I have been drawn to 12 fret GCs because the bridge placement fundamentally changes the guitar's tone into a more traditional sound. All of the buzz surrounding Taylor 12 frets suggests to me that for as much as we love Taylors there is a desire for a different sound within the brand.
I don't think anyone is saying that Taylor should deep six the tone that has become its hallmark. Nevertheless, Taylor loyalists seem to welcome the tonal variety and flexibility that these guitars provide from a builder whom we already love.
I could have spent the next year or so auditioning a bunch of uneven sounding Gibsons and then picking out the best sounding guitar with pretty spare appointments. On the other hand, the Taylor 12 fret BTO gives me a very traditional tone with superior appointments within a brand that I already know and love. And I say this as someone who loves traditional Gibson tone.
I think you just nailed what I keep hoping Taylor will do with their guitar lines. Taylor could really tap into the market for traditional tone by offering it alongside their trademark fit, finish, and consistency. Obviously the acoustic/electric market is their bread and butter. That said, I would love to see the "acoustic" series transformed into a "traditional" series that is very much built along the same lines as the 12-fret. This gives more contrast to the two series lines and could be a great way for Taylors to end up in the hands of players who are currently choosing other brands, whether that's traditional powers like Martin and Gibson or smaller shops like Collings and Santa Cruz. I think Taylor is in a unique position where they can go up against both groups.
Alongside the 12-fret GC and GA could be a 12-fret dreadnought, and/or a deep-body 14-fret dreadnought. Taylor could even bring the parlor model into this series and maybe that new jumbo design they hinted at in W&S. I think they could really fill a niche and a need for a warmer Taylor sound that the 12-fret has teased us with. I think the 700 series is kind of a step in this direction as well -- I just think those type of appointments would be more appropriate on a traditional line rather than cutaway models with built-in electronics.
This isn't to say Taylor should try and enter the boutique market by making meticulous replicas of timeless classics. But I do think a more traditional/vintage approach in terms of tone and aesthetics to Taylor's design, quality, and consistency would be a success and a breath of fresh air.
