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I am looking into buying a twelve string electric to help me improve and further my style and sound. The best option for me, at the moment, seems to be the Danelectro DC-59 12. From reviews, I have gathered that it produces a very wide range of sounds, is versatile, and plays well. All for about £230. Which is all fantastic.

Before I commit and order it, are there any problems I should know about with it? Is it well built? Does anyone have anything they could add regarding the sound/feel of the instrument?

Thank you for your time.

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This is a subjective question, with answers that will be based on opinion, rather than fact. – Anonymous Jan 17 '11 at 19:36
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Fair point. Will edit to make more specific/less subjective. – Ali Maxwell Jan 17 '11 at 19:38
Don't buy a guitar without playing it yourself. If that means paying $50 more than online prices, so be it. – slim Nov 14 '11 at 19:19

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Think: The Byrds, The Beatles, The Yardbirds - This was one of the original 12 string guitars (Sorry, but I couldn't afford you, Mr Rickenbacker) loved by dozens of recording artists throughout the 60'-70's!! The problems that come with it are the same as anything else that you buy at a reduced price: parts need to be changed if you don't want it to go out of tune all of the time or buzz flat in the middle of the neck. Find a good Luthier and for another $100 bucks replace mod the nut, tuning pegs - you're still ahead of the game by $1500 bucks!! As far as the sound, it's close enough with the right amp (Twin Reverb) and a Chorus or Janglebox....Not a subjective question, the price lends itself for one to doubt it's actual "playability".

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Thank you for your input! Yup, that Rickenbacker is out of my reach, student savings just don't stretch that far! Thanks :) – Ali Maxwell Jan 23 '11 at 0:05
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i posses a recently reissued danelectro dc 59-12 and it serves my musical needs very well, which happen to be playing a jangly lead guitar in a psychobilly/garage band called the Arkhams. listen to our recording of 'worst enemy' for what it sounds like. i didnt even mod mine what so ever and its pretty dead on right out of the box for me. believe me, id be playing a Rickenbacker if i could find/afford one, but all you really need with a 12 string is single coil pickups (which this instrument has) a clean amp (in my case, an Ampeg Gemini 2 and a fender deluxe reverb reissue) a light pick, a good compression pedal, which i have a visual sound comp 66, with the tone knob all the way up, and youre 99.9999999% there.

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How is the tuning stability? Are you constantly having to retune it? – todd Nov 15 '11 at 1:37
I would anticipate tuning stability problems from a £130 guitar, but not from a £230 guitar. – slim Nov 15 '11 at 11:27

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