Greg Bennett 12 String Guitar For Sale (Jan 2023 Update)

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

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

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

Been a drummer all my life and a studio producer over the last decade. I recently dove into learning guitar; electric, bass, acoustic, and classical. I wanted to explore the special sound you get from a 12 string. I have a Taylor 214 CE Dlx which sounds fantastic, so I base my acoustic ears off what I get from that guitar. I played everything I could get my hands on up to $1000. I was simply blown away with this Mitchell guitar's sound and playability. I have found that less expensive 12 strings can be pretty glassy sounding and typically lack low end. Not this guitar. It has a very pleasing airy sound that is warm and articulate. It is well balanced across all the frequencies to my ears. Most tops are sitka spruce, this is mahagony and seems to be what really helps set it apart. I had to ignore the "brand" name and just go with my ears and instinct The strings were broken in and it stays in tune very well. It was set up very nicely with low action and just easy to play and inspiring. The bridge was still fairly flat and not pulling up much at all, as can be typical with cheaper guitars that use young wood that still needs to dry out and settle. If it sounds, feels and plays good and inspires you to play more, than you can never go wrong with your choice. Sold…Drum Dood

I have tried this guitar in 2 Guitar Centers (Manchester, CT and New London, CT) when shopping for other reasons but I like to try the goods while I'm there. Point being, I keep going back to it. I've been thinking about adding a 12string to my arsenal. After trying other brands in higher price ranges I find myself enjoying the playability and sound more while in disbelief if its price point. As I read other people's reviews I have come to the conclusion that it's a must have. There is a sale right now on the thing so I'll be owning it within a couple hours. For practice, trying something new, playing out… I believe we have a winner. Nice job, Mitchell. P.s. I couldn't bring myself to add an official Con, honestly. If anything, the appearance could be a setback if one finds value in such a thing. I plan on throwing cool stickers on here from traveling to add rock n'roll character to it so to heck with image.Ian

This is my first 12 string after 36 yrs of playing. There are no issues to speak of with the guitar I received. Sounds and plays excellent. Looks are better in person. Honestly couldn't be more happy about this guitar. I mainly playing electric guitar, rock to metal, and not that big into acoustic. If you get one, I sincerely hope it's as nice as mine. Time will tell on how it stands up. For now, this guitar is a steal in my honest opinion. I don't write reviews but had to for this..Korey

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

PROS: audacious, attention-getting appearance. Great action even on 12 th fret…on a 12 string! Sounds great plugged in. Light weight for size. Good price point. CON: mushy tuning gears. Want stay in tune, as with almost all 12 strings. Good luck finding a case which fits due to enormous headstock. Thin sound strictly acoustic.Rich

My buddy has a Fine Guild 512. This compares well to that, at a fraction of the cost. It sounds like an orchestra. As I learn to utilize it's capabilities I get new ideas. Reworking songs I used to play on 6 strings yields interesting new arrangements. Have not had annoying tuning issues as with other mid-range 12s I have tried.Steve

I have several 12 strings. The Gretsch is quickly becoming a my favorite. The action is superb. Has a "chunkier" feeling neck like by old B25-12 but action like my Rick 360. Not real loud when unplugged but loud enough. Plug it in and the Fishman takes care of the rest. Full bodied sound, very rich. And the flash of the guitar definitely gets noticed. It's great and I am very happy with my purchase.Mr 12 String

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

First and foremost this guitar is beautiful to look at and play. The sound is rich, and with a little adjustment to the truss rods the action is excellent. The fit and finish is first class, I have it side by side with my Martin D28 from 1971 and the finish is comparable. Even the case is great, it's light weight, but seems to be as strong as a wood or clam shell case, Maybe the most amazing thing about this purchase was the price from Jet, they killed everyone else by a considerable margin, and threw in a bunch of neat accessories, you can't go wrong.Kimberly M

This guitar is a real beauty to behold and is full of expression and tonal texture that in the right hands can create shimmering sounds. The build is solid from top to bottom. Comes with a great soft case. This great instrument gets my highest recommendation.Surfrunner

Samick usually is great guitar. I personally think this one sounds like a 3/4 children's guitar. Solid top is Thick, and bracing is too heavy for good sounds. It's a no for me sadly.Wayne

This is an excellent guitar if you are someone who is on a budget or looking for an entry level acoustic. It doesn't have electronics or a tuner built in, but you can tell that quality was the main focus when designing this guitar. It has outstanding natural volume and tone with a vibrant midrange. Definitely beats the majority of the acoustics at this price range. If you get a chance to play this guitar, then you definitely should. I was very lucky that my local store had one hanging on the wall even though it's for preorder. Go check out your store and maybe they will have one!Daniel, D

I had played one at a local music store and almost bought it but there was a young couple in there looking for a guitar for their child and asked what I'd recommend. With the size and sound and feel I recommended that one guitar so I didn't buy it in case they wanted it. I waited about 6 weeks and could only find it online and back ordered but then it came in stock and on sale so I got one. Granted now, it doesn't sound as good at my house as it does in the Acoustic room at a guitar shop but it sounds pretty good. I have about 10 other all solid wood acoustics so this one can't really compare to those but I also have a Mitchell I use for just keeping out in case anyone wants to play. I "thought" it would sound better than the Mitchell, also with a solid top, but it only sounds different. Both project well and are clear. The GB seems a bit more mid balanced and is great for fingerpicking. The mitchell was a little louder and a little better for chords. Both great guitars for the money and I'll be giving one of them away to a young girl for her xmas present. I'll let her choose between the two.zzzrain

I have a vintage Takamini 12 string that I love. It's a beauty. But there is a reason Guild is considered the 12 string king. Clearly they put serious time into designing and making this guitar. You just have to pick up this and immediately are aware the quality, strength, tone of this is on another level. It projects a rich tone unlike anything I've ever heard. The build and action is perfect. It's an extremely easy guitar to play. The neck is ridiculously strong and can handle thick strings but I recommend lighter gauge still. It makes it even more of a gem to play and sounds amazing and you don't need as much truss rod.Scott

Great tone and volume. It has warmth and dimension when played lightly but can produce a tremendous range without ever sounding harsh or overplayed. It is responsive to player input and responds well different styles and techniques of playing. It is the first 12-string that I have ever played that works well with capo and slide. I am excited to try out alternate tunings and string gauges.JAC

I have been wanting to add a 12-string acoustic for sometime and was looking for quality at reasonable cost. This guitar did not disappoint. It plays easily enough, it has a great projection and a full tone. Love that's a guild too. Glad I didn't go with a cheaper guitar and I am also glad I didn't spend more.DSL

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

PROS: audacious, attention-getting appearance. Great action even on 12 th fret…on a 12 string! Sounds great plugged in. Light weight for size. Good price point. CON: mushy tuning gears. Want stay in tune, as with almost all 12 strings. Good luck finding a case which fits due to enormous headstock. Thin sound strictly acoustic.Rich

My buddy has a Fine Guild 512. This compares well to that, at a fraction of the cost. It sounds like an orchestra. As I learn to utilize it's capabilities I get new ideas. Reworking songs I used to play on 6 strings yields interesting new arrangements. Have not had annoying tuning issues as with other mid-range 12s I have tried.Steve

I have several 12 strings. The Gretsch is quickly becoming a my favorite. The action is superb. Has a "chunkier" feeling neck like by old B25-12 but action like my Rick 360. Not real loud when unplugged but loud enough. Plug it in and the Fishman takes care of the rest. Full bodied sound, very rich. And the flash of the guitar definitely gets noticed. It's great and I am very happy with my purchase.Mr 12 String

The Greg Bennett D-5 is a moderately priced gem. It has great intonation, stays in tune, and has a nice warm tone that is also loud. It is a fine looking acoustic guitar, too.onesourceone

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

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

The guitar is pretty good out of the box, the action height is a bit tall but with some rod adjustment, you can make it fit your needs. The sound is premium and there is no buzz whatsoever.Martin

This guitar exceeded all my expectations! It is an excellent buy. It feels amazing, sounds amazing, and looks fantastic. I would definitely buy again.Javier