Taylor’s Grand Theater guitars have quickly become a runaway success. After introducing the GT Urban Ash in the fall of 2020, the line has grown with several new models introduced this year, including the high-end GT 611e LTD and the affordably priced GTe Mahogany and GTe Blacktop. I’ve had a chance to spend time with all three, and in this video, I demo the GTe Mahogany.
Built with a level of appointments similar to the original GT Urban Ash (the two models also share the same retail price of $1,699), the GTe Mahogany has solid tropical mahogany top, back, and sides. Taylor is no stranger to building complete bodies with hard woods (the latest other example being the AD22e), and the woods used on the GTe Mahogany have a lovely dark color and attractive figure highlighted by the guitar’s ultrathin finish. Like the GT Urban Ash (as well as Taylor’s American Dream guitars), the GTe Mahogany has a smoked eucalyptus fingerboard and bridge.
With a body width of 15 inches at the lower bout, the Taylor GT body is just a touch smaller than the company’s Grand Concert, but with a shorter scale and stouter body proportions it feels significantly more compact. These dimensions contribute to the GT’s greatest asset: the instrument’s playability is unbeatable. In addition to being comfortable to hold, the short scale facilitates multi-fret reaches, and Taylor’s typical low-action setup further enhances the ease with which the GTe Mahogany can be handled.
All the Grand Theaters I’ve played have delivered a bigger and richer sound than you would expect from the guitars’ size. Without a doubt, designer Andy Powers’ asymmetrical C-Class bracing is a factor, as is the overall lightweight construction. In the case of the GTe Mahogany, the result is a rich, warm sound that has the slightly compressed character typically associated with hardwood tops. The guitar has a lovely strumming voice and great balance when played fingerstyle. These qualities also helped create an excellent amplified sound when I plugged the guitar into our Fishman Loudbox Mini Charge using the onboard Taylor ES2 electronics.
Like its siblings, the GTe Mahogany has a lot to offer. It’s a great choice for smaller players who struggle with larger guitars. But it’s also a wonderful “couch guitar” to keep within easy reach when inspiration strikes. And beginning and developing players will find that the effortless playability of all the GTs will facilitate learning new techniques. Beyond all that, the GTe Mahogany is a fabulously fun guitar to play!
SPECS: Grand Theater body. Solid tropical mahogany top with C-Class bracing. Solid tropical mahogany back and sides. Smoked eucalyptus fingerboard and bridge. 24⅛ -inch scale. 1²³/₃₂-inch nut width. Nickel Taylor tuning machines. ES2 electronics. Made in USA. $1,699 street. Taylorguitars.com
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