2014 Fall Limited 512ce-FLTD Grand Concert 12-Fret Venetian Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Taylor's 12-fret 512ce--FLTD Grand Concert blends the intimate feel of a small body and short-scale neck with a slightly meatier sound than Taylor's 14-fret Grand Concerts (due in part to the shifted bridge location on the top). Together with blackwood/spruce wood pairing, you can expect a guitar thats great for both fingerstyle and more dynamic picking and strumming, flavored by blackwoods koa-meets-rosewood tone profile, which blends midrange warmth and clarity with treble sparkle. Visually, the slotted headstock, shaded edgeburst treatment, and ivoroid appointments suggest a vintage personality, while Taylors Expression System 2 pickup delivers superb amplified tone.

Tasmanian Blackwood
Tasmanian blackwood is an acacia wood species thats a close cousin of Hawaiian koa. Though it might not match koas cachet in terms of exotic beauty, its tonal range is similar, and visually it often exhibits some of koas same character traits. Blackwood also is sourced from forests that are responsibly managed, making it a sustainable wood for guitar making. Blackwood takes koas basic tonal profile (a blend of mahoganys meaty midrange and maples brightness) and adds a splash of rosewoods overtone bloom.

Grand Concert
The small-body Grand Concert debuted in 1984 to meet the needs of a new wave of adventurous acoustic fingerstyle players. In contrast to the traditionally darker, boomier voices of bigger body styles like dreadnoughts and jumbos, the GCs compact size and tapered waist kept the overtones in check. It was also more comfortable to play while sitting down, and the guitars slightly wider neck gave players more room for complex fingerings. The GCs smaller sonic footprint also fit cleanly in a mix with other instruments when tracking in the studio and with a band on stage, making it a useful tool for professional session and side players. Taylor's current generation of GC models continues to accommodate fingerstylists with finger-friendly traits like a shorter 24-7/8" scale length, which makes fretting easier and adds a slightly slinkier feel on the strings due to the lighter string tension. If you feel more comfortable with a small body or favor controlled overtones, a Grand Concert is a great option.

12-String Bracing
Twelve-strings generally employ heavier braces than 6-strings in order to handle the increased tension of twice the number of strings, and to prevent the top from being overdriven. Taylor 12-strings have thicker tops, thicker pin plates, and heavier, non-scalloped bracing, to support the top and adequately amplify the tone of the guitar.

Expression 2 Electronics
The Taylor Expression System 2 (ES2) is a revolutionary pickup design that delivers the latest in Taylors ongoing innovation in acoustic guitar amplification. The heart of the Expression System 2 is Taylors proprietary behind-the-saddle pickup, which features three uniquely positioned and individually calibrated pickup sensors. The location of the sensors enables a more dynamic range of acoustic sound to be captured than ever before. Together with Taylors custom-designed œprofessional audio-grade preamp, this system produces exceptional amplified tone and responsiveness. On stage through a PA, plugged into your favorite acoustic amplifier, or direct into recording software, the Expression System 2 faithfully conveys the voice of your Taylor guitar.