Need a 12 string for a beginner

Cheap but not cheesy.
Any suggestions?

Seagull. You could probably find a used one for a pretty reasonable price. Excellent playing and sounding 12-string. Some real bang for your bucks.
I have one and love it. Had a Yamaha 12 before and that sounded like it was stuffed with wool compared to the Seagull.

You can always find cheap 12-strings from Epiphone, Fender, Mitchell, etc... new for around $200. These can sound OK, but be very hard to play (and 12s can be harder to play anyway). That's bad news for beginning players. It's worth the extra time (and $$) to hunt for a good used 12 or pay for a better one, like the Seagull mentioned above.

I have a Takamine F-389 which is easier to play than most out-of-the-box six-strings, so it is possible. I got mine used at GC for under $200.

Let the hunt begin!!

How cheap?

Is $275-ish too much?

The Yamaha FG720S-12 retails for $329 but you can always find a coupon and get a discount.

I have had a solid top Epi 12 string that cost $199. It was nice.

I moved to a Martin X. D12X1 - $599 - I couln't bond with the plastic formica feel of the back and sides (and I love and play Martin guitars by the way).

I now have the Yamaha. The Yamaha is my favorite of the three.

Solid Top - bookmatched top.
Laminated Nato/Mahogany back & sides
Rosewood fret board
Tuners are like Grovers (not Grovers but like Grovers).
Sounds very nice & I can play fingerstyle with ease.
Fits the average dread case

I think that Yamaha owns the under $400 market for solid top acoustics.

Here's mine. They look very nice (I think).....

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/TopStraightsmall.jpg

Stays in tune very well. Ships with D'Addario strings.

Before I consider brand/model recommendations, I think we should revisit that word "beginner" in your thread title. Is this "beginner" a guitarist who is a beginner at playing a 12-string, or is this a 12-string for a beginning student of the guitar?

As aunchaki said, 12s are harder to play, and harder to tune, for that matter. Personally I wouldn't recommend one for a beginner, and if that's what he thinks he wants, I would try to warn him about the potential difficulties in starting out on a 12.

Okay, that said, my kid brother recently picked up a used Takamine EG523SC 12 for $400 w/ a HSC. Solid spruce top, flamed maple back & sides, jumbo body size/shape, TK40 preamp. Plays well, sounds good plugged or unplugged. I think they go for about $750 new. The 12s I've played in the last few months or so that have impressed me have been Taks.

But then again, I don't have a lot of experience in this area, so I'd consider John's (studio1087) counsel very seriously.

Before I consider brand/model recommendations, I think we should revisit that word "beginner" in your thread title. Is this "beginner" a guitarist who is a beginner at playing a 12-string, or is this a 12-string for a beginning student of the guitar?

A

It's for my son who, although a beginner on guitar, has been something of a musical prodigy. He can hang with just about anybody in the country on hammered dulcimer and pennywhistle. He plays Baroque and Renaissance music on recorder (any range) and also plays some bouzouki, Irish flute, silver flute, uilleann pipes, piano and cello.
He has little trouble picking up new instruments but he's also tried (and put down) many of them, so I'm hesitant to spend too much until I see if the 12-string speaks to him.

Alvarez also makes nice 12 strings worth consideration

I just picked up an early 80's USA built Ovation Custom Balladeer deep bowl 12 string in a very reasonable trade deal off Craigslist. I had owned Ovations back in the 70's and early 80's but then went to solid wood acoustics. Going back to the big bowl Ovation has been fun and it sounds really good especially when plugged into my acoustic amp.

A good used Guild might be worth seeking out.

In terms of a guitar for a "beginner" I would say go and buy the best used 12 string you can. First, if you stick with it you will not be want to upgrade as quickly. Second, if you don't you can sell it and not take near the bath you probably would on a new guitar.

I also second the Guild recommendation. Westerly-made 12 strings are bordering on legandary status yet Guilds remain possibly the most undervalued guitars out there. A while back I snagged a 1972 F112 for my wife. Solid mahogany back and sides with one of the best pieces of spruce top wood I have seen (this thing has a ton of silking). It ran me $550 with a hardshell case. You won't find more bang for your buck anywhere.

For ease of play and good value/low cost, I might give the edge to the Yamaha FG720S-12. However, I think either the Seagull 12 string and/or it's slightly plainer and less expensive brother in the Godin Guitar family, the Art & Lutherie 12 string with lam wild cherry back & sides/solid cedar top are the best guitars in the "inexpensive" 12 string category.

My best 12 is a Taylor, but my "camp" 12 is a wonderful A&L.

I think the Yamahas are great value. I've played a bunch and the quality of finish, playability and tone has been consistently good.

The 12 string is kind of a one trick pony... people tire of them.
That leaves numerous used instruments on the market.
I think you should buy used preferably from a known maker.

Agree with the Alvarez recommendation.