Made in many different configurations since its introduction in 1984, Taylor’s grand concert 812 has always impressed with balanced sound, easy playability, and refined looks. With the arrival of Taylor’s V-Class bracing to the grand concert series, the guitar’s design has been modified again, and I had a chance to check out the 812ce 12-Fret DLX in the Peghead Nation video studio.
From the outside, the 812ce 12-Fret DLX looks nearly identical to its X-braced predecessor (check out our previous demo of that guitar). It continues the Taylor 800-series tradition of Indian rosewood and Sitka spruce construction, and our demo instrument displayed high-grade examples of those woods. Its flamed maple body binding, large abalone rosette, Element fingerboard inlay, and wood pickguard, give the 812ce 12-Fret DLX a distinctive appearance, while the guitar’s slotted peghead with open-geared tuners contribute a bit of vintage vibe. In addition, as the Deluxe version of the 812ce 12-Fret model, the guitar includes an armrest bevel.
Taylors are famous for their ease of playability, but the 12-fret models take fretboard comfort to a new dimension. Not only does the 12-fret neck create a more compact feel in general, but combined with the guitar’s short scale and small grand-concert body, I can’t imagine a more effort-free instrument to play. Just holding the 812ce 12-Fret DLX is a comfortable experience, as it rests balanced on the lap, the bevel creating a smooth contact point for the right arm, and the short neck requiring less of a reach for the fretting hand than most guitars.
Tonally, the 812ce 12-Fret DLX delivers what fans of Taylor’s grand concert models have come to appreciate. It has an incredible well-rounded sound, and the combination of the 12-fret design and V-Class bracing add a bit more power and low-end than I’m used to hearing from earlier 812s. The guitar is a high-precision fingerstyle machine, but it also works great in an accompaniment role, as its overall tonal friendliness extends to strummed chords. Plugged into a Fishman Loudbox Mini Charge, the guitar’s ES2 electronics allowed the guitar to shine in an amplified context as well.
Overall, the 812ce 12-Fret DLX is an exciting new version of a classic instrument. Whether you’re a long-time fan of Taylor’s 812 models or not, the instrument is definitely worth checking out, as it offers solid performance, unbeatable playing comfort, and great electronics.
SPECS: Cutaway grand concert body with 12-fret neck joint. Solid Sitka spruce top with V-Class bracing. Solid Indian rosewood back and sides. Ebony fingerboard and bridge. 24 ⅞-inch scale. 1¾-inch nut width. Slotted headstock with open-gear tuning machines. Expression System 2 electronics. Made in USA. $4,149 street. Taylorguitars.com
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