Taylor Guitars has released a new entry-level series of guitars called the Academy Series. Available in dreadnought, grand concert, and nylon-string versions, the guitars have Taylor’s legendary playability and high-quality construction but with street prices of under $500.

In this video, shot at Taylor’s 2017 Winter NAMM show booth, master luthier Andy Powers talks about and demonstrates the dreadnought A10e model. Built with a solid spruce top and layered sapele back and sides, the Academy Series guitars include a simplified version of Taylor’s armrest and a short 24⅞-inch scale, giving the instruments great comfort and playability. Optional ES-B electronics (a version of Taylor’s Expression System 2 pickup with a new preamp and tuner) allow the instruments to be amplified easily.

Watch for full Peghead Nation studio demos of the entire Academy Series coming soon!

SPECS: Dreadnought body. Solid Sitka spruce top. Layered sapele back and sides. Ebony fingerboard and bridge. 24⅞-inch scale. 1¹¹/₁₆-inch nut width. Chrome tuning machines. Optional Taylor ES-B electronics. Made in Mexico. Starting at $499 street. Taylorguitars.com

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