modified model. Hardware is first rate with a Hagstrom designed P90 single coil at the neck and classic '58C humbucker at the bridge (Hagstrom winds their own pickups). It's a joy to play, very clean factory pups, beautiful finish, very well crafted and flawless. Rivals guitars up to 3 times the cost in my opinion. The Hagstrom composite Resinator fret board is fast and has good sustain. This guitar can be used for jazz with very clean articulation and voicing, moan the blues, fit right into classic or grunge rock and growl with the best of 'em throughout it's entire range. The ringing clarity is stunning! It's a lot of bang for your buck, and lighter than you'd think for a guitar with a 28" scale. A "tad" neck-heavy balance wise, but once you play it and realize it's potential from mild to wild, this is easily overlooked and by "no means" a deal breaker. It has 5 star ratings across the board for a reason. It's simply that good! This is a players guitar and one I'll keep the rest of my life. It will surprise and please you once you plug it in. This is an amazing baritone. Plug it in, crank it up, and jam 'til the cows come home! If your in the marketfor a baritone guitar, the Hagstrom Viking Deluxe is very hard to beat! I personally don't think any others in it's price rang hold a candle to it. Highly recommended. Enjoy! Edit: Was surprised to see I wasn't listed as a verified purchaser (don't know how that works). Oh well, I assure you I own this guitar purchased from SoundsCheapMusic on eBay out of Pleasant Hill, MO on April 22, 2015… in the Cosmic Black Burst finish. All the same, you won't be disappointed. 😉honorable1-us

With more than 15yrs. of experience with various Hagstrom guitars and over 40yrs. of playing and performing, this instrument and review was an unexpected and a very pleasant surprise. I will acknowledge that I was prompted to pull the trigger on the purchase in no small part because of a couple of reviews here on MFI, one by a fellow who is an American musician living in Sweden. From what I was able to glean from a collection of YouTube videos from past NAMM shows, it looks like the Viking DLX 12 made it's debut about 2016, and has had at least one major update since, with the most notable being larger, but traditional-shaped F-holes on the top, fully creme bound, of course. I very much agree with the opinion previously expressed about there being a major advantage for Hagstrom because of their sourcing all woods(primarily Canada)and all hardware and electronics, leaving their factory contractors in China to concentrate on building the best looking/sounding instrument possible. I would place current Hagstrom product on a par with anything from the Park factories in Korea, and nearly on par with some of the older product that came from Matsumoko in Japan. IMHO, and as pointed out by a previous reviewer, the only real contenders in this narrow category of instrument are the hollowbody Ric 300 Series, and the current Gretsch Electromatic 5422-12, both of which are 2-3X the cost of a new Viking DLX 12. Pickups are clear voiced but fairly hot, and the Resonator fretboard feels great and works with the overall timbre of a maple bodied guitar. The bookmatched flame maple body sides, top, and back are a sight to behold; laminated but beautiful. The most playable and comfortable neck I have EVER put in my hand for a 12-string; a profile similar to an early 60's Gibson or modern ESP being "thin", but with a 15" radius and a 45mm black Tusq nut. Perfect for chording and rhythm, but enough room between string pairs for either finger or flatpicking with precision. Get ItArch69er

It caught my eye hanging in my local Guitar Center in Goodlettsville, TN, which has a terrific staff btw. I asked to try it and was quite impressed with the overall build quality and set-up. Simply perfect; action, intonation, fret dressing, etc. It didn't need a thing! Thought about it overnight and returned the next day to buy it.Alan

Overall stoked with my fireglo Rickenbacker 330 purchase. With any guitar I buy, I'm most concerned about sound and feel, which are absolutely exceptional on this 330. It is legitimately the most comfortable guitar I've ever played and the sound is exactly what I was looking for from a Rick. It set up perfectly and I didn't even have to touch the truss rods, regardless of a pretty drastic climate change (traveling from IL to FL) and swapping the factory roundwound strings (which felt like 9's) to TI flatwound 11's. To me, that indicates a very stable neck. Aesthetics are not a top priority for me, but some minor quality control issues which may bother other buyers: small spots of clear-coat imperfections on fretboard edges and around the neck joint, as well as a somewhat sloppy black outline of the f-hole. Though not noticeable without close inspection, these are the reasons for the 4/5 star rating, as I know others may find them irritating on a new, $2000 guitar. At the end of the day though, I bought this 330 to play it, so I know I'll eventually be adding a few unintentional dings and scuffs of my own. Not to mention, the wood grain and fireglo burst are totally stunning. Aside from minor cosmetic/QC issues, everything else was perfect with my 330. 100% a keeper.Ingo H.

This is not to bash C & M Music, whom I purchased this guitar from. They have been nothing but professional. However, it is Rickenbacker who should be ashamed of themselves for their quality control regarding their fret work on their finished guitars. The neck on this guitar is practically unplayable due to the frets sticking out of the sides of the neck. If you do any sliding along the neck to play bar chords, or are thumbing a chord, you seriously run the risk of slicing yourself. This is unacceptable for a company that prides itself on "American" quality. I have bought brand new guitars made in Korea and China that have had better QC than this, and for a company that is so adamantly American, this is a disgrace! I own many Rickenbackers, from their vintage reissue guitars, modern basses, and 6 and 12 strings, and have never once had a neck this so shoddily prepared direct from the company. Let's hope this once great company will get their act together soon.thetasigma

I usually wait awhile if I am going to review something and after buying selling and trading over 50 guitars over a lifetime I am well over the "Newest Toy" syndrome but I absolutely love this guitar way more than I ever expected I will. I love everything about it so far, from the important stuff like tone and playability to the superficial stuff like it's cool vintage cream paint job. I have yet to restring the guitar and my only concern is durability. I have one other Danelectro guitar that I have owned for close to a year and have had no issues with. Other than that I have no experience with Danelectro guitars. I should note that there is nothing about either guitar that leads me to suspect poor quality. The 12 string came with a nice straight neck and immaculate finish. It was very playable right out of the box. I should also note that this is my first 12 string electric guitar. I am primarily an acoustic guy and have owned several 12 string acoustics over my lifetime. I understand the pressure those strings put on a guitar's neck which is why I wonder how well this will hold up in the future. Providing it does it feels like a steal at this price. Of all guitars I have owned I have never had one turn so many heads when I went out shopping for a case. It's a shame Danelectro won't make or commission cases for their guitars. If it matched the aesthetics of their instruments they would probably be a hit as well.Patrick

The best thing about this guitar is how nicely and easily it plays. It seems to sing out and chime from any note that you effortlessly put your finger on! You also cannot beat the play-ability of this neck with most any guitar at this price level! These are about the lowest priced guitars that you can buy, while still having a sentimental nostalgia of very high-profile guitarists enjoying them, too! Jimmy Page on Kashmir! Sleater-Kinney on the album cover of Dig Me Out! This is the 12-string version, but with the amazingly fast neck on these guitars, I can easily see why professionals would still choose them. The pick ups are decent and sound balanced between neck and bridge positions. This guitar is a joy to play, I look forward to picking up this guitar and playing every night! I got the Blood Red model, which feels much more solid than the b/w classic version that I got earlier. The b/w classic uses inch wide, white tape as trim, which gives me the impression of being less durable than the superior finish of the Blood Red version!Rev316

I spent over two years shopping for an electric 12-string guitar. I own many 6-string acoustic and electric guitars, plus a very high-end 12-string acoustic, but I've always wanted a high-end 12-string electric too. I played many of the best brands, but I just could not justify the cost of some of these 12-string electrics… yes, they played great, but the cost was insane, and I just didn't believe they were worth it. Danelectro recently upgraded their 12-sting electric guitar, and for the price, I could not resist any longer. I figured if it was no good, then no worries – since I spent such little money on it. However, when I received it today, I was COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY! I actually think that Danelectro is giving these guitars away for what I paid for it! Something almost doesn't make sense…. Anyway, I cannot put this thing down. It sounds great (dare I say as good, or perhaps better than the "R's" I tried out?). Not to put down "R", since I already own a 1990 360, but this Danelectro is a KEEPER! At a fraction of the cost, I have a really professional sounding and playing 12-string electric! I'm in my late 50's and have played for decades using many, many great guitars, but today is a day I'll never forget, when I unboxed this incredible guitar and played it right out of the box for hours of complete and total joy. I love it!Commish

I bought mine new and it's everything positive others say about it. Don't know what bobz429 is talking about. Obviously he has a modified model. Hardware is first rate with a Hagstrom designed P90 single coil at the neck and classic '58C humbucker at the bridge (Hagstrom winds their own pickups). It's a joy to play, very clean factory pups, beautiful finish, very well crafted and flawless. Rivals guitars up to 3 times the cost in my opinion. The Hagstrom composite Resinator fret board is fast and has good sustain. This guitar can be used for jazz with very clean articulation and voicing, moan the blues, fit right into classic or grunge rock and growl with the best of 'em throughout it's entire range. The ringing clarity is stunning! It's a lot of bang for your buck, and lighter than you'd think for a guitar with a 28" scale. A "tad" neck-heavy balance wise, but once you play it and realize it's potential from mild to wild, this is easily overlooked and by "no means" a deal breaker. It has 5 star ratings across the board for a reason. It's simply that good! This is a players guitar and one I'll keep the rest of my life. It will surprise and please you once you plug it in. This is an amazing baritone. Plug it in, crank it up, and jam 'til the cows come home! If your in the marketfor a baritone guitar, the Hagstrom Viking Deluxe is very hard to beat! I personally don't think any others in it's price rang hold a candle to it. Highly recommended. Enjoy! Edit: Was surprised to see I wasn't listed as a verified purchaser (don't know how that works). Oh well, I assure you I own this guitar purchased from SoundsCheapMusic on eBay out of Pleasant Hill, MO on April 22, 2015… in the Cosmic Black Burst finish. All the same, you won't be disappointed. 😉honorable1-us

With more than 15yrs. of experience with various Hagstrom guitars and over 40yrs. of playing and performing, this instrument and review was an unexpected and a very pleasant surprise. I will acknowledge that I was prompted to pull the trigger on the purchase in no small part because of a couple of reviews here on MFI, one by a fellow who is an American musician living in Sweden. From what I was able to glean from a collection of YouTube videos from past NAMM shows, it looks like the Viking DLX 12 made it's debut about 2016, and has had at least one major update since, with the most notable being larger, but traditional-shaped F-holes on the top, fully creme bound, of course. I very much agree with the opinion previously expressed about there being a major advantage for Hagstrom because of their sourcing all woods(primarily Canada)and all hardware and electronics, leaving their factory contractors in China to concentrate on building the best looking/sounding instrument possible. I would place current Hagstrom product on a par with anything from the Park factories in Korea, and nearly on par with some of the older product that came from Matsumoko in Japan. IMHO, and as pointed out by a previous reviewer, the only real contenders in this narrow category of instrument are the hollowbody Ric 300 Series, and the current Gretsch Electromatic 5422-12, both of which are 2-3X the cost of a new Viking DLX 12. Pickups are clear voiced but fairly hot, and the Resonator fretboard feels great and works with the overall timbre of a maple bodied guitar. The bookmatched flame maple body sides, top, and back are a sight to behold; laminated but beautiful. The most playable and comfortable neck I have EVER put in my hand for a 12-string; a profile similar to an early 60's Gibson or modern ESP being "thin", but with a 15" radius and a 45mm black Tusq nut. Perfect for chording and rhythm, but enough room between string pairs for either finger or flatpicking with precision. Get ItArch69er

It caught my eye hanging in my local Guitar Center in Goodlettsville, TN, which has a terrific staff btw. I asked to try it and was quite impressed with the overall build quality and set-up. Simply perfect; action, intonation, fret dressing, etc. It didn't need a thing! Thought about it overnight and returned the next day to buy it.Alan