Designed in collaboration with GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter Ben Harper, the Gold Label 512e Special Edition represents Taylor's commitment to artist-driven innovation. This deeper-bodied Grand Concert acoustic-electric combines solid mahogany back and sides with a torrefied Sitka spruce top, yielding warm midrange character and impressive projection. The Shaded Edge Burst finish, developed directly with Harper, pairs a golden-brown gradient with gloss lacquer across top, back and sides for striking visual presence.
Tonally, the mahogany construction serves up woody articulation balanced with strong fundamental focus across the frequency range, whilst fanned V-Class bracing amplifies volume and sustain with enhanced low-end presence. The torrefied soundboard adds aged-in sweetness and depth, ideal for fingerstyle work. Construction details include a Honduran rosewood fretboard and peghead veneer, Action Control Neck with long-tenon joinery for warmth and patented microadjustability, plus cream-coloured binding and rosette with black trim. Electronics integrate the Claria Acoustic Pickup System with intuitive soundhole-mounted controls, enabling amplified performance without sacrificing acoustic character. A British Cocoa Bronco Taylor Deluxe Hard Shell Case ships included.
The compact 512e body size suits players seeking comfortable ergonomics without compromising power, whilst the blend of premium tonewood selection and meticulous hardware—polished bronze tuning machines, bone bridge pins, cream pickguard—positions this as a refined instrument for both studio recording and live touring applications.