Whether you’re a student or set for the stage, Taylor’s Academy series is a superb choice for any guitarist seeking a slimmed-down, stripped-back nylon-string guitar with signature Taylor tone. Refreshed with a remarkably responsive torrefied spruce top and crisp-sounding walnut back and sides, this Grand Auditorium-sized instrument delivers lush sonic depth and perfect string-to-string balance when played unplugged. The neck’s premium specs more than match this guitar’s top-notch body construction, with a stout shaft of maple supporting a gorgeous ebony fingerboard. You also get excellent Taylor ES-B electronics that allow you to effortlessly take the stage with dynamic and rich-sounding acoustic-electric tones. The Academy series is built not just for the extra mile but also for the long haul — grab yours from Music Experience today.

Perfectly worn-in spruce top

It’s an almost universally accepted fact among musicians that acoustic instruments develop a more mellow and responsive tone over time, often taking a lifetime’s worth of breaking in until they reach their full sonic potential. For those of us who would rather skip ahead a few decades of hard-won tonewood aging, Taylor’s cutting-edge torrefaction process perfectly mimics the feel of an aged top right out of the box. How does it work? By roasting this guitar’s spruce top in a specialized oven, Taylor dramatically accelerates the natural “opening up” of the top to capture all the touch-sensitive resonance and lush vibrance of an acoustic guitar that’s been played in for years.

Comfortable from your first chord

Taylor really has gone the extra mile in crafting Academy Series acoustic guitars. Not only do they boast the company's legendary quality, but they are jam-packed with revolutionary touches that make them supremely playable for beginners and seasoned players alike. The most obvious addition is the built-in armrest for softening the contact point between the guitar's body and the player's arm. The guitar's neck is a bit shorter, softening the action of the strings. And light-gauge strings are used to further create an instant bond between fingertips and the guitar's sleek ebony fretboard.

Plug-in anytime

The onboard Taylor ES-B electronics let you plug the Academy 12e-N in at a moment’s notice. The ES-B system is one of the most natural and warm-sounding acoustic-electric designs on the market because it’s based on elements of Taylor's acclaimed Expression System 2. ES-B’s separate volume and EQ sliders allow you to tweak your sound to perfection, and an onboard tuner ensures pitch-perfect performances every time.

What Taylor Says...

Designed to offer a comfortable, affordable option for players seeking the nylon-string sound with player-friendly features, the Academy 12e-N serves up snappy neo-classical tone with a feel that's perfect for new learners and experienced players alike. A solid torrefied spruce top treated with a special roasting process adds extra depth and warmth to its bold projection and clarity. This compact Grand Concert acoustic-electric also sports a 1-7/8" nut width, providing ample string spacing for fingerstyle play without putting undue strain on your fretting hand. And with built-in ES-N electronics and a lightweight gig bag for protection, the Academy 12e-N has everything a budding player could need.