Builders's Edition 816ce

The Builder’s Edition 816ce marks the return of Taylor’s Grand Symphony body shape. It has been redesigned by masterbuilder Andy Powers and fitted with a soundport cutaway on the treble-side. Adding an additional soundhole creates extra lung capacity. The soundport being a different size alters the resonant frequencies and broadens the guitar’s response, creating an airy orchestral tone with notes that change colour as they ring. With its shorter scale length of 24-7/8’’ and the slinkier strings expect an improved playability. The 816ce is part of the Builder’s Edition series, which means it is equipped with every feature to improve the guitar’s sound, aesthetics and playability. It has chamfered body and fretboard edges and a curved wing bridge for a smoother feel. The silent satin finish ensures that incidental noise from friction between your arm and the body will be reduced. Ideal when you are recording.

Grand Symphony

Conceived in 2006 and now upgraded by resident master builder Andy Powers, the big bodied, curvaceous powerhouse of a guitar is now more seductive than ever. Imagine a Grand Auditorium but with the afterburners on. Scaled up physical dimensions, including a slightly wider waist, a bigger lower bout yet critically a short scale neck for a slinky feel to the fretting hand - the Grand Symphony (GS) possesses a slightly more potent yet dynamic all-around sound. With rich, deep bass, soaring and harmonically complex trebles, increased sustain and and sheer dB output, you will find the Grand Symphony to be a tonally balanced instrument that is as loud as it is clear.

East Indian Rosewood

Rosewood's sheer breadth and presence across the tonal and dynamic spectrum has made it one of the most popular acoustic tonewoods of all time and a Taylor Guitars favorite. Its warm low end and high-register sparkle offer a pleasing blend of clarity and resonance, blooming with overtones as notes sustain. A slightly scooped midrange offers a perfect spot for vocals to slide in, making rosewood a popular tonewood choice for singer-songwriters.

Lutz Spruce

With a robust tonal output, Lutz Spruce responds well to both a strong attack and a delicate touch, blending tonal characteristics of Sitka / White spruce and its close cousin, Engelmann. The result is powerful sonic horsepower - strong volume and projection, with a tonal richness and headroom that lend it to a vast array of musical applications.

ES-2 Pickup

If you need to amplify your sound, you'll love the revolutionary onboard ES2 pickup system. The 3 individual sensors located behind the saddle combine with the pro-grade preamp to deliver an unmatched dynamics, perfect for live or studio.

V-class Bracing

Bracing is the internal framework of an acoustic guitar that plays a vital role in the way the instrument shapes the sound. Although X-bracing has been standard in acoustic guitars for over a century, it creates an innate conflict between two key elements of a guitar's sound: volume and sustain. The guitar's top (its soundboard) contributes significantly to both. The flexibility of the top generates volume (projection), while its stiffness generates sustain. And with X-braced guitar tops, here's where the trade-off comes in: when something is made stiffer, its flexibility is reduced (and vice versa). V-Class bracing changes all that. With Taylor's V-Class bracing, an acoustic guitar top can be both stiff and flexible — for more volume and sustain. V-Class bracing provides stiffness parallel to the strings for more rigidity and hence sustain. Flexibility on either side generates the air movement necessary for robust projection - so it's the best of both worlds. This groundbreaking innovation also improves intonation, not only producing notes that are louder and with longer sustain — but more in tune with each other. V-Class bracing also boosts volume evenly across the tonal spectrum, increases sustain, and improves the natural intonation of the instrument by creating a more synergistic response from the soundboard. This fosters a more harmonious relationship between the notes you play, helping chords to ring out in cohesive splendor. Pick up a Taylor with V-Class bracing and experience it for yourself.

Body

• Binding Edge Treatment : Rock Maple
• Back Config : 2-piece No Wedge
• Rosette Size : Single Ring
• Back/Side Finish : Silent Satin
• Stain/Sunburst : Natural
• Top Finish : Silent Satin
• Rosette Material : Abalone

Neck

• Neck Width : 1-3/4"
• Fretboard Binding/Edge Treatment : West African Crelicam Ebony
• Type of Neck Joint : Scarf
• Fretboard Wood : West African Crelicam Ebony
• Heel Length : 3-1/2"
• Fretboard Inlay : Windansea
• Heel Cap Binding : West African Crelicam Ebony
• Neck/Heel : Tropical Mahogany
• Neck Finish : Satin

Peghead

• Peghead Finish : Satin
• Peghead Type : Standard
• Headstock Overlay : West African Crelicam Ebony
• Peghead Logo : Taylor Mother of Pearl
• Peghead Binding : West African Crelicam Ebony
• Peghead Inlay : Windansea

Other

• Bridge Pins : West African Crelicam Ebony
• Buttons : Gold
• Edge Trim : Maple/Indian Rosewood
• Scale Length : 24-7/8"
• Bracing : V-Class Bracing
• Pickguard : West African Crelicam Ebony
• Tuners : Gotoh
• Strings : Phosphor Bronze Light
• Body Width : 16 1/4"
• Nut & Saddle : Tusq Nut, Micarta Saddle
• Truss Rod Cover : West African Crelicam Ebony
• Number of Frets : 18
• Case : Taylor Deluxe Hardshell Brown
• Body Length : 20"
• Body Depth : 4 5/8"