Description
Description
The Taylor 552ce Grand Concert neo-tropical mahogany/western red cedar 12-string cutaway models feature a naturally compressed, meatier sound around the center of the EQ, paired with a western red cedar top warms up the mids, plus a quicker response that’s ideal for players with a lighter touch. Boasting a modern feel and articulate response, plus the comfort of a slightly smaller body and string scale length—as well as a contoured cutaway allowing easy access to the upper frets— Taylor’s ES2 electronics provide additional tonal control and responsiveness.
500 Series Neo-Tropical Mahogany/Western Red Cedar
Taylor’s 500 series neo-tropical mahogany/western red cedar models serve up an appealing blend of projection, midrange presence, and warmth. While the neo-tropical mahogany provides a naturally compressed, meatier sound around the center of the EQ, the western red cedar top warms up the mids—plus, its quicker response makes it the preferred choice of players with a lighter touch.
Grand Concert Cutaway
With its shorter, 24 7/8-inch scale length the Taylor Grand Concert body shape favors the fingerstyle player, as well as single-note lead and solo guitar arrangements, issuing notes with precise clarity and offering easy action even on the highest frets. The model’s smaller body makes for a comfortable feel, without skimping on rich, robust tonal resonance, or valuable volume.
Q: Does a cutaway diminish a guitar’s tonal output?
A: Not in a discernible way. We recommend you decide based on whether you want that extra upper-fretboard range; or, if you simply have an aesthetic preference—either for a more traditional, symmetrical look of a non-cutaway, or in favor of the sleek, more modern contouring that the cutaway offers.
V-Class Bracing
The Taylor Grand Auditorium features Taylor’s innovative new V-Class bracing, which lets the soundboard of the guitar vibrate naturally, increasing sustain and overall cohesiveness, and generating additional volume without sacrificing sustain. This design puts the body more in tune with the strings, improving articulation and harmonic alignment, resulting in a sound that is optimally warm and seasoned, nicely blended, and full of luscious low end without being muddy.
ES2 Electronics
The Taylor Expression System 2 (ES2) delivers the latest technology in Taylor acoustic guitar amplification. The heart of the ES2 system is Taylor’s patented behind-the-saddle pickup, featuring three uniquely positioned and individually calibrated pickup sensors. The new positioning enables the piezo pickup’s crystals to respond more naturally to the guitar’s energy as it is transferred through the saddle, with three pickup sensors installed behind the saddle, through the bridge, with three tiny Allen screws that calibrate the position of the sensors in relation to the saddle. Together with Taylor’s custom-designed preamp, this ES2 system produces exceptional amplified tone and responsiveness.
Scale Length: 24-7/8"
Nut & Saddle: Tusq Nut/Micarta Saddle
Bracing: V-Class
Truss Rod Cover: Black Plastic
Pickguard: Tortoise
Number of Frets: 18
Tuners: Taylor Nickel
Case: Taylor Deluxe Hardshell Brown
Body Length: 19 1/2"
Body Width: 15"
Body Depth: 4 3/8"
Binding/Edge Treatment: Tortoise
Top Finish: Gloss
Back Config: 2-piece No Wedge
Backstrap Finish: None
Rosette Size: Single Ring
Bridge Inlay: None
Back/Side Finish: Gloss
Armrest Binding: None
Backstrap Wood: None
Rosette Mat.: Grained Ivoroid/Tortoise/Grained Ivoroid
Stain/Sunburst: Medium Brown Stain Back/Sides/Neck
Wedge: None
Armrest: No
Neck Width: 1-7/8"
Fretboard Inlay: Century
Fretboard Binding/Edge Treatment: West African Ebony
Heel Cap Binding: West African Ebony
Type of Neck Joint: Scarf
Neck/Heel: Tropical Mahogany
Fretboard Wood: West African Ebony
Neck Finish: Satin
Heel Length: 3-1/4"
Peghead Finish: Gloss
Peghead Binding: None
Peghead Type: Standard
Peghead Purfling: None
Headstock Overlay: West African Ebony
Peghead Inlay: None
Peghead Logo: Grained Ivoroid
Bridge Pins: West African Ebony
Buttons: Nickel
Fingerboard Ext: None
Edge Trim: None
Note: Due to differences in wood grain, the item you receive may not exactly match the item in the photos.
500 Series Neo-Tropical Mahogany/Western Red Cedar
Taylor’s 500 series neo-tropical mahogany/western red cedar models serve up an appealing blend of projection, midrange presence, and warmth. While the neo-tropical mahogany provides a naturally compressed, meatier sound around the center of the EQ, the western red cedar top warms up the mids—plus, its quicker response makes it the preferred choice of players with a lighter touch.
Grand Concert Cutaway
With its shorter, 24 7/8-inch scale length the Taylor Grand Concert body shape favors the fingerstyle player, as well as single-note lead and solo guitar arrangements, issuing notes with precise clarity and offering easy action even on the highest frets. The model’s smaller body makes for a comfortable feel, without skimping on rich, robust tonal resonance, or valuable volume.
Q: Does a cutaway diminish a guitar’s tonal output?
A: Not in a discernible way. We recommend you decide based on whether you want that extra upper-fretboard range; or, if you simply have an aesthetic preference—either for a more traditional, symmetrical look of a non-cutaway, or in favor of the sleek, more modern contouring that the cutaway offers.
V-Class Bracing
The Taylor Grand Auditorium features Taylor’s innovative new V-Class bracing, which lets the soundboard of the guitar vibrate naturally, increasing sustain and overall cohesiveness, and generating additional volume without sacrificing sustain. This design puts the body more in tune with the strings, improving articulation and harmonic alignment, resulting in a sound that is optimally warm and seasoned, nicely blended, and full of luscious low end without being muddy.
ES2 Electronics
The Taylor Expression System 2 (ES2) delivers the latest technology in Taylor acoustic guitar amplification. The heart of the ES2 system is Taylor’s patented behind-the-saddle pickup, featuring three uniquely positioned and individually calibrated pickup sensors. The new positioning enables the piezo pickup’s crystals to respond more naturally to the guitar’s energy as it is transferred through the saddle, with three pickup sensors installed behind the saddle, through the bridge, with three tiny Allen screws that calibrate the position of the sensors in relation to the saddle. Together with Taylor’s custom-designed preamp, this ES2 system produces exceptional amplified tone and responsiveness.
Scale Length: 24-7/8"
Nut & Saddle: Tusq Nut/Micarta Saddle
Bracing: V-Class
Truss Rod Cover: Black Plastic
Pickguard: Tortoise
Number of Frets: 18
Tuners: Taylor Nickel
Case: Taylor Deluxe Hardshell Brown
Body Length: 19 1/2"
Body Width: 15"
Body Depth: 4 3/8"
Binding/Edge Treatment: Tortoise
Top Finish: Gloss
Back Config: 2-piece No Wedge
Backstrap Finish: None
Rosette Size: Single Ring
Bridge Inlay: None
Back/Side Finish: Gloss
Armrest Binding: None
Backstrap Wood: None
Rosette Mat.: Grained Ivoroid/Tortoise/Grained Ivoroid
Stain/Sunburst: Medium Brown Stain Back/Sides/Neck
Wedge: None
Armrest: No
Neck Width: 1-7/8"
Fretboard Inlay: Century
Fretboard Binding/Edge Treatment: West African Ebony
Heel Cap Binding: West African Ebony
Type of Neck Joint: Scarf
Neck/Heel: Tropical Mahogany
Fretboard Wood: West African Ebony
Neck Finish: Satin
Heel Length: 3-1/4"
Peghead Finish: Gloss
Peghead Binding: None
Peghead Type: Standard
Peghead Purfling: None
Headstock Overlay: West African Ebony
Peghead Inlay: None
Peghead Logo: Grained Ivoroid
Bridge Pins: West African Ebony
Buttons: Nickel
Fingerboard Ext: None
Edge Trim: None
Note: Due to differences in wood grain, the item you receive may not exactly match the item in the photos.