Published on this page in the GuitarFella archive — what our editors chose at the time, not a lab test.
Last Updated: February 21, 2019
While this relatively new article held up well over the last few months, we decided to make a few changes to our buyer’s guide to make it even more informative. We also removed the older Ibanez AEL152ETBS and added two awesome jumbo 12-string acoustics – the bold Takamine GJ72CE-12 and the flashy Gretsch G5022CWFE-12.
Looking for an acoustic guitar with a full, rich tone? Or do you simply want to play Stairway to Heaven or Hotel California with that distinctive jangle? Whatever your reason for shopping for a good 12-string acoustic guitar, we have you covered!
In today’s article we are taking a look at 12-string acoustics in more depth, with a buyer’s guide as well as a chart to highlight some of the top models on the market today in all price ranges. Let’s dive straight in!
Top 8 12-String Acoustics Guitars
What is a 12-String Guitar?
As the name suggests, a 12-string guitar is one with 12 strings, compared to a standard six-string guitar. The overall experience of strumming a 12-string model is very satisfying, with a chimey, rich and robust sound that you just can’t achieve with a regular acoustic guitar.
However, despite six additional strings the fretboard doesn’t double in width, as each of the original six strings essentially gains a little partner string that enriches the tone with a higher octave.
Look closely at a 12-string acoustic and you will notice that all of the strings are grouped into pairs. The lower four pairs (E-A-D-G) are tuned so that one string in the pair is an octave apart from its twin. The upper two pairs (B-E) are tuned in unison.
These string pairs are generally played together as one string, which, in theory, means that if you can play a standard 6-string guitar, you can play a 12-string guitar.
The first time you play one you will notice that the extra richness to the tone is much more forgiving – little errors seems to melt away into a world of overtones and jangle.
Here’s a good video to demonstrate the differences in sound and tuning:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq0Ok8lA3xY
The Benefits of Owning a 12-String Guitar
You already own a six-string guitar, so what will buying a 12-string acoustic bring to the table? There’s a saying in the guitar community that 12-string guitars are to traditional guitars what a grand piano is to your standard upright model. We can echo the sentiment.
As mentioned, each of the string pairs creates a rich sound, similar to a chorus effect you can find with an electric guitar. A 12-string guitar generally has a much fuller tone and an abundance of overtones emanating from the sound box, meaning you can achieve much more with less. Therefore, using one of these beasts will allow you to bring your solo performances into a richer environment where you can really express yourself.
Another benefit is the practice you get with these, which can be transferred into your regular six-string playing. It is one thing to have to squeeze a single string on the fretboard, but a completely different one when there are two strings you need to press perfectly in unison. Once you master how to do that, chances are that you will become much more proficient at playing a standard acoustic guitar.
Finally, a 12-string model allows you to experiment with tones and playing styles. After a while, some guitar players simply don’t feel challenged anymore and turning to a 12-string can restoke the fire of enthusiasm for guitar, as well as get the creative juices flowing.
Things to Consider When Looking for a 12-String Guitar
While there are benefits to owning a 12-string guitar, there are also a couple of drawbacks worth mentioning.
Firstly, a 12-string guitar is fairly different from your classic acoustic in a couple of ways. For starters, the headstock holds 12-tuning machines instead of six, meaning that changing strings now requires a much more tedious process. Of course, as these are specialist strings, they tend to be a little more expensive than regular strings.
The next thing to consider is the neck. As you have twice the amount of strings on what is similar to a standard scale neck, you are also going to have a much higher level of stress and tension. If you were to use a standard acoustic guitar neck, chances are it wouldn’t last too long! Instead, these guitars often have heavier, thicker necks, which can be uncomfortable for some people to play. Note that they often have double truss rods running through them, which means adjusting the neck or action on one can be a real nightmare.
The point of highlighting these negatives isn’t to scare you away from a 12-string model, but rather to introduce you to some of the differences you are likely to face. However, if you can deal with an initial learning curve and a bit more patience when it comes to string changes, a 12-string acoustic is well worth it.
The Final Word
While 12-string guitars are definitely a niche segment of the market compared to their six-string cousins, it is an ever-growing market as guitarists realize the appeal of adding a 12-string acoustic to their collection.
We hope the models we have highlighted today have inspired you, no matter what your budget or skill level. If you’re a musician who is interested in spicing things up, spending some time with a 12-string acoustic could be the best thing you ever did!