Designed to offer a comfortable, affordable option for players seeking the nylon-string sound with player-friendly features, the Academy 12e-N serves up snappy neo-classical tone with a feel that's perfect for new learners and experienced players alike. A solid torrefied spruce top treated with a special roasting process adds extra depth and warmth to its bold projection and clarity. This compact Grand Concert acoustic-electric also sports a 1-7/8" nut width, providing ample string spacing for fingerstyle play without putting undue strain on your fretting hand. And with built-in ES-N electronics and a lightweight gig bag for protection, the Academy 12e-N has everything a budding player could need.
The Academy 12e-N combines signature Taylor playability with warm, snappy nylon-string tone.
Grand Concert Body: The small-body Grand Concert debuted in 1984 to meet the needs of a new wave of adventurous acoustic fingerstyle players. In contrast to the traditionally darker, boomier voices of bigger body styles like dreadnoughts and jumbos, the GC’s compact size and tapered waist kept the overtones in check. It was also more comfortable to play while sitting down, and the guitar’s slightly wider neck gave players more room for complex fingerings. The GC’s smaller sonic footprint also fit cleanly in a mix with other instruments when tracking in the studio and with a band on stage, making it a useful tool for professional session and side players. Taylor's current generation of GC models continues to accommodate fingerstylists with finger-friendly traits like a shorter 24 7/8-inch scale length, which makes fretting easier and adds a slightly slinkier feel on the strings due to the lighter string tension. If you feel more comfortable with a small body or favor controlled overtones, a Grand Concert is a great option.
The smallest of Taylor’s full-size body shapes. Its compact dimensions make for a physically comfortable guitar with an intimate feel and sound. The smaller footprint keeps the overtones in check, contributing to a focused, articulate sound that’s well-suited for recording and stage work.
Grand Concert Body Specifications: Body Length: 19 1/2" / Body Width: 15" / Body Depth: 4 3/8"
Walnut Body Wood: Like koa, walnut’s density and stiffness yield bright treble notes, but with a more present midrange that splits the difference between rosewood and mahogany. The bass tones initially produce a woody character that will grow richer with time and extended play.
Origin: USA
Sound: Another beautiful hardwood, walnut has a similar density and stiffness to koa, with a similar tightness initially. Like koa, it tends to have a bright top end, but with a more present midrange, somewhere between mahogany and rosewood. Walnut also starts off a little deeper on the low end, initially giving it a slightly woodier sound than koa. The low end will continue to fill out after being played in.
Goes Well With: Players who like a blend of brightness, projection and warm overtones. A smaller-bodied walnut guitar with a cedar top would likely appeal to fingerstyle players, while flatpickers and strummers on a larger body with a spruce top will find ample horsepower, low end and crisp highs to support an aggressive attack.
Lutz Spruce Top Wood: A naturally occurring hybrid of Sitka and White spruce, Lutz grows in climate zones between where Sitka and White spruce are found. (Sitka grows in more coastal areas, while White spruce thrives in interior regions.) Lutz has is considered very adaptive within those microclimates, which can yield properties that are superior to either species alone.
In terms of acoustic response, Lutz blends the positive characteristics of Sitka and White spruce and its close cousin, Engelmann spruce. The Lutz that Taylor uses for the 500 Series tends to exhibit characteristics of Adirondack spruce. The result is powerful sonic horsepower that translates into strong volume, projection and tonal richness.
Origin: Canada
Goes Well With: Most playing styles. Players with a lively attack will enjoy the tonal output and headroom.
ES-B Electronics: This version of Taylor's ES-B electronics incorporates Taylor’s Expression System® 2 piezo design elements and features a multifunctional onboard preamp with a built-in digital chromatic tuner and active tone-shaping EQ control. The preamp/tuner unit features an LED display for tuning and low battery indication, along with a Volume control and 3-band EQ. The preamp/tuner is powered by a 9v battery. With an alkaline battery, battery life expectancy when using the preamp only is over 500 hours, and when using the tuner is over 50 hours. Plugging in the guitar will activate the battery. A low battery indicator on the LED display (located on the preamp circuit board) will light up when the battery reaches 4.5 volts.
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Online Returns: In order to return a product, Request a Return Authorization Number (RA Number). To request a Return Authorization Number (RA Number), please email info@bananas.com with your full name, order number, item that you are returning, and what type of return you would like us to process - either exchange for the same item, exchange for another item, or return for refund. In addition, if you can include the reason for your return, and any other comments, that would be appreciated. Once we process your RA request, we will send you a Return Authorization Number, and instructions on how to return the item. Return and Customer Satisfaction Policy: Any item (other than as noted below) purchased from Bananas at Large online store may be returned, within 45 days of the shipment date, for a full refund of the purchase price minus shipping costs, or for exchange or credit. Rather than make you click elsewhere for the 'small print', here it is in not-so-small print: The following items may not be returned: Consumable items such as (but not limited to) strings, picks, drum sticks, drum heads, phono cartridges and replacement speakers. Any item that is worn on the body or is blown into, such as (but not limited to) earplugs, wind controllers or harmonicas Computer software, items that can be copied and copyrighted material such as (but not limited to) books, videos and CD's Installed items such as (but not limited to) guitar pickups, drum heads, headphone parts and other installed parts If you agree to back order or special order a product, you agree that order may not be canceled unless approved by Bananas. Special orders already in transit either from manufacturer or Bananas cannot be canceled. Special order items may be returned if defective for exchange. You will be notified what items qualify as special order status. *In-store sales, please see posted Return Policies Other Things You Need to Know about Online Returns Shipping and/or handling charges are not refundable. It is your responsibility to pay return shipping and to fully insure the unit(s) you are returning. Also, it is your responsibility to cover shipping charges for sending the item to you. If you are quoted free shipping and return the item, you will be required to cover the actual shipping costs incurred by your order. Items that are returned must be in the original packaging, with all accessories and paperwork included in the original shipment, such as owner's manual(s) and warranty card. Items must be free from signs of use or wear, and both warranty card and manual(s) must not have any writing in them. If your order was shipped to you in outer packaging it must be returned in that packaging as well as the inner box or boxes. Returned items that do not arrive in the condition described above are subject to a $25 repackaging charge, plus the cost of replacing missing, soiled, worn or marked-on items. Obvious signs of use that reduce the value of a returned unit will be subject to additional charges based on how much we need to mark down the unit to make it sellable.