Vintage 12-String Electric Guitars from Fender and Rickenbacker!

I really like the Rickenbacker.

Thank You for the great video. About time we had a video that shows off both of these classic instruments. The Fender Electric XII is much truer (!) to its heritage being a 1966 model compared to the 1990 330/12. Of course, the RIC being a RIC does produce a sound that resembles a classic 12 string RIC. But the real RIC sound requires several aspects which aren't part of a 1990 RIC. Firstly, toaster pickups instead of high gains. Then different potentiometers. The ones in the modern models tend to dull the classic RIC tone compared to the ones used on classic RIC 12s. And, don't forget the famous .0047 green polyester capacitor installed in the bridge pu circuit. Finally, run the guitar through some serious compression circuitry (eg. Mr McGuinn recommends the Janglebox) into a VOX AC-30 amplifier. Then and there you have the uber classic Rickenbacker 12 string tone in all of its jangle and chime glory. But both of these guitars, excellent as the are, a worth a pretty penny. I've looked at several alternatives, Danelectro, Harley Benton, Reverend Airwave, Gretsch and the like. However, I think the ones that come closest to that RIC sound are the Greco RG-95 copy (reasonably hard to find) and the Eastwood Classic 12. Bang for buck, the Eastwood is a great instrument. My dream 12 string electric is a late 1970s Ibanez 2618/12 Artist solid body. When properly setup, that guitar will give a tone that is incredibly close to that classic 1960s RIC 12 sound. It's a RIC 6xx/12 reinvented by Ibanez. Cheers from the Land Down Under.

The Rick is the 12 string tone I prefer. It sounds like a 12str should.

The Rickenbacker 12 String Guitar neck is the same width as a 6 string Neck because the Fretboard has a Steeper Radius.

Rickenbacker all day long.

I prefer the Fender- I'm highly biased, because I own one (a 1966 sunburst). I've done comparisons with a Rickenbacker myself, and I really do prefer playing mine [Fender]. Maybe it's just my individual instrument, but the fingerboard on my Fender 12-string is a good bit wider (and easier to play, for me) than the Rickenbacker (which feels rather cramped). Then there's the intonation, which is much better up the neck on the Fender, with it's individually-adjustable bridge saddles.