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

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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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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