Cheap 12 String???

Been playing guitar for a while, but wanted to play a 12 string. What are some very cheap ones? I would like to pay as little as possible. Thanks

Cheap 12 strings are usually unplayable monstrosities. Make sure you actually play it before you buy... you should probably avoid eBay and the like for now.

That being said, keep an eye out for an older Applause or Ovation. I recently scored a nice acoustic Ovation for $100.00, including the case. Whether or not you like the round back, they're usually very playable. Don't let lacquer cracking bother you, a lot of them do that, and it doesn't mean they're about to disintegrate.

Fender and Epiphone also did some respectable 12 strings in the late 70's thru the mid 80's. They're usually cheap since the experts will tell you that Fender and Epiphone never made decent flat tops. Just between the two of us, they're wrong, there really are good ones out there.

I've also got a Japanese 12 Strat that's a gem, but they usually run $800.00 or better. I've also got a Telecaster in the works, but that's a ways out yet... Or Guild, or... well, cheap is a matter of perspective sometimes.

I love 12 strings, and if you've never played a decent one, you're in for a treat.

How much would I have to pay to get a quality one?

If you're looking for a new guitar, Art and Lutherie and Seagull both make decent 12 strings that are in the $400.00 to $500.00 range. From there, the sky's the limit. I recently played a Taylor GA8, it's a beautiful guitar, and around $2400.00. They can go way up from there.

There's not that much more wood or metal in a 12 string than a comparable 6 string, but they tend to be more expensive just because there's a limited demand for them. You never know, though, when a deal will come along.

What about this one?
http://www.amazon.com/Epiphone-DR-212-Acoustic-12-String-Natural/dp/B0002F77B8/ref=pd_rhf_cr_p_t_1

I've never played one. If this is your price range, I would strongly encourage you to try to find one locally and play it before buying. Just like Squires and Affinities, there are dogs, and there are gems.

The price is certainly right, but bear in mind that you're dealing with twice as many strings. A cheapie 6 string that is marginally playable will be like trying to play a wire fence in a comparable 12 string. Neck width and action are much more important, and in an inexpensive instrument it will be very difficult to fix action flaws. Also, even very good 12 strings can be very temperamental things to tune. You've really got to get your paws on one in person.

I have a Sierra Northstar 12 string. They're affordable, play great, and stay in tune. I gig with mine (to put it into perspective, my other gigging acoustics are a Gibson Hummingbird and a late 70s guild, so yeah, I'm picky and the Sierra passes the test.)

I bought a used Alvarez for $175. It plays good for a few songs. I use it for a few songs that need it and use my six for all the rest. Almost every 12 string wears me out in about two or three songs. If buying used, check it out and make sure the bridge is holding up ok.

I have a Walden D 552. It was fairly inexpensive, but does not play or sound cheap.
http://www.waldenguitars.com/D552.html

I think it was around $250 new, with a deluxe gig bag included. I know it seems that a 12 string for this price would be garbage, but in my opinion, the sound was superior to any other guitars that I tried. I liked it better than several guitars that cost 3-4 times more. Not fancy, but well built and stays in tune like a champ.

Dean Boca. It's a semi-hollow with dual 'buckers for about $300. Everything I've heard about them is pretty good.

I have a fairly recent Ovation Applause shallow bowl acoustic I bought new on EBay for 275.00 w/case. It's a really nice playable guitar, good case and the electronics have a decent built in tuner.Hard to beat for a 12 string, the other one I was looking at was a Seagull 12 but it was strictly acoustic Used for 265.00, there was an electric Seagull 12 locally with the electronics but it was just under 600.00. Those Seagulls are GREAT sounding guitars and play excellent...the Ovation is a matter of taste in that you either like the 'Ovation Sound' or not, it is a good player though. I bought a 12 string Tele kitfor 135.00 w/shipping from this guy on EBay...this is a LP 12 he has listed now for 9.95 http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-STRING-UNFINISHED-LP-ELECTRIC-GUITAR-BUILDER-KIT-DIY-PROJECT-/330628049198?pt=Guitar&hash=item4cfaf7a92e

Are you talking acoustic or electric? As for acoustics, I have a nice Alvarez cutaway I like a lot, but I've always enjoyed Yamaha's 12-strings as well.

Electrically-speaking, that Dean Boca is tempting, but I know I'd pull those hot HBs out right away. Danos set the standard for cheap(ish) electric 12s IMHO, but the Italias are nice too.

Maybe someday Squier will give us the VM Tele XII Thinline I dream of. :wink:

Dean Boca. It's a semi-hollow with dual 'buckers for about $300. Everything I've heard about them is pretty good.

I once owned a Boca. It was very nice. My reason for selling was that the neck was too wide for me. But then agian, all 12 stringers are too wide for me. Other than that I had no issues with the Dean.

Yamaha FG720S-12 - $329 new everywhere. I just bought one and I can play fingerstyle on it easier than I could on my old Martin D12X1.

Solid top - very nice set up right out of the box. I used one of the online sellers 15% coupons. $280 delivered to my door. It's great fun.....

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k106/johnlg-2006/FullFrontsmall-1.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k106/johnlg-2006/TopAnglesmall-1.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k106/johnlg-2006/Backsmall-1.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k106/johnlg-2006/Bridgesmall-1.jpg

Google "Yamaha FG720S-12".......they are readily available. Nice solid top guitar. Yamaha produces some great values. I play mostly Larrivee and Martin acoustics. I'm fussy & I love the Yammi. The headstock is about 2.75" longer than a standard dread headstock. The guitar fits perfectly in my old Body Glove pack that I used to take camping. I think that any decent dread gig bag would work for basic storage.

The Yamaha 12 is a win.

I tried that Yamaha at the local Sam Ash, and it is very nice.

I tried that Yamaha at the local Sam Ash, and it is very nice.

I ordered mine from Sam Ash.

They threw a free Sam Ash T-Shirt in the box with the guitar. Men's Large. My son was delighted. (I'm one size larger than large now). :rolleyes:

Rondo (http://www.rondomusic.com/electric12strings.html)has LP style 12 strings starting at $250, also 335 style semisolid 12 strings, and RIC style 12 strings with toaster pickups.

Cheap 12 String???




Acoustic or electric?

Either one has been discussed here a million times.

You can search back and see lots of opinions.

There's a guy over at the Gretsch Discussion Pages in their "Garage Sale Section" selling an Italia Rimini 12 string electric at a reasonable price. I've always heard very good things about the Italia 12's. They kinda look like a Ric but not...

Yamaha FG720S-12 - $329 new everywhere. I just bought one and I can play fingerstyle on it easier than I could on my old Martin D12X1.

Solid top - very nice set up right out of the box. I used one of the online sellers 15% coupons. $280 delivered to my door. It's great fun.....

Google "Yamaha FG720S-12".......they are readily available. Nice solid top guitar. Yamaha produces some great values. I play mostly Larrivee and Martin acoustics. I'm fussy & I love the Yammi. The headstock is about 2.75" longer than a standard dread headstock. The guitar fits perfectly in my old Body Glove pack that I used to take camping. I think that any decent dread gig bag would work for basic storage.

The Yamaha 12 is a win.

Yamaha has some remarkable guitars out there in the $300 -500 range. I bought this 735S last spring (not a 12-string, I know) and my Martin hasn't seen much playing time since.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g179/nadzab/Guitars/100_6512.jpg

Wrong country for the OP but here's a 12 string Strat on eBay UK if you're interested in Electronic XIIs:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280754239272#ht_1305wt_1349

I have the problem, as some above have already mentioned, with large/wide necks.

For acoustic you might want to look at the mass production (Korea I believe)
Breedlove Atlas Series 12 string. They run around $900, but I just played an excellent used one at GC that was only $300. Beautiful looking/feeling/sounding guitar.

For electric that Dena Boca is nice, I've played a couple.
One other that I ran across was a used silver sparkle Daisy Rock ($150) that wasn't bad at all.

I have a couple cheap 12's, one acoustic and one electric. The acoustic is a beater '70's Yammy FC something or other. Paid $150 in a pawn and the thing sounds like God, stays in tune, and is loud as feck.

In this pic I'm playing in a small club with no full kit (just a djembe drummer) with an electric guitar, bass, and keys amplified, and the acoustic was loud enough:

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/221884_10150184004153879_512618878_6868459_5444264 _n.jpg

The electric is a Daisy Rock, of all things. Retro-H, but with the hot stock mini's replaced (previously, by the seller) with Brownsville low-output alnico single coil toasters. Iirc I paid $250 used:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3322/3447427971_d16a35558e_z.jpg

Haven't had much chance to play it so far. :(

Acoustic or electric?

Either one has been discussed here a million times.

You can search back and see lots of opinions.

Maybe it's time for a new thread on the subject to give other forum members some input?

Try this.
http://www.themusiczoo.com/product/10890/Danelectro-59-DC-12-String-Electric-Guitar-Red/

Definitely try it out first as the neck sizes vary a great deal. If you play fingerstyle is a factor as well as many 12 strings don't have enough space between string pairs to use your fingers. Seagulls are good and not a lot of $. Yamaha's in the past were too big for my hands but I did try a newer model (don't remember which one) and it was much more playable.