Best 12 String Acoustic Guitar (2026): 5 Picks Compared

Updated Oct 24, 2026 · By Jonah Mercer · Ranked from listed specifications · How we rank

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The Fender CD-140SCE 12-String leads this list for Best Overall: a solid spruce top, a single-cutaway dreadnought body and a Fishman pickup and preamp in one guitar. It also comes with a hardshell case, which keeps the full bundle together from day one.

The picks at a glance

#	Pick	Product
1	Best Overall	Fender CD-140SCE 12-String Acoustic Electric Guitar	Check on Amazon
2	Runner-Up	Ibanez AEG5012 12-string Acoustic-electric Guitar	Check on Amazon
3	Also Great	JANEROCK 12 String Acoustic Guitar Cutaway	Check on Amazon
4	Also Great	Yamaha FG820 12-String Solid Top Acoustic Guitar	Check on Amazon
5	Also Great	FENDER CD-60SCE DREADNOUGHT 12 STRING ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC	Check on Amazon

Which one should you buy?

Players who want a cutaway dreadnought with a pickup: Fender CD-140SCE 12-String Acoustic Electric Guitar See pick 1
Players who want a black 12-string acoustic-electric: Ibanez AEG5012 12-string Acoustic-electric Guitar See pick 2More picks: Best Acoustic Guitar with Electric
Players who want a dreadnought bundle with a tuner: JANEROCK 12 String Acoustic Guitar Cutaway See pick 3
Players who want a solid Sitka spruce top: Yamaha FG820 12-String Solid Top Acoustic Guitar See pick 4
Players who want a dreadnought 12-string acoustic-electric: FENDER CD-60SCE DREADNOUGHT 12 STRING ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC See pick 5

The 5 picks, ranked

1Best Overall

Fender CD-140SCE 12-String Acoustic Electric Guitar

Solid top
Built-in pickup / EQ
Cutaway
Case or gig bag included
Body shape: Dreadnought
Top wood: Solid Spruce
2-year warranty stated

9.8Spec score View on Amazon

It earns Best Overall as a single-cutaway dreadnought with a solid spruce top, a Fishman pickup and preamp, and a hardshell case in the box.

Who it suits

Players who want a cutaway dreadnought with a pickup
Buyers who want a hardshell case in the box

Skip it if

Players who want a guitar under 10 lb
Buyers who want a spruce top with mahogany back and sides

The body pairs a solid spruce top with scalloped X-bracing and ovangkol back and sides, and the neck uses spruce with an ovangkol fingerboard. The Fishman CD pickup and preamp send the signal through a 1/4 inch mono phone plug connector. The hardshell case comes in the box, and the guitar carries a 2-year warranty.

2Runner-Up

Ibanez AEG5012 12-string Acoustic-electric Guitar

Solid top not stated in the listing
Built-in pickup / EQ
Cutaway not stated in the listing
Top wood: Spruce
1-year warranty stated

9.5Spec score View on Amazon

It holds Runner-Up as a 12-string acoustic-electric with a spruce top, sapele back and sides, and a piezo pickup configuration.

Who it suits

Players who want a black 12-string acoustic-electric
Buyers who want a spruce top with sapele back and sides

Skip it if

Players who want a guitar under 8.6 lb
Buyers who want a 12-string in a natural finish

The guitar pairs a spruce top with sapele back and sides, an okoume neck and a purpleheart fingerboard. It is a 12-string acoustic-electric in black, with a piezo pickup configuration and a 1/4 inch connector. It weighs 8.6 lb and carries a 1-year warranty.

3Also Great

JANEROCK 12 String Acoustic Guitar Cutaway

Solid top not stated in the listing
Built-in pickup / EQ not stated in the listing
Cutaway
Case or gig bag included
Body shape: Dreadnought
Top wood: Spruce

9.5Spec score View on Amazon

It earns Also Great as a dreadnought bundle with a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and an adjustable truss rod.

Who it suits

Players who want a dreadnought bundle with a tuner
Buyers who want a gig bag, strap and picks included

Skip it if

Players who want a 12-string with a 25.3-inch scale length
Buyers who want a 12-string in a natural finish

The bundle holds a gig bag, a tuner, strings, a strap and picks alongside the guitar. The dreadnought body pairs a spruce top with mahogany back and sides, and the neck uses mahogany with a peltogyne fingerboard. The built-in adjustable truss rod keeps the neck stable and helps hold tuning.

4Also Great

Yamaha FG820 12-String Solid Top Acoustic Guitar

Solid top
Built-in pickup / EQ not stated in the listing
Cutaway not stated in the listing
Top wood: Solid Sitka Spruce
1 year warranty stated

9.0Spec score View on Amazon

It earns Also Great with a solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a rosewood fingerboard and bridge.

Who it suits

Players who want a solid Sitka spruce top
Buyers who want a rosewood fingerboard and bridge

Skip it if

Players who want a guitar under 7.5 lb
Buyers who want a 12-string in a black finish

The dreadnought body pairs a solid Sitka spruce top with mahogany back and sides, and the fingerboard and bridge use rosewood. Diecast tuners and an adjustable truss rod round out the hardware. It weighs 7.5 lb and carries a 1 year warranty.

5Also Great

FENDER CD-60SCE DREADNOUGHT 12 STRING ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC

Solid top not stated in the listing
Built-in pickup / EQ
Cutaway not stated in the listing
Body shape: Dreadnought
Top wood: Ash Wood, Mahogany Wood
1-year warranty stated

9.0Spec score View on Amazon

It earns Also Great as a dreadnought 12-string acoustic-electric with a walnut fingerboard and a 25.3-inch scale length.

Who it suits

Players who want a dreadnought 12-string acoustic-electric
Buyers who want a walnut fingerboard and phosphor bronze strings

Skip it if

Players who want a guitar under 9.5 lb
Buyers who want a 12-string with a 25-inch scale length

The strings are phosphor bronze, the scale length is 25.3 inches, and the string nut width is 1.77 inches. It weighs 9.5 lb and carries a 1-year warranty.

Side by side

Product	Solid top	Built-in pickup / EQ	Cutaway	Case or gig bag included	Body shape	Top wood	Weight	Warranty
Fender CD-140SCE 12-String Acoustic Electric Guitar	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Dreadnought	Solid Spruce	10 lb	2-year
Ibanez AEG5012 12-string Acoustic-electric Guitar	Not stated	Yes	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	Spruce	8.6 lb	1-year
JANEROCK 12 String Acoustic Guitar Cutaway	Not stated	Not stated	Yes	Yes	Dreadnought	Spruce	Not stated	Not stated
Yamaha FG820 12-String Solid Top Acoustic Guitar	Yes	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	Solid Sitka Spruce	7.5 lb	1 year
FENDER CD-60SCE DREADNOUGHT 12 STRING ACOUSTIC ELECTRIC	Not stated	Yes	Not stated	Not stated	Dreadnought	Ash Wood, Mahogany Wood	9.5 lb	1-year

How we ranked these acoustic guitars

Every pick has at least 100 customer ratings on Amazon and a listing with real specifications. The order mixes two things: how each model compares on the specs below (higher share of the best value in this group scores more), and how widely it is bought. The spec score runs from 9.0 to 9.8 and only compares these picks with each other. A spec the listing does not state is left out and the other specs are re-weighted; a listing with fewer than 2 stated specs is scored at half. We do not test gear in person. Full method.

Solid top weight 3
Built-in pickup / EQ weight 2
Cutaway weight 1
Case or gig bag included weight 1

Buying advice: 12 string acoustic guitar

Start with the top wood

The Fender CD-140SCE and the Yamaha FG820 both have solid tops, so compare those two first if a solid top matters to you. Then check the back and sides wood, since ovangkol, sapele and mahogany appear across this list.

Decide if you need a pickup

A built-in pickup and preamp lets you plug the guitar into an amp or a PA through a 1/4 inch connector. The Fender CD-140SCE, the Ibanez AEG5012 and the Fender CD-60SCE are acoustic-electric guitars with that setup. If you plan to plug into an amp or a PA, start with those picks and compare their tops and bodies.

Check the cutaway and the case

A cutaway is a scooped section of the body beside the neck, and it gives your hand room to reach the higher frets. The Fender CD-140SCE and the JANEROCK guitar both have a cutaway body. For carrying and storage, the Fender CD-140SCE comes with a hardshell case and the JANEROCK bundle comes with a gig bag, a tuner, strings, a strap and picks.

Frequently asked questions

What makes a 12-string acoustic guitar different?

A 12-string guitar carries 12 strings, with two strings at each playing position. The Fender CD-140SCE, the Ibanez AEG5012, the JANEROCK, the Yamaha FG820 and the Fender CD-60SCE are all 12-string guitars.

Do I need a pickup in a 12-string guitar?

Only if you plan to plug into an amp or a PA. The Fender CD-140SCE, the Ibanez AEG5012 and the Fender CD-60SCE are acoustic-electric guitars with a built-in pickup and preamp, so start with those picks if plugging in matters to you.

What comes in the box with these guitars?

It depends on the pick. The Fender CD-140SCE comes with a hardshell case, and the JANEROCK bundle comes with a gig bag, a tuner, strings, a strap and picks.

Is a solid top worth looking for?

A solid top is one piece of wood for the top, and it is a useful spec to compare when you shortlist guitars. The Fender CD-140SCE has a solid spruce top and the Yamaha FG820 has a solid Sitka spruce top, so compare those two first if a solid top matters to you.