Best 12-String Acoustic Guitars Under $500 2026
Affordable 12-string acoustic guitars under $500 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: January 21, 2026 • Next update: January 28, 2026
GENRES & STYLES:
For Folk Rock
For Jangle Pop
For Celtic
For Country
For Acoustic Rock
For Campfire Sessions
#1
⭐
4.8/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Harley Benton Custom Line CLJ-412E LH w/Bag
Jangle Pop
Celtic
Acoustic Rock
Key Feature:
• Great for rhythm guitar work
✓ PROS
- • Great for rhythm guitar work
- • Distinctive 12-string character
✗ CONS
- • More expensive string replacement
- • More complex tuning and maintenance
Harley Benton Custom Line CLJ-412E LH w/Bag*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton Custom Line CLJ-412E LH...
⭐
4.8/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 605289
$378
#2
⭐
4.5/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Harley Benton Custom Line CLJ-412E SB
Celtic
Country
Campfire Sessions
Key Feature:
• Distinctive 12-string character
✓ PROS
- • Great for rhythm guitar work
- • Full, lush strumming sound
✗ CONS
- • Limited single-note clarity
- • Higher string tension and effort
Harley Benton Custom Line CLJ-412E SB12-String Acoustic Guitar with PickupStyle: JumboSolid top made of selected...
⭐
4.5/5
(8 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 465261
$329
#3
⭐
4.4/5
(55 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Baton Rouge X34S/D-12
by
Baton Rouge
Campfire Sessions
Folk Rock
Acoustic Rock
Key Feature:
• Full, lush strumming sound
✓ PROS
- • Rich, shimmering chorus effect
- • Full, lush strumming sound
✗ CONS
- • Higher string tension and effort
- • More complex tuning and maintenance
Baton Rouge X34S/D-1212-String Acoustic GuitarStyle: DreadnoughtTop: solid spruceBack and sides: WalnutNeck:...
⭐
4.4/5
(55 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 586729
$472
#4
⭐
5.0/5
(4 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
DAngelico Premier Fulton Caramel Burst
by
DAngelico
Folk Rock
Jangle Pop
Acoustic Rock
Key Feature:
• Natural octave doubling
✓ PROS
- • Full, lush strumming sound
- • Distinctive 12-string character
✗ CONS
- • More complex tuning and maintenance
- • Higher string tension and effort
DAngelico Premier Fulton Caramel Burst12-String Acoustic Guitar with PickupConstruction: Grand Auditorium with single...
⭐
5.0/5
(4 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 610597
$439
#5
⭐
4.7/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Harley Benton Custom Line CLD-10SCE-1 Bundle
Folk Rock
Jangle Pop
Celtic
Key Feature:
• Rich, shimmering chorus effect
✓ PROS
- • Rich, shimmering chorus effect
- • Natural octave doubling
✗ CONS
- • Higher string tension and effort
- • More expensive string replacement
Harley Benton Custom Line CLD-10SCE-1 Bundle*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton Custom Line...
⭐
4.7/5
(3 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 540448
$340
#6
⭐
4.8/5
(54 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Fender CD-140SCE-12 WA Nat
by
Fender
Campfire Sessions
Country
Folk Rock
Key Feature:
• Great for rhythm guitar work
✓ PROS
- • Natural octave doubling
- • Rich, shimmering chorus effect
✗ CONS
- • Heavier neck and higher action
- • More complex tuning and maintenance
Fender CD-140SCE-12 WA Nat12-String Westernguitar with pick-upConstruction/shape: Classic Design Dreadnought with...
⭐
4.8/5
(54 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 463175
$428
#7
⭐
4.6/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Ibanez AAD1012E-OPN
by
Ibanez
Celtic
Campfire Sessions
Jangle Pop
Key Feature:
• Distinctive 12-string character
✓ PROS
- • Distinctive 12-string character
- • Rich, shimmering chorus effect
✗ CONS
- • Heavier neck and higher action
- • More complex tuning and maintenance
Ibanez AAD1012E-OPN12-String Acoustic Guitar with PickupAdvanced Acoustic SeriesType: DreadnoughtTop: solid sitka...
⭐
4.6/5
(24 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 557088
$439
#8
⭐
4.7/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Harley Benton Cust. Line CLJ-412E 3SB w/Bag
Folk Rock
Celtic
Jangle Pop
Key Feature:
• Distinctive 12-string character
✓ PROS
- • Distinctive 12-string character
- • Natural octave doubling
✗ CONS
- • Heavier neck and higher action
- • Higher string tension and effort
Harley Benton Cust. Line CLJ-412E 3SB w/Bag*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton Custom Line CLJ-412E SB*12-String...
⭐
4.7/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 545317
$356
#9
⭐
4.6/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Harley Benton Custom Line CLJ-412E NT w/Bag
Jangle Pop
Campfire Sessions
Folk Rock
Key Feature:
• Natural octave doubling
✓ PROS
- • Rich, shimmering chorus effect
- • Great for rhythm guitar work
✗ CONS
- • Higher string tension and effort
- • More complex tuning and maintenance
Harley Benton Custom Line CLJ-412E NT w/Bag*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton Custom Line CLJ-412E NT*12-String...
⭐
4.6/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 539731
$356
#10
⭐
4.8/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Ibanez AW5412CE-OPN Artwood
by
Ibanez
Folk Rock
Jangle Pop
Acoustic Rock
Key Feature:
• Full, lush strumming sound
✓ PROS
- • Full, lush strumming sound
- • Distinctive 12-string character
✗ CONS
- • More expensive string replacement
- • Higher string tension and effort
Ibanez AW5412CE-OPN Artwood12-String Acoustic Guitar with PickupDesign: Dreadnought with cutawayTop: Solid okoumeBack...
⭐
4.8/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 428958
$459
#11
⭐
4.5/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Ibanez AEG5012-BKH
by
Ibanez
Campfire Sessions
Jangle Pop
Folk Rock
Key Feature:
• Distinctive 12-string character
✓ PROS
- • Great for rhythm guitar work
- • Rich, shimmering chorus effect
✗ CONS
- • Limited single-note clarity
- • More complex tuning and maintenance
Ibanez AEG5012-BKH12-String Acoustic Guitar with PickupDesign: AEG with cutawayTop: SpruceBack and sides: OkoumeNeck:...
⭐
4.5/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 509668
$380
#12
⭐
5.0/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Applause Traditional AB2412-5S
by
Applause
Country
Folk Rock
Jangle Pop
Key Feature:
• Full, lush strumming sound
✓ PROS
- • Natural octave doubling
- • Great for rhythm guitar work
✗ CONS
- • Limited single-note clarity
- • Higher string tension and effort
Applause Traditional AB2412-5SSteel-string guitar with pickupTraditional SeriesMid-Depth Roundback12 StringsWith...
⭐
5.0/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 526453
$366
#13
⭐
4.6/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
DAngelico Premier Fulton Aged Burst
by
DAngelico
Folk Rock
Country
Jangle Pop
Key Feature:
• Full, lush strumming sound
✓ PROS
- • Great for rhythm guitar work
- • Rich, shimmering chorus effect
✗ CONS
- • More expensive string replacement
- • Limited single-note clarity
DAngelico Premier Fulton Aged Burst12-String Acoustic Guitar with PickupConstruction: Grand Auditorium with single...
⭐
4.6/5
(7 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 610593
$439
#14
⭐
4.4/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Harley Benton Custom Line CLJ-412E LH w/Bag
Celtic
Acoustic Rock
Campfire Sessions
Key Feature:
• Rich, shimmering chorus effect
✓ PROS
- • Rich, shimmering chorus effect
- • Great for rhythm guitar work
✗ CONS
- • Heavier neck and higher action
- • More complex tuning and maintenance
Harley Benton Custom Line CLJ-412E LH w/Bag*Bundle offer comprising*, Harley Benton Custom Line CLJ-412E LH...
⭐
4.4/5
(46 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 605292
$378
#15
⭐
4.4/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Fender CD-60SCE-12 Nat WN
by
Fender
Acoustic Rock
Country
Celtic
Key Feature:
• Rich, shimmering chorus effect
✓ PROS
- • Full, lush strumming sound
- • Natural octave doubling
✗ CONS
- • More complex tuning and maintenance
- • Limited single-note clarity
Fender CD-60SCE-12 Nat WNA 12-string Acoustic GuitarBody shape: Classic design dreadnought with cutawayTop: Solid...
⭐
4.4/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 452172
$325
How to Choose the Best 12-String Acoustic Guitars
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced 12-string acoustic guitars typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
