12 fret electrics??

[Eonratslea500]

Does anyone make 12 fret electric guitars? If so, what are the best models and who makes them? I realize most people want all that great high fretboard action and a cutaway, but what about those who dont?

[Paleolith54]

Originally Posted by Eonratslea500

Does anyone make 12 fret electric guitars? If so, what are the best models and who makes them? I realize most people want all that great high fretboard action and a cutaway, but what about those who dont?

Not surprisingly, they don't seem to exist: at least I came up empty.

EDIT: after posting this, within a few minutes I remembered this guitar George played on Handle With Care:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o4s1KVJaVA

Here is a pic; it seems to show the body joining the neck awfully close to the 12th fret, though I guess it's actually at the 14th.

[blue]

14 fret guitars coming out the ears. 12? tough call. Does my National style N with a pickup count?

[Paleolith54]

Originally Posted by blue

14 fret guitars coming out the ears. 12? tough call. Does my National style N with a pickup count?

And I have to wonder what the point would be. You won't get tone change like one apparently gets with a 12-fret acoustic vs a 14-fret one. And it's not as if the upper fretboard goes away, access is just a bit restricted.

[Gordon Currie]

Unlike acoustic guitars, where there is lots of evidence that a 12-fret join can make an actual difference in tone, there is no audible reason to have a 12-fret electric.

If there is no reason, then companies won't make them, because there is not enough of a demand.

It's just basic business 101.

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by Gordon Currie

Unlike acoustic guitars, where there is lots of evidence that a 12-fret join can make an actual difference in tone, there is no audible reason to have a 12-fret electric.

If there is no reason, then companies won't make them, because there is not enough of a demand.

It's just basic business 101.

+1.

One of the things that electric players want is upper fret access. Always an exception and I'm hoping someone posts a popular guitar over the past 30 years that has this just to learn about it.

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by Eonratslea500

Does anyone make 12 fret electric guitars? If so, what are the best models and who makes them? I realize most people want all that great high fretboard action and a cutaway, but what about those who dont?

Simple. Just don't play up that high. If you're worried that you might accidentally play up there, tape it off with yellow caution tape.

[robj144]

Why you want one though? It's not like the scale length would be different necessarily.

[s2y]

For reasonable upper fret access, it would have to be shaped similar to this body style.