22 Best Twelve-String Guitar Reviews 2022 – Best 12-String Guitar Brands

The best way of describing this guitar is by its features. Therefore, this amazing guitar comes with a bunch of useful gear for any type of a guitarist- beginner or a bit experience one. The guitar comes with gig bag, tuner, strap, extra strings, picks, polishing cloth and for a beginner the most important- Austin Bazaar instructional DVD.

This DVD will help beginners in setting up a guitar, basic chord position and much more. Other than that, the guitar has so-called “X-bracing” which increases the bass outcome and the volume of the guitar in general. Venetian cutaway will help with accessing all the difficult high frets, while easy-to-pick neck with rolled fingerboard edges is in charge of playability of this guitar.

Pros and highlights:

• Features- Guitar comes with a lot of useful gear, both for the beginner as well as a professional player.
• Quality of the sound- Other than good materials, X-bracing will increase the quality of bass strings and the overall volume of the guitar.
• Playability- Venetian cutaway and a neck with rolled fingerboard edges will ease the effort of playing 12-string guitar.

Cons and potential flaws:

• Gig bag- Guitar comes with standard gig bag instead of a hard case, which is a better choice for storage when the guitar is out of use.

With more than 40 years of experience in FG series, Yamaha has proven the playability, music tone and outstanding build quality of these guitars. That is mostly because of good materials that are Yamaha been using. Therefore, solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides are making this high-quality framework. Also, there are rosewood fingerboard and a bridge.

This guitar has die-cast tuners and an adjustable truss rod. The importance of adjustable truss rod is great. Simply speaking, you will be able to adjust the pressure on your guitar’s neck and a distance between strings and the neck itself. In other words, you will be able to stabilize the lengthwise forward curvature of the neck. Also called and known as a relief of the neck.

Pros and highlights:

• Quality- For more than 40 years Yamaha has been mastering the skills of making a good quality guitar. This particular model exudes high-quality and great playability.
• Durability- In relation to a quality, this guitar is made of the best materials, therefore, it will provide you with a long time of experience and enjoyment.
• Adjustable truss rod- As we previously said, you will be able to adjust the relief of your neck and its tension. That passively results in few more features of this guitar such as playability, compactness, and durability.

Cons and potential flaws:

• Plastic parts- The saddle, nut, and bridge pins are plastic. Even if its high-quality plastic, it’s like putting an old seat into brand new Ferrari. So, putting these plastic parts into this particular guitar is way below guitar’s standard.

This electric beauty with chrome hardware, rosewood fingerboard, and mahogany top and body is a great guitar to be added to your collection if you have one. If not, it’s very good for starting one with it. Great playability of the guitar and the jangly classic rock sound are something that adorns this beauty.

Also, arched top, dual (so-called) F-holes and a double cutaway is something that makes the appearance of this guitar so amazing.

Pros and highlights:

• Great appearance- We may say that everything is perfect on this guitar when it comes to appearance. Double cutaway, materials from which is made and F-holes are something of which manufacturer can be proud.
• Great sound- Anyway, this guitar has a specific sound that, hence, it is made for jangly classic rock. Of course, it can be used in other genres, but in this one, you can hear all of its beauty.

Cons and potential flaws:

• Guitar tuning- This guitar might come out of tune during the shipping. You will need to tune it continuously until the strings stretch and adapt to the guitar.

When manufacturer pairs the solid Sitka spruce top with mahogany high-pressure laminate (HPL) back and side, you get a high-quality guitar. In other words, this provides great sound as well as playability of the instrument. It has non-cutaway style body, a cherry color pickguard for preventing scratches and a fingerboard without dot inlays on it.

Also, the guitar has a bit smaller neck size hence, it will ease the playing. As we previously mentioned, it’s quite harder to play 12-string guitars. Pressing strings now require much more effort than on a 6-string guitar. The thickness of the neck can drastically increase playability and overall performance of this guitar, as well as yours.

Pros and highlights:

• Thick neck- When holding bare chords it may be painful for 6-string guitar players. For 12- string guitarists is even harder. The thickness of the neck or softness of the strings may be a “lifesaver” for joints and fingers. This guitar has a bit smaller neck size than usual 12-string guitar. That may ease you playing this great instrument.
• Performance- With its rich natural sound quality you will be sorry to use the amplifier for this guitar. Anyway, when it comes to overall performance, we may conclude that Martin has done it this time. This model may be used for the professional purpose as well.

Cons and potential flaws:

• No cutaway- This one is for cutaway lovers one of the crucial downsides. Anyway, if you are indifferent about this “downside”, then it isn’t even a downside for you.

If you are expecting a robust and lush sound, then you might be looking in a right direction. Great quality of solid spruce top, flame maple back and sides will contribute the overall quality of this guitar. Twelve inches radius bound rosewood fingerboard with slim mahogany neck will provide great feel and playability.

The preamp system of this guitar will give you the clear sound even when amplified. It has a built-in tuner, three-band EQ and EQ bypass switch for the better versatility and sound quality.

Prost and highlights:

• Great sound- Solid spruce top, flame maple back and sides, preamp system – those are all things that affect this high-quality sound.
• Playability- Slim mahogany neck on 12’’ rosewood fingerboard will make you feel like playing 6-string guitar- easy.

Cons and potential flaws:

• Treble sound in the forefront- If you are a fan of a chunky, growly bass, then this guitar might disappoint you since there is a treble sound in the forefront.

First of all, this guitar has scalloped x-bracing. That means it will vibrate more and give you a little bit more bass response, as well as overall volume. Also, solid spruce top, laminated mahogany top, and sides will affect sound quality as well as the quality of the guitar itself.

When it comes to design, this guitar has whole new mother-of-pearl rosette design and new compensated rosewood bridge design. This upgraded version includes a tortoise shell pickguard that will protect the resonator box from scratches of your pick.

Finally, rosewood fretboard with 20 frets and dot inlays will provide the maximum playability that one guitarist needs.

Pros and highlights:

• Sound quality- There are few factors that can indicate the sound quality. One of the biggest is so-called scalloped x-bracing. Anyhow, this will increase the bass strings quality as well as overall volume of the guitar.
• Great appearance- This upgraded version of the guitar obtains whole new design. New mother-of-pearl rosette design, compensated rosewood bridge design and tortoise shell looking pickguard are contributing to its looks.

Cons and potential flaws:

• High note ring- Anyway, even though it has great mid-range tone, we cannot say the same for its high note ring. In other words, neither is the best or a bad– simply speaking, it’s good.

First of all, when talking about this guitar, we need to mention its size. This so-called, jumbo sized guitar weighs only 5 pounds. That puts it in the lightweight category, a category of highly portable guitars. It also includes Guild deluxe gig bag.

The guitar has tortoise designed pickguard that will prevent any damage on its resonating box when it comes to strumming. Also, it is built with a solid spruce top, maple sides and arched maple back.

Furthermore, this guitar has slim C neck shape which is highly important for every 12-string guitar player. The neck will drastically decrease the effort needed to play this instrument.

Pros and highlights:

• Portability- Guitar belongs to a lightweight category and comes with Guild deluxe gig bag. That makes it highly portable. You will be able to carry it around from gig to gig without much effort.
• Playability- Simply speaking, neck thickness is one of the greatest features of 12-string guitars. The tinier neck is, the better performance of the guitar is, as well as a performance of the guitarist.

Cons and potential flaws:

• Small size- As we earlier mentioned, this guitar is really a small-sized guitar. In our opinion, this is far from a con, but on the other hand, some users might find it as a downside as they prefer bigger models of the guitars.

With its rich and full sound that can be heard only on 12-string guitar, this acoustic-electric dreadnought guitar will definitely draw attention. Warm mid-range tone, well-known craftsmanship and value of this guitar are the middle-names for this model.

The Seagull neck is now designed to offer superior stability since the 12-string guitar demands that. Therefore, this will provide 12-string guitar well tuned for a longer time. The guitar top is for Seagull the most important thing that one guitar could have. The thickness and a grade of the wood used, as well as the bracing structure will impact sound quality a lot.

Pros and highlights:

• Quality of the sound- Good mid-range tone, great quality neck and the guitar top will provide rich and full sound that can only be heard on a high-quality 12-string guitar.
• Playability- The neck thickness of this guitar is something that Seagull should be proud of. This thickness will definitely increase the playability since it requires much less effort in pressing those strings.

Cons and potential flaws:

• The pickguard- This might be the only flaw. The pickguard might not be well attached to the guitar. That may result in small air bubbles under it.

For this one, we may say a "standard looking” guitar. Of course, it’s more than that. Other than the appearance, performance and the quality of a sound is way above standards. Select spruce top and ivoroid binding on the body and neck, as well as mahogany back, sides and a neck, are making a difference when it comes to the quality of a sound.

These fine materials are used to design a guitar with the strength to support the additional tension of 12 strings. The mahogany neck, that we earlier mentioned, is glued at the 14th fret and features 25.5” scale, a SlimTaper shape and a rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays for better orientation while playing.

Pros and highlights:

• Durability and strength- The best materials in guitar industry are making this guitar much more durable and stronger since its designed to support the additional tension of +6 strings.
• Playability- Rosewood fingerboard, the best material for fretboard is making a pressing of the strings piece of cake. Also, there are dot inlays around the frets for better orientation and improvisation.

Cons and potential flaws:

• Thick neck- The only downside of this guitar might be a thick neck. Therefore, if you are more used to a thinner neck, this might be a problem.

This dreadnought acoustic guitar without cutaway has a scalloped X-bracing that will provide a richer bass tone and a higher vibrating volume. Laminated spruce top, mahogany back and sides with a rosewood bridge are making this guitar one fine piece of an instrument.

Also, there are some amazing features worth mentioning, such as dual action truss rod, black pickguard and 3 mm dot inlays that will increase the playability of the instrument.

Pros and highlights:

• Scalloped X-bracing- This particular bracing method will increase the bass outcome, as well as a volume and the vibrating sound of the guitar.
• Playability- Good quality strings, rosewood fretboard, and dot inlays will increase the overall playability of the instrument. You will be able to easily navigate through the neck.

Cons and potential flaws:

• Not that good for professional- Anyhow, this guitar is like a custom-made for beginners. If you are a professional, this guitar might not afford everything you need.

This is a rare example of a 12-string guitar with a Florentine cutaway. The mahogany body and neck with spruce top and rosewood fingerboard is what makes this guitar a great looking beast. This guitar comes equipped with a rosewood bridge. Twenty-five inches scale with 22 Jumbo frets and a thin U neck contour.

When it comes to the equipment, it has B-Band Electret film transducer pickup with B-Band preamp and onboard tuner.

Pros and highlights:

• Really thin neck- This one is a double-edged sword. Namely, if you are a fan of thin necks, you will fall in love with this one. It’s a lot easier to play 12-string guitars with a thinner neck, but if you are used to a wider one, you might be in problem.
• Appearance- When it comes to the appearance, this one is, simply speaking- a killer. With its sharp cutaway and a triangle soundhole positioned differently than most of the standard guitars, it kind of reminds of a shark.

Cons and potential flaws:

• Thin neck- If you are used to a wider neck, then you might be in problem adjusting your hand to this thin neck.

This ’59 style double cutaway guitar made of laminated wood may be the perfect choice for “old soul” musicians. Also, the guitar has 2 lipstick pickups, 12 sealed Gotoh tuners and a wide neck that makes this guitar easy to play. The bridge is fully adjustable and guitar’s vintage look includes small details like a matte finish, texture tape binding on the sides and seal-shaped pickguard.

Pros and highlights:

• Appearance- This ’60 style adds a lot to a guitar’s appearance. Also, color and double cutaway may be a perfect thing to send you back to ’60 or even older times. It’s like custom made for “old soul” musicians.
• Performance- Simply speaking, Danelectro has done it with this model. Performance of this guitar is outstanding and will make you recommend this model to an every single musician friend.

Cons and potential flaws:

• Using capo may be problematic- Using capo, or playing higher up the neck might make a tuning a bit wonky.

Now, Oscar Schmidt has made this guitar with a standard look, but on the other side, that appearance is compensated by the high-quality mahogany body and select spruce top that provide an amazing sound of this guitar. The guitar obtains full-scale fretboard and active MET-A07 preamp with a digital tuner that will save and amplify a volume of the guitar.

Guitar has Venetian cutaway which will give you the possibility to grab all the highest frets and notes that you wouldn’t be able to play without it.

Pros and highlights:

• The good quality preamp- A good natural sound of this guitar will be saved when amplified, thanks to this high-quality preamp.
• Durability- Made of the finest materials, this guitar will provide you with great experience over the years.

Cons and potential flaws:

• A bit heavy- The guitar might be a bit heavier than expected but, that’s only a few pounds more than the standard weight.

This luxury looking guitar may fool you. It’s not only about its look, but the quality as well. Therefore, with solid spruce top, laminated maple back and sides this guitar will provide you with long-term of service. It has a Jumbo cutaway, which a sort of so-called Venetian cutaway (a rounded type of cutaway). This will increase the playability and navigation through the higher notes.

Furthermore, with distinguished triangle soundhole and a stylish pickguard, you will be transported back in time.

Gretsch is using Fishman preamp, so the quality of the sound is guaranteed.

Pros and highlights:

• Appearance- Gretsch has invested a lot in the appearance of this guitar. A couple of stylish details are making this one look like an “old timer”. Anyway, there is a triangle soundhole as well as beautiful pickguard that will throw you back in time.
• Sound quality- This guitar is made of the finest materials. Those materials are drastically increasing the quality of the sound, its volume and vibration inside resonator box. Also, there is a Fishman preamp that will save the beauty of the sound even when it’s amplified.

Cons and potential flaws:

• Heavy- Guitar is a bit heavier than the standard acoustic-electric guitar. But on the other hand, that is nothing comparing to a quality and beauty you get.

Weigh only 3 pounds, this fine piece of guitar belongs to a lightweight category of guitars. Carrying it around has never been easier. With no back problems while playing or carrying it around, you will love the comfort and portability of having this one.

Furthermore, solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides in this black color will express the astonishing design of this guitar. Also, rosewood fingerboard will much ease you pressing those double strings or holding a bare.

When it comes to a quality of the sound, for that field is in charge Fishman preamp. Not only that preamp doesn’t harm natural sound of the guitar, but also it may produce even better sound.

Pros and highlights:

• Lightweight- With only 3 pounds, this guitar belongs to a lightweight guitar category. You won’t be having back problems while carrying it around or playing live while standing.
• High-quality sound- Not only natural sound but also when amplified, the guitar sounds astonishing. Most of the time, the preamp can interrupt the beauty of the natural sound. We may conclude that this isn’t the case over here.

Cons and potential flaws:

• Tuning- The strings of this guitar are a bit fragile. So be careful while tuning it for the first time, to not overextend them- they might break.

This instrument of incredible value is a good one to add to your collection or to start collecting with. With over 100 years of experience, Oscar Schmidt is one of the most popular guitar brands.

This particular model has a simple but astonishing white design with small black details and a blue line on the edge of the front side of resonator box. It has a cutaway which eases the approach to the upper frets. That way you will feel comfortable while soloing or improvising.

With its great action and this cutaway, a guitar is one of the easiest playing 12-string guitars.

Pros and highlights:

• Easy to play- As we mentioned, the cutaway is of great importance to every professional guitarist, and so as for 12-string guitar player. Also, there is a great action that makes pressing those strings much effortless than on a regular 12-string. Simply speaking, you’ll love it.
• High-quality sound- Preamp/tuner will bring out the best when it comes to the quality of sound. It will secure full lush and chiming sound of all 12 strings.

Cons and potential flaws:

• Tuning- As every new guitar with brand new strings, you will have troubles with tuning at its beginning. The strings will rapidly untune, so you will need some persistence in order to stretch them and adjust properly with often tuning.

This 12-string acoustic/electric guitar is one of the best when it comes to Oscar Schmidt manufacture. This handcrafted guitar has Sapele sides and back, select spruce top and good looking cutaway for better playability. The neck is made of one of the best materials to be made of- mahogany. Also, it has rosewood fingerboard, as well as a bridge.

Now, what makes this guitar better than others is fully adjustable truss rod, chrome die-cast tuners and an active EQ preamp with built-in tuner.

Pros and highlights:

• Playability- The neck is rosewood. That is the most common and one of the most grateful materials when it comes to a neck of the guitar. The quality of a neck can drastically increase the playability of the guitar. Also, there is a cutaway that will ease your improvisation or solo part when it comes to the higher notes.
• Features- Now, with an adjustable truss rod, active EQ preamp and chrome die-cast tuners with built-in tuner, your enjoyment will be drastically increased. These amazing features add one big plus when it comes to overall experience with this guitar.

Cons and potential flaws:

• Tuning- It takes time for strings to stretch and adapt to a guitar. Therefore, you need to be persistent first few weeks with tuning.

With its tremendous look and a high-quality sound, this guitar is one of the best on the market. High-quality materials that are used for this guitar will increase the durability and performance of an instrument. In other words, mahogany body, top, and neck with rosewood fingerboard will drastically increase not only durability but your performance as well.

Guitar weighs only 6 pounds which puts it in the lightweight category. You will be able to easily carry it around during your longtime playing experience.

Pros and highlights:

• Durability– When speaking of durability, keep in mind that this guitar is made out of the finest materials that will drastically increase the durability of the guitar, as well as your long-time playing experience.
• High-quality sound- This guitar provides one of the finest sounds out there. Of course, it all depends on your sound taste, but considering the standard sound, this one is way above

Cons and potential flaws:

• Strings quality- Anyhow, string quality might not be the best. Therefore, you might have additional expenses changing these.

This acoustic-electric guitar is designed mostly for electric guitar players. It has a thinner body and a shorter scale length on purpose. It creates a feeling of playing electric guitar. Not only the feeling but it really increases the playability of the instrument. It is built for comfort and speed out of the finest materials.

Therefore, it has a spruce top, mahogany back and sides with rosewood fretboard produce a lively sonic response even without amplification. These materials will maximize the durability of the guitar as well. The guitar also obtains with chrome die-cast tuners and a natural high gloss finish.

Pros and highlights:

• Easy to play- This guitar is made for electric guitar lovers, hence, its playability is drastically increased. With its thinner body and shorter 25” scale length, it will make playing and learning much easier.
• Durability- Good quality wood that’s being used for this guitar will provide you with long-term experience.
• Appearance- With its color it really reminds of the dark-looking violin. Other than that, a combination of colors and cutaway make this guitar look badass.

Cons and potential flaws:

• A bit tinier guitar- Guitar is smaller than “standard” sized guitar, but on the other hand, that increases its portability and playability. This might be a design downside, but only if you prefer design over pros that we mentioned.

First of all, we need to mention the appearance of this guitar. The guitar comes in black color, but what makes it different than other guitars is a so-called multi-sound hole on the bass side of the guitar (few small holes). Solid spruce top and Ovation’s lightweight, yet high-strength bracing affects this guitar marvellous sonic power.

Furthermore, shaped to provide a fast feel of the electric guitar, with slim maple neck and cutaway, this guitar will provide you with excellent playability.

Pros and highlights:

• Design- Now, the design of this guitar is one of the many things that Ovation can be proud of. It is not only about all the good materials that construct one of the best designs of a guitar on the market, but also putting them together as well in one high-quality piece of an instrument.
• Playability- Slim maple neck with a cutaway on one side will provide excellent playability of this guitar. That is one of the most important characteristics of 12-string guitars, in general.

Cons and potential flaws:

• The body of the guitar- Simply speaking, maple neck is way too awesome and we are not sure that body quality follows this marvellous neck.

Oscar Schmidt has many years of experience in the guitar industry. Therefore, this model is a result of many improvements throughout time. Anyhow, select spruce top, mahogany body, and 20 frets fretboard are some of the great features of this guitar.

On the other hand, there is an active MET-A07 preamp with digital tuner for better sound and easier tuning. The guitar has dot inlays on every odd fret, starting from the 3rd.

Pros and highlights:

• Performance- This guitar is excelling in every field of performance, simply because of its features and qualities.
• Beautiful design- This guitar is not only made to work perfectly, but also the design is beautiful and elegant.

Cons and potential flaws:

• Not the best electronics- Anyway, this guitar has a beautiful natural sound that might be compromised when amplified.

First of all, if you believe in love at first sight, then this guitar will take your heart. It’s literary one of the most beautiful designs on the guitar market. This name “Exotica” is fully suitable for this guitar. The top, back and sides are made entirely of quilted ash and the body is a triple bound.

This acoustic-electric guitar has cutaway that allows full fretboard access for maximum playability, soloing and improvising parts. With slick and quick action, smooth frets and amazing sound, this is a top-notch guitar.

Pros and highlights:

• Appearance- When talking about the appearance of this guitar, it’s hardly describable. Simply speaking, Dean has taken the acoustic-electric guitar to the new heights when it comes to design. Main parts of the guitar are made of entirely quilted ash. That gives unusual look to this piece of art.
• Playability- Smooth fretboard and cutaway are what makes this guitar so playable. You will enjoy every single moment of playing this guitar.

Cons and potential flaws:

• The tuner- The tuner might not be that good quality as a guitar, and that reflects in its inaccuracy.