u/_beshook

My 2026 Taylor K24ce Builders

I truly feel I hit the Koa lottery on the top and even the back which determined my keeping the guitar versus exchanging due to issues that I fortunately was able to mitigate on my own accord.

I usually buy pre owned guitars, ensuring caution on their value in the event I don’t bond and need to move them on. I usually find great deals in Houston or elsewhere, but when it came to the 2026 new generation, I wanted a k24 builders with the adjustable neck and 3 holes not predrilled into the upper bout. Being newly released, a “pre loved” specimen would probably be a few years away, or more.

I will start with the “not so good” and get it out of the way.

Fret topography was not perfect. I didn’t think to pull out my fret rocker first thing and start checking everything head to toe, a guitar this exciting begets playing, immediately. But with the action feeling quite a bit high, and now knowing I’m in full control of that with the action adjustment rod, the un-level frets were happened upon when tailoring the action to my needs. And to be clear, I like my 12th fret string height approx 2.25-30mm when the guitar is neck angled well with a saddle that’s at correct height and not sanded down to nil. I fingerpick and strum, so a fine balance there of decent height for some heavier picking attack, in juxtaposition to comfort of fingerpicking is a balance I’ll dial in instrument to instrument.

Having discovered several frets peaking in their plane, I marked them and discerned that in order to rectify this I’ll need to gently level them and recrown and polish. The process went well, and now the fret topography is dead level across the board and action has been dialed in to a very nice 2.20mm on the bass side.

During setup I also discovered the nut slot depth was not deep enough. Measuring the gap at first fret showed that it needed some attention which took some gentle filing and re measuring. Afterward, notes no longer sharp when fretted and my hand no longer sore. I also sanded and polished the nut to a better shine. The material was easy to work with.

The saddle was cut roughly, had scores on it, wasn’t very attractive and so I ended up replacing with a Taylor bone saddle, mimicked in perfect height and shape to the one it was delivered with. Huge difference in tone if you ask me.

Koa is probably my favorite tonewood. I have another Taylor 2011 “GC-K” that has had plenty of time to open up over the years and it’s so true that new koa is shy. That is the case here with mine, the balance of sound and volume string to string and note separation is astounding, but when brand new, quite subdued and compressed; all descriptors that many have used when describing new koa.

This isn’t a “bad” thing but if someone were expecting leaping notes and spruce/coco responsiveness, their disappointment would be nigh.

After having had the guitar and playing for a few months, it absolutely has opened up which leads me to the good.

Look at how gorgeous this guitar is. I mean holy mother every time I look at this thing I wanna pick it up.

After playing very consistently for a few months it has opened up and the sheen, “hifi” Taylor sound with trebles controlled and a bass that tickles my chest, it’s no wonder they become lifetime guitars and heirlooms beyond that. Every note rings out true and the overtones and intonation are incredible. Put a capo on when it’s in perfect tune then and play up the register -in perfect tune. That’s solid intonation. Love it.

I have a 2018 K14ce builders that is of the silent satin finish, but I prefer the gloss not because of what it might do to tone or any squeak it might make, but because of my lust for wood grain patterns that just look so three dimensional to the point you can almost taste it are prioritized on my “importance meter”. My k14 is up for sale, currently, as I do need to recoup some funds expended.

I’m looking forward to this guitar continuing to open up and give back over years to come. My very first gigging guitar was a 114ce that sadly years later was stolen, but I have a special place in my heart for Taylor due to that guitar and all the songs I’ve written on their guitars since. At some point when I can I will sit down and start filming/recording audio and video of this guitar. I’m backlogged with work and other projects and actual guitars in my shop that I’m working on, but this one deserves a little attention in the future.

If you have any questions about this instrument, I’m happy to share my experience beyond what I’ve written above.

Cheers

Brandon
Beshook Studios

Been posting a bunch on the Martin 0-10e Isbell and happened to stroll into GC today and see one of these hanging there amongst all the other juniors and Taylor minis etc.

Pulled it down and really jived with it. I know there’s some stark opinions on MiM Martins, but this thing sounded great with dead strings. Well I’m a Sweetwater guy and happened to see this one on their site with a grain pattern I couldn’t ignore and went ahead pulled the trigger. The extra funds I’m getting fixing guitars helped me get this one. I kinda wanna do a before and after and do the same mods I did to the 0-10e and see how it goes. Gosh I’m kinda excited for this 000c-jr streetmasta! Might see a video 🤔

A few days ago I posted some pics of the little upgrades I did on a Martin 0-10e JI

Before having to give it back I quickly recorded some sound demonstrations and gave a little overview. I’ll eventually upload this to YT in a few days but I’ve been enjoying the engagement here in this group and wanted to share.

Thanks and enjoy!

The 0-10e is a sweet little guitar. Some prior conversation surrounding another post on the Facebook Martin forum led me to share some pics and talk about what I did for the customer that brought it to me.

We talked a lot about the old pre war 0-17’s and how much they fetch nowadays. Unless you are pulling in mega bucks and really have money to throw around, 5-20k is generally the price range that’s out there which is obviously reflective of what collectors value. With Martin not offering a stated “0-17” reissue, the isbell is the closest thing out there, but obviously MIM.

So we put an ebony nut where a Corian nut used to be, and I fashioned a bone saddle by hand and ordered bleached bone pins to match. The ebony was cut from scratch, I shaped it, slotted it, polished it, buff.. you get the idea. After inspecting the inside the X braces are scalloped and the tone braces are tall-ish. I just ever so slightly removed some material (I’m talking dust) off the tone bars to relieve some of the top, and we landed on 13-56 D’Addario XS tuned to Eb standard or D standard which both felt right.

I really enjoyed working on this one, it lit up those receptors in my head for pleasing acoustic tone and as small as the 0 sizes are, they have a lot to say.

Took out my macro lens and decided to give it a go.

Enjoy!

I like to take the acoustics (like the coco) and do some work the befits what I would like to have

Here is a list of what I did (not in order)

1. Rolled fretboard edges

2. Cut new bone nut with lower height profile and mimicked 1 3/4” spacing.

3. refret with nickel frets and I had never had a chance to do one where tangs are exposed and it looks awesome and came out good. The rosewood itself is a bit rough and meh, which is why I did 4.

4. Darkened fretboard and bridge a bit with India black ink. Re sanded lightly to bring back natural color but the shade is more of what I prefer (almost all my keepers are ebony it’s just my preferred)

5. Sanded neck and bridge to smooth as glass. Took bridge down a few thousandths with cabinet scraper and careful sanding

6. De-shined tuners to make it look more like Taylor builders edition tuners. Just a look thing.

7. Re strung with daddario bronze strings which actually was an accident I grabbed the wrong pack and was like “what the heck let’s try them”

Next thing I may do is go under and scallop the bracing bit more which a builder I know has done to edit some of the responsiveness. I may throw in a baggs Hifi if I ever wanna take it out. Anyway. I love Koa and for the price it is, it’s a solid instrument. Ofc it doesn’t measure up to my k24ce builders but at. A fraction of the price and solid wood, can’t go wrong!

I was really happy with the figuring on this koa. It’s well built. But I’ll mod it a bit for my liking. I didn’t hae a pro camera in these pics just my iPhone for now.