Watch Paul Riario demo the “top-of-the-line masterpiece” Taylor Builder’s Edition 816ce acoustic

Taylor introduced the Builder’s Edition 816ce in 2020, and the premium acoustic continues to dazzle with its unmatched tone and playability. Just ask Guitar World’s resident ace, Paul Riario, who takes the instrument, which he calls a “top-of-the-line crafted acoustic,” for a spin in this new demo video. 

The Builder’s Edition 816ce, he says, “features a newly redesigned Grand Symphony body shape. And as part of Taylor’s premium 800 Series, it features Indian rosewood back and sides, which is one of my favorite tonewoods for warmth in an acoustic.

The back and sides are paired with a Lutz spruce top, “which adds brilliant sparkle as a classic rosewood-spruce combination.”

Perhaps the most eye-catching feature, however, is the innovative soundport cutaway. Crafted to resemble a partial Florentine cutaway, the design keeps the guitar’s full back intact while still allowing easy access to the high-register frets. And the additional sound hole creates a wide-angle sound that would fit as well in a classical orchestra as it would a rock band or a fingerstyle solo act.

“What I love is the additional sound hole as a new sonic avenue of sound dispersion,” Paul says, “where you get more of this wide, dimensional and immersive sound without comprising the overall warmth and rich tone of this acoustic.”

What else do you get with the 816ce? Taylor’s V-Class bracing, “which offers impeccable intonation and increased volume and sustain,” as well as a Tropical mahogany neck, West African Crelicam ebony fretboard, curved-wing bridge and pickguard, Silent Satin finish, a single ring rosette in green abalone, “windandsea” fretboard inlays in shell and mother of pearl and “precise” Gotoh 510 tuners in antique gold.

And that’s not all: The package also includes Taylor’s dynamic Expression System 2 (ES-2) electronics and a deluxe hardshell case.

Simply put, “The Builder’s Edition 816ce is a top-of-the-line masterpiece that does it all and so much more,” Paul says. “With expansively rich acoustic tones and player focused enhancements I find it to be a lively and responsive instrument that will appeal to strummers and fingerstyle players alike.

To finds out more, head to Taylor Guitars.