"Danelectro’s finishing falls noticeably short of what the market now expects at this level": Danelectro Dan O. Cool 12 String review

What is it?

There’s something inherently retro about 12-string electric guitars. There was a time when the humble 12-string reigned supreme as the ultimate studio secret weapon, laying down added jangle to fill out a song, but for whatever reason, it’s just not something that you see (or hear) as much today. Which makes it all the more exciting when a big-name manufacturer goes for the dozen.

Introducing the Danelectro Dan O. Cool 12 String. Unveiled as part of Danelectro’s bold new Dano lineup at NAMM 2026, this isn’t just another reissue of a classic model. Rather than simply raiding the archive, Danelectro has gone for a slightly different approach, pulling together a collection of its most iconic vintage design elements, some not seen on a production guitar since the 1950s, and combining them into something that feels genuinely new while remaining unmistakably Dano.

The 'Full Bell' headstock, originally introduced in 1954, makes a triumphant return, now hosting twelve 'Skate Key' tuners from 1958. Unlike other models in the new series, the 12-string doesn’t feature a rosewood saddle; instead, it opts for a more modern adjustable bridge. Six of the 12 strings feed through the bridge as normal, while the others are strung through the body.

In terms of pickups, we have a double-lipstick humbucker in the bridge position, promising more bite and output than the single-coil version. That said, this pickup can be split (contrary to Danelectro calling it a coil-tap) via push/pull, too, so you can get those chimey single-coil tones when needed. This is complemented by an angled P90 in the neck.

As expected, in Danelectro tradition, the guitar features a masonite (high-density fiberboard) construction with a 14-inch radius fingerboard, and comes in an eye-catching Aqua finish.

Specs

• Launch price: $852|£699|€740
• Made: Korea
• Type: 12-string electric
• Body: Poplar with masonite top and back
• Neck: Maple
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Scale length: 25"/635 mm
• Nut: Aluminium
• Frets: 21
• Hardware: Fixed bridge with adjustable saddles, 'Skate Key' machine heads,
• Electrics: 1x P90 Single Coil (neck) and 1x Dual Lipstick Humbucker (w/coil-split, bridge)
• Weight: 6.6 lbs/2.99kg
• Left-handed options: No
• Finishes: Aqua
• Cases: No
• Contact: Danelectro

Build quality

Build quality rating: ★★½

Personally, I think the Dan O. Cool 12-String is a genuinely handsome guitar. Yes, the light blue and burgundy colour combination has a certain Aston Villa energy, but the overall silhouette is strong, and I like the retro charm.

The oversized 'Full Bell' headstock, loaded with 12 'Skate Key' tuners, could easily look ungainly, yet it somehow works, adding to the guitar’s vintage swagger. Danelectro has always had an eye for retro cool, and visually at least, the Dan O. Cool delivers.

Weight-wise, this is classic Dano territory, and exactly what you’d expect from the brand. It’s light and easy to wear for long periods. Impressively, despite the considerable mass of that enlarged peghead, neck dive is less of an issue than you might expect. The balance isn’t perfect, but it’s far better than feared.

Unfortunately, that’s where the goodwill starts to run dry. Look closely at the transition from headstock to neck, and you’ll find evidence of finish overspray and drip marks. It’s not the worst I’ve ever seen, but on a guitar at this price point, it’s the kind of thing that should never make it past quality control.

I’m pleased to say that the fret work is neat and tidy at the ends, with no sharp edges, but they could use a polish. You can feel the strings scratching against the frets when playing, and it’s not a particularly nice sensation.

There’s also the control cavity cover, which sits proud of the body. Ideally, I’d prefer to see this sit flush with the body of the guitar. Right now, it feels tacked on, and it also has a habit of catching your belt when playing standing up.

More concerning is the vinyl body binding. On both review guitars I’ve received, (this model and the Golden 50s), the vinyl wrap has begun peeling away where it overlaps near the strap button. Both guitars seemed fine on arrival, but after two weeks, the issue became apparent. Whether it’s a glue issue or a material issue, I think it’s something Danelectro will need to address on the next batch.

I’m sorry to say that at £699, this simply isn’t good enough. Guitar manufacturing standards have risen dramatically across all price points in recent years, and Danelectro’s finishing falls noticeably short of what the market now expects at this level.

Playability

Playability rating: ★★★½

Okay, despite the build concerns, when I pick up this guitar and play it, things take a more positive turn. This is, quite simply, a pretty comfortable guitar to spend time with.

The neck is wide, as you’d expect from a 12-string, but it avoids the chunky, hand-straining profile that puts so many players off. It’s broad without being thick, and navigating chord shapes feels surprisingly natural, even for those more accustomed to a standard six-string neck.

Action comes set at 1.50mm on both the high and low E strings straight out of the box, and I think that feels just right for the model. Low enough to keep things comfortable and fast, without any buzzing or intonation issues creeping in.

The frets are on the smaller side, which might frustrate lead players used to more modern builds. But honestly, they don’t bother me in the slightest; in fact, it’s what I want to see on a retro-style guitar like this.

The Dan O. Cool 12-String is, at its heart, a rhythm and texture instrument. It’s a guitar for laying down shimmer and jangle rather than firing off solos. For that purpose, the fret size is perfectly adequate, and the overall playability is well-suited to the role.

Comparing the model to my own Squier 12-string Jazzmaster, I’d say the playability out of the box is pretty similar, with the Danelectro being a touch more manoeuvrable when put against the Squier. That said, the Jazzmaster certainly has it licked when it comes to build quality.

Sounds

Sounds rating: ★★★★☆

Plugged into a Fender ‘68 Custom Twin Reissue, the guitar opens up beautifully, and it quickly becomes clear that Danelectro has put real thought into the pickup configuration.

The bridge humbucker delivers a fat, full tone with plenty of body. There’s a warmth and thickness here that you might not expect from a 12-string, or even a Danelectro for that matter. Engage the coil split via the push-pull pot, however, and the character shifts dramatically. Suddenly, you’re in chime territory. Bright, airy and dripping with that classic 12-string jangle, it’s a joy to play, especially with copious amounts of spring reverb.

The angled P90 at the neck is a welcome addition, lending this guitar (at least visually) a Mosrite flavour. It has a slightly raw, midrange-forward quality, perhaps in-part owing to the angle of the pickup, and sounds very good indeed playing into Danelectro's garage-rock heritage when introduced to a Big Muff.

I think with the pickup options on board, for recording, this guitar becomes a great studio asset. There’s such a great range of tones available.

Verdict

You know, I really want to love this guitar. As someone who has a penchant for vintage-style instruments, I consider myself the target audience of a guitar like this. I’m also a big fan of Danelectro, having owned an NOS 59 a number of years ago. I think that’s why I feel so let down by this model.

​At almost £700, this is not a cheap guitar; it’s a significant investment, and as such, I expect a certain level of quality control, and so do the people making a purchase.

​In terms of playability, the guitar is more than serviceable, and it certainly has the tone you’d expect from a Dano, but none of that is enough to make me want to recommend it.

If this model is something you’ve got your eye on, I’d say you're best off playing one in person at a guitar store so you can thoroughly inspect its build before you drop your hard-earned cash on it.

MusicRadar verdict: The Dan O. Cool 12-String brings together Danelectro's iconic design elements and a clever pickup configuration to deliver genuinely versatile tones. But unfortunately, persistent build quality issues, including finish drips and peeling vinyl binding, make it hard to justify the near £700 asking price.

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