The Acoustic Guitar Forum - For Sale: (Sold) 518e - short run with early appointments and upgrades

Selling because it is similar to my 514ce. Superb guitar at an amazing price. Condition is fantastic. No dings that I can find, but I will never say even a new guitar is 10 so this one I will call a 9 of 10 due to the pickguard showing that it has been played.

Taylor only offers this in BTO format now, and the combination of Mahogany and the GO size has a unique sonic profile. More of what you would get with GS is the best way I can describe it. Very even from string to string, prototypical mahogany sound but huge, particularly when played fingerstyle, nearly as loud as strummed if you want it to be based on your attack.

Bone Nut and Saddle upgraded, Colosi materials and excellent install and setup performed by Greg at Classic Axe (he does a lot of the famous musicians guitars here in Nashville).

Below is my description when I received it, if I did not have a beautiful Quilted Sapele 514 there is no way I would let this rare bird go.

My first impression was how small it feels in the hands. It does not feel like a jumbo or a large guitar from a handling standpoint IMHO and I am only 5'10". It feels like a more comfortable dread. With the light strings it sounded very much like a GA size hog with a little more oomph, but not much. I removed the strings, polished it, and replaced with the appropriate medium strings. That was when things got interesting. It is a cannon. The loudest and most balanced guitar I have laid my hands on. I have owned about 15 guitars nearly all on the higher end of the scale from both factory and boutique builders and this thing is just remarkable. It is balanced string to string.. Bass is deep, trebles sparkle. Strummed it seems to handle anything and it sounds like more than one instrument is in the mix. Fingerstyle is sounds amplified when it is not. Very responsive and loud. I have a feeling that this guitar size is a solo players dream, but probably would not work as well in a mix because it fills so much sonic space. I could see John Denver with a 12 string GO if he was still with us.

I spoke with someone about it being no longer available in the Taylor lineup and they told me that they had gotten a notice about Mahogany that supply is becoming constrained. That may explain why the GO is now only available in Rosewood, Maple, and Ovangkol outside of the BTO program.

Here are the pics. The top is very nicely bear clawed, and it was apparently left in the light for quite a while as the spruce top appears that it is far older than 3 years. It is a 2013 model. The Mahogany in unique in figure, with a very nice flamed look. I would not consider it technically flamed, but the pattern is gorgeous and not the typical plain appearance that you usually see.

Whole enchilada
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Top
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Side
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Other side
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Back
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Back Close-up
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