“The koa version’s beauty is much more than skin deep – the upgrade is worth the price if you’re a discriminating fingerstyle player”: Taylor 222ce-K DLX review

Koa is a very attractive-looking tonewood that is commonly associated with high-end models or expensive custom or boutique instruments.

Because of its higher cost, many guitarists haven’t experienced koa’s distinctive tonal qualities, which are sort of a “goldilocks” combo of the powerful bass of rosewood, sweet, warm mids of mahogany and brilliance of maple.

Taylor, which offers more koa models than any of the other major acoustic guitar companies, is now making full-size guitars with tops, backs and sides made of Hawaiian koa more accessible to the masses with the introduction of two new 200 series guitars – the 222ce-K DLX Grand Concert and 224ce-K DLX Grand Auditorium – that cost almost half the price of their 700 series koa instruments, which previously were Taylor’s lowest priced full-size koa guitars.

We looked at the 222ce-K DLX, which is basically identical to the 224ce-K DLX with the exception of its smaller Grand Concert body dimensions and shorter scale length.

In addition to its attractively striped Hawaiian solid koa top and layered koa back and sides with a shaded edgeburst gloss finish, the 222ce-K DLX features a neo-tropical mahogany neck with a matte finish, West African Crelicam ebony fingerboard, 24 7/8-inch scale length and 20 medium-tall frets that are all easily accessible thanks to the Venetian cutaway.

The “DLX” means the guitar is adorned with deluxe appointments that include a gloss body finish, faux pearl Sentinel fretboard inlays and single-ring rosette, black top and back binding and gold hardware.

It’s also equipped with Taylor’s acclaimed Expression System 2 electronics with side-mounted volume, treble and bass controls and behind-the-saddle pickup with three sensors. And this DLX model arrives in a Taylor deluxe hardshell guitar case.

With its compact Grand Concert body that measures about 15 inches across the lower bout and X bracing, the 222ce-K DLX provides a well-balanced overall tone that is particularly well-suited for fingerstyle playing.

The treble has a sweet, alluring chime that accentuates upper spectrum harmonics but never sounds thin – a quality that also comes through quite nicely via the Expression System 2 electronics when amplified.

The warm, full midrange and focused bass will certainly please traditionalists, and thanks to the aging characteristics of koa the sound will continue to become sweeter and warmer the more it’s played over the years.

The neck’s shallow C-shaped profile is ideally comfortable for fingerstyle players, particularly those who anchor their thumbs in the center of the neck. Thanks to the 1.6875-inch nut width, the strings are comfortably placed far enough apart for clean fretting yet close enough to facilitate fast chord changes without too much stretching. 

Typical of all Taylor guitars from the entry-level Baby and GS Mini models through their high-end Builder’s Edition models, the construction and attention to detail is immaculate.

Although the 222ce-K DLX may cost twice as much as its Sitka spruce/walnut counterpart, the 212ce, the koa version’s beauty is much more than skin deep. The upgrade is worth the price if you’re a discriminating fingerstyle player who can appreciate its more intriguing and sonically complex character.

Specs

• PRICE: $1,999 / £1,599 street
• TYPE: Grand concert cutaway acoustic electric guitar
• TOP: Solid Hawaiian koa
• BACK AND SIDES: Layered Hawaiian Koa
• BODY STYLE: Grand Concert 
• BODY WIDTH: 15 inches 
• BODY DEPTH: 4-3/8 inches
• NECK: Neo-tropical mahogany
• FINGERBOARD: West African Crelicam ebony
• SCALE LENGTH: 24 7/8-inch
• FRETS: 20 medium tall
• NUT: NuBone
• NUT WIDTH: 1.6875-inch
• TUNERS: Taylor Standard gold-plated
• BRIDGE: West African Crelicam ebony
• SADDLE: NuBone
• PICKGUARD: Yes
• ELECTRONICS: Expression System 2
• CONTROLS: Volume, Treble, Bass
• CONTACT: Taylor Guitars