The essence of the playing experience lives within the rosewood/spruce 800 Series. With the debut of its comprehensive redesign in 2014, master guitar designer Andy Powers took what was already ’s flagship guitar series and deployed an array of voicing enhancements, ranging from customized bracing and wood thicknesses for each body style to the use of protein glues and ultra-thin finish, to bring out another level of musicality. Together, these refinements deliver much more than the sum of their parts. For everyone from pros to hobbyists, they make the playing experience more expressive, inspiring and fun.
The 818e Grand Orchestra comes with Expression System 2 electronics and ships in a deluxe hardshell case.
Grand Orchestra
The Grand Orchestra is ’s biggest, deepest body shape and delivers the richest, most complex voice. It's incredibly balanced for a big-bodied acoustic guitar. Specially braced to respond to a light touch, the Grand Orchestra is a good fit for players who want the richest, most powerful acoustic voice, for players who like a voluptuous, Jumbo-size guitar, and for solo performers looking for an expansive palette of sonic colors and textures.
Tonewoods
A guitar's top is the primary filter and distributor of vibrating string energy through the guitar, which means it has a huge impact on its sound. Sitka Spruce is the most prevalent guitar top wood of the modern era. It blends stiffness and elasticity in just the right proportions which translates into broad dynamic range with crisp articulation. Solid Indian rosewood back and sides complement the Sitka top with sound that's made it one of the most popular tone woods ever. Rosewood produces the strongest bass response among the tone woods commonly used for guitars, with a slightly scooped midrange. Rosewood's sweeping frequency range - deep lows that assert a throaty growl with sparkling highs - rings out with bell-like, high-fidelity clarity. It yields a full-range acoustic voice with complex overtones and extended sustain.
Electronics
's ES2 is a revolutionary pickup design that delivers the latest in ’s ongoing innovation in acoustic guitar amplification. The heart of the Expression System 2 is ’s patented behind-the-saddle pickup, which features three uniquely positioned and individually calibrated pickup sensors. Because the pickup doesn't sit under the saddle, the bottom of the saddle comes in full contact with the bridge, allowing all the nuance of the guitar's tone to come through clearly whether playing acousticly or plugged-in. The location of the sensors enables a more dynamic range of acoustic sound to be captured than ever before while playing plugged-in. Together with ’s custom-designed “professional audio”-grade preamp, this system produces exceptional amplified tone and responsiveness. On stage through a PA, plugged into your favorite acoustic amplifier, or direct into recording software, the Expression System 2 faithfully conveys the voice of your guitar. The Expression System 2 operates through a proprietary 9-volt battery compartment and easy-to-use volume, and active bass and treble controls.
Other Features
Custom-calibrated wood thicknesses and bracing for each body shape, 3.5 mil finish thickness, protein glue (bracing and bridge), rosewood pickguard, rosewood top trim, single ring abalone rosette edged with rosewood, pearl "Element" fingerboard inlay, maple binding (non-figured).
The Difference
What sets Guitars apart? Unmatched build quality, the most stable and playable necks, a vast array of tonal options, eco-conscious and ethically-sourced raw materials, and a lifetime of service and support.
Body
Body type: Grand Orchestra
Cutaway:No
Top wood:Solid Sitka Spruce
Back & sides:Solid Indian Rosewood
Bracing pattern:800 Series Advanced Performance Grand Grand Orchestra Bracing w/ Relief Rout
Body finish:Gloss 3.5 Top, Back and Sides
Orientation:Right-Handed
Neck
Neck shape: Standard Profile
Nut width:1-3/4" (44.5mm)
Fingerboard:Genuine African Ebony
Neck wood:Tropical Mahogany
Scale length:25-1/2"
Number of frets:20
Neck finish:Satin
Electronics
Pickup/preamp:Yes
Brand:
Configuration:Behind-the-Saddle Transducer with Adjustable Sensors
Preamp EQ:2-Band
Feedback filter: Phase
Tuner:None
Other
Headstock overlay:Genuine African Ebony
Tuning machines: Nickel Tuners with Nickel Buttons
Bridge:Genuine African Ebony
Saddle & nut:Micarta "Wave" Saddle; Tusq Nut
Number of strings:6
Special features:See "Other Features" above
Case: Deluxe Hardshell Case
Accessories:None
Country of origin: United States
Enjoy improved tone with ES2 electronics. Order today.
SPECIFICATIONS
800 Series 818e Grand Orchestra Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Shape: Grand Orchestra
Number of Strings: 6
Scale length: 25-1/2"
Body Length: 20-5/8"
Body Width: 16-3/4"
Body Depth: 5"
Neck Width: 1-3/4"
Bracing: CV Bracing with Relief Rout
Fretboard Inlay: 800 Series
Binding: Curly Maple
Bridge Pins: Ebony with Abalone Dots
Truss Rod Cover: Indian Rosewood
Top Finish: Gloss
Pickguard: Tortoise
Number of Frets: 20
Back Config: 2-piece No Wedge
Backstrap Finish: None
Buttons: Gold
Fingerboard Ext: None
Heel Cap Binding: Curly Maple
Peghead Finish: Satin
Peghead Binding: Curly Maple
Peghead Type: Standard
Rosette Size: Single Ring
Type of Neck Joint: Scarf
Back/Side Wood: Indian Rosewood
Top Wood: Sitka Spruce
Electronics: Expression System
Cutaway: None
Nut & Saddle: Bone
Neck/Heel: Tropical Mahogany
Fretboard Wood: Ebony
Headstock Overlay: Indian Rosewood
Bridge Inlay: None
Tuners: Gold
Back/Side Finish: Gloss
Neck Finish: Satin
Case: Deluxe Hardshell Brown
Armrest Binding: None
Backstrap Wood: None
Brand of Strings: Elixir Medium
Edge Trim: None
Fretboard Binding: Curly Maple
Heel length: 3-7/8"
Peghead Inlay: None
Peghead Logo: Mother of Pearl
Rosette Mat. : Abalone
Stain/Sunburst: None
Wedge: None
Custom Guitar's Friend Gold Coverage
Gold Coverage goes above and beyond the manufacturer's warranty to protect your gear from unexpected breakdowns, accidental damage from handling
and failures. This plan covers your product for one, two, three or up to five years from your date of purchase, costs just pennies per day and gives you a
complete "no-worry" solution for protecting your investment.
Gold Coverage Includes:
Unexpected and unintentional spills, drops and cracks
Normal wear and tear
Power surges
Dust, internal heat and humidity
Other plan features include:
For products over $200, No Lemon Policy applies. If it fails for the same defect 3 times, it is replaced on the 4th breakdown. (Does not apply to failures due to drops, spills, and cracks)
For products under $200 experiencing the above failures, a Custom Guitar's Friend gift card will be issued for the full price of the product + tax.
Shipping fees covered if required for repair or replacement
Plans are transferable in the event merchandise is sold
Plans are renewable on new gear
*Limitations and exclusions apply. See terms and conditions for program details
Term for New Gear begins on date of purchase but does not replace the store return policy or manufacturer coverage.