1965 Baldwin 712 12-String Semi-Hollow 3-Tone Sunburst w/ Gig Bag

Here for sale we have a Baldwin 712 semi-hollow 12 string electric guitar in Tobacco Sunburst finish. The Baldwin Piano Company acquired the struggling Ormston Burns Ltd in 1965, in an effort to capitalise on the booming guitar market of the '60s, as well as the popularity of 'British Invasion' acts in the US. The 700 Series of guitars were aimed squarely at the perceived gap in the semi-hollow guitar market. Originally produced in England under the name 'Baldwin-Burns', the company was renamed 'Baldwin' and production moved to Italy, with final assembly of the guitars made in the USA. The series was short-lived, being wound up by the end of 1970.  This guitar features a bolt-on construction comprising a Laminated Maple body, Mahogany neck and 22 fret Rosewood fingerboard. Nickel hardware is fitted, including a T-o-M style bridge, 'B' trapeze tailpiece and two, six-inline open-geared tuning machines. A pair of Baldwin branded 'Bar Type' humbucking pickups with adjustable pole-pieces are installed, and are wired to a 3-way toggle switch, along with independent volume & tone controls.  The Mahogany neck plays very well, with a profile that might be described as an Even 'C' shape which is comfortable and practical throughout the register. The gloss finish to the rear of the neck assists with smooth navigation of the 24.75" scale, whilst the double cutaway body design with its slim heel enhances access to the upper frets. The Rosewood fingerboard is pleasant under the fingers, and with its 9.5" radius is practical for a wide range of techniques. The nut width and string spacing offer accurate and comfortable fretting, which can often be  compromised on 12 string instruments.  The pair of Baldwin 'Bar Type' humbucking pickups installed in the instrument capture all of the 'twang' and jangle that you would wish for. Whilst there is plenty of brightness available in both positions, the neck is warmer, with rather punchy mids. The bridge position is where you will find most of the signature 12-string jangle. The on-board controls offer comprehensive control of your tone, making sure that you always have the right sound dialled in.  This guitar is in good to very good condition for its age with some finish checking throughout the body along with some slight finish delamination near the binding and edges.  There is also a few small dings the most noticeable of which is near the ninth fret on the back of the neck.  Despite the imperfections, it sounds and plays great and it comes with a non-original gig bag.