I got a chance to test the TaylorSense system preinstalled on one of the latest Taylor models, the GTe Urban Ash<\/a>. (The GT stands for Grand Theater and the e for electronics.) Before digging into the tech, however, the guitar itself deserves some attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taylor calls the Grand Theater a new category in size, feel, and sound. I don\u2019t know if I\u2019d go that far\u2014there\u2019s been a trend towards smaller, player-friendly instruments over the last few years. But the GT does bring a new element to Taylor\u2019s product line without straying from the company\u2019s core design philosophy. The GT\u2019s curves are based on Taylor\u2019s largest body size, the Grand Orchestra, scaled down for comfort and portability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At 18.5 inches long, 15 wide and 3.75 deep, the GTe is compact yet provides enough volume to produce a full sound with plenty of overtones. Taylor says its new C-class bracing plays an important role in the GT\u2019s ability to punch above its weight sonically. Maybe it also helps with the GT\u2019s impressive consistency across the frequency spectrum\u2014more on that in a bit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The review model sports a Sitka spruce top and urban ash back and sides cut from trees in need of removal from municipal areas in Southern California, reflecting Taylor\u2019s commitment to sustainably and ethically sourcing tonewoods<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Made from tropical mahogany, the guitar\u2019s neck sits extremely comfortably in my hand. The matte finish provides a broken-in feel right out of the box. At 24.125 inches, the GT\u2019s 20-fret eucalyptus fingerboard is significantly shorter than the standard 25.5-inch scale, yet it doesn\u2019t play like a travel guitar or student model. Even with my long fingers, all the proportions feel just right. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As usual from Taylor, the action is low, the intonation true, and the frets well-dressed. A black Tusq nut and Micarta saddle provide a solid and resonant foundation for the strings. The tuning stability is exceptional, even when subjected to heavy bends. To me, playability isn\u2019t just about fingering ease or comfort. It\u2019s also about the ability to produce inspiring tone and project it to your audience. I\u2019ll take an instrument that requires more effort if the resulting tone is better. Sometimes, however, you get both\u2014the GT I tested definitely combines playing ease with effortless sound production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you might expect with a smaller body, the GT\u2019s bass is tight, as opposed to deep. But it\u2019s not thin, and the GT\u2019s strumming sound would fit nicely in a rock\/pop\/country band mix. Meanwhile, the midrange and upper registers really jump off the instrument. The highs are crisp without being spikey; the mids are articulate and clear. As a result, the GT sounds balanced across its frequency range with a consistent blend from low to high. Six-note chords have a strong and articulate presence; the tones blend but didn\u2019t blur. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If strumming is a strength, then fingerstyle and single notes are the GT\u2019s superpower. Okay, maybe that\u2019s overstating it. But the same qualities that give the chords so much presence really add to the pleasure of fingerpicking on the instrument. It\u2019s easy to control the attack, tone, dynamics, and sustain across arpeggios, making something relatively mundane, like a figure based on an open C chord, seem full of possibilities. I also really appreciate the GT\u2019s strong midrange and fast attack for lead playing. The shorter scale makes string bending easier, but the tension doesn\u2019t feel too loose or indefinite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The GTe is equipped with Taylor\u2019s Expression System 2 (ES2), which uses a trio of undersaddle sensors, each calibrated to capture a pair of strings. Controls include bass, treble, and volume, with the knobs mounted unobtrusively on the guitar\u2019s shoulder. A phase switch is housed on the preamp itself, which is accessible through the soundhole. The ES2 has been around for a while, so I won\u2019t do a full review here, other than to say it works as expected and does quite a nice job of capturing the GTe\u2019s core tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fitting in the battery box at the base of the GTe, the TaylorSense system ($79.99 street) is even less intrusive than the controls for the electronics. (Note: Taylor guitars are not currently being sold with TaylorSense preinstalled.) The system can be retrofitted to any Taylor guitar with electronics powered by a 9-volt battery\u2014those equipped with Taylor\u2019s Expression System (ES1, ES2), ES-T, or ES-N pickups will work. (Taylors using AA batteries are not compatible).<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you already have an acoustic-electric Taylor but aren\u2019t sure which pickup system it has, the company\u2019s website offers illustrated instructions on how to check compatibility, order the right version, and install the electronics. Based on the online instructions, retrofitting the battery box on an existing guitar looks like a relatively easy DIY process requiring no specialized tools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With a simple and intuitive interface, the TaylorSense app has four main features: A digital hygrometer, which monitors the humidity level of the guitar; a thermometer that reads the ambient temperature; impact sensors that alert you when your guitar takes a serious knock (like through a careless airline baggage handler); and a gauge that warns you when the battery power drops below 30 percent (and again when it dips below ten percent).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Setup was easy. First, I downloaded the app, then registered the guitar and app with Taylor. With the app installed, I followed the instructions to gently place my phone near the soundhole, open and close the battery compartment, and presto, the guitar started transmitting data to my phone. With unseasonably tropical early fall weather in New York, I immediately got a red alert: The app told me that humidity averaged 65 percent over a 72-hour period, a bit above the recommended range of 40\u201360 percent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To tackle the problem, I clicked the Fix button right below the humidity display. Clearly written instructions explained how the guitar could be affected by high and low humidity. The app recommended putting the guitar in its case and using D\u2019Addario\u2019s Two-Way Humidification System to bring it back within range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Affordable and apparently easy to install, the TaylorSense system is a no-brainer if you own a Taylor and are concerned about keeping it in a safe environment. To me, TaylorSense\u2019s humidity monitor and alert system alone is worth the price of admission, especially because it will continue tracking the instrument\u2019s condition when it\u2019s put away in its case. And after getting four-figure repair estimates on cracked guitars, I can only wish I\u2019d had those warnings coming to my phone over the years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As a package, the GTe Urban Ash really impressed me. This is the second Taylor built from non-traditional tonewoods I\u2019ve tested recently. (See this review of the AD27 from the November\/December 2020 issue<\/a>.) Both guitars have demonstrated that there\u2019s plenty to be gained from exploring new materials, especially when those materials are mated to clever and well-executed designs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even with its smaller dimensions, the GTe doesn\u2019t feel like a travel guitar and plays and sounds like a front-line instrument. As for the idea of an acoustic guitar made from ash, Taylor does offer GT models built from more traditional woods, with fancier finishes\u2014and higher price tags. But considering its sound, playability, cool factor, and price, the GTe Urban Ash is a total winner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n BODY<\/strong> 14-fret Grand Theater shape; Sitka spruce top with C-Class bracing; urban ash back and sides; ebony bridge with Micarta saddle; tortoise pickguard; Urban Sienna finish<\/p>\n\n\n\n NECK<\/strong> 24-1\/8″-scale tropical mahogany neck; dual-action truss rod; eucalyptus fretboard; 20 frets; 1-23\/32″ black Tusq nut; Taylor nickel mini tuners<\/p>\n\n\n\n OTHER<\/strong> Taylor Expression System 2 electronics; Elixir Phosphor Bronze Light strings (.012\u2013.053); Taylor AeroCase; left-handed available<\/p>\n\n\n\n MADE IN <\/strong>United States<\/p>\n\n\n\n PRICE<\/strong> $1,599 street, plus $79.99 for TaylorSense (sold separately)<\/p>\n\n\n\n taylorguitars.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Shop for this guitar with Sweetwater<\/a> or Amazon<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The smaller Taylor GTe doesn\u2019t feel like a travel guitar and plays and sounds like a front-line instrument; the TaylorSense App helps you maintain it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":126995,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"video","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"The smaller Taylor GTe doesn\u2019t feel like a travel guitar and plays and sounds like a front-line instrument; the TaylorSense App helps you maintain it.","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[1675],"tags":[1372,208],"ppma_author":[1588],"blocksy_meta":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Taylor-GTe-Urban-Ash.jpg?fit=750%2C500&ssl=1","authors":[{"term_id":1588,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"emile-menasche","display_name":"Emile Menasch\u00e9","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Emile-Menasche.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Emile-Menasche.jpg"},"user_url":"","last_name":"Menasch\u00e9","first_name":"Emile","description":"Guitarist, composer, writer."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126991"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126991"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126991\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":136754,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126991\/revisions\/136754"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/126995"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126991"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=126991"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126991"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=126991"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Familiar Curves, New Dimensions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Taylor-GTe-Urban-Ash-det2-2020\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Taylor-GTe-Urban-Ash-det2-2020.jpg?resize=750%2C500&ssl=1\")
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Inspiring Playability and Tone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
TaylorSense<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Urban Cool<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Specs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"acoustic](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/acoustic-guitar-care-maintenance-lessons.png?resize=600%2C200&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"