1990s Vox Mini XII (Mando-Guitar) 12-String Electric Octave Guitar

August 10, 2024

1990s Vox Mini XII (Mando-Guitar) 12-String Electric Octave Guitar

Overview: Vox sold a "Mando-Guitar" in the 1960s that was made by EKO (in Italy) for the brand. It looked very much like this USA-made Vox Mini XII and both instruments have the same goal -- an octave-up-tuned, mandolin-sized, double-coursed electric guitar. Traditionally, they're tuned in unison each course (like a mandolin), though some folks string the EAD strings as octaves. I've adjusted and strung this one for unison just like I would for an original and it gives the instrument a mandolin-like quality that's really fun for a guitarist to lean into.

Tone: It's bright, chimey, and sweet with good sustain. The pickups are surprisingly well-balanced for being single coils with flattened poles, though the high E in an instrument like this (being strung with 8s due to the scale) will always take a small dip in output.

Feel: It has a modern-style, slim-medium-heft neck with an oval/C profile. The board is relatively flat and, if you've never played an instrument like this before, it can be a challenge to use your normal chord shapes in some positions. I tend to play these more like a mandolin for backup and lead -- with 3-note little "chop chords" and shortened power-chord shapes instead.

Interesting features: The body is very sculptural with a lot of cool curves to its cut. It's also got a solid alder body. The neck is rosewood over maple. It has adjustable saddles that can be intonated however you like (fully adjustable, there, for each string) but I've currently set it up for unison stringing on each course. The company did a nice job on this reissue and it has neat, '60s-style knobs and faithful-looking (and sounding: but they're thankfully a little fuller than the originals, to be honest) pickups. Inside the neck pocket this one is marked as a "prototype" but I've seen a few others online with the same so it may have just been penciled in on the initial run of these.

Repairs included: It's had a fret level/dress and comprehensive setup.