Time proved me wrong. It does take a little longer to tune a 12 string, and a little longer to change strings, but this extra time is minute in relation to the hours of enjoyment I get from the unique and beautiful sound.

The 12 string guitar is not a Labrador Retriever, it is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever. It does the same job, but looks and acts just a little different. The neck is a little wider to accommodate for the extra strings, but not as much as you might imagine, since the strings are really in pairs. It is just a touch tricky to finger pick a 12 string and get both strings at once, but with practice, it comes naturally after a while.

While I would not recommend a 12 string to everyone, I would recommend it to most folks who love the guitar and want to incorporate the unique and beautiful sound into their guitar playing. I learned most of the basics on an old beat up six string, but I’ve done most of my beginner to intermediate learning on the 12 and I’ve never felt hindered by it. If anything, the effect of the extra sounds hides a few of my mistakes and has allowed me to play in public sooner than I might have with a six string guitar. I think it sounds great, so I am confident, and all my friends seem to think it sounds great too. So really it is a win-win.

I’ve included a list of some great 12 strings below – in a pretty wide price range. Since I am a middle of the road guy, I have the middle one – the black Takamine. I HIGHLY recommend it because it is a perfect guitar. But then, I might be a little biased. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of these.