It's not often that a name like Taylor comes around to re-do a standard, but for a Southern California tonewood like Urban Ironbark, they've made an exception. Taylor's 500 Series existed previously as a guitar series utilizing what they call a "Heritage" tonewood – mahogany. After years of dedicating the 500 Series to this tonewood, a striking development in wood sourcing brings Taylor to a new creation and a new series of guitars to stand as 500s. The Taylor Urban Ironbark 500 Series comes to fruition as the first series of guitars featuring an urban-sourced tonewood to replace a heritage tonewood. This should be no cause for alarm, however, as this new wood in Taylor's catalog – formally called red ironbark – is as vibrant, lush, and radiant as your favorite Taylor tonewood.
Urban Ironbark is comparable to ebony in its density and Indian rosewood in its sonic depth. Somewhere in between these two woods, Urban Ironbark tonally is loud, sweet, and complex. The Urban Ironbark in this new 500 series is paired with torrefied Sitka spruce tops to complete a new musical formula never heard before. The Urban Ironbark 500 Series starts with its namesake Urban Ironbark back and sides and a torrefied Sitka spruce top. Internally, the series features V-Class bracing to compound upon the fullness of its voice. In hand, the 500 Series matches this distinct body design with a Neo-Tropical mahogany neck and a West African Crelicam ebony fingerboard appointed with a new fret inlay design. Faux tortoise binding and an abalone rosette outline the curvature of the 500 Series splendidly. Each Urban Ironbark 500 Series guitar comes equipped with Taylor's Expression System 2 electronics for easy plug in and performance.
The Grand Auditorium is Taylor Guitars' most popular shape, and for good reason. This guitar sits in a middle space between all of the great body styles, making it an excellent multi-tool for all playing styles. The 25 1/2" scale length, 20" body length, and 4 5/8" body depth are just right for playing comfort combined with a massive volume cap. The GA body responds well to fingerstyle, heavy strumming, and everything in between. The powerful and rich tone of Urban Ironbark, topped with the responsive and worn in sound of torrefied Sitka work seamlessly with the 514ce body style.
Taylor's dedication to reinvention, musicality, and their Southern Californian roots comes to life in the Urban Ironbark 500 Series. A treasure found at home, red ironbark makes a grand entry into Taylor's family of tonewoods.
