Taylor Gold Label 517e

Vintage Sunburst Meets a Bold Firestripe Pickguard

This Sunburst finish brings a warm, traditional look to the Taylor Gold Label 517e, an acoustic-electric that masterfully blends old-school warmth with modern playability and precision. Part of Taylor’s innovative Gold Label Collection, this guitar introduces a powerful new dimension with a deep, expansive voice and extraordinary projection. The heart of the 517e is its round-shoulder Grand Pacific body shape, which delivers a new flavor of rich, warm Taylor tone, distinct from its brighter siblings—here dressed in a hand-shaded Sunburst top and finished with a striking Firestripe pickguard for a look as distinctive as the sound. It’s designed for the player who craves a mature, played-in sound from the very first strum, offering a rich midrange character with a clear, woody response that's perfect for a wide range of playing styles.

Exquisite Materials & Voicing

The sound of the 517e begins with its tonewoods. It features a solid torrefied Sitka spruce top, a process that roasts the wood to produce the sweet, responsive character of a vintage, well-aged instrument. This is paired with solid neo-tropical mahogany back and sides, a legendary tonewood prized for its strong, balanced midrange and articulation. The result is a sound that is both powerful and clear. Internally, the guitar is powered by Taylor’s revolutionary fanned V-Class bracing, which boosts volume, extends sustain, and improves intonation across the entire fretboard.

Action Control Neck and Gold Label Appointments

The 517e uses Taylor’s long-tenon Action Control Neck joint, exclusive to the Gold Label Collection. The long-tenon construction increases the wood coupling between neck and body for extra low-end resonance, while a built-in micro-adjustment system lets our techs fine-tune string height with far more precision than a standard neck reset would allow—without ever pulling the neck. It’s finished with the Collection’s signature look: a modified headstock with an angled back cut, a Honduran rosewood "Curve Wing" bridge with Indian rosewood bridge pins, cream Crest inlays across the fretboard and peghead, and cream body binding—set off here against the Sunburst top and Firestripe pickguard for one of the more eye-catching finishes in the Gold Label line.

Component Specifications

• Model: Gold Label 517e
• Body Shape: Grand Pacific
• Top Wood: Torrefied Sitka Spruce
• Back & Side Wood: Neo-Tropical Mahogany
• Bracing: Fanned V-Class with Tonal Route
• Neck: Neo-Tropical Mahogany with Standard Carve profile and satin finish
• Fretboard: West African Crelicam Ebony
• Scale Length: 25-1/2"
• Nut Width: 1-3/4"
• Electronics: LR Baggs - Element VTC
• Pickguard: Firestripe
• Finish: Sunburst Gloss Top
• Bridge: Honduran Rosewood "Curve Wing"
• Nut: TUSQ | Saddle: Micarta
• Tuning Machines: Taylor Nickel
• Strings: D’Addario XS Coated Phosphor Bronze, Light
• Case: Gold Label Hardshell Case in British Cocoa

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Sunburst/Firestripe 517e a limited or special-run finish?

The Sunburst top with Firestripe pickguard is one of several finish options Taylor offers on the Gold Label 517e alongside the natural gloss top—it uses the same Grand Pacific body, tonewoods, and electronics as the rest of the 517e line, so you're getting identical tone and construction in a different finish.

Does it come with a case?

Yes. It ships with a Gold Label Hardshell Case in British Cocoa at no additional cost.

Is it set up and ready to play when I buy it from Town Center Music?

Yes. Every guitar we sell, including this 517e, gets a full professional setup—a $75 value—free of charge, with action, intonation, and neck relief dialed in before it leaves our shop.

Why Buy from Town Center Music?

For over 13 years, Town Center Music has been the heart of the music scene for Atlanta and the surrounding areas. We’re not just a store; we’re a community of musicians. Our experienced and friendly staff are passionate about gear and dedicated to helping you find the perfect instrument. They know their stuff and are excited to share that knowledge with you, ensuring you walk out with a guitar you'll love for a lifetime.

To make sure your new Taylor 517e plays perfectly from the moment you pick it up, every guitar we sell includes a comprehensive, professional setup from our in-house TCM Repair Shop luthiers. This service, a $75 value, is our gift to you. Our experts will adjust the action, intonation, and neck to ensure optimal playability, tailored to your style. When you buy from Town Center Music, you're not just getting a world-class instrument; you're getting the best service and support in Atlanta.