Take a Serene 12-string Stroll Through Taylor’s “Windward Coast”
Big, bold, and blue, the Taylor 2025 Catch Custom #1 C52ce — aptly named the “Windward Coast” — was an instrument that instantly commanded our attention at Taylor’s NAMM Catch Custom showcase. This 12-fret Grand Concert acoustic-electric delivers an enveloping array of shimmering 12-string sounds, starting with a Lutz spruce top. Supported by V-Class bracing, this top resounds with a broad dynamic range and superb headroom. Flip the guitar over to be greeted by the striking 4-piece sight of twin koa slabs wedged between bigleaf maple wings. Taken as a whole, these tonewoods deliver a crisp, full-range, and projecting character that belies this guitar’s comfortable Grand Concert body shape. Next, you’ll enjoy easy navigation of this C52ce’s Crelicam ebony fingerboard via the hard rock maple neck’s slim Standard Carve. What’s more, this Catch Custom comes complete with Hawaiian koa trim across its rosette, fingerboard, soundhole, and body, along with spiked oval koa/paua fretboard inlays. Finally, the 2025 Catch Custom #1 C52ce’s vibrant visuals and prestigious performance are topped off by turquoise-dotted bridge pins, Taylor ES2 electronics, a paua shell peghead logo/edge trim, and Gotoh 510 antique gold tuners.
Catch Custom: premier dealer-exclusive Taylor creations
On the eve of the 2015 NAMM Show, Taylor organized a pre-show presentation of its most inspired and unique creations at “The Catch” restaurant in Anaheim, California. These heirloom-grade instruments were strictly offered to Taylor’s most trusted dealers, with models crafted in ultra-limited quantities to preserve their exclusive appeal. The event quickly evolved into an annual NAMM tradition, outgrowing the original venue but retaining the Catch Custom title in honor of the event that started it all. Crafted from luxurious tonewoods and fit with Taylor’s most adventurous finishes, these guitars are truly as advertised — they represent the 6-string catch of a lifetime!
Lutz spruce top paired with a 4-piece koa/maple back
Taylor’s Catch Custom instruments represent the brand at their most creative and inspired — picking through these instruments at Taylor’s pre-NAMM showcase is one of the most exciting events of the year for the Sweetwater team! Still, while every Catch Custom is designed to delight, this 2025 Catch Custom #1 C52ce “Windward Coast” instantly commanded our rapt attention at the show for its remarkably unique tonewoods and visuals.
The real star of the show here is the 2025 Catch Custom #1 C52ce’s 4-piece back, which comes comprised of two pieces of koa wedged between beautifully quilted bigleaf maple wings. Outlined with ebony strips and supported by bigleaf maple sides, this back’s contrasting aesthetic boasts a truly breathtaking appearance that all but demands your attention. This back comes mated to a blue Shaded Edge Burst Lutz spruce top, providing ample headroom and clarity for this guitar’s chiming 12-string tone.
Grand Concert body design meets V-Class bracing
Introduced in 1984, the Grand Concert is the smallest of Taylor’s full-size body shapes and was designed to appeal to fingerstyle players. It has a slightly wider neck and shorter scale length that lends itself to easy fretting. Now, the classic Grand Concert body style meets Taylor’s V-Class bracing system. The V-shaped bracing is strong enough to resist the tension of the strings, yet it’s flexible enough to let the top vibrate freely. This bracing helps create a more orderly sound and refines intonation. The body shape and bracing result in a guitar that keeps unwanted overtones in check and provides a clear, focused tone.
Taylor Expression System 2 electronics deliver superior sound onstage
If you play plugged in, then you’re going to love the Taylor Expression System 2 (ES2) electronics built into the C52ce acoustic-electric guitar. The key to this fantastic system is the 3-section proprietary pickup located behind the saddle. Because of where it’s positioned and how it’s integrated into the Taylor C52ce’s saddle, the ES2 pickup provides you with remarkably clear and accurate sound. In addition to a master volume control, a pair of tone controls let you tweak your highs and lows to get the sound you need, and a discrete phase switch offers vital onboard feedback suppression.
Taylor 2025 Catch Custom #1 C52ce “Windward Coast” Features:
- Ultra-exclusive, limited 2025 Catch Custom creation, crafted for Taylor’s traditional pre-NAMM dealer event
- Dynamic and projecting Lutz spruce top, finished with a bold, blue-colored Shaded Edge Burst
- 4-piece back combines two koa center pieces with bigleaf maple wings and bigleaf maple sides; maple pieces stained in a Trans Light Blue finish to match the top
- 12-fret Grand Concert body offers slightly more punch and projection than your typical Grand Concert
- Shorter Grand Concert scale length makes navigating this guitar’s string courses far easier on your fingers than a long-scale 12-string guitar
- Ultra-stable hard rock maple neck in Taylor’s slim Standard Carve
- Crelicam ebony fingerboard with exquisite koa/paua spiked oval inlays; koa fingerboard purfling
- Premium paua trim wraps around this guitar’s top, back, and fingerboard extension, mated to koa body binding
- Beautiful bone bridge pins inlaid with turquoise dots
- Stage-ready Taylor ES2 electronics
- Lock-tight Gotoh 510 antique gold mini tuners
- Deep Venetian cutaway allows for easy upper-fret access despite this guitar’s 12-fret neck joint
- Wide 1.875-in. nut width offers plenty of space to maneuver through this guitar’s string courses
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