Taylor 312e

The Taylor 312e is part of the American guitar manufacturer’s high-quality 300 Series and combines the compact Grand Concert body style with a balanced, dynamic tone and excellent playability. As a fully solid-wood acoustic guitar made in the U.S., it offers Taylor’s signature combination of precise craftsmanship, modern design, and a particularly comfortable playing experience.

The Taylor 312e offered here was built in 2019 and features the innovative V-Class Bracing. This top bracing system, developed by Taylor, differs fundamentally from the traditional X-bracing design and was developed to improve volume, sustain, and intonation in equal measure.

The solid Sitka spruce top ensures an open, dynamic response and offers a wide tonal range. The back and sides are made of solid sapele, a tonewood prized for its balanced character, clear mids, and pleasant warmth. Combined with the spruce top, this creates a versatile tonal profile with well-defined bass, prominent mids, and brilliant, finely detailed highs.

The direct response of this Taylor is particularly impressive. Even with a light touch, the guitar produces a full, clear tone with excellent string separation. Individual notes can be played with precision, while chords sound harmonious and balanced. Even with more vigorous strumming, the tone remains transparent and controlled.

A key feature of its character is the Grand Concert body shape. Compared to the larger Grand Auditorium or Dreadnought models, the 312e has a more compact body that’s particularly comfortable to play. Its manageable design ensures a high level of playing comfort and makes the instrument especially appealing to fingerstyle guitarists.

With its shorter scale length of 632 mm, the Taylor also offers slightly lower string tension than many acoustic guitars with longer scale lengths. This makes chords, bends, and challenging fingerstyle passages particularly comfortable to play. The slim Taylor neck, crafted from tropical mahogany, and the high-quality ebony fingerboard further enhance the comfortable playing experience.

The guitar’s features also impress with their high-quality and functional design. The natural wood grain, the glossy lacquered top, and the satin-matte finish on the back and sides give the guitar an elegant, understated appearance. The meticulous craftsmanship and carefully selected materials underscore the high quality standards of Taylor’s American manufacturing.

The proven Taylor Expression System 2 is built in for amplified performance. This pickup system uses specially positioned sensors behind the bridge insert to deliver a dynamic, natural reproduction of the acoustic guitar’s sound. This makes the 312e ideal for use on stage, in the rehearsal room, or in the studio.

The Taylor 312e is a versatile, all-solid-wood acoustic guitar that stands out for its direct response, excellent string separation, and comfortable design. It’s an interesting choice for guitarists looking for the characteristic Taylor sound in a compact Grand Concert size.

Condition

The guitar is in very good condition and has been exceptionally well maintained. It was built in 2019 and shows only slight signs of wear due to age and use.

There are slight strumming marks visible on the fretboard. In addition, there is a small chip on the upper edge of the headstock. Other than that, the guitar is in very good condition.

The frets are in very good to nearly like-new condition and show hardly any wear. Technically, the Taylor is in perfect condition and impresses with its outstanding sound and excellent playability.

Setup & Playability

We carefully set up every guitar. The neck radius and string action are adjusted to perfection so that the guitar plays cleanly, comfortably, and without buzzing across the entire fretboard.

The compact Grand Concert body style, short scale length, and comfortable Taylor neck ensure a high level of playing comfort. The guitar is particularly comfortable and precise to play, especially when fingerpicking and playing complex chord voicings.

The string action is 2.6 mm on the low E-string and 2.0 mm on the high E-string, measured at the 12th fret.

Specifications

Model: Taylor 312e
Year of manufacture: 2019
Origin: USA
Series: 300 Series
Body shape: Grand Concert
Top: Solid Sitka spruce
Back and sides: Solid sapele
Neck: Tropical mahogany
Fingerboard: Ebony
Bridge: Ebony
Scale length: 632 mm
Nut width: 44.5 mm
Bracing: V-Class Bracing
Pickup: Taylor Expression System 2 (ES2)
Finish: Natural, Gloss Top / Satin Back & Sides

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