Introduction
Taylor Guitars has built a reputation for crafting high-quality acoustic guitars across all price ranges. Founded in 1974, the California-based company pioneered the use of modern machinery and innovative techniques to produce consistent, great-sounding guitars. The Academy series represents Taylor’s entry into the budget-friendly segment, offering players an affordable way to own a real Taylor.
The Taylor Academy 12e stands out in the series as the only Grand Concert sized acoustic-electric model. It packs professional features like all-solid wood construction and Taylor’s ES-B pickup system into an accessible package. This makes it an ideal first "real" guitar for aspiring players who want to graduate from their beginner instrument.
Key specs on the Academy 12e include a layered sapele back and sides paired with a solid Sitka spruce top, delivering Taylor’s signature balanced and articulate tone. The slim neck and smaller body size also cater to younger players or those with smaller hands. Throw in jumbo frets and quality tuning machines, and the 12e punches well above other guitars in its low $600 price range.
Construction & Materials
The Taylor Academy 12e features Taylor’s Grand Concert body style, which is slightly smaller than a dreadnought and provides a balanced and articulate tone. It has a solid Sitka spruce top, which helps produce a bright and responsive sound.
The back and sides are made from layered sapele, an affordable and durable tonewood that provides warmth and definition. Sapele has a similar look and tonal characteristics as mahogany. The layered construction helps keep costs down while still retaining a great sound.
The Academy 12e has a sapele neck with a 24.87" scale length and a 1.69" nut width, making it comfortable for smaller hands while still being very playable. The fretboard and bridge are made from ebony, which provides crisp note definition.
Overall, the all-solid wood construction of the Academy 12e gives it a mature, nuanced tone that punches above its price point, while the layered sapele back and sides help keep costs affordable for an entry-level Taylor guitar. The materials and build quality allow it to produce balanced and articulate tones across various styles of playing.
Sound & Tone
The Taylor Academy 12e delivers a refined and balanced acoustic tone, thanks to its solid Sitka spruce top and layered sapele back and sides. The smaller Grand Concert body produces a focused and articulate sound, with a punchy low end and clear, bell-like highs. The solid spruce top ensures the 12e has the volume and projection to hold its own when jamming or performing live.
Plugged in, the ES-B pickup and preamp accurately captures the 12e’s woody resonance and warmth. The under-saddle pickup combined with a discrete body sensor provides dynamic and feedback-resistant amplified tone. The onboard tone controls allow shaping the EQ, making the 12e’s plugged-in sound versatile for stage use.
The balanced and clear acoustic voice of the Academy 12e makes it suitable for a wide range of musical styles. Fingerstyle players can take advantage of the 12e’s separation to let notes bloom, while strummers will appreciate the punchiness on rhythmic chords. The focused midrange cuts through in a live mix, whether for rock, pop, folk, country, blues, or jazz performance. The 12e is a remarkably adaptable guitar that excels at any genre an intermediate player might be honing their skills on.
Playability & Feel
The Taylor Academy 12e features a slim, comfortable neck profile that most players will find very easy to wrap their hand around, especially beginners. The neck has a 24.87" scale length and 1.69" nut width, providing ample room for fingering chords and single note runs without feeling too cramped.
The string action on the Academy 12e is set exceptionally low and fast right out of the factory. This allows effortless fretting and makes barre chords much easier for novice players to press down. The action can be further adjusted via the truss rod in the neck, but Taylor’s expert setup means it’s gig-ready right away.
The fretboard radius measures 16" and has a modern, flattened profile that positions the strings slightly closer together than a traditional acoustic. This helps smaller hands easily play chords and makes stretching between frets less strenuous. The medium jumbo frets are neatly finished for smooth, buzz-free fingering.
Overall, the ergonomics and playing comfort of the Academy 12e cater extremely well to beginner and younger players with smaller hands or shorter arms and fingers. The compact Grand Concert body size coupled with the slim neck and low action facilitates hours of fatigue-free practice during the critical development of fundamental acoustic guitar techniques.
Hardware & Electronics
The Academy 12e comes equipped with quality hardware and onboard electronics that make it stage-ready right out of the box.
For tuning stability, it uses Taylor’s standard chrome enclosed tuners. While not as premium-feeling as the tuners on Taylor’s high-end models, these work smoothly and hold tune reliably even under heavy playing.
The real highlight is Taylor’s ES-B pickup system, designed specifically for their entry-level guitars. The undersaddle piezo pickup accurately captures the warm, woody acoustic tone. It has a simple volume knob and tone control mounted just inside the soundhole for quick adjustments.
The preamp is powered by a 9V battery accessed via the back plate. Battery life is excellent, providing over 200 hours of playing time before needing to be replaced. There’s also a discreet side-mounted output jack that blends seamlessly into the binding.
Overall the electronics setup is streamlined and optimized for beginners, providing great amplified tone without advanced controls to manage. Between the quality pickup and thoughtful preamp design, the Academy 12e punches above its weight for on-stage acoustic amplification.
Build Quality
The Taylor Academy 12e continues Taylor’s tradition of outstanding build quality and attention to detail, especially for an acoustic guitar at this lower price point.
As soon as you pick up the Academy 12e, the quality craftsmanship is evident. The fit and finish are flawless, with tight seams, clean bindings, and a glossy, durable finish. There are no rough spots or uneven joints anywhere on the guitar.
The sapele back and sides have an attractive wood grain pattern. The solid spruce top is nicely bookmatched. The fretwork is immaculate, with smoothly finished frets and no sharp edges. The bridge and saddle are cut precisely for optimal intonation.
All of the hardware and appointments are robust and reliable. The chrome tuning machines operate smoothly and hold tune well. The Tusq nut and saddle further enhance sustain and resonance. The ebony fingerboard and bridge have a rich, dark appearance.
Due to its solid spruce top and quality layered sapele construction, the Academy 12e has excellent structural integrity that will withstand years of playing. The materials are strong yet lightweight, providing a very resonant and lively acoustic tone.
Overall, the Academy 12e has outstanding build quality that defies its affordable price tag. It’s clear that Taylor cut no corners in crafting a durable, reliable instrument with the same attention to detail found in their more expensive models. This is a guitar built to last, not a disposable beginner’s instrument.
Available Models & Finishes
The Taylor Academy 12e comes in two different top finish options – natural and sunburst. The natural finish showcases the solid Sitka spruce top wood with its pale cream coloring and straight, even grain patterns. This is the most popular finish choice for Taylor guitars in general, as it highlights the attractive appearance of the spruce.
The sunburst finish incorporates a darker brown-orange burst color around the edges of the top. This adds a touch of visual flair while still allowing the spruce grain to shine through the center. Sunbursts can help draw the eye in and add depth to the appearance.
Both finishes come with a layered sapele back and sides, which has an attractive mid-brown hue. Sapele is an economical alternative to mahogany, providing many of the same tonal characteristics at a more affordable price point.
The Academy 12e’s little sibling is the Academy 10e model. The main difference is that the 10e has a layered spruce top rather than solid spruce. Layered tops use multiple thin sheets of wood laminated together. This construction method helps reduce costs, but solid wood tops are generally considered superior for tone production and aging over time.
For players specifically seeking a nylon-string acoustic guitar, Taylor also offers the Academy 12e-N. This has nylon strings instead of steel and a wider nut width better suited to classical playing. The wider neck does mean it’s not quite as beginner friendly as the regular 12e. Those looking for the versatility of both nylon and steel strings may prefer the standard 12e.
In summary, the finish and model options provide players some choices to match their budget and playing style within the Academy series. But the 12e hits the sweet spot by offering all-solid woods and steel strings at an attractive price point for most needs.
Acoustic Guitar Comparison
The Taylor Academy 12e stands out when compared to other entry-level acoustic and acoustic-electric guitars on the market.
Compared to other models in Taylor’s lineup, the Academy 12e offers noticeable upgrades over the non-solid top Academy 10 and the smaller travel-friendly options like the Baby Taylor and GS Mini. The solid Sitka spruce top of the 12e provides more volume, richness and dynamic range versus the layered wood top of the Academy 10. And the Grand Concert body shape gives it better bass response and versatility than Taylor’s ultra-portable designs.
Stacking the Academy 12e against entry-level models from other top brands, it really shines in terms of build quality, tonewoods used, and overall playability right out of the box. Many guitars around the $500-600 price point will have laminate wood construction, cheaper hardware, and mediocre electronics. The all-solid wood body of the 12e gives it a mature, refined tone exceeding its price tag. The slim neck profile and low action setup also make it very playable for beginners.
Overall, the Taylor Academy 12e punches far above its weight class, offering pro-level quality and a lifetime guitar for the cost of an intermediate instrument. It’s an ideal choice for a beginner or budget-minded player who wants great value without compromising on tone or construction. The Academy series has raised the bar across the industry for what players can expect from an affordable acoustic.
Ideal Player Profile
The Taylor Academy 12e is best suited for beginner to lower intermediate level players. While it has the premium tonewoods and craftsmanship of a high-end Taylor, the Academy 12e is designed to be an accessible entry point into their lineup.
The Grand Concert body shape with a 24.875" scale length makes this a very playable guitar for those with smaller hands or shorter arms. The slim neck profile and low action facilitate comfortable fretting and chord changes. Players with petite frames will also appreciate the compact body size, which prevents the guitar from feeling overly large.
With its balanced woody tones and crisp articulation, the Academy 12e works well for a variety of mellow musical styles. The solid spruce top rewards a light touch, making this an excellent choice for fingerstyle playing. Singer-songwriters will appreciate the warm, intimate midrange for accompanying vocals. The smaller body produces a focused low end, rather than booming bass, keeping the Academy 12e well-suited for folk, country, indie pop, and similar genres. The onboard ES-B electronics provide stage-ready amplified tones for gigging.
The Academy 12e hits a sweet spot between affordability and premium quality. While not the cheapest beginner guitar, it delivers professional sound and playability that will reward new players with inspiring practice sessions and live performances. The all-solid wood construction means the Academy 12e is built to last, keeping up with you as your skills progress for years to come.
Pros & Cons
Pros
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The Taylor Academy 12e punches above its weight in terms of build quality and materials for the price. It has an all-solid Sitka spruce top, which helps produce a balanced and articulate tone. The back and sides use layered sapele which is durable and attractive.
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The tone is often described as warm yet clear, with a balanced character across the tonal spectrum. The smaller Grand Concert body provides a focused and intimate unplugged voice.
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Playability is another major plus, with Taylor’s signature slim neck profile and low action setup right out of the box. This makes the guitar comfortable and accessible for newer players.
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Considering the use of solid woods and Taylor’s excellent electronics, the Academy 12e provides excellent value for money. It’s a great way to get into the Taylor ecosystem without breaking the bank.
Cons
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While the layered sapele back and sides are well-executed, some players might desire all-solid tonewoods at this price point. Others in this range use alternative woods like mahogany or rosewood.
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The available finish options are more limited compared to Taylor’s more expensive models – only natural, sunburst, and black are offered. Those wanting a wider variety of colors and aesthetic choices might look elsewhere.