Wtb: Smallish Mid-Expensive Quality 12-fret Acoustic Guitar

[cynic]

I've been half-assedly looking around for a small acoustic for my granddaughter to replace one destroyed by a younger sibling.  My daughter is shit for teaching kids how to take care of things.

Long story short, she asked if I would give her one of my guitars to replace it and I explained I didn't feel good about giving her one of mine while the threat (seriously, they're fucking brutal) still exists.  She really enjoyed playing and was making progress so it felt a little shitty to tell her no.

She's about to start her senior year of high school and I'm thinking I might give her something reasonably nice ($1000-$1500) for her graduation if her plans to move away from the terrors hold firm.

Anyway, I'm aware of the usual suspects but am wondering if anyone can recommend any hidden gems.  I ran across Pono which looks interesting.  They're primarily a Uke company but have dabbled in smaller guitars.  Any ideas or suggestions would be great, as well as any offers for something you've got laying around that would be well suited for a five-foot tall woman with mini hands.  12-fret body and shorter scale are a plus.

Edited August 9 by cynic

[RobB]

On 8/8/2026 at 11:38 AM, cynic said:

She's about to start her senior year of high school and I'm thinking I might give her something reasonably nice ($1000-$1500) for her graduation if her plans to move away from the terrors hold firm.

Anyway, I'm aware of the usual suspects but am wondering if anyone can recommend any hidden gems.  I ran across Pono which looks interesting.  They're primarily a Uke company but have dabbled in smaller guitars.  Any ideas or suggestions would be great, as well as any offers for something you've got laying around that would be well suited for a five-foot tall woman with mini hands.  12-fret body and shorter scale are a plus.

Any of the mid-line, small-bodied Taylors are a good choice, especially used. They are very durable, play easily and sound nice. 

Edited August 11 by RobB

[BoogieMKIIA]

Second a Taylor, also Larrivee. Used will get you more and one in good shape shouldn’t be hard to find.

[BruceM]

I bought a Guild Travel Mahogany Mini Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar from Musician's Friend SDOD a couple of years ago.  I leave it sitting out in my living room and everyone that visits likes to pick it up.  They're around $250 online, but I got mine for half that because it was the SDOD.  I'll take it outside when my young neighbor girls want to strum a bit (they're in the 5-8 age range), and it works great for their small hands.

[Saul Goodman]

Is he saying 12 string or 12 fret?

[stedge]

I found a used (looked unused) rainsong parlor 12 fret for 1300.   It is a wonderful guitar, small, and impervious to humidity and other issues.   So possibly great for someone going into the next phase of life, moving a lot, etc.  obviously the issue is finding one, just depends on your timeframe

[velorush]

2 hours ago, Saul Goodman said:

Is he saying 12 string or 12 fret?

12-fret (as opposed to the more typical modern acoustic that attaches to the body at the 14th fret). They're shorter guitars, all things being equal. Sound different, too. 

[RobB]

[Dave Scepter]

Honestly, I think you people are nuts for spending that kind of money... for now, I would go to shopgoodwill.com... There's over 1,200+ items under "Acoustic guitar"

Source: ShopGoodwill.com https://share.google/gBGDVzyFGC1Le8HOv

Edited August 11 by Dave Scepter

[cynic]

On 8/11/2026 at 2:39 PM, Dave Scepter said:

Honestly, I think you people are nuts for spending that kind of money... for now, I would go to shopgoodwill.com

Sometime in my early 20s I reached that point in life where I value my time too much to spend it wading through other peoples trash hoping to find a hidden gem.

That said, I also started shopping thrift stores for clothes around that time and at 60years old I still do.  Love the thrift model but I ain't about to use it when shopping for guitars.

[tomteriffic]

I'd forgotten about the Recording Kings.  Very nice for the money.  I'd also suggest a Taylor GS Mini. They play bigger than their size.  

[cynic]

I guess for clarification, I am looking for something mid to high end, depending on make/model.  So I'm kinda all-in for solid woods and gloss finishes.  In a perfect world it's something she treasures for a lifetime.  In a not-so-perfect world, she can make enough selling it to pay for something she treasures for a lifetime.

 

On 8/9/2026 at 5:55 PM, Saul Goodman said:

Is he saying 12 string or 12 fret?

 

Great question, and maybe I didn't say it correctly.  I mean 12-fret, which is a guitar with a neck that joins the body at the 12th fret.  That eliminates a large swath outta the gate, but I'm of the mind that smaller bodies benefit from having the bridge moved back.

Someone suggested Larrivee and if I could I would.  I used to have a Larrivee P-01 which was fantastic and would be a perfect match if it were better appointed.  Getting into something a little nicer with a gloss finish means the P-05 and even used examples break my budget.  It was actually my P-01 that has me convinced a 12-fret is the way to go.

Lots of Taylor suggestions but from what I've found Taylor only offers the 12-fret neck joint in their bigger-than-baby sized Grand Concert and I worry that's a little bigger body than would be comfortable for her (she's 17 and a short 5').  

 

[Saul Goodman]

12 minutes ago, cynic said:

I guess for clarification, I am looking for something mid to high end, depending on make/model.  So I'm kinda all-in for solid woods and gloss finishes.  In a perfect world it's something she treasures for a lifetime.  In a not-so-perfect world, she can make enough selling it to pay for something she treasures for a lifetime.

 

 

Great question, and maybe I didn't say it correctly.  I mean 12-fret, which is a guitar with a neck that joins the body at the 12th fret.  That eliminates a large swath outta the gate, but I'm of the mind that smaller bodies benefit from having the bridge moved back.

Someone suggested Larrivee and if I could I would.  I used to have a Larrivee P-01 which was fantastic and would be a perfect match if it were better appointed.  Getting into something a little nicer with a gloss finish means the P-05 and even used examples break my budget.  It was actually my P-01 that has me convinced a 12-fret is the way to go.

Lots of Taylor suggestions but from what I've found Taylor only offers the 12-fret neck joint in their bigger-than-baby sized Grand Concert and I worry that's a little bigger body than would be comfortable for her (she's 17 and a short 5').  

 

I thought that's what you meant but someone mentioned 12 strings and so I questioned myself as I usually do. Any way, the Takamine Peak was a great guitar I had when it came out in 2013 for something like $745. I see they are selling on Reverb for double, or at least asking double.

It has this cute little guy on a summit for the 12th marker.

There is a more expensive model with larger clouds and possibly hand built or different woods. I can't remember the difference but I got this guy and really liked it.

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Saul Goodman