A Rare Thinline 12-String with a Trick Up Its Sleeve
The Yamaha APX-9-12 is one of those instruments that turns heads the moment you mention its party trick: a built-in stereo pickup system that lets you split your 12 strings across two outputs any way you like. Mono works fine for a standard gig, but flip the selector and you can send the odd strings left and the even strings right — or the top six one way and the bottom six the other. It's a studio concept in guitar form, and it still sounds unlike anything else out there.
This Yamaha APX-9-12 is in Fair Condition: Lots of play wear over body, Fine finish scratches on guitar, A heavily used guitar in good playable condition. No major wood cracks or structural issues noted. lots of cosmetic imperfections. Back of headstock has major wear. Back of neck has a few small dents.
The thinline cutaway body keeps it comfortable in your lap and easy on your fretting hand, especially impressive for a 12-string — a format that can feel unwieldy on a full-depth acoustic. This guitar was built to be plugged in, and it delivers. No case or gigbag is included with this unit.
The Body: Thin, Light, and Built Around Electronics
The APX-9-12 uses Yamaha's signature thinline APX body with a single smooth cutaway, giving you access to the upper frets that most acoustic 12-strings simply don't offer. The oval soundhole — another APX hallmark — thickens the lower midrange response and gives the guitar a distinctive character even when played unplugged. The bracing is a scalloped X-type design, which contributes to a well-balanced acoustic response across all twelve strings.
The top is spruce, consistent with the entire APX-9 line. The neck is African mahogany with a slim profile — slim enough that players coming from electric guitars will feel right at home, and comfortable enough to play for extended sessions despite having 12 strings under your fingers.
Electronics: Three Modes of Stereo Output
The pickup system is what makes this guitar genuinely special. It uses a stereo two-way bridge and body piezo pickup configuration — two distinct transducers that can be blended or split. Onboard controls include Volume, Bass, Treble, and a Stereo Selector that routes the signal in three ways: standard mono out the endpin jack, Stereo Mode 1 (odd-numbered strings left, even-numbered strings right), or Stereo Mode 2 (top six strings left, bottom six strings right). There's also a TRS jack for the stereo output alongside the standard mono jack.
It's a remarkably sophisticated system for an instrument from the early 1990s. Players who record at home or who want to run two amps in stereo will find the routing possibilities genuinely useful — not just a novelty.
The Fingerboard and Hardware
The 24-fret extended rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays gives you more range than most acoustics, which pairs well with the cutaway. The headstock sports a black overlay with screened logo, and six-per-side chrome tuners handle the tuning duties across all twelve strings. The rosewood bridge and multi-ply body binding complete a clean, no-frills aesthetic that keeps the focus on playability and performance.
Product Features:
-
Body Style: APX thinline single smooth cutaway, oval soundhole
-
Top Wood: Spruce
-
Neck: African mahogany with slim profile
-
Fingerboard: Rosewood, 24 frets extended, pearl dot inlays
-
Bracing: Scalloped X-type design
-
Electronics: Stereo two-way bridge and body piezo pickup
-
Output Modes: Mono (endpin jack), Stereo Mode 1 (odd/even string split), Stereo Mode 2 (top 6/bottom 6 split)
-
Controls: Volume, Bass, Treble, Stereo Selector
-
Tuners: Six-per-side chrome
-
Strings: 12-string configuration
-
Condition: Fair — fully playable; cosmetic wear throughout; no major cracks or structural issues; no case or gigbag included
This is a used acoustic-electric guitar from our inventory. Pictures are of the actual item you will receive.
All used gear is sold AS IS.
Brand: Yamaha
Model: APX-9-12
SKU: U-APX-9-12
Condition: Used
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
