Introduction
Taylor Guitars has been crafting high-quality acoustic guitars since 1974 when founder Bob Taylor and partner Kurt Listug purchased the American Dream guitar company. Located in El Cajon, California, Taylor revolutionized the acoustic guitar industry with their precision manufacturing techniques and consistent quality control. Today, Taylor is renowned worldwide for their impressive lineup of acoustic and acoustic-electric models across many price points.
The 500 series sits in the heart of Taylor’s range, offering players premium tonewoods and appointments at an accessible price point compared to Taylor’s more expensive lines. The 512ce combines Taylor’s signature playability and vibrant tone with some unique specifications not found on other 500 series models. This includes a torrefied Sitka spruce top and Urban Ironbark back and sides, which give the 512ce a distinctive voice.
Taylor 512ce Specifications
The Taylor 512ce features a Grand Concert body shape, which is slightly smaller and more comfortable than their standard Dreadnought design. It’s ideally suited for fingerstyle playing.
The top is made of torrefied Sitka spruce, which is spruce that has been "roasted" to mimic the aged tone and resonance of older vintage guitars. The back and sides are a beautiful Urban Ironbark, an Australian tonewood that gives a balanced midrange focus.
The neck is tropical mahogany paired with an ebony fingerboard featuring 20 frets. Other specs include a 1 11/16" nut width, 25" scale length, V-Class bracing, and a Venetian cutaway for easy upper fret access.
Electronics consist of Taylor’s Expression System 2, which utilizes patented behind-the-saddle pickups and onboard tone controls for volume, bass, and treble. This allows you to amplify the 512ce’s natural acoustic sound accurately.
Premium appointments include a gloss top finish, tortoise pickguard, die-cast tuners, bone nut and saddle, and Taylor’s signature dot inlays on the fretboard.
Tonewoods and Sound
The Taylor 512ce showcases two unique tonewood appointments that give it a balanced, articulate voice. The back and sides are made from Urban Ironbark, an exotic Australian hardwood known for its warm, rich midrange and pronounced overtones. Urban Ironbark has an eye-catching grain pattern reminiscent of zebrawood that looks as good as it sounds.
The top is constructed from torrefied Sitka spruce, which is Sitka spruce that has been thermally treated or "roasted" to replicate the mature tone and resonance of antique vintage instruments. This process gives the 512ce’s top a lovely aged hue while preserving the spruce’s strength and lightweight properties. The end result is a top that sounds broken-in right out of the box, with excellent volume, dynamics, and articulation.
Together, the Urban Ironbark and torrefied spruce create a guitar voice that is well-balanced across the tonal spectrum. There’s enough sparkling treble to let the top ring, combined with a focused midrange punch and low-end warmth. This gives the 512ce a very playable and versatile sound that excels for fingerstyle, while also handling light strumming very nicely. It’s an articulate voice that faithfully conveys every subtle nuance, from delicate fingerpicking to vocal accompaniment. Compared to Taylor’s mahogany guitars like the 314ce, the 512ce has a touch more midrange emphasis and bass due to the Urban Ironbark, making it a good fit for roots music and singer-songwriters.
Playability
The Taylor 512ce delivers exceptional playability right out of the box. The mahogany neck has a slim, comfortable profile that accommodates all hand sizes and playing styles. The action is set low and fast from the factory, allowing effortless fretting without excessive buzzing.
The 20-fret ebony fingerboard is flawlessly dressed and polished. The frets are all evenly finished with smooth ends that won’t catch on your hands during slides and bends. The fretwork on this guitar really highlights Taylor’s excellent attention to detail and craftsmanship.
Despite the compact Grand Concert body size, the 512ce feels very balanced and weighted when strapped on. The guitar sits nicely on either leg when playing seated. Standing with the 512ce is also comfortable thanks to the contoured back that conforms to your body.
The 512ce’s excellent playability makes it a joy to play for extended practice sessions or long gigs. Whether you’re a fingerstyle player who needs low action or a strummer who wants comfort, this guitar delivers on all fronts.
Electronics and Plugged-In Sound
The Taylor 512ce comes equipped with Taylor’s Expression System 2 (ES2) electronics, featuring a patented behind-the-saddle pickup and onboard preamp with volume and tone controls. This gives players excellent amplified tone and flexibility for both live performances and studio recording situations.
The ES2 system utilizes strategically placed sensors to capture the guitar’s natural acoustic sound, resulting in an organic, transparent plugged-in tone. There are easy-to-use knobs for volume, treble, and bass, allowing quick tone shaping right on the guitar. The preamp has a built-in chromatic tuner as well, accessible with just a button press.
When amplified, the 512ce retains its clear, balanced voice across the tonal spectrum. The midrange-focused Urban Ironbark back and sides come through nicely, with plenty of warmth and character. The torrefied Sitka spruce top provides shimmer and dynamics. There is no quackiness or harshness to the amplified tone, even on higher gain settings.
To optimize the plugged-in sound, it’s recommended to start with the tone controls at noon. From there, add treble to cut through a mix, or bass to fill out the low end. The volume knob provides a wide range of clean gain before feedback. A light touch on the EQ goes a long way to getting great amplified tone.
The 512ce is a versatile acoustic-electric suitable for anything from coffee shop gigs to studio work. The ES2 preamp gives players control without coloring the inherent acoustic sound. It’s a guitar that sounds just as impressive unplugged as it does using the excellent electronics.
Aesthetics and Appointments
The Taylor 512ce has a beautiful and unique aesthetic, thanks in large part to the exotic Urban Ironbark tonewood used for the back and sides. Urban Ironbark has a striking wood grain pattern that resembles zebrawood, with alternating lighter and darker streaks running through it. When paired with the simple all-gloss finish Taylor uses, it creates a high-end polished look.
The back binding and rosette are both done in 3-ply tortoise pickguard material, which complements the Urban Ironbark nicely. On the fretboard, Taylor went with small dot inlays in what looks like pearloid, keeping the aesthetic classy and understated. The headstock has the standard gloss finish and color scheme found on most Taylor models.
Other premium appointments include chrome Taylor-branded die-cast tuners, Tusq nut and saddle, and a thin neck heel for easier upper fret access. The overall fit and finish is outstanding, with flawless fretwork and binding work. For players who appreciate fine craftsmanship and exotic tonewoods, the 512ce is sure to impress.
Comparable Guitars and Value
The Taylor 512ce is comparable in specs and sound to other Grand Concert sized Taylor models like the 324ce and 514ce, though the use of unique tonewoods like Urban Ironbark gives it a distinctive voice. It slots below more expensive Taylor models that utilize premium tonewoods like koa and blackwood.
Compared to similar offerings from other major acoustic brands like Martin and Gibson, the 512ce is very competitively priced for the level of quality and craftsmanship. Models from these other brands with equivalent features and appointments often retail for $500-1000 more.
When you consider the exceptional playability right out of the box, unique sound from the torrefied and Urban Ironbark woods, and Taylor’s reputation for reliability, the 512ce represents excellent value for money. While not an entry-level guitar, it’s priced low enough for serious players rather than just collectors.
For intermediate to advanced fingerstyle players, or those seeking a compact, premium acoustic-electric, the 512ce delivers professional performance and craftsmanship without breaking the bank. Given the exotic tonewoods and other appointments like the ES2 electronics, it’s a great value in its price range.
Who the Taylor 512ce is Best For
The Taylor 512ce is an ideal acoustic-electric guitar for fingerstyle players and singer-songwriters looking for a premium instrument with a compact, comfortable body size. Its Grand Concert shape with a 24.9" scale length makes it perfect for intricate fingerpicking patterns and chord melodies. The focused, articulate tone also records incredibly well in the studio.
While the 512ce can handle strumming for small coffee shop gigs, its voice and size are better optimized for nuanced fingerstyle playing. The compact body is easy to hold for long periods of time without fatigue. The Urban Ironbark back and sides offer a balanced tone across the tonal spectrum, allowing complex chord voicings and melodies to ring out clearly.
The 512ce would make an excellent travel guitar for professional players on tour. Its durable construction and electronics can handle the rigors of the road. The smaller Grand Concert body also takes up less space in tight quarters like planes and tour vans. The exotic Urban Ironbark back and sides are sure to garner attention at jam sessions too.
For home recording artists, the 512ce’s natural amplified tone makes it easy to get quality tracks in the studio. The ES2 electronics have flexible tone shaping options to dial in the perfect sound. The focused sound projects beautifully into microphones as well.
The 512ce is well-suited for many music genres, but it really shines for fingerstyle-focused styles like folk, acoustic pop, singer-songwriter, country, blues, and light rock. The balanced tone works for just about any style short of aggressive strumming or heavy rock.
Conclusion
The Taylor 512ce is an outstanding acoustic-electric guitar that delivers exceptional sound, playability, and value. Its unique tonewood combination of torrefied Sitka spruce and Urban Ironbark gives it a balanced, articulate voice that excels for fingerstyle playing. The Grand Concert body provides a comfortable feel and focused, controlled tone perfect for intricate playing.
With its slim neck profile and low action, the 512ce is incredibly comfortable and easy to play right out of the box. Taylor’s flawless craftsmanship shines through in the immaculate fretwork and setup. Plugged in, the ES2 electronics accurately translate the 512ce’s acoustic tone for natural amplified sound.
For guitarists seeking premium appointments like exotic woods and a compact, travel-friendly size, the 512ce represents an excellent value. Its build quality and attention to detail rival more expensive models from Taylor and other brands. The unique tonewoods give it a striking look and sound without breaking the bank.
In summary, the Taylor 512ce is a versatile, great-sounding, and superbly crafted acoustic-electric that should satisfy even the most discerning fingerstyle players. Its balance of quality materials, comfortable playability, and plugged-in performance make it an investment worth considering for gigs, the studio, or practice at home.
Video Demo
Take a look at this video demo from Taylor Guitars to hear the 512ce in action:
The demo showcases the balanced, articulate tone of the 512ce’s torrefied Sitka spruce top and Urban Ironbark back and sides. You can really hear the focused midrange and warm low end coming through. The fingerstyle playing also demonstrates the 512ce’s dynamic range and musical responsiveness. Overall it gives a great sense of how this compact Grand Concert guitar sounds and performs. Be sure to listen with headphones or quality speakers to get the full experience!