Buyer Guide

Taylor | Model Numbers

Taylor acoustic guitar models are organized by series, from 100 - 900 along with their Presentation (PS) and Koa (K) Series. Follow this quick guide and you'll have it down in no time flat.
1) The First Digit

The first digit (or letter) identifies the Series. Most guitar models within each series share the same back and side woods and appointment package.

  • 516ce = model from the 500 Series
2) The Second Digit

The second digit designates two things:

  1. Whether the guitar is a 6-string or a 12-string
  2. Whether the top features a softer tonewood like spruce or cedar, or a hardwood like mahogany or koa.

    6-String
    The middle number will be 1 or 2:
    516ce = softwood (spruce) top
    526ce = a hardwood (mahogany) top

    12-String
    The middle number will be 5 or 6:
    556ce = a softwood (spruce) top
    566ce = a hardwood (mahogany) top

3) The Third Digit

The third digit identifies the body shape according to this numbering system:

0 = Dreadnought (e.g., 510ce)
1 = Grand Theater (e.g., 511ce)
2 = Grand Concert (e.g., 512ce)
4 = Grand Auditorium (e.g., 514ce)
6 = Grand Symphony (e.g., 516ce)
7 = Grand Pacific (e.g., Builder's Edition 517e)
8 = Grand Orchestra (e.g., 518ce)

4) Cutaway & Electronics

If a "c" comes after the number it indicates a model with a cutaway. An "e" indicates a model with onboard electronics.

  • 516ce = model with cutaway and electronics
  • 510e = model with electronics, no cutaway
  • 510 = model with no cutaway, no electronics
5) Nylon Strings

Taylor nylon-string models are integrated into the 200-800 Series and are designated by the letter “N” at the end of the model name.

  • 514ce-N = 500 Series nylon-string Grand Auditorium with a cutaway and electronics