Taylor Custom K24ce V-Class Hand-Picked AA-Koa Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural

The Taylor Custom Limited-Edition K24ce-AA Koa Grand Auditorium is worth every syllable of its lengthy name. Hawaiians would describe this acoustic/electric as "nani ko-kı-," which means "supremely beautiful." Just one look at the AA-grade koa body and you'll agree, too. But Taylor didn't stop there—the guitar is adorned with Paua shell purfling, West African ebony bevel armrest and a matching center wedge. The cap and pointer fingerboard inlay is just as spectacular. With craftsmanship like this, it's no surprise that Taylor has limited the run to 35 instruments worldwide. If you're not sold yet, a quick dive into the details will make you a believer.

Body Shape
A Taylor original, the Grand Auditorium helped establish the Taylor acoustic sound. The popular body style makes for a versatile guitar that yields ample volume in response to light fingerpicking, and reacts to medium strumming and flatpicking with a clear, balanced sound across the tonal spectrum. The GA makes for a great, all-purpose guitar.

Tone Wood Pairing
Koa is a fairly dense tropical hardwood with a strong midrange focus similar to mahogany, with a bit of extra top-end brightness and chime. The more koa is played and has a chance to open up—especially when the back and sides are also solid koa—it promises to grow warmer and sweeter, especially in the midrange.

V-Class Bracing
Taylor's V-Class bracing boosts volume and sustain and resolves intonation issues that have long plagued acoustic guitars, making the K24ce easier to tune. V-Class bracing creates purer, more orderly notes. You'll instantly hear it, too—harmonics ring uniformly down the neck and upper register notes don't get swallowed. Fewer "sour" sonic qualities exist with chords; a more agreeable relationship is created between notes as they ripen, bloom and decay.

Electronics
Taylor outfitted the K24ce with the Expression System 2 for an exceptional amplified sound. ES2 incorporates a behind-the-saddle pickup with three individually calibrated pickup sensors. Because the pickup doesn't sit under the saddle, the bottom of the saddle comes in full contact with the bridge, allowing the nuances of the guitar's tone to come through clearly. Together with Taylor's pro-audio-grade preamp, the K24ce sounds just as good through a PA, amp, or direct into recording software as it does unplugged.

Other Appointments
The K24ce is outfitted with Gotoh 21:1 high ratio gold tuners with gold buttons, black graphite nut, Micarta Wave saddle and West African ebony bridge pins. It comes with a Taylor Deluxe hardshell case.