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500 Series 556ce Grand Symphony 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar

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Overview

Hybrid top wood and special bracing help give this Taylor impressive dynamics.

Taylor's revitalized 500 Series mahogany guitars are brimming with appealing refinements, starting with new bracing that boosts the volume, low-end richness and projection, while also making the guitars more responsive. The top is made of Lutz spruce, which joins Taylor's mix on Dreadnought and Grand Symphony models, producing a powerful sound reminiscent of Adirondack spruce. All 500 Series instruments ship in a deluxe hard shell case made by Taylor for optimal fit and protection. 

Body Shape
Compared to the Taylor Grand Auditorium, the Grand Symphony has a bigger, rounder lower bout and slightely wider "waist" area, and the bigger sound board (top) means more tonal output. Expect a meaty lower midrange and strong treble shimmer. A GS is best if you want a guitar with a robust low end, strong volume when strumming or flatpicking, and clear articulation in response to light fingerpicking attack.

Tone Wood Pairing
A guitar's top is the primary filter and distributor of vibrating string energy through the guitar, which means it has a huge impact on its sound. Lutz Spruce is a naturally occuring hybrid of Sitka and White spruce. Sitka is the most prevalent guitar top wood of the modern era because it blends stiffness and elasticity in just the right proportions which translates into broad dynamic range with crisp articulation. Lutz spruce takes these attributes and blends them with those of White and Englemann spruce, with an end result resembling old Adirondack spruce. When combined with Taylor's bracing architecture, guitars are more powerful, richer and louder than before.  

Tropical mahogany is known for a meaty midrange featuring a strong fundamental without adding a lot of ringing overtones. It responds well to players with a strong attack who like dry, earthy, lo-fi sounds. It has a natural compression that smooths out strumming and picking technique. Mahogany's clear and direct tonal character makes it a great option for playing and standing out among other instruments.

Electronics
Taylor's ES2 is a revolutionary pickup design that delivers the latest in Taylor’s ongoing innovation in acoustic guitar amplification. The heart of the Expression System 2 is Taylor’s patented behind-the-saddle pickup, which features three uniquely positioned and individually calibrated pickup sensors. Because the pickup doesn't sit under the saddle, the bottom of the saddle comes in full contact with the bridge, allowing all the nuance of the guitar's tone to come through clearly whether playing acousticly or plugged-in. The location of the sensors enables a more dynamic range of acoustic sound to be captured than ever before while playing plugged-in. Together with Taylor’s custom-designed “professional audio”-grade preamp, this system produces exceptional amplified tone and responsiveness. On stage through a PA, plugged into your favorite acoustic amplifier, or direct into recording software, the Expression System 2 faithfully conveys the voice of your Taylor guitar. The Taylor Expression System 2 operates through a proprietary 9-volt battery compartment and easy-to-use volume, bass and treble controls.

Other Features
Building remarkable 12-strings is part of Taylor's heritage. Their ease-of-play, their neck stability, their intonation and their overall tone has made them the most popular 12-strings on the market. The Taylor Neck system allows precise and low action, resulting in the most comfortable "handfeel" possible in a 12-string guitar. 

What sets Taylor Guitars apart? Unmatched build quality, the most stable and playable necks, a vast array of tonal options, eco-conscious and ethically-sourced raw materials, and a lifetime of service and support.

Features

Body
  • Body type: Taylor Grand Symphony
  • Cutaway: Yes - Venetian
  • Top wood: Solid Lutz Spruce
  • Back & sides: Solid Tropical Mahogany
  • Bracing pattern: Taylor Performance Bracing (Standard III with Relief Rout)
  • Body finish: Gloss 6.0
  • Orientation: Right-Handed
Neck
  • Neck shape: Standard Taylor Profile
  • Nut width: 1-7/8" (47.6mm)
  • Fingerboard: Genuine African Ebony
  • Neck wood: Tropical Mahogany
  • Scale length: 25-1/2"
  • Number of frets: 20
  • Neck finish: Satin
Electronics
  • Pickup/preamp: Expression System 2 Professional Audio-Grade
  • Brand: Taylor
  • Configuration: Behind-the-Saddle Transducer with Adjustable Sensors
  • Preamp EQ: Volume, Bass, Treble
  • Feedback filter: Onboard Phase Switch
  • Tuner: None
Other
  • Headstock overlay: Genuine African Ebony
  • Tuning machines: Taylor Nickel Tuners with Nickel Buttons
  • Bridge: Genuine African Ebony
  • Saddle & nut: Micarta "Wave" Saddle; Tusq Nut
  • Number of strings: 12
  • Special features: Faux-Tortoise-Bound Sound Hole, Genuine Ebony Bridge Pins
  • Case: Taylor Deluxe Hard Shell Case
  • Accessories: None
  • Country of origin: USA

Discover the tonal uniqueness of Lutz spruce. Order this Taylor today!

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