Best 12 String Dreadnought Guitars in 2024

Here you'll find the best 12 string Dreadnought style guitars.

After comparing the 2000+ guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones with these characteristics. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.

There are affiliate links on this page that may earn us a commission if you purchase after clicking. We are members of the Amazon Associates Program, and many others. However, we compare each guitar against each other under the same parameters, so this doesn't influence our scoring.

Order by

1. Martin HD12-28

Compare

Martin HD12-28

FIND IT ON:

Playability 80

Sound 88

Build quality 88

Value for money 70

Overall Score 85

What our users think

Neck access to high frets: Easy (1 vote)
Fret edges: Smooth (1 vote)
Tuning stability: Holds tune well (1 vote)
Weight: Lightweight (1 vote)
Neck profile shape: C (3 votes)
Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (3 votes)
Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (2 votes)
Pickups power: Clean (2 votes)

Own it? Share your opinion

FIND IT ON:

2 Prices - New from $3,499 >
From Martin's 1931 Standard series
Made in United States
12 strings
24.9"'' scale
16" Fretboard Radius
Solid Spruce top
Solid East Indian Rosewood back
Solid East Indian Rosewood sides
Select Hardwood neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: Fishman (Preamp/Active)
Ebony bridge
Acoustic Performing Artist Set neck
20 Medium frets
Chrome Enclosed Gear tuners
See all specs and compare >

Show all Specs

2 Prices - New from $3,499 >
From Martin's 1931 Standard series
Made in United States
12 strings
24.9"'' scale
16" Fretboard Radius
Solid Spruce top
Solid East Indian Rosewood back
Solid East Indian Rosewood sides
Select Hardwood neck
Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: Fishman (Preamp/Active)
Ebony bridge
Acoustic Performing Artist Set neck
20 Medium frets
Chrome Enclosed Gear tuners
See all specs and compare >

Strengths & Weaknesses
Martin HD12-28

Made in United States
Expensive Wood
Bone Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Electronics
Compensated Saddle
Solid Top Wood
Solid Side Wood
Solid Back Wood
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Locking Tuners
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Strap Lock

All Prices

2. Takamine EF381DX

Compare

Takamine EF381DX

FIND IT ON:

Playability 77

Sound 85

Build quality 85

Value for money 77

Overall Score 82

What our users think

Neck profile shape: Asymmetrical (3 votes)
Neck speed (thickness): Fast (2 votes)

Own it? Share your opinion

FIND IT ON:

From Takamine's 2021 Legacy series
Made in Japan
12 strings
25.4"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Solid Spruce top
Maple back
Maple sides
Mahogany neck
Rosewood fretboard
Bridge pickup: CT4B II (Preamp/Active)
Fixed bridge
Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
20 Medium frets
Gotoh tuners
See all specs and compare >

Show all Specs

From Takamine's 2021 Legacy series
Made in Japan
12 strings
25.4"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Solid Spruce top
Maple back
Maple sides
Mahogany neck
Rosewood fretboard
Bridge pickup: CT4B II (Preamp/Active)
Fixed bridge
Acoustic Asymmetrical C Set neck
20 Medium frets
Gotoh tuners
See all specs and compare >

Strengths & Weaknesses
Takamine EF381DX

Made in Japan
Expensive Wood
Bone Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Electronics
Bone Saddle
Solid Top Wood
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Locking Tuners
Laminated Side Wood
Laminated Back Wood
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Strap Lock

All Prices

3. Alvarez DY70CE12SHB

Compare

Alvarez DY70CE12SHB

FIND IT ON:

Playability 73

Sound 85

Build quality 87

Value for money 72

Overall Score 82

FIND IT ON:

From Alvarez's 2022 Yairi series
Made in Japan
12 strings
25.512"'' scale
15.75" Fretboard Radius
Solid AA Sitka Spruce top
East Indian Rosewood back
East Indian Rosewood sides
One piece mahogany, 50/50 Semi gloss finish, Extended neck joint neck
Rosewood/12th Fret Inlay fretboard
Bridge pickup: LR Baggs StagePro EQ and Element Pick Up (Preamp/Active)
Rosewood Direct Coupled bridge
Acoustic Alvarez Set neck
20 Medium frets
Gotoh Chrome tuners
See all specs and compare >

Show all Specs

From Alvarez's 2022 Yairi series
Made in Japan
12 strings
25.512"'' scale
15.75" Fretboard Radius
Solid AA Sitka Spruce top
East Indian Rosewood back
East Indian Rosewood sides
One piece mahogany, 50/50 Semi gloss finish, Extended neck joint neck
Rosewood/12th Fret Inlay fretboard
Bridge pickup: LR Baggs StagePro EQ and Element Pick Up (Preamp/Active)
Rosewood Direct Coupled bridge
Acoustic Alvarez Set neck
20 Medium frets
Gotoh Chrome tuners
See all specs and compare >

Strengths & Weaknesses
Alvarez DY70CE12SHB

Made in Japan
Expensive Wood
Bone Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Electronics
Bone Saddle
Solid Top Wood
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Locking Tuners
Laminated Side Wood
Laminated Back Wood
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Strap Lock

All Prices

4. Taylor 250ce-BLK DLX

Compare

Taylor 250ce-BLK DLX

FIND IT ON:

Playability 73

Sound 88

Build quality 79

Value for money 75

Overall Score 80

What our users think

Neck profile shape: D (8 votes)
Neck speed (thickness): Fast (8 votes)
Pickups noise: Noiseless (7 votes)
Pickups power: Clean (6 votes)

Own it? Share your opinion

FIND IT ON:

From Taylor's 2019 200 series
Made in Mexico
12 strings
25.5"'' scale
15" Fretboard Radius
Solid Lutz Spruce top
Solid Maple back
Solid Maple sides
Hard Rock Maple neck
West African Crelicam Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: Expression System 2 Electronics (Preamp/Active)
West African Crelicam Ebony bridge
Acoustic Taylor Standard Set neck
20 Medium frets
Satin Black tuners
See all specs and compare >

Show all Specs

From Taylor's 2019 200 series
Made in Mexico
12 strings
25.5"'' scale
15" Fretboard Radius
Solid Lutz Spruce top
Solid Maple back
Solid Maple sides
Hard Rock Maple neck
West African Crelicam Ebony fretboard
Bridge pickup: Expression System 2 Electronics (Preamp/Active)
West African Crelicam Ebony bridge
Acoustic Taylor Standard Set neck
20 Medium frets
Satin Black tuners
See all specs and compare >

Strengths & Weaknesses
Taylor 250ce-BLK DLX

Expensive Wood
Ivory Tusq Nut
Electronics
Synthetic Bone Saddle
Solid Top Wood
Solid Side Wood
Solid Back Wood
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Locking Tuners
Made in Mexico
No Top Brand Pickups
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Strap Lock

All Prices

5. Washburn D10SCE-12 String

Compare

Washburn D10SCE-12 String

FIND IT ON:

Playability 77

Sound 85

Build quality 70

Value for money 87

Overall Score 77

FIND IT ON:

From Washburn's 2017 Heritage series
Made in China
12 strings
25.3"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Solid Sitka Spruce top
Mahogany back
Mahogany sides
Satin Mahogany with 2 way Truss Rod neck
Ovangkol fretboard
Bridge pickup: Fishman Presys II 301T w/tuner (Preamp/Active)
Ovangkol bridge
Acoustic Washburn Heritage Set neck
20 Medium frets
Chrome Diecast tuners
See all specs and compare >

Show all Specs

From Washburn's 2017 Heritage series
Made in China
12 strings
25.3"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Solid Sitka Spruce top
Mahogany back
Mahogany sides
Satin Mahogany with 2 way Truss Rod neck
Ovangkol fretboard
Bridge pickup: Fishman Presys II 301T w/tuner (Preamp/Active)
Ovangkol bridge
Acoustic Washburn Heritage Set neck
20 Medium frets
Chrome Diecast tuners
See all specs and compare >

Strengths & Weaknesses
Washburn D10SCE-12 String

Expensive Wood
NuBone Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Electronics
NuBone Saddle
Solid Top Wood
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Locking Tuners
Made in China
Laminated Side Wood
Laminated Back Wood
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Strap Lock

All Prices

6. Fender CD-140SCE 12-String

Compare

Fender CD-140SCE 12-String

FIND IT ON:

Playability 77

Sound 83

Build quality 74

Value for money 88

Overall Score 78

What our users think

Neck profile shape: C (4 votes)
Neck speed (thickness): Slightly chunky (3 votes)
Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (1 vote)
Pickups power: Clean (1 vote)

Own it? Share your opinion

FIND IT ON:

5 Prices - New from $449.99 >
From Fender's 2017 Classic Design series
Made in Indonesia
12 strings
25.3"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Solid Spruce top
Laminated Ovangkol back
Laminated Ovangkol sides
Mahogany neck
Walnut fretboard
Bridge pickup: Fishman CD-1 Preamp (Preamp/Passive)
Walnut bridge
Acoustic Fender 'Easy-to-Play' shape with rolled fretboard edges Set neck
20 Vintage frets
Chrome Die-Cast tuners
See all specs and compare >

Show all Specs

5 Prices - New from $449.99 >
From Fender's 2017 Classic Design series
Made in Indonesia
12 strings
25.3"'' scale
12" Fretboard Radius
Solid Spruce top
Laminated Ovangkol back
Laminated Ovangkol sides
Mahogany neck
Walnut fretboard
Bridge pickup: Fishman CD-1 Preamp (Preamp/Passive)
Walnut bridge
Acoustic Fender 'Easy-to-Play' shape with rolled fretboard edges Set neck
20 Vintage frets
Chrome Die-Cast tuners
See all specs and compare >

Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender CD-140SCE 12-String

Expensive Wood
NuBone Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Electronics
NuBone Saddle
Solid Top Wood
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Locking Tuners
Made in Indonesia
Laminated Side Wood
Laminated Back Wood
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Strap Lock

All Prices

7. Guild D-2612CE Deluxe Antique Burst

Compare

Guild D-2612CE Deluxe Antique Burst

FIND IT ON:

Playability 73

Sound 85

Build quality 72

Value for money 82

Overall Score 77

FIND IT ON:

2 Prices - New from $689 >
From Guild's 2019 Westerly Collection series
Made in China
12 strings
25.5"'' scale
16" Fretboard Radius
Solid Sitka Spruce top
Arched Striped Ebony back
Striped Ebony sides
Mahogany neck
Pau Ferro fretboard
Bridge pickup: Guild/Fishman GT-1 with Volume and Tone controls (Preamp/Active)
Pau Ferro bridge
Acoustic Guild Westerly Collection Set neck
20 Medium frets
Guild Closed-Gear in Nickel tuners
See all specs and compare >

Show all Specs

2 Prices - New from $689 >
From Guild's 2019 Westerly Collection series
Made in China
12 strings
25.5"'' scale
16" Fretboard Radius
Solid Sitka Spruce top
Arched Striped Ebony back
Striped Ebony sides
Mahogany neck
Pau Ferro fretboard
Bridge pickup: Guild/Fishman GT-1 with Volume and Tone controls (Preamp/Active)
Pau Ferro bridge
Acoustic Guild Westerly Collection Set neck
20 Medium frets
Guild Closed-Gear in Nickel tuners
See all specs and compare >

Strengths & Weaknesses
Guild D-2612CE Deluxe Antique Burst

Expensive Wood
Bone Nut
Top Brand Pickups
Electronics
Bone Saddle
Solid Top Wood
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Locking Tuners
Made in China
Laminated Side Wood
Laminated Back Wood
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Strap Lock

All Prices

8. Ibanez AW5412CE

Compare

Ibanez AW5412CE

FIND IT ON:

Playability 73

Sound 83

Build quality 67

Value for money 84

Overall Score 74

What our users think

Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (1 vote)

Own it? Share your opinion

FIND IT ON:

1 Prices - New from $449.99 >
From Ibanez's 2019 ARTWOOD series
Made in Indonesia
12 strings
25.5"'' scale
15.748" Fretboard Radius
Solid Okoume top
Okoume back
Okoume sides
Nyatoh neck
Laurel fretboard
Bridge pickup: Ibanez T-bar Undersaddle (Preamp/Active)
Laurel bridge
Acoustic C Shape Set neck
20 Medium frets
Ibanez tuners
See all specs and compare >

Show all Specs

1 Prices - New from $449.99 >
From Ibanez's 2019 ARTWOOD series
Made in Indonesia
12 strings
25.5"'' scale
15.748" Fretboard Radius
Solid Okoume top
Okoume back
Okoume sides
Nyatoh neck
Laurel fretboard
Bridge pickup: Ibanez T-bar Undersaddle (Preamp/Active)
Laurel bridge
Acoustic C Shape Set neck
20 Medium frets
Ibanez tuners
See all specs and compare >

Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez AW5412CE

Electronics
Solid Top Wood
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Locking Tuners
Made in Indonesia
No Expensive Woods
No High-Quality Nut
No Top Brand Pickups
Low-Quality Material Saddle
Laminated Side Wood
Laminated Back Wood
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Strap Lock

All Prices

New from $449.99 >>

9. Yamaha FG820-12

Compare

Yamaha FG820-12

FIND IT ON:

Playability 80

Sound 80

Build quality 60

Value for money 83

Overall Score 73

What our users think

Fret edges: Smooth (2 votes)
Tuning stability: Not bad (2 votes)
Weight: Lightweight (2 votes)
Neck profile shape: C (14 votes)
Neck speed (thickness): Fast (15 votes)

Own it? Share your opinion

FIND IT ON:

5 Prices - New from $399.99 >
From Yamaha's 2016 FG / FGX series
Made in China
12 strings
25"'' scale
15.75" Fretboard Radius
Solid Spruce top
Mahogany back
Mahogany sides
Nato neck
Rosewood or Walnut fretboard
Bridge pickup: (/)
Rosewood or Walnut bridge
Acoustic C Set neck
20 Medium frets
Die-Cast Chrome (TMW28) tuners
See all specs and compare >

Show all Specs

5 Prices - New from $399.99 >
From Yamaha's 2016 FG / FGX series
Made in China
12 strings
25"'' scale
15.75" Fretboard Radius
Solid Spruce top
Mahogany back
Mahogany sides
Nato neck
Rosewood or Walnut fretboard
Bridge pickup: (/)
Rosewood or Walnut bridge
Acoustic C Set neck
20 Medium frets
Die-Cast Chrome (TMW28) tuners
See all specs and compare >

Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha FG820-12

Expensive Wood
Solid Top Wood
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Locking Tuners
Made in China
No High-Quality Nut
No Top Brand Pickups
No Electronics
Low-Quality Material Saddle
Laminated Side Wood
Laminated Back Wood
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Strap Lock

All Prices

10. Harley Benton CLD-10SCE-12 BK

Compare

Harley Benton CLD-10SCE-12 BK

FIND IT ON:

Playability 73

Sound 80

Build quality 64

Value for money 82

Overall Score 72

FIND IT ON:

1 Prices - New from €279 >
From Harley Benton's 2019 Custom Line series
Made in China
12 strings
25.5"'' scale
15.748" Fretboard Radius
Spruce top
Sapele back
Sapele sides
Okoume neck
Pau Ferro fretboard
Bridge pickup: Fishman Presys-II preamp with built-in tuner (Preamp/Active)
Pau Ferro bridge
Acoustic C Shape Set neck
20 Medium frets
Chrome-plated die-cast tuners
See all specs and compare >

Show all Specs

1 Prices - New from €279 >
From Harley Benton's 2019 Custom Line series
Made in China
12 strings
25.5"'' scale
15.748" Fretboard Radius
Spruce top
Sapele back
Sapele sides
Okoume neck
Pau Ferro fretboard
Bridge pickup: Fishman Presys-II preamp with built-in tuner (Preamp/Active)
Pau Ferro bridge
Acoustic C Shape Set neck
20 Medium frets
Chrome-plated die-cast tuners
See all specs and compare >

Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton CLD-10SCE-12 BK

Top Brand Pickups
Electronics
Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
No Locking Tuners
Made in China
No Expensive Woods
No High-Quality Nut
Low-Quality Material Saddle
Laminated Top Wood
Laminated Side Wood
Laminated Back Wood
No Compound Radius Fretboard
No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
No Strap Lock

All Prices

New from €279 >>