Every so often you come across a guitar with a set of specifications so improbable it makes you say “Wait…what?” That’s certainly how I reacted the first time I saw this guitar several years ago. Let’s see your reaction:
Exactly. I know it’s a lot to process, so let’s walk through it.
What we have here is a 2004 325C58 (click to learn more) finished in Blue Boy (click to learn more) with gold plastics, a two-o’clock f-hole (click to learn more), and—just to make sure we’ve fully committed to the bit—twelve strings.
Making it a 325/12C58.
Like I said…that’s a lot.
Now there are other 12-string 325s out there—although technically we should call them 320/12s instead of 325/12s as they (obviously) don’t feature a vibrato. F.C. Hall had the first one made for John Lennon (click to learn more) after the Beatles’ first visit to America in 1964, and replicas were made of that guitar for collectors in 1986 and 1999/2000.
But that guitar—and its replicas—are based on the thinner “New Capri” 1964 version of the 325, not the thicker 1958 325 Capri. This guitar, however, uses the 325C58 as its foundation, meaning it’s built on the earlier, chunkier body style. Thicc, as the kids would say.
There were allegedly ten different one-off guitars built around this time—possibly for the 2004 NAMM show—and other oddities made around the same time exist—like a 6-string 325C58 in Blue Boy and a 315C58, lending credibility to this theory. But since I originally hit publish I got a more likely explanation.
John Minutaglio suggests in the comments below that these were “thank you” guitars built to the individual specs of the “C-team”, a group of collectors and experts who advised in the development of the C-Series guitars. That appears to be the more likely explanation.
But nothing else like this particular one exists: the (as far as we know) one and only 325/12C58 ever built. In Blue Boy. With gold plastics. And with a two-o’clock f-hole.
A twelve-string, vintage-spec short-scale in a finish that didn’t belong on that body—yet somehow works anyway.
Viva la difference!
Want to learn about more weird guitars? Check out the “Interesting/Unusual Guitars” section on our site map…or any other category that interests you!
As I recall, these weren't NAMM guitars, the "C-team" (the wayback machines is your friend, they used to be listed on the RIC site) got a thank you with some weird specs - you've listed some of them. There was a 325C with a slash sound hole also - I think that was BB too...!
Hi Andy, in the mid-1980s I bought a 325/12 in dark red from a shop in London's Denmark St. I was royally suckered. It had a short Gibson-style trapeze tailpiece, 3 toaster pickups and was pretty impossible to play. No surprise there. I eventually worked out it had been converted from 6 to 12 and decided to convert it back. I filled in the headstock slots, veneered and repainted the top face. I also bought a new 'R' tailpiece. I then swapped it for near-mint Precision Bass. I don't miss it but often wonder if anyone has since discovered that guitar and its story. Cheers for the excellent site, Dom.