Chandler Royale 12-String Basses
2005 Natural Royale 12-string bass.
chandler royale 12-string basses
Chandler Guitars is based out of the San Francisco, California area. They built a variety of different instruments including two different styles of 12-string basses. While they no longer build guitars, the company is still in business, primarily selling pick guards and other accessories.
Body binding. Custom ebony pickguard.
Regarding how the Royale design came to be, Paul Chandler told us, “Tom left me the Japanese (Hiroshi Kid’s) Dragon 12-string bass for a few weeks. I asked him to jam around on the bass a little bit and closely watched his technique. First, a pick was always used. On single note runs, it was all downstrokes. But he would also grab intervals and chords up the neck and strum it like a giant guitar. That was when it occurred to me that we weren't really building a bass at all... we certainly weren't building a regular guitar... this instrument would have to be its own thing, combining elements from basses and elements from guitars to create something new in its own class.”
Tom Petersson with his first Chandler Royale 12-string bass, it was delivered to him in early 1996.
Veteran 12-string bassist Ron Johnson with Petersson’s first Chandler Royale 12-string bass.
Tom Petersson and his first Chandler Royale 12-string bass with the ‘TP’ wedge on the end of the headstock.
Paul Chandler: “The first 12-string bass we made for Tom was mahogany body, Tortoise binding and head overlay, Maple neck with a flat graphite slab parallel to the fingerboard.”
“Verdict: the neck pickup was not loud enough, the graphite slab was exposed at edge of neck, slightly reflective and hard to see position dots, heavy body, and a sharp corner at neck/body joint. This is the orange 12-string bass guitar that he still plays sometimes. Delivered to him in 1995 or early 1996.”
Tom Petersson’s other four Chandler Royale 12-string basses: Green Supersparkle (2001), Metal Flake Candy Apple Red (2001), Blue Supersparkle (2000), and Black finishes (1998).
Chandler made four other Royale 12-string basses for Tom Petersson, all with slightly different features or finishes. Petersson didn’t like the Candy Apple Red Royale 12 so Chandler sold it to another bassist. The Green Supersparkle 12 was reported to be Petersson’s favorite.
Tom Petersson’s 1998 Black Chandler Royale 12-string bass with “TP” inscription at the end of the headstock.
8-saddle bridge with an 8-hole tailpiece.
Tuxedo Transparent Black finish Chandler Royale 12-string bass.
Olympic White finish Chandler Royale 12-string bass.
Shoreline Gold finish Chandler Royale 12-string bass.
Light Green Royale 12-string bass.
Transparent Red finish.
Green Supersparkle finish.
Electronics options allowed for Royale 12-string basses with either one, two, or three outputs.
Electronics cavity of a single-output Chandler Royale 12-string bass.
Serial number stickers on Chandler Royale 12-string basses are typically found at the top back of the headstock and positioned horizontally, although some stickers have been seen rotated 90°.
The two dark streaks are the graphite rods stabilizers incorporated into the neck.
The “PC” initials are those of Paul Chandler. “5-05” signifies that this bass was completed in May, 2005.
Warranty card, extra strings, an additional pickguard, and hardshell case included with a Royale 12-string bass.
An 8-hole tailpiece was used on the Royale 12’s.
“Made in U.S.A.” is sometimes included on a sticker on the electronics cover.
Body binding on a Blue Supersparkle Royale 12-string bass.
Chandler Royale Headstocks
Chandler Royale 12-String Bass Review
by GTO
The overall craftsmanship of this instrument is beyond reproach! I can hardly believe how well it is built. The best way to describe the Royale is with two words: Solid and Loud! The three passive Super 60 Pickups (two soap bars with one P-bass style) are extremely flexible and responsive. They give the Royale a big bold tone that ranges from a deep low-end growl to a very bright piano sound. The octave strings are balanced and blended very well with the fundamentals by the Super 60’s yet both are easily distinguishable. It is very hard to describe the sound of the Royale as it does not sound like any other 12-string bass.
The swamp ash body has an exceptionally beautiful grain and is very light. Though it is a larger instrument, it weighs less than the short scale Hamer B12S I once owned. The Royale is very well balanced and does not neck dive like other 12’s due to the lightweight Gotoh guitar GB-7 bass tuners. I love the headstock design of the Royale. It is a sleek and functional design with respect to tuner layout and cosmetic appeal.
The Royale's bridge is very solid and unique. The octave strings are paired and slightly spaced from the fundamentals whereas other 12’s have the octaves and fundamentals evenly spaced together. Surprisingly enough it is no more difficult to play than the standard 12-string bass and it makes it easier to play the octaves or the fundamentals separately should you so desire.
The single truss rod (supported by two graphite rods) makes for extremely quick and easy adjustments. You can see the two graphite rods on the back of the neck (in the form of two black lines) as they are fitted to the depth of the neck. They actually make very nice accents. The neck seems to be extremely stable as I have yet to have to make any adjustments since I have received it.
The SG Red finish is awesome. It is a deep, rich color with an awesome vintage effect. What I mean is that it makes the Royale look a dead mint vintage-era instrument. It is based on the classic vintage red Gibson first used on the SG guitar / EBO bass line. The finish also changes shades in different light conditions and angles. It ranges from a rich dark black cherry to a bright cherry red.
The only thing I don’t particularly like is that access to the truss rod cover is obstructed by the A and D strings so you will have to loosen them. This can be a bit annoying, however it is a more than fair trade-off for the lightweight headstock.