Electro-acoustic twelve-string guitar with cutaway, armrest and including case
12-string Grand Auditorium guitar
Solid construction with armrest
Sitka spruce top with maple binding and rosewood edge trim
Folded Indian rosewood body with maple backstripe
V-Class bracing and high-gloss finish
Mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard and abalone element Inlays
47.6 mm wide nut made from black GraphTech TUSQ
Compensated saddle made from Micarta
Taylor Expression System 2
Smoked nickel tuners
Case included
The Taylor 854ce 12-String at a glance
With the 854ce 12 String, the US maker from San Diego presents the flagship of its all solid Grand Auditorium models, offering versatile sound characteristics and remarkably comfortable playability. Equipped with Taylor’s patented V Class bracing, which promotes a two dimensional vibration pattern in the Sitka spruce top, this 12 string delivers fast response and clean intonation across the entire tonal range. Additional highlights include the radius style rosewood armrest, the Taylor Expression System 2 pickup and smoked nickel tuners, making the instrument ready for any situation. A brown Taylor Deluxe hardshell case is included.
Perfectly equipped with numerous specifications for a clean sound and comfortable playability.
The even grain of the North American Sitka spruce.
Sitka spruce and V-Class bracing
For maximum tonal performance, Taylor uses Sitka spruce for the top, providing both defined mids and refined treble. Supported by the innovative V Class bracing, the top vibrates two dimensionally with every strike, allowing every note to develop quickly and sustain evenly across all registers. A wafer thin finish and lightweight construction further enhance this effect, making the 854ce 12 String ideal for both fingerstyle and expressive strumming. Framed by maple binding with rosewood edge trim, the evenly grained top is beautifully highlighted and contrasts tastefully with the body woods. Matching the elegant inlays and the high quality single ring rosette, the top is fitted with a generous rosewood pickguard that gives the guitar a distinct touch.
Rosewood for powerful bass frequencies.
Indian rosewood for additional saturation
To enrich the tone with strong bass and ample volume, the back and sides are made of coarsely grained Indian rosewood. This premium wood also enhances the guitar’s fast response and lets notes ring out with long, complex overtones. The bookmatched back is separated by a maple backstripe that subtly emphasizes the symmetry of the grain. Fine maple bindings frame the back and provide a gentle contrast to the dark rosewood. The thin finish also plays a key role here, allowing the tone to unfold fully even with a light touch. The medium sized Grand Auditorium body thus proves to be a true all rounder that works in many styles while remaining comfortable to hold.
The cutaway provides access to the high registers.
An incomparable playing comfort
For outstanding playability, Taylor uses a slim mahogany neck paired with an ebony fingerboard. Together with a nut width of 47.6 mm, this setup offers excellent grip and clarity across all 20 frets. The nut, made of black GraphTech TUSQ, works perfectly with the compensated Micarta saddle to ensure accurate intonation along the entire 648 mm scale length. The signature headstock features smoked nickel tuners that guarantee precise tuning and complement the intricate Element fretboard inlays. The guitar is completed by Taylor’s Expression System 2, which captures the acoustic tone in a remarkably natural way.
The Taylor ES-2 is an absolute innovation.
Expression System 2
The Expression System 2 represents a major step forward in acoustic guitar amplification. Three piezo sensors mounted behind the saddle capture the vibration of each string pair directly, delivering a remarkably natural and uncolored tone. Three discreet controls for volume, bass and treble allow precise adjustment to any environment or personal preference, with the knobs mounted unobtrusively on the side.
Taylor - The epitome of the finest quality
As one of the largest guitar manufacturers, Taylor is a true authority in the production of first-class instruments. Professional production by trained specialists results in the finest products for life, whose value is always maintained - or even increases! This is due in equal part to the exquisite tonewoods, which do not warp due to long storage and selected quality and are therefore hard to beat in terms of high quality. Only spruce, mahogany, cedar or Koa of proven quality are used for the tops. Careful production in combination with the best materials does not only apply to guitars. Guitar bags and all accessories are also of first-class quality. Finally, a conscientious final inspection does not allow even the smallest defects to slip through and ensures absolutely flawless guitars before dispatch.
As if that were not enough, Taylor also attaches great importance to acting in an environmentally conscious manner.
Ebony & Koa: Sustainability at Taylor Guitars
Uncontrolled deforestation and overexploitation lead to massively endangered wood species that can no longer regenerate due to the high rate of extraction. These include ebony and koa in particular, whose dwindling stocks and the resulting ecological problems have prompted a rethink at Taylor Guitars.
Sustainable ebony cultivation in Cameroon
As ebony is particularly finger-friendly due to its hard, supple texture, it has long been the preferred choice for the production of fingerboards. Its attractive appearance is also extremely popular for bridges, headstock overlays, bridge Pins and Bindings. However, the high demand and the flourishing black market outstripped the stocks, so that ebony ended up on the Red List of endangered species in 1994. In addition, only the deep black heartwood, which makes up only a fraction of the tree, was used, resulting in a disproportionately large amount of waste in production. To protect the forests, Taylor has been working with the Crelicam Wood Mill in Yaoundé, Cameroon, since 2011 to promote controlled consumption by processing waste products. Thus, Taylor guitars not only contain black ebony elements, but also the different colored, more clearly grained parts of the tree. This complete recycling is an effective method of preserving the stocks and successfully counteracts their dramatic decline and the associated negative ecological effects.
"We need to use the ebony that the forest gives us" - Bob Taylor
In the video: Taylor Guitars - "The State of ebony"
Siglo Tonewoods Project
The koa acacia population has also suffered heavy losses over the last 20 years. Unsustainable forestry and overexploitation have led to a decline that can only be halted through proactive action and reforestation. This is why Taylor Guitars, together with Pacific Rim Tonewoods, founded the Siglo Tonewoods project, which aims to rebuild the Hawaiian jungle. This is a large cultivation area for koa acacia and other species, which enables the use of koa wood on a controlled scale.
Manufacturer information
Taylor Guitars 1980 Gillespie Way CA 92020 El Cajon USA +1 619-258-1207 EU economic operator Taylor-Listug Operating BV Marostraat 113 1060LG Amsterdam Netherlands support@taylorguitars.com www.taylorguitars.com
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