Master Grade Koa, Taylor’s Secret-Weapon 12-Fret

This Taylor Custom GC 12-Fret is one of those guitars you buy once and keep in the family. Master grade koa everywhere, V-Class sustain, and that ultra-comfortable Grand Concert 12-fret feel come together in a rare Catch #20 build that feels alive the second you touch it.

On top of that, it is New Old Stock. If Taylor built this exact guitar today, you would be staring at a price tag closer to $12,455. Instead, you are getting a NAMM-level showpiece that plays like a dream and already has future-heirloom written all over it.

Master Grade Koa That Looks And Sounds Ridiculous

The top, back, and sides are all master grade koa, which is the top shelf above AA and AAA. You get deep flame, three-dimensional grain, and that striking ribbon of lighter sapwood down the center that makes you want to just leave it on a stand and stare at it between songs.

The shaded edgeburst finish runs across the entire guitar, neck, and headstock. It is not just pretty; it enhances the figure and gives the whole instrument a rich, unified look that feels more like custom furniture than factory guitar. The pale hard rock maple binding frames all that koa like a picture, while the chamfered edges keep it comfy against your picking arm.

Grand Concert 12-Fret: Effortless Feel, Huge Reward

Taylor’s Grand Concert is their smallest full-size body, and in the 12-fret layout it is just ridiculously comfortable. The neck joins the body earlier, which brings your left hand a little closer to you and makes this guitar the one you reach for on the couch, in the writing room, or on a long set when a dreadnought feels like work.

The 24 7/8″ scale length drops the string tension compared to a typical 25 1/2″ acoustic. If you come from the electric world, think of the difference between the usual F-style solidbody and a certain G-style semi-hollow. Chords feel softer under the fingers, stretches are easier, and vibrato feels more vocal.

The slotted headstock changes the break angle over the nut, which subtly shifts the tension and response under your fretting hand. Paired with the shorter scale, it gives this guitar a slightly elastic, bouncy feel that fingerstyle players get addicted to.

V-Class Design For Sustain, Intonation, And Bloom

Inside the box you get Taylor’s V-Class bracing, and that is not marketing fluff. It is a real redesign of how the top moves. Notes ring longer, chords line up in tune all the way up the neck, and you get a balance of volume and control that makes this a killer recording and performance guitar.

Light fingerstyle playing wakes up the top with almost no effort. Dig in with a flatpick and you get focus instead of boom, with enough low-end support to carry a solo set without stepping on your vocal. Real talk: once you get used to this level of sustain and intonation, going back to a traditional X-braced acoustic can feel like a step backward.

Nouveau Details And Tasteful Appointments

West African ebony handles both the fingerboard and bridge, which keeps the feel fast and smooth while giving the frets a rock-solid home. It is not just practical either. The Taylor Nouveau inlay pattern shows up on the fretboard, peghead, and even the bridge, tying the whole instrument together with a classy, understated theme.

A single-ring rosette with a custom boxwood, koa, and boxwood design echoes the top wood and binding. Slot-head nickel tuners look vintage but feel precise, rounding out a hardware package that is all about reliability without stealing the spotlight from that koa.

Catch #20: Taylor’s NAMM Showpiece, New Old Stock Value

This guitar is part of Taylor’s Catch series, a tiny run of custom builds created for their top dealers around NAMM. These are the guitars where Taylor shows off what they can really do in terms of woods, design, and detail, then they move on. When they say they only build this many for the show and that is it, they mean it.

This one is Catch #20, and it is New Old Stock. It has lived its life pampered in the shop, not hammered on the road. To recreate it at today’s pricing would put you up around $12,455, which makes the current price a serious opportunity for somebody who wants a once-in-a-lifetime Taylor without paying tomorrow’s money.

Set Up To Play, Ready To Ship

This Custom GC 12-Fret is in our Evansville, Indiana shop right now, fully inspected and dialed in with a complete Player-Perfect setup. Tell us your preferred string gauge and action at checkout and we will tweak it before it leaves so it feels like home on day one.

When you are ready, we will pack it like it is our own and get it out the door fast with insured shipping. Questions about this guitar or how it compares to others you are considering? Call (888) 794-8482 and talk to a real player on our staff.