Taylor Academy 12EN | Review

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[@bluejazzcat]

I just got one. Here in Brazil they cost about US$ 1,200.00 (or more). But they are really worth it. It sounds amazing. I am a drummer and play some guitar and this is a great transition guitar from steel to nylon. Not interested in playing Classical, but it is great for folk, fingerpicking, bossa-nova, Brazilian country music, etc. It is very confortable on the fingers. It took me a while to decide which nylon guitar to buy. I am glad I got this one. Be safe everybody! We still need to do a lot of music before the virus catch us! I am old and love to play music, so quarantine for me is a breeze. Like BB King used to say .... I really paid my dues ... now it is time to play music!!

[@glorioskiola]

Your comment made me smile. Lockdown is pretty easy for me, too. Someone asked me how am I not bored. Because I play music all day, and watch KZbin!

[@drmms]

como sao os graves???

[@gizmoal01]

Great feedback. Thank you for your honesty. Going to pull the trigger on this one!

[@antmanchester9023]

Thanks for illustrating the sound of the included pickup system on the nylon string Taylor. Lots of good advice in this review about choosing a new guitar.

[@PaulGAckerman]

I've been interested in this guitar for a few months and I've seen a few reviews. The sound quality and demonstration was by far the best. Thank you for a wonderful review and I look forward to watching some of your other reviews.

[@Adidas_Altyn]

i personally have this one, and i love it

[@glorioskiola]

The scale length is 25 1/2 inches and the nut width is 1 7/8 inches. This is intended to be a “crossover” or hybrid, not a traditional classical guitar.

[@silvermoonbeam]

This only has 17 frets, which eliminates it from this professional classical guitarist’s consideration for use as a second guitar. It is, however, the only classical guitar I’ve seen with electronics that *does not* have a cutaway, which is in its favor. I think there might be some higher end classical guitars without cutaways and with electronics, but the ones I’ve come across have dimensions closer to a steel string instrument. You did not say anything about the string length (650mm?) or nut width (52mm?) and it’s hard to tell by just seeing the video.

[@alfredcakeburn1166]

Perhaps why he calls it a starter guitar?

[@Skwid-Lives]

Man I’m looking at this and the Cordoba fusion 12/14. Hard choices

[@752brickie]

Excellent review. I wish I would have bought one of these instead of my last Martin Road Series. Don't get me wrong I like the Martin but the Taylor's are simply amazing guitars ! If you are ever in El Cajon stop by Taylor Guitars for the Tour. I have been fortunate to have been there twice.

[@suna.9809]

you joking? comparing Martin road series with this

[@752brickie]

@@suna.9809 I was not comparing them,I said I wish I would have bought one of these. I like my Martin’s I own but the one Taylor Grand Auditorium blows them away. But I have a couple Alvarez’ that are also amazing guitars. Taylor hit it out of the park with both the academy and GS Minis.

[@suna.9809]

@@752brickie ok I see, fair enough. It’s just that Taylor academy are beginners and entry level guitars. I personally can’t compare Taylor and Martin even with same body and wood guitars as they have their own specific sound and characteristics, so ideally is to own both Martin and some Taylor 😁 but definitely Taylor guitars are very good sounding guitars and I would probably buy 214e instead of my Martin if they had 1 3/4 nut width, as I can’t stand narrow 1 11/16 nuts. But boy oooo boy I just fell in love with that Martin tone 😁🤩

[@752brickie]

@@suna.9809 I have 4 Martins ,one Taylor 25th Anniversary and two Alvarez'. My stock is depleting .We used to go to Martin for the owners meetings they used to have. I played a Robbie Robertson 12 fret solid Koa there and fell in love with it ! But the wife said "NO"! Ha Ha ha But she loved it too. I also spentan afternoon with Richard Hoover of Santa Cruz Guitars and I think if I ever get a custom it will be a Santa Cruz H 13 Happy Traum Model.

[@damianrjames]

great review! it's nice to see sb who's clearly got chops playing sth musical and creative rather than shredding etc... i've been looking at the higher end nylons by Taylor but i might get one of these based on this and other reviews.. nice one, thnx!

[@gizmoal01]

Brilliant playing. That's the style I'm going into learning next. Thank You with your playing and push! To get me into it.

[@GuitarInteractive]

Have fun!

[@jacktoddy9783]

Always a great review from Tom.

[@west4coast77]

Excellent review. And... you're a very talented player! Thanks for posting.

[@crabtreewoodworks]

The finish on the neck feels odd to me. The sustain is very poor.playability is very good. Good for live playing. Use a mic if you are planning to record.. this is not a classical guitar. More like a hybrid for quiet jazz and finger style. Good materials when considering price range.

[@sweetboy02125]

i just bought it but the back bulging a lot. is that normal??

[@Freyathrith]

Very helpful review. Great playing, too!

[@leomcmo9384]

Do you think this would be ok for professional gigs, coming out if a little PA? or should someone look at something a little higher end?

[@wlodell]

Thank you. This is a very good review and much appreciated.

[@JPcares]

Love your playing. Fine review!

[@dougfitch3649]

I've played these and helped a friend select one. They are very nice and I wouldn't remind replacing my nylon with one. However, I would NOT go with the "e" version. IMHO, the pickup sounds horrible and is an injustice to this fine bargain of an instrument. Love the guitar, hate the pickup. I'd get the no pickup version and then install an LR Baggs Anthem C (for classical.) THey sound great.

[@dancassidy7471]

Yes yes! LR Baggs

[@chrisj4534]

Great playing, Man

[@jeffbarbour571]

I bought the 12e metal strings. The nut is too narrow for my big short fingers. I guess I will have to give this guitar a look.

[@fingerhorn4]

It seems however you amplify a classical guitar with an internal pickup, you get just hideous sounding, reeding lower three strings. The top three sound ok, but the usal nasal, reedy, thin sound emits from the lower three strings. It's not the guitar, as it is the same on every single guitar I've ever heard. The solution: Never amplify your nylon string guitar with a pick up. Use a Microphone and a PA system instead. Yes, you might be prone to feedback. Just turn the volume down. Anything is better than those pick ups.

[@multipipi1234]

Try telling that to Willie Nelson....

[@glorioskiola]

Thanks for the advice. I could save a bit of $$ and buy this one without the electronics.

[@bosatsu76]

I've got a Cordoba Studio Negra. And I can't keep that thing in tune for 5 minutes... I've always thought it was my fault for not stringing it properly... Could it be the tuners?

[@brandonanderson2066]

I feel the lower end cordobas have certain issues. I have a steel string version of this Taylor and it's fantastic

[@bosatsu76]

@@brandonanderson2066 I have a Taylor Mini. And it IS fantastic. I didn't think the Cordoba Negra was a 'low end' guitar... It just takes a while for the strings to settle in evidently... It's been fine lately. I just need to learn how to string it properly is my guess.

[@blanchedesmas]

This one or the Arena of La Patrie?

[@acocote2137]

Pity you don't play it unplugged

[@TheStratSound]

hI! I need to know how it compares with the 212ceN. I can see different woods and preamp. It worth the difference of cost? And what is the difference in sound? I have 1 classical guitar and 1 flamenco spanish handmade guitar, but I need some with preamp..

[@trevorgwelch7412]

Thank You For The Excellent Guitar Study . I May Buy This Guitar. What Spanish Made Guitar Would You Recommend With Similar Features , Ebony , But Solid Back , Top , Sides , Electric. Alhambra Perhaps .

[@cygnusl.a4180]

I'm seriously debating between the Alhambra 10p ( non electric) or this Taylor which caught me by surprised.. this 12N was the only one that matches the crispiness of the Alhambra ..

[@KayZee1957]

Cordoba C9 crossover. Same idea. Radiused SLIGHTLY narrower and slimmer neck. About $100 more but has solid back and sides built in spain.

[@rogerm7922]

Torn between this one and Cordoba GK studio Negra. Which one is better for Flamenco ?

[@2134yanto]

Very nice review. Is the action on these from the factory as low as a steel string acoustic? Or is it higher like a classical guitar please? Thanks

[@RJ_HTx]

It is high but you can sand down the saddle and fix that problem.

[@the_glove]

Quack is the sound that pickup makes

[@tylerhendrickson8321]

Sounds like Willie Nelson baby!

[@wtfusheeple5383]

hi what amp are you using

[@Oklatucky_Guitarman]

Buy this without the pup and slap in a Baggs Anthem and yer good to go.

[@bubbajeph]

I am going to have to purchase the Academy 12 metal string. The nylon string, just does not work for me.

[@stevew585]

Oh this is nice!

[@dudabastos]

Thanks!

[@romeovelasco4151]

Can you strum it?

[@newfarmerfilms]

Mic that guitar, sir. Nice playing, regardless.

[@danny_munoz]

Hi, does anybody know what kind of chords, progression or scales is he using? It sounds really amazing.

[@rkl08551]

yes.. alot of different ones :-)

[@martinmartin8871]

Chromatic Emaj7 riffs

[@tumostyle0]

@@martinmartin8871 Esus2 i think :)

[@blanchedesmas]

I am not able to fix my final choice between this Taylor, the Cordoba Fusion 12 and the Arena from La Patrie. HELP!

[@Skwid-Lives]

I’m in the same boat. Those Cordoba’s are real nice too. Did you decide

[@blanchedesmas]

Samuel J Williams i finaly bought the new Yamaha NTX1. Good ratio quality/price. GOOD CHOICE.

[@claesnordberg9418]

It sounds fantastic says the man who starts the interview by telling he never plays nylon strings guitar? :D How does he now then? :D

[@tywoodruff8578]

Claes Nordberg he actually said he doesn’t play nylon string guitars often...not “never”. Regardless, whether a person plays a specific version of an instrument or not doesn’t qualify or disqualify him/her from commenting on how said instrument sounds.

[@tradbowseven]

I had this guitar for a couple years. I didn’t hate it but I just didn’t bond with it. Now I have a Godin Arena with a cutaway, superior in every aspect. Sorry Taylor

[@jeffreinhart2898]

How do you find the Arena unplugged? Loud enough?

[@jesuss8677]

Cual es el precio para importar una unidad hasta Colombia..? Gracias

[@elb64x2]

Made in?

[@matthiasreiter6019]

Mexico

[@lawrencewalton7136]

Anybody else pissed off he btrays the instrument using a pick?

[@billsmith3042]

quacks like a piezo duck.

[@clivemorwood2391]

It's pronounced 'sa pee lee'

[@brooklynboy1000]

got a used in great condition - Art and Lutherie (Godin) nylon parlour guitar for $100 .. great guitar.. this Taylor is hugely overpriced and inferior. dont get sucked into the marketing

[@matheuszelanti]

Natural song do taylor: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXyko4upZpp_b9E

[@deldia]

Piezo pick up. Could tell instantly. They are absolutely horrible sounding.

[@tradbowseven]

wikichris what do you expect for $600? I think these academy models sound amazing for the price and to boot they expressTaylor quality. I somewhat agree with the piezoelectric dislike, but rarely does any nylon replicated classical tones with electronics. Have you played one?

[@deldia]

Just get a mic. There are cheap external clip ones from iRig that are a million times better.A 250 euro guitar with an iRig mic will sound like a million dollars compared to anything on piezo.

[@joseceraia]

Does not sound well. Lots of Spanish nylon classical guitars sounds way better.

[@trunit770]

ewww nylon with a pick

[@francescosessa8719]

Great video. This guitar, however, sounds pretty bad... l mean very far from a real classical guitar so might es well having metal strings in it...

[@dancassidy7471]

I own one the bottom 3 strings are some sort of steel I'd say.

[@IRequireMedication]

It's not meant to be a 'classical guitar', it's market is an easy playing nylon string acoustic

[@teliosambientes7878]

wood like more information and demonstration in various regions ... very poor presentation.