Taylor Guitars Limited Legacy 855e

A Legacy of Tone

Wildwoodians, our friends at Taylor Guitars have been reinventing the acoustic guitar ever since they hit the ground running 1975, and they've changed the landscape of the acoustic world with their innovative designs and fresh approach. Now, to celebrate their 50th Anniversary, they've decided to take a look back and their company's history with their Legacy Collection. Basically, the Legacy Collection is an exploration of where Taylor came from. Based on some of Bob Taylor's earliest designs, Legacy Collection guitars feature X-bracing instead of V-Class bracing in a configuration that hearkens back to the early days of the company, a commemorative label, an LR Baggs pickup, and cosmetic appointments inspired by vintage Taylors. This guitar is especially cool, because it's one of the first 100 made, which means that Kurt Lustig and Bob Taylor hand-signed its interior label. What does all of that translate to sonically? Read on and find out!

Sonic Evaluation

Wildwoodians, I learned how to play acoustic guitar on a twelve-string, so truly great examples fill me with a warm, nostalgic feeling for the past and musical joy in the present. This Legacy Collection 855e felt like home immediately to me. Before we even get to this instrument's top-notch tone, I would be remiss if I didn't mention how extraordinarily easily this 855e plays. Taylor made their name in part because of how effortlessly their 12-strings play, and it seems they've levelled up their game, as this serial feels like your favorite pair of comfy sweatpants from the get-go.

On top of that, it also sounds positively glorious! Everything I love about twelve-strings is here: the harp-like quality, the bell-like chime, the cloud of gold- and silver-hued overtones, the jangle, the shimmer, everything! It sounds unbelievably lush and open, and its natural reverberance fills the room in a three-dimensional, almost atmospheric way. For a lover of twelve-strings such as myself, it's a sumptuous feast for the ears. It's also quite responsive, and it has a percussive, articulate attack with juuuuuust the right amount of musical compression. It's also nearly impossible to get this guitar to sound harsh--believe me, I tried!

Even if you don't have a special connection to twelve-strings like I do, this Taylor 855e will find sympathetic vibrations in your heartstrings whether you're a seasoned twelve-string slinger or looking to dip your toes in the sparkling waters. It's a special instrument, and I have no doubt it will inspire some lucky acoustic aficionado to embark upon all sorts of exciting twelve-string adventures!