Academy Series 12e-N

first play
TAYLOR ACADEMY 12E-N & LA PATRIE ARENA CW Q1T
20
GuitaRist NOVEMBER 2017
TAYLOR ACADEMY
12E-N
PRICE: £779 (inc gigbag)
ORIGIN: Mexico
TYPE: Grand Concert nylon string
TOP: Solid Lutz spruce
BACK/SIDES: Layered sapele
MAX RIM DEPTH: 103mm
MAX BODY WIDTH: 383mm
NECK: Mahogany
SCALE LENGTH: 648mm
TUNERS: Classical style 3-a-side
nickel-plated w/ pearloid buttons
NUT/WIDTH: Tusq/47.8mm
FINGERBOARD: Ebony, dot inlays,
light radius
FRETS: 17, small
BRIDGE/SPACING: Ebony w/
compensated Tusq saddle/56mm
ELECTRICS:Taylor ES-N system w/
under-saddle transducer; side
mounted preamp (tuner, volume
and tone)
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 1.94/4.26
OPTIONS: All acoustic 12-N costs
£659
RANGE OPTIONS: Cutaway
214ce-N (£1,199)
LEFT-HANDERS: Yes
FINISHES: Natural – satin varnish
Taylor Guitars
[phone]
www.taylorguitars.com
LA PATRIE ARENA
CW Q1T
PRICE: £469
ORIGIN: Canada
TYPE: Thinline cutaway nylon
BACK/SIDES: Wild cherry laminate
MAX RIM DEPTH: 70mm
MAX BODY WIDTH: 376mm
NECK: Mahogany
SCALE LENGTH: 650mm
TUNERS: Classical style 3-a-side,
nickel-plated w/ pearloid buttons
NUT/WIDTH: Tusq/51.42mm
FINGERBOARD: Rosewood, side dots
only, light radius
FRETS: 19, small
BRIDGE/SPACING: Rosewood w/
compensated Tusq saddle/56.5mm
ELECTRICS: Godin Q1T system w/
under-saddle transducer; side
mounted preamp (tuner, volume,
treble and bass)
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 1.79/3.94
OPTIONS: None.
RANGE OPTIONS: The Arena Flame
Maple (£749) and Pro (£799)
LEFT-HANDERS: Check Concert Q1
(£649) and Etude Q1 (£569)
FINISHES: Natural top, stained back
and sides – semi-gloss
440 Distribution
01132 589599
www.godinguitars.com
PROS: Sharp build, modern thinline
design, dual-band onboard EQ and
overall good value
CONS: Slightly unbalanced string
outputs, set-up could be better for
the style
PROS Typically precise Taylor
design and build; crisp classical-
style voicing, excellent plugged in
CONS Basic preamp and almost
overly austere construction,
especially considering the price
8 8
Tuners – machineheads and the onboard digital
tuner – work efficiently on both. The latter is extremely
handy on a nylon string, as they take more time to settle
to consistent pitch compared to steel.
Plugged in the differences continue but, bearing in
mind the price, they are narrowed. We really can’t fault
the Taylor; it is crisp, balanced and with a low end that
won’t run away with you. The La Patrie, with a slight
mid cut (by boosting the bass and treble and knocking
back the volume) is similar but annoyingly the high E is
underpowered and the G string a little hot.
Onstage you might rely on a floor tuner or outboard
preamps, which suits the simplistic Taylor, while the La
Patrie’s dual band EQ would probably suit an open-mic
night. Neither guitar has either a phase switch or
notch filter to combat feedback and while the Taylor’s
soundhole is circular and will take a soundhole bung,
the La Patrie’s soundhole is truncated by the base of the
fingerboard and finding one to fit might be a problem.
Verdict
There are very few negatives. The La Patrie is aimed
more at the performing musician although its thinline
concept makes it a seriously comfortable couch
noodler, a great recording/songwriting and practice
tool. It’s a shame about the unbalanced electro output.
The more all round Taylor does edge it in terms of
neck shape, size, playability and comes with a slightly
crisper, defined voicing. It comes at a price though,
bringing in some serious competition.
As ever, if you’re new to the parallel universe of the
nylon string: play as many as you can and find your fit.
Inspired by Godin’s unique Multiac
series, the headstock here adds some
modern class. Nuts on both guitars
are made from Graph Tech’s Tusq
GIT426.rev_taylor.indd 20 05/10/2017 14:18