Sponsored By
 
Taylor 712e 12-Fret
 
Taylor’s latest rosewood grand concert guitar, designed by Taylor's master luthier Andy Powers.
October 12, 2016

Taylor Guitars’ Andy Powers recently reworked the company’s 700 series, and we had a chance to check out the redesigned line’s grand concert model, the 712e 12-Fret. The guitar’s 12-fret neck, slotted headstock, and sunburst finish give this otherwise contemporary instrument a cool vintage vibe. It’s built with a beautiful set of Indian rosewood back and sides and a top of Lutz spruce, a naturally occurring hybrid that Taylor says tends to be stiffer than the more common Sitka spruce. The Lutz top should also help distinguish Taylor’s new 700 series from its other rosewood lines (the 800 and 900 series). The guitar’s tasteful appointments have also been updated, with new snowflake-style abalone position markers in the fingerboard, beautiful koa binding, and herringbone-pattern purfling and rosette cleverly made from bias-cut Douglas fir.

With its 12-fret neck and short scale, the 712e 12-Fret is about as easy to play as a steel-string guitar could be. Anyone who has struggled with playability issues should check out one of Taylor’s 12-fret grand concerts: the sheer ease of fretting could be revelatory. The 712e 12-Fret had a big dynamic range that allowed it to develop rich tone when played softly or with some force, and it had a high degree of sonic complexity.

We ran the guitar’s Expression System 2 electronics through a Fishman Loudbox Mini amp and, as we’ve experienced with other Taylors using this system, the guitar sounded essentially like its acoustic self, but louder. Overall, the new Taylor 712e 12-Fret is an excellent choice for anyone looking for an easy-playing grand concert with a big sound and high-quality electronics.

SPECS: Grand concert body with cutaway. Solid Lutz spruce top. Solid indian rosewood back and sides. Ebony fingerboard and bridge. 24⅞-inch scale. 1¾-inch nut width. Slotted headstock. Open-gear tuning machines. Expression System 2 electronics. Made in USA. $4,098 list. Taylorguitars.com

Related New Gear Posts
 

Taylor 400 Series

Taylor updates its popular mid-level line with sunburst finishes and a completely new Grand Pacific version.

Read More

 

Taylor American Dream Sunburst Series

A trio of guitars in Grand Theater, Grand Concert, and Grand Pacific sizes.

Read More

 

Taylor Academy Series 20e and 22e

New versions of Taylor’s popular entry-level models feature walnut construction.

Read More

 

Taylor 514ce

A completely revamped Taylor classic built with urban red ironbark wood.

Read More

 

Taylor 512ce

A new take on a Taylor classic, using urban red ironbark wood.

Read More

 

Taylor 724ce

A new all-koa grand auditorium that’s part of the revamped 700 series.

Read More

 

Taylor 722ce

A revamped 700-series grand concert now features Hawaiian koa wood.

Read More

 

Taylor GTe Blacktop

A Grand Theater model built with walnut and spruce and featuring a black top finish.

Read More

 

Taylor GTe Mahogany

An all-mahogany version of Taylor’s compact Grand Theater

Read More

 

Taylor GT 611e LTD

A gorgeous Grand Theater–size guitar built with maple and spruce.

Read More

 
Sponsored By
 
 
 
Peghead Partners
 
D Deluxe Mahogany | Froggy Bottom Guitars
Eric Wiggs flatpicks on a Froggy Bottom dreadnought at Wildwood Guitars.
 
 
 
 
 
  Follow Us:  
 
  About Us       Shop         Support         Contact Us         Email Sign up         Advertise         Sitemap         FAQ         Privacy         Terms         Subscribe   Sign In  
 
    ● Courses
    ● Live Workshops
    ● Instructors
    ● Sample Lessons
    ● Notation Guide
    ● For Beginners
 
    ● Workshops
    ● Advice
    ● Repertoire
 
    ● Vintage Vault
    ● New Gear
    ● Fine Lutherie
 
    ● Recordings
    ● Events
    ● Breaking News
 
    ● In The Studio
    ● Live Onstage
    ● Backroom
 
    ● New Products
    ● Inside Look
    ● Performances
    ● Partner Pages
 
 
© Copyright 2020 PegheadNation.com
 
 
    ● Courses
    ● Live Workshops
    ● Instructors
    ● Sample Lessons
    ● Notation Guide
    ● For Beginners
 
 
    ● Vintage Vault
    ● New Gear
    ● Fine Lutherie
 
 
    ● Workshops
    ● Advice
    ● Repertoire
 
 
    ● Recordings
    ● Events
    ● Breaking News
 
 
    ● In The Studio
    ● Live Onstage
    ● Backroom
 
 
    ● New Products
    ● Inside Look
    ● Performances
    ● Partner Pages
 
 
© Copyright 2020 PegheadNation.com