Taylor Guitars NAMM #26 Custom GC Blackheart Sassafras / Engelmann B6026
Taylor
Regular price $4,499.00
Unit price per
Taylor Custom Grand Concert 14-Fret NAMM B2026 Blackheart Sassafras
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If you’re searching for something truly distinctive, this guitar deserves your attention. The Taylor Custom Grand Concert 2026 NAMM Show #26 B6026 pairs Blackheart Sassafras back and sides with an Engelmann spruce top for exceptional beauty and tone. Its striking, highly figured tonewoods are enhanced by Taylor’s Antique Blonde finish, while contrasting figured Hawaiian koa binding elegantly frames the body. A ‘spotted cow’ Ebony fingerboard adds some exotic flare to this masterpiece. The NAMM custom guitars, commonly known as Catch Guitars, are offered to dealers during a dealers only Taylor Guitars Event held in Anaheim, CA as part of the annual NAMM Show. These guitars have limited availability.
Blackheart Sassafras
Best Suited For: A wide range of playing styles. Often described as a “chameleon” tonewood, Blackheart Sassafras tends to reflect the player’s touch and technique. Depending on playing approach and body style, it can evoke tonal qualities similar to mahogany, rosewood, maple, walnut, or other woods.
Blackheart Sassafras is a rare and visually striking variation of the sassafras tree native to Tasmania. Its name comes from the dark, dramatic streaking that contrasts with the naturally blond wood, created by fungi that develop within the heartwood. Beyond its distinctive appearance, this tonewood offers a uniquely balanced voice. It combines the dry, woody character of walnut or mahogany, the clarity and focus of maple or myrtle, and the shimmering overtones commonly associated with rosewood, resulting in a truly versatile and expressive sound.
Engelmann spruce is sometimes referred to as white, European, or German spruce, though these are technically different species. Visually, it can usually be distinguished from Sitka spruce by its lighter, creamier appearance. High-quality Engelmann has become increasingly scarce, as today’s trees are often smaller and more irregular in shape. This can lead to greater grain runout—where the grain doesn’t run parallel to the surface—and, in some cases, less perfectly matched tops.
From a tonal standpoint, Engelmann is known for its mature, seasoned voice and slightly fuller midrange compared to Sitka, giving guitars a more “played-in” character. Old-growth Engelmann, in particular, was prized for its smooth, refined sound, though supplies of this older material are now extremely limited.
- Grand Concert 14-Fret Body
- Venetian Cutaway
- Taylor Claria Pickup
- Engelmann Spruce Top
- Blackheart Sassafras Back and Sides
- Figured Hawaiian Koa Single Ring Rosette
- Figured Koa Binding
- Satin Body Finish
- Koa Backstrap
- ’Spotted Cow’ West African Ebony Fingerboard
- Stained Bone Bridge Pins
- V-Class Bracing
- Antique Blond Body / Neck Finish
- 1-3/4’’ Nut Width
- 24-7/8" Scale Length
- Slotted Headstock
- Figured West African Peghead Veneer
- Phosphor Bronze Light Gauge Strings
- Taylor Hardshell Case
- Product Code #1210275070
- Stock Code M028001118404661262-26C26
- UPC 00887766145820