Introduction
Taylor Guitars was founded in 1974 and has become one of the most respected and renowned acoustic guitar manufacturers. Known for their high-quality craftsmanship, innovative designs, and great tone, Taylor revolutionized the acoustic guitar industry. Their guitars are played by musicians across all genres, from pop stars like Taylor Swift to country legends like Zac Brown.
The American Dream series was launched in 2017 as Taylor’s line of affordable, US-made acoustic guitars. Up until then, their US-built guitars cost several thousand dollars. The American Dream models allowed more players access to the Taylor quality and sound, with prices ranging from $1,500-$2,000.
This review will provide an in-depth look at the Taylor AD27, one of the standout models in the American Dream series. We’ll evaluate its features, sound, playability, and construction to help you determine if this excellent value guitar should be your next American dream come true. The goal is to give potential buyers a comprehensive review of how the AD27 performs across critical categories.
Taylor AD27 Specs & Features
The Taylor AD27 showcases excellent craftsmanship with its Grand Pacific dreadnought body shape. This versatile shape provides balanced tone across the tonal spectrum, appealing to fingerstyle players and strummers alike.
The solid mahogany top yields a rich, warm tone, with impressive projection and responsiveness. Mahogany is revered for its mid-range focus and natural compression. This top is nicely complemented by back and sides of layered Sapele, which provide resonance and clarity.
At the heart of the AD27 is Taylor’s innovative V-Class bracing. This patented design optimizes the guitar’s volume, sustain, and intonation by tuning the soundboard’s vibrational movement. Players can expect enhanced projection and fuller low end from this bracing.
The fast-playing neck features a stunning fingerboard and bridge made of eucalyptus, an attractive tropical hardwood. Eucalyptus offers a smooth feel and bright tone, while being environmentally responsible.
Rounding out the AD27’s impressive specs are strings made from nickel bronze. This alloy creates a warm, balanced acoustic tone. The strings pair nicely with the mahogany and Sapele woods to deliver an exceptional musical experience.
Sound & Tone Quality
The Taylor AD27 produces a rich, full-bodied tone with impressive depth and resonance. The solid mahogany top adds a warm, woody character to the AD27’s sound. Mahogany is known for its mellow midrange, and on the AD27 it delivers a pleasing warmth without sacrificing clarity.
Taylor’s innovative V-Class bracing also has a significant impact on the AD27’s tone. The asymmetrical bracing pattern allows the top to vibrate freely, resulting in enhanced volume, sustain, and note separation. Strummed chords ring out with remarkable projection and fullness. Even during complex fingerstyle passages, each note sings with impressive clarity and intonation.
Compared to other popular acoustic guitars in its class, the AD27 holds its own. Its tone profile falls somewhere between the scooped midrange of Martin’s mahogany dreadnoughts, and the zingy brilliance of Taylor’s own Grand Auditorium models. Played side-by-side with comparably-priced offerings from Gibson or Fender, the AD27 stands out for its balanced EQ and ringing sustain. For the price, it’s hard to find another dreadnought acoustic with this level of warmth, richness, and resonance.
Playability & Comfort
The AD27 is a joy to play, thanks to its smooth eucalyptus fingerboard, comfortable neck profile, and optimal action. Players will find chording and soloing effortless on the AD27.
The eucalyptus fingerboard really stands out when playing the AD27. It has a smooth, fast feel that allows your fingers to glide up and down the neck with ease. Even after hours of practice, your fingers won’t feel fatigued. Eucalyptus is also more resistant to wear than many other fingerboard woods.
The neck has a comfortable C-shape profile with a slim taper. This makes wrapping your thumb around for chording very natural, while the slimmer upper registers allow excellent access for solos and melodic playing up the neck. The neck depth provides a nice, solid feel in your hand without being overly bulky.
The action on the AD27 is set exceptionally well right out of the box. String height is very low without any buzzing. This really maximizes playability across the fretboard. Whether you’re playing first position chords or ripping lead lines near the body, the action makes everything very fluid.
Overall, the AD27 feels fantastic to play. The smooth fingerboard, comfortable neck, and optimal action come together to provide a wonderful playing experience suitable for various styles and skill levels. Even during marathon practice or recording sessions, the AD27 remains a joy to play.
Build Quality & Aesthetics
Taylor’s reputation for exceptional craftsmanship shines through in the AD27, evident in every detail of this stunning acoustic guitar. From the expertly bookmatched solid mahogany top to the elegantly bound body, this guitar exemplifies the quality that Taylor is renowned for.
The mahogany used for the AD27’s top is specially selected for its rich, decorative grain patterns. When bookmatched, two halves of the top are mirrored to create a beautiful symmetrical look that highlights the wood’s natural beauty. The satin finish allows the wood’s character to shine through, creating an organic aesthetic.
Complementing the top is a back and sides of layered Sapele, an African mahogany relative chosen for its attractive figure and balanced tonal properties. The edges are elegantly bound with black binding that provides an attractive contrast to the wood’s reddish-brown hues.
Small details like the black acrylic dot inlays on the eucalyptus fingerboard and the abalone rosette surrounding the soundhole demonstrate Taylor’s commitment to fine craftsmanship. Each AD27 is built to last, promising years of playing enjoyment thanks to its solid woods and sturdy construction. Overall, the AD27 exemplifies Taylor’s pursuit of excellence, delivering an exceptionally crafted instrument with timeless beauty.
Value for Money
The Taylor AD27 has an MSRP of $1,499, which positions it in the mid-range price bracket for high-quality acoustic guitars. This is quite affordable compared to Taylor’s American-made guitars, which can run $2,000+.
When evaluating the AD27’s value proposition, it’s important to compare it to other guitars in the same price range from Taylor and other major brands. The AD27 goes head-to-head with guitars like the Martin D-10E Road Series which retails for $1,099. The Gibson J-15 also lands in a similar price point at $1,499.
Given the AD27’s solid wood construction with a mahogany top and sapele back/sides, innovative bracing system, and Taylor’s excellent build quality and attention to detail, it punches above its weight class. Most guitars under $1,500 won’t have a solid wood top, let alone solid mahogany which is prized for its warmth and richness.
The tonal characteristics, playability, and aesthetics of the AD27 make it an incredible value for intermediate to advanced players. The complex voice and articulation of this guitar belies its accessible price point. It’s an ideal fit for serious hobbyists, working musicians, and even weekend warriors who want a lifetime acoustic guitar without breaking the bank.
While the AD27 may be on the higher end for a beginner’s first guitar, it exemplifies Taylor’s mission with the American Dream series – to make their USA-built quality accessible to more players. Given its outstanding performance metrics, the AD27 clearly delivers top-notch value at its price point.
Comparisons
The Taylor AD27 holds its own when compared to other popular acoustic guitars in its price range and class. Here’s how it stacks up:
Compared to other Taylor models
The AD27 sits below Taylor’s higher-end 800 and 900 series in terms of features and appointments, but above the entry-level 100 and 200 series guitars. It offers better tone and playability than Taylor’s lower priced models, while lacking some of the premium details of the more expensive guitars. Overall, the AD27 hits a sweet spot between affordability and quality.
Compared to the similar AD17, the AD27 features all solid wood construction for better sound projection versus the AD17’s layered wood back and sides. The AD27’s mahogany and Sapele woods also impart a warmer, richer tone than the AD17’s maple and mahogany combination.
Compared to competitor brands
The AD27 can hold its own against similarly priced dreadnought acoustics from Martin, Gibson, Guild, and other brands. Its solid mahogany top and V-Class bracing allow it to compete on tone, while Taylor’s excellent craftsmanship gives it an edge in build quality.
The AD27 generally provides better playability and comfort than most competitors thanks to its smooth eucalyptus fretboard and contoured body shape. It also comes equipped with high-end features like nickel bronze strings and Italian acrylic inlays, making it punch above its price class.
Is the AD27 the right choice for you?
For intermediate to advanced players seeking an affordable, great-sounding American-made acoustic, the AD27 is an excellent option. Its versatile sound, comfortable feel, and quality construction make it suitable for everything from home recording to gigging.
The AD27 is a particularly good fit for fingerstyle players who will appreciate the balanced tone, robust bass, and singing trebles. Strummers and vocalists will also benefit from the projection and dynamic range.
Before purchasing, consider your budget and playing style. But for most needs, the AD27 offers tremendous value and will likely impress with its outstanding tone and craftsmanship.
Conclusion
The Taylor AD27 acoustic guitar is an exceptional instrument that delivers top-notch performance, build quality, and value. This in-depth review has highlighted the AD27’s many strengths, including its rich, warm tone courtesy of the mahogany top and V-Class bracing. The Grand Pacific dreadnought body provides versatility for various playing styles, while the smooth eucalyptus fingerboard and comfortable neck profile make it a joy to play.
Taylor’s flawless craftsmanship and elegant aesthetics are evident throughout, resulting in a durable, high-quality acoustic that looks as good as it sounds. Considering its reasonable price point, the AD27 punches well above its weight, offering Taylor’s signature sound and playability at an accessible price bracket.
In summary, the Taylor AD27 is a superb choice for intermediate to advanced players seeking an affordable American-made acoustic with exceptional tone. Singer-songwriters, studio musicians, and hobbyists will appreciate the AD27’s rich voice, comfortable feel, and remarkable value. For players who want Taylor quality without the premium price tag, the AD27 is an American dream come true.
Ideal Users
The Taylor AD27 acoustic guitar is an ideal fit for certain players due to its high-quality construction, versatile sound, and excellent playability. Here are the types of guitarists who would benefit most from the AD27:
Intermediate to Advanced Players
While beginners could certainly enjoy the AD27, it will really shine in the hands of more seasoned players who can truly appreciate its nuanced tone and superb craftsmanship. The AD27 delivers the kind of refined sound, luxurious feel, and reliable performance that intermediate to advanced players seek in an acoustic. And it comes at a price point that’s accessible for serious hobbyists looking to invest in their next instrument.
Recording Artists
With its balanced tone and impressive projection, the AD27 is an excellent choice for recording artists who want a versatile acoustic guitar for layering tracks in the studio. The solid mahogany top produces a warm, vintage tone when captured by studio microphones, while the strong mid-range allows the AD27 to cut through a mix nicely. Whether recording folk, country, rock, or pop, this dreadnought will deliver excellent results in the hands of studio musicians.
Hobbyists/Collectors
For acoustic guitar enthusiasts who appreciate high-quality craftsmanship, the AD27 is sure to impress. Constructed in Taylor’s American workshop using solid tonewoods and elegant appointments, this guitar carries the Taylor standard of excellence. The AD27’s stylish looks combined with its rich, nuanced sound make it a guitar that serious hobbyists will be proud to own and collectors will appreciate for its attention to detail. And it comes at a price that puts a Taylor-caliber instrument within reach.
Ideal Genres
The AD27’s warm, balanced tone and dreadnought body make it ideal for a variety of musical genres and playing styles:
Folk, Country, and Americana
The mahogany top produces a rich, earthy tone perfect for folk, country, and Americana styles. The AD27 projects beautifully when fingerpicking melodies or strumming chords for folk and country songs. The natural resonance enhances vocals in a singer-songwriter setting.
Fingerstyle and Percussive
Players who utilize fingerstyle and percussive techniques will appreciate the AD27’s dynamic range. The solid mahogany top responds well to every nuance, from delicate fingerpicking to aggressive slap patterns. The crisp note definition highlights hammer-ons, pull-offs, and other advanced techniques.
Light to Medium Strumming
While capable of heavy strumming, the AD27 truly shines with light to medium strumming patterns. The balanced bass and articulate treble allow both chords and melodies to shine through clearly. The V-Class bracing gives the AD27 the volume to hold its own in pop, rock, or contemporary worship scenarios.