Electric Guitars Buying Guide

The Rickenbacker 12-String Sound: What Makes It So Hard to Replicate

V Rated by Vincent Vandegans · Updated Sep 2026

The jangly, chiming 12-string sound associated with 1960s folk-rock and jangle-pop comes overwhelmingly from one source: Rickenbacker's specific pickup design and string configuration, which other 12-string electrics (and even other Rickenbacker models) don't quite reproduce. Understanding what's actually distinctive about it helps set realistic expectations before buying.

The ten guitars below are real, currently-listed Rickenbacker-style 12-string electrics, checked for seller reliability and priced against comparable recent sales.

At a Glance — Our Top Picks

Editor's Top Pick

Rickenbacker 360/12 FG Fireglo Made in USA 1996 Semi Hollow 12 String E.Guitar

Score 95/100 · $2,397.00 · Used

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Best New

Rickenbacker 660 12 String

Score 95/100 · $2,595.00 · Open box

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Best Used

Rickenbacker 360/12C63 Excellent Condition Fireglo Finish (398)

Score 95/100 · $3,000.00 · Used

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Top 10 Electric Guitarss on eBay & Amazon

Ranked and rated by Vincent Vandegans — verified you can buy.

Rickenbacker 360/12 FG Fireglo Made in USA 1996 Semi Hollow 12 String E.Guitar

Rating Score: 95/100 · $2,397.00 Used

4 photos

Body Type: Semi-Hollow
Body Color: Fireglo
Neck Material: Maple
Year of Manufacture: 1996
Number of Frets: 21
Case: Hard Case

•Condition: Used
•Seller rating: 100.0% positive (1311 ratings)
•Free shipping
•Returns accepted (30 calendar day)

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Rickenbacker 360/12C63 Excellent Condition Fireglo Finish (398)

Rating Score: 95/100 · $3,000.00 Used

4 photos

Body Type: Semi-Hollow
Body Color: Fireglo
Neck Material: Maple
MPN: 360/12
Brand: Rickenbacker
Personalize: No

•Condition: Used
•Seller rating: 100.0% positive (1389 ratings)
•Shipping: $99.00
•No returns accepted

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Rickenbacker 330/12 12-String Electric Guitar - Fireglo wit

Rating Score: 80/100 · $2,500.00 Used

4 photos

Country of Origin: United States
Body Type: Semi-Hollow
Size: 4/4
Body Color: Fireglo
Neck Material: Maple
MPN: 360/12 MG

•Condition: Used
•Seller rating: 100.0% positive (16 ratings)
•Free shipping
•No returns accepted

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Rickenbacker 1988 360/12 Fireglo Electric Guitar

Rating Score: 95/100 · $3,550.00 Used

4 photos

Materials sourced from: United States
Brand: Rickenbacker
Handedness: Right-Handed
Type: Electric Guitar
Model Year: 1988
Body Material: Maple / walnut

•Condition: Used
•Seller rating: 99.4% positive (1569 ratings)
•Free shipping
•Returns accepted (30 calendar day)

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Rickenbacker 370/12 Semi-Hollow 12 String Electric Guitar Ruby Red 1985

Rating Score: 95/100 · $2,495.00 Used

4 photos

Body Type: Semi-Hollow
Size: 4/4
Body Color: /
Neck Material: Maple
Set Includes: HSC
Number of Frets: /

•Condition: Used
•Seller rating: 100.0% positive (5078 ratings)
•Shipping: $65.00
•Returns accepted (14 calendar day)

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Rickenbacker 660 12 String

Rating Score: 95/100 · $2,595.00 Open box

4 photos

Brand: Rickenbacker
Type: Electric Guitar
Size: 1/2
String Configuration: 12 String
Model: Rickenbacker 660

•Condition: Open box
•Seller rating: 100.0% positive (4148 ratings)
•Shipping: $169.95
•No returns accepted

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12-String Bridge w/ baseplate & cover For Rickenbacker NO USA CUSTOMS FEES.

Rating Score: 95/100 · $99.00 New

4 photos

Brand: Unbranded
Type: Bridge
Product Type: Bridges
To Fit: Electric Guitar

•Condition: New
•Seller rating: 99.8% positive (2863 ratings)
•Shipping: $14.99
•No returns accepted

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Rickenbacker 1993 Plus 12-String Electric Guitar - Fireglo

Rating Score: 95/100 · $3,899.00 New

MPN: 1993PLUSFG
Model: 1993PLUSFG
UPC: 6551710369900
Brand: Rickenbacker

•Condition: New
•Seller rating: 99.6% positive (85197 ratings)
•Free shipping
•Returns accepted (30 calendar day)

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Rickenbacker 330 12 String - Mapleglo

Rating Score: 95/100 · $2,599.00 New

4 photos

Brand: Rickenbacker
MPN: 330/12 MG
Model: 330 12 String - Mapleglo
Type: Electric Guitar
Fretboard Material: Maple
UPC: 655171335026

•Condition: New
•Seller rating: 99.9% positive (9235 ratings)
•Free shipping
•Returns accepted (14 calendar day)

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NEW RICKENBACKER BRIDGE 12 SADDLES 330 360 620 660 PERFECT INTONATION 12 STRING

Rating Score: 95/100 · $257.00 New

Country of Origin: United States
Brand: Rickenbacker
Type: Bridge
To Fit: Electric Guitar

•Condition: New
•Seller rating: 100.0% positive (19205 ratings)
•Shipping: $12.00
•No returns accepted

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Buyer's Guide: How to Pick the Best Electric Guitars

What to know before buying a Rickenbacker-style 12-string.

String Order Configuration

Rickenbacker's distinctive string order (octave strings positioned differently than most other 12-string makers) contributes significantly to its characteristic sound — genuine Rickenbacker-spec instruments preserve this, other 12-strings often don't.

Pickup Design

The specific single-coil pickup design used on these guitars is a major contributor to the jangly tonal character — this is why other 12-strings with different pickups don't fully replicate the sound even with similar string configuration.

Neck Width for 12 Strings

12-string necks are inherently wider to accommodate the extra strings — worth confirming comfort if you have smaller hands or are coming from standard 6-string electrics exclusively.

Electric Guitars FAQs

Can any 12-string electric get the classic jangle tone? +

Not quite — the specific combination of pickup design and string ordering that produces the classic sound is closely associated with this particular guitar's construction, which is why the format has such a devoted following rather than being freely replicated elsewhere.

Is a 12-string harder to play than a 6-string? +

The extra string tension requires slightly more finger strength for barre chords, and tuning takes longer given double the strings — but the fingering and chord shapes themselves are identical to 6-string playing.

What should I check on a used 12-string electric? +

Confirm the neck shows no excess relief or warping under the doubled string tension, check that all tuning machines hold steady, and verify pickup output is even across the strings.

Do 12-strings stay in tune well? +

Reasonably, with quality tuning machines and a proper setup — they do require more frequent tuning attention than 6-strings simply due to having twice as many strings that can drift.

Top Sellers Rank

Rank	Seller	Price vs. average	Rating
#1	altomusic	+67% vs. avg	★ 5
#2	pithespy	-89% vs. avg	★ 5
#3	simsmusic	+11% vs. avg	★ 5

Why Should You Trust Us?

Every guitar here is cross-checked against live eBay listings, with pickup configuration and string order confirmed from the listing description before inclusion.

Written by Vincent Vandegans

Vincent has spent years buying, selling, and researching gear across live marketplaces. He personally tests a portion of the products featured on this site — hands-on with the exact model, checking build quality, sound, and feel for himself. For the rest of the lineup, each pick goes through the same in-depth research process rather than being taken at face value from a listing photo.

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How this guide was researched

Hands-on testing, when possible

Whenever Vincent owns or can source the exact model, he tests it directly — evaluating build quality, sound, playability, and how it holds up against the manufacturer claims.

Technical spec sheets, compared side by side

For every other pick, the manufacturer datasheets, manuals, and published specifications are read in full and compared against competing models in the same price range — not just skimmed from a listing summary.

Real owner reviews, mined from blogs and forums

Vincent digs through long-running gear forums, owner blogs, and marketplace review threads to find recurring, repeated feedback from real buyers after months of actual use — not just the top review snippet or a manufacturer-friendly quote.

Live marketplace data, checked at publish time

Price, seller reputation, condition, and availability shown on this site are cross-checked directly against live eBay and Amazon listings, so the ranking reflects what is actually being sold, not a historical average.

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