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

Try Before You Buy: 48-hour audition. Program details →

Sound Pure Studios Control Room A — Durham, NC

Sound Pure Studios · Durham, NC

Come hear it in our control rooms.

Sound Pure is a working studio in Durham, NC — a 1,000 sq ft live room and two pro control rooms. Book a session to audition gear in a world-class acoustic space before you buy.