• Best 12 string guitar I have ever played!

  
  As reviewed by Theodore Leslie on 11/30/2012

  I just recently bought this guitar and it is truly an amazing professional instrument. I have played the guitar for 30 years and have played many acoustic guitars but this one you must try if you care about quality workmanship, playability and an amazing tone that will truly blow you and your friends away. The beauty and of the instrument is striking, but what truly sold it for me was that it is so easy to play and the quality of the sound is without comparison (Which is why we buy guitars in the first place!). The richness of the overtones and depth and projection of this instrument are incredible. Taylor makes more expensive guitars that are more fancy like the presentation and 9 series, but this guitar has the rosewood back and sides with sitka spruce top that produces the best possible overall tones without adding all the expense of additional inlay work or other woods that don't compare with rosewood. Finally, if you are in the price range and are looking at a Guild, Martin, or other instrument, given this guitar a side by side comparison and you will become a believer as well.

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• 3 Grand + Taylor = Near Perfection

  
  As reviewed by RICHARD ULRICH on 6/11/2012

  I've had it for about three weeks now and it's a great instrument. It's my third Taylor 12-string, including a 14 year old 855 jumbo. And I have its little 6-string brother, an 812 for finger picking. I've been playing for decades and I love the 12-string sound! OK, about this guitar. My first impression was that it was amazingly clean. The top, back and sides are flawless which you would expect for the money. I tune my 12-strings down 1/2 step for a deeper sound and you can barely get away with it on this instrument. The action is already quite low, at least on mine, and it's very easy to overpower the instrument if you're tuned down. At full pitch this is not a problem and I may go up to full pitch on this one. The sound is pretty amazing. You really have to be in careful tune with this guitar or it shows but, when you are, it just sings! Like most quality acoustics it sounds a whole lot better from in front that from behind so you'll be amazed when you hear someone else play it. The sound is detailed and rich; you can hear every string. You can finger pick this one just fine with some practice. The hardware and fittings are just fine, everything is put together just great. The string notches on the bridge and saddle are even and clean. The tuners are smooth. This is a grand symphony body, not their usual jumbo. I understand the jumbo is getting a makeover an is not available for a while. But not to worry, I think this is a better size anyway. It's not quite so voluminous but still has great projection and, IMHO, looks better. This is not a guitar you will want to backpack with up to the mountaintop, it's so well-made that any scratch or scar will show. You want to keep this one safe. The 12-string will always be a niche instrument. If you just want to have a 12-string then you might look at a Taylor 500 or even 300 series and save some money but this 856 is about the pinnacle of how good the instrument can be. But take some advice from a guy that's played a lot of 12-strings, you don't want a $300 instrument. The 12-string demands an extra level of quality for both sound and, especially, playability. This instrument has it all but, like the title says, 3 grand + Taylor will get you a lot of guitar. Taylor has long specialized in the 12-string while other makers basically add 6 more to an existing model + extra bracing (Martin's D28-12 for instance). You can find some other makers with quality 12-strings including Martin and Alvarez, but if you really want the top of the line, the Taylor 856ce Grand Symphony is about as good as they get. I'm sure I'll be playing it for a long time.

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