It is a special occasion when a new Taylor guitar model is released and it is even more special when there is an entirely new body shape. In recent years we have been treated to the Grand Orchestra, the shrunken down GSMini and the Grand Pacific. Now, Andy Powers, the Master Builder at Taylor Guitars has unveiled a new body shaped dubbed the Grand Theater or “GT”. The GT is a smaller guitar that is at the same time bigger than a GSMini. It seeks to straddle that space between the travel oriented GSMini and the larger full size guitars available in Taylor’s lineup of fantastic acoustic guitars. The Grand Theater is the culmination for a few ideas that Andy Powers wanted to see executed in a guitar. The first one was to make a guitar that was more casual in nature. “We have made a bunch of really serious guitars lately. Guitars that are phenomenal, professional, serious instruments and I thought it would be fun to make something that was a little more fun”, Powers explained during a private virtual launch. The GT also answers the question that manyTaylor GSMini fans have been asking, “when is Taylor going to make an all-solid wood GSMini?”. Powers explained, “we get asked that question a lot but I’ve always said that if I was going to do that I would want it to be a little bit bigger (than the GSMini). The slightly larger size takes advantage of the all-solid wood construction and a new bracing pattern that was born out of the V-class bracing. Powers calls it C-class bracing because this V-class variation using an asymmetrical cantilevered bracing pattern to provide more volume and rich bass than would otherwise be available in a smaller sized guitar body. The combination of a spruce top with Taylor’s Urban Ash for the back and sides provides a wonderful mid-range tone reminiscent of the best mahogany guitars. The goldilocks approach to the guitar is also seen in the scale length and nut width. It is in-between the GSMini and the full-size Taylor counterparts in both measurements along with a unique neck carve to create a very enjoyable playing experience. Without knowing the differences one is likely to simply play the guitar and wonder why it feels so good. In creating this “grown-up” GSMini Taylor utilized features recently seen on the American Dream Series to keep the prices low for an American-made solid-wood guitar. Features such as chamfered edges, Eucalyptus fretboard and bridge and Taylor’s superb Aerocase along with the tremendously fun scale length and rich tone combine to offer a guitar that should garner many fans. The Body The GT borrows the basic body curves of the Grand Orchestra(Taylor’s largest body style), but they’re scaled down. The widthat the lower bout (15 inches) is nearly the same as the Taylor Grand Concert, but the GT’s body length is shorter. Solid-wood construction and ultra-thin finish optimize the tonalresponse. The Neck Scale length: For an acoustic guitar, the GT’s 24-1/8″scale length is in the mid-length range. (The GS Mini’sscale length is 23-1/2″. The Grand Concert’s scale length is 24-7/8″.) The GT’s scale is the equivalent of playing with a capo on the first fret of a 25-1/2″-scale guitar. Nut width: 1-23/32″. This is wider than 1-11/16″ butnarrower than 1-3/4″, making it comfortable for fretting.String gauge: .012-.053 light-gauge stringsTension profile: It has the same string tension as if youtuned a guitar with a 25-1/2″ scale length down a half step(E-flat to E-flat). The tension feels like it’s strung with a set of 11s (Custom Light). This makes the guitar easier to play. Neck-to-body relationship: Between the compact bodyand string length, the design has the effect of bringing yourhands closer together, which adds to the playing comfort. Fret spacing: The scale length condenses the fret spacingslightly, creating a more agile playing experience.All-around playing experience: For all the reasonsabove, it’s a lot easier to get around the fretboard. In fact,the GT delivers the most comfortable playing experience Taylor offers among its solid-wood, US-made guitars. Internal Bracing The Taylor GT is voiced with new C-ClassTM bracing architecture.The “C” refers to the cantilevered, asymmetrical design,which combines stiffness and flexibility in a way that helps accentuate the lower frequencies to produce a surprisingly warm bass response for its compact dimensions. This bracing borrows some of the functional benefits of Taylor’sV-ClassTM bracing, including greater stability, yielding impressivevolume, sustain and intonation that sonically helps the guitar punch above its weight. Tonewoods Solid Urban AshTM Back/Sides: First introduced onTaylor’s Builder’s Edition 324ce, Urban Ash is a tonewoodTaylor has embraced both for its sustainability and tone. Responsibly sourced from Shamel ash trees scheduled for removal from municipal areas in Southern California, its tonal properties rival those of high-quality Honduran mahogany – dry, woody and clear, with pleasing midrange warmth. Solid Spruce Top: Together with C-ClassTM bracingand the compact dimensions of the body and neck, thespruce top is responsive to a light touch yet capable of impressive tonal output, offering players a dynamic and expressive musical palette to explore. Eucalyptus fretboard, bridge and peghead overlay: The GTgives Taylor a platform to introduce another fretboard wood,eucalyptus, which offers great potential alongside ebony. Its comparable weight and density are ideal for holding frets. Notable Specs: Fretboard Inlays: Italian acrylic “Pinnacle”Rosette: 3-ring koaBody Edge Treatment: Black top purflingStain: Urban Sienna (Back/Sides)Finish: Matte 2.0 milTuners: Taylor nickel miniPickguard: Faux tortoiseCase: Brown AeroCase The new Taylor Grand Theater body is now available in both acoustic-electric GTe and acoustic only GT varieties. *Pre-Owned items are sold as-is, no returns*
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