Sound Pure's Take

Condition: Used, Excellent

A warm, round toned, round-shoulder dread from Taylor's Builder's Edition series. For that Taylor enthusiast who loves the look and feel of their guitars, the Expression System 2, and all the other refined qualities we've come to know and love from the brand who might be reaching for something a little more traditional in sound, enter this wonderful 517e. The resulting sound of this larger body, non-cutaway model will call to mind more classic dreadnought construction without ever betraying its name.

SP Luthier Notes: Setup and fret polish

From Taylor Guitars

Among the first generation of our Grand Pacific dreadnought guitars, the mahogany/torrefied spruce Builder’s Edition 517e dramatically expands the Taylor line’s sonic palette with a new flavor of acoustic tone that may surprise players who think they know the Taylor sound. An exciting new entry into the dreadnought category, this round-shoulder Grand Pacific resonates with a finely-honed balance of low-end power and clarity across the middle and upper registers, producing warm, rounded tone in which notes blend seamlessly together to create a seasoned sound. Back and sides of neo-tropical mahogany flavor the sound with dry, woody character, coupling beautifully with the dynamic response of the torrefied Sitka spruce top. The Builder’s Edition stamp means that the 517e is detailed with premium features designed to maximize player comfort, including chamfered body edges and a new compound-carve neck profile that compensates for the change in your hand position as you move along the neck. Subtly contoured fretboard edges and a rounded, ridgeless heel add to the guitar’s pleasing fretting-hand feel, while a refined bridge shape brings extra comfort to your pick hand. Under the hood, V-Class bracing enables the guitar to pump out stunning projection and sustain, plus nearly perfect intonation, which means you won’t have to contend with sour notes on the fretboard. And with our proprietary onboard ES2 electronics, the guitar’s many tonal virtues will shine for amplified applications. Between its sound and feel, the Builder’s Edition 517e once again raises the bar on the Taylor playing experience.

Model
517e
Serial
1103069024
Year
2019
Body Style
Grand Pacific
Scale Length
25 1/2"
Top Wood
Sitka Spruce
Body Wood
Tropical Mahogany
Bracing
V-Class
Pickguard
None
Tuners
Taylor Nickel
Electronics
Expression System 2
Body Width
16"
Nut & Saddle
Black Graphite / Micarta Saddle
Truss Rod Cover
West African Crelicam Ebony
Number of Frets
20
Body Length
20"
Body Depth
4 5/8"
Binding/Edge Treatment
Sapele
Back Config
2-Piece No Wedge
Rosette Size
Single Ring
Back/Side Finish
Silent Satin
Backstrap Wood
None
Stain/Sunburst
Blackwood Stain Back/Sides/Neck, Natural Top
Armrest
None
Top Finish
Silent Satin
Backstrap Finish
None
Bridge Inlay
None
Armrest Binding
None
Rosette Material
Black Sapele/Maple
Wedge
None
Neck Width
1 3/4"
Fretboard Binding
West African Crelicam Ebony
Type of Neck Joint
Scarf
Fretboard Wood
West African Crelicam Ebony
Heel Length
3 1/2"
Fretboard Inlay
Arrowheads, Grained Ivoroid
Heel Cap Binding
West African Crelicam Ebony
Neck/Heel
Tropical Mahogany
Neck Finish
Satin
Peghead Finish
Satin
Peghead Type
Standard
Headstock Overlay
West African Crelicam Ebony
Peghead Logo
Grained Ivoroid
Peghead Binding
None
Peghead Purfling
None
Peghead Inlay
Arrowheads, Grained Ivoroid
Bridge Pins
West African Crelicam Ebony
Fingerboard Ext
None
Buttons
Nickel
Edge Trim
None
Case
Hardshell

Warranty

This item is sold without the Sound Pure 3-year warranty (used / B-stock / dealer-exempt). Coverage terms for items in this category live in Terms & Conditions, Section 27.

Returns

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Sound Pure Studios Control Room A — Durham, NC

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