12 String Mandolin Guitar For Sale (2024 Update)

I got this thing because I love the mandolin sound but never liked actually playing one. This tuned like a standard guitar has the bright plucky sound of a mandolin with a string spacing that I could actually play. I've been having a lot of fun with it so far. Once it was in my hands there were some fit and finish issues I have, for the price I feel like the finer details were lacking,but the function of the instrument is phenomenal. It's holding me over while I get a feel for a proper mandolin, but I think it will definitely live in the repertoire to pull out for a jam.Kevin

I have played one (And it had such a good sound and feel and also very cool) I ordered one.The other person reviewing this instrument blamed his Fat Fingers making it hard to play. He blamed the Instrument? I think he needs to get a Classical Guitar? :-)) I have large hands and sausages for fingers but I can still play it. Just take a few minutes to accustom your hand and brain to a different instrument. This instrument, like all Gold Tone instruments, is well built with attention to detail and the price point is Fantastic! Can't say enough about it, except, another quality instrument from Gold Tone. Oh, I am NOT a Gold Tone employee or owner. I own the GM6 Mando Guitar, Banjitar BT1000 and the Electric Banjo. I am writing through experience.misterbruce52

I got this thing because I love the mandolin sound but never liked actually playing one. This tuned like a standard guitar has the bright plucky sound of a mandolin with a string spacing that I could actually play. I've been having a lot of fun with it so far. Once it was in my hands there were some fit and finish issues I have, for the price I feel like the finer details were lacking,but the function of the instrument is phenomenal. It's holding me over while I get a feel for a proper mandolin, but I think it will definitely live in the repertoire to pull out for a jam.Kevin

I have played one (And it had such a good sound and feel and also very cool) I ordered one.The other person reviewing this instrument blamed his Fat Fingers making it hard to play. He blamed the Instrument? I think he needs to get a Classical Guitar? :-)) I have large hands and sausages for fingers but I can still play it. Just take a few minutes to accustom your hand and brain to a different instrument. This instrument, like all Gold Tone instruments, is well built with attention to detail and the price point is Fantastic! Can't say enough about it, except, another quality instrument from Gold Tone. Oh, I am NOT a Gold Tone employee or owner. I own the GM6 Mando Guitar, Banjitar BT1000 and the Electric Banjo. I am writing through experience.misterbruce52

I got this thing because I love the mandolin sound but never liked actually playing one. This tuned like a standard guitar has the bright plucky sound of a mandolin with a string spacing that I could actually play. I've been having a lot of fun with it so far. Once it was in my hands there were some fit and finish issues I have, for the price I feel like the finer details were lacking,but the function of the instrument is phenomenal. It's holding me over while I get a feel for a proper mandolin, but I think it will definitely live in the repertoire to pull out for a jam.Kevin

I have played one (And it had such a good sound and feel and also very cool) I ordered one.The other person reviewing this instrument blamed his Fat Fingers making it hard to play. He blamed the Instrument? I think he needs to get a Classical Guitar? :-)) I have large hands and sausages for fingers but I can still play it. Just take a few minutes to accustom your hand and brain to a different instrument. This instrument, like all Gold Tone instruments, is well built with attention to detail and the price point is Fantastic! Can't say enough about it, except, another quality instrument from Gold Tone. Oh, I am NOT a Gold Tone employee or owner. I own the GM6 Mando Guitar, Banjitar BT1000 and the Electric Banjo. I am writing through experience.misterbruce52

Yes, This is a beautiful guitar, I tune it one whole tone down from standard tuning, not the traditional Paracho tuning, But the guitar plays beautifully!,. I highly recommend this beautiful traditionally hand made Bajo Sexto!!,. Excellent value for money!,. An amazing sound!!!,.davdl-4cfjkzcws1

I got this thing because I love the mandolin sound but never liked actually playing one. This tuned like a standard guitar has the bright plucky sound of a mandolin with a string spacing that I could actually play. I've been having a lot of fun with it so far. Once it was in my hands there were some fit and finish issues I have, for the price I feel like the finer details were lacking,but the function of the instrument is phenomenal. It's holding me over while I get a feel for a proper mandolin, but I think it will definitely live in the repertoire to pull out for a jam.Kevin

I have played one (And it had such a good sound and feel and also very cool) I ordered one.The other person reviewing this instrument blamed his Fat Fingers making it hard to play. He blamed the Instrument? I think he needs to get a Classical Guitar? :-)) I have large hands and sausages for fingers but I can still play it. Just take a few minutes to accustom your hand and brain to a different instrument. This instrument, like all Gold Tone instruments, is well built with attention to detail and the price point is Fantastic! Can't say enough about it, except, another quality instrument from Gold Tone. Oh, I am NOT a Gold Tone employee or owner. I own the GM6 Mando Guitar, Banjitar BT1000 and the Electric Banjo. I am writing through experience.misterbruce52

This is my Long Term Review. I have had this guitar for a bit over two years now and can give a more complete picture of it. First, the good. This is a very well made guitar. Under the pros, you will notice I mentioned Good Construction. This is particularly important in a 12 string. The biggest issue with all 12's is that they tend to come apart very quickly. You will have bowing, warping, separation of glueing, etc. All this is because of the tremendous extra pressure 12's suffer. After 2+ years, this guitar is still solid as a rock, and I leave it strung all the time. So I would say construction and bracing are very good on this instrument. Along with this is the fact that it Stays In Tune. This is another major issue with all 12's. Again, that extra force tends to make them go out of tune quickly. This one holds tune very well, and that is important as tuning a 12 takes some time. As for sound, I would say Not too Bad overall, and Really Good for an budget level guitar. It is a little thin for my taste, but there are ways around that. First, throw on a set of decent strings. I prefer Martin Marquise on mine, but personal choice. Second, I like to play through an acoustic amp, and I put a Seymour Ducan Woody on mine. When adjusted correctly, I can get a really decent, full bass sound, lots of body and still keep a nice jangle expected from a 12. Will it sound like a Martin or Gibson, no, but it gives a really nice sound for such a low price. As for the negatives, very few. First, keep in mind when Epiphone says "Select Spruce Top," they really mean laminated, not solid. But I suppose there varying qualities of laminated woods as well, and this one is great – really good resonance and sustain. It could maybe do with a better set of tuners, but as said before, it holds tune exceptionally well. Overall, for the price, Epiphone makes a really nice and playable guitar. Now am just praying they come out with a Masterbilt version of it.kdw

I had this on my wish list for a couple of years and after finally getting to try it out at my local Sam Ash, it did not disappoint. Online reviews were consistently good with a few mentions of the strings being coated and how it gave an unusual feel and sound. According to the Michael Kelly website, the strings are D'Addario EXP16 Coated Phosphor Bronze, Light, 12-53, so they shouldn't be some off the wall knock offs but my experience over the last few weeks has been that after a few minutes of playing, the tips of my fingers on my fret hand and the palm of my strumming hand turned black. I've never had this happen on any other guitars I have. I tried rotating after 15 minutes between my Jackson, my Strat, my Martin Backpacker and then my Michael Kelly and, every time, after a few minutes of playing the Forte Port, my fingers turned black. I've played a lot of guitars since the 80's (not professionally) and this is a new one on me. Obviously, the strings can be changed but I feel it is worth mentioning because for someone's first guitar, it may be off putting if they are unaware. If I can edit a review, I'll try to add a pic of my fingers (there's no way to make that sound right…) when I get time. That's my two cents…Sean

Overall: I was reluctant to buy this Michael Kelly. I like to try it before I buy it . With that being said , The guitar come it flawless. It was packaged very good . I played for about an hour after opening the box. The action is spot on. It plays and feels more like an electric guitar. Hammer on pull offs pitch bends are perfect. The sustain goes on forever. The neck feels a touch wider than my Martin, but that's a good thing for me. There are no fret buzzes at. It's vert light and comfortable , light weight is a must , I have had shoulder surgery 3 times. The balance and weight are near perfect . Michael Kelly may not have the prestige of Martin. Gibson and such , but as far as the sound and quality build , it simply can not be beat in this price range.Mark

First off, some people don't know the real characteristics of a Guild 12 string. And, no, they aren't ALL supposed to be deep….The wood determines the sound. Denser wood, deeper sound…lighter wood, brighter the sound…I bought one after playing MANY 12 strings. Including Taylor, Martin, Takamine….and this one was my favorite. Frets easy, sound is bright yet full, loud, and just a great guitar. As for the electronics..ehh..not the best…but…I am running a LR Baggs acoustic preamp pedal and it brings the guitars natural sound. I turn up the bottom just a bit…sounds amazing…LOVE THIS GUITAR…and it's beautiful to boot….Jamie

I ran into one of these in a guitar store and was immediately impressed compared to the other 12-strings in the acoustic room. It's not a Guild 512, but it has a good, solid sound and nice neck. I was concerned about the tuners, but they seem to work fine and stay in tune and they are the same as on the deluxe Westerly models. My guitar showed up with a detached soundhole control. I almost sent it back, but I liked the sound of the guitar enough that I just decided to reattach the soundhole control with some double sided tape. We'll see how that holds up, but I wasn't impressed with the original glue job. Otherwise, nice guitar. A 12-string has so much going on sonically, that I don't think I need a more expensive model to get good sound. The pickup sounds nice, too. I also like the satin finish. Good guitar. Very good guitar for the price.Victor

This is the worst guitar for the money I have ever purchased. My brother took sick just before it was delivered. I never got a chance to check this guitar before the time expires. Where should I start. To say this guitar's flyncey is an understatement. The neck is very uneven! The body is so thin even at its great size it cannot give a deep tone. The head of this guitar is heavier than the whole guitar. I see positive reviews on this guitar and I wonder which cartoon characters are posting them or if they are even real. The sound system is is pathetic! It does not matter which amplifier or PA system I play it through it is totally inadequate. And it is incapable of being used in any type of venue through any type of sound system. Why put it in there at all. Guild should be ashamed of itself!!!!! If you are looking for a quality guitar at a reasonable price that plays well! THIS ISN'T IT!Jake

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.

So far so great. This is my second Taylor ( 2008 914ce is my other) and I really love it. I have played twelve string acoustic and electric for decades but never had an American made acoustic. Compared to my other 12 strings, Epiphone and Yamaha, this feels like playing a six string. The action is great. It is not as loud as bigger acoustics but that is a good thing because it brings out all the strings and their nuance better. It sounds great with or without amplification.ktrip

This is an amazing, high quality instrument. The guitar is easy to play for a 12 string. It's resonant and responds to picking attack very well. Digging in a bit and using my picking hand for percussion on the top is very satisfying! The top is lively and there's lots of sustain. The set up seemed almost too good to be true. This is a precision built, beautiful 12 string guitar. I'm glad I took a chance and bought it. I think it's a great value for the money.Mandolin Player

The Taylor 352CE 12 string is an awesome guitar. Well made and easy to play with great sound. If your looking for a 12 string acoustic guitar, this is the one you want.1swenson

I've been playing Irish music with my Celtic mandolin for 35 years and recently played chords for special music at church with my daughter strumming chords on banjo. I thought the octave mandolin would be a good next instrument to buy since I wouldn't have to "learn" to play it. I chose this one because I like the gold plated tuners and the built in pickup which makes it easy to play at church without setting up a mic. I was very impressed with the sound from this instrument, it is quite loud! It can hold its own with a banjo. Can't wait to put together another piece with my daughter. If you're thinking of buying an octave mandolin, this would be a good investment no matter what kind of music you play. And the price is fantastic considering what you get.Anglophile7

This S/H item was like new, supplied in a very strong fitted case. The deep body produces a very rich, resonant sound with powerful tight bass and sweet mid and treble. The sustain is amazing. The scale length may cause difficulty for players with smaller hands but was fine for me. It has a built in pickup in the bridge which I have not yet tested.Reviewed by Project Music custom

Used a friends non electric model and decided to try one of my own. Glad I did. Makes a great companion with my violins.Big Kahuna

This instrument is very travel sized and easy to learn. Its great for jamming or just about anything. Very beautiful finish. Overall, I thought it was worth it to purchase.AvatarAndy

This my first mandolin after decades of playing guitar & bass. Not a mandolin aficionado but this is well built, decent sound and the single coil pickup is transparent & responsive. It was not set up correctly fresh out of the box. Some fret buzz & intonation issues. Easily fixed but might discourage the new user.Shopwright

I wasnt sure how I would like the mandocello but I was pleasantly surprised at the rich sound and tone of this instrument. I actually had thought of returning it because I thought i ordered a Octave Mandolin. Once I plugged it in and played it….I couldnt put it down . The sustain and low end is amazing ! Love it!jeffm7222

Very well constructed. It rings very brightly. I'm very pleased with the overall workmanship on this import. However, the plastic tailpiece is a serious issue. With its diagonal slant toward the heavier strings, and a simple hinge at the base, it forces the C and D strings to pull far more than they need to, resulting in the bridge migrating off of the centerline. I'm replacing it with a custom bridge made by Montana Lutherie. I love this instrument, and can't seem to put it down. I keep discovering things about this form of tuning. An elevation in the hardware would put this maker in a higher league.stevemills

This was an upgrade for me from an inexpensive mandolin in a frustrating ordering process. Musician's Friend saved the day by providing me with a great deal on this much higher quality instrument. I couldn't be more pleased with it. The factory set up is sufficient for now and I've been playing it for several weeks. I'll get a professional set up at some point but I'm not proficient enough a player for that to matter much just yet. It has a good action, the neck provides a comfortable center position and action was fine right out of the box. Intonation is right on the money. This instrument is loud if you strum it hard and this leads to some great chops-especially as you develop your ability with four finger chords. However, it has great tone even at lower volume for single note leads or transition runs. I'm primarily a guitar player and got this as a new toy. However, I find myself playing it as much as my guitars because it's so fun.Lee

Fair notice, I'm not a thoroughly experienced mandolin player. I primarily play guitar, and also dabble with ukuleles. The only other mandolin I've played besides my new LM-520 is a $50 Rogue that I've had for a year and a half (I put a ton of work into properly fitting the bridge and lowering the action at the nut to make the Rogue playable, but when set up properly, it's surprisingly decent for the price). With that said, I do own numerous acustic instruments, and know quality when I see and hear it. When I recently decided that I wanted to upgrade to a quality mandolin, I read a ton of reviews and articles about their construction and setup. I decided to go with the Loar 520 because it got great reviews from buyers, and it appeared to be a great value (it was the only solid wood, carved-top mandolin I saw anywhere near this price range). I have no problem with the "stripped down appointments" The Loar says justifies the low price. I'll trade inlays for solid wood construction all day. Upon its arrival, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the online images of the LM-520 don't do it justice. The finish looked dark and plain in photographs. In person, it's a very beautiful instrument, with nice wood grain visible on the top, back and sides. The sides of mine are even flamed maple. The back is straight grained, as is the spruce top. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the instrument was set up perfectly out of the box. The bridge fits the top seamlessly, the intonation was perfect, and the action was set comfortably low. The neck required no adjustment of the truss rod. The overall construction quality is excellent. For sound quality, I have only my Rogue to compare with. I was a little surprised to find that right out of the box the Loar didn't completely blow away the Rogue in terms of tone and projection. The Rogue has a larger oval body than the F-model Loar, which probably accounts for the projection. After playing the LM-520 for only two weeks, I'd swear I can hear a dramatic improvement in the tone, resonance and volume of the instrument. The Rogue now sounds brassy and harsh in comparison. Bottom line: I've very pleased with my purchase, and I think I got an outstanding value for my money.John

I really wanted to love this mandolin. I read reviews of sub $1k mandolins for weeks before I purchased the Loar LM-520 over the Michael Kelly Legacy Dragonfly. When it arrived it was beautiful and had good tone but of course the action was terrible. I expected poor action so that was no big deal as I hear all mandolins need setup. But, while bringing the mandolin up to pitch, one of the tuning keys came out of the worm gear and dropped little parts in my lap. I believe the tuners on this mandolin are poor quality. MF was great about returning it and I now have a Michael Kelly Legacy Elegante on order. Hopefully that one will be a keeper.Barry

My experience with Richards Guitars has been fabulous. From my first enquiry through delivery of my guitar the process went flawlessly and VERY much quicker than I had expected, given that I reside in Canada. It was Richard’s video, testing the Vintage VSA 500 that persuaded me to buy from them and as promised, their attention to detail, even during these pandemic restrictions has made me a great supporter of the company. I love the guitar and case. It is everything that Richard reported it to be and more. Thank you for your dedication and support Gerry Lisk Ottawa CanadaGerald L.

A huge thank you to the team for my wonderful VSA500 Walnut. Particularly to John who I dealt with for the majority of the process who's a credit to RGuitars. There was a delay to my order, at the fault of the supplier, however John was very helpful resolving any queries I had. I played the guitar both before and after setup as I live locally so had the luxury of visiting during the order process. The work Chris does on the guitars is excellent and I walked away with a guitar to fit my budget that I was confident in. It plays a treat. Richard made me feel welcome in the new workshop, took the time to talk to me about my guitar and show me around. Overall my experience was excellent. I would recommend to my friends and will visit again I'm sure.Luke F.

Guitar was well set up on arrival, however it had a lacquer crack on the back of the neck that possibly occurred in transit. Jack socket was loose. Volume pot not tightened and spinning enough to have broken solder on wire. Offered discount or exchange. Accepted refund and fixed pot and socket myself, applying serrated washers that should have been present during assembly. These issues should really have been noticed during inspection and/or set up. Fret ends not very well dressed. I did this myself, but you need to be experienced to do so. I now have a £379 guitar (bought for £290 after the refund) that sounds and plays like a considerably more expensive one and has a very good sunburst finish, but was a bit disappointed by the issues that should have been caught at some point. Also disappointed that I had to chase the refund after 10 days.William D.

I recently took delivery of an open box "condition level 2" Schecter Orleans Stage Acoustic/electric guitar from MF. I can't find a ding, a nick or a scratch anywhere on it. The only negative I can find are a few rust spots on the strings. Even the action if set very good. I cannot imagine what the person who returned this guitar was looking for that they had to return this one? In my time I've owned and played a Martin D18, Taylor Grand Pacific, Larrivee L-03 and over a half dozen other of various brands and prices. This mid price half-a-grand guitar hangs with and in some cases surpasses the big dogs from the big names! The vampyre red is a very beautiful, deep red. And it great flame on the maple back. Size is GA and very comfortable. Upper fret access is good too. The guitar sounds great with good projection acoustically, and is even better plugged into a Yamaha TRC desk-top amp. I was concerned with the maple back & sides making it too bright, but the tones are really just perfect. Nice lows, mids & trebles across the spectrum. And the best part is the neck. I don't have big, meaty hands and with this one some of the chords I've struggled with and also some barre chords come easy! EASY! I have a Schecter electric and it's a keeper…I just didn't even know Schecter built acoustics but I do now and can't wait to try the Orleans Studio w/ the cedar top or maybe the 7 & 12 string Stage models. Bottom line, I can't see how anyone would not be fully impressed with this fine instrument.AK-J

For the price this guitar sounds amazing. The neck and action come perfect right out of the box. Its super comfortable to play. It looks great too. At the price this guitar is amazing! I recommend some DR Veritas strings. The one down side although super minor is the strap button on the button is also the input jack, my first acoustic electric idk if this is standard. But it makes putting a strap lock on super hard and annoying. Schecter is known for their amazing electric guitars but i can assure this acoustic is well worth the money and an amazing instrument.Matt C.

I bought my JJ 12-string here in England in 2000, 16 years ago. It has given me nothing but pleasure ever since. It's a joy to play – much easier than a six-string in many respects – and its tone, playability and looks are much admired by other players. Mine is fitted with the DSP acoustic preamp which is great, but I gather its has had a few problems along the way and has been replaced. The guitar has been refretted and plays as well as the day I bought it. Some slight bellying when you get the light right, but you'd expect that. There's only one slight downside: the scratchplate will lift at the edges and come off in time. I replaced mine with a transparent scratchplate which is effective but doesn't have the charisma. I also bought, in 2007, the six-string equivalent. Again, a really great instrument – sadly, with the same scratchplate problem, so it wasn't a one-off. I love my 12-string. I have never regretted paying far more for this guitar than I had ever spend on an instrument before. It is worth every penny, and more. I cannot recommend it enough.goosebooer

I always read as many reviews as I can before purchasing an instrument unseen. This particular guitar had mostly good reviews. I was trying to find a good 12 string for not a lot of money. A unicorn essentially. I had narrowed my search to Luna and Washburn. I decided on the Luna and it was a tremendous mistake. This guitar, or at least the one that I received is virtually unplayable. Tuned to pitch the bridge has a slight enough gap from the body of the top of the guitar that you can just slip a thin piece of paper under. Visible bowing of the top. It does however stay in tune but the action is quite high and you almost need a C-clamp to bar chord it. Very VERY tough to play up the neck. It is a beautiful guitar aesthetically but upon close inspection there are several small fibers or possible hair of some sort in the finish in a few places.All in all not a good choice. I would recommend looking elsewhere for a 12 string. I'm an experienced musician with over 48 years of professional and semi professional experience. I would definitely not purchase this instrument again. Fire wood kindling would be it's best use now.Jeff

The Luna Heartsong 12 string is a comfortable guitar to play. I'm replacing a Ovation 12 from 1974 that I bought new and enjoyed for many years but the neck finally gave up. The Luna body size is smaller than a dreadnaught but fits nicely in your lap. It has really nice upper and middle range but the lower range is a little weak unless you plug it up through an amp and boost it. Then it sounds much like the folk guitars of the 60's. I tuned it up to standard tune and the neck had a slight bend at the 7th fret and the action was high by the time you got up to the 12th fret. So I tuned it down a full step and it straightened right out and the action went back down to a good level for a 12 string. Just capo it up and you get good normal sound and action level. The wood is good throughout and the craftsmanship is more than adequate for the cost of the instrument. The volume is good for a smaller guitar body. It won't overpower a D-28 but I really didn't expect that. The sustain is good and harmonics chime nicely. In summary, it's a great guitar for the money I paid. I also have a Luna Vista Eagle and really enjoy the sound of Luna's. They won't put Martin out of business, but the impact on the bank account is proportionally less. I am a 50+ year picker and used to play in bands and at church, but now it's just around the house for fun and therapy. I'm happy with the value I got for the amount of money I paid.Warren

This is a great mandolin. I would recommend this to anyone whether they are on a budget or not. It’s as good as any new really expensive mandolin that I’ve played. I was interested in getting this because in the 80s Bill Monroe was an endorser of Ibanez mandolins and now I can see why because they are great mandolins!Jamie

I after I had read reviews (mostly positive but some negative) I was interested in the quality of what I would receive. I’m not a accomplished mandolin player but dabble in learning. On the other hand I’ve owned several over the years and have played guitars both electric and acoustic for 50 years or so. This instrument surprised me at the craftsmanship, playability and sound. In my opinion this instrument could easily be used for beginners or accomplished musicians. If you don’t want to spend a grand on a mandolin this one is the one for you.Bob

When I received it, I took it to my luthier and he set it up for me. Hem when over everything and was sort of impressed for an inexpensive instrument, but for learning it, it was alright. He measured the action, put some really good strings on, adjusted what needed to tightened up and set the bridge in the proper place. It looks great and has a pretty good sound and for a learning instrument. I wanted it to learn about playing the mandolin and it's a fun instrument to play. However, after playing it for almost a month, the frets began coming up, making the strings buzz and in some cases, the frets come up so far that the note I'm playing doesn't sound, but buzz really bad. I cannot in good conscience recommend this instrument. It seems to a wast of money. for $300 bucks, I would have expected and did expect I would receive a half decent mandolin. When they placed the frets, it wouldn't have hurt to apply a better holding glue.dvb_music_things_plus