12-String Electric Guitar For Sale (2024 Update)

I own and play over 30 different guitars, but did not have an electric 12, & doing Tom Petty on my Danelectro 'Convertible' 6. Wish, but Ricki too rich for part-time play, so tried the great-price Danelectro 12, – looks great, sounds twangy, but neck a bit narrow for fancy clean fingerwork, and tuners, just like my Convertible, a bit of an issue, (more so when 12). Great MF deal on Boca Amber 12, and, unplayed, unseen, took a chance on this Dean. So GLAD I did! Dead true maple neck to die for & a tad wider than Ricki 300. Great bridge and I set unbelievably low action all the way from 1 up to 22 with no buzz and not 1 high fret. No need to turn rod. Mini Grovers R accurate; and HOLD! Humbuckers solid and clean with a bit less twang than lipsticks but I dial up treble boost on amp and Petty away. Absolute BEST BANG for buck, and constant compliments on beauty and playability. Thanks Dean and MF; a really well-built guitar that showed up with NO quality issues (unlike recent Gibson SG). Tip: Heavy neck (good) and headstock, so use a quality acoustic git-strap that ties off at head and Boca balances perfectly for stage play.GaleForce

The guitar I received (in Amber Sunburst) is pretty well made. The wood is of decent quality and very attractive. The fit and finish are good, although there were two areas in the body cutouts that had minor imperfections in the stain because of glue that got on the back when the cap was glued on. The inner edges of the binding on the F holes was not finished properly, but a little sanding fixed that. There is no sunburst to the finish, it is an even tone across the top. Unlike some of the other reviewers, my guitar was not set up perfectly. There was no fret buzz, but the neck relief was a bit too great and the nut action was much too high. Intonation was way off. Be aware that there are only 6 saddles on this bridge, so you don't have the ability to intonate the octave strings separately. This wasn't a too much of a problem, except on the G strings, where the difference between the low and high strings was about 16 cents. I was able to reduce that to about 6 cents by compensating the nut, but the low G goes sharp about 7 cents in the first two frets. After lowering the nut action and the bridge a bit, it plays very well without any fret buzz, and the intonation is acceptable. It sounds in tune and very full. The short scale and light gauge strings make it very easy to play. The neck is pretty wide and there's not much radius to it, so barre chords require a bit more pressure than I'm used to on a 6 string. Also, my capo (a D'Addario NS)works, but it requires a little more pressure to prevent muting of the middle strings because of the shallow radius. The pickups seem decent, and I'm able to get a variety of tones that are usable, even without individual volume and tone controls. I would eventually like to add separate controls for more choices. I find it sounds best through a clean Fender amp. The bridge pickup alone gives a bright jangly tone that almost sounds like a single coil, adding the neck pickup fills it out considerably without getting muddy. The neck pickup alone is a bit thick and dark, but could be useful. The headstock is heavy and the guitar does dive, but using a wide leather strap with a suede backing helps keep it in place. although you may want to relocate the strap button for better balance. Overall, a great value in an electric 12 string.aspenleaf

It looks nice, but far away from a professional guitar. The guitar is very top heavy, put on a strap and it'll hit the floor with the neck, terrible balance. Had to use strap that ties around the nut, then the strap is in the way when playing first fret. Had to run thru a pedal board to get a decent 12 string sound, the pickups are not single coils as a Rick. It barely holds tune long enuf to use for a few songs in a row. Now the worst part is where is the access panel on the back for servicing? There is none on my model. If U have to work on electronics U R in for a big surprise!Pete

I usually wait awhile if I am going to review something and after buying selling and trading over 50 guitars over a lifetime I am well over the "Newest Toy" syndrome but I absolutely love this guitar way more than I ever expected I will. I love everything about it so far, from the important stuff like tone and playability to the superficial stuff like it's cool vintage cream paint job. I have yet to restring the guitar and my only concern is durability. I have one other Danelectro guitar that I have owned for close to a year and have had no issues with. Other than that I have no experience with Danelectro guitars. I should note that there is nothing about either guitar that leads me to suspect poor quality. The 12 string came with a nice straight neck and immaculate finish. It was very playable right out of the box. I should also note that this is my first 12 string electric guitar. I am primarily an acoustic guy and have owned several 12 string acoustics over my lifetime. I understand the pressure those strings put on a guitar's neck which is why I wonder how well this will hold up in the future. Providing it does it feels like a steal at this price. Of all guitars I have owned I have never had one turn so many heads when I went out shopping for a case. It's a shame Danelectro won't make or commission cases for their guitars. If it matched the aesthetics of their instruments they would probably be a hit as well.Patrick

The best thing about this guitar is how nicely and easily it plays. It seems to sing out and chime from any note that you effortlessly put your finger on! You also cannot beat the play-ability of this neck with most any guitar at this price level! These are about the lowest priced guitars that you can buy, while still having a sentimental nostalgia of very high-profile guitarists enjoying them, too! Jimmy Page on Kashmir! Sleater-Kinney on the album cover of Dig Me Out! This is the 12-string version, but with the amazingly fast neck on these guitars, I can easily see why professionals would still choose them. The pick ups are decent and sound balanced between neck and bridge positions. This guitar is a joy to play, I look forward to picking up this guitar and playing every night! I got the Blood Red model, which feels much more solid than the b/w classic version that I got earlier. The b/w classic uses inch wide, white tape as trim, which gives me the impression of being less durable than the superior finish of the Blood Red version!Rev316

I spent over two years shopping for an electric 12-string guitar. I own many 6-string acoustic and electric guitars, plus a very high-end 12-string acoustic, but I've always wanted a high-end 12-string electric too. I played many of the best brands, but I just could not justify the cost of some of these 12-string electrics… yes, they played great, but the cost was insane, and I just didn't believe they were worth it. Danelectro recently upgraded their 12-sting electric guitar, and for the price, I could not resist any longer. I figured if it was no good, then no worries – since I spent such little money on it. However, when I received it today, I was COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY! I actually think that Danelectro is giving these guitars away for what I paid for it! Something almost doesn't make sense…. Anyway, I cannot put this thing down. It sounds great (dare I say as good, or perhaps better than the "R's" I tried out?). Not to put down "R", since I already own a 1990 360, but this Danelectro is a KEEPER! At a fraction of the cost, I have a really professional sounding and playing 12-string electric! I'm in my late 50's and have played for decades using many, many great guitars, but today is a day I'll never forget, when I unboxed this incredible guitar and played it right out of the box for hours of complete and total joy. I love it!Commish

Set up to perfection.. plays like a dream…. Sound and feel is perfect for 60s jangle, but then softens beautifully for those early 70s proggy sounds that I don’t normally own up to . Bought at the same time as my Furch. Red… I have spoken of the first class service that I received in more detail in that review, and I shall spare you a repeat, as I am usually a curmudgeonly old bu**er, and it’s not normally in my nature to speak so highly and warmly of someone twice in one day!!!😃😃😃😃😃Martin K.

the neck wasn't leveled the frets were sharp on the edges, the six string neck set up higher than the 12. the electronics were cheap and micro-phonic. either neck didn't seem to have a finish on them. even as a beginning guitar it wouldn't be good without a lot of work.harrisonguitars08

This guitar is very nice in appearance but the playability is a bit lacking. The tuning keys on the 12 string were stiff and binding. The volume knob for the 12 string had a wiring problem. when I would turn the volume up,(10) for the 12 string the 6 string volume would be down quite a bit. So when I switched to the 6 string I had to put the volume knob on 8 for the 12 string to get full volume for the 6. I keep all my volume knobs on 10 and adjust my overall volume from the amp. There's supposed to be separate volume knobs for this guitar but like I said there was some kinda wiring glitch. Other then this it was very nice and the sound was exceptional.merw.tom

I got this for a customer and the neck feels like a 2X4 ,not finished at all, like sand paper ,also the heal is cracked and was shimmied with a piece of plastic. View picturerpcmrsz

If you're looking for the best acoustics, best pre amp, best build quality and everything you look for in a guitar this is the one. The acoustics are the best i've heard in any 12 string and would purchase this guitar over and over again. This is a very good guitar for all your uses. Very comfortable and has great resonation.This is my favorite guitar in my collection.alex

I typically play steel string acoustics. I wanted a quality nylon string guitar without the wide flat neck of a standard classical guitar. This is it. Extremely well made with quality woods (no laminates) that has a great sound (both amplified and unplugged). It does not have a large body and projection is somewhat limited when playing unplugged but has incredible sound both amplified and not amplified. Can be played quietly when everyone else has gone to sleep, or can flood the house with music if they're awake. The action and intonation on this guitar was fabulous right out of the box and I didn't have to make any setup adjustments. This is an awesome guitar and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a nylon string acoustic.John

In 1981 I had three guitars, two of them acoustics, and one of those was an Ovation Country Artist–a nylon-string guitar with a 14 fret, comparatively narrow neck. It was my first good guitar, but when I left for grad school, I kept only a Martin OO-18, and sold the Ovation. In the 30 years since, I have been trying to find a replacement, I tried various Ibanez and Yamaha guitars, but they didn't have what it took. Then, a couple of months ago, needing a brain break, I left work and took myself to the acoustic room at Sam Ash. There was another guy in there playing, so I looked for a quiet instrument, and took this one down off the wall. Immediately, I knew that it was special. The clarity of the tone, and the richness of the bass, it was all there. The other guy liked the sound too, and soon we were jamming and telling stories. Both of us tried other neoclassical guitars, and agreed that this one was best. I loved the guitar at first note, but when I looked at the price tag, I knew I could never own it. So I bought (online) a similar guitar, but it lacked the feel and sound of this one. My wife heard me playing, asked what I thought about the similar guitar I'd bought, and I explained that it wasn't the same. Then she told me to buy this one. So I did, And I have been playing it daily since then. The OO-18 is still with me and still gets some time, but right now my fingers itch to play and hear this one. Did it replace my long-gone Country Artist? Not exactly–this Takamine is significantly superiod to the Country Artist in all respects. Even if I don't play it plugged in 🙂Andy M_S

Guitar was not setup properly had to adjust everything. The cheap Vinyl that's glued on otter edge already pealing. When it arrived there was glue seeping from the edges, didnt realize until I touched it & ruined my $$60.00 gold plated strings. I replaced truss rod cover, junk. Knobs dont match/ugly replaced. Nut was junk, not cut right, made my own in my shop. The glue seepage awful. Removed cheap Vinyl treating guitar to remove exess glue, ridiculous. Huge scratch on back chip on rear bottom of neck where vynil was joined. For the 60th anniversary edition… Worst I've ever seen! My original 59 still looks plays and sounds fantastic. Cutting corners using cheap materials and trying to save money is no way to honor guitars from our past. Sound not that great but I'll have to replace some wiring & tuners as well. stuff to get it to sound halfway decent. I play in a Zeppelin tribute band at all the hotels and in Vegas, definitely not stage worthy! What a major disappointment. Way over priced. My appraisal $80.00 and that's being generous. If you want one, build your own instead.niceguyvinny1968

Someone in the band said we should do one of those early 60's songs. I listened to it, and it clearly had that 12-string jangle so characteristic of the period. The best thing for that is a Rickenbacker 12-string, but I wasn't going to spring for that for just a few songs. So I zeroed in on a few possibilities, including this Danelectro, and the Dean Boca and the Ibanez Artcore in about the same price range. But the Dano is of course pretty much the exact same instrument that they made back then, and it is arguably better now than it ever was. It was always an inexpensive brand, but had the distinction that a lot of famous people played them. Therefore it has that "original vibe", like the Rickenbacker, but at a fraction of the price. So the Dano was the obvious choice, and I got this NOS version (No-S = no S or F hole which some other models have and the originals did). They say it is still made from Masonite, but you can't tell since it is completely painted and while the website says it is laminated, it is very light-weight. And it still has that textured plastic tape around the whole perimeter like it's supposed to have. The neck strap button is in an awkward location, so you may have to cut a piece off your strap to make it fit (I did, and I replaced my strap buttons with Schaller black strap locks). These guitars are made in Korea, and the build quality is excellent. I was afraid that I'd have get a setup, but the one I received has a fine neck with a nice rosewood finger board, has low action and plays easily enough (for a 12-string), so I'm going to leave it as is. The sound is great! It has that unique Dano sound because of the two lipstick pickups. It may be too bright when using the bridge pickup only, but the thing is you get used to the tone really quickly, so it may work just fine. It certainly will cut through the mix! It is louder when using both pickups, which is probably what I will use most of the time. In sum, I'm very happy with it! It will do!Willy

I didn't have high hopes for a 12 string electric at this price point, but I also couldn't resist, and WOW – am I completely satisfied! This guitar plays really well. It came with a good set-up and when I fine tuned it all the systems worked as they should. You can even adjust intonation on all twelve strings. Thus far the neck has been straight and easily adjusts to string or environmental conditions – I've given it a slight adjustment once it acclimated to my desert conditions and since it has been stable and true. Of course I should protect my guitar from the elements, and I bought a gig bag, but it stays out pretty much constantly and is used daily. This guitar is tons of fun. It easily does the Byrds style of 12 string sound. Also, I never knew just how many early Beatles riff where on 12 string until I started messing with this guitar. It's a blast. I own a Rick 6 string and have always wanted an electric 12. This Danelectro is great quality and great fun and it more than satisfies my itch (for now) at fraction of the price. You will not regret buying this guitar – it will unlock a new world!Mike

The cool factor on this guitar is a solid 10. So many "quirky" things – the double pickguard, poly on the fingerboard, soviet-era rocket hardware…. This is my third Rick (two basses) and the workmanship on the frets/setup is second to none. But…it did take me three tries at the 330 to get an instrument that did not have unacceptable finish flaws. The first had "orange peel" along the edge of the body and headstock. I used to work for a major US guitar manufacturer, and I recognize that a right angle edge is difficult to finish, but for this price, a good finish is to be expected. #2 looked like whoever painted the inside of the f-hole black, was in a hurry and got paint on the top and then it was cleared over. Touch it up, THEN send it out. The third one had some finish bubbles on the headstock, but after three tries, sometimes better is the enemy of good and I kept it. When they get the finish applied properly – it is stunning. The Fireglow is much better than in pictures and draws you in and "moves".Reviewinbacker

I own a number of Fenders and Gibsons. Having always wanted a Rick and knowing its limitations, I bought one at the local GC. It is truly a beautiful guitar, set up was perfect out of the box for the pure nickel 10's I installed. No fret buzz whatsoever and really, really low action. Not a great neck for bending notes and that's why, in my opinion, this is a rhythm guitar. Tonewise, it's got one characteristic "Rick" tone, achieved with both pickups. Single pickup tones are ok but not noteworthy. In summary, I would not recommend this as your "only" electric, but certainly a worthy component of any musicvian's multi guitar collection. Get the Fireglow…it's the best colorBob the Strat Player

I own a Rickenbacker 330 in MapleGlo, which I purchased new in 2004. As I started to get into home studio recording, I went shopping for a Rickenbacker guitar, and literally bought the first one that I found, which, at the time, was probably the only one in town. I tweaked the set-up when I first got it, and it has only gotten better since, with almost zero maintenance, aside from string changes. It really is a great guitar, that sings wonderfully before even plugging it in, with a full chime, and smooth, blooming notes. I have long been a fan of Peter Buck from R.E.M., which was my original impetus for getting a Rickenbacker guitar, but once I got mine, it quickly worked its way into my own world of music and sound. I use D'Addario EXL115W strings on mine, with a wound G, which helps me play perfectly in tune, up and down the length of the fretboard. For jangle and chime, I tend to favor the middle pick-up position, with the 5th knob turned all the way to the neck pick-up, i.e., counter-clockwise, and the two tone knobs at the half-way point. The 330 does appear to have a slightly larger body than the 360, which I think lends itself to a fuller chime, although the 360 may rock a little better … I would say decide for yourself, if that is possible. In any case, I definitely and whole-heartedly recommend a Rickenbacker 330 in your favorite color. It is, in my estimation, the best rhythm guitar money can buy, made by a company which exhibits impeccable artistry and craftsmanship. Every Ric is exquisite, and the 330 is right up there with the very best of them.Steve

I am in love with this guitar! I always wanted an electric 12 string, and I'm delighted with this one. Andertons had it at the best price I was able to find anywhere, either in-store or online. It was perfectly set up and in perfect conditionReviewed by Andertons Music Co.

I just got my aqua model and I’m very happy. First off, it was in tune so it was great to be able to play it right away and not go thru nightmare tuning! The fit and finish is excellent as is the sound. Both plugged and unplugged. It plays so easily that I found myself playing leads in all positions. Unlike most 12 strings of the past. Definitely well worth the $$$.Brian Limmer

This guitar has a warm bright tone easy action and is beautiful in design. This guitar is easily a favorite to me as it allows me to speak even when Im not sure what to say. Its design makes ecen an unseasoned guitarist sound like a pro. You definately will not regret purchasing this axe.tarquill61

I needed a low action 12 string acoustic guitar that wasn't the size of a battleship. Something I could practice on at home without annoying half the neighborhood. An 'acoustic' guitar that would give me stonkloads of volume plugged in but with absolutely zero feed back even when I'm standing right in front of the monitor. It also had to sound like an acoustic guitar at any volume level. Turns out that's exactly what I got. Easy…..now I need to get a case…turns out not so easy here in the UK. Why don't dealers buy in the correct case when they order the guitar? Or is this just an ESP thing? Anyway, when a guitar is this good it is not so easy to get annoyed.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

I’ve owned a EF381SC-LH since the early 90s. My being left handed had a lot to do with my decision to purchase it, as up to that point it was the only 12 string I’d ever seen in person, never mind Getting to play one. I was able to tune it by ear and it plays as easily as an electric guitar, so buying it was a no brainer. But over the years I’ve come to appreciated it more for it’s acoustic and amplified tone. It sounds great plugged into my guitar amp, it doesn’t need to go through a PA. It takes the dry New England fall/winter less than 20% humidity while never protruding a fret or needing a truss rod adjustment. I do use two Dampits less than diligently. This 12 string Is one of the best values in the guitar universe, if you have ever wanted one this is the one to get.Stan

I use this guitar as a requinto. (Mexican Guitar) It's just beautiful. I'm at a loss of words with this one the beautiful Gloss Black Finish and the mahogany Takamine logo and Fret markers are just flawless. I would purchase this guitar time after time if i had the money. Oh, and not to mention the electronic pickup that comes factory with it. It just sounds beautiful, super rich, and just cannot compete with the G Series Pickup.IsaiRequinto

This guitar was sold as "blemished." I haven't found any blemishes on the guitar. When it arrived it still had the plastic scratch guard on the pickguard, and the strings were still stretching the way brand new strings do. I tried the lower range Takamine 12 string, the GD 30CE, and wasn't happy with the feel of the the neck, string height, or the over all sound of the guitar. So I ordered this one. I know this range of Takamine guitars well because I own an EF 341SC. So far, this guitar has delighted me at every turn. I've not yet played the guitar through a PA system, but plugged into a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface and recording it sounds great: well balanced and rich. The same if not better recording off of a live mic. The neck feels good, the string height is perfect.Ron

I use to own 330/12 I sold it foolishly, but Im glad I did. I love this one so much more, for starters its more authentic in look and feel, its modelled after the famous George Harrison Rick 12 string Its a stunning guitar in real life. I highly rate this guitar, 10/10 Not to mention the beautiful case it comes in Regards Andrew Armstrong (Australia)andrewma1959

Lefty Rics are few and far between, even more so for the twelves (no new ones have been produced for a number of years now). This one turned out to be very well cared for and in near mint condition for a twenty five year old guitar, and plays and sounds like the dream guitar I always believed it would be. Fellow lefties, keep the faith, keep an open mind and one day yours will turn up too.longnecklefty

Pickguard looks perloid in the picture and solid white is what I got. Upper neck has NO pickup selection. I know because I took it apart and all 3 upper pickups are wired directly to the output!! The knob in the middle, should be a blend pot that allows one to have one, both or adjust volume between the 2 necks. What the factory did was McGeyver a regular volume pot to try to do the same thing that kinda works, but not very well. 6 string neck on the on I recieved was very unstable! If you push one way or another, you can hear it go out of tune. 12 string neck is actually a little better, but the string break angle at the nut is ridiculous and pulls at the nut. I had to glue the nut in place (should have been done at the factory) to keep the strings in their proper place. Now I know at this price point for this type of guitar, you might have to put some work in, but some basic stuff should be ok from the jump and quality control sucks. I am a tinkerer and 40 year guitar player. So I know some things and know how to fix stuff. Good Luck if you get one of these that is playable out the box!!Rodd

This is one of the better double neck guitar as Ive bought for that price point, if not the best. Plays great and the neck is straight and true. I highly suggest it if youre in the market for a double neck guitar.timhi1572