Taylor FB02006016005151000 Acoustic-Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Taylor BBTe Sitka/Walnut acoustic-electric guitar combines Taylor's renowned quality craftsmanship and beautiful tonewoods with modern Fishman electronics. This versatile Grand Auditorium model is suitable for both home playing and performing live on stage.

Featuring solid sapele back and sides, the BBTe produces a focused, well-balanced tone. The solid Sitka spruce top adds crispness, clarity, and rich overtones. Together, these premium tonewoods create a warm, full-bodied sound reminiscent of Taylor's famous baby and big baby guitars.

At the heart of the BBTe is Taylor's ES-B pickup system. This uses three proprietary behind-the-saddle sensors to accurately capture the guitar's natural sound. The onboard preamp provides adjustable treble, bass, and volume controls for dialing in your ideal amplified tone.

With its comfortable grand auditorium body size, V-class bracing, and smooth satin finish, the BBTe plays incredibly well. And it looks just as good, with subtle appointments like italian acrylic small diamond inlays and a faux tortoise pickguard.

This is a fantastic do-it-all acoustic for your home, studio, or stage. The BBTe combines Taylor's signature sound and playability with stage-ready amplified performance.

Construction

The Taylor BBTe features a solid Sitka spruce top. Sitka spruce is a popular choice for acoustic guitar tops due to its lightweight and strong properties that promote volume, sensitivity, and dynamic range.

The back and sides are layered walnut, while the neck is tropical mahogany. Walnut creates a warm, balanced tone and pairs well with the bright Sitka spruce top. Mahogany provides stability to the slim neck profile.

Other construction details include a sleek black pickguard, Tusq nut and saddle, and chrome Taylor sealed tuning machines. The polished gloss finish gives the BBTe an elegant look.

Overall the all-solid wood construction of the BBTe delivers the balanced tone Taylor is known for, with the spruce and walnut pairing nicely to offer both sparkling highs and warm low end. The guitar is built to Taylor's high standards for playability and longevity.

If you're looking for another high-quality acoustic-electric guitar option, check out the Fender AUS-0370121532-COMBO-PRO. This guitar features a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides for a well-balanced tone. It comes equipped with a Fishman pickup and preamp system for amplifying your sound. The slim neck profile is comfortable to play while the gloss finish gives it a classic look.

With its all-solid wood body and Fishman electronics, the Fender AUS-0370121532-COMBO-PRO is an excellent choice for the acoustic guitarist who also wants to plug in. It delivers rich acoustic tone along with stage-ready amplified performance. Between the Taylor BBTe and Fender AUS-0370121532-COMBO-PRO, you have two fantastic options for acoustic-electric guitars built from quality tonewoods.

Electronics

The Taylor FB02006016005151000 features Taylor's Expression System 2 electronics. This system utilizes Taylor's ES-2 pickup and preamp, designed specifically for acoustic guitars.

The ES-2 pickup has three uniquely positioned and calibrated behind-the-saddle pickups that capture the guitar's dynamic sound from string vibrations through the body. There are no sounds holes or extra routing required. This helps maintain the guitar's structural integrity and protects its tone.

The ES-2 preamp has easy to use volume and tone controls, allowing you to shape your amplified tone. There's also a built-in chromatic tuner, making on-stage tuning quick and convenient. The preamp's design ensures no muffling at high gain settings. The battery compartment is easily accessible as well.

Overall, the Expression System 2 electronics help accurately translate the Taylor FB02006016005151000's acoustic resonance and sustain when amplified. This gives you great amplified sound quality and flexibility in shaping your tone.

When looking for an acoustic-electric guitar with quality electronics, the Fesley FDET280 is an excellent choice. This guitar features a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides for warm, balanced tone. The FDET280 has a built-in preamp and pickup system that faithfully reproduces the guitar's natural acoustic sound when plugged in. The preamp has simple controls for volume, bass, mid, and treble so you can shape your amplified tone. An onboard tuner makes on-stage tuning fast and easy. The preamp runs on a 9V battery with easy access from the soundhole. Overall, the Fesley FDET280's electronics capture the nuances of the guitar's acoustic tone and make this an extremely versatile acoustic-electric for stage and studio use. When you need excellent amplified acoustic tone and flexibility, the Fesley FDET280 is a top choice to consider.

The Taylor FB02006016005151000's Expression System 2 electronics are designed specifically for acoustic guitars to accurately amplify their natural resonance and sustain. Simple controls let you shape your amplified tone, while the onboard tuner makes on-stage tuning convenient. For another quality acoustic-electric with great electronics, look at the Fesley FDET280. Its preamp and pickup system faithfully reproduce the guitar's warm, balanced acoustic tone when plugged in. With volume, bass, mid, and treble controls, you can dial in your ideal amplified sound. The easy-access battery compartment and built-in tuner also make the Fesley FDET280 a flexible, convenient acoustic-electric for gigs and recording. When shopping for an acoustic-electric guitar with electronics to suit your needs, both the Taylor FB02006016005151000 and Fesley FDET280 are great options to consider.

Tonewoods

The Taylor FB02006016005151000 features beautiful solid Sitka spruce on the top and stunning Claro walnut back and sides. This combination produces a rich, complex tonal palette that will only improve with age.

The solid Sitka spruce top is a favorite among acoustic players for its balanced and articulate tone. It has an expansive dynamic range that allows the guitar to project while also capturing intricate fingerstyle playing. The clarity in the high end combined with the top's sensitivity makes this an extremely responsive guitar.

The Claro walnut back and sides add warmth and sweetness to the tone. Walnut has a clear midrange focus that complements spruce's sparkling highs. It also has a strong low end, giving the guitar depth and resonance. The walnut's natural compression helps even out the guitar's response when playing harder. Overall, the pairing of spruce and walnut creates a vintage tone profile with complexity and character.

Playability

The Taylor FB02006016005151000 features Taylor's comfortable and familiar Grand Auditorium neck shape. The neck has a slim C profile that feels great in the hand, allowing easy access to the higher frets.

The action height on this model is set medium-low from the factory, resulting in very comfortable playability right out of the box. Most players will be pleased with the action as set up by Taylor's expert technicians in California. The action delivers clear, buzz-free tones while still being low enough for fast lead lines and intricate fingerpicking.

Experienced players who want to tweak the setup can easily adjust the truss rod and saddle height to tweak the action to their personal preferences. Overall, the playability of the FB02006016005151000 makes it a joy to play for all skill levels.

Sound

The Taylor FB02006016005151000 produces a bright, balanced acoustic tone that projects well. The combination of Sitka spruce top and walnut back and sides provides clarity in the highs and warmth in the lows for a very pleasing and balanced sound.

The top is made of solid Sitka spruce, which is known for its crisp, articulate highs and excellent resonance. Sitka spruce is a popular choice for acoustic guitar tops thanks to its lightweight strength and balanced tone. It responds well to both aggressive and fingerstyle playing.

The back and sides are solid walnut, which adds warmth and richness to the tone. Walnut has a clear, focused midrange and strong low-end, adding depth and body to the overall sound. Its darker hue also helps accentuate the highs coming from the spruce top.

Together, the spruce and walnut create a guitar with great headroom. It can be played lightly and still ring out with full, projecting tone. When strummed hard, it has enough volume and sustain to hold its own in any ensemble situation. The electronics also accurately amplify the warm yet bright character of the guitar.

Overall, players looking for a rich acoustic tone with sparkling highs, lush lows, and excellent dynamic range will appreciate the sound of the Taylor FB02006016005151000. It's impressively balanced for both solo, accompaniment, and amplified needs.

Aesthetics

The Taylor BBTe has an attractive and refined aesthetic that many guitar players will enjoy. It features a simple yet elegant satin finish that allows the guitar's tonewoods to really shine through.

The BBTe has minimal ornamentation, with the only real visual flair being a basic rosette around the soundhole. Some may find the aesthetics to be overly plain, but the guitar still maintains a sense of refined simplicity and elegance. Those who prefer a more ornate guitar may want to look elsewhere, but the BBTe's minimalist look helps highlight the natural beauty of the tonewoods.

The combination of the satin finish and unadorned soundhole makes for an acoustic-electric guitar that looks great on stage or in the studio. While not flashy, the BBTe has an understated attractiveness. Players who want a guitar more about substance than style will appreciate the BBTe's aesthetics. It forgoes visual embellishments to let the materials and construction quality speak for themselves.

Versatility

The Taylor BBTe is a highly versatile acoustic-electric guitar suitable for a wide range of musical styles and playing techniques. The thinline body shape and compact size make it comfortable for both seated and standing playing positions. The smooth satin neck allows for easy transitions up and down the fretboard during solos or lead lines.

Whether you prefer fingerstyle techniques or strumming chords, the BBTe accommodates both approaches equally well. The dynamic electronics amplify the warm, balanced tone across all frequencies, ensuring your fingerpicking is heard accurately. The body shape allows comfortable access to the lower register when using your thumb to pluck bass notes.

The cutaway provides unfettered access to even the highest frets, making this a great guitar for playing leads and hitting higher register notes. The slim neck profile and low action facilitate quick runs up and down the neck. The Taylor neck feels fast and sleek, allowing lead lines to sing out clearly when plugged in.

Overall, the versatility of the BBTe makes it a smart choice for guitarists who play both fingerstyle and strumming approaches across genres like folk, country, pop, rock, blues, and more.

Pros

The Taylor FB02006016005151000 acoustic-electric guitar has several excellent features that make it a quality instrument.

• The all-solid wood construction using Sitka spruce on the top and walnut back and sides produces a full, balanced tone that projects well. The combination of spruce and walnut creates brightness and clarity in the treble with warmth and richness in the bass and mid-range.

• The onboard ES-B pickup and preamp system accurately captures the guitar's natural acoustic tone. The pickup blends seamlessly with the guitar's resonance for amplified performance. The preamp provides easy access to volume and tone controls right on the guitar.

• The premium materials like an ebony fingerboard and bridge, and tortoise style pickguard add to the aesthetic appeal. Polished chrome tuners provide smooth and reliable tuning stability. The overall fit and finish is outstanding.

• The Grand Auditorium body shape with Venetian cutaway provides excellent comfort and playability. Access to upper frets is easy while still retaining balanced tone. The neck profile is slim for fast playing yet still comfortable.

Overall the quality tonewoods, electronics, and attention to construction detail make this an excellent acoustic-electric guitar with great sound, playability, and aesthetics. Taylor's craftsmanship shines through in this model.

Cons

The main downside of the Taylor BBTe is its higher price point. This guitar retails for around $1,800, which puts it out of reach for many players. While Taylor's attention to detail and quality craftsmanship justify the cost, it's still a significant investment.

For players on a tight budget, it may be difficult to rationalize spending this much on an acoustic-electric model, especially if you're just starting out. While the BBTe would serve as an excellent lifetime guitar, beginners may be better served buying a cheaper model and upgrading later on.

The high price tag also means the BBTe faces stiff competition from other makers. Martin, Gibson, and Larrivee all produce excellent acoustic-electrics in this price range. While the Taylor name and reputation give it an edge, players have lots of great options.

Ultimately, the BBTe's premium price makes it more of an aspirational instrument. It's a wonderful acoustic-electric, but probably overkill for casual players. The price and competition mean it's not an easy choice, even for intermediate players. Taylor's masterful craftsmanship makes the BBTe appeal mainly to seasoned musicians who can fully utilize its potential.