Taylor Guitar followers can be inquisitive about trying out the corporate’s new Taylor 417e Grand Pacific Acoustic Electrical guitar and with good purpose. A stable wooden, built-in-the-USA, round-shoulder model of the favored dreadnought physique model, this new design guarantees to go well with on a regular basis gamers in addition to working guitarists whereas including some visually placing appointments to Taylor’s standard 400 collection. Extra importantly, the brand new 417e represents what might be one of the best of each worlds for gamers searching for a flexible acoustic-electric guitar: the advantages of a bigger physique model and the clear tonal high quality that comes with the stable choose woods. I used to be anxious to play this instrument to see if the 417e may ship extra heat and low-end energy than different rosewood/spruce 400 collection devices whereas retaining the collection’ readability and well-balanced tone. 

First impressions are essential, and the 417e comes out of the case with placing clear traces. Its classic look is supported by architecturally impressed inlay work on the fretboard and accented within the instrument’s see-yourself gloss tobacco sunburst end, then made much more placing with boldly contrasting white binding. Nickel tuners and a fake tortoiseshell pickguard add to the guitar’s conventional look. Controls for the onboard ES2 electronics are positioned in order to not detract from the normal look, being slipped in on the higher bout the place they’re simply accessible however hardly noticeable.

At first contact, the 417e feels good and is well playable. The fundamental setup from Taylor permits for clear fingerpicking and strumming types. Whereas the instrument performs properly, the actual magic of this guitar is present in its tone and response to the participant. Whereas the pairing of stable Indian rosewood and a Sitka spruce high supplies some preliminary clues in regards to the tone to anticipate in a guitar this dimension, easy assumptions about supplies merely belie the musical potentialities this instrument has to supply. The 417e, unamplified, outweighed all my expectations for open string taking part in and full chords by a rustic mile. If just for that purpose, I’d recommend that it is a guitar that must be skilled in particular person to be totally appreciated.

Properly-balanced, the 417e has a really substantial really feel however resonates within the participant’s fingers with stunning consistency. The notable clear sustaining high quality of chords on the 417e was additionally spectacular, however so was the readability of particular person notes throughout the fretboard. It’s arduous to search out such musical qualities in an instrument and much more tough to attribute them to particular supplies and design components. Nevertheless, due to the excellent character shared by Taylor’s 400 collection guitars, it’s not a leap to say that exacting craftsmanship, a fastidiously calculated end, and the corporate’s trademark V-Class bracing are main components in how properly this guitar performs and sounds.

Taylor’s V-Class bracing, a design enchancment launched within the firm’s Grand Auditorium physique form and developed again in 2018 by Grasp Guitar Designer Andy Powers, notably enhances a guitar’s quantity, projection, and maintain. Within the 417e, as with different guitars within the 400 collection, that interprets into vital enhancements within the sonic low-end when in comparison with guitars of comparable dimension, however not on the expense of tonal readability. For the participant, the result’s an enormous tone with notes and chords that ring true, touchdown the corporate’s promise of the 417e Grand Pacific delivering “a heat, seasoned character” not removed from the mark.

The digital components of the 417e proved to work properly with each a small acoustic amp and a bigger sound system. Properly previous a easy pickup, Taylor’s ES2 (Expression System 2) system configures three uniquely positioned and individually calibrated pickup sensors behind the guitar’s saddle. This location for the sensors helps the guitar’s design leading to a sign with better dynamic vary and optimum output. From there, a custom-designed skilled audio preamp handles the sign, matching the extent of the guitar for audio gear and permitting for actual time tonal changes. In efficiency, the controls on the 417e offered ample achieve and a powerful tonal vary eliminating the necessity for an outboard EQ or changes on the mixer. This was anticipated for the reason that ES2 system is well-proven in reside efficiency and provided on different Taylor acoustic electrical fashions for stage and direct recording functions.

The versatile 417e Grand Pacific is an distinctive taking part in and sounding acoustic instrument. Outfitted with skilled ES2 onboard electronics, it’s ideally suited to public efficiency, in addition to common apply, songwriting, and recording classes. It comes with a particular hardshell case that gives superior safety with an exacting match. 

Avenue value: $2,999. 

Pictures courtesy Taylor Guitars