Having unveiled its innovative V-Class bracing system in 2018 and Grand Pacific guitars last year, Taylor is adding four new models to the Builder’s Edition collection, which now includes nine instruments.
At the top of the line is the 816ce, a Grand Symphony sporting V-Class bracing and a scooped cutaway with soundport. The guitar has a relatively short scale length of 24-7/8 inches and was crafted by master guitar designer Andy Powers to be highly touch-sensitive, with an orchestral voice.
The 324ce, which also has V-Class bracing, highlight’s Taylor’s ongoing commitment to ethical and sustainable wood-sourcing. The back and sides are made from urban ash—a tonewood, comparable to Honduran mahogany, sourced from trees removed for safety and other reasons in Southern California’s municipal canopy.
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In a different direction, the 912ce and 652ce represent the first Grand Concert models in the Builder’s Edition series. Both were designed as fine acoustics for guitarists who play primarily electric.
The 912ce, which pairs a Lutz spruce top with Indian rosewood back and sides, is said to have a rich, articulate voice, with a quick attack and evenness across the sonic spectrum—ideal for recording.
A sleek and compact 12-string, the 652ce has a torrefied Sitka spruce top and big-leaf maple back and sides. It’s reverse-strung, for an emphasis on the fundamental notes, and is highly playable for a 12-string.
Looking at the Player’s Edition collection on the whole, Powers says, “It’s meant to be a limitless expression of our instrument-building imagination. I want to make guitars that are more player-centric than anything we’ve done before.”