Taylor 312ce 12-Fret Grand Concert Sitka/Sapele Natural ES2 w/V-Class Bracing

The Taylor 312ce Grand Concert Sapele/Sitka spruce 12-fret cutaway models offer the comfort of a slightly smaller body and string scale length, with a modern feel and articulate response, with a modern feel and articulate response—as well as easy access to the upper frets allowed by the contoured cutaway—while the bright, shimmering Sapele back and sides paired with a strong, yet elastic, Sitka spruce top yields crisp articulation, suitable for everything from aggressive strumming and flatpicking to fingerpicking. Plus, Taylor’s ES2 electronics provide ample tonal control and responsiveness.

300 Series Sapele/Sitka Spruce
Taylor 300 series Sapele/Sitka spruce editions offer players balanced and consistent output across the tonal spectrum, making them compatible with a diverse range of playing styles. Paired with highly sustainable West African Sapele—a harder tonewood, similar to mahogany, but with a higher density tending toward a slightly brighter sound that adds more top-end shimmer—the classic Sitka spruce top (Bob Taylor’s favorite choice) provides additional strength and elasticity. Together, in Taylor’s 300 series, these tonewoods boast a broad dynamic range, yielding crisp articulation—allowing for everything from aggressive strumming and flatpicking to fingerpicking.

Grand Concert Cutaway 12-Fret
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. 

Although it’s not part of the body, the neck is connected to the guitar, and the point at which the neck joins the body is a key factor contributing to the guitar’s overall sound. While 14-fret versions offer modern feel and articulate response, 12-fret versions boast a warm, sweet tonal character and a slinkier string feel.

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 Concert 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: Black Graphite, Micarta saddle
Bracing: V-Class
Truss Rod Cover: West African Ebony
Pickguard: Black
Number of Frets: 18
Tuners: Taylor Slot Head
Case: Taylor Deluxe Hardshell Brown
Body Length: 19 1/2"
Body Width: 15"
Body Depth: 4 3/8"

Binding/Edge Treatment: Black
Top Finish: Gloss
Back Config: 2-piece No Wedge
Backstrap Finish: None
Rosette Size: Three Ring
Bridge Inlay: None
Back/Side Finish: Satin
Armrest Binding: None
Backstrap Wood: None
Rosette Mat.: Plastic
Stain/Sunburst: Medium Brown Stain Back/Sides/Neck
Wedge: None
Armrest: No

Neck Width: 1-3/4"
Fretboard Inlay: Gemstone, Italian Acrylic
Fretboard Binding/Edge Treatment: Black
Heel Cap Binding: Black
Type of Neck Joint: Scarf
Neck/Heel: Tropical Mahogany
Fretboard Wood: West African Ebony
Neck Finish: Satin
Heel Length: 3-1/4"

Peghead Finish: Satin
Peghead Binding: None
Peghead Type: Slot Head
Peghead Purfling: None
Headstock Overlay: West African Ebony
Peghead Inlay: None
Peghead Logo: Italian Acrylic

Bridge Pins: West African Ebony
Buttons: Ebony
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.