Squier Paranormal Jazzmaster XII

[sugarandopium]

https://store.factionguitars.com/produc ... ound-plate

So who’s going to be the first to install one of these?
Curious to see how it looks on the jm xii

I don't think it will fit. The screwholes at the top of the plate will extend into the bridge pickup cavity. The control plate won't work, either. The routing in a JM is vastly different from the XII.

Crap you’re right. It’s so close to the bridge!

I knew the control plate wouldn’t fit but thought this would be a nice touch to add to the bridge. That sucks

[buckaroo]

Received the LPB XII today. Fit and finish is very good. It had a quick setup, so action felt good.

Tuned to concert pitch, it's a little bit difficult to play near the nut. The nut width is quite narrow as well, so I found myself experimenting with chord fingering to accomplish hammer ons and such. I know a lot of people with more experience playing 12 string electrics and acoustics either go to lower gauge strings or de-tune a half or a whole step.

My feeling is that with some practice, I could play it at concert pitch. The neck feels quite comfortable, although I'm not super picky about neck profile across the board.

The tuners feel really good, also. I tuned it up out of the box and it kept its tuning without issue. Pretty impressive.

I didn't weigh it, but it feels pretty light. It's definitely lighter than my CV 60s JM.

Haven't really had a chance to run it through an amp yet. I intend to blast it tomorrow and put it through the paces. Really curious to hear it with a compressor.

[forestgreen]

Would love some pics if you get the chance to please!

[JSett]

The nut width is quite narrow as well

Can you measure it for us?

[GilmourD]

Would love some pics if you get the chance to please!

Especially the knobs, apparently!

[buckaroo]

The nut width is quite narrow as well

Can you measure it for us?

1.6875" (42.86 mm). It's in the specs on the website. I should qualify that the nut "feels" narrow.

I played the XII for an hour through Amplitube. Having owned an electric 12 (a 60s Hagstrom) and recorded with a Danelectro 12 in the past, I already knew that a compressor is a must have for getting great tone. I was focused on getting a bright, classic 12 string tone - think Beatles, Byrds, Searchers, Hollies, etc. It was easily acheivable using Fender amps, especially with the bright switch on.
Just getting the amp at the edge of breakup and dialing back the volume on the guitar put me in the zone.
The bridge pickup is a tiny bit gnarly - not surprising, but a little difficult to tame. I would probably swap the pus with the AV 65s if I was keeping the JM vibe. I'm already predisposed to going the Novak XII pickup route, although I'm not in a hurry to do that.
Just like any acoustic or electric 12-string tuned to concert pitch, it's somewhat difficult to play. However, it is no more difficult to play than any other 12 string I've tried. Playing single note lines near the nut on the EAD strings takes some extra grit, and sounding those hammer ons when playing first position chords takes some extra precision.
All in all, I'm very happy with this out of the box. It was a better out of the box experience than my Squier Bass VI and my CV 60s JM.

[dropthebeat]

Picked mine up today as well - also LPB.
Super impressed. I've had probably 10 CVs/VMs. Most have come and gone with the exception of a CV Tele and a VM VI. This was the best out of the box in terms of playability, setup and tone. Similarly, coming from a Dano 12, this is a better instrument.
Agree that the bridge pickup is surprisingly barky. Almost humbucker-like in character. Going to try dropping it down (quite) a bit but it's certainly usable - just not the tone I expected, exactly.
Mine is 7 pounds, 8.8 ounces according to my kitchen scale. It feels specifically very light, although I've been playing my T40 a lot lately.
Anyway. Very good, super inspiring little guitar.

[buckaroo]

Measured the pickup resistance. The bridge is 11.1K! Pretty damn hot and explains the gnarly tone. The neck is 6.5K.

[GilmourD]

Measured the pickup resistance. The bridge is 11.1K! Pretty damn hot and explains the gnarly tone. The neck is 6.5K.

Are the poles AlNiCo? I ask because I saw a fou pics that made them look steel.

[Nudger]

The nut width is quite narrow as well

Can you measure it for us?

1.6875" (42.86 mm). It's in the specs on the website. I should qualify that the nut "feels" narrow.

I played the XII for an hour through Amplitube. Having owned an electric 12 (a 60s Hagstrom) and recorded with a Danelectro 12 in the past, I already knew that a compressor is a must have for getting great tone. I was focused on getting a bright, classic 12 string tone - think Beatles, Byrds, Searchers, Hollies, etc. It was easily acheivable using Fender amps, especially with the bright switch on.
Just getting the amp at the edge of breakup and dialing back the volume on the guitar put me in the zone.
The bridge pickup is a tiny bit gnarly - not surprising, but a little difficult to tame. I would probably swap the pus with the AV 65s if I was keeping the JM vibe. I'm already predisposed to going the Novak XII pickup route, although I'm not in a hurry to do that.
Just like any acoustic or electric 12-string tuned to concert pitch, it's somewhat difficult to play. However, it is no more difficult to play than any other 12 string I've tried. Playing single note lines near the nut on the EAD strings takes some extra grit, and sounding those hammer ons when playing first position chords takes some extra precision.
All in all, I'm very happy with this out of the box. It was a better out of the box experience than my Squier Bass VI and my CV 60s JM.

Great review.
Got a feeling C Novaks gonna make a killing this year..
Did it come with a Gotoh bridge?
Had bad experience with MIC copys.

[sugarandopium]

Haha, yes I remember that bridge pup when my cv was stock. I’m assuming they’re using the same pickups.

Soo hot and loud, gnarly is a good word for it. I remember playing it thru a model of a mark 3, was a Metallica puppets era preset. I was mindblown with how good it pulled off the metal tone from a jazzmaster.

I don’t mind them, especially for the price point I think they’re very decent to have stock on the squiers. I never got around to trying them with a lower value pot before gutting that body but kinda wish I did.

Honestly, I’d rather have something like that in the bridge than the ice pick av65 style bridge.

[Pacafeliz]

This thread needs more pics

[sugarandopium]

Did it come with a Gotoh bridge?
Had bad experience with MIC copys.

I think it’s a copy, the screws look different.

[buckaroo]

Measured the pickup resistance. The bridge is 11.1K! Pretty damn hot and explains the gnarly tone. The neck is 6.5K.

Are the poles AlNiCo? I ask because I saw a fou pics that made them look steel.

The website says Fender® Designed Alnico Single-Coil for both pickups.

[buckaroo]

Did it come with a Gotoh bridge?
Had bad experience with MIC copys.

I think it’s a copy, the screws look different.

The only difference I can see is the intonation screw springs are black on the XII bridge, chrome/silver on the Gotoh. Probably the only way we'll know is by asking Fender customer relations.