This guitar was based on an idea from Vincent (Vinnie) Bell. As with his other invention, the electric sitar, Vinnie was in constant search for new sounds. Back in the day his stock of instruments included an 8 string double course Greek instrument called the Bazouki which he tuned like a guitar.
As the age of the electric 12 string guitar ushered in, Bell got the idea to create a twelve string electric guitar, and make the body look similar to the shape of a Bouzouki and electrify the instrument by adding a pickups.
He already had a deal with the Danelectro company which created an all wood electric guitar that he would endorse. He pitched this idea to Danelectro, drew up some plans and named it after himself. Thus the Bell-Bouzouki was born and known as the Bellzouki.
The Danelectro Bellzouki Model 7010, aka The Danelectro 12 String Guitar, was introduced around 1961. The body was tear drop shaped with two faux tortoise shell pick-guards. The guitar has one volume and one tone control, plus a 3 way toggle for tone selection.
The neck is a bolt on style and is made of maple capped with a rosewood fretboard. The nut is aluminum and the neck is reinforced with a steel truss rod. The body is a poplar frame covered with Masonite.
The scale of the Bellzouki was 24 ½ inches and the neck was slightly wider than the neck on six string Danelectro guitars. All the models had one or two Lipstick pickups which have their own unique sound and these guitars were no exception to that quality.
The earliest models came with 2 unison G strings to give it more of a Bazouki sound. Later these were adapted so only the first and second strings were tuned in unison, while the bottom four courses were tuned in octaves.
To play the model 7010 you needed a shoulder strap due to its Bazouki-like shape.
The later models, 7020 and 7021 could be played sitting down due to changes in the shape.
