The only reason I put a 4 for value is that I am a little pissed that Fender had the price quite a bit lower for a long time and then suddenly jacked it up- someone forgot to tell Fender about the economic recovery. This instrument though is first rate, it is so easy to play, sounds amazing and looks stunning. I can't decide over the blue or the burgundy- they both look grrrreeeattt!

The Fender 12 string strat has the best neck on a 12 string I have ever played, and I have played many types in 50 years. I have the Lake Placid Blue, and when I played a gig a month ago, many guitar players approached me and stated they never saw a 12 string Strat. As a Rythmn player, I depend on a super fast neck. This has it. I recommend this guitar to any 12 string player who wants quality, great sound, and great ease of play. 5 stars for this baby!

Dave Smith Stuart, FL

This guitar looks and sounds beautiful however be aware that the neck width at the nut is very narrow. It is the same as for a Fender 6 string: 1.650” (42 mm).

This makes playing many open string chords in first position very difficult (particularly if you have large hands) because your fingers regularly bump into the next open string.

If you prefer a wider neck (44 mm or more) you may want to think twice about this guitar. It is a shame because it really is a great sounding guitar.

You just can't beat this music machine. I just recently bought this guitar after playing it a few times in the music shop in my town and decided that for the price it was unbeatable. While I like Hollow body guitars and Semi-hollow body guitars, this one I just couldn't pass up for the price. I got mine in Blue but who really cares about the colour as long as it sounds good. I haven't had any problems with it yet; hopefully I don't run into any. This guitar is by far one of Fender's best guitars on the market. If you like twelve string guitars just go for it and buy it; you'll be happy.

I ordered a Lake Placid Blue Strat XII from my local Fender dealer, and a couple weeks later when it came in, I was amazed.

At first I was worried about the quality of a Japanese-made Strat, but the craftsmanship on this axe is 100%. Right out of the box the setup was spot on. The neck feels great, the finish is flawless (the blue is a LOT more blue than the pictures make it look) and the quality of the wood seems very fine.

Complaints? Yes. Kind of. I'm not a fan of the vintage-style tuners. I find them frustrating to string. Once I've strung the thing up, I'm happy as a clam.

Also the pickups. They ain't great and they buzz. I fixed it up with an EMG-SA set. The guitar (once strung, of course) is officially perfect.

The price is a deal if you want to talk raw quality. If I just played it in the store, I wouldn't have been surprised by a $1000-1200 price tag. It's a superb piece.