Celebrate Taylor’s 50th with Jumbo-size 12-string Jangle
Unapologetically oversized in scale, sound, and attitude, the 855e Legacy celebrates 50 years of Taylor guitars by reaching back to the brand’s historic Jumbo platform. This Jumbo 12-string acoustic-electric offers exemplary unplugged projection, sporting a highly responsive X-braced Sitka spruce top and harmonic-rich rosewood back and sides. Ideal for strummers and fingerpickers who favor volume and range over intimacy, this guitar’s formidable formula is sure to please players of all styles with its impeccable versatility and canon-like qualities. Taylor’s guitars are revered at Sweetwater for their nearly unmatched playability, and this guitar’s comfortable Standard Carve neo-tropical mahogany neck and 15-inch-radius ebony fingerboard more than live up to that lofty reputation. And in a true departure from modern Taylor specs, the 855e Legacy’s electronics section comprises an LR Baggs Element VTC under-saddle pickup that supplies acoustically authentic plugged-in tones. More than a mere throwback, the 12-string Taylor 855e Legacy stands at the top of the Taylor line as a much-welcomed return to the brand’s biggest, boldest body shape.
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A tribute to the Taylors of the past
To ring in the company’s 50th anniversary, Taylor nostalgically dug through the features of its most historic models, bringing back specs that haven’t been available on most modern Taylors for years. From old-school Jumbos to square-shouldered dreadnoughts to traditional X-bracing, Legacy models harken back to Taylor’s earlier era, capturing the tones that put the company on the map in the first place. This retro-inspired formula even includes the electronics — instead of the ES2 electronics system you’ll find on almost every high-end modern Taylor, Legacy instruments boast an LR Baggs Element VTC under-saddle pickup system.
The return of the Taylor Jumbo
Jumbo in both scale and sound, Taylor’s big-bodied Jumbo design has long been largely discontinued in favor of the Grand Symphony shape. In a tip of the hat to Taylor’s earlier models, the Taylor 855e brings back that massive form factor in both 6- and 12-string form. Bursting with low-register richness but perfectly balanced across all strings, the Jumbo style comes highly recommended by scores of Sweetwater’s recording guitarists, as its clear, full-bodied voice is often just the thing to fill out a full-band mix.
A classic tonewood combination
Nothing beats the sound of rosewood topped with spruce. As a top tonewood, Sitka spruce offers a combination of strength and elasticity that delivers a broad dynamic range with crisp articulation that’s ideal for a wide range of playing styles, from delicate fingerpicking to aggressive flatpicked strumming. Used for the back and sides of the 855e Legacy, Indian rosewood’s extended frequency range and rich, musical tonality have elevated it to premium status among tonewoods. Its potent low end can serve up a throaty growl while sparkling treble notes ring out with bell-like clarity. Slightly scooped in the midrange (as compared with mahogany), rosewood acoustic guitars are perfect for solo performance, vocal accompaniment, and tracking in sparser arrangements.
Taylor 855e Legacy Features:
- Celebrates Taylor’s 50th anniversary by bringing back long-discontinued fan-favorite specs
- Resonant and responsive Sitka spruce top, supported by X-bracing for a fuller sound
- Indian rosewood back and sides dish out lush low end, mellow midrange, and harmonic-rich highs
- Taylor Jumbo body grants exceptional projection, deep bass, and exemplary string-to-string balance
- Easy-playing mahogany Standard Carve neck, topped with an ebony fingerboard with a 15-in. radius
- Classic LR Baggs Element VTC electronics package amplifies your guitar’s voice with acoustic authenticity
- Complete with an array of classic Taylor visual appointments, including a dazzling rosette, white body and fingerboard binding, and large shell/mother-of-pearl Diamonds inlays
