Half a Century of 12-String, Done Right
Fifty years is a long time to perfect anything. And when Taylor decided to mark that milestone with a 12-string guitar, they went back to the beginning — back to the rosewood-and-spruce jumbo 12-strings that helped put the brand on the map in the mid-'70s. The result is the 50th Anniversary 858e LTD, a Grand Orchestra 12-string that honors that early legacy while delivering every modern refinement Taylor has developed since.
This is a limited-edition instrument in the truest sense. Only 1,974 units were made worldwide — a nod to the year Taylor Guitars was founded — and it was available exclusively through authorized Taylor dealers during 2024. If you've been looking for a 12-string that pairs serious acoustic heft with exceptional playability, this is a rare opportunity.
Whether you're a seasoned 12-string player or someone who's always been curious about the format but worried about the learning curve, the 858e LTD was built with playability as a priority — not an afterthought.
Tonewoods Built for the Grand Stage
The 858e LTD centers on one of acoustic guitar's most time-tested pairings: solid Sitka spruce over solid Indian rosewood. The solid Sitka spruce top delivers the broad dynamic range Sitka is known for — responsive to both a feather-light fingerpick and a full-force strum, with crisp articulation that keeps all twelve strings from blending into mush. The solid Indian rosewood back and sides bring the warmth, complexity, and extended frequency range that have made rosewood a benchmark tonewood for generations.
Together in the Grand Orchestra body — Taylor's largest platform — these two materials create what Taylor describes as a "wall-of-sound" voice: big, enveloping, and rich with overtones. The Grand Orchestra's internal volume amplifies everything the rosewood and spruce do naturally, giving unplugged players serious acoustic presence in any room.
V-Class Bracing and the 12-String Challenge
One of the persistent challenges of 12-string guitars is pitch accuracy. Twelve strings exert enormous tension across the top, and traditional bracing can struggle to keep everything in tune and in balance. Taylor's V-Class voicing architecture directly addresses this: it enhances volume, sustain, pitch accuracy, and touch sensitivity simultaneously — all the things that make a great 12-string feel alive rather than stiff.
The double-mounted string anchoring system takes this further, using a shared anchor point for each string pair to maintain a consistent break angle over the saddle. The practical result is more even tonal balance across all six courses — no one pair of strings dominating the mix. For fingerstyle players especially, that kind of consistency is a significant advantage.
Anniversary Appointments and On-Stage Electronics
The 858e LTD is visually unmistakable. A three-ring green abalone rosette, mother-of-pearl Progressive Diamond fretboard inlays, white binding with black-and-white top purfling, and a faux-tortoise pickguard give this guitar a vintage-inspired look distinct from the standard 800 Series. Celebratory details include Taylor Gold mini tuners, Crelicam ebony bridge pins with gold acrylic dots, and a commemorative label inside the body.
The neck is Neo-Tropical Mahogany with a Standard Carve profile and a satin finish — comfortable in hand for long playing sessions. The West African Crelicam Ebony fingerboard has a 25-1/2" scale length and a 1-7/8" nut width, which is generous enough to keep the 12-string courses well-separated and easier to fret cleanly. When it's time to plug in, Taylor's Expression System 2 (ES2) — a behind-the-saddle pickup design — captures the guitar's natural acoustic voice with minimal coloration.
Product Features:
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Body Shape: Grand Orchestra (Taylor's largest body platform), 12-string
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Top: Solid Sitka Spruce with gloss finish — broad dynamic range, crisp articulation
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Back & Sides: Solid Indian Rosewood with gloss finish — warm, complex, extended frequency response
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Bracing: V-Class with Relief Rout — enhanced volume, sustain, pitch accuracy, and touch sensitivity
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Neck: Neo-Tropical Mahogany, Standard Carve profile, satin finish
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Fingerboard: West African Crelicam Ebony — 25-1/2" scale length, 1-7/8" nut width
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Electronics: Taylor Expression System 2 (ES2) — behind-the-saddle design for natural amplified tone
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Anniversary Details: Three-ring green abalone rosette, mother-of-pearl Progressive Diamond inlays, Taylor Gold mini tuners, commemorative interior label
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Limited Production: Only 1,974 units made worldwide for Taylor's 50th Anniversary (2024 only)
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Strings: D'Addario XS Coated Phosphor Bronze Light (.010–.047)
Brand: Taylor Guitars
Model: 50th Anniversary 858e LTD
SKU: 50THANNIV.858E
Condition: New
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