Gearank

Gearank Recommendation

The Big Baby BBT appeared on our recommended list for Acoustic Guitars Under $500 from the first edition in November 2016 until September 2020 when it was out-ranked by other guitars.

It also appeared on our recommended list for Beginner Acoustic Guitars from September 2017 until July 2021 - the reason we took it off this list was because we reduced the price cap for that guide down to $300.

Overview

Taylor are one of the most highly respected brands for acoustic guitars and the 15/16 size BBT is the closest you can get to owning a new full-sized Taylor for less than $500.

The Taylor Big Baby line is a series of guitars aimed at students and musicians on the go, featuring smaller body profiles that's easier to carry around and play on. The Big Baby BBT in particular is based on the dreadnought, only this one is around 15/16th of its size.

While the difference between a full-sized guitar and the Big Baby will be readily apparent, it’s not dramatically smaller. The neck is slightly thinner than the industry standard, so it will be more comfortable for those of you with smaller hands.

It is crafted using sapele, which features many of the same characteristics found in mahogany, including the overall warm voicing as well as the strong mid-range presence. The main difference is that sapele is more renewable, and it has bit more high-end frequency response than mahogany, although the difference is not too big.

If you want a Taylor, and you have a $500 budget, then this is your choice.

Specifications

• Body Shape: Dreadnought 15/16
• Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
• Body: Sapele Laminate back & sides
• Finish: Varnish - Natural
• Bridge: Ebony
• Neck: Tropical American Mahogany
• Neck Profile: Standard Taylor neck
• Fingerboard: Ebony
• Fingerboard Radius: 15"
• Number of Frets: 20
• Scale Length: 25.5"
• Nut Width: 1.6875"

Demo

Note: Sapele is sometimes referred to as mahogany…because it is mahogany. However, it’s a separate species of the wood from the more widely used Honduran mahogany. That’s why in the video the guitar is referred to as having mahogany back and sides.