Taylor 517 Grand Pacific Builder's Edition V-Class Review

Excellent Bluegrass Machine

I played D-28s, HD-28s, Blueridge BR-140s, etc. all in search of a new dreadnought to torch bluegrass classics with. The 517 has proven to best them all in tone and playability (and, unlike most Martin boxes, arrived with a usable setup). The Grand Pacific also stands apart as a gigging/recording instrument-- the V class bracing deadens the "poof" you get when plucking most dreadnoughts… read more without sacrificing on volume or low-end sustain, making it far easier to mic up than my Martin D-15M. All in all, an excellent instrument. Add in that Taylor is transitioning to being an employee-owned business and it's an easy choice.

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Gorgeous New Taylor Acoustic...

So, I've been in the market for a Mahogany back & sides / Spruce top, Dreadnaught-styled guitar, for a few months now, and it came down to three choices / options: this Taylor 517 Grand Pacific Builder's Edition V-Class - Natural, being one of them. The other two being: a brand new, standard, current production, Martin D-18, and believe it or not, a Collings D1HT (with a Torrefied… read more / baked / cooked Sitka Spruce Top (same exact process as the Taylor 517 and 717). Believe it or not, while the Martin and Collings had a bit more boom and lower-end bass going on, the Taylor 517 Grand Pacific Builder's Edition V-Class has a lot more of an elegant, original, unique, aesthetically pleasing, innovative, harmonious, very well-balanced & rounded, versatility, with sweet highs, subtle mids, and still, low lows, but not like Rosewood lows, hence Mahogany, going for it. Plus, the Collings was scary expensive, with very few upgrades, inlays, perks, incentives, or even customer service. I am not suggesting that this Taylor is BETTER than a Collings, but I am suggesting that it's certainly a better match / choice / fit for my needs, and for what I was looking for in a high-quality, made in the USA, acoustic guitar, which will be used primarily for songwriting, recording, and inspiration. A beautiful, patterned, plush, hard shell case also comes with the Taylor 517 (Mahogany) and 717 (Rosewood) models. And as always, nothing but the absolute finest, A+, customer service and support by Sweetwater. Thanks again, Jon and Dave.

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So happy I got it!

Got this a few months ago and honestly I couldnt be happier. Tone, wood, all that is great as you can see in the specs, but just the way that it feels and sounds and the way your body forms around it, it cant be explained. Again, only had it for a few months but Im already more attached to it than any other guitar I have.

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Taylor Grand Pacific---nice sound but satin finish?

I was able to play the Rosewood one last night at a Taylor 'Roadshow'; it has a nice sound all the way around---Taylor has captured the tone of a Gibson J45, albeit with a bit more subdued tone. The Mahogany Pacific was brighter, so you should check out that one to before making a decision. The thing I can't understand is: why are they putting a satin finish on this for such… read more an expensive model? The answer has got to be, after all the marketing explanations by Taylor---the cost in doing that gloss finish. I think they would sell more of these models if the finish was the ultra-thin gloss coating that they've been doing for years...and I guarantee you that it will eventually be offered. That's the only reason I didn't not give it a full top rating. Compare it to a Gibson J45 and your ears will tell you what to do...it's a bold step forward by Taylor and the consumer will like what they hear.

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1st Impressions of my 517

Well I've had this new Grand pacific model now for a couple of weeks, The guitar needed very little set-up work to fit my playing style and it arrived quickly, and in prefect condition, which is typical for Sweetwater. The guitar has a wonderful projection and clear tones, I'm attempting to get used to the satin finish which is slippery to me for some reason this is my only real… read more issue with this new instrument, every thing else is very nice. I'm quite impressed with these new Taylor's. This is my second with the new bracing, the other guitar is a 514ce, and that guitar is awesome for finger style. Congrats to Taylor for making these wonderful guitars and to Sweetwater for being a great place to purchase them.

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My 2nd Taylor, is one of my favorites

My first was one I purchased at a bix box store in Miami, in 1997, it was a '96 714. I didn't play it much and sold it 21 years later. Fast forward to my Youtube watching in 2019, and Taylor introduces their x17 models. Sloped shoulder, longer scale length, new bracing, first Taylor guitar designed around the new bracing, and a new sound for this "modern" guitar company. It just… read more arrived today - so my impressions are very recent. I'll admit, they have a winner. It doesn't sound like a Gibson, it sounds like a Taylor but a smidge darker, a little more even in the midrange, maybe a little rolled off the top end, with the bottom kept in check. I don't record but this guitar would likely excel in the studio. After having more than a few Gibsons come through my shop, it is a real pleasure to see the attention to detail and overall build quality of this instrument. It arrived from IN to GA, and was in tune. I mean, what guitar arrives in tune? It has a sound all it's own, and it's fantastic. Fun and inspiring to play and I may just try to play this in public, for other people to enjoy too!

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Taylor 517 Builder's Edition

This is the guitar that I have always wished that Taylor would build. It's amazing! I love that it is a pure acoustic, with no electronics and no cutaway. The custom contour neck is a joy to play, and the slightly thicker than normal profile allows me to play longer without hand fatigue. The woods are beautiful. The torrefied sitka spruce top top has a lot of silking throughout,… read more and very close grain in the center with wider grain at the edges. Perfect for an acoustic diaphragm. I chose the mahogany version of the Grand Pacific because I already own two rosewood dreadnoughts - a 16 yr. old Martin D-28 custom, and a 14 yr. old Gibson Advanced Jumbo. After a week, I have to say that this Taylor is as good of a guitar as either the Martin or the Gibson. Now with regard to the sound, this is the first Taylor with the v-class bracing that I have played. I read that Andy Powers created the v-class bracing with the Grand Pacific design in mind, and it sounds to me like a perfect match. The tone is unlike any other Taylor I have ever played. I also own a 1991 Taylor 6-string jumbo which sounds incredible, but I like this Grand Pacific better. The Tone is thicker and meatier and meaner, while the trebles are round and prominent, while maintaining a sweet and clear sound. I am amazed at the evenness of volume between fretted and open strings, and the guitar truly does play in tune not matter where on the fingerboard. Finger picking and flat picking elicit equally beautiful tones, and it does sweet and quiet as well as loud and boisterous. You might wonder if this Taylor sounds like a Martin or a Gibson, and my answer is yes. To me I can also hear Collings, Huss & Dalton and Gallagher. But this guitar also sounds uniquely Taylor. It growls and barks more than other Taylors in my experience, but I have to say "i like it!". It doesn't mimic any one particular brand, but I hear the best of those other brands and something extra in this Grand Pacific. I would think you could play almost any style of guitar on this chameleon. I am extremely satisfied with this addition to the stable!

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