Best 12 String Acoustic Guitar Under $1000 (Jan 2023 Update)

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 was very excited to see and play a highly reviewed 12 string that costs pennies compared to my 12 string Takamine, Yamaha and Ibanez. Once I got through the box I saw the guitar had the look of some cheap pressed wood. The sound was as weak as a cup of Finnish coffee. The darn thing couldn't stay in tune to save mine or its life. How this guitar gets rated so highly MUST be a result of fake reviewers OR I simply got the ONE Rogue 12 string that seemed to be made by the Fisher-Price Company. This is NOT a musical instrument. It IS an instrument to make noise with. My edition was not worthy of the effort one has to put forward to learn and play guitar. One must have to have an instrument meet the musician at least half-way. With this "musical" instrument, you have to cross the block, pick the guitar up and fight against it to produce close to a tone that sounds musical. Best to buy a used good name 12 string guitar. Or save your pennies and get a Takamine or Yamaha. The latter will be excellent and cost in the $350 range. But a Yamaha will play forever and stay in tune. I recommend my Yamaha over my ash Ibanez. The former just has a fuller tone. If possible save for the Takamine which is on another guitar plane altogether. But don't buy a guitar based on price and/or name. I've discovered many of the friends I play with can't tell if their singing and/or playing is in tune!!. And yet, they own $5,000 MARTIN GUITARS!! Haha. Quite simply a waste of money. Be like me buying a red-green "masterpiece" oil painting, as I'm red-green color blind. But I DO have a good ear and this Rogue of a guitar is worthy of no one's money or effort. M.F. has many more-though more expensive-options that will bring the performer YEARS if not DECADES of playing happiness. Only misery lies in a 12 string Rogue guitar. Avoid.muskoxmike

Purchased this around December hoping to get my kids into it. As usually happens, it ended up being much more of a display use. I would imagine it was picked up about 12 times max total. It sat on display being ignored primarily. Still, by mid-June (in under 6 months) the bridge has warped and started to detach from the main guitar. I noticed this as I walked past it. The glue did not hold. Surprise though, because you can't just pull up a website for Rogue. I called Guitar Center for help to contact the manufacturer as this should be covered under their warranty. Guitar cCenter took my information and said they would forward it to their "contact" for the company and I should receive a response in 3-5 business days. It's been a few weeks now and I'm not impressed. No one called me back, they wouldn't simply give me an 800 number to call to handle it myself, and I still have no solution and no idea who to contact in order to make a claim on the manufacturer warranty. I am more than disappointed with Guitar Center's negligence to truly stand behind a beginner product they seem to offer a great deal of.Amanda V.

I'm so impressed by my RD 90. I think some reviewers are hesitant to give it the praise it deserves because it is an inexpensive guitar. I did a little work to lower the action and now it is perfect. Humidity and temperature changes cause it to need occasional tuning, no different that my other two acoustics. It has a full, rich tone. It plays easily. It makes me feel like I got a real bargain; I don't know how they turn a profit at this price.Charles

Absolutely fantastic instrument. Great sound. A bit challenging at first to play. Great value for the price. Great service.Milton H.

My neighbor had trouble getting his Villager in tune, so I brought it home for a look. Just a weak battery in the tuner. So I used the opportunity to compare his Villager to my Applause AE35. Both have that beautiful jangly high end. The Villager has a stronger bottom end than the Applause with its lychrachord back, especially plugged in. Both have reasonable action for a 12 string, though both will give you calluses in a matter of minutes. Overall I liked the Villager for tone, and the Applause for general industuctability. I consider the Villager a reasonable, though not amazing, value in a 12 string. So I would definitely consider the Villager alongside the slightly cheaper Applause and slightly more expensive Seagull (acoustic electric).Mikey Bikey

This guitar is solid and provides the comfortable playing of guitars costing hundreds more. I was not really surprised, as previous Dean guitars I owned were a good pick also. No onboard tuner? Are ya kidding? No five stars for you! But this guitar is still a keeper. Rock on.Dennisio

This guitar is gorgeous and plays like butter. I am so happy with this purchase. Would strongly recommend to anyone wanting to try a 12 string.Rusty

The Koa is beautiful. The fretboard has easy action and the guitar has great tone. I use a cordless system with no delay or cut-out from the electronics. For someone looking for bang for the buck, this qualifies.jtcreely

Bought this as my first guitar two years ago. It sounded really sweet and stayed in tune rather well. It convinced me to buy two other Ibanez products, a 6-string and a bass. Last week, the lighter G string broke, so I figured it was about time to put new strings on it. The bridge pins were not only NOT hand-removeable, I stripped my pin-puller trying to get the first one out. The second pin snapped as I tried to ease it out with needle-nose pliers. Looks like I'm going to have to drill the rest out and buy new pins. I hope I don't have this problem with my newer guitar… I wonder if that's covered in the limited two-year warranty.Bob the Irked

First off, this is an incredible sounding instrument for the price. Its made from quality tonewoods and has the accoutrements of a much more expensive guitar (e.g.-neck binding, etc.). I have played 12-strings in the past, but never owned one… so I went with this one as a starter to see if I wanted to get more into playing them. Unfortunately, the first 2 instruments that were sent had serious flaws and had to be returned. I decided to give it one last try and the 3rd came through in excellent condition (deducted one star for that issue). Overall, very happy with the tone and the playability of the instrument, it really rings out on those open chords and fills up the room with sound. My only real complaint is the frets had some sharp and even barbed edges at the ends where they were just not properly finished off at the factory. A light filing fixed that (another star deducted). It has a very heavy lacquer finish on the body and neck that looks great, and it does not appear to dampen the tone much if any… Great guitar for the money, especially if you are just dipping your toes into 12-string territory for the first time. MF was awesome in handling the returns and made the experience hassle free.Mr. Picker

This guitar plays great. It's a little quieter than my other acoustics. I have not been able to use the tuner built into my amp. I'm not sure if it's because of the quietness. It works fine sound wise through the amp. I haven't investigated much yet but my other acoustics are able to use the amp tuner with a Dean Markley installed. I still am very happy with the purchase and would buy it again. Just adds another step when getting ready to perform. By the way it stays in tune well I just like to check quickly.ca-132738

199.99 for a 12 string? Great price for this 12 string. I've been playing 12 strings for years. Have had Ovation, Guild, Takamine, Martin. Currently own a Takamine & Martin 12 strings. The reason why I bought this was for a 12 string to travel and take anywhere for practice. Satisfied with sound and action for this price. And definitely recommend for first 12 string and for travel. Only have one issue, 13th fret on high e string does not ring out for some reason.JAF

Sound: Very good sound and resonance for the price. I wanted to test out a 12 string without committing to an expensive price and was pleasantly shocked by how full the sound is on this model. If you're handy, a fresh bone saddle and nut complete this. I expected a lot less from the tuners, these are actually quite nice. The finish is very light on the guitar and it's another reason to keep it humidified. Twelve strings is a lot of pressure on the instrument so humidification is an important part of the upkeep. With that in mind, I also used a lighter set of strings but that's a personal choice as well. Features: At this price, I'm happy with all the materials. I don't know how they can offer a guitar of this quality at this price. Ease of Use: A basic setup I completed in 15 minutes had it ready to play. Quality: A year later and it's shown no issues. Keep it humidified, oil the fretboard at every string change and it's golden. Value: It's a steal. Manufacturer Support: I had no issues with the product and no reason to contact them. They offer free online courses with purchase that are beginners courses but if you're buying a budget guitar you may benefit from the courses. The Wow Factor: I always wanted to try out a 12 string but one thing I got out of this is that it's a great way to build up finger strength. Overall: You get what you pay for. The saddle and nut are cheap but adequate. I swapped out the saddle and nut myself for a decent bone replacement after a few months for only a few bucks. For most people buying at this price, having this done by someone will cost a fair chunk of the initial price paid for the guitar but let me stress that the saddle and nut are usable. I'm just fussy on that subject. The tuners aren't the greatest but hold tune well. The strings shipped were surprisingly good, I kept them on until I replaced the nut. There's a very light finish on the guitar and neck. I happen to like it that way. The mahogany body is pretty and the sound is surprisingly rich. I've had it about a year and the only caveat is one I'd tell anyone with an acoustic, keep it humidified. Kyser and others sell a simple cover for the soundhole with a sponge that works great with distilled water. For beginners, Luna offers free online courses.Kevin

The guitar had a small hole in the body where the wood meets together on the side. The neck was pulling away from the body, and it already had signs of cracking. There was some kind of markings on the back-maybe paint? that wouldn't come off. I now have to return it and ship it back- not sure if I'll get this again, as I'm worried I'll get a similar product. The guitar sounds great, better than I expected for this price range. Just wish I had picked it up from a store where you can inspect it first.Rex

I have owned a number of high-end 12 Strings. This Fender can hang with them and some Twice as expensive and more! It was perfectly set-up right out of the box. Great action and play-ability.I am still Impressed with this guitar especially at it's price point. The strings it came strung with were not for me. It is The one thing that I changed and it just made the sound POP, the voice INCREDIBLE and made the guitar even more impressive. The strings I used are the Martin Retro Monel Custom Lights. It opened a whole new sound for this guitar. I have owned this now over 4 months and am still awed. For a twelve string it holds its Tuning even when I am wailing and using my Dunlop Brass slide. You really cannot go wrong with this well built and great sounding Guitar! Don't wait if your looking, pull the trigger and BUY IT NOW! You will have NO regrets, and with AMS's great payment plans what more could you ask for?!?!?Spikeola

Things I like: -Noiseless pickups sound pretty close to regular single coils but without the annoying hum. They may not sound 100% as glassy as my Tele single coils, but if we're honest, very few people will notice the difference and the trade-off for quiet pickups is well worth it. -One volume and one master tone is user friendly like a Telecaster -Comfortable body and neck -Rotary switch adds a nice boost to get closer to Tele or p90 when needed Comments: -First time I tried out the rotary switch I thought it was kinda of dumb, but after setting it up, I think it is most valuable to add some thickness when the thinner Strat sounds needs a bit more. I like it now but still think the lower settings aren't truly necessary. Makes the neck pickup more suitable for jazz and gets the bridge close to a Tele. -After received, we tweaked it but adjusting the truss rod, filing the nut a bit for a couple strings, raising the pickups to the Fender specs (3.2mm), adjusting the rotary switch so when you turned it the knob would stop and not just keep spinning when you got to the end of the options. -Make sure you unplug the guitar from the amp or the battery will run down very quickly -Never owned a Pau Ferro fretboard before but it's very close to Rosewood. If you're on the fence, I wouldn't let it put you off. In the end, we've got a very usable, comfortable, versatile Strat that sounds great! If you are looking for a Stratocaster that can do Strat tones and can get close to Tele or even Les Paul (maybe a bit far on the Les Paul but again, close is the operative word–there is no ONE guitar) when needed, all with noise-free pickups, then this is a great choice.Steve

This is a fantastic guitar – it sounds beautiful and is really easy to play. Amazing value for money. I had an issue with my first order, and PMT were excellent with their customer service and everything got resolved perfectly within a day, and I received the guitar the following day. Thank you for the fantastic service.Melissa R.

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

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

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

Bought this as my first guitar two years ago. It sounded really sweet and stayed in tune rather well. It convinced me to buy two other Ibanez products, a 6-string and a bass. Last week, the lighter G string broke, so I figured it was about time to put new strings on it. The bridge pins were not only NOT hand-removeable, I stripped my pin-puller trying to get the first one out. The second pin snapped as I tried to ease it out with needle-nose pliers. Looks like I'm going to have to drill the rest out and buy new pins. I hope I don't have this problem with my newer guitar… I wonder if that's covered in the limited two-year warranty.Bob the Irked

First off, this is an incredible sounding instrument for the price. Its made from quality tonewoods and has the accoutrements of a much more expensive guitar (e.g.-neck binding, etc.). I have played 12-strings in the past, but never owned one… so I went with this one as a starter to see if I wanted to get more into playing them. Unfortunately, the first 2 instruments that were sent had serious flaws and had to be returned. I decided to give it one last try and the 3rd came through in excellent condition (deducted one star for that issue). Overall, very happy with the tone and the playability of the instrument, it really rings out on those open chords and fills up the room with sound. My only real complaint is the frets had some sharp and even barbed edges at the ends where they were just not properly finished off at the factory. A light filing fixed that (another star deducted). It has a very heavy lacquer finish on the body and neck that looks great, and it does not appear to dampen the tone much if any… Great guitar for the money, especially if you are just dipping your toes into 12-string territory for the first time. MF was awesome in handling the returns and made the experience hassle free.Mr. Picker

This guitar plays great. It's a little quieter than my other acoustics. I have not been able to use the tuner built into my amp. I'm not sure if it's because of the quietness. It works fine sound wise through the amp. I haven't investigated much yet but my other acoustics are able to use the amp tuner with a Dean Markley installed. I still am very happy with the purchase and would buy it again. Just adds another step when getting ready to perform. By the way it stays in tune well I just like to check quickly.ca-132738

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

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 had a cheap 12 string guitar for about almost two years. I had been playing corridos during this time. However, I had played guitar for several years. Mainly rock and other stuff. Well, after I got it, I could play all the solos I couldn't really play clean. I guess the other guitar really was bad, or this one is great. Funny thing, I had a really good player tell me to not buy this model but the more expensive one. Well, I'm glad I decided to go with this one. This guitar sounds great and it's extremely easy to play. The guitar stays in tune fairly well for a 12 string guitar. The action is low. I haven't tried it the electronics aside from the tuner which works fairly well compared to my snark. I do have a Taylor and Martin guitar, and the tone on this guitar is pretty clean.Juan

This Guitar plays like a dream, sounds great no matter if it is plugged in or not, stays in tune and looks great. This is a great price for a guitar of this quality, but thanks to another dealers daily deal and Guitar Center's price matching, it was even better. I was able to get this out of layaway for $240 less. I am very happy with this guitar. I have not played in a band for a while, but getting back into practice and plan to start back with some solo acoustic gigs. Having this awesome new guitar is surely an inspiration to help me want to practice more.Kip

I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of this value brand guitar. The action was actually low and playable after tuning it out of the box. I was wanting to try my hand at a 12 string and found some used ones for more money that were basically unplayable. Then I found this new Oscar Schmidt on e-bay, and figured for the money, it's better than paying double for an unplayable wooden box. I will detension the strings for when I store it so it doesn't bow the sound board.willi-tiso

I've looked at a number of 12-string guitars over the years, this is the one that captured my interest. A very playable and great sounding 12-string, sounds even better when played through an amp using the internal pickups.Reviewed by Absolute Music custo

Great sounding Highs, Mids and Lows. Playability is great no buzzings and strings are nice low height. Really rings out.KB

Loved the look, price, sound, and feel of this guitar. Tried it out in the store and was ready to buy the floor model, but luckily I asked for a 9V battery to test the electronics at the counter. Oddly the battery port fits fine into the guitar when empty, but the moment you put a battery in it it will not stay shut and pops open rendering your electronics useless. Me and the sales rep at the front figured this was had to be a fluke and he ordered a new one to be delivered to my house. Four days later it arrived. I played it for about an hour out of the box without issue (set up was great, sounded great acoustic) and then I decied to check the electronics. Sure enough, the exact same issue occured when I tried to fit a 9V in the battery port. When a battery was actually in it, it would not stay shut. No tuner, no electronics. Ten minutes later I was back at my local GC. The tech inspected it an came to the same conclusion as I did after trying 5 different brand batteries to see if that made a difference- it's defective. He recommended I return it and try another product. In short it plays nice, sounds nice, and looks nice but if it happened on 2 guitars it has to be happening on more of them. I'm sure you could duck tape it or find a way to keep it closed but this should not be an issue on a $350+ guitar. 3 stars.Ryan

This is my second 12 string and I really like it. Sounds great action is outstanding and onboard tuner is great – I could not ask for more.Jim

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