NGD! Taylor 812CE 12 fret

[Groberts]

NGD! Taylor 812CE 12-Fret slot head!

Friends, I went and did it again. I seem to find guitars that are too special to pass up when I'm not-looking for a guitar. Why is that? (If only I could NOT go to music stores!)

This Taylor 812CE slot head 12-fret guitar is freakishly loud, percussive with tremendous response in terms of varying attack. It displays tremendous touch sensitivity. I compared it to larger Taylors like the Grand Auditorium / 14 series and also to some Martin dreads. I don't know what it is, but the 12 fret Grand concert sized guitar projects and performs like a much bigger, richer sounding guitar.

It seems richer and more full bodied than many OM's I've played. So this is a surprising and shocking return to both a small body guitar and to Taylors. I even compered this 12 fret Taylor to a Martin D-28 and HD-28. It held its own!

[Paddy1951]

Nice find. A beautiful sounding and beautiful looking guitar. Good for you!

[Tawnyowl]

Lovely Sound.

[JohnW63]

Cool.

I've always wanted to try a 12 fret guitar, but have never seen one in the wild. I don't know if I could swing an 800 series Taylor, but your video makes me at least try one out.

[billyboy1962]

Wow! She is beautiful. What’s the year of birth? And what strings are you using? I love my 814ce 14 fret (like all my guitars) but would love to try a 12 fret like this

[SpruceTop]

Congratulations & Enjoy This Beauty!

I had one of these but, although its tone was positively unreal, I just felt cramped-up when playing it and, after about a year, it found a good home with a fellow AGFer.

[SprintBob]

I had my 2014 812ce 12 fret (the first year of the Andy Powers re-vamp) for 4 years and the OP’s description hits the mark pretty well.

Enjoy and congrats!

[Rev Roy]

Bravo, my friend! That beauty is a great addition to your superb arsenal.

[Groberts]

Thank you gentlemen!

Sprucetop - I find the string spacing is actually very spacious. But it does feel different. I am rather shocked I came around to the Taylor camp again, but the 12-fret performs differently and is rich, bold and its volume belies its diminutive size in contrast to guitars with larger bodies that seem to project less.

[Beakybird]

Originally Posted by Groberts

Thank you gentlemen!

Sprucetop - I find the string spacing is actually very spacious. But it does feel different. I am rather shocked I came around to the Taylor camp again, but the 12-fret performs differently and is rich, bold and its volume belies its diminutive size in contrast to guitars with larger bodies that seem to project less.

Nothing like falling in love with a guitar. Congratulations.

If you want help staying out of music stores, we can put an ankle monitor on you.

[Groberts]

Here is one small curiosity. Maybe you can help me? The Tuning gears on this 812CE are 3 In-line with black ebony looking buttons. But most 812CE's I see have Ivoroid tuner buttons and the gears are each individual. I like the look of these dark buttons but for some reason I have it in my head that the individual tuning gears with ivoroid buttons might be better tuners? Anybody?

[raduray]

Originally Posted by Groberts

Here is one small curiosity. Maybe you can help me? The Tuning gears on this 812CE are 3 In-line with black ebony looking buttons. But most 812CE's I see have Ivoroid tuner buttons and the gears are each individual. I like the look of these dark buttons but for some reason I have it in my head that the individual tuning gears with ivoroid buttons might be better tuners? Anybody?

I have a 2016 version. The original individual tuners were awful, with lots of backlash. That was a fairly common complaint if you do a search, and a bad look for Taylor for using them on one of their signature models. I upgraded to Waverlies which were drop in replacements. I also lubricated the holes in the headstock with candle wax. Overall result is much better.

Hopefully, the new Taylor tuners are the improvement this guitar deserves.

[Rev Roy]

Originally Posted by Groberts

Here is one small curiosity. Maybe you can help me? The Tuning gears on this 812CE are 3 In-line with black ebony looking buttons. But most 812CE's I see have Ivoroid tuner buttons and the gears are each individual. I like the look of these dark buttons but for some reason I have it in my head that the individual tuning gears with ivoroid buttons might be better tuners? Anybody?

Yep...as you can see, my 2017 had the ivoroid buttons/individual gears. Don’t know if it was “better”...but I never had any problems with it.

[Jaden]

Beautiful guitar, congratulations. There is an undeniable sweetness of tone to a finely made smaller body spruce/rosewood instrument. Good choice.

[BT55]

Congratulations- You own a very special guitar!