Shop Keyboard Deals, Financing, and More

Taylor GT K21e Acoustic-electric Guitar - Shaded Edgeburst

6-string Acoustic-electric with Koa Top, Back, and Sides, Koa Neck, and Ebony Fingerboard - Shaded Edgeburst
Building your custom Guitar Gallery
$5,999.00

Earn $300 back in Bonus Bucks OR pay $125/month with 48 month financing*

In Stock!

Add to Cart
Notify me about deals

Ask An Expert

Our expertly trained Sales Engineers are ready to help!

What is a Sales Engineer?
Sweetwater Gear Exchange

Have one to sell?
Check out Sweetwater's Gear Exchange!
Learn More

Most Popular Accessories & Related Items

Taylor GT K21e Acoustic-electric Guitar - Shaded Edgeburst
In Stock!
$5,999.00
Add to Cart
Add to list
Back to navigation

This article was Written By

Our Product Research Team

Get to know them!

Stunning All-koa Acoustic-electric Guitar from Taylor

Taylor’s GT series has made quite the splash since its 2020 debut. Building on that momentum, Taylor now introduces the GT K21e Acoustic-electric Guitar. This all-koa acoustic offers the same smaller-bodied design as the flagship GT, but it does so in beloved koa — a tonewood so strikingly unique in its sonic presentation. And the koa of the GT K21e not only grabs your ears, it captivates your eyes as well with a gorgeous red-brown to dark-brown patterned grain in various stripes throughout. The GT K21e also features a stunning Crelicam ebony fingerboard that is smooth, playable, and easy on the fingers. And with Taylor's renowned Expression System 2 electronics, you can plug in knowing that only the sharpest, truest amplified acoustic tone will be sent through your PA to the ears of your audience.

Unique undersized playing design

The Grand Theater body is sized between the ultra-comfortable GS Mini and Taylor's classic Grand Concert body style. The GT K21e offers a unique undersized playing experience with a marginally shorter neck scale length of 24 and 1/8th inches — an almost imperceptible difference, but one that facilitates comfort and playability. Even the fret spacing on the GT K21e has been slightly reduced, enhancing the ability to fret chords and execute leads up and down the neck with ease.

Koa: amazing tonewood properties

The big volume and robust projection of the GT K21e stems, in part, from the incredible attributes of koa — an upfront midrange, a snappy treble, and a rich low-end foundation that only expands and improves with time. Koa also stuns with its compressed, controlled dynamics and enhanced sustain that decays evenly, making it an ideal tonewood for both performance and recording. But the GT K21e also gets a boost in sonic punch thanks to Taylor’s new, innovative C-class bracing. This cantilevered, asymmetrical bracing design occupies less real estate than traditional bracing patterns, while merging stiffness and flexibility to expand the instrument's bass response.

Expression 2 electronics for clear amplified tone

The Expression System 2 (ES2) electronics in the GT K21e feature a 3-section proprietary pickup located behind the guitar’s saddle for clear and accurate sound reproduction. A master volume control and a pair of tone controls enable you to tweak your sound and output from the stage; a discreet phase switch provides vital onboard feedback suppression — a feature many acoustic performers here at Sweetwater find extremely practical.

Taylor GT K21e Acoustic-electric Guitar Features:

  • All-koa acoustic-electric with undersized design delivers comfort and big sound
  • Koa presents a gorgeous red-brown to dark-brown patterned grain in various stripes throughout
  • Stunning Crelicam ebony fingerboard is smooth, playable, and easy on the fingers
  • Slightly shorter neck scale length of 24.125 inches adds more comfort
  • Koa exhibits upfront midrange with a rich low-end foundation that will only expand and improve with time
  • Koa also offers compressed, controlled dynamics and enhanced sustain that decays evenly, making it an ideal tonewood for both performance and recording
  • ES2 electronics for clear and accurate sound reproduction
  • Cantilevered, asymmetrical C-class bracing design occupies less real estate than traditional bracing patterns, while merging stiffness and flexibility to expand the bass response
  • Captivating maple "Spring Vine" fingerboard inlays
  • Gotoh Mini 510 antique-gold tuning machines offer incredibly sensitive, accurate tuning

Why Buy Your Guitar from Sweetwater?

See how Sweetwater goes to great lengths to give you the very best online guitar buying experience. From our online Guitar Gallery that allows you to see and select the exact instrument you want to our 55-point Inspection process and our in-house guitar techs, we take the guesswork out of buying your next guitar online.

Additional Media

Warranty Info

Sweetwater's FREE 2-Year Total Confidence Coverage Warranty

Extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

  • Save money with FREE parts and labor
  • Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time
  • Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department
Learn More about Total Confidence Coverage

Free 2-year Warranty

Sweetwater's 2-year Total Confidence Coverage™ Warranty gives you extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

Learn More about Total Confidence Coverage
Tools Icon

Save money with free parts & labor!

Fast Icon

Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time.

Award Icon

Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department.

Back to navigation

Tech Specs

  • String Type: Steel
  • Number of Strings: 6
  • Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
  • Body Shape: Grand Theater
  • Back & Sides Wood: Solid Hawaiian Koa
  • Top Wood: Solid Hawaiian Koa
  • Finish: Gloss
  • Color: Shaded Edgeburst
  • Body Bracing: C-Class
  • Binding: Maple
  • Neck Wood: Mahogany
  • Neck Shape: GT carve
  • Radius: 15"
  • Fingerboard Material: Crelicam Ebony
  • Fingerboard Inlay: Maple Spring Vine
  • Number of Frets: 20
  • Scale Length: 24.125"
  • Nut Width: 1.7"
  • Nut/Saddle Material: Tusq
  • Bridge Material: Ebony
  • Tuning Machines: Gotoh Mini 510 Antique Gold
  • Electronics: Taylor ES-2
  • Strings: D'Addario XS Phosphor Bronze, .012-.053
  • Case Included: Softshell Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: AK04036011000180048

What Makes Our Sales Engineers Great?

Sweetwater Sales Engineers are a world-class team of experts dedicated to you. Hand selected from across the globe, each brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the world of music gear to provide you with unparalleled service completely free of charge. Friendly relationships, real trust, and the right gear are only a call or a click away!

Back to navigation

Customer Reviews

Write your review
Rated 5/5

Taylor GT K21e

I waited and procrastinated a year before finally getting this incredibly nice Addition to the Taylor line. The sound is clear and vibrant with buttery undertones in the lower range. You can apply the Goldy Locks approach to this Guitar, it's perfection in so many ways. It should only get better with age.
The price was a little out of my comfort range, hence the long runway to finally pulling the trigger, but the folks at Sweetwater made the process easier with a small discount as well as helping to choose which one among the different serial numbered guitars . The guitar was shipped the next day after purchased. Sweetwater kept me up to date on shipping/delivery with tracking Number. The unit was shipped a box in a box with plenty of padding, so the guitar arrived unschathed.
I am impressed with the gig bag, nice fit and plenty of padding all around, good straps and heavy material.
The Taylor GT K21e was money well spent and worth every penny!
If you are comfortable with the cost, go for it!
Rated 5/5

Amazing

This is a very unique guitar. It's so comfortable and easy to play. Absolutely beautiful. Great tone. If you can afford it. By it . You won't regret it
Rated 5/5

Breathtaking sound and looks

I have been strictly a Martin guy forever, until now. I was looking for a Koa wood guitar sized for camping trips. Taylor makes a smaller version, but when I tried that I didn't care for the tone. This model, however, is perfectly sized for what I want it for and sounds rich and full. A tiny bit on the treble side, but I'm hoping that will mellow over time. It has been good for finger picking and strumming. Yes, it's expensive for a "camping" guitar, but in my opinion it's totally worth it. I was initially skeptical about the case because all my guitars have hard cases. It turns out this case is exactly what I needed because of its backpacking straps. Don't let the fact that it's a travel case fool you. It is very substantial and protective. I won't be checking it on a plane, but I wouldn't do that to any guitar. My only complaint is that it has electric capabilities built in. I have no need for that and I wish Taylor made that optional. The guitar is so incredible that I am willing to overlook that. Bottom line, if you like the looks of an instrument as much as the tone, this will not disappoint!
Music background: Guitar player 45 years
Rated 5/5

Taylor's new Jewel box

I've had the GT K21e for a few weeks now. Right out of the box, I could sense it was a special little guitar. The action and muscle necessary to get a clear sound was so easy. It is as louder or louder than my 512ce 12 fret Ltd. It is gorgeous. The case is luxurious, just love the back pack straps. Only drawback is there is not any room inside the case for tuner/capo, all storage is in the outer pockets which can hold lots of music.
With an inspection mirror, I was amazed at how lightly braced the top is, I hope the single main brace can keep the bridge from warping in the long haul. It's like nothing I've seen before on a top. But this bracing, I'm sure has a hand in how amazing the guitar sounds. I chose one from Sweetwater to minimize the Simmons Wedge of the back, it is a 4 pc. back and noticeable on most of the specimens.
The guitar and travel case begs to go out and gig, although at its' expense/value it is a risk not easily taken.
I think it is my "if you can only grab one in the fire" guitar and that is saying a lot!
If you don't have a wife, kid's needing your money, and some extra $$$ burning a hole in your bank account and love Koa wood, treat yourself. You will love this little guitar.

As one of the nation's top Taylor Guitars dealers, Sweetwater receives regular on-site training from Bob, Andy, and the rest of the Taylor crew. We're also, many of us, Taylor players ourselves, and we're happy to steer you in the right direction once you're ready to make the leap. New to Taylor? Our Find Your Fit guide simplifies Taylor body shapes, woods, and series. Longtime player? Our Taylor Custom Shop, annual limited editions, and in-house mods offer a level of exclusivity you won't find in stores. Whatever your pleasure, Sweetwater's climate-controlled warehouse and 55-point Inspection ensure your Taylor guitar arrives ready to play just as the manufacturer intended.

Close Close $2,000 Pick Your PRS Giveaway -- input your email address below to enter or click here to learn more.

See giveaway details & rules or check out our past winners!

Success!

Your email, has been entered to win this giveaway. Good Luck!