Which shape do I pick?
Body shape is a great place to start your search for the right Taylor Guitar. That’s because the curves and depth that define the body’s dimensions influence both your physical connection to the guitar and the tone it produces. Once you find the right shape, you can play and compare versions with different tonewood pairings. (For more on that, see our guide to Taylor's Tonewoods.)
When comparing different body styles, here are a few key considerations:
Feel
Comfort matters, so consider how the guitar’s size and shape feel when you play. Smaller bodies with a tapered waist and shallower depth offer a more intimate feel, while larger guitars may affect your strumming arm, especially when seated. Body depth also plays a role. Some Taylor models enhance comfort with features like rounded edges or an armrest.
Neck-to-Body Relationship
Though not part of the body, the neck’s connection to it affects comfort. Key factors include where the neck joins the body (12th or 14th fret) and the scale length, which can vary by shape. These influence hand positioning, string tension, and fret spacing.
Sound
An acoustic guitar's body acts as a natural amplifier, with its size shaping the instrument’s tone. Smaller bodies produce a more focused sound with enhanced highs, while larger bodies emphasize deeper, low-end frequencies.
Bracing Pattern
An acoustic guitar’s bracing works with its body shape and tonewoods to shape its unique voice. Master Builder Andy Powers designed Taylor's proprietary bracing patterns, including the award-winning V-Class bracing found on most U.S.-made steel-string models. This patented design enhances volume, sustain, and harmonic agreement by improving how the body responds to vibrating strings.
Taylor's Mexico-made acoustics feature carefully engineered bracing patterns, such as X-bracing and C-Class bracing, designed to enhance tonal balance, responsiveness, and sustain in their respective models.
Does a cutaway affect tone?
A common question is whether a cutaway affects a guitar’s tone. The short answer: not in a noticeable way. In fact, it enhances playability by providing access to higher frets. Choosing between a cutaway and a non-cutaway comes down to whether you want that extra range or prefer a specific look, some like the traditional symmetry of a non-cutaway, while others prefer the sleek contour of a cutaway.
Many of Taylor's models offer both options, though some, like the Super Auditorium, most Grand Pacific models, and the Academy, GS Mini, and Baby Series, come only in non-cutaway form.