Small is beautiful: why Taylor’s 12-fret Next Generation guitars are the ultimate player’s guitars
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For decades now, Taylor Guitars has been helping musicians sound better, while keeping things compact. After all, when Bob Taylor designed the Grand Auditorium body shape back in 1994, part of what made it so revolutionary was the fact that it was a much smaller-bodied guitar than the dreadnoughts and jumbos that had dominated most of the recent past of acoustic guitar – and yet it still felt every bit the grown-up guitar in both tone and feel.
Over the following 30-plus years, Taylor has continued to make an art form out of smaller-bodied instruments – whether that’s the Baby Taylor or the wildly popular GS Mini – but there’s another small-bodied Taylor icon that deserves its moment in the sun. And the latest additions to Taylor’s game-changing Next Generation collection are doing just that.
The Grand Concert is Taylor’s smallest full-scale body shape, but one that has earned a legion of dedicated fans who appreciate its inviting, responsive feel, and impressively articulate voice. When Ben Harper partnered with Taylor to release his Gold Label signature model earlier this year, it was the compact dimensions of the Grand Concert that he used as the basis.
Now, the Next Generation Grand Concert models bring a fresh and exciting new character to this small-bodied gem – and in the brand new 12-fret 512ce and K22ce, you might just have found the ultimate do-it-all instrument.
Image: Taylor Guitars
Versatile, Compact, Inspiring
The 12-fret version of the Grand Concert is an unusual guitar in the Taylor catalogue, but it’s one that should be of real interest to players of all stripes. For starters, the 12-fret configuration is a perfect partner to the smaller body dimensions of a GC guitar – it makes what was already an ergonomically inviting and comfortable instrument even more so.
Anyone who has spent a lot of time with a parlor-style instrument will know that the intimate dimensions of a 12-fret small-bodied instrument are compelling regardless of your frame. That being said, if you’re a smaller player, the compact experience of a 12-fret Grand Concert guitar is something you truly need to experience – with the shorter neck making this already bijou instrument even more comfortable and natural for those with smaller hands.
But it’s not all about the accessible playing experience – the 12-fret Grand Concert models also offer tonal benefits by the bucketful. With a lush, warm voice that offers bags of rich midrange character – these guitars are compelling and sonically propositions in both of the stunning wood choices available.
The 512ce sports solid mahogany back and sides to present a punchy, focused midrange character with a dry, woody quality. It pairs beautifully with the Western Red cedar top to add a warm attack and remarkable sensitivity – your notes will bloom with depth, sweetness and clarity.
If you opt for the K22ce, you’ll be treated to Select-grade Hawaiian koa for the top, back and sides, producing an exceptionally articulate and rich midrange, and plenty of open-string resonance. Despite its small size, the properties inherent in the koa also give the guitar a charming low-end character – one that is only going to improve in terms of warmth and depth as the wood matures over its life.
Image: Taylor Guitars
Next Gen Quality
Of course the most important and exciting thing about the K22e and 512ce is that they are part of Taylor’s revolutionary new Next Generation programme, which is gradually overhauling the brand’s core line with a variety of new innovations that enhance the guitar’s playability, sound and ease of maintenance.
First among these is the new Scalloped V-Class bracing. This evolution of Andy Powers’ revolutionary V-Class bracing system offers a remarkable level of volume, sustain and pitch accuracy all the way up the neck – meaning that you can take full advantage of the guitar’s Venetian cutaway while still remaining perfectly in-tune and clear. The Scalloped version takes things further still, unlocking even greater volume and resonance, while preserving best-in-class intonation.
Another innovation at the heart of these Next Generation guitars is the Action Control Neck – offering not only better down, but much easier long-term maintenance of your guitar. The ACN’s long-tenon joint adds warmth and depth to the overall sound of the 512ce and K22ce, but that’s not all. The ACN’s patented height-adjustment system means that you can alter the action of your guitar in seconds using just a hand tool – meaning that these guitars can adapt to your playing style as you evolve as a player.
Finally, the new Claria pickup system makes plugging in and sounding great easier and more consistent than ever before. Designed with input from artists on every stage, the Claria utilises a reimagined piezo pickup to deliver clear, versatile acoustic tone every night, without hassle and fuss.
Taylor’s Next Generation guitars are already capturing the creative imaginations of musicians from across the musical spectrum, and the new 512ce and K22ce guitars open up this world to more players than ever before.
With their compact Grand Concert body shapes and shorter 12-fret necks, these are the most intimate Next Generation guitars yet. But they bring the full benefits of the range’s innovations to instruments that are perfect for musicians who cherish the way a small-bodied instrument can unlock your creativity both as a performer and a songwriter.
Small can be beautiful, as many artists have proven – but with the Next Generation 12-fret Grand Concert guitars, there are no compromises in playability, sound and versatility. All you need is a song.
Find out more about the 512ce and K22ce at taylorguitars.com
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
