Introduction to the Taylor 654ce
Taylor Guitars has built a reputation for quality and innovation in the acoustic guitar world over the past few decades. Founded in 1974, the company has pioneered the use of exotic tonewoods and cutting-edge guitar design to produce instruments with unmatched tone and playability. The Taylor 654ce 12-string acoustic-electric guitar exemplifies the company’s commitment to premium materials and performance.
The 654ce is a high-end model in Taylor’s 600 Series line. It features a Grand Auditorium body shape with a Venetian cutaway for easy upper fret access. The guitar has a solid Sitka spruce top paired with beautiful quilted big leaf maple back and sides. The 12-string setup includes octave strings for a shimmering, complex tone. Electronics come in the form of Taylor’s Expression System 2, which accurately captures the guitar’s natural acoustic voice when plugged in.
This guitar has gained fame from being the go-to 12-string for Bibi McGill, lead guitarist for pop superstar Beyoncé. The maple and spruce tonewood combination provides McGill the articulate tone, dynamic range, and shimmer she needs to cut through in large venues. For the discerning 12-string player, the Taylor 654ce offers an ideal blend of rich acoustic sound, easy playability, and stage-ready amplified performance.
Taylor 654ce Design and Construction
The Taylor 654ce features premium tonewoods selected for their acoustic properties and ability to deliver balanced, articulate tones. The back and sides are made from gorgeous big leaf maple, while the top uses Sitka spruce.
Big leaf maple is known for its focused, clear voice with pronounced midrange and tight bass. It adds a touch of sweetness to the high end and helps produce balanced resonance across the tonal spectrum. The maple back and sides allow the 654ce to deliver warm, even tones without sacrificing articulation.
The top is constructed from Sitka spruce, which is prized for its dynamic range and crisp, complex overtones. Sitka spruce provides the 654ce with excellent projection and headroom. It gives the guitar a broad tonal palette spanning from tight lows to airy, ringing highs. The combination of big leaf maple and Sitka spruce creates a 12-string with warmth, shimmer, and definition.
The Taylor 654ce utilizes the company’s Grand Auditorium body shape, which provides controlled overtones and comfortable ergonomics. The Grand Auditorium strikes a balance between the booming lows of a Dreadnought and the shimmery trebles of smaller bodies. This allows the 654ce to produce a versatile voice that excels across musical styles.
The guitar also incorporates a Venetian cutaway, giving comfortable access to the upper frets. Visually, the 654ce features high-end appointments like maple binding, Italian acrylic small diamond inlays, and a smooth gloss finish. It exemplifies Taylor’s reputation for impeccable fit and finish using sustainable materials.
Electronics and Plugged-In Performance
The Taylor 654ce comes equipped with Taylor’s proprietary Expression System 2 electronics. This system utilizes behind-the-saddle pickups paired with Taylor’s custom preamp and onboard EQ controls. The goal of ES2 is to accurately capture the guitar’s natural acoustic tone and dynamics when plugged in.
When amplified, the 654ce retains the clear articulation and balanced voice of its all-maple and spruce acoustic construction. The ES2 preamp allows you to shape the EQ, with bass, midrange and treble controls, to dial in tones suited for both stage and studio use. There’s plenty of headroom available, even with aggressive strumming, thanks to the ES2’s design.
The amplified tone remains clear and focused, with the 12-string’s shimmer and chime cutting through a mix beautifully. Compared to other acoustic-electric systems from Martin and Takamine, the ES2 excels at reproducing the 654ce’s natural acoustic dynamics. The onboard preamp is intuitive to control, allowing you to easily shape your amplified sound for any gig or recording session.
Overall, the Taylor Expression System 2 does an exceptional job of capturing this 12-string’s impressive acoustic voice in amplified settings. It’s stage and studio ready right out of the box.
Taylor 654ce Playability
The Taylor 654ce features a comfortable and versatile neck profile that makes playing the wider 12-string array a pleasure. The neck has a smooth modern C-shape that fits nicely in the hand, with a nut width of 1 3/4 inches. This provides ample room between the strings while retaining a hand-friendly feel.
The wider string spacing is optimized for the 12-string setup, reducing the cramped feeling some 12-strings can have. String tension is also carefully calibrated, resulting in a very playable feel without excessive tightness. The action is set medium-low from the factory, allowing comfortable chording and single note playing along the neck.
The Taylor’s smooth neck and optimized 12-string spacing allow for intricate fingerstyle playing, relaxed strumming, and fast lead lines. The feel is conducive to playing for long periods without fatigue, an important consideration for any acoustic. The 654ce works well for various techniques across multiple genres, offering a high degree of comfort and playability other 12-strings can lack.
Overall, the Taylor 654ce defies the expectations of a 12-string guitar. It retains easy playability despite the doubled string load, keeping the guitar accessible and enjoyable. Taylor’s expertise in crafting premium acoustic necks and calibrating string spacing pays off handsomely with the 654ce. This is a 12-string players of all styles will appreciate.
Unplugged Sound and Tone
The Taylor 654ce has a rich and complex acoustic voice that showcases the interplay between its premium tonewoods. The guitar produces a balanced tonal palette across the frequency spectrum, with clear and focused bass, blooming mids, and crisp treble.
The Sitka spruce top lends the 654ce a sense of openness and airiness. Notes ring out with sustain and headroom. The big leaf maple back and sides tighten up the lows and add definition while allowing the top’s voice to shine. This pairing creates pleasing overtones and harmonic complexity.
Strumming the 654ce, the maple’s focus helps each chord come through with clarity. Fingerpicking reveals nuanced articulation and dynamics. There’s a shimmery, chiming quality to the 654ce’s 12-string voice. The additional octave strings give strums, riffs, and arpeggios added texture and dimension.
Compared to other popular 12-strings like the Martin D-12X2AE, the 654ce has more chime in the highs and tighter lows. The Martin produces a warmer, more vintage-inspired sound. The Rickenbacker 360/12 has a distinct jangly tone, while the 654ce has more balance across the tonal spectrum. Overall, the 654ce’s Sitka/maple pairing creates exceptional acoustic tone for a modern 12-string.
Taylor 600 Series and Model Comparison
The Taylor 654ce sits in the upper range of Taylor’s 600 Series, representing the pinnacle of their wood/aesthetic line of guitars. This series utilizes all solid wood construction and premium tonewoods to deliver Taylor’s signature blend of playability and rich, balanced tone.
Within the 600 series, the 654ce is most closely comparable to the 624ce and 614ce Grand Auditorium models. All three share the same body shape and Venetian cutaway design. However, the 654ce stands out with its 12-string configuration, big leaf maple back and sides, and Sitka spruce top.
Compared to the mahogany and spruce 624ce, the 654ce produces a focused, articulate tone with the chime and complexity inherent to a quality 12-string. The all-mahogany 614ce offers a warmer, more bass-rich voice. But the 654ce provides better note separation and shimmer up top.
In Taylor’s overall acoustic line, the 654ce represents one of their most versatile 12-string models. It lacks the appointments of their 700 and 800 series guitars, but provides professional-grade looks, tone, and playability. For those seeking a great 12-string without breaking the bank, the 654ce hits the sweet spot.
Ideal Taylor 654ce Player
The Taylor 654ce is optimized for the player looking for exceptional 12-string tone and playability in a variety of musical styles and settings. Its versatility makes it well-suited for:
Best Styles and Situations for the 654ce
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Folk – The 654ce’s balanced maple and spruce tone really shines for folk styles like singer-songwriter and Americana. The rich, chiming 12-string sound adds dimension to folk chord voicings and fingerpicking.
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Rock – From indie rock to classic rock, the 654ce projects with enough punch and articulation to cut through a full band mix. The ES2 electronics ensure your acoustic tone carries over live.
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Country – The maple warmth and top-end shimmer make the 654ce a great country 12-string for playing leads, fills, and strumming. The playability allows quick flatpicking lines.
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Praise and Worship – The 654ce blends in beautifully with other acoustic guitars and voices in a worship band context. The amplified tone remains clear even with chorus, delay and reverb effects.
Insights on Ideal Player for this Guitar
The Taylor 654ce 12-string really shines in the hands of:
- Seasoned acoustic players looking to add a quality 12-string to their collection
- Working musicians who need amplified 12-string tone for shows and recording
- Intermediate to advanced fingerstyle players seeking more harmonic complexity
- Singer-songwriters and accompanists who utilize the 12-string’s rhythmic elements
- Electric guitarists branching into 12-string acoustic and looking for playability
While beginners may find the wider 12-string neck less forgiving, the Taylor 654ce remains playable enough for enthusiastic students willing to put in the practice time.
Studio, Stage, and Home Use Suitability
The Taylor 654ce transitions seamlessly between studio tracking, live gigs, and practice/leisure playing at home:
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The ES2 pickup and tuner make studio work and recording super convenient. Just plug in and dial in your perfect amplified tone.
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Gigging musicians will appreciate the ES2’s feedback resistance and ability to either blend naturally or cut through a full band mix.
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For home use, the 654ce simply provides beautiful unamplified 12-string tone, whether playing for your own enjoyment or jamming with friends.
In summary, if you seek the ultimate blend of playability and rich 12-string voice across a variety of musical endeavors, the Taylor 654ce is an excellent fit for your needs. This professional-grade instrument empowers the player to fully explore the 12-string’s unique potential.
Pricing, Availability and Value
The Taylor 654ce has a MAP (minimum advertised price) of $3,998, though street prices are typically around $2,699. This positions the 654ce at the higher end of the spectrum for premium acoustic-electric guitars, but its build quality and features justify the price tag.
Compared to other high-end acoustic-electric 12-string guitars, the 654ce is competitive. The Martin D-12X1AE sits at a similar $2,629 street price, while Gibson’s Hummingbird 12-string acoustic-electric is more expensive with a street price of $4,899.
For players looking for 12-string bang for their buck, Seagull’s Coastline S12 QIT sits at an impressive $699. However, it doesn’t have the premium tonewoods and electronics of the Taylor.
The best way to find deals on the Taylor 654ce is to look for lightly used models. Reverb.com frequently has open box and mint condition 654ce guitars for 15-20% off retail pricing. Additionally, Guitar Center’s used section will occasionally have 654ces discounted significantly.
When buying used, be sure to thoroughly inspect the guitar for any cosmetic flaws, structural issues like cracks/repairs, and test out both the acoustic and amplified performance. Well-maintained Taylor guitars hold their value incredibly well, so a used 654ce in excellent shape still provides tremendous value, often at half the price of a new model.
Conclusion
The Taylor 654ce is an exceptional 12-string acoustic-electric guitar that delivers on all fronts. Its premium tonewoods of big leaf maple and Sitka spruce give it a beautifully balanced and articulate voice. The maple provides focus and evenness, while the spruce adds dynamics and shimmer. Paired with Taylor’s Grand Auditorium body shape, it projects with complexity and warmth.
The guitar’s playability also defies expectations for a 12-string. The neck profile is slim and comfortable, with optimized string spacing that makes it feel effortless to play. Whether fingerpicking intricately or strumming out chords, it handles any style with ease. The Venetian cutaway provides unfettered access to higher frets too.
When plugged in, the Taylor Expression System 2 electronics accurately capture the 654ce’s natural acoustic tones. The preamp provides flexible tone shaping, making this an extremely stage-ready guitar. It handles anything from intimate coffee shop gigs to larger concert performances.
The only downsides are the higher price tag compared to some competitors, and the fact a 12-string may have limited appeal depending on a player’s needs. But for those seeking the ultimate blend of tone, playability, and versatility in a 12-string, the Taylor 654ce is hard to beat. It comes highly recommended for any player lucky enough to get their hands on one. Don’t just take our word for it though, visit your local guitar shop and experience the Taylor 654ce for yourself today.