The Taylor 2012 110 Sapele/Spruce Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar is one of the cheapest entries in the Taylor brand. It features a solid sitka spruce top, sapele laminate back and sides, mahogany neck, and ebony fretboard and bridge. The 110 comes with enclosed die-cast chromeplated tuners, 25-1/2" scale, tusq nut. A robust Taylor gig bag is included with purchase.

The Tonewoods

Sitka
According to Acoustic Guitar Magazine, "a strong fundamental-to-overtone ratio gives Sitka a powerful, direct tone that is capable of retaining its clarity when played forcefully. Sitka is an excellent choice of topwood, then, for players whose style demands a wide dynamic response and a robust, meaty tone. On the other side of the balance sheet, the lack of a strong overtone component can result in a "thin" tone when played with a relatively light touch-depending, of course, upon the design of the guitar and the other woods used in its construction. The break-in period for a new Sitka guitar can also be longer than that of other spruces."

Sapele laminate
According to Taylor, they use interior and exterior veneers of sapele with a filler layer between them. They claim extra resilience in changing humidity, but I honestly doubt the benefit vs a solid piece of wood as veneer tends to separate along the glue lines in warmer and more humid climates.

In use

While this is an entry/mid-level guitar that is built on a budget ($599 street price), the feel and playability are superb. The Taylor I played came with perfect factory setup. The neck is fast and comfortable. The guitar has a bright, well balanced tone that cuts well through a mix. The model that I played did not have an acoustic pickup, but it is an option in this model range.

I was impressed with the overall craftsmanship of the instrument and considering that this instrument came from South of the border (Mexico), I'd have to say that it put to shame some more expensive USA-made guitars. The budget build was noticeable in the sitka spruce tops selected for the guitar body, as some of the wood grain patterns that were not appealing. When purchasing this model, my advice would be to personally select it based on looks as well as playability, as I rejected two due to the look of the grain alone. Regardless of these issues, this is one of the better if not best guitars in this price range.