A 12-string is one of those instruments that either grabs you or it does not. If you have heard that shimmering, chorus-like sound and decided you need it in your playing, the Takamine GD30CE-12 BLK is a serious place to start without spending serious money. At $749 it gives you a real gigging 12-string with electronics, a cutaway, and a finish that looks sharp on stage.

The spruce top over mahogany back and sides handles the extra string tension well and delivers that signature 12-string fullness without sounding muddy or undefined. The dreadnought body with a cutaway is a practical choice for this kind of guitar because 12-strings can feel cumbersome to play up the neck. The cutaway helps. The black gloss finish is clean and stage-ready.

Takamine's TP-4T preamp with built-in chromatic tuner rounds out the package. Keeping a 12-string in tune is a real concern and having the tuner built in rather than clipped to the headstock makes a difference when you are in a live situation and trying to get set up quickly. The preamp sounds clean and gives you enough control to work with most PA systems without fighting the mix.

12-strings take a little getting used to. If you are not sure this is the instrument for you, come into our Charleston WV store or the New Albany Ohio showroom and play it. We would rather you get the right guitar than sell you something that ends up in the closet. Order online and pick up in store if you are ready to go, and Affirm financing is available at checkout to spread the cost out.

The Pied Piper has been family owned since 1967. We inspect every instrument before it leaves, and we have trusted repair people in Ohio and West Virginia if you need service down the road.

Body Style: Dreadnought Cutaway
Strings: 12-String
Top: Spruce
Back and Sides: Mahogany
Fretboard: Rosewood
Electronics: Takamine TP-4T Preamp with Built-In Chromatic Tuner
Finish: Black Gloss
Handed: Right-Handed