Spruce, sapele, and maple

The 117e upgrades Sitka spruce’s prized sound through torrefaction— a process similar to roasting — that removes water and naturally occurring sugars to produce a lightweight top that vibrates better than raw Sitka spruce. Layered sapele back and sides form the 117e’s body. Sapele is often compared to mahogany. Its richness and sustain highlight details in your playing style, and sapele fits seamlessly into practically any style of music. Paired with a smooth, hard-rock maple neck and an ebony fingerboard, it’s a recipe for sophisticated tones and empowering playability.

Grand Pacific dreadnought design

The 117e’s slope-shoulder Grand Pacific design is inspired by the Laurel Canyon acoustic scene that Taylor builders grew up near during the '60s and '70s. It's a slight departure from the traditional dreadnought shape with big results that are hard not to love. The Grand Pacific's sloped shoulders offer a smooth top end with full, balanced bass that pairs well with the human voice while an enlarged lower bout supplies ideal resonance for recording and gigging with personality.

Proprietary C-Class Bracing

Taylor’s original C-Class bracing gives this Grand Pacific a wonderfully balanced sound that feels right at home in Taylor’s lineup. Initially developed for the Grand Theater body shape, C-Class bracing is cantilevered and asymmetrical, with an optimized response inspired by Taylor’s acclaimed V-Class bracing. Borrowed V-Class elements let C-Class bracing heighten your soundboard’s response with greater dynamic sensitivity. What’s more, C-Class bracing adds warmth, maturity, and focus to your bass strings by reigning in low-end woody frequencies, making it a natural addition to any Grand Pacific shape.

Expression System 2 electronics

Need to plug in? Then you’re going to love the 117e’s built-in ES2 electronics! The ES2 system features a revolutionary segmented pickup located behind the bridge saddle; this pickup position delivers remarkably accurate and clear sound production that’s authentic to your playing. Each ES2 system features a handy master volume knob for fast level adjustments, in addition to a 2-band EQ for independent treble/bass adjustments to get the sound you need. Plus, the ES2 system also has a built-in phase switch, which offers essential feedback suppression whenever the system is active.

What Taylor Says...

The first guitar in the 100 Series to feature our Grand Pacific round-shoulder dreadnought body shape, the 117e offers seasoned, neo-vintage tone in a package that's perfect for new learners and working musicians alike. Built with back and sides of layered sapele and a solid torrefied spruce top, this acoustic-electric yields a warm voice with clear projection and low-end power. Our special roasting process for the spruce top adds a mature, aged-in sweetness, while our C-Class interior bracing dials up more volume, sustain and presence in the bass range. Together with the slender, easy-playing neck and built-in ES2 electronics, it all adds up to an exciting playing experience for any type of player.