Taylor 212ce and 222ce-K DLX

A new pair of Grand Concerts expands Taylor’s 200 series.

October 18, 2023

Taylor’s grand concert–size models have long been preferred by guitarists looking for instruments with a balanced tonality and a high degree of playing comfort. Fingerstyle players in particular have gravitated toward these guitars, but many guitarists who want a smaller-bodied guitar suited for any style onstage or in the studio have also found that Taylor’s grand concerts fit the bill. Taylor has just introduced two new grand concerts to its affordable 200 series, the 212ce and the 222ce-K DLX. We had a chance to check out both guitars, and in this video, I demo them in the Peghead Nation studio.

Though the 212ce and 222ce-K DLX share the same body size, overall dimensions, construction style, and general feel, they’re very different guitars. Built with layered rosewood back and sides and a solid Sitka spruce top, the 212ce features simple appointments and an emphasis on functionality. The 222ce-K DLX on the other hand is built with figured koa (layered for the back and sides, solid for the top) and has an edgeburst finish, gold tuners, and more elaborate appointments in general. These features put the 222ce-K DLX at the upper end of the 200–series price spectrum, though it’s still far below the cost of other Taylor koa guitars.

Like other 200–series Taylors, both guitars have necks that are 1¹¹/₁₆ inches wide at the nut, which is slightly narrower than the 1¾-inch necks found on most current Taylors from the 300 series on up. The guitars also have traditional X-bracing of the top (rather than V-Class bracing), and slightly arched backs with no bracing. As indicated in the “ce” in the model names, the guitars also have cutaways and include Taylor’s ES2 pickup systems. The 212ce comes with Taylor’s Structured Gig Bag, while the 222ce-K DLX includes a standard Taylor hard-shell case.

Both guitars have the typical smooth Taylor feel and playability. Short scales and low action make the instruments easy on the fingers, and of course the small bodies are easy to hold, whether you’re sitting or standing with the guitar on a strap. Both guitars’ wood combinations have been used on other Taylor grand concerts for decades, and the 212ce and 222ce-K DLX meet the expectations set by those precedents. The spruce-topped 212ce has a more elastic character, with a rich low end, big dynamic range, and quick response when playing fingerstyle. The koa 222ce-K DLX has a more pronounced midrange, some natural compression when played harder, and lovely sustain. Both guitars sound great in a variety styles, making the tonal preference a personal choice. In the video, I compare the guitars’ sounds by going back-and-forth between them while playing similar fingerstyle and strumming phrases on each instrument.

Overall, both the 212ce and 222ce-K DLX are great enrichments to Taylor’s line. Whether you’ve been hoping for a more affordable rosewood/spruce version of a grand concert or have been wishing for a fancy koa instrument that doesn’t cost as much as higher-end Taylors, these new models are definitely worth checking out.

SPECS 212ce: Cutaway grand-concert body. Sitka spruce with X- bracing. Layered Indian rosewood back and sides. Neo-tropical mahogany neck. West African crelicam ebony fingerboard and bridge. 24⅞-inch scale. 1¹¹/₁₆-inch nut width. Nickel tuning machines. Expression System 2 electronics. Made in Mexico. $1,099 street.

SPECS 222ce-K DLX: Cutaway grand-concert body. Koa with X- bracing. Layered koa back and sides. Neo-tropical mahogany neck. West African crelicam ebony fingerboard and bridge. 24⅞-inch scale. 1¹¹/₁₆-inch nut width. Gold tuning machines. Expression System 2 electronics. Made in Mexico. $1,899 street. Taylorguitars.com

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