Taylor's Next Generation 12-fret design takes on a warm, intimate character in the 512ce, pairing the touch-sensitive response of Western red cedar with the woody focus of Neo-Tropical mahogany. The compact Grand Concert body responds readily to a lighter attack, giving fingerstyle passages, open chords and restrained strumming plenty of detail without requiring a heavy right hand. Under the hood, scalloped V-Class bracing with Relief Rout brings Taylor's latest acoustic architecture to the cedar-and-mahogany pairing, while the Long-Tenon Action Control Neck adds a new level of adjustability. Taylor Claria electronics handle amplification with similarly thoughtful engineering. The result is a 12-fret acoustic-electric that balances the warmth and immediacy players seek from cedar with contemporary Taylor design built for the stage, studio and years of playing.
Western Red Cedar Meets the Focus of Mahogany
Western red cedar gives the Next Generation 512ce a quick, touch-sensitive response that comes alive under a lighter right hand. Neo-Tropical mahogany back and sides complement that sensitivity with woody midrange focus, helping individual notes retain definition within chords and fingerstyle arrangements. It's a pairing that favors nuance over sheer headroom, with the cedar contributing warmth and rich overtones while mahogany keeps the response centered and articulate. Combined with the compact Grand Concert body, those woods give the 512ce a voice particularly well suited to fingerstyle playing, vocal accompaniment and relaxed strumming.
12-Fret Grand Concert Design Brings the Guitar Closer
The Next Generation 512ce's 12-fret configuration shifts the neck-to-body relationship and places the bridge deeper into the lower bout, contributing to the guitar's warm, responsive character. Taylor's compact Grand Concert shape reinforces that intimate feel, with controlled overtones that lend themselves naturally to detailed playing and recording. A 24.875" scale length adds a slightly more relaxed string feel, while the 1.75" nut width provides useful room for fingerstyle work and clean chord voicings. Together, the shorter scale, compact body and 12-fret geometry make the 512ce feel inviting without sacrificing the precision expected from a Taylor neck.
Scalloped V-Class Bracing Meets Action Control Adjustability
Beneath the cedar top, Taylor's scalloped V-Class bracing with Relief Rout is designed to add low-end fullness and open-string richness while retaining the balance, projection and pitch accuracy associated with V-Class architecture. The Long-Tenon Action Control Neck brings another significant update, giving players and technicians a more precise way to adjust string height as the guitar settles and playing preferences change. Together, these Next Generation refinements address both sides of the instrument: how the top responds when played and how easily the guitar can be dialed in over time.
Taylor Claria Electronics for Precise Control Onstage
Taylor Claria electronics rethink the company's approach to amplified acoustic sound with an under-saddle piezo design, proprietary preamp and discreet soundhole-mounted controls. A dedicated Mid-Contour control gives players another way to shape the guitar's amplified character for different rooms, arrangements and playing styles without adding visible hardware to the cedar top. The streamlined design keeps the Next Generation 512ce's acoustic presentation intact while providing the onboard control needed for stage work, direct recording and other amplified applications.
Premium Appointments Complete the Next Generation 512ce
The Next Generation 512ce pairs its understated cedar-and-mahogany construction with details that reward a closer look. Green abalone surrounds the soundhole, Meridian Italian acrylic inlays mark the genuine West African ebony fingerboard and a faux tortoise pickguard complements the full-gloss body. Taylor also uses West African ebony for the bridge and headstock overlay, while slot-head nickel tuners with ebony buttons complete the distinctive 12-fret presentation. A Taylor Deluxe hard-shell case is included for transport and storage. Warm, responsive and built around some of Taylor's latest acoustic innovations, the Taylor Next Generation 512ce 12-fret acoustic-electric guitar gives touch-sensitive players a sophisticated instrument designed to respond to the details in their playing.