A Guide to Taylor GuitarsBuying Guide

Taylor guitars have become more and more popular over the last decade or so. You’ll see these acoustic guitars being played by beginners and professionals alike; they’re just as ubiquitous in bedrooms and rehearsal rooms as they are on the biggest stages and in the most renowned studios around the world.

With Taylor’s forward-thinking and innovative approach to building guitars, it’s easy to see why. They have made a name for making crisp, clear, and high-fidelity guitars with superb playability. Taylor makes a wide range of guitars aimed at different styles and levels of player, so whatever style of music you’re into and wherever you are in your playing journey, there’s a Taylor guitar that’s going to be right for you.

With the acoustic guitar, there are three key factors in the resulting tone: the body shape, the materials it’s made from, and, most importantly, the player. Taylor offer a good selection of body shapes that all suit various playing styles, as well as some that are great all-rounders. The physical shape of the guitar’s body helps define the sort of tone and response you’ll get, and the construction—that is, the type of wood it’s made from—gives the guitar its voice. Various wood combinations result in different types of sound that, again, will suit different players and styles of music.

Whilst there are dozens of different Taylor guitars on offer, their lineup is easy to understand. There are various series, usually denoted with a number: 100, 200, 300 etc. This tends to determine what type of wood it’s made from. Within these series there are different body shapes, all of which yield a slightly different response and will be comfortable for different players.

Grand Auditorium (GA): Models Ending in 4

This is Taylor’s signature body shape and is referred to by some as a Swiss Army knife of guitars due to its versatility. Taylor’s GA guitars have a balanced frequency response and perform just as well fingerpicking as they do strumming or flat picking. Whether you’re an instrumentalist, playing in a band, recording artist, singer-songwriter, or anything else, if you need a guitar that will do it all, then this could well be the one.

Grand Symphony (GS): Models Ending in 6

This is the next size up from the GA shape, and whilst it’s still very versatile, you can expect more volume and a richer, thicker tone. It’s sometimes described as a turbo-charged GA, offering a little more of everything. A higher volume ceiling will mean that players with a strong picking attack will get more out of it, but how it’s braced means that it remains dynamic. The Grand Symphony is great if you want a bit of that jumbo-style power, without sacrificing versatility or responsiveness.

Grand Concert (GC): Models Ending in 2

A fairly small-bodied acoustic guitar, the Taylor Grand Concert is balanced and clear. Fingerpickers and players with a softer pick attack will enjoy how responsive it is—a smaller top is easier to move with a lighter touch. The smaller body shape helps keep the overtones in check too, giving you a nice, focused sound.

Its tapered waist and relatively compact dimensions mean that it’s really comfortable to sit down with for long periods of time. Whilst it still can be classed as a full-size guitar, it does have a slightly reduced scale length at 24 7/8 inches so the strings have a bit of a slinkier feel to them—some find this easier to play on.

Grand Orchestra (GO): Models Ending in 8

This is Taylor’s biggest body shape and responds well to heavy strumming and flatpicking. It will likewise react nicely to fingerpicking, making it a really versatile, big-bodied acoustic guitar. If you’re strumming heavily, then the larger surface area of the top will give you more volume when compared to smaller-bodied acoustics. However, players with a softer touch will still get everything they need from it.

The GOs are really balanced as well—expect strong low and high frequencies and a rich mid-range, as well as plenty of overtones resulting in a very rich sound. Recent models will feature V-Class bracing for even more volume and sustain.

Grand Theatre (GT): Models Ending in 1 or GT

The Grand Theatre is Taylor’s newest body shape and lies somewhere between a compact, travel-sized guitar like the GS Mini and a full-sized instrument. It’s the same sort of shape as their Grand Orchestra models but scaled down—it’s slightly smaller than their Grand Concert body shape, but it still wields an impressive, full, and balanced tone.

Featuring Taylor’s new C-Class bracing that has been specially designed for the GT shape, you still get a good amount of low-end that is sometimes lacking in smaller guitars, as well as great projection and volume. It’s got a slightly reduced 24 1/8-inch scale length, which lends a slightly slinkier feel to the strings. This, combined with the neck profile, makes for a guitar model that's incredibly comfortable to play.

Grand Pacific (GP): Models Ending in 7

This is Taylor’s recently reworked version of the round-shoulder dreadnought, brought even more to life with the help of V-Class bracing. This gives a slightly more traditional sound, inspired by some classic acoustic guitars of the last 100 years or so, whilst keeping everything that players love about Taylor.

You’ll hear strong bass and treble frequencies, with beautiful overtones ringing out together, giving you a warm, rich and inviting tone. It manages to retain the strong low-end without ever sounding boomy, which some dreadnoughts can suffer from. Ideal for flatpickers, strummers, and hybrid players.

Dreadnought (DN): Models Ending in 0

Dreadnought-style models from the 300/American Dream range and above have now been replaced by the Grand Pacific, though this more traditional shape is available in the 200 range and below. Plus, you can still get ahold of some really cool, high-end Taylor Dreadnoughts here on Reverb.

It’s the body shape that we all know and love and delivers the strong bass and treble frequencies that you expect to hear, along with a clear and articulate attack. If you want the traditional dreadnought sound with the high-fidelity and fantastic playability that Taylor is known for, then one of these Dreadnoughts could be the way to go.

Soundport Cutaway

This is a feature on some of the more recent Grand Symphony guitars and acts as both a slight cutaway that allows for easy access to the higher frets and an additional soundhole for sound projection. The back of the guitar remains the same, as if there were no cutaway, but the top cutaway part arches at a 45-degree angle so that sound is thrown out in a different way to the main soundhole. This gives you an almost stereo, surround sound-like playing experience.

Taylor 326ce Grand Symphony w/ Soundport Cutaway.
Photo by Tobias Music.

Taylor 326ce w/ Soundport Cutaway.
Photo by Ernie Williamson Music.

V-Class Bracing

This new way of bracing the acoustic guitar was designed by Taylor master builder Andy Powers in 2018. Normally, increasing volume would mean sacrificing sustain and vice versa. However, V-Class bracing runs parallel to the strings and allows the top to move in a slightly different way so that you can get more volume and sustain. In addition, a fortunate side effect of V-Class bracing was improved intonation, so notes fretted anywhere on the fingerboard ring out more in tune.

Expression System/ES2

The ES2 is Taylor’s unique pickup system for amplifying the acoustic guitar’s signal. Unlike a traditional piezo system in which the sensor is placed under the bridge, Taylor’s ES2 system features three sensors placed behind the bridge that help replicate the true sound of your guitar more faithfully.

Instead of detecting the pressure on the top of the bridge, the three ES2 sensors detect the strings back and forth motion, resulting in a more dynamic pickup system. It’s super easy to turn up to a gig or open-mic night and plug in your ES2-equipped Taylor and instantly get a great sound.

Builder’s Edition

Builder’s Edition Taylor guitars showcase the brand’s innovation and next-level craftsmanship. You can expect to see a lot of player-focused features and premium tonewoods that help make these guitars sound incredible while being extremely comfortable to play.

Sleek body contours and "silent" satin finishes make playing for long stretches of time easier, and refined body shapes and clever bracing help deliver a rich, high-fidelity tone. Builder’s Edition Taylors are available across the range in many different body shapes.

GS Mini

One of the most popular short-scale acoustic guitar series ever made. Not only do these make for incredible starter guitars for younger players, they’re often seen on some of the biggest stages in the world in the hands of players like Damon Albarn, Tom Fletcher, Tommy Shaw, James Bourne, and more.

While they’re small, compact, and make for great traveling companions, the GS Minis actually project a good amount of volume. They’re not as bassy as other models, but for their size, their tone is superb. One of the best all-rounders for beginners and pros on the road. There’s even a bass guitar model available, which is enormous fun to play!

Academy

These models feature everything needed to make a great guitar and nothing that isn’t. Taylor wanted to make the best guitar, for the most people, for the least amount of money and it’s fair to say that they succeeded. The Taylor Academy guitars are ideal for those just starting out that want a high-quality instrument without spending too much.

These guitars have a very slightly shorter scale, a super playable neck profile, comfortable armrest, they sound great, and they’re built to a high standard. If you’ve never played before, know that one of these won’t fight against you, making learning to play the guitar that bit easier. Choose from the steel-stung GA or Dreadnought models, or the nylon-strung Academy 12-N—all of which are available with or without a pickup.

Taylor 100 Series

This is Taylor’s entry-level, full-size range of guitars. The 100 series guitars are made in Mexico and represent amazing value for money, providing both beginners and pros alike with a reliable, great-sounding instrument. All Taylor 100 series guitars made in the last few years feature a solid sitka spruce top with a layered walnut back and sides.

It’s a classic sound, and the walnut provides a nice balance of warmth and brightness. In terms of models available, you’ve got the classic Taylor Grand Auditorium shape and the traditional-style Dreadnought. All guitars come shipped with a quality Taylor gig bag, too.

Taylor 200 Series

The 200 series has had a recent overhaul, so there are quite a few different models available—they can be split into 200, 200 Plus, and 200 Deluxe. Base 200 series models pair a solid spruce top with layered rosewood back and sides and come shipped with a regular Taylor gig bag.

With the 200 Plus range, you’ll see some nice back binding, and a high-gloss finish that also helps protect the body of the guitar. You also get an upgraded Taylor Aerocase. The 200 Deluxes come shipped with a hard case and feature the gloss finish and nice diamond shaped fret markers.

Any model number ending in K means that it’s got layered koa back and sides (as opposed to rosewood) apart from the Taylor 224ce-K DLX, which pairs that with a solid koa top too.

Taylor American Dream

The American Dream series is Taylor’s entry into all American-made guitars. Made in the US and featuring all solid wood, the American Dream acoustic guitars make for a suitable choice for a massive range of players. Pros seeking a well-priced guitar for touring will love the incredible sound and build quality, and newer players looking to upgrade their guitar will instantly feel at ease with the renowned Taylor playability. These guitars come shipped in Taylor’s aerocase.

The American Dream Taylor lineup features their Grand Pacific and Grand Concert shapes as well as V-Class bracing, meaning you get a bold, punchy, but well-balanced sound that projects when you need it to. The Grand Concert AD22e has a solid mahogany top and solid spell back and sides, so expect a rich, warm sound with punchy mids. With the GP models, you’ve got a choice of wood pairings—there’s mahogany top/sapele back and sides and a spruce top/ovangkol back and sides, which has a nice traditional sound.

Taylor 300 Series

The 300 series models are not too dissimilar from the American Dream series in that they’re all solid wood and made in the US. The 300s, though, have a few more aesthetic appointments should you want to stand out a little more. There’s a wide range of guitars available here to suit all playing styles and tone preferences, and each model comes with a hard case.

The Taylor 300 series offer the Grand Pacific, Grand Concert, and Grand Auditorium body shapes. There are a few wood combinations as well, including spruce top/sapele back and sides and mahogany top/blackwood back and sides. Both will lend a clear, articulate voice though the mahogany, and blackwood will likely sound a touch warmer and more present in the mids.

Taylor 400 Series

The 400 series is where we first start seeing solid rosewood back and sides, which is paired with a solid spruce top for a classic acoustic sound with strong low and high frequencies. This leaves a nice space for vocals to sit, making for a great option for singer-songwriters. There are some 400 series Taylors with ovangkol back and sides—these are likely to have a little more in the mid range.

Taylor 500 Series

Guitars in the 500 series have solid mahogany back and sides which adds a lovely warmth to the sound, as well as a slight boost in the mids when compared to something like rosewood. This is then paired with either a cedar or mahogany top—or spruce, if you’re looking at the Builder’s Editions.

All of these guitars are going to sound clear, articulate and dynamic, with a fairly mellow tone—a lot of fingerstyle players love the 500 series. The cedar tops add more warmth to the sound and the mahogany tops even more so. There’s something for every player in the 500 series, as well as some really nice finishes too.

Taylor 600 Series

Taylor’s 600 series features maple back and sides paired with a spruce top—it’s a classic combination that’s been used on various stringed instruments over the years. Quite often though, maple is a bright tonewood, and indeed, the 600s do offer a little more presence in the top-end. However, Taylor have combatted some of that inherent brightness in the way that these guitars are made so that you still get all that nice, bright articulation, with added warmth and sustain too—the best of both worlds.

All 600 series Taylors have specially designed bracing so that they’re not overly bright while retaining maple’s even response. For optimized performance, the tops and backs have slightly different thicknesses depending on the body shape. The tops are also aged so that even brand-new, they’ve already got that played-in sound. Protein glue is used so that tone can be transferred more optimally between important points within the guitar. Again, there’s a range of body shapes to choose from depending on what you want out of your guitar and your playing style.

Taylor 700 Series

Recently re-voiced, the Taylor 700 series features Indian rosewood back and sides and a solid Lutz spruce top. These guitars deliver a fairly traditional, rootsy-style sound and are super dynamic. Players with a strong attack will enjoy the output and headroom of the spruce, and softer fingerstyle players will love the immediate response.

Taylor 800 Series

The flagship 800 range of guitars represents everything that Taylor is about. Sporting the classic combination of rosewood back and sides and a spruce top, each model boasts a crisp, rich, warm, articulate, and well-balanced sound with plenty of overtones. In terms of sound, they’re not too dissimilar to the 700 series guitars, but carry a few more stylistic and player-centric appointments to help the flagship range really stand out.

There are plenty of models to choose from in the 800 range, and, apart from nylon-strung models, all the recently produced guitars feature V-Class bracing as standard. Newer GA and GC guitars now also sport an armrest on the top of the lower bout to make for a more comfortable playing experience (it also changes how you position your strumming arm slightly meaning that there’s less contact with the guitar’s top, so it can vibrate more freely).

Taylor 900 Series

Tonally, the 900 series is very similar to the 800s, boasting the same rosewood/spruce wood configuration. However, the 900s have a host of aesthetic and player-centric features that help them stand out. More recent models will feature a comfortable hand-beveled ebony armrest (that also helps the top resonate), Gotoh 510 tuners, plus visual features to help the guitar stand out more—like a koa and abalone edge trim and abalone/mother of pearl ascension fret inlays.

Taylor Koa Series

The Koa series features some of the most visually stunning guitars that Taylor make. Featuring all solid Hawaiian Koa construction (apart from the Builder’s Edition K14ce which has a spruce top), these guitars have mellow warmth, and high-end clarity in equal measure. Koa is a great all-rounder and will sound better over time as it’s played.

Taylor Presentation Series

The Presentation series lies at the very top end of Taylor’s acoustic line and features a range of high-quality, premium tonewoods as well as impressive aesthetic touches. You’ll likely find some really unique models in the Presentation series, so if you want a Taylor guitar like no other, this is a great place to look. Whichever model you opt for, you’ll get a superb-sounding guitar with top-level craftsmanship and excellent playability.