Introduction to the Taylor 322ce 12-Fret
The Taylor 322ce is part of Taylor’s acclaimed 300 Series lineup, representing an ideal balance of premium tonewoods, innovative construction, and accessible price point. This Grand Concert acoustic-electric model features a slotted peghead and 12-fret neck design that gives it a distinctly warm and articulate voice.
Key specifications of the 322ce include a solid Sitka spruce top paired with tropical mahogany back and sides, which produce a balanced and responsive tone profile. It utilizes Taylor’s V-Class bracing pattern to enhance volume, sustain, and intonation. For amplified performance, the guitar comes equipped with Taylor’s Expression System 2 electronics and preamp.
Other noteworthy features of the 322ce are its compact Grand Concert body shape with a gloss finish, 20-fret ebony fretboard, and 1-3/4" nut width. It ships in a deluxe hardshell case, providing premium protection for this intermediate-level instrument. For players seeking an acoustic-electric with pro-grade tonewoods and innovative design at an accessible price point, the Taylor 322ce 12-fret is an excellent option to consider in the sub-$2,000 tier.
Body & Neck Construction
The Taylor 322ce features a compact Grand Concert body shape with dimensions of 15" wide, 16.5" long, and 4.5" deep. This makes for a comfortable playing feel whether seated or standing.
The back and sides are constructed from layered tropical mahogany, which provides warmth and balances out the bright tones of the spruce top. Mahogany is a fairly dense tonewood that emphasizes the midrange frequencies.
One of the most distinctive features of the 322ce is its 12-fret neck joint. Most steel-string acoustics have a 14-fret neck which places the neck joint right at the end of the body. The 12-fret design shifts the neck joint slightly towards the soundhole, allowing easier access to the upper frets. Many players feel this improves playability, especially when soloing. It also enhances the resonance and projection coming from the body.
The neck has a slim taper profile that gets slightly wider as you move up towards the body. It has a nut width of 1 11/16", which will feel familiar to most players. The fretboard itself is made of West African ebony which is known for its hardness and crisp note articulation.
V-Class Bracing System
Taylor’s V-Class bracing system represents a major innovation in acoustic guitar design. Unlike traditional X-bracing patterns used on most steel-string acoustics, the V-Class system utilizes a unique asymmetric pattern. The braces are precisely angled and positioned to provide better support and vibration across the guitar top.
This advanced bracing architecture allows the 322ce to produce improved volume, sustain, and intonation compared to conventional X-bracing designs. The guitar resonates with enhanced bass response and remarkable clarity on both low and high notes. Chords ring out with rich overtones that decay smoothly. Single note lines sound clear and articulate up and down the neck.
The V-Class system achieves these tonal enhancements through greater structural stability and top vibration optimization. The angled braces provide dynamic stiffness and allow the top more freedom of movement. This allows it to vibrate as a more unified soundboard for balanced resonance across all frequencies. Players notice a marked improvement in the guitar’s dynamic range, projection, and tonal balance.
Overall, Taylor’s innovative V-Class bracing represents a new level of acoustic sound engineering. It’s a major reason the 322ce and other new Taylor models have received such praise for their impressive volume, sustain, intonation, and tonal consistency.
Tonewoods & Sound
The Taylor 322ce 12-Fret utilizes a tropical mahogany back and sides paired with a solid Sitka spruce top. This classic tonewood combination produces a rich, balanced sound with excellent note definition.
The mahogany back and sides impart a warm, rounded low-end and pleasing sustain. Mahogany has a balanced tonal response, providing good note articulation without overly dominating the sound. The solid spruce top offers brightness and headroom, allowing the guitar’s voice to open up when strummed or picked harder. Spruce is prized for its excellent resonance and responsiveness.
Together, these tonewoods complement each other beautifully. The 322ce delivers a very balanced and organic acoustic tone. It has enough crispness and shimmer from the spruce, while still retaining the pleasing low-end warmth of mahogany. The note separation is excellent, resulting in a very articulate sound.
Here’s a brief audio clip demonstrating the 322ce’s balanced tone:
The 322ce has enough warmth for fingerstyle playing, while still having enough cut and headroom for strumming and flatpicking. Overall it’s a very versatile acoustic guitar tone.
Electronics & Plugged-In Performance
The Taylor 322ce comes equipped with Taylor’s Expression System 2 (ES2) electronics, featuring a pickup and preamp specifically designed for acoustic guitars. The ES2 utilizes a neck sensor pickup placed behind the saddle to capture the natural resonance and sustain of the guitar. This strategic placement allows the ES2 to produce a balanced, authentic tone when plugged in, without overemphasizing bass frequencies like some other undersaddle pickups.
The ES2 preamp includes simple but effective onboard controls for volume, bass, and treble that allow you to shape your amplified tone. The preamp is tuned to work in harmony with the pickup, resulting in a clear, vibrant amplified sound comparable to the unplugged tone. Users report excellent amplification and feedback control across various live performance and studio recording applications. The ES2 electronics package is seamless to use and allows the warm, articulate voice of the Taylor 322ce to shine through on stage or in the studio.
Playability & Feel
The 12-fret neck joint is one of the 322ce’s standout features for playability. By moving the neck joint closer to the body, Taylor has made it easier to access those high frets that are difficult to reach on most acoustic guitars. There’s no straining or over-stretching needed thanks to the shortened scale length. It’s much more comfortable and ergonomic compared to a traditional 14-fret joint.
This improved access also enhances the intonation when playing lead lines and solos in the upper register. Bending notes at the 12th fret and beyond is buttery smooth. There’s no sharpness or flatness in the pitch, just perfectly tuned notes that sing out clearly.
The neck has a smooth satin finish that invites fast lead playing. The action is set medium-low from the factory, optimized for comfortable fretting without buzzing. Players who prefer a very low action may want to get a professional setup, but the 322ce plays excellently right out of the case.
String tension is ideal for strumming rhythms or fingerpicking melodies without undue force needed. The guitar feels responsive and lively, with notes that ring out clearly and intonation remaining accurate up and down the neck. Overall, the 322ce simply feels "right" from the very first strum, inviting the player to keep making music for hours on end.
Aesthetics & Appointments
The Taylor 322ce has an elegantly understated aesthetic that enhances its premium appeal. The standard finish option is a Shaded Edgeburst that subtly transitions from dark brown edges to a lighter honey-colored center. This gives the guitar a refined, vintage-inspired look.
The binding helps accentuate the guitar’s contours. It consists of multiple fine layers of plastic for durability and an attractive appearance. The rosette follows suit with a simple and tasteful ring pattern around the soundhole.
The fretboard inlays are small pearl dots, which don’t distract from the playing experience. And the headstock has a classic script logo inlaid, identifying it as an American-made Taylor.
Overall, the 322ce avoids any gaudy appointments and instead focuses on fine details that give it a timeless elegance. While understated, the craftsmanship helps convey that this is a high-end, professional-grade acoustic guitar meant to be played and admired.
Ideal Playing Styles & Genres
The Taylor 322ce 12-fret is an extremely versatile acoustic-electric that excels in a variety of playing styles and genres. Its balanced tone, smooth playability, and ability to shine both acoustically and plugged in make it a great choice for fingerstyle guitarists who need warm tone and responsiveness. The mahogany back and sides provide a rounded low end that complements fingerstyle techniques like alternating bass.
Light strumming also works well on the 322ce 12-fret, as the V-Class bracing allows the guitar to still project with minimal strumming force. The crisp highs remain even during energetic flatpicking passages. Singer-songwriters will appreciate how the guitar captures soft fingerpicking dynamics and complements vocals.
In the studio, the 322ce’s natural acoustic resonance and feedback-resistant electronics make it an ideal acoustic for recording. It has the balanced EQ to sit in a mix without an overabundance of boominess or brightness. The ES2 pickup accurately conveys the guitar’s true unplugged sound.
When it comes to genres, the 322ce 12-fret does well with pop, folk, rock, country, blues, and more. It has the versatility to cover everything from mellow coffee shop sets to stages and studios. Well-known artists like Ed Sheeran and John Mayer often play similar body styles and tonewood combinations as found on the 322ce. Overall, it’s a great all-purpose acoustic-electric suitable for most genres short of very aggressive strumming styles.
Comparable Guitars & Value
The Taylor 322ce 12-fret occupies a premium price point in the acoustic-electric market, but it stacks up well against the competition when you consider the quality of materials, craftsmanship, electronics, and accessories included.
The Martin 00LX1E is a comparable option, with a similar Auditorium body style and Fishman Sonitone electronics. It features solid sapele back and sides, which lends a slightly darker tone compared to the 322ce’s mahogany. Street prices are comparable between the two models.
Another alternative is the Larrivée LV-09, which offers a solid mahogany body and Larrivée’s own preamp system. This guitar excels at fingerstyle playing, though the smaller body may not project as much volume as the Taylor. The LV-09 retails for a similar price point.
For players focused on plugged-in tone, the Yamaha A5R dreadnought is an intriguing choice with its A.R.T. pickup system. It’s a very playable instrument with a slightly larger body size. The A5R has a street price that’s a few hundred dollars lower than the 322ce.
The hardshell case included with the Taylor 322ce 12-fret is a nice added value, as comparable models from other brands often sell the case separately. Given the quality materials and electronics, along with Taylor’s reputation for craftsmanship, the 322ce represents an excellent acoustic-electric value for the serious player.
Conclusion & Final Thoughts
The Taylor 322ce 12-Fret is an exceptional acoustic-electric that delivers on all fronts. Its premium build quality, resonant tropical mahogany and Sitka spruce tonewoods, and comfortable 12-fret neck design allow it to produce a rich, balanced tone perfect for fingerstyle playing. The V-Class bracing gives it enhanced volume and sustain, while the ES2 pickup system accurately captures its natural acoustic character when plugged in.
For players seeking a stage-ready acoustic-electric with smooth playability right up to the highest frets, the 322ce 12-Fret is a top-tier choice. Its compact Grand Concert body provides easy playing comfort without sacrificing projection. Visually, it looks as good as it sounds with an elegant Shaded Edgeburst finish and premium appointments.
Overall, the Taylor 322ce 12-Fret stands out as one of the finest acoustic-electrics in its price range. It effortlessly blends resonant tone, comfortable playability, and stage-worthy electronics. For discerning players who appreciate Taylor’s meticulous craftsmanship, this 12-fret beauty is absolutely worth the investment. It’s a new classic that earns top marks across the board.