Always one to innovate, Taylor has pushed the boundaries of guitar design to get more and more out of each of their offerings. Now, they’ve unveiled a guitar that delivers full-throated power from a suspiciously small body. Dubbed the “GT,” or Grand Theater, this acoustic guitar provides the appealing playing experience of a smaller guitar but has a full-fledged Taylor voice. The GT isn’t just about the body shape, though; it’s made with sustainably sourced tonewoods and is the first guitar in the Taylor line to feature the company’s cutting-edge C-Class bracing. Simply speaking, the Taylor GT packs a ton of sonic potential into a pint-sized package any player will love.
Grand Theater: The Intersection of Power and Comfort
Headstock to strap button, the Grand Theater is unfailingly original. Master Guitar Builder Andy Powers wanted to create an accessibly sized instrument that welcomed players of all shapes, sizes, and ages. The scaled-down body shape is modeled from the Grand Orchestra but sized to fit the masses. Even guitar players who almost exclusively play electric guitars can transition to the Grand Theater with absolute ease. It has a 24-1/8-inch scale length, which gives the strings a unique playing feel — think playing with a capo on the first fret of your 25-1/2-inch-scale guitar. Meanwhile, the slimmer 1-23/32-inch nut width sits in your palm with much the same feel as a Strat or Les Paul. One thing’s for sure: the Taylor GT appeals to players of all kinds — electrified or not.
C-Class Bracing: Getting More Out of Less
To give the Grand Theater the power it needs to compete with the bigger guitars on the market, Taylor had to create another unique bracing pattern. Instead of a traditional X-shaped bracing pattern or even Taylor’s innovative V-Class bracing pattern, the Grand Theater is equipped with C-Class bracing. Only offered on the Grand Theater, this asymmetrical top-bracing pattern throws tradition out the window. C-Class bracing takes its name from its cantilevered design that promotes stiffness and flexibility to give the top unrivaled projection with a bass response that punches well above its weight. Listen closely, and you’ll notice an increase in sustain, improvements in intonation, and much more.
Urban Ash: A Tonewood Hiding in Plain Sight
If you live in Southern California or any other low-elevation desert, then there’s a good chance that you’ve been driving by a sustainable tonewood with long-term promise — Urban ash. Making its appearance in the Taylor lineup, Urban ash is sourced from Shamel ash trees scheduled for removal in Southern California cities. Sometimes known as “Evergreen ash,” the Shamel ash tree (Fraxinus uhdei) is the fastest-growing member of the ash family — which is an excellent thing in terms of sustainability. In urban areas, a Shamel ash tree can grow to a height of 40 feet in just 20 years, which provides plenty of shade and a touch of green to a concrete jungle. Unfortunately, the tree’s strong roots tend to crack, heave, and wreak havoc upon city sidewalks, which results in cities removing them quite often.
Instead of letting those trees meet a sad fate in the woodchipper, Taylor arranged for the doomed trees to be delivered to their facilities to become Urban ash guitars. So, how does Urban ash sound? It has a bright, woody quality reminiscent of fine Honduran mahogany. Gentle fingerstyle playing yields a rich midrange response with a sparkling high end. Dig in with a pick, and you get enough bass to rival big-bodied Taylors like the Grand Auditorium. Urban ash might not be on your radar yet, but Taylor believes it could play a role in developing sustainably built acoustic guitars in the very near future.
Optional ES2 Electronics
The Taylor GT is available with or without Taylor’s well-loved Expression System 2 (ES2) electronics for plugged-in performance. This pickup system has completely revolutionized the way that players think of plugged-in tone. Instead of the slightly boxy sound produced by some under-saddle pickups, Taylor’s proprietary design accurately reproduces the true character of your instrument. The secret lies in the positioning of the pickup. The 3-section pickup is located behind the bridge to capture a full spectrum of sound that other pickups simply can’t. The resulting sound is clear, bold, and 100% stage ready.
Reserve Yours Today!
The Taylor Grand Theater’s size, shape, sound, and sustainable construction combine to make it a must-have for guitar players of all kinds. Whether you’re looking for your first Taylor, a comfortable couch guitar, or an eager stage workhorse, the Taylor Grand Theater can be that guitar. Ready to get one for yourself? Reserve your Taylor GT guitar today!