The Taylor 552ce combines two things you don't always see together in a 12-string guitar: a Grand Concert body that keeps the size compact, and Taylor's V-Class bracing, which ensures that the tuning of all those strings really stays in order. With a western red cedar top and Expression System 2 pickup, this is a 12-string that holds its own both on the couch and on stage. The 500 series is Taylor's mahogany line, and the 2020 552ce falls within a period when Taylor had already fully implemented the V-Class bracing in their models. That bracing system, developed by master builder Andy Powers, replaces the traditional X-bracing and is specifically designed to allow intonation and sustain to work together better, something that is especially relevant for a 12-string, with its double strings and extra tension forces. The Western Red Cedar top gives the guitar a warmer, slightly darker tone than you might expect from a spruce top, and responds well even to a light touch. This makes it ideally suited for fingerstyle playing, but it also holds its own perfectly well with a firmer approach. The ebony fingerboard and bridge give the guitar tight, clear articulation, while the compound neck profile fits comfortably in the hand along the entire neck. The Expression System 2 pickup does its job without fuss and delivers a credible amplified sound. This 2020 Taylor 552ce is in excellent condition. There are a few small scratches on the pickguard, as well as on the bridge. On the back of the neck, the matte finish has become glossy due to playing, and there is a small blemish on the back of the headstock. Otherwise, the guitar looks exceptionally clean, and it comes with a TFOA passport in a Taylor hardshell case.
