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Best 12-String Acoustic Guitars Under $5,000 2026

Affordable 12-string acoustic guitars under $5,000 - great value without compromising quality

Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026

PRICE RANGES: Under $200 Under $300 Under $500 Under $800 Under $1,000 Under $2,000 Under $5,000
SKILL LEVELS: For Beginner For Intermediate For Professional For Advanced
GENRES & STYLES: For Folk Rock For Jangle Pop For Celtic For Country For Acoustic Rock For Campfire Sessions
BRANDS: Harley Benton DAngelico Guild Taylor Framus Martin Guitar Takamine Fender Furch Ibanez
Lakewood M-32-12 CP Grand Concert 2024 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#1

Lakewood M-32-12 CP Grand Concert 2024

by Lakewood
Country Jangle Pop Campfire Sessions
Key Feature:
• Rich, shimmering chorus effect
✓ PROS
  • • Full, lush strumming sound
  • • Rich, shimmering chorus effect
✗ CONS
  • • More expensive string replacement
  • • Heavier neck and higher action

Lakewood M-32-12 CP Grand Concert 202412 String Acoustic Guitar with PickupStyle: Grand Auditorium with cutawayTop:...

⭐ 4.6/5 (51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 592194
$3,409
Buy at Thomann View Details
Gibson J-45 Standard 12 String VSB - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#2

Gibson J-45 Standard 12 String VSB

by Gibson
Acoustic Rock Country Jangle Pop
Key Feature:
• Rich, shimmering chorus effect
✓ PROS
  • • Natural octave doubling
  • • Distinctive 12-string character
✗ CONS
  • • More expensive string replacement
  • • Limited single-note clarity

Gibson J-45 Standard 12 String VSB12-String Steel-String Guitar With PickupTop: solid Sitka spruceBack and sides: solid...

⭐ 4.5/5 (42 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 520194
$3,298
Buy at Thomann View Details
Guild F512 Maple Blonde USA - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#3

Guild F512 Maple Blonde USA

by Guild
Acoustic Rock Folk Rock Country
Key Feature:
• Full, lush strumming sound
✓ PROS
  • • Rich, shimmering chorus effect
  • • Distinctive 12-string character
✗ CONS
  • • Higher string tension and effort
  • • More expensive string replacement

Guild F512 Maple Blonde12-String Steel String GuitarTraditional SeriesDesign: JumboTop: AAA Sitka sprucesolidBottom:...

⭐ 4.4/5 (13 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 361902
$4,399
Buy at Thomann View Details
Taylor 362CE 12 Fret 12 string - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#4

Taylor 362CE 12 Fret 12 string

by Taylor
Celtic Folk Rock Country
Key Feature:
• Natural octave doubling
✓ PROS
  • • Great for rhythm guitar work
  • • Distinctive 12-string character
✗ CONS
  • • More complex tuning and maintenance
  • • More expensive string replacement

Taylor 362CE 12 Fret 12 string12 String Acoustic GuitarStyle: Grand Concert with cutawayTop: solid mahoganyBack and...

⭐ 4.4/5 (42 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 485381
$2,397
Buy at Thomann View Details
Guild F512 ATB w/LR Baggs USA - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#5

Guild F512 ATB w/LR Baggs USA

by Guild
Campfire Sessions Celtic Acoustic Rock
Key Feature:
• Natural octave doubling
✓ PROS
  • • Rich, shimmering chorus effect
  • • Natural octave doubling
✗ CONS
  • • Heavier neck and higher action
  • • More complex tuning and maintenance

Guild F512 ATB w/LR Baggs USA12-String Western GuitarTraditional seriesDesign: JumboTop: Solid AAA sitka spruceBack and...

⭐ 4.4/5 (13 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 444314
$4,949
Buy at Thomann View Details
Taylor 352CE 12 Fret 12 string - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#6

Taylor 352CE 12 Fret 12 string

by Taylor
Folk Rock Acoustic Rock Celtic
Key Feature:
• Natural octave doubling
✓ PROS
  • • Rich, shimmering chorus effect
  • • Distinctive 12-string character
✗ CONS
  • • More complex tuning and maintenance
  • • Heavier neck and higher action

Taylor 352CE 12 Fret 12 String12 String Acoustic GuitarStyle: Grand Concert with cutawayTop: solid sitka spruceBack and...

⭐ 4.9/5 (54 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 485402
$2,529
Buy at Thomann View Details
Guild USA F-512E Maple ATB - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#7

Guild USA F-512E Maple ATB

by Guild
Celtic Acoustic Rock Jangle Pop
Key Feature:
• Distinctive 12-string character
✓ PROS
  • • Full, lush strumming sound
  • • Natural octave doubling
✗ CONS
  • • Heavier neck and higher action
  • • Limited single-note clarity

Guild USA F-512E Maple ATB12-string Steel String Guitar with PickupBody shape: JumboBody and sides: Flamed mapleTop:...

⭐ 4.7/5 (29 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 483692
$4,839
Buy at Thomann View Details
Taylor 264ce-K DLX - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#8

Taylor 264ce-K DLX

by Taylor
Folk Rock Jangle Pop Celtic
Key Feature:
• Full, lush strumming sound
✓ PROS
  • • Rich, shimmering chorus effect
  • • Natural octave doubling
✗ CONS
  • • Higher string tension and effort
  • • Heavier neck and higher action

Taylor 264ce-K DLX12-String Steel-String GuitarType: Grand AuditoriumWith cutawayTop: Solid Hawaiian KoaC-Class...

⭐ 4.4/5 (12 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 591598
$2,419
Buy at Thomann View Details
Martin Guitar Grand J-16E 12-String - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#9

Martin Guitar Grand J-16E 12-String

by Martin Guitar
Campfire Sessions Jangle Pop Acoustic Rock
Key Feature:
• Great for rhythm guitar work
✓ PROS
  • • Natural octave doubling
  • • Rich, shimmering chorus effect
✗ CONS
  • • Heavier neck and higher action
  • • Higher string tension and effort

Martin Guitar Grand J-16E 12-String 202412-String Acoustic Guitar with PickupStyle: Grand JTop: Solid SpruceBack and...

⭐ 4.5/5 (28 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 592687
$3,299
Buy at Thomann View Details
Lakewood D-14-12 CP 2024 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#10

Lakewood D-14-12 CP 2024

by Lakewood
Acoustic Rock Jangle Pop Campfire Sessions
Key Feature:
• Full, lush strumming sound
✓ PROS
  • • Great for rhythm guitar work
  • • Full, lush strumming sound
✗ CONS
  • • Heavier neck and higher action
  • • More complex tuning and maintenance

Lakewood D-14-12 CP 202412-String Acoustic Guitar with PickupType: Dreadnought with CutawayTop: Solid mahoganyBack and...

⭐ 4.6/5 (7 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 591429
$2,749
Buy at Thomann View Details
Godin A12 Black - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#11

Godin A12 Black

by Godin
Folk Rock Celtic Country
Key Feature:
• Full, lush strumming sound
✓ PROS
  • • Great for rhythm guitar work
  • • Distinctive 12-string character
✗ CONS
  • • Higher string tension and effort
  • • Limited single-note clarity

Godin A12 Black12-String Acoustic/Electric GuitarBody: MapleTop: Solid cedarNeck: MapleFretboard: RichliteFretboard...

⭐ 4.9/5 (6 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 483433
$2,639
Buy at Thomann View Details
Maton EMD12 - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#12

Maton EMD12

by Maton
Folk Rock Campfire Sessions Country
Key Feature:
• Distinctive 12-string character
✓ PROS
  • • Full, lush strumming sound
  • • Distinctive 12-string character
✗ CONS
  • • Higher string tension and effort
  • • Limited single-note clarity

Maton EMD12Steel String Guitar12-StringBody shape: Small bodyTop: Sitka sprucemassiveBottom and sides: Australian...

⭐ 4.8/5 (28 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 357332
$2,474
Buy at Thomann View Details
Maton SRS70C-12 w/ Case - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#13

Maton SRS70C-12 w/ Case

by Maton
Acoustic Rock Celtic Folk Rock
Key Feature:
• Full, lush strumming sound
✓ PROS
  • • Great for rhythm guitar work
  • • Natural octave doubling
✗ CONS
  • • More complex tuning and maintenance
  • • More expensive string replacement

Maton SRS70C-12 w/ Case12-String acoustic guitarStyle: Dreadnought with Venetian cutawayTop: Solid sitka spruceBack and...

⭐ 4.5/5 (5 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 530215
$2,474
Buy at Thomann View Details
Guild USA F-512E Maple Blonde - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#14

Guild USA F-512E Maple Blonde

by Guild
Campfire Sessions Country Acoustic Rock
Key Feature:
• Distinctive 12-string character
✓ PROS
  • • Great for rhythm guitar work
  • • Natural octave doubling
✗ CONS
  • • More complex tuning and maintenance
  • • More expensive string replacement

Guild USA F-512E Maple Blonde12-String Acoustic Guitar with PickupBuild: JumboBack and sides: Flamed mapleTop: Solid...

⭐ 4.7/5 (47 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 457809
$4,729
Buy at Thomann View Details
Taylor Legacy Edition 855e - Professional Music Instrument Photo
#15

Taylor Legacy Edition 855e

by Taylor
Country Folk Rock Jangle Pop
Key Feature:
• Natural octave doubling
✓ PROS
  • • Full, lush strumming sound
  • • Rich, shimmering chorus effect
✗ CONS
  • • Higher string tension and effort
  • • More complex tuning and maintenance

Taylor Legacy Edition 855e12-String Steel-String Guitar with PickupType: JumboTop: Solid Sitka spruceX-BracingBack and...

⭐ 4.5/5 (15 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 601464
$4,175
Buy at Thomann View Details

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.

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