An Urban Ash Spin On Taylor's Workhorse Model

Limited to 500 models worldwide, Taylor’s 424ce Deluxe Urban Ash is a bold new take on the Grand Auditorium acoustic! Urban ash has quickly become a favorite tonewood among Sweetwater’s Taylor enthusiasts, and this instrument boasts plenty of it: the top, back, and sides of the 424ce are comprised of urban ash, resulting in a sound that’s reminiscent of an all-mahogany guitar’s cutting midrange and focused tone, but with an extra helping of treble sparkle. V-class bracing provides both the sonic and physical structure, enhancing your intonation and increasing the bass/treble balance. What's more, Taylor’s signature Grand Auditorium defies categorization, performing exceptionally well in almost every category of acoustic guitar playing. When it comes to Taylor, electric guitar-like playability is a given, and the ebony-on-mahogany neck’s standard Taylor neck profile, 15-inch radius, and deep cutaway provide ample playing comfort during even the longest sets. Last but not least, Taylor’s Expression 2 electronics system effortlessly amplifies your guitar with plugged-in tones that beautifully capture the 424ce Deluxe Urban Ash’s natural acoustic voice.

Urban ash makes its return

One of the most recent tonewoods to be added to the Taylor lineup, urban ash debuted on the 324ce Builder’s Edition in early 2020. Making its return, this tonewood comes from Shamel ash trees growing in urban areas of Southern California. They grow extremely quickly, reaching heights of more than 40 feet in just 20 years, making urban ash readily available and more renewable than just about any other hardwood. Plus, Taylor told guitar players at Sweetwater that urban ash shares many tonal properties with Honduran mahogany. It’s highly resonant, charming in the midrange, and has an exceptionally clear top end. By utilizing urban ash on the top, back, and sides, of the 424ce, Taylor has crafted an instrument with an incredibly articulate and balanced tone across the entire fingerboard. Just like the best all-mahogany guitars, the 424ce boasts a highly focused toned and crisp response, excelling in both fingerstyle and strumming applications

V-Class bracing: a sonic revelation

Bracing is the internal framework of an acoustic guitar that helps shape its sound. Although X-bracing has been standard in acoustic guitars for over a century, it creates an innate conflict between two key elements of a guitar’s sound: volume and sustain. The guitar’s top (its soundboard) contributes to both. The flexibility of the top generates volume (projection), while its stiffness generates sustain. And with X-braced guitar tops, here’s where the trade-off comes in: when something is made stiffer, its flexibility is reduced (and vice versa).

V-Class bracing changes all that. With Taylor’s V-Class bracing, an acoustic guitar top can be both stiff and flexible — for more volume and sustain. V-Class bracing provides stiffness parallel to the strings for more rigidity and, hence, sustain. Flexibility on either side generates the air movement necessary for robust projection. It’s the best of both worlds. This groundbreaking innovation also improves intonation — not only producing notes that are louder and with longer sustain, but are also more in tune with each other. Guitarists at Sweetwater are gobsmacked. But don’t take our word for it — pick up the superb Taylor 424ce Deluxe Urban Ash Limited and experience it for yourself!

Comfortable Grand Auditorium body delivers power, presence, and note definition

The 424ce Deluxe Urban Ash Limited responds gracefully to a wide range of playing styles, thanks to its medium-sized Grand Auditorium body. Taylor’s beloved Grand Auditorium body style employs the width and depth of a dreadnought. However, its waist is narrower, which gives Grand Auditorium guitars a sleeker look and more treble zing. The Grand Auditorium body style also helps to focus and sharpen the definition of each note — a quality desirable in any musical genre. You’ll also find your Grand Auditorium guitar to be incredibly comfortable, whether you’re playing seated or standing.

Cutting-edge Taylor Expression System 2 electronics

If you play plugged in, then you’re going to love the Taylor Expression System 2 (ES2) electronics built into your 424ce. 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 424ce’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 lets you tweak your highs and lows to get the sound you need, and a discreet phase switch offers vital onboard feedback suppression.

Taylor 424ce Deluxe Urban Ash Limited Acoustic-electric Guitar Features:

• Limited to 500 models worldwide
• Urban ash top, back, and sides delivers a focused, midrange-heavy tone that produces a strong fundamental note with beautiful top-end articulation
• Sturdy tropical mahogany neck in Taylor’s comfortable standard profile
• Sustainably sourced Crelicam ebony fingerboard with a versatile 15-inch radius
• Grand Auditorium body effortlessly tackles a massive range of genres and applications
• V-class bracing boosts your note-to-note balance and enhances intonation
• Taylor Expression 2 electronics faithfully amplify your unplugged acoustic voice
• Deep Venetian cutaway for easy upper-fret access

Tech Specs

• String Type:Steel
• Number of Strings:6
• Body Shape:Grand Auditorium
• Left-/Right-handed:Right-handed
• Color:Natural
• Finish:Gloss
• Top Wood:Urban Ash
• Back & Sides Wood:Urban Ash
• Body Bracing:V-Class
• Binding:Black Plastic
• Neck Wood:Tropical Mahogany
• Neck Shape:Taylor
• Radius:15"
• Fingerboard Material:Crelicam Ebony
• Fingerboard Inlay:Renaissance
• Number of Frets:20
• Scale Length:25.5"
• Tuning Machines:Taylor, Satin Black
• Bridge Material:Crelicam Ebony
• Nut/Saddle Material:Black Tusq/White Micarta
• Nut Width:1.75"
• Electronics:ES2
• Strings:Elixir, .012-.053
• Case/Gig Bag:Hardshell Case