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Taylor Gold Label 517e: A Slope-Shoulder Reinvented
When Taylor introduced the Grand Pacific body style in 2019, it marked a deliberate move toward warmer, more traditional acoustic tones. With the Taylor Gold Label 517e, that idea is pushed even further—resulting in a slope-shoulder dreadnought that feels both familiar and unmistakably elevated.
We’ve been especially excited about this model here at Vera Guitars, and it’s quickly proven itself as a standout among players looking for a modern take on the slope-shoulder dreadnought. The Gold Label 517e has drawn consistent attention for its feel, responsiveness, and unmistakably rich voice.
So what makes the Gold Label version of the Grand Pacific so compelling? Let’s take a closer look.
The Deep Grand Pacific Body
A defining feature of the Gold Label 500- and 700-Series models is Taylor’s Deep Grand Pacific body shape.
The original Grand Pacific was Taylor’s interpretation of the classic slope-shoulder dreadnought—a design long prized for warmth, dryness, and midrange focus rather than booming lows and exaggerated highs. That tonal balance is exactly why iconic guitars like the Gibson J-45 have earned their reputation as songwriter and strummer staples.
For the Gold Label Collection, Taylor refined that concept by increasing the body depth by 3/8", bringing it to a full 5" deep compared to the standard 4-5/8". The body length and width remain familiar, though the waist is slightly wider.
The added depth is immediately noticeable in hand, but the sonic payoff is substantial. The guitar delivers greater authority, projection, and low-end support while maintaining the focused, musical response that defines the Grand Pacific platform.
Taylor Gold Label 517e – Key Specifications
Body: Deep Grand Pacific
Top: Torrefied Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides: Mahogany
Neck: Neo-Tropical Mahogany
Neck Profile: Taylor Standard Carve
Scale Length: 25.5"
Nut Width: 1.75"
Fretboard: West African Crelicam Ebony
Bracing: Fanned V-Class
Electronics: LR Baggs Element VTC
Finish: Gloss (Natural or Sunburst)
Additional details include a Honduran rosewood Curve Wing bridge, Crest inlays, white Micarta saddle, Tusq nut, and the exclusive Gold Label “British Cocoa” hardshell case.
A Thoughtful Electronics Choice
One of the more notable decisions across the Gold Label Collection is the move to the LR Baggs Element VTC pickup system in place of Taylor’s Expression System.
While the Expression System remains one of the strongest proprietary acoustic pickups available, LR Baggs is widely regarded as an industry standard. The Element VTC offers a natural, transparent amplified tone with simple soundhole-mounted volume and tone controls. An onboard compressor subtly manages low-end response, helping the guitar remain balanced and realistic when plugged in.
How Does It Sound?
The torrefied Sitka spruce top plays a major role in the Gold Label 517e’s voice. Torrefaction enhances responsiveness and articulation—particularly in the upper midrange where pick attack lives—while tightening the low end and smoothing the highs.
Tonally, the Gold Label 517e brings to mind a richer, more complex take on a classic J-45: clear, supportive bass; a warm, expressive midrange; and a sparkling, open treble. What truly sets it apart, however, is its performance as a fingerstyle instrument.
One of our regular customers sat down with the 517e and played a few fingerpicked passages, and the guitar bloomed with swirling overtones and sustain in a way rarely heard from a slope-shoulder mahogany dreadnought. It’s lively, resonant, and deeply musical.
The neck delivers exactly what players expect from Taylor at this level—smooth, comfortable, and effortless. The wider nut width favors fingerstyle players, while the full 25.5" scale length keeps string tension firm for aggressive strumming. The Crelicam ebony fingerboard adds a refined, premium feel under the fingers.
Across the frequency range, the Gold Label 517e remains impressively balanced. It responds dynamically whether played softly or driven hard, and the deeper body provides plenty of volume and projection. Plugged in, the LR Baggs system captures the guitar’s natural character with clarity and realism.
An absolute gem of a mahogany slope-shoulder dreadnought.
Final Thoughts
The Taylor Gold Label 517e stands as one of the most versatile slope-shoulder dreadnoughts we’ve played in recent memory. Its ability to excel as both a powerful strummer and a nuanced fingerstyle instrument makes it feel far more flexible than many guitars in its class.
While it may lack the ultra-polished refinement of models like the 814ce, that’s precisely part of its appeal. The Gold Label 517e lives in a sweet spot—offering vintage-inspired depth and warmth alongside modern clarity, consistency, and playability.
Taylor’s message for the Gold Label Collection—Inspired by the past, built for today—rings especially true here.
If you’d like to experience the Gold Label difference for yourself, stop by Vera Guitars in Charlotte, North Carolina, and spend some time with this exceptional instrument. From room-filling strums to intricate, interlacing overtones, it has a way of winning players over quickly.
