Taylor 324ce Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric Guitar (with Case)

No longer available at zZounds
A mahogany top dressed in a Shaded Edgeburst finish gives the 324ce an eloquent look that's complemented by the versatile tone of its Grand Auditorium body.

What's special about this item?

Feature: What it does:
Mahogany top Warm tone with long sustain
Sapele back and sides Rich, warm, and focused midrange; added sustain
Ebony fretboard Dark color, tight grain; premium fretboard wood
Taylor Expression System 2 Captures dynamic range of acoustic sound

A rich-grained mahogany top paired with Tasmanian blackwood back and sides gives this Taylor 324ce Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric Guitars body plenty of tonal and visual character. The clear, punchy midrange behaves well in a mix with other instruments, and delivers the kind of musical versatility that makes this a reliable guitar in different playing scenarios. Neo-traditional appointments complement mahogany’s dark, vintage looks, including a shaded edgeburst top and all-satin finish. The guitar incorporates a Venetian cutaway and comes equipped with Expression System 2 electronics for a dynamic amplified acoustic sound.

Grand Auditorium Body Shape

The most versatile and popular of Taylor's guitar shapes. Its well-defined midrange contributes to a clear and balanced tone. It's responsive enough for fingerstyle players and powerful enough for pickers and strummers to get a lively response. Think of it as a jack of all trades.

Tropical Mahogany

Harder, denser woods like mahogany and koa that are used on the back and sides of a guitar are sometimes used as tops. Their stiffness initially translates into a bright tone and tends to need more play-in time to open up, but the more a mahogany-top guitar is played, the more it develops overtones that contribute to a fuller, richer sound. A mahogany-top guitar might appeal to rootsy players who like a little extra punchiness in their tone.

Goes Well With: Blues and roots players, anyone who likes a slightly more burly read more or punchy quality to their tone.

Tasmanian Blackwood

Tasmanian blackwood is an acacia wood species that is sometimes compared to Hawaiian koa, another acacia species. Its tonal range is similar to both koa and mahogany, featuring a strong midrange focus that is dry, clear and warm, with a splash of top-end shimmer and richness comparable to Indian rosewood. The overall volume and projection are strong. Blackwood also is sourced from forests that are responsibly managed, making it a sustainable wood for guitar making.

Expression System 2

The Taylor Expression System 2 (ES2) is a revolutionary pickup design that delivers the latest in Taylor's ongoing innovation in acoustic guitar amplification. The heart of the Expression System 2 is Taylor's proprietary behind-the-saddle pickup (patent pending), which features three uniquely positioned and individually calibrated pickup sensors. The location of the sensors enables a more dynamic range of acoustic sound to be captured than ever before. Together with Taylor's custom-designed "professional audio"-grade preamp, this system produces exceptional amplified tone and responsiveness. On stage through a PA, plugged into your favorite acoustic amplifier, or direct into recording software, the Expression System 2 faithfully conveys the voice of your Taylor guitar.

Behind the ES2 Design: Rethinking the Piezo Pickup

For decades, piezo-electric transducers have been positioned under the saddle of a guitar based on the long-held belief that the string and top vibration cause the saddle to "bounce" up and down. But Taylor's electronics team, led by developer David Hosler, discovered that the vertical movement is actually heavily restricted, and that the saddle gets "locked down" due to the string tension's downward pressure. That's why a traditional under-saddle pickup with piezo-electric crystals often responds with a sound often characterized as thin, brittle, brash or synthetic, especially with more aggressive playing.

The saddle's natural range of movement as the guitar is being played is actually back and forth like a pendulum. That revelation led Taylor's design team to relocate the crystals from under the saddle to behind it. The new positioning enables the crystals to respond more naturally to the guitar's energy as it is transferred through the saddle. Three pickup sensors are installed behind the saddle, through the bridge, with three tiny Allen screws that calibrate the position of the sensors in relation to the saddle.

Like the original Expression System, the ES2 features the same volume and tone control knobs. The preamp is similar but with a slightly different gain structure. As a result it will be about 25 percent hotter, which is more in line with other pickups. This makes it plug-and-play friendly both for artists and live sound mixers.

Venetian

Standard on all "ce" models in the 300 Series through the Presentation Series, the Venetian cutaway is known for its soft, round lines. The sloping peak of the cutaway will vary depending on the shape of the guitar. The Grand Concert, Grand Auditorium, and Grand Symphony have a steeper slope, while the Dreadnought and Jumbo are a bit flatter. Our Grand Concert nylon-string models also feature a subtle, flatter slope, while our 100 and 200 Series cutaway models incorporate our flattest slope.

Taylor 324ce Grand Auditorium Features

- Nut & Saddle: Tusq Nut/Micarta Saddle
- Bracing: Performance with Relief Rout
- Truss Rod Cover: Black Plastic
- Pickguard: Black
- Number of Frets: 20
- Tuners: Taylor Nickel
- Case: Taylor Deluxe Hardshell Brown
- Brand of Strings: Elixir Phosphor Bronze HD Light
- Binding: Black
- Top Finish: Satin
- Back Config: 2-piece No Wedge
- Rosette Size: Three Ring
- Back/Side Finish: Satin
- Rosette Mat.: Plastic
- Stain/Sunburst: Medium Brown Stain with Shaded Edge Burst Top
- Fretboard Inlay: Small Diamonds
- Fretboard Binding: Black
- Heel Cap Binding: Black
- Type of Neck Joint: Scarf
- Neck/Heel: Tropical Mahogany
- Fretboard Wood: Ebony
- Neck Finish: Satin
- Peghead Finish: Satin
- Peghead Type: Standard
- Headstock Overlay: Ebony
- Peghead Logo: Italian Acrylic
- Bridge Pins: Ebony
- Buttons: Nickel
- Scale Length: 25-1/2"
- Heel Length: 3-1/2"
- Neck Width: 1-3/4"
- Body Length: 20"
- Body Width: 16"
- Body Depth: 4 5/8"
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For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 800-943-6782

No longer available at zZounds

In most cases, a product is unavailable because it has been discontinued by the manufacturer