Figured Hawaiian Koa Meets Taylor Craftsmanship
Whether you’re a student or set for the stage, Taylor’s Academy series is a superb choice for any guitarist seeking a stripped-back nylon-string guitar with signature Taylor tone. Refreshed with a remarkably responsive torrefied spruce top and a figured AA Hawaiian koa body for natural compression and notable sustain, this Grand Concert–size instrument delivers lush sonic depth and perfect string-to-string balance. You also receive Taylor ES-B 1.2 electronics, a preamp that Sweetwater guitarists trust to faithfully amplify the guitar’s natural sound and produce rich acoustic-electric tones. Learned, sophisticated, yet warmly approachable, Academy series guitars are built for players looking to graduate to a top-notch Taylor-built acoustic or those ready to add another to their growing collection.
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Comfortable from your first chord
The Academy series not only boasts legendary Taylor quality, but it is also packed with subtle perks for an enhanced playing experience. Helpful touches include the built-in armrest, which softens the contact point between your arm and the guitar for more relaxed playing, light-gauge strings, and a 25.5-inch scale that makes notes and chords easier to hold without fatigue. These bold touches connect your fingertips to the music and will keep you playing on.
Perfectly worn-in spruce top
It’s an almost universally accepted fact among musicians that acoustic instruments develop a more mellow and responsive tone over time, often taking a lifetime’s worth of breaking in until they reach their full sonic potential. For those of us who would rather skip ahead a few decades of hard-won tonewood aging, Taylor’s cutting-edge torrefaction process perfectly mimics the feel of an aged top right out of the box. How does it work? By roasting this guitar’s spruce top in a specialized oven, Taylor dramatically accelerates the natural “opening up” of the top to capture all the touch-sensitive resonance and lush vibrance of an acoustic guitar that’s been played in for years.
Plug in anytime
The onboard Taylor ES-B 1.2 electronics let you plug the Academy 12e-N in at a moment’s notice. The ES-B 1.2 system is one of the most natural and warm-sounding acoustic-electric designs on the market because it’s based on elements of Taylor’s acclaimed Expression System 2. ES-B 1.2’s separate volume and EQ sliders allow you to tweak your sound to perfection, and an onboard tuner ensures pitch-perfect performances every time.
Taylor Academy 12e-N Features:
- Grand Concert–style body shape excellent for fingerpicking
- Torrefied spruce top delivers superb resonance and a wonderfully touch-sensitive response
- Figured AA Hawaiian koa back and sides sculpt a balanced sound with lasting sustain
- Hard-rock maple neck with smoked eucalyptus fingerboard is a joy to play
- Nubone nut and micarta saddle enhance vibrational transfer from string to body
- Classical nickel Taylor tuners enhance tuning stability
- Taylor ES-B 1.2 electronics feature a built-in tuner and separate volume and EQ sliders
