Danelectro Bellzouki model 7020 Model 12 String Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar, c. 1966, made in Neptune, NJ, brown sunburst finish, pine and masonite body; poplar neck with Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.

A great example of one of Danelectro's most interesting guitars, the Bellzouki. These are the FIRST electric 12-string ever marketed, predated only by the "Top half" of the almost mythical Stratosphere Twin doubleneck and Gibson's subsequent extremely rare twin neck guitars from the late 50's. Several years before Rickenbacker developed their famous 12-string New York studio ace Vincent Bell went to Nathan Daniel with an instrument he'd been recording with…a Greek Bouzouki tuned like a guitar. Together they developed two guitars based on this idea, a teardrop-shaped single pickup model and this rather abstractly shaped double pickup Deluxe version. They first appeared in the 1961 catalogs and were produced until the late 60's. There is also an old rumor that Danelectro had somehow ended up with a large quantity of .008 gagued string wire, and thus "invented" octave tuning for the "G" string pairs (older 12's usually featured a doubled "G").

This Bellzouki has standard mid-60's features…the tuners are "Skate Key" Danelectro models introduced around this time; there is a "BELLZOUKI-Vincent Bell" plaque on the body and the typical if inexplicable strap button on top of the headstock. The semi-solid sunburst body is built in standard Danelectro fashion with a pine core and edging and Masonite top and back. The two lipstick tube pickups are controlled with individual volume and tone controls and a master volume, along with a selector switch mounted in a rather eccentric location on the rim. The bridge and neck are standard Dan-o pattern, this model being the initial use of the wide "V" shaped headstock later seen on several other models.

In general the Bellzouki is a very underrated guitar; with a wide comfortable fingerboard and two great-sounding Danelectro pickups this is one of the more useful electric 12's ever designed. Eccentric for sure, but a great-sounding and surprisingly versatile instrument, and a great testament to the talents of both Nathan Daniel and Vinnie Bell.
 
Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.). all original and very clean with minor finish wear, mostly to top of headstock area. Includes a decent non-original HSC. Excellent Condition.