Essential Information About the Taylor Builder's Edition 517e Guitar
- Grand Pacific Round-Shoulder Body for the feel of a vintage dreadnought with Taylor comfort.
- V-Class Bracing offering more volume, sustain, and more accurate intonation across the fretboard.
- Tropical Mahogany / Solid Sitka Spruce Combination: warmth, focused mids, and dynamic response.
- Built-in Taylor ES2 Electronics, stage- and studio-ready, Deluxe hardshell case included.
The Builder's Edition in the Taylor Lineup
Designed by master luthier Andy Powers, the 517e features the discreet aesthetics and "Silent Satin" finishes characteristic of the Builder's Edition. It breaks tradition in the 500 series by replacing the cedar/mahogany pairing with a Sitka spruce top, while maintaining the warm and natural character sought after by fans of organic tones.
For Whom and Which Styles
Thanks to its exemplary playability and tonal balance, this electro-acoustic is aimed at
intermediate to expert guitarists. It excels in broad strumming, flatpicking, folk, country, Americana, and roots blues, and easily finds its place in both
recording and
ensemble playing thanks to its focus on fundamentals and controlled harmonics.
Sound
The
neo-tropical mahogany back and sides provide dense mids and a slight natural compression that softens attacks. The
solid Sitka spruce top delivers a wide dynamic range and clear articulation, from fingerpicking to energetic strumming. The
V-Class bracing frees the top: longitudinal stiffness for sustain, lateral flexibility for projection, and chords that are more "in phase," sounding full and cohesive. The
Grand Pacific body offers deep but controlled bass, present mids, and silky highs, with that slight musical "blur" reminiscent of vintage large dreadnoughts, while remaining precise and stage-usable.
Recommended Compatible Accessories
- Phosphor bronze string set, gauge Medium 13-56 for steel-string acoustic guitar (perfect for a 25.5" scale length).
- Capo for steel-string acoustic guitar (curved profile).
- Humidifier and hygrometer for guitar/case to stabilize the instrument year-round.
Technical Specifications
Body
- Shape: Grand Pacific (round-shoulder dreadnought)
- Top: Solid Sitka spruce
- Back & sides: Tropical mahogany
- Back configuration: 2-piece "No Wedge"
- Binding: Sapele
- Rosette: Single ring, black sapele/maple material
- Top finish: Silent Satin
- Back/sides finish: Silent Satin
- Color: Back, sides, and neck "black wood" stained, natural top
- Armrest: None
- Body width: 16" / 410 mm
- Body length: 20" / 510 mm
- Body depth: 4-5/8" / 116 mm
Neck
- Neck/heel: Tropical mahogany
- Neck joint: Scarf
- Fretboard: West African Crelicam ebony
- Fretboard edges: West African Crelicam ebony
- Fretboard inlays: Grained ivoroid "Arrowheads"
- Nut width: 44.5 mm / 1.75"
- Heel length: 3-1/2" / 90 mm
- Neck finish: Satin
Hardware
- Tuners: Taylor Nickel (Nickel buttons)
- Bridge pins: West African Crelicam ebony
- Nut: Black graphite
- Bridge saddle: Micarta
Electronics
- System: Taylor Expression System 2 (ES2)
- Pickups: 3 sensors positioned behind the bridge
- Built-in preamp, 6.35 mm output jack
Miscellaneous
- Bracing: V-Class
- Scale length: 25.5" / 648 mm
- Number of frets: 20
- Headstock type: Standard
- Headstock veneer: West African Crelicam ebony
- Headstock logo and inlay: Grained ivoroid "Arrowheads"
- Original strings: Phosphor Bronze Medium
- Truss rod cover: West African Crelicam ebony
- Case: Taylor Deluxe Hardshell - "Western Floral"
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