GEAR REVIEW
TAYLOR GRAND PACIFIC BUILDER’S EDITION 517E | Bruce Adolph
KEY FEATURES
talking guitars… vintage, new and everything in
The proto type I played was actually the new
between. Grand Pacific Builder’s Edition 517e. Now that
• V-Class Bracing During that time, he handed me a proto type to ship us one.
• 1 & 3/4” Nut Width of a new Taylor guitar design. This guitar was a
• Rounded Shoulder
• ES2 Electronics
this new line has been released, I asked Taylor
whole paradigm shift for Taylor. More of a slope
shoulder shaped dreadnought. Taylor’s master
guitar designer Andy Powers also placed their
new V-Class internal bracing concept into this
instrument.
THE SET UP:
Taylor Guitars have been a mainstay among What you get from this unique combination is worship leaders for years. Their guitars are a totally different sounding instrument. More known for tonally being more in the mid-range pronounced bass and a woody tone that to me THE SPECS:
and cutting through the mix well in a worship was more reminiscent of an old 60’s vintage The top tone wood is torrefied Sitka Spruce and
band setting. guitar. I played it while George and I continued the back and sides is Neo-Tropical Mahogany.
talking about what a pleasant surprise this new The neck is also Mahogany and the ebony
On a recent trip to Nashville I stopped by Gruhn model is from Taylor. Both of us liked the guitar. fretboard feels good to your fingertips. The
Guitars (a must-see guitar store) and wanted In fact, this new Grand Pacific round shoulder nut width is a very comfortable 1 &3’4” width,
to say hello to George Gruhn himself while I design will eventually replace Taylor’s traditional which happens to be my personal preference
was there. George was more than hospitable dreadnought shape in their U.S. made guitar as chords are easy to play for my hand size in
and we spent two hours together playing and line (300 Series and up). the open position. The on-board electronics are
152
April 2019
Subscribe for Free...