Taylor Academy 12e Acoustic/Electric Guitar

Available Now at Northeast Music Center!

Taylor Academy 12e Acoustic/Electric Guitar! Guitar Comes with a Taylor GigBag!

A Better Guitar Can Make Learning Easier

Learning guitar is challenging enough.

The guitar itself shouldn't make it harder.

That's the philosophy behind the Taylor Academy 12e—an approachable acoustic-electric designed to give developing players the comfortable feel, responsive sound and dependable construction that can make them want to keep playing.

Built around a compact Grand Concert body, the Academy 12e combines a solid spruce top with layered sapele back and sides, a comfortable Taylor neck, shorter 24-7/8" scale length, built-in armrest and Taylor ES-B electronics with an integrated digital tuner.

The result is a guitar that's easy to hold, comfortable to play and capable of staying useful long after those first chords become complete songs.

At Northeast Music Center, that's exactly what we want from a guitar at this level.

Not simply a good beginner guitar—a good guitar, period.

ACADEMY 12e HIGHLIGHTS:
• Compact Grand Concert body
• 14-fret neck joint
• Solid spruce top
• Layered sapele back and sides
• Comfortable built-in armrest
• Academy Series bracing
• Hard Rock maple neck
• Ebony fingerboard
• 24-7/8" scale length
• 20 frets
• Italian acrylic dot inlays
• Taylor ES-B electronics
• Built-in digital chromatic tuner
• Includes Taylor Gig Bag

SOLID SPRUCE — A REAL ACOUSTIC FOUNDATION

One of the most important features of the Academy 12e is its solid spruce soundboard.

The top is the primary vibrating surface of an acoustic guitar, and using solid wood here gives the Academy 12e a responsive, dynamic voice with projection and clarity that encourage the player to explore different techniques.

Strum chords.

Work on fingerstyle.

Use a flatpick.

Play softly.

Dig in harder.

The Academy 12e is responsive enough to let a developing guitarist begin hearing how changes in technique affect the sound of the instrument.

That's an important part of becoming a better player.

GRAND CONCERT — COMFORT FROM THE BEGINNING

Taylor's compact Grand Concert body is an excellent match for the Academy 12e.

Compared with a larger acoustic body, it's easier to hold and positions the instrument naturally against the player.

That's valuable for younger musicians, smaller players and anyone who simply prefers a more manageable acoustic guitar.

But comfort isn't only about body size.

Taylor also incorporates an armrest into the lower bout, softening the edge where the player's strumming arm contacts the guitar.

It's a thoughtful feature that can become increasingly noticeable during longer practice sessions.

24-7/8" SCALE — A FRIENDLIER FEEL

The Academy 12e uses a shorter 24-7/8" scale length.

That contributes to a slightly more relaxed string feel than a comparable longer-scale instrument, helping make fretting notes and forming chords more approachable

Combine that with Taylor's comfortable neck design and the Academy 12e begins to address one of the biggest problems with inexpensive starter guitars:

A guitar that's physically difficult to play can discourage the person trying to learn it.

The Academy 12e is designed to do the opposite.

BUILT FOR THE NEXT CHORD

Taylor understands that the early stages of learning guitar are built around small victories.

The first clean chord.

The first chord change without stopping.

The first complete song.

The first time someone plays something and realizes, that actually sounds like music.

A comfortable, responsive instrument can't replace practice.

But it can remove unnecessary obstacles.

That's where the Academy 12e earns its place.

ES-B ELECTRONICS + BUILT-IN TUNER

The Academy 12e isn't limited to playing acoustically.

Taylor's ES-B electronics allow the guitar to connect to an acoustic amplifier, PA system or other compatible equipment when it's time to perform or explore amplified playing.

Even more useful for everyday practice is the built-in digital chromatic tuner.

A tuner that's always with the guitar makes it easy to develop one of the most fundamental habits every guitarist needs:

Start by getting in tune.

It's a small convenience that can make a big difference for a developing musician.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Body
• Body Shape: Grand Concert
• Neck Joint: 14-Fret
• Top: Solid Spruce
• Back & Sides: Layered Sapele
• Bracing: Academy Series
• Armrest: Integrated Comfort Armrest
• Rosette: 3-Ring Baltic Birch

Neck
• Neck Wood: Hard Rock Maple
• Fingerboard: Ebony
• Scale Length: 24-7/8"
• Frets: 20
• Fingerboard Inlays: 4mm Italian Acrylic Dots

Hardware
• Bridge: Ebony
• Nut: NuBone
• Saddle: Micarta
• Bridge Pins: Black Plastic
• Tuners: Chrome

Electronics
• Pickup System: Taylor ES-B
• Built-In Digital Chromatic Tuner

Included
• Taylor Gig Bag

WHY THE ACADEMY 12e MATTERS

There's a tendency to think a player's first guitar should be the cheapest guitar possible.

We look at it differently.

A first guitar is the instrument responsible for convincing someone that they want to become a guitarist.

It needs to stay in tune.

It needs to feel comfortable.

It needs to produce a rewarding sound.

And most importantly, it needs to make the player want to pick it up again tomorrow.

That's what makes the Academy 12e such an important part of Taylor's lineup.

It's accessible enough to make sense as a first serious acoustic, yet thoughtfully designed enough that the player doesn't immediately need to replace it as their abilities grow.

THE NORTHEAST MUSIC CENTER PERSPECTIVE

At Northeast Music Center, we've seen how important the right first guitar can be.

A new player doesn't necessarily know whether uncomfortable action, poor tuning stability or a difficult neck is the guitar—or their own developing technique.

That's why we believe starting with a properly designed, properly prepared instrument matters.

The Taylor Academy 12e gives developing musicians a genuine Taylor playing experience in an approachable package, while still offering enough quality and versatility for experienced players who simply want a comfortable, compact acoustic-electric.

And because Northeast Music Center is an authorized Taylor dealer and repair center, we're here to help beyond the initial purchase.

We can assist with setup, adjustment and service so the guitar is properly prepared for the person who will actually be playing it.

Whether you're purchasing your first guitar, choosing an instrument for a developing musician, or simply looking for an easy-playing compact Taylor, the Academy 12e deserves serious consideration.

Available from Northeast Music Center with its Taylor Gig Bag.

Don't just buy a guitar to start learning.

Choose one that makes you want to continue.