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Builder's Edition 517e (2019)
6-String | Torrefied Spruce Top | Mahogany Back and Sides | Tropical Mahogany Neck | West African Crelicam Ebony Fretboard | Expression System® 2 Electronics | Non-cutaway
6-String | Torrefied Spruce Top | Mahogany Back and Sides | Tropical Mahogany... More
Series:
500
UPC: #00887766093886
Note: Each guitar has unique visual traits due to differences in wood grain. Guitars ordered through this website or found in stores may feature minor visual variations from the ones pictured here.
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Left!
Preorder Today
Coming Soon!
Call to order!
For model availability, check with an authorized Taylor dealer near you. (See local options below.)
Get It Today Locally
Responsibly Sourced Materials
Materiales obtenidos de forma responsable.
Taylor está comprometido con el abastecimiento ético de materiales y la búsqueda continua de prácticas más sostenibles.
Deluxe Hardshell Case Included
Estuche rígido deluxe incluido
Protective and durable Deluxe Hardshell Case included at no extra charge.
Estuche protector rígido deluxe y duradero incluido sin cargo adicional.
Lifetime Warranty with Registration
Garantía de por vida con registro
Factory Expert Service & Support
Servicio y Soporte Técnico de Fábrica
Responsive customer service from factory experts trained to help you get the most out of your guitar.
Expertos en servicio al cliente de fábrica capacitados para ayudarte a aprovechar al máximo tu guitarra.
Overview
- Premium features for the ultimate playing experience
- Solid mahogany/spruce generate warmth and focus
- V-Class bracing improves volume and sustain
- Grand Pacific body for old-school acoustic character
- Includes ES2 acoustic pickup and hardshell case
Overview
Builder's Edition 517e
Crafted to the exacting standards of our master guitar designer, Andy Powers, the Builder's Edition 517e introduces a warm, vintage-hued sound to the Taylor lineup thanks to the Grand Pacific dreadnought body shape and the tone-boosting V-Class bracing inside. Back and sides of solid mahogany generate rich midrange presence and focus, limiting ringing overtones. The torrefied Sitka spruce top serves up projection and clarity with a touch of extra warmth and depth from our special roasting process, which simulates some of the changes in the wood that occur naturally with age. This Builder's Edition model boasts chamfered edges and a compound-carve neck profile for a seamless feel, along with a Silent Satin finish to reduce incidental noise.
NAMM Best in Show, Winter 2019
“It is reassuring to note that a human armed with a chisel and old-fashioned ingenuity is capable of making waves—waves of both surf and sound, perhaps the biggest revolution in acoustic guitar architecture since the dawn of X-Bracing.”
A stage-ready, tonally adept instrument that will provide the goods reliably for years.
The name Taylor has always evoked a particular sound—articulation and clarity in the top end... With its wide waist and round-shoulder dreadnought body shape, the decidedly vintage-inspired Grand Pacific—Taylor’s newest, and perhaps most adventurous guitar yet—seeks to upend those notions.
Features
Grand Pacific
A versatile workhorse, this round-shoulder take on the classic dreadnought body yields clear low-end power and a warm, blended voice.
Mahogany
Dry and woody with clear, potent midrange. Strong fundamental focus with controlled overtones.
Torrefied Spruce
Treated with our special roasting process, torrefied spruce tops deliver all the clarity, balance and projection you’d expect from a traditional spruce top with an extra dash of warmth and played-in depth.
Expression System® 2
The Expression System® 2 captures more of a guitar’s dynamic properties using a breakthrough behind-the-saddle design.
V-Class Bracing
Our patented V-Class bracing is a revolutionary new pattern — a new sonic engine — that marks a major shift away from traditional steel-string bracing patterns.
Specifications
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Orientation Right Handed
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Bracing System V-Class Bracing
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Cutaway Non-cutaway
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Electronics Expression System® 2
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Questions & Answers
Preguntas frecuentes
12 questions
what is the binding on the builder's addition 517e grand pacific?
The body is bound with Sapele. The neck with Ebony.
Can the 517 be ordered with a short scale length?
Sorry, no. This one is only available with the 25.5" scale.
Is the top torrefied?
Yes.
Is this model available without electronics?
Yes.
When the battery goes dead, it's location is where you plug in your guitar cable?
Yes.
Show all 12 questions
What is the tuner ratio for this model?
18:1
What is the weight of the 517e?
Average weight is 4 1/2 pounds.
what is fretboard radius range in compound configuration?
The neck has a compound-carve neck profile but the fretboard radius is 15" for the entire length.
They forgot a pick guard?!
Many models come without a pickguard but one can easily be added.
Can I order this with an Adirondack Spruce top?
Yes, that is available as an option, as is Lutz spruce.
Can I get this with a glossy finish?
Sorry, this Builder's Edition model is only available in the silent satin finish.
Could I get this with a cutaway?
No, this model is only made as a non-cutaway.
Reviews
Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 5 ratings
Don't Miss Out On This One
I bought my 517e Builder's Ecition at my local (80 miles away) Taylor dealer. I have owned it for a week, and took it to a gig the day after I received it. The quality, fit and finish, and great action are Taylor's usual fare. All just excellent! I have owned many Taylors over the years from a GS Mini to a GC8, and you can't go wrong at any price point. They were all great, but this 517e Builder's edition is going to be a life long friend, Its understated elegance, great playability with medium gauge strings, and unexpected tone have grabbed me. If you like round shoulder dreadnoughts, but thought Taylor tone was a little too bright, you will love this one. Taylor guitars are the only brand that I would buy without playing it first. I traded a 4 month old Martin 00-28 for it, and would do it again today. If you want a new one, I recommend getting one before thay are no longer available.
- How I Use It
- Home/Recreational
- How I Use It
- Stage/Live Performance
- Describe Yourself
- I've been playing for a while now
- Describe Yourself
- Mostly acoustic player
My dream guitar come true
The crowning glory of Taylor guitars for me at least. I play mostly fingerstyle and no guitar I've ever played does fingerstyle as well as the 517e. Everything else about the guitar is totally impeccable - looks, finish, build quality, tunability, and ease of playing. This contrasts so sharply with the borrowed acoustic i used to begin learning back in 1966. Thanks Andy
- How I Use It
- Home/Recreational
- How I Use It
- Studio/Recording
- Describe Yourself
- I've played for many years
- Describe Yourself
- Mostly acoustic player
- Describe Yourself
- I play both acoustic and electric
One awesome guitar!
Back in 1979 I played a friends 1974 Guild. Over the years I’ve played many acoustic guitars but none lived up to that holy grail guild. Why I am saying this? Last year I stumbled across this awesome Builder’s Edition 517e at a store nearby and was amazed. I found something that I can honestly say surpassed that guitar. As reference I’ve had in my possession a 74 Martin D28 which was great but not the one. I still own a 42 Martin too. I’m telling you that this BE517e is that good. Every day I find myself inspired again to play more often because it’s that good. We all know the tone wood story and Taylor’s playability along with build quality. I’m saying this guitar is on another level. Well done Taylor and thank you for a great guitar such as this.
- How I Use It
- Home/Recreational
- How I Use It
- Studio/Recording
- How I Use It
- Stage/Live Performance
- Describe Yourself
- I've played for many years
- Describe Yourself
- I play both acoustic and electric
Taylor 517e Great Overall Acoustic Instrument
Great action, balanced tone with a range over several musical genres. In my particular instrument, the ES2 system is relatively weak compared to other Taylor ES2-equipped guitars I've owned.
- How I Use It
- Home/Recreational
- How I Use It
- Stage/Live Performance
- Describe Yourself
- I've played for many years
- Describe Yourself
- Mostly acoustic player
- Describe Yourself
- I play both acoustic and electric
Taylor 2 x the fun!
I bought my Taylor Builder's edition at Fret Mill in Roanoke Va. They were very knowledgeable and were very patient with my desire to play virtually every one of their top end guitars.
It was especially happy when I learned that I could add a Taylor Mini Koa for only a few hundred extra. It sounds crazy good. Both Guitars have added a lot of fun to my playing.
It was especially happy when I learned that I could add a Taylor Mini Koa for only a few hundred extra. It sounds crazy good. Both Guitars have added a lot of fun to my playing.