Vox Starstream XII 12 String Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1968)

Vox  Starstream XII 12 String Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar  (1968)
Loading
LOADING IMAGES
This item has been sold.
Item # 8207
Prices subject to change without notice.
Vox Starstream XII Model 12 String Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1968), made in Recanati, Italy, cherry sunburst finish, laminated maple body and neck, ebony fingerboard, original grey hard shell case.

This is a worn-in but still good playing and sounding example of one of the all-time over-the-top "posing" guitars, the Vox Starstream XII with a built-in effects array. In any form the Vox "Teardrop" is an instantly recognizable 1960s classic. This late model hollow-body teardrop Starstream XII, like most Vox guitars sold in the US, was built at the Eko factory in Recanti, Italy -- not in England. By 1965, Vox brand owner JMI in Dartford, Kent outsourced the bulk of instrument production to the Italian firm.

Eko-made Vox guitars are more consistent in style and quality, than their English cousins -- and in some ways better made. Thomas Organ in California secured the rights to US distribution of JMI's products in 1964; by the next year nearly all the Vox guitars they handled would be of Italian parentage. These late models from the 1968 period are almost entirely Italian creations for the American market; only the basic concept remained English, although they bore a small sticker on the neck plate proclaiming "VOX -- the British sound"!

The exposure the teardrop-shaped Mark VI received in the hands of Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones in 1964-5 was enough to make it the most sought-after Vox guitar. The solid-body "Mark" series expanded to include 6, 12, and 9-string guitars as well as a bass in solid or hollowbody versions in different finishes. By 1968 all those models were gone, but the teardrop shape was maintained in a 6 and 12-string guitar and bass with a hollowed-out maple body and slash sound hole built by Eko.

This Starstream XII is the top-line model, with all onboard effects on a bright red-yellow sunburst finish body. Unlike most of the thin plywood Vox guitars of this era, the Starstream's top and sides are carved from a single hollowed-out piece of wood giving it a much solider feel. The guitar features two single-coil "Ferro Sonic" Vox pickups with a master volume, two tone controls, and a three-way switch. These pickups wear a great improvement on the original thin-coil Italian Vox units with more power and depth. There is, fortunately, no vibrato!

This model sports the most over the top feature specific to Vox in 1967-8: a bevy of elaborate onboard transistorized effects pioneered by the company. The "distortion" circuit is particularly interesting, an onboard fuzzbox adjustable from a sizzly buzz to a white noise maelstrom, and every bit as gnarly sounding as many floor-pedal units from this golden age of Fuzz. The rotary active Treble-Bass boost is also quite effective, giving a wide range of tones. There is also a "repeater" effect, sort of a primitive electronic trem/percussion overlay, and the most amazing -- a built-in Wah-Wah pedal.

This unique and surprisingly effective feature is controlled via a palm pedal mounted over the bridge and, once you get used to the technique, is more effective than one might expect. Plus, it leaves the feet free to dance! The only non-functional piece on this guitar is an "E" tuner, which was more important in the pre-electronic tuner days of 1967 anyway!

These third generation 1967-68 Eko-made models are some of the nicest of all Vox instruments in terms of build quality and fretwork. This is a good playing and sounding, if eccentrically styled, 12 string from the later '60s. This is far from a perfect example, but if you've always wanted onboard fuzz and wah with your 12-string stylings, it sure fits the bill!
 
Overall length is 41 1/2 in. (105.4 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) across at the widest point, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).

We'd call this a "player grade" example of this rare and colorful Vox creation, with some old repairs and minor alterations. The most important thing is the onboard effects are currently working with the exception of the least useful -- the "E" tuner, which has given up the ghost (as many have). The fuzz circuit roars with a fully saturated snarl, the treble/bass boost does its thing perfectly, and most amazingly, the onboard wah is fully functional both mechanically and electronically. The "Repeater" is working but seems a bit weak; nevertheless, it is a treat to find one of these guitars with all these early solid-state fittings in functional condition. We cannot guarantee they will work forever, but have so far survived.

The guitar itself has had some knocks but still is a fully playable and quite attractive instrument. There are dings and dents overall, although the top is fairly clean. There is a chunk of binding about 3/4" long missing from the lower body edge, a few other deep dings to the back edge, and some heavy scratching in the upper treble area of the side. The top and neck are remarkably free of the standard heavy checking common to the thick polyester finishes on these Vox instruments, but the back has some heavy checking. The center of the back above the pad has an area of plywood pushed in somewhat and re-inforced with glue, with a small piece of the top ply missing -- this is solid but visible.

The neck has none of the common stress cracks, and has survived in quite playable condition. The face of the headstock has several large chips to the edges filled in with paint, and one of the 12 tuning pegs is a period Japanese unit; the rest are original. The frets have a slightly flattened crown, but still play well.

The small slider switches turning the onboard effects on and off are fairly fragile -- two of them have been replaced on this guitar with mini-toggles that look to be '70s or '80s vintage. Nearly all the knobs are missing their capped inserts, and a couple have chips to the edge but all are present. The tailpiece cover (with a large embossed "V") is still intact. The guitar plays very well and makes for a good gigging example of this visually imposing and sonically fabulous 12-string, housed in the traditional grey teardrop Vox case. Very Good Condition.