Product Overview
This is a PROTOTYPE model by Taylor - ONLY AVAILABLE in a small quantity NEVER to produced again. The ultimate collectors pieces for any guitar or Taylor enthuaist. Don't miss your chance to own a piece of Taylor History.
These guitars come with a Liberty Music warranty for 2 years! Extended Warranty.
The Taylor Crosstone is a rare and noteworthy prototype that represents a key moment in the development of hybrid electric-acoustic guitars, designed by Andy Powers—Master Builder and CEO of Taylor Guitars. Conceived as a variation of the Taylor T5z, the Crosstone incorporates early design cues that would go on to shape the Powers Electric A-Type and the updated T5z models released in 2023. After a year of road testing by artists from both Taylor and Powers Electric, we’re proud to present this historic instrument as a significant piece of the Powers Electric story.
One of its most distinctive features is the FF42 (Full Faraday) neck pickup, known for its warm, rich tone, enhanced clarity, and low noise performance. It's an ideal match for players who need responsive, genre-spanning sound—from lo-fi rock to Americana. The chambered body, made from Urban Ash with a Big Leaf Maple top, keeps the guitar lightweight while enhancing sustain and resonance, giving it a unique blend of electric precision and acoustic warmth.
Inside, custom Sitka spruce bracing enhances the guitar’s acoustic capabilities, offering a broader dynamic range, stronger projection, and a more expressive feel. The unfinished Neo-Tropical Mahogany neck features the familiar T5-style carve, while the 24 7/8" scale length strikes a balance that’s comfortable for players used to either electric or acoustic instruments.
Player comfort continues with a 12" radius Crelicam Ebony fingerboard, 21 jumbo frets, and a 1 11/16" TUSQ nut—ideal for smooth fretting and expressive bends. A Micarta saddle and Crelicam Ebony bridge deliver reliable intonation and excellent tonal transfer, while Taylor tuners provide stable and accurate tuning. From top to bottom, the Crosstone is a thoughtfully crafted instrument that blends innovative design with high-level playability.
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In a rare and forward-thinking design initiative, Andy Powers and the Taylor design team set out to create an electric-centric hollowbody guitar that would redefine what a Taylor electric could be. Their mission was ambitious: unlock an entirely new sonic landscape by merging Taylor’s acoustic ingenuity with innovative electric-guitar engineering.
The result was the Taylor CrossTone™ Prototype Project—a strictly limited run of 50 individually crafted instruments built using a mix of proven Taylor architecture and experimental new components. Of these 50 prototypes, 20 were placed directly with artists for evaluation and exploration. Only 30 instruments remained, and Liberty Music was fortunate enough to acquire the entire non-artist supply for our customers. Once these are gone, the CrossTone concept will exist only in the hands of its earliest adopters.
Each prototype includes a handwritten internal label with its unique serial number, emphasizing the one-of-a-kind nature of these early design pieces and underscoring their status as true Taylor experimental builds.
The Taylor CrossTone™ was conceived as a completely new approach to the hollowbody electric. At its core is a dual-voice design that blends magnetic pickups with crystal sensors, allowing players to seamlessly incorporate the warmth, punch, and familiarity of a magnetic system with the articulate, high-fidelity response of Taylor’s crystal-based technology. Used independently or blended, these two voices create an expansive tonal range and a heightened level of expressiveness seldom found in traditional hollowbody formats.
Adding to its versatility is a multi-position rotary switch, engineered with a series of carefully selected capacitors that subtly shape the guitar’s frequency response. Inspired by the functionality of a Gibson ES-345 Varitone circuit, this system provides distinct yet refined tonal variations, offering nuanced color shifts rather than dramatic jumps. Each position delivers a unique sonic shading—from warm and rounded to bright and articulate—allowing players to sculpt tone with exceptional precision.
Some CrossTone prototypes also feature a removable muted bridge, an experimental enhancement that introduces an entirely new texture to the instrument’s voice. When engaged, the muted bridge adds a percussive, dampened character that expands the guitar’s tonal palette into territory rarely explored on a Taylor instrument. When removed, the guitar returns to its full, open resonance—offering yet another layer of sonic flexibility and further showcasing Taylor’s willingness to innovate beyond traditional boundaries.
With its innovative hybrid pickup system, expressive capacitor-driven switching architecture, extremely limited availability, and handwritten serial-numbered labels, the Taylor CrossTone™ Prototype stands as a bold example of Taylor’s commitment to pushing creative boundaries. These guitars are now being released for sale for the very first time, and with no plans for additional production, this is a truly rare opportunity to own a piece of Taylor’s most forward-thinking experimental work.
Once the remaining prototypes are gone, there will be no more.
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Contact us and find out why you should buy your next guitar from Liberty Music! We fully inspect your instrument more than once, when received and when shipped. We also will SETUP your instrument at no additional charge prior to shipping your order.
We offer the following to help your secure your next dream guitar;
TRADE FROM ANYWHERE PROGRAM
- We accept trades on any musical instruments from anywhere simply reach out and we take care of all the logistics.
FINANCING UP TO 48 Months*
- We offer financing up to 48 Month* with Affirm, Synchrony, and Klarna, contact us today to find out more!
90 DAY LAYAWAY!
- With a 20% deposit you have 90 days to pay the balance if the guitar is in stock, if it is a pre-order simply put 20% down to secure your guitar and the remainder due once it arrives.
We buy, sell and trade with financing options with Klarna, Affirm and Synchrony available.
We will also beat any competitor's price.
We are an AUTHORIZED Furch DEALER. This comes with a full manufacturer’s warranty and is inspected upon receipt from the supplier and again prior to shipping your order.
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Number of Strings: 6 String
Body Shape: T5z
Cutaway: Venetian
Electronics: Custom
Top Wood: Big Leaf Maple
Rosette: F-Holes F-Holes, Unbound
Body Binding: Integral Maple
Top Finish: Gloss
Neck Wood: Neo-tropical Mahogany
Neck Profile: T5 Carve
Fretboard Wood: West African Crelicam Ebony
Fretboard Inlay: Faux Pearl Podium
Fretboard Binding: Black
Neck Finish: Matte
Bridge: West African Crelicam Ebony
Pick Guard: Italian Acrylic
Strap Pin: Black
Orientation: Right Handed
Color: Natural Back / Sides, Tobacco Sunburst Top
Case / Bag: Grey AeroCase
Back / Side Wood: Urban Ash
Back Configuration: Multipiece
Armrest: Beveled Integral Armrest
Back / Side Finish: Satin
Nut Width: 1-11/16"
Scale Length: 24-7/8"
Peghead Type: Paddle
Peghead Veneer Wood: West African Crelicam Ebony
Peghead Finish: Matte
Nut & Saddle: Black TUSQ Nut, Black Micarta Saddle
Strings: Elixir Nanoweb Electric Light (.010 - .046)
Tuners: Taylor Nickel with Nickel Buttons
End Pin: Nickel
