Introduction
Taylor Guitars has been at the forefront of acoustic guitar innovation since the company was founded in 1974. Based in California, Taylor revolutionized the industry with their combination of modern manufacturing techniques and a focus on playability. The Taylor line has continued to push boundaries, like with their T5 series that blends acoustic and electric tones in a unique hybrid design.
The Taylor T5z Pro represents the pinnacle of this hybrid concept, offering guitarists incredible versatility with the ability to move seamlessly between rich acoustic resonance and thick, warm electric tones. Unlike a traditional electric-acoustic that is limited in its electric voicings, the T5z Pro features a proprietary pickup configuration and switching that unlocks a wide tonal palette.
From clean shimmer to gritty overdrive, this hybrid guitar provides the best of both worlds. The T5z Pro gives players an all-in-one solution for everything from recording sessions to live performances, with premium acoustic resonance and flexible electric voices at their fingertips. For guitarists who want a versatile instrument that can handle any musical scenario, the Taylor T5z Pro is an enticing option.
Body and Construction
The Taylor T5z Pro features a semi-hollowbody design with a maple top and sapele back and sides. This tonewood combination produces a wonderfully resonant and balanced acoustic tone. The maple top adds brightness and clarity, while the sapele back and sides provide warmth and depth.
The semi-hollow construction allows the top to vibrate freely, resulting in a lively and responsive acoustic sound. When strumming or picking, you can really feel the top resonating against your body. The f-holes on the top also allow the acoustic tone to project outward.
The contoured armrest on the body is an ergonomic design choice that enhances playing comfort. Your arm can rest naturally against the curve, reducing fatigue during long practice or performance sessions. This is an important feature for a hybrid guitar like the T5z Pro that will likely be played both acoustically and plugged in.
Overall, the semi-hollow maple/sapele body of the T5z Pro provides a balanced and nuanced acoustic tone. The construction allows the tonewoods to resonate freely, while the armrest adds comfort for extended playing. This makes the T5z Pro feel great both in your hands and to your ears.
Electronics and Pickups
The Taylor T5z Pro features an innovative proprietary pickup configuration designed to capture the full range of tones this hybrid guitar can produce. It has three main pickups:
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Neck Humbucker – Provides thick, warm electric tones in the neck position.
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Bridge Humbucker – Delivers crisp, articulate electric tones from the bridge.
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Acoustic Body Sensor – Uniquely captures the natural acoustic resonance of the guitar’s hollowbody.
These pickups are controlled via a 5-way selector switch that allows accessing different pickup combinations. Positions 1-3 utilize just the neck humbucker, bridge humbucker, or both together for electric tones. Position 4 engages the acoustic body sensor on its own for pure acoustic resonance. Position 5 activates both the bridge humbucker and body sensor for a blended acoustic/electric mix.
The guitar also has individual volume controls for each pickup, allowing you to blend them to taste. There’s also a master tone knob and presence control to further shape the EQ. With this flexible switching system and tone-shaping controls, the T5z Pro provides incredible tonal versatility. The acoustic body sensor in particular makes it stand out from other semi-hollow electrics by capturing the true acoustic voice.
Sound and Playability
The Taylor T5z Pro is capable of producing a wide range of acoustic and electric tones thanks to its versatile design. When unplugged, the semi-hollow body generates a rich, resonant acoustic sound with nice sustain and warmth. Strumming chords has an organic, woody tone that fills the room. Fingerpicking brings out the crisp articulation and balanced EQ of the maple and sapele tonewoods.
Once amplified, the T5z Pro can go from shimmering clean tones to thick, singing lead tones thanks to the dual humbuckers and acoustic body sensor. The neck pickup has a smooth, rounded character perfect for jazz and blues. Switching to the bridge humbucker produces a punchy midrange crunch that’s great for rock and country rhythms. Blending in the acoustic body sensor adds body and dimension, almost like running an acoustic guitar into an amp. There’s also a mixed middle position that combines the neck and bridge pickups into a balanced tone.
The T5z Pro features a slim, comfortable neck profile that makes it easy to play for long periods. It has a compound radius fretboard which transitions from a tight 16" radius at the nut to a flatter 12" radius towards the body. This provides excellent chord definition while still facilitating easier bends in the upper registers. The action and setup from the factory is ideal for any style of playing.
Overall, the Taylor T5z Pro offers incredible tonal versatility between its acoustic resonance and electric voices. This lets you cover a wide range of musical styles with just one guitar. Here’s a video demo showcasing the range of sounds:
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Finish Options and Accessories
The Taylor T5z Pro is available in a range of premium finish options that let you customize the look of your guitar. The flagship finish is the stunning Harbor Blue, which features a UV-cured polyester finish in a rich blue hue. Harbor Blue models have a three-layer sunburst edge treatment on the top that accentuates the figured maple.
Other popular finish choices include:
- Tobacco Sunburst – A vintage-inspired sunburst finish
- Black – An elegant black finish
- Natural – Showcases the natural wood grain
Certain special edition models may also be available in unique colors like Cayenne Red or Mystic Dream.
In terms of included accessories, the T5z Pro comes with Taylor’s deluxe hardshell guitar case. This sturdy, lightweight case features Taylor’s patented latch system and provides premium protection for your high-end guitar.
Pricing varies based on the finish option:
- Natural or Black finish: $2,999 MSRP
- Tobacco Sunburst: $3,199
- Harbor Blue: $3,499
So if custom colors are important to you, be prepared to pay a slight premium. But rest assured the UV-cured polyester and intricate edge treatments on the Harbor Blue models are well worth the investment.
Comparison to Other Models
The Taylor T5z Pro stands out from other Taylor T5 models with its upgraded features and premium appointments. Here’s how it compares:
Taylor T5z Standard
The standard T5z has the same semi-hollowbody design as the Pro version, but with a simpler finish and fewer options. It has a solid sapele top rather than a figured maple top. The pickups are Taylor’s standard humbuckers rather than the high-definition humbuckers on the Pro. It comes in fewer finish options as well. The T5z Standard retails for around $500-800 less than the Pro model. It’s a great choice for players who love the T5z design but don’t require all the cosmetic upgrades.
Taylor T5
The T5 is Taylor’s most affordable hybrid electric-acoustic model. Rather than a semi-hollowbody, it has a thinline hollowbody design. The top is solid sapele rather than maple. The neck joins the body at the 14th fret rather than the 19th for a different feel. The pickups are Taylor’s standard humbuckers and it lacks the acoustic body sensor of the T5z models. Tonally, the T5 leans more towards an electric guitar, while the T5z has a more balanced acoustic/electric voice. The T5 sells for around $1,000-$1,500 less than the T5z Pro. It’s ideal for players prioritizing value and electric tones.
Choosing Between Models
The T5z Pro is the top-tier choice with its figured maple top, acoustic body sensor, and cosmetic upgrades. It’s for discerning players who want the ultimate Taylor hybrid guitar. The T5z Standard gets you close to the Pro for less. The T5 is best for budget-minded players or those wanting more of an electric tone and feel. Try out all three to decide which model best suits your needs and budget.
Ideal Uses
The versatile design of the Taylor T5z Pro makes it an ideal choice for guitarists who need one great-sounding instrument that can handle both studio recording and live performance settings.
The T5z Pro’s hybrid acoustic-electric configuration allows it to fit seamlessly into genres that blend both acoustic and electric guitar tones. For artists that use both sounds in their music, the T5z Pro delivers the best of both worlds in one guitar. This makes it especially appealing for mainstream rock, pop, and country, where clean acoustic strumming often pairs with searing electric leads and solos.
In the studio, the T5z Pro gives recording guitarists access to a wide palette of acoustic and electric tones all from one instrument. The guitar’s acoustic resonance and natural warmth are captured perfectly for pristine clean tones. At the same time, the electric pickups and controls allow dialing in everything from sparkling cleans to raunchy overdrive.
For live performance, the T5z Pro is a versatile workhorse that can alternate between acoustic and electric modes. The guitar’s hollowbody design provides rich acoustic projection suitable for gigs without amplification. And the built-in pickups and controls make it stage-ready for plugging into an amp or PA system. All of these factors make the T5z Pro an extremely appealing choice as a do-it-all guitar for the modern guitarist’s live and studio rig.
Pros and Cons
Pros
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Tone versatility: The T5z Pro offers incredible tone versatility thanks to its hybrid design. It can produce rich, resonant acoustic tones, thick and punchy electric tones, and everything in between when blending the pickups. This makes it very adaptable for different musical situations.
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Comfort: The contoured armrest on certain T5z Pro models enhances playing comfort, allowing easier access to upper frets. The slim neck profile is also very comfortable for most players.
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Quality: Taylor is known for making high-quality, premium guitars. The T5z Pro continues this tradition with its solid construction, beautiful finish options, and attention to detail. Players can expect great longevity from this guitar.
Cons
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Price: With an MSRP starting around $3000, the T5z Pro sits at the higher end of Taylor’s lineup. While the quality and features justify the price for serious players, it may be beyond the budget of some enthusiasts.
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Feedback potential: The semi-hollow body gives the T5z Pro its signature resonant tones, but also increases the potential for feedback at very high volumes. This may limit its use in some live settings.
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Complexity: With its multiple pickup selections and tone-shaping controls, the T5z Pro has a steeper learning curve than simpler guitars. Players will need to spend time exploring all the tonal options.
Pricing
The Taylor T5z Pro is available at a premium price point, positioning it as one of Taylor’s higher-end guitar models. However, the pricing reflects the quality construction, versatile electronics, and premium appointments that make the T5z Pro stand out.
The base price for a standard finish T5z Pro starts at $2,999 MSRP. This gets you a great guitar with a high-gloss polyester finish in a color like Black, Tobacco Sunburst, or Honey Sunburst.
Opting for one of Taylor’s premium color finishes will increase the price. These include stunning options like Pacific Blue, Champagne, Cayenne Red, and Harbor Blue. The premium colors utilize special finish processes like shaded edgeburst and UV-cured polyester. Expect to pay around $3,499 MSRP for one of these premium finish T5z Pros.
So in summary, the Taylor T5z Pro pricing ranges from:
- $2,999 MSRP – Standard finish
- $3,499 MSRP – Premium color finish
While not an inexpensive model, the T5z Pro delivers outstanding quality and tone for the premium price. For players seeking the ultimate high-end hybrid electric-acoustic, the T5z Pro represents an excellent value.
Conclusion
The Taylor T5z Pro is the ultimate hybrid electric-acoustic guitar for players seeking versatility, premium quality, and innovative design. This semi-hollowbody instrument truly delivers the best of both worlds, with the rich, resonant tones of a fine acoustic guitar and the thick, singing voice of a great electric guitar.
Throughout this review, we’ve seen how Taylor’s thoughtful construction, proprietary electronics, and premium appointments come together to create an exceptionally playable and great sounding guitar. The T5z Pro is equally at home on stage plugged into an amp or in the studio capturing lush acoustic tones thanks to its unique hybrid design.
For guitarists who want the flexibility to easily switch between acoustic and electric tones and need one exceptional guitar that can do it all, the Taylor T5z Pro is an ideal choice. It represents the pinnacle of Taylor’s ongoing innovation in crafting guitars with expanded tonal possibilities. From nuanced fingerstyle playing to searing electric leads, this guitar can handle any musical scenario with class and style.
The Taylor T5z Pro earns our highest recommendation. We encourage you to visit your local Taylor dealer to experience this fine instrument firsthand. Once you’ve heard its incredible range of acoustic and electric voices, you’ll understand why it’s the ultimate hybrid guitar for today’s versatile guitarist.