Taylor Guitars has unveiled the next evolution in its Gold Label Collection, introducing three new Grand Concert models that blend heritage-inspired tone with modern playability. The Gold Label 512e, Gold Label 712e, and the Ben Harper Gold Label 512e Special Edition bring Taylor’s signature voicing to the compact, player-friendly Grand Concert body, delivering warmth, clarity, and a surprising low-end punch.
The new Grand Concerts rethink the classic shape, adding depth to enhance air resonance while keeping the intimate feel that players love. Andy Powers, Taylor’s Chief Guitar Designer, President, and CEO, explains, “I wanted to feature the classic Grand Concert shape in its full, non-cutaway form and give it a warmer, more blended voice. The result feels instantly familiar in size and balance, yet delivers a richer, more robust sound with clear focus and a surprisingly strong lower register for a Grand Concert.”
All three models share a suite of premium features, including a torrefied Sitka spruce top for a seasoned sound from day one, Fanned V-Class® bracing for blended notes and rich sustain, and Taylor’s Action Control Neck™ for fast, precise, player-adjustable setup. A 24-7/8-inch scale length and gloss-finished body complete the modern, approachable package.
The centerpiece of this release is the Ben Harper Gold Label 512e Special Edition, a collaborative effort with the acclaimed singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. A longtime Taylor player, Harper brought both a musician’s sensibility and a luthier’s ear to the design process. “Ben’s playing has a really thoughtful, nuanced quality—every note has space and intention behind it,” says Powers. “He draws from lap-style techniques, with a light touch and a focus on clarity and expression. So we built a guitar that responds quickly, with warmth and definition, to support that level of detail while still delivering a strong, present voice when amplified.”
The guitar features mahogany back and sides, a torrefied Sitka spruce top, and Honduran rosewood for the fretboard and bridge, producing a warm, nuanced voice tailored for fingerstyle and lap-style playing. Harper’s aesthetic choices, including a golden-brown shaded edgeburst top, cream pickguard, polished bronze mini tuners, and bone bridge pins, give the instrument both character and stage-ready flair. Harper also incorporated Taylor’s new Claria™ electronics, ensuring the guitar’s expressive tone translates seamlessly to live performance. “If I could dream up a way to collaborate with a guitar maker, this would be it,” Harper says. “There was a simpatico relationship between what I do and what Taylor does that I recognized right away.”
The other two models, the Gold Label 512e and 712e Grand Concerts, continue Taylor’s commitment to rich, balanced tone in a compact body. The 512e combines solid mahogany back and sides with a torrefied Sitka spruce top for a woody, midrange-focused voice with low-end depth. The 712e pairs Indian rosewood back and sides with the spruce top, delivering resonant lows, shimmering highs, and a bloom of overtones that open up with every note. Both include premium appointments like West African ebony fretboards, Honduran rosewood “Curve Wing” bridges, and LR Baggs Element VTC electronics, providing both beauty and versatility.
“I’ve always loved the feel of a smaller-bodied guitar—there’s an immediacy and focus to the sound that’s really inspiring,” adds Powers. “With the Gold Label Grand Concert, I wanted to build on that familiar shape by adding a little more depth and a warmer, more blended voice. The result keeps that intimate, balanced feel, but with a richer low-end presence and a broader musical range that works beautifully for both fingerstyle and strumming.”
Taylor’s latest Gold Label models are available now through authorized dealers, with the 512e and 712e priced at $2,799 and the Ben Harper Special Edition at $2,999, each including a deluxe hardshell case. For players seeking a compact guitar that doesn’t compromise on depth, tone, or responsiveness, Taylor’s newest Grand Concerts offer an inspired blend of tradition, innovation, and player-friendly design.
More information at taylorguitars.com
