12 String Yamaha Guitar For Sale (Jan 2023 Update)

I bought this guitar to check out a budget friendly offering from Yamaha. I have to say I was not disappointed! Excellent tone and volume, the top really resonates. The guitar was really well setup right out of the box. It needed about 3/4 of a clockwise truss rod adjustment, no prob. Other than that it didn't need any fret dressing whatsoever. That's really impressive for a Chinese guitar. Heck even one of my Mexican Martins needed fret dressing out of the box! Also intonation was spot on and this also is important in your guitar. Very impressed with this guitar, intermediate/advanced feel but priced at a beginner budget. You won't regret picking one up, I assure you!Big Bone Murphy

There is a point of quality when an instrument reaches when it stops being seen as "better or worse" but rather just a different flavor. This Yamaha has reached that point. You can play it alongside a guitar costing 5x more and it stands up well. Yamaha is also one of those rare companies with a long history of top quality across all kinds of products, and guitars are an area Yamaha knows well. This is just a beautiful guitar through and throughout. You can get beautiful uncompromisingly great studio recordings with this guitar. Hitting the low strings hard with strumming gives a nice deep and rich tone. Also, the hardware / tuners are nice.Scott

I've owned many acoustics over the years, MANY, and this Yamaha is one of the best sounding I've ever owned. Went to GC just to check out a few lower end acoustics to pick up for jamming on, and tried almost every one in the room. Picked this one up last just before I was ready to leave, and immediately was blown away by the sound and playability, brought a couple friends to listen and tell me which one they thought sounded the best, and hands down this won over all of them. It has the tone and warmth of a Martin D34, which I have owned a few, and it plays like a dream. The neck is so sliky smooth, easy to fly up and down with no effort. It has amazing sustain and beautiful tone, I fell in love with it and just couldn't put it down. I didn't expect a guitar of this price range to sound as good as it does, got it home and I couldn't put it down. Played for 4 hours straight, and even after trying to put it down to go to bed at 1am I found myself playing a for a few more minutes before I could actually go to sleep. Love this Yamaha more than any guitar I've bought in the last decade. The best thing about it is, It gave me the desire to pick up playing guitar again, after hardly touching any of my other guitars for almost a year it's the one I want to play more than all of them. Great guitar, wouldn't hesitate to buy another in a different color, if you want something that you won't be able to put down this baby has the sound and feel your looking for.Johnny D

I love to sing. I picked up the guitar fifty years ago to accompany myself and never get tired of uncovering its mysteries. This is my first twelve string and I love it. I haven't owned several dozen high end guitars. I've owned a few. I'm very selective and careful in choosing what I like and then I stick with it; sometimes for decades. My first guitar was a Yamaha FG-150 and I've always been sorry I didn't hang onto it. Reading and digesting reviews coupled with a good dose of nostalgia guided me to this one. I had some reservations about twelve strings in general regarding tuning and keeping it in tune. Nothing to it. This guitar is remarkable in its ability to stay in tune. It is truly quite easy to play and sounds fantastic and full. I have short muscular farmer fingers and find this guitar quite easy to play. I attribute this to the shape of the neck which I find quite comfortable. Fit and finish is beautiful and I particularly love the wood binding. It looks great in a less is more fashion and I couldn't be happier. In the month or so I've had it this guitar has been in daily use without an issue. At this price this guitar is a tremendous value and I have no problem in recommending you get yourself one if you can. Enjoy yourselves and don't forget to practice.I don't have one. Pen name is So

Great sounding guitar out of the box. No adjusting needed. It's been a long time that my chest gets a good rumble from the low end of a guitar. This one does it. The mids are just right and highs are where they should be. I don't know why I have not discovered a LL series Yamaha guitar before. I have had all the expensive brands. I have played and preformed for over 30 years. For the money, this guitar is the best one I have ever bought. I will continue to preform with it……The better the guitar, the better I feel & sound………Jeffjeffe1490

Having relatively recently started learning guitar on an electric stratocaster-style guitar this was a great transition to the acoustic segment. The thinner body makes it much more comfortable to play than say a dreadnought and the neck is comfortable to transition too, yet the guitar doesn't seem to sacrifice as much sound as you'd expect from a thinner guitar. The finish of the guitar is that of a more expensive guitar for example the rosewood finger board. On arrival I actually thought the guitar looked better than the pictures on the website suggest but do note that because of the finish it is prone to showing finger marks which would need cleaning time to time. I would highly recommend this guitar.Richard P.

After suffering a permanent back injury I could no longer play my elictric guitar as it was too heavy or my acoustic electric guitar because it felt like it was twice it's normal size because I could no longer find a comfortable position for myself to play it. I bought a keyboard thinking that I could still play music. Afterv two weeks of playing around with the keyboard I gave up pllaying. Then I saw on the internet one night an advertisement for a 3/4 size Yamaha acoustic electric guitar guitar with a slimline bosy which looked like a nice guitar so I checked out males and females playing it and sounded very nice so I bought one. Man am I'm so glad I did. I got the sunburst like this one on sale. I was excited as l took it out of the box and went straight to my mancave and started playing it. It was perfecty in tune and for a guitar of this size it's got such a beautiful tone playing ACOUSTIC. So I plugged it in and it's as good as it sounded on YouTube. As an 67 yesr old man who started playing guitar when I was 16 years old, this is a beauty. I recommend this guitar to beginners, anyone with small hands and even people who want a good guitar to take with them without taking up much space in your car. Yep, it's a beaty.Deano

I purchased this guitar for my 11 year old daughter. I wanted to find a quality instrument that is smaller in size, easy to play, and stays in tune. I have owned other Yamaha guitars before, and they are a great guitar for the price. The Yamaha FG JR1 did not disappoint! The guitar is easy to play, stays in tune and it sounds pretty good for a small guitar. The strings do feel a little heavy for a beginner. I would definitely recommend changing the strings to a lighter gauge for a beginning player. I recommend the Ernie Ball Earthwood Silk and Steel Extra Soft 10-50. They’re a great string for tender young fingers.Jimmy

I bought the Yamaha JR2 for my daughter as a Christmas present and I was surprised. I didn't expect it to be that good because of its price but WOW!!! The resonance is unbelievable given that it's not made from solid wood and the neck is so comfortable, perfect for kids who are learning. This is my third guitar from Better Music and they never disappoint me. The guitars are well set up and the packaging is unbelievable every time. It just shows how much they value their customers and that's why I keep coming back. I don't usually leave reviews but I appreciate what these guys are doing. Keep up the good work!Marvin B.

I bought this on the 7th birthday of one of my twin girl. I was on a tight budget of around $100 and then I thought to speak to one of the representatives at SamAsh. After having a talk with him I was convinced to get a good guitar to start even though I have to stretch my budget. Since my family is a newbie in musical instruments i am happy that my girl is interested in learning music. She is very happy and we are thinking to take her to few lessons. It's well-made and offers a good tone. Great buy!!Preeti

Overall: So, I have owned this guitar for several months now. It is without a doubt a very good sounding guitar, it's up there with my Gibson's and Martins. Strumming or finger picking it just sounds amazing. I did not love the string spacing, so I replaced the nut with a bit wider spacing for my style of playing. The whole point about me taking the plunge on this guitar was that it was all solid woods, ebony fingerboard and bridge, and one of Yamahas absolute best acoustics available. I have no regrets buying this guitar at all. My friends are amazed at the beauty and sound of this very well-built guitar. The electronics do a good job plugged into the PA for playing live, and it will amaze you how good it sounds unplugged all by itself. I never thought I would buy anything but Martin or Gibson's…. this changed my mind completely. if you're thinking about one of these just buy one!! My honest opinion is the price will go up on these as the solid woods and craftsmanship are stunning.Michael

I’ve had my A3M for three years now. I still look at mahogany wood grain in awe. This guitar has a nice rounded tone that can compete with Taylor and Martin guitars made from mahogany. Plugged into an acoustic amp sounds even better. I notice the price point has increased $100 (not sure of due to inflation) which shows that it is a respected instrument. I spent months spinning around for a acoustic guitar and I was truly pleased with the Yamaha A3M. I think it can keep up with Martin and Taylor on stage as a reliable gig machine.bryan nuñez

So, what is it? Acoustic or electric? Wanting to re-learn the guitar I started to look for acoustic guitars. I’ve had Yamaha in the past, so a safe place to start now. The ‘silent’ guitar fitted the bill perfectly. I don’t annoy anyone but can play for hours. But… You will see below the ‘would I recommend it' is NO, and 'is it comfortable to play' is OKAY. Why? The NO is because you must understand what it is. I didn’t know and you can’t quite tell from the photos and videos. I thought I was buying an acoustic guitar (PMT have it in the electro-acoustic and acoustic sections). But it is not. The designer has flubbed it for the desperately simple reason of the body width. Because you create the sound with the body of an acoustic they are wide, deep. Not so here. With no need for a body it is a shallow, electric guitar depth. So when I set up in a classical guitar position, I was all wrong; far too close. The designer should have made the outer body shell deeper, AS IF it were a classic guitar depth. So, what is it? It is an electric guitar you can play 'silently’. Hence the reason why the recommendation is NO, If you want a ‘silent’ acoustic, this is not really it, unless you are happy with the electric guitar body depth. And the OKAY recommendation is there because if you are expecting a classic acoustic depth, as I was, you will be disappointed, despite the excellence of the kit. This then brings along another annoyance. Luckily, I decided upon getting a strap. Handy really, but now the lack of body means a lack of good balance. In an electric guitar the body weight ‘holds’ the guitar down, here the neck is the heaviest item and it just feels a little odd as, sometimes, I get the feeling the my left arm isn’t so free because it is forming the chords/riffs AND ALSO supporting the guitar. That is probably just me being finicky, though. Or, at least, it is my excuse why I can’t form the chords/riffs quickly enough whilst re-learning. So I am now going to get some Ernie Ball electric guitar strings, as I had on the Gibson twin, and work it as a ‘silent’ electric guitar. As noted on PMT, it has been on stage and I would be happy doing so later, if that is where I intend to go. To end on some positives, the ability to dismantle it saves some great space when transporting it in the half-size bag. The electronics in the guitar completely fool the mind into believing you have a real, live acoustic guitar in your hands. The action is superb. Overall, do I like this kit? Am I pleased? Would I change? Yes, I do like it. Yes, I am pleased. No, I wouldn’t change. I now know what it is, what I am doing with it, and where we can go together.Mr R.

After touring with a full-size acoustic guitar for so long, and having to do too many fly-dates with it, I had to either accept that at some point I was going to wind up with a case full of splinters, or find a better alternative. The silent guitar is that alternative. It plays and sounds great. Would I record with it over my good dreadnought? No, but live through a PA it sounds fantastic. The on-board effects and tuner are decent. Nothing fantastic, but do the job if needed. It loses a star, however, because the strap buttons (which also double as the top frame set-screws) tend to loosen when using a strap. I'll have to find a way to keep that from happening in the future. Otherwise, though, this is my new touring acoustic, and I will accept the small infractions while making my travel life way easier.Mikey

Okay, so it sounds great. The neck is lovely. It stays very much in tune, and it makes a terrific practice instrument when I'm out of town. But it could be so much more! The biggest flaw is that when you put a strap on it, the strap actually loosens the bolts that screw the upper bout into the unit. Using a strap will potentially make the guitar come disassemble. I could probably rig something but right now I'm giving up on playing this standing up. Also, the jack does not work will with an angled plug, particularly when standing. Even when using the straight end, the cable can readily disconnect while playing standing up (highly disconcerting). Another oddity is that –for me — the instrument isn't particularly comfortable. I'm 5'8" and of smaller build and when playing seated in the classical position (yes, that's how I learned) the upper bout's contoured edge digs into the chest. After a while, you may find yourself looking for a cloth to drape over that edge to provide cushion. The reverb effects are over-the-top and not terribly useful. The chorus is nice, but I wish I could tweak the depth/speed on it. Finally and sadly, I'm discovering it hungrily eats batteries (AA), or at any rate it signals "low-power" after only about 5-6 hours of playing. The case is okay, just large enough to accommodate the instrument but not much else. I got mine used and it was a good price. I'm glad I own this, but I'd be disappointed had I paid full price. With improvement, this could be a gigging instrument, but in this edition, it is a fun travel/practice instrument.JD Cazador

It's exactly what you expect. Not quite a classic guitar but will get the job done. I was thinking the smaller neck would be easier to transition to from electric but I'm thinking it may be a little too narrow for me now. I guess I'm use to the feel of a real classical guitar neck and with nylon strings this neck feels too small. Not the manufacturer's fault, the guitar is exactly as described. I could see this being good for someone who's never played a classical guitar though. Tuner and electronics work great and it's a great guitar for the price but if you've played a real classical guitar the neck may feel a little cramped.GT6L6

Following is the email I sent after ordering a new guitar and a hard case to match. Hi Sean, I just received my Tourtech APX case today, which arrived on schedule and in perfect condition. Although there was a breakdown in email communication between us about the availability of the case and compatibility with the guitar, (it does seem only just slightly big for the NTX-1 guitar) however I am confident that it will protect it adequately, I wasn't expecting an exact fit and am so grateful. I would like to personally thank you and your team for the professionalism and more importantly the honesty I received from you throughout. Your kind gesture of a discount and complimentary delivery on the case was greatly received. I am extremely happy with the guitar, the case and the end result, and would not hesitate to order from you again and recommend your services in the future. Thanks again to all involved. Best regards, Colin BrownColin B.

This is the entry level NTX model. The SDOTD price was a genuine and honest discount. But, the product description was confusing and possibly misleading. It describes an "A.R.T. System61" that is not installed on this guitar. The pickup system on this guitar is the System73. The System73 is a common under-saddle piezo strip configuration. The System61 is the Yamaha proprietary technology that is installed on all other NXT models. There is a noticeable 'runout' effect between the top halves of the sound board. Otherwise, the seam between the halves is impossible to discern. In fact, there were no seams, joins or gaps visible anywhere on the outside of this guitar. The neck and head stock are a work of art. To reiterate, the top is two spruce planks, the back and sides could be Okume or Nato. Yamaha does not list these woods as being laminated. Okume is an African hardwood and Nato is from South America. Both are considered acceptable mahogany substitutes. My guitar was made in China and sounds good enough given my untutored ear. The guitar has a truss rod, the 'urea' saddle is angled and uncompensated. My intonation and string height did not need adjustment. The NXT500's 'Slim' neck and nylon tones make this guitar hard to put down. Its also very light. I have several other steel string acoustics but I played this guitar exclusively for over a week, mostly unplugged. It plays well in my living room with a Fender Acoustasonic 15. The on-board tuner and rear-pointed tuning keys were convenient and comforting. I used them both a lot… btw, do nylon strings ever break in? The SKB-30 Deluxe Thin-Line guitar case fits this guitar perfectly. Also, choose the next model up if you want the System 61 electronics, fancy sound hole surround, sound hole cover and a solid spruce top.Rockme Allnite

I ordered an open box guitar at a discount. It was the Black one. When I opened the box I found the documentation and the batteries for the electronics loose in the box. It didn't come with the sound hole cover either. This guitar had been played as the pick marks below the sound hole were obvious. This guitar was not a 2nd but more like a 3rd. I called to return it and decided to order a brand new one in Natural. I would really like to see a pick guard for this instrument but the sound hole is oval so I would need to buy one and modify it to fit. I received the new one and it seems fine but the jury's out on the playability until I get it set-up by some pro techs. Then I'll follow up with another review.Stan the Man

I own several six string instruments, but this is the first 12 string to my collection. I am very happy with the choice. I did a lot of research, and played several different brands and I would always keep coming back to this one. What did it for me: Smooth and easy is to play. Many 12 strings may get a bit tiresome after a while, and depending on the brand the tension of the strings can be very punishing on the instrument AND your hands. I can play thing thing for hours with no problem, and it stays in tune surprisingly long, even when I get spirited with this thing. I use it mainly as a rhythm guitar, not much bending going on with this. The preamp, with the incorporated tuner is such a great convenient tool. Speaking of that, I've met some people that like to have the strings in this model doubled up for their music style — such as "norteño music" (instead of the traditional octave type), and neck & bridge seems impervious to the added tension. I don't plan to do that, but I am happy to know that I have that choice. I went with the black finish, and it is gorgeous. It is nice when you open the case (I paired it with the Yamaha APX Vinyl Hardshell Guitar Case — it fits perfectly) all your friends get that "wow" factor. It sounds amazing unplugged, just loud enough to be a pleasant compliment to not-amplified vocals. Once you plug her in, this thing is a monster! Amazing, crisp professional sound! The tones are controlled, there is no distortion when you need to get that "forte" emphasis to the song. I haven't had any feedback problems, even though it actually comes with a convenient sound-hole cover. And the answer is no, it will not diminish the sound quality if you use the cover, especially plugged in. For the price, you're definitely purchasing a guitar that is much, much better than more expensive models. Trust me, the pictures do not make her justice at all, this is a gorgeous professional level instrument.BeeZee

This guitar is probably all it was designed to be and also probably perfect for an electric player who just wants to throw a little 12 string into their set-list. It plays like an electric. It is well put together and has all the appeal of a much more expensive guitar. However, it is a thin body design. "Thin" being the key word, that's exactly what you get from the ambient sound of the guitar. It can be EQ'ed to sound thicker in an active environment, but that's not what I look for in an instrument. The tight neck feel also was not to my liking.SRP

Having relatively recently started learning guitar on an electric stratocaster-style guitar this was a great transition to the acoustic segment. The thinner body makes it much more comfortable to play than say a dreadnought and the neck is comfortable to transition too, yet the guitar doesn't seem to sacrifice as much sound as you'd expect from a thinner guitar. The finish of the guitar is that of a more expensive guitar for example the rosewood finger board. On arrival I actually thought the guitar looked better than the pictures on the website suggest but do note that because of the finish it is prone to showing finger marks which would need cleaning time to time. I would highly recommend this guitar.Richard P.

After suffering a permanent back injury I could no longer play my elictric guitar as it was too heavy or my acoustic electric guitar because it felt like it was twice it's normal size because I could no longer find a comfortable position for myself to play it. I bought a keyboard thinking that I could still play music. Afterv two weeks of playing around with the keyboard I gave up pllaying. Then I saw on the internet one night an advertisement for a 3/4 size Yamaha acoustic electric guitar guitar with a slimline bosy which looked like a nice guitar so I checked out males and females playing it and sounded very nice so I bought one. Man am I'm so glad I did. I got the sunburst like this one on sale. I was excited as l took it out of the box and went straight to my mancave and started playing it. It was perfecty in tune and for a guitar of this size it's got such a beautiful tone playing ACOUSTIC. So I plugged it in and it's as good as it sounded on YouTube. As an 67 yesr old man who started playing guitar when I was 16 years old, this is a beauty. I recommend this guitar to beginners, anyone with small hands and even people who want a good guitar to take with them without taking up much space in your car. Yep, it's a beaty.Deano

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

Bought this mainly as a travel guitar. My go too guitars are a Taylor 12en and a Córdoba orchestra CE nylons along with a selection of steel stringed instruments. Compared to all those guitars the Yamaha is a disappointment and it serves me right for buying a guitar on line I'd never played. The action is high, even for a nylon, and makes playing tiring. Try to lower the action and there is buzz from the D string. The sound, either through quality headphones or an acoustasonic amplifier is really "synthetic". It is difficult to really pick out the ring of individual strings when playing relatively fast. So it doesn't help much during practice – the sound is just too "blurred". The much talked about STR electronics are not very useful in improving the sound. I'm debating taking it back to guitar center and trading it in. But it has its uses when I need to be quiet like in a hotel while traveling. But that's all it will be used for, because I never enjoy the sound it makes compared to a real nylon acoustic. It's really expensive too, worth $300 at best.Graeme A

I've played classical guitar for 40 yrs and fingerstyle jazz/blues for 25 yrs. Most of the guitars in my collection are expensive collector's instruments: Taylors, Gibsons, and a handmade classical guitar by the Spanish Luthier Ricardo Sanchis, to name a few. While I don't play publicly much anymore, I have performed classical guitar in concert. I'm no pro, by any means, but a good Saturday still includes at least 4 hours of playing. As for the SLG200NW, I am ALWAYS amazed at how great this guitar sounds. I run it through a Fishman Aura (get one), and the sound is nothing short of SPECTACULAR. When run through a good pre-amp (or imaging), it sounds like a VERY expensive instrument. This guitar is super responsive to touch, producing both delicate nuance and big sound without a hint of string buzz or hiss. Most remarkable for me is how playable it is. The fingerboard, action, and frets gives me the feeling of "glide" that I do not get with any other guitar. The machine heads are also very responsive, and the guitar stays perfectly in tune. Clearly one of the most obvious benefits (aside from the above) is the ability to play silently without disturbing anyone nearby. This is ESPECIALLY helpful when practicing scales or repeating passages hundreds of times; we all know how irritating this is to others. Slip on headphones and get lost, undisturbed and without disturbing others. This aspect (even without great sound) would've been enough for me. For true classical purists, get the wide neck. The feel is exactly like a good classical guitar. The version with the smaller neck is just too cramped for classical playing. Again I suggest using it with a good pre-amp. It's worth it. Final note on Yamaha classical guitars: Many years ago, I was in a master class at the Royal Academy of Music in Madrid. I had Yamaha classical (my first guitar). EVERYONE else had a Ramirez. My teacher, a pupil of Segovia, heard my Yamaha and could NOT believe his ears!Indigo

Two design flaws: The strap buttons screw in and out to attach the top of the "body." They loosen over time as the strap moves making it easy for them to fall out and the guitar to fall on the floor. Also the upper part of the "body" is very "sharp" and digs into my forearm much more than any other guitar leaving a lot of red creases. Aside from these flaws the quality is good but I just don't enjoy playing it possibly due to the action or the lack of tone/authentic feel. I also dislike it when I see people perform with this guitar. People should play real guitars in performance IMO.Christopher

The guitar performs and works as advertised. It's not a bad guitar by any means but it's a guitar that lives way past it's price range either. If you want a really nice D'ANGELICO acoustic then get something from the Excel line. But this is bottom of the premier line. This does the job for a early guitar, the neck is easy to play with low action to match. Put some warm strings on it. I recommend an 85/15 string and let it warm up and break in. It's a basic acoustic electric. It does what it says it will do. Nothing more or nothing less. I got it on an overstock sale but I'd buy it again at full price but maybe not the buttercream. The black or natural wood finish look the best. The buttercream is like they wanted the color of spruce with no grain. It's different for sure. If you're wanting something really nice save your money. If you want a decent backup not starter guitar this should fit the bill. My four star rating is with the full asking price in mind. If you get it on sale it's five star for the price.Nick

i wrote a review early on with my first impressions. 3 months on it it still sounds great – it's been my sofa guitar and I've played it a great deal. The tone has mellowed a bit with use. Neck is still exactly where I set it and the whole guitar feels nicely solid. The big surprise is that this thing sounds FANTASTIC through a PA. It's balanced, it's dynamic, it has none of the harsh quackiness you usually get with low end piezo systems. You can hit it HARD without overdriving the pre. It can get nice and loud without feeding back and the onboard tuner is super handy. The first time I played it in public I was basically mobbed by other guitarists wanting to know where I got it. And this isn't even their high end pickup system. Remarkable.Stu

Ordered this on a SDOTD and will say right up front that it's a really NICE guitar, especially for the $$$. I was needing a smaller guitar w/ electronics for small venues, not needing to invest a bunch of money and after reading decent reviews I said "why not?". After opening the box things got off to a rocky start – – 1st string was broken, and also noticed the neck was really bowed from a loose truss rod, but since I do my own setups on new guitars these was fairly easy to remedy. So was the excessively dry fingerboard and bridge, which I rubbed with 0000 steel wool and lemon oil. But, two of the faux mother-of-pearl position markers were sticking up on one end (loose) and that got me to thinking maybe this was a bad idea. I almost boxed it up and sent it back, but since it was so nice otherwise I decided to super glue them back and overlook it. Otherwise, a beauty of a guitar, and after it was all set up this thing really sang. Unplugged, it's fairly unimpressive, but with a decent tone and plenty of harmonics. The fingerboard turned out to play wonderfully, low nice action with smooth frets and I love the thin profile and fairly narrow width of the neck, the shining point of this guitar. Tuners were OK, and the BONE saddle and nut were fine after I lowered the action a bit. The sound of this guitar is amazing plugged in, and the D'Angelico branded electronics are outstanding. Plugged in it sounds equal to anything I've ever heard, and I heard and played a few in my 60 years of performing. Mine does not have a phase switch as is listed, so take note of that one point. The really great thing that I love about the electronics – – the input jack & battery are on the rear bottom side instead of through the normal end pin jack, a major convenience that is not listed, so this makes up for any other minor cons of the guitar. I do a lot of finger-picking and it capos well, too. A keeper!Fiddle & Guitar Man

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

Beautiful and quirky. Great concept and excellent implementation. Pros * SRT sound is eerily good * For the price it is well put together. Nice wood and finish. TBS blends wood and plastics well. * Reverb settings are addictive. * Time just evaporates when plucking away with cans on. Cons * Frame can be a bit uncomfortable over time. Digs into my ribs. (I play it seated) * Not so sold on the piezo alone sound. * Factory setup has quite a high action. I am told by my local luthier that 3mm at 12th fret is typical. (I have not played a classical for decades so perhaps I am expecting too much) I love it.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Lightweight travel guitar will proper width neck that sounds better than it should on paper. You can mix between piezo pick-up and mic emulator for a realistic full sound, also has two types of reverb and a chorus effect built-in. The headphone socket doesn’t mute the unbalanced line out is great for monitoring onstage, also has an auxiliary 3.5mm jack socket for playing along to music on any device (with separate volume control).Reviewed by guitarguitar custome

Plays beatifically. Really nice sound through headphone or output jack. Not quite like a classical guitar – sustain is longer, a bit more like an electric guitar, so sometimes a need to dampen strings when you wouldn't need to on a 'real' guitar. Easy to play – I was pleasantly surprised I did not have to adapt my position in any way. Really nice reverb (chorus is there as well, but I don't ever use chorus – seems OK though) Nice gig bag..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 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'm a semi-pro. I've played in various bands, solos and duos for 40+ years. My main gigging guitar has been an Alvarez Yiari for the past 30 years. I finally decided to upgrade the old technology pickups in that guitar and when I started discussing it with my luthier, I decided that the project would require too much plugging of old holes in the guitar and so I decided to purchase a new guitar. I had looked at new acoustics for several years and most of the guitarists I'm around are playing Taylors. Many of the older Taylors have an amplified sound that has too much treble in my opinion, although my rhythm guitarist in my current band has a couple of newer high-end Taylors which sound great! However, they were well beyond my budget for a stage guitar which can get knocked around. My new Yamaha A3R is good looking and is solid rosewood back and sides with a sitka spruce top. It has a rich sound unamplified, Plugging it in, I noticed a world of difference between it and my old Yiari. The A3R has beautiful tone plugged in! I especially like the two mic models and the blending switch between mic and piezo. I will predominantly use the mic setting for my acoustic duo and will blend in more piezo in my playing in the full band. I think the piezo will help cut the mix a little bit more. We go from ballads to rockers so with the turn of a single dial, I'll be able to better adjust the output of the guitar based on the type of song we're playing. I was concerned that the A3R would be more difficult to play compared to my Yiari and it is slightly harder to play leads on but it came with Elixir 12s and I usually play 11s. I do plan to take the A3R in to have the action lowered slightly after I've worn out this set of strings and then I feel there will be minimal difference in playablility between my two guitars. Hopefully, this guitar will hold up well. I plan to have it for a long, long time!BB Wolf

Love this guitar! Was a little worried at first thought it might be too tinny but once the strings got broken in it sounds nice and crisp. Stays in tune. Intonation is good out of the box. Can't beat the electronics. Love the look and feel! Might switch out the nut and saddle when it's time to switch out the strings. People have said this guitar punches above its weight and now I see why.Jeff

Ok so it's Chinese made, but this is why it does not cost 1500. The build quality is good, the setup out of the box was great. Low action and easy to play, even accounting for wider than standard 6 string neck. ( And I don't have long fingers) The electrics work great and the hidden nature of controls is cool, if you don't want a big hole cut in the side of your guitar. Solid woods throughout, with great finish. Weakest point is the tuners, but it holds tune well for a 12 string, which in itself is unheard of!jacol-431

I've wanted a Guild 12-string since college, over over 40 years ago. Back then I had a Lyle Hummingbird clone 12-string, which sounded okay (laminated body, spruce top, Japanese manufacture.) Before I left college I also bought a Guild G-37, blonde, arch back 6-string. I still have both guitars. I loved the sweet, well balanced tone of the G-37, but could never afford one of their 12-strings to mate up with it. Fast forward to now – haven't played any of my guitars in several years, and wanted to get back into it. With the Westerly Collection, a 12 string was now affordable, and all the reviews and videos convinced me that this was the time! My new F2512E Deluxe arrived the other day, and it's stunning! Flawless finish, precision inlays, and oh that tone! Just like the tone of some of my favorite artists from the folk era, like John Denver. Can't wait to try Rocky Mountain High on this baby, but I'll also be learning or relearning some more contemporary tunes as well. Thanks Guild for making an affordable but terrific sounding 12!Mike

Bought this guitar to add to my acoustic collection. For this price my exoectations were low as I own a Martin, Gibson, Ovation Elite and Yamaha Transacoustic all which cost considerbly more so I was abslutely blown away by this guitar. It came perfectly setup out of the box with nice low action-no adjustment needed. The glossy sunburst finish over the flamed maple back and sides is absolutely beautiful-the top and is matched spruce and the back is matched flamed maple. Beautiful shimmery sound and the pickup sounds great plugged into my deluxe reverb amp. The satin neck finish is smooth and the frets are smooth and polished. The quality of this guitar is outstanding-I could not find a flaw in its material or construction anywhere. Nice bright maple jumbo guitar that I am glad I purchased. Don't let the price point and the made in China sticker scare you away-this guitar holds its own against my Martin HD-35, Gibson hummingbird and my other acoustic guitars. I bought a gator jumbo case to keep it safe and the ase fits nicely.DWB

Beautiful finish on a beautiful guitar, plays wonderfully and sounds fantastic. Good height action with adjustable truss rod. Highly recommendedReviewed by guitarguitar custome

I paid a fraction of the cost of a "good guitar" for what a professional guitarist (and my new guitar teacher) says is "respectable sound from such a budget guitar…". An excellent starter model and easy on my sore fingers 😀Reviewed by guitarguitar custome