The Taylor 512ce Grand Concert’s cedar-topped tropical mahogany body delivers a smooth, mellow sound that’s accented by warm, rich undertones. While its smaller Grand Concert shape is extremely comfortable to play, the 512ce’s innovative V-Class bracing yields unprecedented levels of projection, volume, and sustain for such a small guitar. An extremely comfortable ebony fingerboard is adorned with eye-catching grained ivoroid Century inlays. And for stage-ready sound, the 512ce is equipped with Expression System 2 electronics.

V-Class bracing: a sonic revelation

Bracing is the internal framework of an acoustic guitar that helps shape its sound. Although X-bracing has been standard in acoustic guitars for over a century, it creates an innate conflict between two key elements of a guitar’s sound: volume and sustain. The guitar’s top (its soundboard) contributes to both. The flexibility of the top generates volume (projection), while its stiffness generates sustain. And with X-braced guitar tops, here’s where the trade-off comes in: when something is made stiffer, its flexibility is reduced (and vice versa). V-Class bracing changes all that. With Taylor’s V-Class bracing, an acoustic guitar top can be both stiff and flexible, for more volume and sustain. V-Class bracing provides stiffness parallel to the strings for more rigidity and hence sustain. Flexibility on either side generates the air movement necessary for robust projection. It’s the best of both worlds. This groundbreaking innovation also improves intonation by producing notes that are not only louder and have longer sustain, but they’re also more in tune with each other. V-Class bracing boosts volume evenly across the tonal spectrum, increases sustain, and improves the natural intonation of the instrument by creating a more synergistic response from the soundboard. This fosters a more harmonious relationship between the notes you play, helping chords to ring out in cohesive splendor. Pick up a Taylor 512ce and experience it for yourself!

Grand Concert body style: perfect for tracking

Want an acoustic-electric guitar that’s perfect for tracking? Taylor’s Grand Concert body style gives you clarity and balanced tone that sits beautifully in thicker arrangements where a larger-bodied acoustic would take up too much sonic real estate. The 512ce’s smaller Grand Concert body and tapered waist not only make it the ultimate studio and stage guitar, but its short scale and lighter string tension also make it easier to play. Guitarists everywhere have enjoyed tremendous success with Grand Concert–shaped Taylors both onstage and in the studio — they’re great-sounding guitars.

Western red cedar and tropical mahogany yield a mellow yet full-bodied tone

The 512ce is a prime example of the high-quality tonewoods Taylor selects for their guitars. It features a Western red cedar top, which adds a mellow edge to the bold voice of its tropical mahogany back and sides. This rare combination of tonewoods makes the 512ce a particularly good choice if you prefer fingerstyle playing, but it’s great for flatpicking techniques as well.

Taylor Expression System 2 electronics

If you play plugged in, then you’re going to love the Taylor Expression System 2 (ES2) electronics built into your 512ce. The key to this fantastic system is the 3-section proprietary pickup located behind the saddle. Because of where it’s positioned and how it’s integrated into the 512ce’s saddle, the ES2 pickup provides you with remarkably clear and accurate sound. In addition to a master volume control, a pair of tone controls lets you tweak your highs and lows to get the sound you need, and a discreet phase switch offers vital onboard feedback suppression.