Swap
Swap
Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce
Taylor 362ce
VS
Playability
73
Sound
84
Build
89
Value
67
Score
82
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoAmazon logo
Playability
73
Sound
84
Build
85
Value
71
Score
81
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoAmazon logo
Add more to comparison

Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce vs 362ce

Reasons to Get
Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce over 362ce

Release Year
2020 vs 2017
From a more recent year

Reasons to Get
Taylor 362ce over Builder's Edition 652ce

Value Score
71 vs 67
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce vs 362ce

Back Material
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Back Material
Sides Material
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Sides Material
Body Wood
Spruce vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Black Tusq XL
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce vs 362ce

Saddle Material
Synthetic Bone
Same Saddle Material
Bridge Material
West African Crelicam Ebony
Same Bridge Material
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6-6
Same Headstock
Strings
12
Same playing style
Body Type
Hollowbody
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
Switch Positions
0
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
0
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
0
Same tone control
Number of Frets
18
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.875'' (47.6mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.9'' (632.5mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
15'' (381mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Type of Frets
Medium
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce Prices

SET PRICE ALERT
SET PRICE ALERT

These are affiliate links. We may earn a fee if you purchase after clicking. These prices are prone to error. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases.

Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce is probably the better product overall with its final score of 82 compared to the Taylor 362ce's 81 score, although not by a lot.

The Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce wins when it comes to build quality. On the other hand, the Taylor 362ce has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Taylor 362ce
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce Overview

  • From Taylor's 2020 600 series
  • Made in United States
  • 12 strings
  • 24.9"'' scale
  • 15" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Sitka Spruce top
  • Solid Maple back
  • Solid Maple sides
  • Hard Rock Maple neck
  • West African Crelicam Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Expression System 2 Electronics (Preamp/Active)
  • West African Crelicam Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic Taylor Standard Set neck
  • 18 Medium frets
  • Gotoh tuners
  • Weight between 5.05lbs (2.3kgs) and 5.25lbs (2.4kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Taylor 362ce Overview

  • From Taylor's 2017 300 series
  • Made in United States
  • 12 strings
  • 24.9"'' scale
  • 15" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Tropical Mahogany top
  • Solid Tropical Mahogany back
  • Solid Tropical Mahogany sides
  • Tropical Mahogany neck
  • West African Crelicam Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Expression System 2 Electronics (Preamp/Active)
  • West African Crelicam Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic Taylor Standard Set neck
  • 18 Medium frets
  • Satin Black tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The most important thing that will determine the tone of an acoustic guitar is the wood. Let's take a look at the differences between both .

Woods Used in Both

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Woods Used in the Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Spruce wood pattern used for guitar building
Spruce

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Spruce has a light color with tight grain patterns. It's very stiff but relatively light. It's known for producing a well-rounded tone with a broad dynamic range. Find out more about Spruce.

Woods Used in the Taylor 362ce

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Winner: Taylor 362ce.

Electronics

Both come with electronics that allow you connect them to an amplifier or interface for recording.

Winner:Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce
Sustain 90
Versatility 75
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 84
Taylor 362ce
Sustain 90
Versatility 75
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 84

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce compares to the Taylor 362ce.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in United States.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce has a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

On the other hand, the Taylor 362ce comes with a Black Tusq XL nut. TUSQ nuts are usually the highest quality you can get. Black TUSQs are made from a special slippery material that helps the strings get back to its original position (one of the keys to tune stability).

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce's are Gotoh while the Taylor 362ce's are Satin Black

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Electronics
  • Synthetic Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Taylor 362ce
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Electronics
  • Synthetic Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce
Quality of materials 91
Features 75
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 89
Taylor 362ce
Quality of materials 86
Features 75
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 85

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Taylor Builder
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 47.6mm (1.875'').

This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 12-string guitar. It offers a good balance of string separation at the nut. It's the size that most guitarists prefer as it gives them just enough space to play open chords without muting the strings, but without spreading the strings too wide and making bar chords difficult to perform.

Scale Length

Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce and Taylor 362ce's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 24.9".

This is the scale found in most triple-O acoustic guitars. It's still considered a long scale, but shorter than the standard 25.5" scale.

A shorter scale length guitar has a few advantages. One is that it is easier to play because the strings are under less tension. This can be helpful for beginners, or those with smaller hands.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce Neck Profile
Both guitars have the same neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce and the Taylor 362ce have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

Both the Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce and the Taylor 362ce have the same fretboard radius of 15". This radius y closer to the 12'' that most Les Paul guitars have, but a bit flatter. It'll make it easier to play single notes than chords, but it's still comfortable for playing chords without muting strings.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Taylor 362ce:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce and Taylor 362ce Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium fret size

Both have a Medium fret size. If you like feeling the fretboard when you play, but also appreciate some easiness to press down the frets, this size offers a good balance for that.

Final Playability Scores

Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73
Taylor 362ce
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce vs 362ce
General Taylor Builder's Edition 652ce 362ce
Brand: Taylor Taylor
Year: 2020 2017
Strings: 12 12
Made in: United States United States
Series: 600 300
Colors: Natural Natural
Left-Handed Version: Yes Yes
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Solid Sitka Spruce Solid Tropical Mahogany
Sides Material: Maple Mahogany
Back Material: Maple Mahogany
Bridge: West African Crelicam Ebony West African Crelicam Ebony
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Gotoh Satin Black
Fretboard: West African Crelicam Ebony West African Crelicam Ebony
Neck Material: Hard Rock Maple Tropical Mahogany
Decoration: Scepter, Mother of Pearl Gemstone, Italian Acrylic
Scale Size: 24.9" 24.9"
Shape: Acoustic Taylor Standard Acoustic Taylor Standard
Frets: 18 Medium Nickel Silver 18 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 15" 15"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 47.6mm (1.875'') 47.6mm (1.875'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Expression System 2 Electronics (Preamp / Active) Expression System 2 Electronics (Preamp / Active)