Taylor Builder's Edition 324ce Next Generation, Tobacco Kona Burst, Electro-Acoustic Guitar

The Taylor Builder’s Edition 324ce Next Generation in Tobacco Kona Burst is an acoustic-electric guitar that feels effortlessly refined from the very first chord. Designed for players who value warmth, comfort, and emotional response over sheer brightness, this Grand Auditorium model delivers a rich, woody voice with exceptional balance and clarity. Its solid mahogany top paired with solid sapele back and sides creates a naturally focused tone with punchy mids, dry warmth, and a beautifully intimate character that suits singer-songwriters, fingerstyle players, and dynamic live performers alike. 

What makes this “Next Generation” Builder’s Edition stand out is how naturally it disappears into the player’s hands. Every contour has been carefully shaped for comfort, from the beveled armrest and chamfered body edges to the smooth cutaway that allows effortless access across the fretboard. The result is a guitar that feels broken-in and familiar straight away, encouraging longer playing sessions without fatigue. Taylor’s updated Action Control Neck system and scalloped V-Class bracing further enhance sustain, resonance, and tuning consistency while giving the guitar a remarkably responsive feel under the fingers.

Mahogany and sapele for focused, musical warmth

The combination of a solid mahogany top with sapele back and sides creates a voice centred around strong fundamentals, punchy mids and tightly controlled harmonic content. Mahogany contributes a dry, woody character with excellent note separation, while sapele adds projection and clarity without introducing excessive brightness. Together, they form a balanced tonal foundation that responds evenly to changes in attack, making this guitar equally comfortable handling intricate fingerstyle passages, rhythmic strumming patterns and melodic single-note work.

Scalloped V-Class bracing for power and balance

This Next Generation model features a scalloped version of Taylor’s V-Class bracing, designed to increase air movement within the body while retaining the pitch accuracy and note definition V-Class is known for. Chords sound fuller and more unified, single notes sustain longer, and complex voicings remain clear even higher up the neck. The result is a warmer, more open sound that still preserves balance, articulation and consistency across the entire fretboard.

Builder’s Edition comfort enhancements

Every Builder’s Edition refinement is aimed at reducing physical strain and encouraging longer, more relaxed playing sessions. Chamfered body edges soften contact points around the top and back, while the bevelled neo-tropical mahogany armrest provides a natural resting position for the picking arm. The bevelled cutaway features a smooth compound contour that improves upper-fret access without sharp transitions, making extended fretboard exploration feel fluid, comfortable and unobstructed.

Action Control Neck and Claria electronics

Taylor’s Action Control Neck allows accurate string-height adjustment without removing the neck or loosening strings, making seasonal setup changes quick, precise and stress-free. The Claria pickup system delivers clear, consistent amplified tone that closely reflects the guitar’s natural acoustic character, with intuitive soundhole-mounted controls for fast adjustment on stage or in the studio. A Taylor deluxe hardshell case completes a package designed for dependable performance at home, on the road or under stage lights.

Specifications

• Product Name: Taylor Builder’s Edition 324ce Next Generation
• Product Code: A318002618403021259

Body

• Body shape: Grand Auditorium
• Top wood: Neo-tropical mahogany
• Back & sides: Sapele
• Bracing: Scalloped V-Class with relief rout
• Finish: Satin
• Armrest: Beveled neo-tropical mahogany
• Cutaway: Beveled

Neck & fretboard

• Neck wood: Neo-tropical mahogany
• Neck profile: Standard carve
• Fretboard: West African Crelicam ebony
• Inlays: Grained ivoroid Weathervane
• Nut width: 1 3/4"
• Scale length: 25 1/2"

Hardware & electronics

• Bridge: West African Crelicam ebony
• Nut & saddle: Black Tusq nut, white Micarta saddle
• Tuners: Taylor satin black
• Electronics: Claria pickup system
• Strings: D’Addario XS Phosphor Bronze Light (.012–.053)
• Case: Taylor deluxe brown hardshell case