A Little Guitar With a Lot of Hawaiian Soul
There's something genuinely special about picking up a guitar this compact and hearing real, focused tone come right back at you. The Taylor BTe Koa is a 3/4-size Baby Taylor built around an all-Hawaiian-koa aesthetic — solid koa up top, layered koa on the back and sides — and it sounds every bit as good as it looks. Whether you're working out song ideas on the couch or throwing it in an overhead bin, this guitar is built to go wherever you do.
The "e" in BTe stands for electronics, and that matters: the onboard ES-B pickup system means you can plug straight into an amp or PA without fussing with a separate clip-on pickup. That combination of portability, all-koa construction, and plug-in capability is what makes the BTe Koa stand out in the travel guitar world.
This is a used demo unit — a genuine Taylor at a step down in price — perfect for anyone who wants a compact, quality acoustic-electric with real Hawaiian koa character without paying new price.
Solid Koa Top, Layered Koa Body
The solid Hawaiian koa top is the tonal foundation here. Koa is a dense tropical hardwood that naturally compresses your attack, producing a focused, articulate response with a bright top-end shimmer right out of the box. Over time and with play, koa's midrange warmth and overtones develop — it's one of those tonewoods that actually gets better as the guitar is played in. The layered koa back and sides add striking visual character without the fragility risk of solid back and sides on a travel instrument.
Taylor's X-bracing pattern supports the solid top and helps the BTe Koa project a surprising amount of volume for its compact frame. The varnish finish over the koa lets the wood's natural figure show through — every guitar will look slightly different, thanks to koa's distinctive grain patterns.
A Short Scale That's Easy on Your Hands
The 22-3/4" scale length is noticeably shorter than a standard dreadnought, which translates directly to reduced string tension and a more relaxed feel under your fretting hand. Complex chord shapes and barre chords that can feel demanding on a full-size guitar come more easily here. The 1-11/16" nut width keeps string spacing comfortable and familiar, and the slim maple neck profile adds to the easy, low-effort feel.
The West African Crelicam Ebony fretboard is smooth and responsive under your fingers, and the 19-fret layout gives you enough range for most playing situations. Die-cast chrome tuners keep things in tune reliably without adding unnecessary weight to the headstock.
ES-B Electronics: Plug In and Play
Taylor's ES-B pickup system is a piezo-based under-saddle design paired with an onboard preamp that mounts on the side of the body. The preamp includes a built-in digital chromatic tuner — genuinely useful for a travel guitar where you may not always have a clip-on handy. The ES-B captures the natural acoustic voice of the koa body with clarity and warmth, making it a solid choice for open mic nights, practice with an amp, or light recording use.
The NuBone nut and Micarta saddle provide consistent intonation and sustain across the neck, and the non-cutaway body keeps the classic, clean silhouette of a traditional acoustic.
Product Features:
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Top: Solid Hawaiian koa with varnish finish
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Back & Sides: Layered Hawaiian koa with varnish finish
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Body Shape: 3/4-size Dreadnought (Baby Taylor)
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Scale Length: 22-3/4"
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Nut Width: 1-11/16" (NuBone nut)
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Neck: Maple, slim profile
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Fretboard: West African Crelicam Ebony with 4mm dot inlays
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Bracing: X-Bracing
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Electronics: Taylor ES-B with built-in digital chromatic tuner
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Tuners: Die-cast chrome
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Finish: Natural / Varnish
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Handedness: Right-handed
This is a used acoustic-electric guitar from our inventory. Pictures are of the actual item you will receive.
All used gear is sold AS IS.
Brand: Taylor
Model: BTe Koa
SKU: BTE-KOA-DEMO
Condition: Used
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
