Taylor T5z Custom Koa Armrest Electric Guitar Shaded Edge Burst with Case
T5z hollowbody with armrest, electric and acoustic pickup system. Custom Koa in Shaded Edge Burst with included hardshell case.
$3,799.00
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0% Interest
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Don’t sell your soul to a creditor to get the gear you need. At AMS, we want to lower the barriers to create. That’s why we offer in-house 0% financing, and you don’t even have to open a new line of credit! Spread out payments on your credit card to simplify financing and avoid hefty late fees or service charges. Cost shouldn’t interfere with your creativity.
The Taylor T5z Custom Koa is what happens when a master guitar builder decides that "good enough" isn't even in the vocabulary. Handcrafted by Taylor's Andy Powers, this hollowbody crossover guitar blends between acoustic and electric. Featuring a stunning solid figured Hawaiian Koa top, a beveled armrest that actually treats your forearm with respect, and three-pickup versatility that covers everything from jazz chords to scorching solos, the T5z Custom Koa isn't asking to be the centerpiece of your setup. It's already claimed the spot.
A Hollowbody That Fits Just Right
Compact hollowbody guitars have a reputation for being awkward. The T5z Custom Koa didn't get that memo. Andy Powers rethought the ergonomics from the ground up — repositioning the volume and tone knobs to fall naturally under a player's hand, and adding a beveled armrest that takes the edge off long sessions (literally). The 24 7/8" scale length keeps the fretboard feeling approachable without sacrificing tone or playability, so you spend less time wrestling your instrument and more time actually playing it.
Beveled Armrest & Comfortable Body: The solid urban ash body with its sculpted armrest makes hours of playing feel like minutes — your forearm will thank you, and your technique will too.
24 7/8" Scale Length: Shorter than a standard electric but full of character, this scale length makes chord stretches and fretboard navigation feel effortless for players of all experience levels.
Repositioned Controls by Andy Powers: Volume and tone knobs have been thoughtfully relocated for electric players, so your controls are always exactly where you need them — not where someone in 1952 decided they should be.
Three Pickups For Tons of Flavors
Most guitars make you choose between acoustic warmth and electric bite. The T5z Custom Koa skips that conversation entirely. Its three-pickup system — an acoustic body sensor, a concealed neck humbucker, and a visible bridge humbucker — gives you a tonal palette wide enough to cover a full set without switching guitars mid-song. Five-way switching lets you flip between acoustic shimmer and full electric grit in an instant, while dual amp compatibility means it plays equally well through your favorite acoustic or electric amp.
Three-Pickup System: The combination of an acoustic body sensor, concealed neck humbucker, and bridge humbucker delivers a natural acoustic voice and punchy electric tones from a single instrument.
Five-Way Switching with Active Onboard Tone Controls: Dial in the exact blend you need — smooth acoustic, full electric, or anywhere in between — without ever reaching for a second guitar.
Dual Amp Compatibility: Plug into an acoustic or electric amp and the T5z Custom Koa holds its own either way, making it one of the most genuinely versatile live performance guitars on the market.
Built for Players Who Actually Play
The T5z Custom Koa is as stunning to look at as it is to play, with a solid figured Hawaiian Koa top that turns heads before you've played a single note. Jumbo frets and a 12-inch fretboard radius make string bends and solos feel fluid and natural for electric players, while the super slinky neck profile welcomes acoustic players making the crossover. However you play, this guitar meets you there.
Jumbo Frets & 12" Fretboard Radius: Designed for expressive electric playing, these specs make bends easier, solos smoother, and every note feel exactly as intended.
Solid Figured Hawaiian Koa Top: Beyond the visual wow factor, Koa delivers a naturally bright, articulate tone with warm midrange complexity that only improves with age.
Compact Hollowbody Design: Lightweight without feeling fragile, the T5z Custom Koa is easy to play for extended sessions and comfortable enough to forget you're holding it.
The Taylor T5z Custom Koa Delivers Where It Counts
The Taylor T5z Custom Koa Electric is a rare instrument — one that genuinely earns the word "versatile" without using it as an excuse to be mediocre at everything. Built by Andy Powers with the care of a master craftsman and the sensibility of a working musician, it bridges acoustic warmth and electric power in a package that's as comfortable to play as it is striking to look at. Shipped in a deluxe hardshell case, this guitar arrives ready to perform. The only question left is whether you are.
Taylor T5z Custom Koa Features:
Compact hollowbody design with solid figured Hawaiian Koa top
Solid urban ash body with beveled armrest
24 7/8" scale length
12" fretboard radius with jumbo frets
Acoustic body sensor, concealed neck humbucker, and visible bridge humbucker
Five-way switching system
Active onboard tone controls
Dual compatibility with electric and acoustic amplifiers
Volume and tone knobs repositioned by master builder Andy Powers
Warranty: Limited Lifetime on new guitars; No warranty on Dent & Scratch Guitars
Taylor T5z Custom Koa Armrest Electric Guitar Shaded Edge Burst with Case Specifications
Taylor T5z Custom Koa Armrest Electric Guitar Shaded Edge Burst with Case Specifications
Product Specifications
Taylor T5z Custom Koa Armrest Electric Guitar with Case Specifications
Scale Length: 24-7/8"
Nut and Saddle: White Tusq Nut/White Micarta Saddle
Bracing: Standard T5z
Truss Rod Cover: Black Plastic
Number of Frets: 21
Tuners: Taylor Standard Gold
Buttons: Gold
Body Finish: Gloss
Stain: Shaded Edge Burst
Neck Width: 1-11/16"
Fretboard Inlay: Spires, Italian Acrylic
Fretboard Binding: Black
Neck/Heel: Tropical Mahogany
Fretboard Wood: West African Ebony
Neck Finish: Gloss
Peghead Finish: Gloss
Headstock Overlay: West African Ebony
Peghead Logo: Italian Acrylic, Faux Pearl
Bridge Pins: West African Ebony
Strings: D’Addario Medium Electric .011-.049
Case: Deluxe Hardshell
Frequently Asked Questions
The T5z Custom Koa is playable by musicians at various skill levels, but its price point and features are best suited for intermediate to advanced players. That said, the comfortable neck profile and shorter scale length make it approachable for players still developing their technique.
The T5z features a smaller, more compact body compared to the original T5, making it lighter and more comfortable for extended playing sessions. It also comes with a shorter scale length and jumbo frets, which are particularly popular with electric guitar players.
The T5z Custom Koa is a semi-hollowbody electric guitar and produces some acoustic sound unplugged, but it's designed to be amplified. For best results, plug it into an acoustic or electric amp to unlock its full tonal range.
Hawaiian Koa is prized for its natural resonance, bright articulate highs, and warm midrange character. As a bonus, its striking grain patterns make every Koa guitar visually unique, as no two look exactly alike.
Yes, when plugged into an electric amp, the T5z Custom Koa responds well to standard guitar effects pedals. Its humbucker pickups handle overdrive, reverb, and modulation effects just as you'd expect from a quality electric guitar.