2006 Taylor NS42CE
This wonderful hybrid guitar was made in the El Cajon, California, plant in September of 2006, according to its serial number (20060928703) and the Taylor website. The NS42-CE is a substantial upgrade from the typical “classical” or “hybrid” guitar from other makers, with a last MSRP of about $2200 (In 2006. The Taylor equivalent today is the 412-CE Nylon, which lists for $2658). However, its superiority is in the quality of its woods and design rather than in flashy finish and inlays. This particular guitar has been dominating lesser instruments for thirteen years now, and the resonance of its tonewoods will only improve. Its gorgeous appearance makes it stand out in a crowd, but it’s the purity of the vintage Taylor sound that will make other musicians turn around to check it out.
The Taylor NS42-CE is a deep grand concert style guitar with a single Venetian cutaway for ease of playing the entire fingerboard. It has a solid Sitka Spruce top and beautifully figured Ovangkol Mahogany back, sides, and neck, all in a semi-gloss natural finish. The top, fretboard, and back are fully bound, and it has an ebony wrap-around bridge and a beautiful inlaid rosette. The 12/18-fret ebony fingerboard ends in a mahogany veneer headstock with three-per-side gold-plated Taylor tuners and the gold Taylor logo.
The Taylor/Fishman Prefix Pro System electronics has just been professionally checked out and works perfectly. The nut is 1 7/8,” just slightly wider than the usual 1 ¾” nut of Taylor steel-string guitars, making the transition from one to the other effortless. The action is fast and smooth, and the sound is beautifully balanced and resonant, with the crisp, bright tone for which Taylor is famous, whether “plugged” or “unplugged.”
As with most thirteen-year-old guitars which have been played—no matter how carefully and lovingly—there is a superficial flaw, a dent and professionally repaired hairline crack in the lower bout, visible if you know where to look and get right up to it. Otherwise, there are virtually no cosmetic items to report, and structurally it is perfect. This is a truly attractive instrument, and it has been making music and turning heads for quite a while. Hopefully, it will pass into the hands of a player able to make music and turn heads for a generation or two to come.
The included non-original hard shell case is virtually new and fits the grand concert body perfectly. Naturally, the latches are shiny, the plush lining is in great shape, keys are included, and structurally it is solid as a rock. While it has a few bruises, it is an ideal complement for this wonderful guitar—and of course offers outstanding protection for your investment.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I have made every effort to describe and illustrate this outstanding guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. Its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to purchase it.
Thank you for your interest in this cool guitar!
Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.