Taylor Guitar Academy 12

Compact Grand Concert Body for Beginners and Beyond

The Taylor Academy 12 is a compact Grand Concert-bodied acoustic-electric guitar from Taylor’s Academy Series, designed to make learning and playing effortless for guitarists of all skill levels. Handcrafted in Tecate, Mexico, it’s ideal for beginners, fingerstyle enthusiasts, and traveling musicians across Australia, featuring a solid torrefied spruce top and layered walnut back and sides for bold projection and aged-in warmth. Available in Natural finish, it’s praised for its approachable playability, lightweight design, and value, making it a perfect starter or secondary guitar at AudioShop Australia.

High-Quality Performance

The Academy 12 offers inspiring tone with user-friendly features:

• Body: Grand Concert shape with a solid torrefied spruce top for clarity, balance, and volume with a touch of played-in sweetness. The layered walnut back and sides add woody depth and midrange warmth, creating a versatile sonic palette for fingerpicking or light strumming.
• Tone: Bold and articulate with plenty of projection, offering a broad dynamic range that’s forgiving for new players. The torrefied spruce mimics aged wood for immediate responsiveness, while the 1 7/8″ nut width and 24 7/8″ scale length ensure comfortable string spacing.
• Neck: Maple with a slim Taylor profile and satin finish for smooth, inviting playability. The West African Crelic wood fingerboard has a 12″ radius, 20 frets, and small dot inlays for easy fretting.
• Bridge: West African Crelic wood with a Tusq saddle for precise intonation and sustain.
• Electronics: Taylor ES-B system with behind-the-saddle pickup and 3-band EQ for natural amplified tone, including a digital chromatic tuner with LED display.
• Tuners: Die-cast chrome for reliable tuning stability.
• Strings: Light-gauge phosphor bronze for balanced tone and reduced tension.

Users highlight its beginner-friendliness, with a 2023 Acoustic Guitar review stating, “The Academy 12e offers an approachable playing experience with a torrefied spruce top that generates projection and clarity.” Reddit’s r/Guitar (2019) users call it “the best bang for buck,” praising the “comfortable neck” and “full sound.” Guitar World (2017) notes it’s “crisply built” with “sweet tone” for under $1,000. The 12e-N nylon-string variant adds string spacing for classical play, but the standard 12e excels for steel-string beginners.

Durable and Stylish Design

• Finish: Gloss on top for a polished look, satin on back/sides and neck for natural feel.
• Aesthetics: Natural with a simple three-ring rosette and dot inlays, showcasing the walnut grain.
• Build Quality: Solid torrefied spruce top with layered walnut back/sides for humidity resistance, bolt-on maple neck, and ebony bridge for tonal clarity. Weighing approximately 4.5–5 lbs, it’s balanced for all-day play, with a deluxe gig bag included.

Backed by a 2-year warranty (extendable to 12 years with registration), the Academy 12 is built for longevity. Prices range from $499–$599 USD (AUD 750–900) as of September 2025, available at AudioShop Australia with fast delivery.

Key Performance Features

• Body: Grand Concert, solid torrefied spruce top, layered walnut back/sides
• Neck: Maple, slim Taylor profile, satin finish
• Fingerboard: West African Crelic wood, 12″ radius, 20 frets
• Bridge: West African Crelic wood with Tusq saddle
• Electronics: Taylor ES-B (behind-saddle pickup, 3-band EQ, tuner)
• Tuners: Die-cast chrome
• Bracing: X-bracing
• Nut/Saddle: Tusq
• Warranty: 2 years (extendable to 12 years)

Notes

• Setup Tip: Adjust truss rod and saddle for lower action; professional setup recommended for optimal intonation. Use light-gauge strings (e.g., 11–52) for easier play. Pair with Rode PodMic and RØDECaster Pro II for recording demos.
• Care Instructions: Store in the included deluxe gig bag to protect the finish; maintain humidity (45–55% RH).
• Compatibility: ES-B pairs well with acoustic amps or PA systems; use with RØDECaster for direct recording.
• Warranty: Register at taylorguitars.com for extension to 12 years; verify purchase from authorized retailers like AudioShop Australia.
• Community Feedback: Acoustic Guitar (2023) calls it “approachable with bold sound,” praising the “torrefied top for projection.” Reddit’s r/Guitar (2019) users rate it “best bang for buck,” noting the “comfortable neck” and “full tone.” Guitar World (2017) highlights its “sweet tone” for under $1,000.

Why Choose AudioShop Australia

• 100% genuine Taylor products with manufacturer warranty
• Fast, reliable delivery across AudioShop Australia with secure checkout
• Free shipping on orders over $100 (under 20kg) at AudioShop Australia
• Expert advice from our team of music professionals
• Trusted by guitarists and performers at AudioShop Australia