Taylor Next Generation 552ce Grand Concert 12-Fret/12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar - Natural

Taylor's Next Generation 12-fret design takes the 12-string in a more intimate direction with the 552ce, a compact Grand Concert built around warmth, responsiveness and richly layered texture. A Western red cedar top pairs with Neo-Tropical mahogany back and sides, bringing a touch-sensitive character to the natural shimmer and harmonic complexity of doubled strings. The 12-fret configuration and short 24.875" scale complement the smaller body with a more relaxed playing feel, while V-Class bracing with Relief Rout helps give the 12-string voice focus and dimension. Taylor's Long-Tenon Action Control Neck adds precise adjustability, and Claria electronics provide onboard control for amplified playing. Together, these Next Generation refinements make the Next Generation 552ce a distinctive alternative to the traditionally bigger feel and voice of a 12-string acoustic.

Cedar and Mahogany Bring Tonal Warmth

Western red cedar responds readily to a lighter touch, giving the 552ce a warm, immediate character that complements the natural shimmer of its doubled courses. Neo-Tropical mahogany back and sides add woody midrange focus, helping individual notes retain definition as chords and arpeggios fill out with 12-string overtones. Rather than emphasizing sheer volume, this tonewood pairing puts nuance and responsiveness at the forefront. Combined with the compact Grand Concert body, it gives the 552ce a rich but controlled voice suited to accompaniment, fingerstyle passages and layered arrangements.

12-Fret Grand Concert Design Makes 12 Strings Approachable

The 552ce places its 12-string configuration in Taylor's compact Grand Concert body, creating a playing experience that feels more intimate than many larger 12-string designs. Its 12-fret geometry shifts the neck-to-body relationship and places the bridge deeper into the lower bout, while the short 24.875" scale contributes to a more relaxed fretting feel. A 1.875" nut provides room for the doubled courses, and the Venetian cutaway preserves access to the upper register. The result brings the expansive sound of 12 strings into a format designed around comfort, control and close connection with the instrument.

V-Class Bracing Meets Action Control Adjustability

Beneath the cedar top, Taylor's V-Class bracing with Relief Rout provides the structural foundation for the Next Generation 552ce's complex 12-string voice, supporting sustain, projection and pitch accuracy while adding low-end fullness and open-string richness. The Long-Tenon Action Control Neck addresses another important part of the playing experience, giving players and technicians a more precise way to adjust string height as the guitar settles and preferences change. On an instrument carrying 12 strings, that ability to fine-tune the setup is particularly welcome, pairing Taylor's latest neck design with an acoustic architecture engineered for clarity and response.

Taylor Claria Electronics Capture the 12-String Detail

Taylor Claria electronics bring the Next Generation 552ce's layered acoustic character into amplified settings through a reimagined under-saddle piezo design and proprietary preamp. The system is designed to produce a more natural plugged-in response while preserving the detail and harmonic complexity that make a 12-string distinctive. Discreet soundhole-mounted controls keep the cedar top visually uncluttered, while a dedicated Mid-Contour control provides another way to shape the amplified voice for different rooms, arrangements and playing styles. It's a streamlined approach that prepares the Next Generation 552ce for stage work, direct recording and other amplified applications.

Refined Appointments Complete the Next Generation 552ce

The Next Generation 552ce complements its cedar-and-mahogany construction with understated details that reward a closer look. Green abalone surrounds the soundhole, Meridian Italian acrylic inlays mark the genuine West African ebony fingerboard and a faux tortoise pickguard adds a traditional accent to the full-gloss body. West African ebony is also used for the bridge and headstock overlay, while Taylor nickel mini tuners keep the 12-string headstock clean and purposeful. An included Taylor Deluxe hardshell case provides protection for transport and storage. Warm, responsive and unusually approachable for a 12-string, the Taylor Next Generation 552ce 12-fret acoustic-electric guitar brings expansive doubled-string texture to the compact feel and modern adjustability of Taylor's Grand Concert platform.