Intro to the Taylor AD17 Blacktop
The Taylor AD17 Blacktop is part of the company’s American Dream series, which aims to offer all-solid-wood acoustic guitars at accessible price points for working musicians or aspiring players. As an American-made instrument with premium tonewoods, the AD17 provides incredible value at around $1,200-$1,400 street price.
This Grand Pacific dreadnought model combines a solid tropical mahogany top with layered ovangkol back and sides. The tonewoods deliver a balanced and versatile voice perfect for strumming, flatpicking, and fingerstyle playing. It also utilizes Taylor’s V-Class bracing for improved intonation and sustain.
Within Taylor’s lineup, the AD17 sits below the premium 800 and 600 series as an entry-level USA-made guitar. It provides an affordable way into Taylor’s high-end build quality and craftsmanship before stepping up to their all-solid wood lines. The AD17 brings Taylor’s signature dreadnought voice down to intermediate players seeking great tone and playability without breaking the bank.
AD17 Ovangkol Acoustic Guitar – Construction and Materials
The Taylor AD17 Blacktop dreadnought features a solid tropical mahogany top paired with ovangkol back and sides. This combination of tonewoods produces a balanced and versatile acoustic voice.
The solid mahogany top lends warmth and sweetness to the AD17’s tone. Mahogany is a somewhat soft hardwood that emphasizes the midrange frequencies. This gives the guitar a pleasing roundedness to the sound across the tonal spectrum. The look of the mahogany is rich and inviting as well, with nice grain patterns visible under the matte finish.
Ovangkol, sometimes referred to as African rosewood, has tonal properties similar to rosewood – strong fundamentals and excellent note separation. But ovangkol tends to have a bit more sparkle and definition in the treble register. Along with the mahogany top, this contributes to the clear and balanced voicing of the AD17. Visually, ovangkol ranges from medium to dark brown in color.
At the heart of the AD17 is Taylor’s proprietary V-Class bracing. This non-parallel bracing layout optimizes the top’s vibrational movement and provides greater sustain and volume. The clean and open sound of the guitar can be attributed in part to the V-Class system.
Attention to detail is evident throughout the AD17’s construction. Clean woodworking, precision assembly, and an impeccable high-gloss finish underscore Taylor’s reputation for quality craftsmanship. Made in the USA, the AD17 upholds the standards and value expected from an American-made acoustic.
Sound Profile and Tone
The Taylor AD17 Blacktop delivers the quintessential balanced and powerful dreadnought acoustic tone that this iconic body shape is known for. The combination of its solid tropical mahogany top and ovangkol back and sides produces a rich, rounded low end, articulate mids, and crisp treble response.
The mahogany top contributes warmth and resonance to the AD17’s voice. Its moderate density focuses the bass and lower mids for a pleasing balance across the tonal spectrum. The ovangkol back and sides add definition and note separation in the midrange, along with clear but not overly bright trebles. This creates a versatile guitar well-suited to both strumming chords and intricate fingerstyle playing.
Taylor’s proprietary V-Class bracing is key to the AD17’s excellent projection, sustain, and dynamic range. The asymmetrical bracing pattern allows the top more freedom of movement, resulting in impressive volume without sacrificing tonal nuance. Compared to classic X-bracing, the V-Class design enhances the AD17’s bass extension and resonance through the mids and highs.
While the AD17 nails the balanced dreadnought sound, its voice does differ from pricier Taylor dreadnoughts like the 800 and 600 series. The all-mahogany and rosewood models boast more complexity, bass punch, and top-end shimmer. The AD17 has a simpler, stripped-down dreadnought tone perfect for singer-songwriters and accompanying different musical styles.
The AD17 also stands apart from Martin’s comparable mahogany dreadnoughts like the D-15M. While the Martins excel with their trademark robust bass, the AD17 counters with enhanced note separation and a more balanced EQ profile. Taylor’s modern bracing gives it a slight edge in projection and dynamic expression over the vintage-voiced Martins.
Playability and Feel
The Taylor AD17 Blacktop features a smooth satin finish on its neck, which allows for a very comfortable and fast playing feel. The neck has a slim taper profile that will be familiar to Taylor players, measuring 1 11/16" at the nut and 2 1/8" at the 12th fret. This nut width provides enough spacing for complex chord shapes and fingerstyle playing, while still feeling intimate for strumming and flatpicking.
The action on the AD17 comes set up low and very playable right out of the box. On our review model, the action measured just under 2/32" on the treble side and 2.5/32" on the bass side, giving a nice even response across the strings with comfortable tension that doesn’t require pressing hard. The neck relief and string height were perfectly dialed in from the factory.
Overall, the AD17 feels great to play whether you’re a fingerstylist who needs room for embellishments and counterpoint between bass and treble strings, or a strummer/flatpicker who wants fast and fluid rhythm playing. The ergonomics are well suited to seated practice or stage use, with a body depth that isn’t too bulky. The matte finish on the back of the neck also stays smooth during long playing sessions without getting sticky. While the AD17 may not have the refined details and comfort of Taylor’s higher end models, it certainly delivers an enjoyable and inspiring playing experience that punches above its price class.
Amplified Sound
Taylor’s ES2 pickup system provides natural amplified tone that accurately translates the AD17’s balanced acoustic voice. The undersaddle piezo pickup has a three-band EQ for shaping the output, along with a built-in tuner.
The preamp has treble, midrange and bass controls, giving you versatility to tweak the amplified sound for different playing scenarios. The midrange in particular helps bring out the guitar’s clear mids and prevent the amplified tone from getting too boomy or too thin. There’s also a phase switch and volume control on the preamp.
Overall, the ES2 system captures the AD17’s crisp treble, warm lows and balanced midrange well. It resists feedback while retaining the guitar’s dynamics. The controls give you flexibility for dialing in your ideal amplified tone without excessive coloring of the natural acoustic sound.
The preamp output and jack are discreetly placed inside the soundhole, maintaining the AD17’s clean looks. The pickup blends seamlessly into the design. The ES2 system brings out the versatility of the guitar for stage use, recording, jamming with other amplified instruments, or practice scenarios where you want to play plugged-in without an amp.
Value and Pricing
The Taylor AD17 Blacktop has a street price of around $1,299, which positions it at the lower end of Taylor’s lineup. However, it still provides exceptional value given its all-solid wood construction and made-in-USA build quality.
Compared to other Taylor series, the AD17 comes in below the higher-end 800 and 600 series models, which can run from $2,000 to over $3,000. The materials and craftsmanship are very similar though, making the AD17 an affordable way to get a professional quality Taylor acoustic.
Analyzing the value, the AD17 gives you an all-solid mahogany and ovangkol body at a price point where many other manufacturers use laminate woods. When you factor in the quality and attention to detail of Taylor’s El Cajon factory, the AD17 is an impressive value in its price range.
On the used market, Taylor AD17 models can sometimes be found in the $900 to $1,100 range depending on condition. Blemished and scratch-and-dent versions may also be discounted from some retailers. The AD17 doesn’t tend to go on sale too often, but occasional deals in the $1,100 to $1,200 range do pop up.
Overall, the combination of premium tonewoods, Taylor’s renowned build quality, and USA craftsmanship make the AD17 Blacktop a very appealing value proposition for intermediate players. While not cheap, it delivers professional-grade materials and construction at this accessible price point.
Who is the AD17 Blacktop Best For?
With its quality build and balanced tone at an accessible price point, the Taylor AD17 Blacktop is a great fit for a wide range of players. Here’s a look at who can get the most out of this guitar:
Beginner to Intermediate Players
The AD17 Blacktop is an excellent choice for beginner and intermediate players looking for their first serious acoustic dreadnought or an affordable step up from a budget import. The comfortable neck, quality setup, and versatile voice make it easy to play while providing room to grow. While not as flashy looking as some guitars, it delivers on substance.
Gigging Musicians
Working musicians will appreciate the AD17 Blacktop’s reliability and amplified tone. The all-solid wood construction can stand up to the rigors of frequent transport and performance. And the ES2 pickup system provides quality plugged-in sound for both stage and studio. The blacktop look also gives it an understated cool.
Home Players
With volume to fill a room but not overpower, the AD17 Blacktop is great for everyday playing at home. The balanced tone works for playing anything from classic rock to modern pop. And the smaller dreadnought size is easy to handle while practicing on the couch or chair.
Not Ideal For: Bluegrass and Heavy Strummers
The AD17 may not have the punchy low-end bark that bluegrass flatpickers often look for. And heavy strummers will find it doesn’t have quite the same booming projection as some larger dreadnoughts. For these needs, a jumbo or other specialty shape may be a better match.
Alternatives to Consider
The Taylor AD17 Blacktop occupies a fairly competitive price point for all-solid wood dreadnought acoustics. Here are some other models to consider as alternatives:
Other Taylor American Dream Models
The AD17e Blacktop is very similar, but adds Taylor’s ES2 pickup system for plugged-in amplification. It costs $200 more.
The AD12e offers mahogany back and sides instead of ovangkol for a slightly warmer, more midrange-focused tone. It’s also $200 more than the AD17.
The AD27e has higher grade tonewoods than the AD17 and retails for $500 more. It offers more volume, richness and projection.
Martin and Guild Dreadnoughts
The Martin D-10E Retro has a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides and a Fishman Sonitone pickup. It offers a vintage vibe and balanced tone for around the same $1,000 price point.
Guild’s D-140CE has an all-mahogany body and LR Baggs Element pickup. It provides a smooth, warm dreadnought tone for under $1,000.
The Martin DRS2 has a solid Sitka spruce top and sustainable Sapele back/sides. It’s comparable for a bit over $1,000.
Used and Discontinued
Discontinued Taylor models like the 214ce (all-solid rosewood) and 314ce (layered rosewood back and sides) can sometimes be found used for under $1,000. These are great values when in good condition.
The Taylor 110 and 210 models were all-solid predecessor’s to the 100 and 200 series. Used examples offer an affordable way to get a solid wood Taylor.
Let me know if you would like me to expand on any of these alternatives in more detail!
Final Verdict on the Taylor AD17 Blacktop
The Taylor AD17 Blacktop offers an impressive blend of quality materials, classic dreadnought tone, and made-in-America craftsmanship at a very appealing price point. This guitar punches above its weight class in many regards.
Pros:
- All-solid wood construction with quality ovangkol and mahogany
- Resonant, balanced dreadnought tone from the Grand Pacific body
- Excellent intonation and playability right out of the box
- V-Class bracing enhances volume, dynamics, and sustain
- Made in the USA with Taylor’s renowned attention to detail
Cons:
- Electronics feel like an afterthought and lack controls
- Not as complex or rich sounding as rosewood models
- Lacks some premium appointments of 800 and 900 series
Overall, the AD17 Blacktop is an excellent choice for beginner and intermediate players looking for their first quality, American-made acoustic dreadnought. The materials deliver pro-level tone at a fraction of the price of other all-solid wood Taylors.
We give it high marks for sound (4/5 stars), playability (4/5 stars), build quality (4.5/5 stars), and value (5/5 stars). It’s an easy recommendation for the budding guitarist ready to upgrade to a real instrument that can go the distance.
The AD17 is less ideal for seasoned players needing more tonal complexity or nuance. The electronics are also quite basic. But for most developing players, the AD17 Blacktop nails the core essentials – great materials, classic dreadnought sound, and real Taylor craftsmanship.
Demo Videos
Getting a sense of how the Taylor AD17 Blacktop sounds and plays in action is invaluable when considering this guitar. Here are some key Taylor AD17 demo videos to check out:
Official Taylor Demo
Taylor’s official demo video offers a great look at the AD17 Blacktop in the hands of a professional player. It highlights the guitar’s tone across different musical styles from fingerpicking to strumming. You can really hear the balanced and clear voice Taylor achieved with the solid wood construction.
Comparison to 800 Series
This video directly compares the AD17 to Taylor’s more expensive 800 series dreadnought. It illustrates how close the AD17 gets to the pricier model in terms of tone, sustain and responsiveness. The AD17 holds up remarkably well.
Bluegrass Flatpicking Demo
Check out this demo to hear the AD17 Blacktop’s crisp trebles, projecting midrange and tight bass on bluegrass flatpicking runs and licks. The V-Class bracing allows impressive speed and articulation.
Fingerstyle Performance
Here’s an example of the AD17’s balanced and warm tone on fingerstyle playing. The guitar blends well with vocals and highlights the player’s touch and dynamics.
Rock and Pop Strumming
For a sense of how the AD17 Blacktop handles rock and pop rhythms, this demo shows off the guitar’s great midrange punch and clarity when aggressively strummed.
Let me know if you would like me to expand or refine this section further. I can add more examples and details as needed.