Taylor Builders Edition 324ce Next Generation electro-acoustic guitar

Taylor Next Generation Builder's Edition 324ce — Premium Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric

The Taylor Next Generation Builder's Edition 324ce brings Andy Powers's ergonomic refinements to a warm mahogany-and-sapele Grand Auditorium platform. Solid sapele back and sides deliver a bold midrange voice, while the mahogany top adds warmth and woody character with controlled overtones. Comfort-focused refinements — chamfered body edges, a beveled armrest, and a compound beveled cutaway — transform long sessions into a fatigue-free experience. Inside, Scalloped V-Class bracing with Relief Rout lifts volume and sustain while keeping every note harmonically in tune. The onboard Claria under-saddle pickup system provides clean amplified tone for stage, studio, or songwriter's circle.

What Sets This Builder's Edition Apart

The Builder's Edition treatment elevates this model beyond a standard 324ce. The Action Control Neck pairs a long-tenon joint with a patented internal bolt system that lets players dial in the neck angle from inside the soundhole, without removing the strings. Scalloped V-Class bracing with a Relief Rout removes material from key brace locations for a more muscular low-end response. The Claria pickup uses a reimagined piezo transducer and a gain-staged preamp to deliver clear amplified tone with a Mid-Contour control.

Body Construction — Warmth, Balance, and Comfort

The all-solid body is the acoustic heart of this Grand Auditorium. A solid mahogany top produces strong fundamentals with clarity and focus, while solid sapele back and sides add bright top-end chime and natural warmth. Scalloped V-Class bracing with Relief Rout removes material from key brace locations for improved volume, sustain, and harmonic balance.

• Body Shape: Grand Auditorium — Taylor's flagship shape, equally suited to fingerstyle and strumming
• Top Wood: Mahogany (Neo-Tropical) — strong fundamentals with woody warmth
• Back & Sides: Sapele — bold midrange voice with bright top-end chime

Neck and Fingerboard — Adjustable, Smooth, and Stable

The neck and fingerboard setup is where this Builder's Edition earns its reputation. The Action Control Neck with a long-tenon joint increases heel stiffness for deeper low-end resonance while letting players fine-tune the action on the fly. A 44.45 mm nut width gives fingerstylists, strummers, and flatpickers just-right room.

• Neck Wood: Neo-Tropical Mahogany — stable, resonant, with a comfortable Standard Carve profile
• Fingerboard: West African Crelicam Ebony — smooth, durable, with bright attack
• Scale Length: 648 mm — standard Taylor scale for familiar string tension

Electronics and Hardware — Stage-Ready and Refined

The Claria under-saddle pickup system and Taylor Satin Black tuners round out a stage-ready hardware package. Soundhole-mounted Volume, Tone, and Mid-Contour controls make on-stage adjustments quick and intuitive. Black Tusq nut and White Micarta saddle support consistent tuning stability and balanced string-to-string response.

• Electronics: Claria Acoustic Pickup System — under-saddle piezo with Volume, Tone, and Mid-Contour controls
• Tuners: Taylor Satin Black with Satin Black Buttons — stable, accurate tuning
• Strings: D'Addario XS Coated Phosphor Bronze Light (.012 - .053) — long-lasting tone with a warm, balanced voice

Who Should Play This Guitar

This model is the right choice for singer-songwriters, fingerstyle players, and gigging acoustic musicians who want a comfortable, ergonomic Grand Auditorium with a warm mahogany voice and reliable amplified tone. Chamfered edges, a beveled armrest, and a compound beveled cutaway make it ideal for players who log long hours on stage or in the studio. Fingerstylists will appreciate the 44.45 mm nut width and the Scalloped V-Class bracing's note-to-note definition, while strummers will benefit from the warm mahogany-and-sapele midrange punch.

The Taylor Builder's Edition Legacy

Taylor's Builder's Edition line represents the brand's most player-focused designs, with each model receiving Andy Powers's ergonomic refinements. The Next Generation 324ce returns to the Builder's Edition family after a period away, bringing back the warm mahogany-and-sapele tonewood pairing that made the original a favorite. With the Action Control Neck, Scalloped V-Class bracing, and the Claria pickup system, this version builds on that legacy with modern playability and stage-ready electronics. Ships with a Taylor Deluxe Hardshell Brown case and Taylor's Limited Lifetime Warranty.