Taylor 522Ce V-Class (085)

Like Taylor’s other 12-fret models, this all-mahogany Grand Concert takes playability to another level with a slinky handfeel on the strings and a surprisingly warm and powerful voice. The 24-7/8-inch scale length condenses the fret spacing and reduces the string tension, and the more central bridge position on the lower bout enables the top to pump out a stronger response. This year, we’ve added V-Class bracing, which boosts the projection and sustain and brings out more of mahogany’s natural warmth, while adding a touch of extra headroom for more aggressive playing. The V-Class architecture also improves the intonation in a noticeable way, creating more harmonic agreement between notes. Aesthetic refinements include a shaded edgeburst body and neck, faux tortoise shell binding, a rosette of faux tortoise shell framed by grained ivoroid, and a grained ivoroid Century fretboard inlay. A Venetian cutaway gives you more access to the upper register, while Taylor’s stage-ready ES2 electronics capture the guitar’s tonal nuances in amplified settings.