Taylor Prototype 117e Special Edition Sunburst

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The Taylor Prototype 117e Special Edition Sunburst brings a vintage-inspired look to Taylor's Grand Pacific acoustic-electric platform. Featuring a torrefied spruce top with a custom printed Nashburst finish and layered sapele back and sides, this prototype combines the round-shoulder dreadnought design of the 117e with distinctive visual appointments. C-Class bracing, Taylor's NT neck construction, and Expression System 2 electronics make it a versatile instrument for acoustic playing, recording, and amplified performance.

The Grand Pacific body features a torrefied spruce top paired with layered sapele back and sides. The spruce top undergoes a thermal treatment designed to produce a more mature acoustic response, while the layered sapele construction uses sapele inner and outer veneers surrounding a poplar core for stability. Taylor's C-Class bracing, constructed from Sitka spruce, is designed to enhance low-frequency response and sustain. The Grand Pacific's round-shoulder dreadnought shape emphasizes a warm, blended acoustic character that works well for strumming, flatpicking, and accompanying vocals.

This prototype's custom Nashburst top is applied using Taylor's Roland printing process, giving the guitar a distinctive sunburst appearance beneath a matte finish. The natural sapele back and sides also feature a matte finish, while black body binding and black-and-white top purfling frame the soundboard. A printed three-ring rosette, black pickguard, and Crelicam ebony tail strip complete the understated appointments.

The neck features Taylor's Standard Carve profile and NT neck joint, providing comfortable playability and allowing precise neck-angle adjustments. Its smoked eucalyptus fingerboard has a 15" radius, 20 frets, and 4mm faux-pearl dot inlays. A 25.5" scale length and 1 11/16" nut width provide a familiar playing feel, while the matte neck finish offers a smooth surface for fretting-hand movement.

Taylor's Expression System 2 electronics use behind-the-saddle pickup sensors to capture the guitar's amplified acoustic response. A smoked eucalyptus straight-wing bridge, white NuBone nut, white Micarta saddle, and chrome die-cast tuners complete the hardware. Additional details include black bridge pins, a smoked eucalyptus peghead veneer, and D'Addario XS coated phosphor bronze light strings. A tan Taylor soft gig bag is included.

Highlights

• Special Edition 117e prototype with custom Nashburst printed sunburst top

• Grand Pacific round-shoulder dreadnought with torrefied spruce top

• Layered sapele back and sides with Sitka spruce C-Class bracing

• Taylor NT neck with smoked eucalyptus fingerboard and 25.5" scale length

• Taylor ES2 electronics and included tan soft gig bag

Specifications

Body

• Body Shape: Grand Pacific

• Body Style: Round-Shoulder Dreadnought

• Cutaway: None

• Top Wood: Torrefied Spruce

• Back Wood: Layered Sapele

• Side Wood: Layered Sapele

• Layered Construction: Sapele Outer Veneer, Poplar Core, Sapele Inner Veneer

• Back Configuration: Layered 2-Piece, No Wedge

• Bracing: C-Class

• Bracing Wood: Sitka Spruce

• Body Lining: Solid Luan Plywood

• Top Finish: Custom Nashburst Sunburst, Matte

• Top Finish Application: Roland-Printed Design

• Back and Side Finish: Natural Matte

• Body Binding: Black ABS

• Top Purfling: Black/White/Black

• Rosette: Three-Ring Printed Design

• Rosette Material: Ink

• Rosette Purfling: Black/White/Black

• Tail Strip: Crelicam Ebony

• Heel Cap: Black ABS

• Armrest: None

• Orientation: Right-Handed

Neck

• Neck Wood: Vacubronze Maple or Neo-Tropical Mahogany

• Neck Joint: Taylor NT Neck

• Neck Profile: Standard Carve

• Neck Finish: Matte

• Neck-to-Body Joint: 14th Fret

• Fingerboard Wood: Smoked Eucalyptus

• Fingerboard Radius: 15"

• Fingerboard Inlays: 4mm Faux-Pearl Italian Acrylic Dots

• Side Dots: Silver

• Number of Frets: 20

• Fret Style: Standard

• Scale Length: 25.5"

• Nut Width: 1 11/16"

• Nut Material: White NuBone

• Peghead Type: Standard Paddle

• Peghead Veneer: Smoked Eucalyptus

• Peghead Logo: White

• Peghead Binding: None

• Peghead Finish: Matte

Hardware

• Bridge: Smoked Eucalyptus Straight Wing

• Saddle: White Micarta

• Bridge Pins: Black ABS

• Tuning Machines: Standard Die-Cast Chrome

• Tuner Buttons: Chrome

• Pickguard: Classic Black

• Truss Rod Cover: Black ABS

• Strap Pin: Black, Neck Heel

• End Pin: Black

• Factory Strings: D'Addario XS Coated Phosphor Bronze Light

Electronics

• Pickup System: Taylor Expression System 2 (ES2)

• Pickup Type: Behind-the-Saddle

• Configuration: Acoustic-Electric

Miscellaneous

• Brand: Taylor

• Series: 100 Series

• Model: Prototype 117e Special Edition

• Finish: Nashburst Sunburst Top / Natural Sapele Back and Sides

• Number of Strings: 6

• Orientation: Right-Handed

• Prototype Designation: 117e Special Edition

• Back Label: Tecate C-Class

• Case: Taylor Soft Gig Bag, Tan

Why Buy from Tone Shop Guitars?

Tone Shop Guitars is an independent Taylor dealer with locations in Addison, Southlake and Fort Worth, Texas. We offer free nationwide shipping on new instruments and multiple financing options.