You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a good 12-string guitar. We’ve taken the guesswork out of finding one by picking what we think are the best ones for less than $700. So, here are my picks for the best budget 12-string guitar.
One of the best options for budget 12-string guitars is the Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat Acoustic Guitar. It offers great playability, impressive tone, and reliable electronics. Plus, it’s priced below $500, which makes it a great value for what it can deliver.
But depending on your preferences and budget, there are other great 12-string guitars you can look into, especially if you’re looking to upgrade your skills from a six-string guitar to a twelve-string one. I have them divided by acoustic (no pickup), acoustic-electric (acoustic with a pickup), and electric.
Let’s dive in!
Best Budget Acoustic 12-String Guitars
1. Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat 12-String Acoustic Guitar – Under $500
The first guitar on this list is the Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat 12-String Acoustic Guitar.
It is a great choice for beginners and intermediate players. With its mahogany body, this guitar provides great tone, great playability, and electronics.
It is undoubtedly one of the best 12-string guitars out there for guitar players that offers the best sound in this list.
The Fishman Presys Blend Pickup System comes with a built-in tuner that makes it easy to play on live performances or record at home.
The scalloped bracing system enhances the instrument’s response, making it ideal for fingerpicking and strumming chords if you want to feel like you’re Jimi Hendrix and George Harrison.
Armstrong, of course, is the lead singer and leader of the legendary punk band Rancid.
The Tim Armstrong Hellcat 12-string acoustic guitar has a one-year warranty, so you can rest assured that if anything goes wrong with your guitar, it will be repaired or replaced by them within one year of purchase.
It would have been better if they included an additional soft case with this purchase. Other than that, I believe this is an excellent quality instrument at a very reasonable and low price range!
Pros
- Easy playability
- Impressive tone and electronics
- Built-in tuner
- Great for fingerpicking and strumming
Cons
- Does not come with a soft case
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2. Yamaha FG820 12-String Solid Top Acoustic Guitar – Under $400
The Yamaha FG820 12-String Solid Top Acoustic Guitar is a great guitar for beginners of any skill level. It features a solid spruce top, a nato (Eastern Mahogany) neck, and mahogany back and sides, which give it warm tones that you can hear in each note.
The rosewood fingerboard and bridge also help to add to its tone quality, making this an excellent choice if you are looking for something at an affordable price point but still want good sound quality.
The diecast tuners help ensure that your tuning stays consistent throughout your performance or recording session; however, some customers report receiving products with damages and cracks before even playing them!
Pros
- Produces a rich, warm sound
- High-quality tone
- Consistent tuning
- Beginner-friendly
Con
- Some customers received defective or damaged products
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3. Lute Folk Kobza Vihuela 12-String Acoustic Guitar – Under $275
This is a handcrafted acoustic 12-string guitar. It has a flat lute body that is made of mahogany, which gives it great sustain and tone.
The sound hole is carved out in the shape of an oval with intricate wooden carvings on both sides.
The bridge allows for great intonation adjustment which allows you to play in different tones. This means you can use this guitar for solo playing as well as ensemble playing because everything sounds amazing once tuned correctly!
However, if you want versatility, then pick another type since this one lacks versatility as it’s purely acoustic with no pickup or easy way to plug it in.
Pros
- Great sustain and tone
- Great intonation adjustment
- Great for ensemble playing as well
Con
- Lacks versatility
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4. Luna Gypsy Dreadnought 12-Strong Mahogany Acoustic Guitar – Under $225
The Luna Gypsy Dreadnought 12-Strong Mahogany Acoustic Guitar is a 12-string acoustic that offers a warm tone.
This guitar comes with a mahogany body, which produces a warm tone and provides a great balance between bass and treble frequencies.
The first thing that’s easy to notice with this guitar is its elegant design; however, if you’re looking for something more versatile or durable, there might be better options for you because it’s purely acoustic.
If you’re looking for a budget-priced guitar that has everything from nylon strings through steel, then this might be what you’re looking for! However, I would recommend taking extra care of your instrument so that it lasts longer.
Pros
- Delivers warm tone
- Great balance between bass and treble frequencies
- Elegant design
- Comfortable to play with
Cons
- Lacks versatility
- Durability issues
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5. Guild Guitars F-2512E Maple 12-String Acoustic Guitar – Under $550
One of the great 12-string guitars that offer unique sound on the market is the Guild F-2512E Maple 12-String Acoustic Guitar.
The guitar has a solid spruce top, maple back and sides, mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard, and an arched back design that offer great volume and projection.
This guitar is great for those who want to play a 12-string acoustic guitar but are on a budget too!
However, there are some complaints about clunking sounds coming from inside the body when playing this model. It may not happen to everyone, but it may be worth noting for anyone buying this product in hopes of getting an absolutely perfect instrument.
Pros
- Delivers great volume and projection
- Produces high-quality sound
Con
- Clunking sounds coming from the body
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6. Guild Guitars D-2612CE Deluxe ATB 12-String Acoustic Guitar – Under $550
The Guild D-2612CE is a 12-string acoustic guitar that comes with a solid spruce top and arched striped ebony back and sides.
The guitar has great projection and sustain, which can be improved by getting a new set of strings.
Although the sound quality is decent, it can still be improved further by installing a new pickup system or replacing the bridge with one that provides better intonation.
However, there were some faults upon receipt of this product: there were marks on the finish around some frets and chips on both sides of the body at different places.
Pros
- Great projection
- Great sustain
- Decent sound quality
Cons
- Intonation can be improved
- Some customers reported marks and chips around the frets and body
CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.
7. Stagg SA40D/12-BK 12-String Dreadnought Acoustic High Gloss Guitar – Under $250
This 12-string acoustic guitar has a mahogany body and neck, along with the same rosewood fingerboard that you’ll find on Stagg’s 6-string version.
It also features an ebony bridge, diecast tuners, and Grover machine heads.
The sound of this dreadnought is rich and well-balanced, while its action is good as well.
The only drawback we found was that the curvature of the neck needed some adjusting before it matched up perfectly with the player’s hands. But once that was taken care of, this guitar produced some great sounds!
Pros
- Comes with a diecast tuner
- Delivers rich and well-balanced sound
- Great action
Con
- Neck’s curvature needed some getting used to
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8. Ukrainian 12-String Acoustic Guitar – Under $275
This is a perfect choice for musicians who want to try their hand at a 12-string acoustic guitar.
It’s handmade in Ukraine by Trembita and has a dreadnought body that produces superior sound quality.
This is definitely one of our favorite budget 12-string guitars out there right now because not only does it offer one of the best values, but also looks amazing with its vintage look and excellent craftsmanship.
Pros
- Produces high-quality sound
- Great craftsmanship
- Vintage design
- Great value for money
Con
- No pickup or output jack
CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.
9. EKO Guitars 06216941 Ranger Series VR XIII Dreadnought 12-String Acoustic Guitar – Under $500
The EKO Ranger Series VR XII Dreadnought 12-String Acoustic Guitar is a beautiful guitar that has everything you could want in a 12-string acoustic.
It features an all-solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a rosewood fingerboard with vintage mop square inlays.
The body shape is a dreadnought style giving it great projection for an acoustic guitar.
The Diecast EKO branded tuners are easy to use, but the tuning may not be as stable as some of the other guitars on this list.
There are also some minor flaws, such as fret buzzes being present out of the box, which means that this budget 12-string needs some serious setup before it can be played properly.
Pros
- Great projection
- Comes with Diecast tuners
- Delivers warm sound
Cons
- Tuning issues
- Fret buzzes
CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.
Best Budget Acoustic-Electric 12-String Guitars
10. Fender CD-60SCE-12 Solid Top 12-String Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Under $375
The Fender CD-60SCE-12 Solid Top 12-String Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar is a 12-string acoustic-electric guitar. It has a solid spruce top with scalloped “X” bracing, mahogany back and sides, and a built-in amplifier.
This guitar offers just the right amount of richness and warmth. The manual can be improved as it lacks information about the intonation of this instrument or how to adjust it if needed for those who have issues with tuning.
Some of the customers received Gretsch Guitars G2220 Electric Guitar with Gig Bag instead of this model, while others reported having issues with their shipped product due to poor packaging.
But most of those who were pleased with their purchase mentioned that the intonation was right on the point out of the box (with no adjustments needed).
Pros
- Built-in amplifier
- Great tuning right out of the box
- Minimal adjustments needed
- Produces a rich and warm sound
Cons
- Insufficient manual information
- Some customers receive the wrong guitar bag
- Poor packaging
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11. Sawtooth 12-String Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Just over $600
This guitar has a Mahogany body, neck, sides, and back with a 1-7/8″ nut width. The Ovangkol bridge and fingerboard deliver a clear and quiet sound with the amp.
The custom sawtooth inlays provide incredible action on the fretboard. The Fishman EQ 1SYS301 Preamp/Tuner makes it possible to produce high-quality sound from this instrument.
The only negative aspect of this guitar is that the audio cable jack could have been put in a better place so as not to obstruct your playing when you are sitting down or standing up with your guitar strapped around the wider neck.
Pros
- Clear and quiet sound with the amp
- Comes with a preamp/tuner
- Great action on the fretboard
- Produces high-quality sound
Con
- Placement of the audio cable jack could be improved
CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.
12. Vangoa 12-String Acoustic-Electric Cutaway Guitar – Under $225
The Vangoa 12-String Acoustic-Electric Cutaway Guitar is another one of the best guitars on this list. It has a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides.
The neck is straight, though it can be improved by using truss rods for better tension balance.
The guitar’s sound is well-balanced and warm, which makes it ideal for different genres of music like blues, folk rock, and country. The intonation is precise thanks to the built-in truss rod, which ensures that all strings are tuned to their optimal pitch at all times.
The overall build quality could be improved though—some users have reported receiving guitars with poorly glued joints or cracks along their seams after just a few uses!
Pros
- Produces a warm and well-balanced sound
- Great for most music genres
- Precise intonation
- Built-in truss rod
Cons
- Some customers reported build quality issues
CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.
13. Oscar Schmidt OD312CEB-A-U 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Under $275
The best features of this guitar are its select spruce top and mahogany body, which produce a warm, balanced tone.
The rosewood fretboard is comfortable to play on, although some may find the action slightly high for beginners.
The cutaway design allows for easy access to the upper frets. However, there are some downsides to this model: It doesn’t stay in tune for a very long time, and its action tends to be a little higher than necessary for beginners.
Pros
- Produces a warm and well-balanced tone
- Comfortable-to-play fretboard
- Cutaway design for easy access
Cons
- Action is quite high
- Doesn’t stay in tune for long
CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.
14. Oscar Schmidt OD312CE 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Under $300
The Oscar Schmidt OD312CE 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar is a great option for any 12-string player on a tight budget.
The guitar is made with a solid spruce top, hard mahogany body and neck, full-scale fretboard, and active MET-A07 preamp with a digital tuner.
This guitar does need some work to be playable though. There were some buzzing issues, but they can be easily resolved by filing down the frets to give them more height and adjusting the intonation accordingly.
The action was also set too high, so that had to be lowered as well (but not too much).
Pros
- Full-scale fretboard
- Comes with a preamp and digital tuner
- Durable build
Cons
- Buzzing issues
- Action is quite high
CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.
15. Takamine G Series GD30CE-12 12-String Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Under $675
The Takamine G Series GD30CE-12 12-String Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar is a great addition for any beginner looking to add a new sound to their repertoire.
Its notable features are an all-solid spruce top, mahogany body, rosewood fretboard, and headstock overlay with pearl inlays.
The TP-4TD Preamp system provides rich and resonant sound quality without sacrificing any comfortability or playability of the guitar. It gives you volume control along with bass and treble controls so that you can fine-tune your sound output based on your playing style or mood.
The controls are very easy to use once set up properly but be warned that many customers received defective products in recent years, such as malfunctioning battery indicator lights when they first purchased their guitars.
Pros
- Comes with a high-quality preamp system
- Offers a high level of control
- Comfortable playability
- Easy-to-use controls
Cons
- Some customers report defective products
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16. Takamine G Series GJ72CE-12 Jumbo Cutaway 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Under $750
The Takamine G Series GJ72CE-12 Jumbo Cutaway 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar is a great budget guitar for players who want the sound and feel of an acoustic 12-string guitar but don’t want to break the bank.
The Takamine is made from mahogany, with a scalloped X-braced top that helps deliver a balanced tone and ring. The flame maple body gives it a beautiful look as well, plus it has a cutaway for easy access to the fretboard.
It even features preamp controls (volume/tone) on its neck thumb rest; these controls let you adjust your sound while playing without having to reach up and mess around with knobs or switches.
You’ll be able to tune quickly too—this model has built-in chromatic tuners so that no matter what key or scale you’re playing in, your guitar will always stay perfectly tuned!
There are some downsides here though: some customers report receiving products that arrive damaged or cracked despite supposedly being new out of the box.
Pros
- Cutaway for easy fretboard access
- Produces a well-balanced tone and ring
- Built-in preamp controls
- Built-in chromatic tuners
Con
- Some customers report receiving damaged units
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17. Ibanez AEG 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Under $300
If you’re looking for an affordable 12-string guitar that’s easy to play and sounds great, the Ibanez AEG is a great option.
It comes with an onboard tuner and tone control, making it convenient to stay in tune while playing.
The action on this guitar is also very low, so it’s easier than ever to play fast riffs on your new Ibanez AEG 12-string acoustic-electric guitar!
However, some customers have reported receiving defective or faulty instruments right out of the box—lots of dents in the body were reported by some buyers. While this may be an isolated incident, it does raise concerns about quality control at Ibanez as a whole (but not necessarily just with this model).
Pros
- Delivers high-quality and big sound
- Comes with an onboard tuner and tone control
- Low action
Con
- Some customers report receiving faulty items
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18. Oscar Schmidt OD312CETTBL 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Under $280
The Oscar Schmidt OD312CETTBL by Washburn 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar is a great choice if you’re looking for a 12-string acoustic guitar that can go from the campsite to the concert hall.
The body is cutaway, which gives you access to upper frets without having to move your hand so much as if it was a conventional acoustic guitar.
It has an all-solid spruce top, along with active electronics and EQ settings, so you can get the most out of your playing style and tastes.
While this guitar does have a common issue with its bridge coming off after some time, this is easily fixable by taking it back in for repair or replacing it yourself with another more stable one (the latter being recommended).
Otherwise, this is a great option for anyone who wants something affordable but still high-quality enough for regular use!
Pros
- Cutaway body for easy fretboard access
- Comes with active electronics and EQ settings
- Offers versatility
Con
- Bridge comes off after some time of use
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19. D’Angelico Electro Acoustic DAPLSG212AGDCP 12-String Solid Body Electric Guitar – Under $300
D’Angelico Electro Acoustic 12-String Solid Body Electric Guitar is a solid body electric guitar that features 12 strings.
It has a mahogany body and neck, which give it a warm tone that you can feel. The ergonomic design makes it easy to hold and play, so you can enjoy playing your favorite songs without any strain on your body.
This model is also equipped with an Ai D’Angelico preamp with onboard EQ and volume controls for satisfying sound quality.
However, the strings are hard to tune, and there are lots of scratches on this model, as well as several dents near the controls, which makes it look old even though it is not used frequently.
Pros
- Delivers warm tone
- Ergonomic design for easy playability
- Comes with a preamp with onboard EQ
- Comes with volume controls
Cons
- Strings are hard to tune
- Comes with scratches and dents for most customers
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20. Ibanez AEG5012 AEG Series Single-Cutaway 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Under $350
The Ibanez AEG5012 is a great guitar for beginners and intermediate players.
Its neck is ergonomically designed for comfort and easy playability, producing rich sound. It also has a high-quality build and electronics, which make it a perfect choice for those who want to learn how to play an acoustic-electric guitar.
The frets are soft and smooth, making them easy to play even if you’re new to the instrument.
However, this can be a problem when tuning because the strings may buzz loudly or cause fret buzzes if they aren’t properly tuned up before playing an open chord.
Pros
- Ergonomic design for easy playability and comfort
- Produces rich sound
- Soft and smooth frets
Con
- Strings may have buzzing issues
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21. Sawtooth Maple Series 12-String Acoustic-Electric Cutaway Jumbo Guitar – Under $600
The Sawtooth Maple Series 12-String Acoustic-Electric Cutaway Jumbo Guitar is a great-sounding instrument.
It has a solid spruce top, jumbo body style, flame maple back and sides, Fishman EQ 1SYS301 preamp/tuner with chrome tuners, and an active Fishman Sonicore pickup system.
It’s a brassy-sounding guitar that is definitely on the brighter side of things, but when you get it plugged in, you can really hear the difference between this guitar and others.
There is plenty of volumes here too, so if your band plays loud, then I would say this would be the one for you!
The craftsmanship on this model is very good as well.
The only thing I didn’t like about this particular model was how high-up action was compared to other models in my collection. However, that comes down more to personal preference rather than anything else.
Pros
- Comes with a preamp/tuner
- High volume
- Great craftsmanship
Con
- Action is a bit high
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22. Dean AXS Exotic Cutaway 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Under $300
The Dean AXS Exotic Cutaway 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar is a great choice for players looking to build an acoustic/electric guitar with a little more oomph than the average 6-string guitar.
The exotic cutaway body makes it easy and comfortable to access the highest frets, while the rosewood fingerboard gives you a smooth feel when playing.
The built-in tuner is always handy for quick tuning adjustments whenever you need them, and the sound of this guitar is well-balanced across all twelve strings.
Unfortunately, some customers report that packaging can be improved as some items arrive with scratches and dents.
Pros
- Cutaway body for easy fret access
- Smooth fingerboard for easy playability
- Built-in tuner
- Produces a well-balanced overall sound
Con
- Some items arrive with scratches and dents
CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.
23. Yamaha CPX700II-12 12-String Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Under $700
This 12-string acoustic-electric guitar from Yamaha is a beautiful instrument to behold.
The solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides give it a rich tone, which can be amplified with the System64 1-way ART pickup system.
The neck is comfortable to play with, but you’ll have to set this one up before you can really get going on it. Once that’s out of the way, this guitar has fantastic electronics that make it sound great no matter how you play or where you’re playing.
All in all, this is a fine instrument for those looking for something versatile and high quality at a reasonable price point.
Pros
- Produces a rich tone
- Comes with a high-quality amplifier
- Comfortable to play with
- Versatile
- Great electronics
Con
- Requires serious setting up
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24. Washburn Heritage Series HD10SCE12 12-String Acoustic-Electric Cutaway Dreadnought Guitar – Just over $600
The Washburn Heritage Series HD10SCE12 12-string Acoustic-Electric Cutaway Dreadnought Guitar comes with a cutaway that gives you easy access to the higher frets.
The dreadnought body provides a full sound and makes this classical guitar great for strumming. It has a rosewood fingerboard, bridge, and headstock overlay with a solid Sitka spruce top for a powerful tone.
The diecast tuners are built into the guitar so they can’t be lost while performing on stage or during practice sessions at home.
It features an onboard pickup system called Pickup 301T tuner/preamp, which allows you to plug directly into your amp or PA system without having to use an external microphone mounted on your guitar.
It also has stock strings that tend to be too soft. For some players who prefer thicker gauge ones, this may be a downside, but nothing some extra strings can’t fix. Thankfully, these strings can easily be bought in any local store.
Pros
- Cutaway body for easy fret access
- Produces a fuller sound and powerful tone
- Built-in diecast tuners
- Built-in preamp
Con
- Strings may be too soft for some guitar players
CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.
25. EKO NXT Series 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Just over $300
The EKO NXT Series 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar has a dreadnought body with Agathis top, back, and sides.
The slim mahogany neck features dot inlays on the rosewood fingerboard and diecast tuners.
This guitar is incredibly affordable, but you may find that it’s worth paying more for an instrument that will last longer than this one.
It’s not the most durable guitar out there; some users have complained about minor issues like buzzing on their guitars within days of purchase or damaged strings from poor handling during shipping.
Pros
- Smooth playability
- Comes with diecast tuners
- On the more affordable side
Cons
- Durability issues
- Occasional buzzing
CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.
26. Oscar Schmidt OD312CESM-A 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Under $350
The Oscar Schmidt OD312CESM-A 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar is a dreadnought with a cutaway for easy upper fret access.
It comes equipped with a Barcus Berry Preamp/Tuner, reliable electronics, and the option of two outputs: a 1/4 inch one and an XLR.
With all those things considered, you might be wondering why it’s so affordable. The reason is that there have been some reports of quality issues upon delivery from customers (although this may be specific to their units).
Pros
- Cutaway body for easy fret access
- Reliable electronics
- Comes with a preamp/tuner
- Comes with two outputs
Con
- Quality issues
CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.
27. Ibanez AE2912 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Under $600
The Ibanez AE2912 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar is a great choice for anyone looking for an affordable 12-string guitar.
The body is constructed from solid wood mahogany, which offers excellent resonance and tone. The neck has a rosewood fingerboard that’s smooth and comfortable to play with.
Rosewood is also a lot better than ebony fingerboards when it comes to withstanding temperature and humidity.
The Katalox scalloped bridge improves vibration and resonance. It also features onboard treble and bass controls that let you customize your tone by boosting either frequency or lowering them, depending on what you want to achieve.
This guitar has great action, but some users say that they experience rough fret edges and fret buzzes.
Pros
- Delivers great resonance and tone
- Offers great vibration
- Comes with onboard treble and bass controls
- Customizable
- Great action
Con
- Rough fret edges and buzzes
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28. Fever 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Under $250
The Fever 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar is a great choice for beginners and experienced players alike.
It features a spruce top, mahogany body and neck, a rosewood fretboard with inlays, and a pickup preamp system EQ.
The 12-string acoustic-electric guitar’s impressive sound, combined with its rich appearance, makes it an excellent choice for any player looking to add some new tones to their repertoire.
While this guitar may not be as durable as others on this list (it has been reported that the tuners have broken off), it still offers excellent value for your money if you play primarily at home or in less demanding environments where there is less likelihood of damage occurring.
Pros
- Comes with a pickup preamp system
- Great design
- Produces great sound
Con
- Durability issues
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29. EKO Guitars 06217072 MIA Series Auditorium Cutaway 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Under $700
The EKO 06217072 MIA Series Auditorium Cutaway 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar is a full-size 12-string acoustic-electric guitar that comes with a solid cedar top, maple neck, body, and fingerboard, rosewood bridge and bridge plate, headstock overlay, and fretboard inlays.
The EKO’s proprietary MIA pickup system produces warm tones with good projection. This will get you playing like Jimmy Page or Bon Jovi in no time!
It has a shorter scale length than standard dreadnoughts, so you can achieve more twangy sounds when playing with open tunings.
It’s hard to keep the tuning stable on this instrument since it wasn’t designed for regular use as an acoustic; however, there are some easy solutions if you find yourself struggling with this aspect of it.
You can use heavier strings (something like 11 gauge), use lighter gauge strings but tune them down one whole step or try using alternate tunings such as Open G, where the frets are still close enough together that they will stay in tune better than other options available here!
Pros
- Great build
- Comes with a proprietary pickup system
- Produces warm tones and good projection
Cons
- Difficult to keep the tuning stable
CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.
Best Budget Electric 12-String Guitars
30. Starshine Electric Guitar Telecaster-style 12-String Electric Guitar – Under $200 with gig bag and amp!
This is basically a copy of the standard Fender Telecaster guitar but in 12-string style.
No doubt in this price range (under $200), especially since it comes with the guitar, gig bag, and amplifier, this is not a pro unit. But for those just getting started with a 12-string, it’s a great entry into it that won’t break the bank!
Well over 4-stars on Amazon, the Starshine company specializes in Fender and Gibson copies at rock-bottom prices. And they’ve been doing it for over 12-years with great reviews!
Pros
- Amp features a headphone jack too for quiet practice
- Good sounding amp for the size and wattage
- Overall worth much more than the price tag
Cons
- Machine heads (tuners) are entry-level and can slip out of tune more easily than pro tuners
- Back of the neck is unfinished
- Gig bag is not super padded, so don’t expect it to provide maximum protection
CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.
31. Guild Guitars Starfire I-12 Double Cutaway 12-String Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar – Under $700
Guild, of course, is a big name in guitars. So this is no entry-level guitar despite the relatively low price tag.
Cheery red finish, a modern thin neck for faster playing, and humbucker pickups with a push/pull coil split, so you can get a wide variety of dazzling 12-string sounds!
Semi-hollowbody for improved sustain and tone.
As of this writing, on Amazon, this guitar literally has no 1, 2, or 3-star reviews; only 4 and 5!
Beautiful finish with a lot of woodgrain showing. This guitar is perfect for any Beatles or Byrd’s fans wanting to get that classic electric 12-string sound without spending thousands on a Rickenbacker.
Pros
- Incredible guitar for the money
- Ready to play right out of the box
- Excellent “chime”
Cons
- Neck not great for people with fat fingers
CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.
32. Ibanez Artcore AS7312 12-String Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar – About $550
Maple top, back, and sides with a rosewood fretboard.
This Amazon’s Choice product has no 1 or 2-star ratings, only 3 and above, for a near-perfect overall rating. Dual humbucking pickups are mounted into a sustain block for increased sustain and feedback elimination.
Comparable quality to the Guild I have listed above for almost $200 less!
You can use heavier strings (something like 11 gauge), use lighter gauge strings but tune them down one whole step or try using alternate tunings such as Open G, where the frets are still close enough together that they will stay in tune better than other options available here!
Pros
- Set up and action can be user-adjusted
- Plays and sounds like a guitar that cost three times as much
- Narrower neck perfect for smaller hands
- Fantastic tone
Cons
- 1 reviewer claimed it was hard to get all 12 strings in tune
- Neck too small for bigger hands
CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.
33. Danelectro 59X12 12-string Semi-hollowbody Electric Guitar – Under $600
Danelectro has decades of experience making guitars and it shows in this beautiful 12-string. Features 1 single-coil pickup and 1 humbucker for a great variety of sounds and tones.
Pros
- “fully adjustable 12-string bridge”
- Ready to play out of the box
- Zero feed
- Many commented this guitar was equal to or superior to a Rickenbacker
Cons
- Is a semi-hollow-body but does not have an F-hole
- 1 reviewer complained of poor customer support trying to deal with a defective pickup
CLICK HERE to see the current price on Amazon.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our guide to the best budget 12-string guitars on the market today.
We’re big believers in the power of a good 12-string acoustic, and we think that anyone looking for one should consider investing in one of these models before looking elsewhere.
The fact that they’re all under $700 makes it even easier!
Whether it’s an acoustic or electric guitar, there are plenty of options to choose from on this list. Happy shopping, and good luck!
Image by Marc Viens from Pixabay
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