Taylor Koa Series GA-K Grand Auditorium 12-String Acoustic Guitar  

The Taylor GA-K Grand Auditorium 12-String Acoustic Guitar features a Sitka spruce top and exotic Hawaiian Koa back and sides. Hawaiian koa is a rare and exotic tonewood is prized for its stunning golden hues, bold grain figure, and sweet tone. Other features of the GA-K guitar include abalone trim around the top and soundhole, figured Ivoroid binding, and gold-plated tuners.

The grand auditorium is Taylor's most versatile and popular shape. The grand auditorium's balanced mid-range and bright tone, great for miking and recording, exemplify the Taylor voice. The GA-K 12-String Guitar has a powerful and rich tone.

When people talk about "the Taylor sound," knowingly or not they're probably describing the Grand Auditorium. Introduced in 1994 as a limited edition to commemorate Taylor's 20th Anniversary, the GA would go on to establish itself as a definitive Bob Taylor original.

Tonally, the guitar embodied the signature qualities of balance, clarity, and versatility that became hallmark Taylor traits. Visually, the shape gave the world an equally balanced and refined aesthetic of smooth curves. In both respects, the GA was at once big enough and small enough to cover a lot of ground.

The goal, he says, was simply to make a guitar that was big like a dreadnought, but without a dread-
nought's traditionally boomy sound. "I was looking for a good, clear tone that had volume when you played fingerstyle, but then when you strummed didn't have too much bass."

The GA has the width and depth of a Dreadnought, but its tapered waist and contours give it the appearance of a smaller instrument, making it comfortable to play. The tonal balance means it's full in the lower register, present in the midrange, and sparkling on the treble strings.

The GA's tonal balance has made it a favorite among artists AND engineers. "You put a mic in front of the guitar and set everything to zero, you turn on the tape, and you play," Bob continues. "We had a lot of studio owners and engineers buy those guitars just to put in the studio, because when things started going bad with players' guitars during a session, the engineer would say, 'We can get this job done today if you just play this guitar.' So that was sort of what we had in mind with that. And a lot of it was the shape. We made a few bracing changes, but we depended on the shape to change that tone."

Play a GA if: You want the Swiss Army Knife of acoustics, capable of handling everything from fingerpicking to medium strumming to moderate flatpicking.