Review of the Danelectro Dan O. Cool 12-String Guitar]

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.