Squier Paranormal Jazzmaster XII Review

If sound alone guaranteed success, the Electric XII would have been an enduring cornerstone of Fender’s line. Players with 12-string proclivities from Pete Townshend to the Velvet Underground’s Lou Reed and Sterling Morrison adored the Fender XII for its zingy-to-robust tones, playability, and the resonance derived from potent pickups and a 25½” scale. Wider appeal, however, always seemed limited to studio hounds and dedicated psychedelicists. Its initial run spanned just four years, from 1965 to 1969. The recent Alternate Reality series version had an even shorter lifespan. But the combination of sound, quality, familiarity, and affordability that distinguishes the Squier Paranormal Jazzmaster XII suggests that this new Fender-designed electric 12 could have staying power. It’s a beautiful, well-crafted instrument. And at $449, it’s priced less like an indulgence for a guitar that may be a secondary instrument.