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BAR-8-L Baritone Rosewood/Spruce 8-String Left-Handed Acoustic-Electric Guitar

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Overview

A unique combination of growl and jangle with Taylor Expression System electronics.

A truly unique voice, the Baritone 8-String complements the lower tonal range by pairing two octave strings with the third and fourth strings, adding a touch of upper-octave brightness without too much 12-string jangle. The 2012 BAR-8-L Baritone Rosewood/Spruce 8-String Left-Handed Acoustic-Electric Guitar is a guitar with incredible tonal range, perfect for walking basslines and rich melodies. All Taylor baritones feature a GS body and are tuned to B with a longer 27-inch scale length, which maintains normal string tension.

Grand Symphony (GS)
Body Width: 15" / Body Depth: 4-3/8" / Body Length: 19-1/2"
The ultimate Taylor strummer.

The Grand Symphony shape joined the line in 2006 and delivers Taylor™s boldest, richest acoustic voice. Think of it as a Grand Auditorium with a turbo boost, thanks to expanded physical dimensions, including a slightly wider waist and a bigger lower bout. Strummers and pickers with a driving attack will love the fullness, volume and sustain. Yet for such a robust voice, the GS is also clear and responsive to fast picking runs or a light fingerstyle touch, so if you'e a dynamic player, this shape is a true contender. And the big voice doesn™t come at the expense of balance. The piano-like bass, meaty midrange, and thick, shimmering highs blend seamlessly. These traits also make the GS a great vehicle for 12-Strings. If you like a lush, potent guitar tone that has the horsepower to compete with other acoustic cannons out there, the GS shape is a worthy choice.

Indian Rosewood
Origin: East India
One of the most popular and traditional guitar woods of all time, rosewood takes the basic sonic thumbprint of mahogany (which has a strong midrange) and expands it in both directions. Rosewood sounds deeper in the low end and brighter on the top end (one might describe the treble notes as zesty, sparkly or sizzly, with more articulation). If you look at its frequency range visually, rosewood would appear to be more scooped in the middle, yielding less midrange bloom than mahogany. Like mahogany, rosewood™s vintage heritage has helped firmly establish its acoustic legacy. It™s a great sound in part because we know that sound. In some music circles in which preserving the traditional sound helps bring a sense of authenticity to the music ” certain strains of Americana, for example ” rosewood has an iconic status. Also like mahogany, rosewood is a versatile tonewood, which has contributed to its popularity. One can fingerpick it, strum it and flatpick it. It™s very consistent, so players can usually rely on it to deliver.

Goes Well With: Most applications. If you like a guitar with fuller low end and brighter treble (bluegrassers, for instance), rosewood will do the trick. Its high-end sizzle and clear articulation will benefit players with œdark hands. If you'e looking for a traditional acoustic sound, a rosewood Dreadnought or Grand Auditorium is right up your alley.


Expression System
Natural Sound Made Simple
People love the clear, full acoustic tone of their Taylors. Why should it be any different when they plug in? That™s why we spent several years developing the onboard acoustic pickup and preamp. Taylor™s ground-breaking Expression System (ES) was designed to naturally amplify the warm acoustic sound of your guitar.

The ES is an all-magnetic acoustic guitar pickup system that works like a microphone to produce a pure signal and a warm, natural acoustic sound. When you plug in, you'll hear the sound of your guitar, not the sound of the pickup. No complicated controls. No tone simulators. Just a clean amplified acoustic guitar sound supported by three simple controls ” volume, bass and treble.

Breakthrough Technology
Years of research brought Taylor to a simple realization: Nothing sounds as true and musical as a microphone. With that as a starting point, Taylor™s David Hosler led the team responsible for the Expression System's breakthrough technology. Utilizing a unique Dynamic Body Sensor mounted to the soundboard, a Dynamic String Sensor embedded beneath the fretboard, and a discrete preamp, the advanced ES technology is unlike any other guitar pickup system.

Integrated Design
The ES was designed in-house, alongside their acoustic guitars, which allowed Taylor to build the ES seamlessly into the design of the guitar, for an integrated pickup system unlike any other. From the design and location of the body and string sensors to the voicing of the preamp, the ES is fully optimized for the Taylor sound. The elegant design, including the non-intrusive control knobs, also preserves the aesthetic of a Taylor guitar.

Features

  • Shape: Left-Handed Grand Symphony
  • Back/Side Wood: Indian Rosewood
  • Top Wood: Sitka Spruce
  • Neck/Heel: Tropical Mahogany
  • Electronics: ES
  • Bracing: Baritone Bracing
  • Binding: Indian Rosewood
  • Fretboard Wood: Ebony
  • Fretboard Inlay: Small Diamonds
  • Headstock Overlay: Indian Rosewood
  • Bridge Inlay: None
  • Bridge Pins: Ebony with Abalone Dots
  • Nut & Saddle: Bone
  • Tuners: Taylor Gold
  • Truss Rod Cover: Indian Rosewood
  • Back/Side Finish: Gloss
  • Top Finish: Gloss
  • Neck Finish: Satin
  • Cutaway: Venetian
  • Pickguard: None
  • Includes Taylor hardshell case

Enjoy signature Taylor tone and playability. Order today.

Prop 65 Warning Icon
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including Lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer, and Lead, which is known to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
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