Taylor 150e 12-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar Review

Table of Contents

Overview

Taylor Guitars has been crafting high-quality acoustic guitars from their Southern California headquarters since 1974. Founded by Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug, Taylor has established a reputation for producing beautifully made and great sounding acoustic guitars across a range of price points.

The Taylor 150e 12-string acoustic-electric guitar sits in the company’s entry-level 100 Series line. It’s an affordable 12-string dreadnought guitar featuring a solid Sitka spruce top paired with layered walnut back and sides. The guitar comes equipped with Taylor’s Expression System 2 electronics, giving players easy amplified performance capabilities right out of the box. With its quality construction and versatile acoustic-electric design, the 150e delivers Taylor’s signature playability and tone in an accessible package for players looking for a gig-ready 12-string at a reasonable price.

Build Quality & Materials

The Taylor 150e features a solid Sitka spruce top, with layered walnut back and sides. This tonewood combination offers an excellent balance of warmth and articulation.

Sitka spruce is a popular choice for guitar tops, prized for its resonant and complex tone. The solid spruce top allows the 150e to deliver volume and sustain, while also imparting some sweet and lively overtones. Spruce is a great match for the rich, focused sound of walnut.

The layered walnut back and sides provide a clear midrange punch and controlled bass response. Walnut has more projection and cut than mahogany, but with a pleasing warmth that complements the spruce top. The layered construction allows Taylor to achieve the aesthetic look of solid wood at a more affordable price point.

In terms of craftsmanship, the 150e meets Taylor’s high standards, despite being part of their entry-level series. Attention to detail is evident in the smooth neck joint, neatly cut binding, and immaculate fretwork. The fit and finish is comparable or better than other guitars in the $600-$800 range. While not flawless, the overall build quality represents excellent value.

The 150e may not have the most exotic tonewoods, but the spruce and walnut pairing deliver an organic, well-balanced tone. Combined with Taylor’s expertise in construction, this guitar offers build quality that punches above its price point. Most players will be impressed with both the aesthetics and sturdy feel of this instrument.

Playability

The Taylor 150e has a slim C-shaped neck profile that provides comfort and ease of playing, especially important for a 12-string. The nut width measures 1-11/16", providing ample room between the strings for fingerstyle playing. The action is set medium-low from the factory, making fretting across the fretboard relatively easy for a 12-string.

Compared to other popular 12-strings like the Martin D-12 and Takamine EG512C, the 150e feels fast and smooth up and down the neck. The shallow neck profile allows easy access to the higher frets, while the low action facilitates quick runs and lead playing. The wider nut and proper string spacing help prevent accidental muting of adjacent strings when fingerpicking individual notes or strumming chords. Overall, the 150e’s playability makes it one of the most comfortable and playable 12-strings in its price range.

Sound & Tone

The Taylor 150e delivers the warm, balanced tone that 12-string aficionados crave. The solid Sitka spruce top produces a clear, projecting voice with excellent volume and dynamics. There’s a pleasing resonance across the guitar, with the spruce and layered walnut working together to generate a nicely balanced sound.

When strummed, the 150e has that characteristic 12-string jangle, but individual notes still stand out with definition. The warmth of the spruce blends beautifully with the focused, articulate tones from the layered walnut back and sides. Each string rings out with clarity, rather than getting lost in a muddy quagmire of sound that can plague some 12-strings.

Plugged in, the guitar’s Expression System 2 electronics accurately convey its unplugged tone. There’s a natural, organic quality to the amplified sound, with good string separation and dynamic response. The EQ is flexible enough to dial in anything from shimmering cleans to a rootsier, Americana vibe.

Acoustically, the 150e can hold its own against classic 12-strings like the Martin D-12-28. While the D-12 may have a bit more complexity and nuance, the 150e delivers extremely impressive sound quality considering its lower price point. This is a 12-string that feels right at home on stage, in the studio, or around the campfire.

Electronics & Features

The Taylor 150e comes equipped with Taylor’s Expression System 2 electronics, providing natural amplified tone with simple controls. The ES2 system utilizes a patented behind-the-saddle pickup along with an internal preamp powered by a single 9V battery.

It has master volume and tone controls, allowing for quick and easy sound adjustment on the fly. There’s also a built-in tuner with high definition read-out that can be engaged with the push of a button. The tuner is highly accurate and easy to see even on dark stages.

The preamp’s control knobs and battery compartment are subtly hidden yet easily accessible via the guitar’s soundhole. Taylor really focused on making the ES2 system optimized for live performances. Just plug in via the discrete quarter-inch output jack and you’re ready to take the stage with amplified 12-string tone.

Some other handy features include a low battery indicator and adjustable mid-range contour control inside the compartment. Overall the Expression System 2 electronics offer impressive plug-and-play functionality in a non-invasive package that doesn’t interfere with the 150e’s natural acoustic voice.

Price & Value

The Taylor 150e has a street price of around $799, which puts it on the lower end of Taylor’s acoustic lineup. However, it still provides excellent value compared to other 12-string acoustics in this price range.

Most competitor 12-strings from other major brands like Martin, Takamine, and Guild retail for $700-$900 at the entry-level. So the 150e is competitively priced, especially considering you get the Taylor name, quality, and warranty.

The use of layered walnut rather than solid wood for the back and sides helps keep costs down. But this guitar doesn’t feel like a budget model in your hands. The build quality and tone easily rival more expensive instruments.

Given the quality materials, solid spruce top, and Taylor’s impeccable attention to detail, the 150e feels like an instrument you could play for many years rather than just a cheap starter 12-string.

The bundled Expression System 2 electronics also make this a gig-ready acoustic right out of the box. You’d need to spend over $1000 to get a 12-string from another brand with comparable electronics built-in.

Overall the Taylor 150e represents an excellent value for players who want a great-sounding and playing 12-string acoustic without breaking the bank. While not the cheapest 12-string available, it delivers professional quality and tone at a reasonable price point for Taylor.

Ideal For…

The Taylor 150e 12-string is ideal for a few key types of acoustic guitar players and musical situations.

Firstly, the 150e is an excellent choice for singer-songwriters and folk musicians who want the unique sound of a 12-string guitar to accompany their music. The warm, articulate tone of the 150e is perfect for adding richness and texture to vocal melodies and fingerstyle playing. Many artists find a 12-string to be inspiring for songwriting.

The 150e is also a great option for worship leaders and church musicians looking for an affordable 12-string acoustic-electric. The guitar has enough projection and volume to lead worship sets or complement a worship band. The onboard Taylor ES-2 electronics provide a natural amplified tone for stage use.

Gigging and recording musicians will appreciate the Taylor 150e’s plug-and-play capabilities thanks to the ES-2 preamp and built-in tuner. The guitar was designed to be stage-ready right out of the box, with no need to install aftermarket pickups or electronics. The balanced amplified tone works well for both live shows and studio tracking.

Lastly, the 150e makes for a wonderful first 12-string guitar. The comfortable neck profile, string spacing, and action height are beginner-friendly. Taylor’s reputation for impeccable craftsmanship also makes this a 12-string built to last throughout one’s playing journey. The Taylor 150e gives new 12-string players a quality instrument right from the start.

In summary, singer-songwriters, worship leaders, gigging musicians, and 12-string beginners will all find the Taylor 150e to be an ideal fit for their needs and musical goals. The blend of warm Taylor tone and stage-ready electronics make it a versatile, inspiring 12-string acoustic-electric.

Alternatives & Competitors

The Taylor 150e sits in a competitive price range for 12-string acoustics, giving players lots of options to consider from other top brands. The most direct alternatives are the Martin X Series X12-28 12-String Dreadnought and the Takamine EG512C 12-String.

The Martin X12-28 features a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides, plus Fishman Sonitone electronics. It has a slightly bigger voice than the Taylor, with more low-end punch. The neck width is a bit wider, which some players may prefer. Overall, the Martin offers a great classic 12-string tone at this price.

Takamine’s EG512C is another excellent option, with a solid cedar top and mahogany back/sides. It has a smooth, balanced tone with nice sustain. The slim neck profile and low action facilitate easier playing. While not as loud as a dreadnought, it has excellent plugged-in sound via the CT4B II preamp. Players wanting a more mid-level 12-string may prefer the Takamine.

The 150e holds its own against others in this price tier, with Taylor’s signature quality and playability giving it an edge over some competitors. Those wanting Taylor’s bright, articulate tone will find it a better option than Martin or Takamine models, which lean warmer and woodier. It fits well as a gig-ready 12-string for Taylor loyalists on a budget.

Final Verdict

The Taylor 150e 12-string acoustic-electric guitar punches above its weight class, offering fantastic value for players looking for an affordable workhorse 12-string. While there are some compromises compared to Taylor’s more expensive offerings, the 150e still delivers their renowned quality and playability at a reasonable price point.

The layered walnut back and sides provide a balanced, articulate tone that pairs nicely with the warm and punchy Sitka spruce top. It’s a great sounding 12-string acoustically, with excellent projection and string-to-string balance. The Expression System 2 electronics make it stage-ready right out of the box too.

Overall playability is excellent for a 12-string in this price range. The neck has a comfortable C-shape profile, nut width is ideal for fingerstyle playing, and the action is set up well from the factory. It may not have the premium build materials and appointments of Taylor’s higher end American-made guitars, but it certainly doesn’t feel or play like a budget instrument.

If you’re an intermediate player looking to buy your first quality 12-string, or a gigging musician needing an affordable workhorse, the Taylor 150e is easy to recommend. The combination of Taylor’s signature quality and thoughtful design makes this an excellent value purchase.

More advanced players who want a 12-string with premium tonewoods and electronics may want to spend a bit more. But for what it costs, the 150e punches far above its weight, offering an impressive Taylor 12-string experience without breaking the bank.