Summer NAMM 2017: Taylor's new 12-string small-bodies revealed
Plus, good news for sunburst fans
SUMMER NAMM 2017: Taylor Guitars has announced a two-pronged expansion to its range of 12-string small-body acoustics.
The 362ce (above) and 352ce (below) are as player-friendly as their well-received predecessors, the 552ce and 562ce, thanks to their similarly comfortable 12 fret-necks, 24-7/8-inch scale length and lap-friendly Grand Concert shape.
“Oftentimes 12-string guitars can be uncomfortable to play,” said Andy Powers, Master Guitar Designer. “They’re usually heavier and bulkier, and the scale length and string tension require quite a bit of hand strength to achieve the intended sound and tone.
"The feedback when we introduced the 552ce and 562ce 12-string guitar models last year was so positive from hobbyists and experts alike that we wanted to expand the options for that design.”
The 362ce features a mahogany top and solid Tasmanian blackwood back and sides, which should offer a controlled performance especially suited to recording, while the 352's Sitka spruce top and sapele back and sides are designed to produce a more dynamic response and crisper articulation.
The 362ce and 352ce will both be available from August for $2,099 and $1,999 respectively and will ship in a Taylor deluxe hard shell case.
Elsewhere, Taylor has unveiled a new tobacco sunburst finish option for its rosewood 800 or 900 Series models (below). Newly developed colouring technology has allowed the company to add the finish without impairing volume or responsiveness by increasing the thickness of the 3.5-mil finish.
Get the MusicRadar Newsletter
Want all the hottest music and gear news, reviews, deals, features and more, direct to your inbox? Sign up here.
MusicRadar is the number one website for music-makers of all kinds, be they guitarists, drummers, keyboard players, DJs or producers...
- GEAR: We help musicians find the best gear with top-ranking gear round-ups and high-quality, authoritative reviews by a wide team of highly experienced experts.
- TIPS: We also provide tuition, from bite-sized tips to advanced work-outs and guidance from recognised musicians and stars.
- STARS: We talk to musicians and stars about their creative processes, and the nuts and bolts of their gear and technique. We give fans an insight into the craft of music-making that no other music website can.
“A pro-quality tool for hard-working musicians who like the guitar to do the heavy lifting”: Fender American Ultra II Stratocaster HSS
“You never know what will happen. You’re on a bus with pythons”: Orianthi on her Orange Oriverb amp, how soloing is like rapping and why confetti cannons are just one of the risks on an Alice Cooper tour