soliciting Taylor acoustic opinions

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mixmkr

mixmkr

we don't need rest!!
I'm not much of the acoustic guitar afficianado, being an electric player for 30 yrs now, but I'm coming to the conclusion quickly that there really isn't a better all around, better sounding acoustic (including the onboard electronics too) on the market...for *reasonable* amounts of money. I've been seriously looking at a couple, and have a couple questions.
1. The entry level 310...is that just what it is...an entry level guitar..but still a Taylor? In other words, will some extra bucks saved, be worth it for the higher up models...which actually seem to cost easily about twice the price. I am figuring that I don't EVER plan to upgrade from this acoustic, and will keep it forever....so that is to be figured into the equasion.

2. Are the older models as good as the new ones? (supposedly with the new neck technolgy)?....or better with age...? In otherwords...Used VS New.

3. What do YOU guys think of the Taylor electronics. (I personally like them...but is there something better...as an aftermarket purchase?)

4. What do you think about laying down some serious cash on a used one without playing it...? (probably best to find one within driving distance..huh?...as to verify condition, etc...?)

5. And finally, Am I wrong about Taylors....like don't rule out Guilds, Martins, etc. My current feeling about Taylors are...a) they don't seem to go out of tune. b) the intonation...even the ones in Mars Music seems unbelieveable. c) They sound amazingly bright..but not too much so. d) they can cover just about any style music, depending on how you play it. e) their subscription (albeit free in stores) "Wood and Steel" magazine is worth the total purchase price.....and more!

HELP
 
There are some things about Taylor guitars that really stand out from any other acoustic guitar I have played. If you have a room full of people playing acoustic guitars, the Taylor will always cut through all the others. I'm not quite sure how it does it, but I have found this in experience to be true.

The 310 is an entry level Taylor, not an entry level guitar by any means. The 3 and 4 series do use a cheaper grade of wood and there is cost savings on the matte finish and sparse appointments, but the quality and construction remain the same. They are all built on the same machines for the most part.

The oldest Taylor guitars I have played are about 10 years old now, because of the finish Taylor is using, you don't get the "aging" look of many guitars. They seem to be consistant through the years. I think the new neck is just about enhanced adjustability and not extra playability.

Taylor electronics = Fishman electronics. You can't really go wrong with the leaders of piezo acoustic amplification. The other system I DO like, though, is the LR Baggs dual source system.

I have a tough time buying an acoustic without playing it. Generally, they are unique one to another. But that being said....Taylor guitars are computer and lazer cut to very fine specs. That makes them very consistant across the model lines.

Taylor is, in my belief, the best production acoustic guitar maker out there right now. I own 2 Martins and have always been a fan and believer in hand craftsmanship, but I am still saving up to get that 814ce. Part of the inotation comes fron the bridge, look at it, you'll see why.

Good luck in your purchase.

H2H
 
I bought a 414 Grand Auditorium (no electronics) just about a year ago. I think one of the reasons they are bright sounding is the use of Elixer strings. The Taylors do sparkle if you real pick hard, and I love the way they respond to dynamics. I think that's one reason why so many people rave about them after trying them out in the stores.

I like some of the cheaper models Taylor makes, and I've played some of the $2,500 models that didn't sound as good as the one I spent $1,000 on.....that's why I didn't hesitate buying it. I would spend just about any amount on a good acoustic guitar, because it is an instrument that you can play forever. I feel it's the best investment I've ever made in music gear.

Mine never seems to go out of tune. Weird. I have to tune my electric guitars daily.
 
I was playing a new 310 at Sam Ash this weekend. It was $1000 and change. Beautiful guitar, bound body, full, bright sound. I would say the guitar is in the same ball park as the Martin D-28 which is at least six hundred dollars more. I also was looking at a Gibson "Working Man", which at around $1000, looked like a toy, in terms of appearance and craftsmanship, compared to the 310.
 
Don't know if it makes any difference to you, but as a stagehand, I have had plenty of opportunity to see what the folks really doin it for a living, are playing out on tour. I was surprized, and amazed that the most common 'Names' for guitars being used, is mostly Taylor, with a few others sprinkled in. Not that there aren't others, but for the most part, Taylor is the choice for acoustic . The latest I personally saw was Dave Matthews. I spoke to the Guitar techs, and they pretty much agree that the Taylors stay in tune, and take quite a bit of abuse, while 'on the road'. and for the most part they are the sound that is desired when tour musicians grab for an axe to rip off a tune . I figure, that if it's OK for someone like Mr. Matthews, it must be OK fer the rest of us...!!:cool:
I personally am a little biased, I have my vintage Martin, but have played a Taylor, and the action, and the tone are what I would look for in a great instrument. I guess it all depends on your own tastes....
 
I've owned a lot of acoustic guitars, and now am down to two. One is the Gibson LG2 I learned on thirty years ago and the other is a Taylor 815C, about 10 or 12 years old, and a magnificent instrument. I bought it used, and it has clearly had a fret job at some point. I've had some problems with low humidity reactions(Northeast winters are tough on instruments and you have to keep the unit in a humidified case) but nothing that did not self stabilize. The guitar has needed very little in the years I have had it. It was from a pre- Fishman era, so I installed a dual source pickup system (b-band) and would not recommend that an after market installation be done casually. The electronics that come with these units are matched by Taylor for the resonance of the instrument (and the price range); by their nature they are upgradeable in future years if it ever becomes an issue.

The company's manufacturing techniques virtually ensure consistency from unit to unit. Still, there are some more lively than others. New Taylors (and most other high quality factory instruments) come with a lifetime warranty. That's worth something all by itself.

Bottom line - it's hard to go wrong with this company.
 
Yes indeed all of the above sounds good advice but there may be another option here you may not have considered.

whats is it ??

Well i am from Australia and we also have many great guitar techs and luthiers as well, over the years of collecting vintage guitars and other intresting pieces i came across a luithier by the name of Gerad Gillet.

Gillet Guitars

I know this guy well and have even spent many afternoons at his factory in sydney watching himself and other master craftsmen at work this is a few years ago now as i now live in Melbourne but what i will say is this yes taylors guitars are magnificent guitars and anyone advising you to buy one is giving you good advice but consider the aussie dollar vs the us dollar and our currency is floating around the 50cents mark so a bargain can be had in australia at almost half the price you might pay for a similar instrument.


The great thing about gillet guitars is they are everything you ever wanted in a guitar and more i am very picky when it comes to instruments i spend a great many hours hunting for what i consider is the best playing feeling guitars to boot made with the best quality tone woods as well there are many custom makers also in the states worthy of your business as well you may want to also consider these options before lashing out on anything.

You really need to forget brands for the moment and focus in on how the guitar sounds i mean if a taylor is what you want go for it because yes all of what has been said is pretty well spot on.

But there are many more considerations to be made before spending the your hard earned money.

A little extra research outside your end of the woods may just land you what you always wanted but nothing ventured nothing gained.

I do not work for Gillet Guitars so i get nothing out of this for telling you about them one of the guitars currently on my wants list is a gillet acoustic the only thing to be decided is what level quality etc there is a shop in Sydney Australia called Petes Musicians Market its located in a suburb called newtown here is the online site url it looks as if he has just created this page so jot down the details email or phone him all his details are on his page the url is http://www.musiciansmarket.com.au/

anyway buying a guitar is always a personal choice there are many things to decide on here but in the end what you buy in the shorterm in a way is an investment in your musicial pleasure longterm if you want to sell you also want to know what you purchased today still has enough appeal tomorrow to bring you back either what you spent or maybe a tidy profit so goodluck with your search as i know the feeling well of buying a quality product wih a pefect custom fit and a not so custom price can be a very sweet deal indeed :-)
 
Good point Treeline,

If you're looking at hand built, I can give you 3 or 4 names I know personally in the US who build great guitars and are all in the price range of a Taylor 800-900 series. But the wait for any of them is 7 months to 3 years out for getting one. There are lots of options when it comes to acoustic...like I said before, I think Taylor is the best production guitar out there now.

H2H
 
I also can vouch for the Taylors, as I have never played one that either felt or sounded bad, and I've played quite a few. They're made here in San Diego (El Cajon, actually).

A friend of mine owns a huge acoustic guitar shop (Buffalobrosguitars.com) and has a guitar builder (Bill Meyers of Jackstraw Guitars) do all of his repairs. One day while having Bill repair a crack in my Larrivee D-O5E (my cat knocked it off the stand), I asked him to compare Taylors, Martins, and Larrivees. His response was that Larrivees, if you get a good one, are perhaps the best buys for the money. Unfortunately, Jean Larrivee's QC isn't the best. He didn't comment on the low end Martins but said the top of the line Martins ar as good as any guitar in the world. Taylors, he felt, will always sound good to great, no matter what model or price range.

Leo Kottke and Harvey Reid, two of the best fingerpickers I've heard, both play Taylors and Larrivees.
 
:D (quote Treeline What's the deal with export / import tariffs in Australia?) (quote Hard2Hear Good point Treeline,)



When we buy in the us we pay double for all we buy there the maths is pretty simple to work out here even with duties etc you are still in front buying from AUSTRALIA and the best part still is

Y O U A R E S T I L L I N F R O N T

Ive bought and sold guitars for many years now travelled and seen them all Taylors are good but just look back in history to see the facts here once a company gets big they usually decide to sell out same old deal the the new owners they try and ride high on former glories hmm i can think of another company in pa mentioning no names who made beautifull instruments once upon a time their world renouned as well but you know what again its their past glories their trying to sell you here so again its your choice ive not heard a horror story about taylors as yet and they are well respected and represented out here in australia as well but if you want a great deal and something comparable to yesterdays guitars at the correct price the contact is above in my first post ask for pete after 11 am and ask him about Gillet guitars im sure he,d be happy to assist you :-)

goodluck


Wayne
Melbourne Australia
 
I have 2 Taylors. I got my first one in 1995. It's a 912C. I purchased my second one in 1999 and it's a K10.

For me, the Taylor sound is pretty consistant throughout the entire line. A grand concert 312 sounds similar to my 912. The construction is the same, just the materials are different. Obviously, a finer grade of woods lend itself to nicer tones but the construction and design control a large portion of the tone. Case in point, look at the Taylor pallet guitar made out of wood salvaged from old shipping pallets.

In my opinion, Taylors lend themselves well to lighter styles of playing, especially finger picking. I've heard heavy handed players strumming my 912 and K10. The sound doesn't hold together as well as if they were hammering on a Martin, Guild or Gibson. Having said that, I know that Leo Kotke plays Taylors and he's not exactly a delicate player.

They seem to have a well balanced, clear, bright sound. As one person said, they cut through the band pretty well. I attribute this to the fact that they don't seem to have an exaggerated bass end.

I wouldn't buy a guitar I couldn't play first. I've played plenty of used Taylors, Martins, Gibsons and the like where the neck wasn't quite right, there was a crack in the top or back or it the frets weren't quite right. It's good to find those things before you buy it so you can make an informed purchase.

I've played plenty of their older models and they sound as good as new ones. I don't think Taylor's new neck design affects the sound at all. Yes they sound better with age, if they've been taken care of--most guitars with quality solid woods do. I would recommend buying a used one because you could potentially find a higher model for the same price as a new 300 or 400 series.

I really like Taylor's 300 and 400 series because they sound like a Taylor and they are very affordable. If at all possible I'd recommend spending more to get a 500 series or better. If for no other reason, I like the thought of having a glossy finish. The glossy finish seems to be more durable and resistant to oils from your hands. That could be a misconception on my part. The other reason to shop the better models is the selection of woods that are offered. They help the guitar to sound and look better.

If you feel the Taylor suits your style of playing, I'm sure you will be very satified with your purchase for many, many years.

DHN
 
It's interesting to me that when you get a bunch of guitar freaks like us together, the subject invariably turns to brand name comparison, and almost every time the same brands get compared - Martin, Taylor, and Larrivee....

I'm sure I'll get flamed for this one, but I've never cared for Martin's...the neck action doesn't fit my hands very well, and the tone just seems dampened...

The Taylors have great action, they have good projection, and I've yet to see or play a "bad one", but they have a little too much high end emphasis...I'd keep one if you gave me one though :D

I have a Larrivee L-02 and love it...Larrivee's have the most balanced sound I've heard, and they can't be beat for the money. I ordered a decked-out Custom Shop Larrivee back in October and Larrivee just shipped it to my retailer this week...I should get it next week....been waiting for it almost 9 months now....gettin stoked!

Just my stream in the guitar pissing contest.... :p
 
Canadian acoustic guitars are some of the best you can get for the money.
Larivee and Seagull are the most notable.

I own an old Yamaha FG-335 that sounds better and better as she ages. ;)
However, if I had the money, I'd get me a brand new Lowden.
It's gotta be the sweetest, smoothest, finest acoustic guitar I've ever played.... period!
Unfortunately, I don't have the 2 G's to drop on one of these fine, fine guitars.
If you ever get a chance to play one, then you'll know what I'm talking about.

http://www.lowdenguitars.com

The tone is like butta, baby! ;)
 
Here's what I can offer...

I own a 514C, and emailed them with a question about it. I was just logging off the computer when the phone rang. It was a Taylor tech! I'm not kidding! A 1 minute response time!

Not only does Taylor make the best production guitars out there, they are also the best run company I have ever come across. (Unlike PRS, but that's another story) When you buy a Taylor, you buy into the whole company, including the Wood and Steel mag.

Aaron
http://www.aaroncheney.com
 
Although I would disagree with Aaron about Taylors being the best (I'm a Larrivee guy myself), I would agree with him concerning the level of service Taylor seems to provide. I know several Taylor owners that practically wet themselves when talking about Taylor's Customer Service, and their rep is all over BBS's. I just happen to like Larrivee's tone and pricing better...but they're both good guitars.

Aaron, what's the scoop on the PRS? Sounds like a killer story...I have a Strat, Tele, and LP Standard Plus, so I've pretty much got my bases covered electrically, but I've heard lots of good things about PRS...also, can you tell any projection or tonal differences with your cutaway vrs. a non-cutaway?
 
Hey Robn,

Check out the other current thread regarding PRS's. I pretty much say it all there.
I absolutely love the pre '95 CE-24's. I think they are legendary. However, since then I think the company has kind of lost its identity.
They once had something very unique, but when Ted McCarty came on board they should have just changed the name to Les Paul Reed Smith. Now with the single cuts, it seems the transformation is complete.
My beef with their customer service is that I have called to order a simple stinkin' truss rod cover twice. I have given my credit card info to them and everything for this incredibly over-priced piece of plastic, and they have yet to ship it. (Going on a year now - I think it ain't coming!)
There's a difference between the cutaway 514 and the non-cutaway, but it's not huge. They all sound a little different anyway, so I try not to think of it in those terms, except in a general way. I just judge each guitar on its on merit.

Aaron
http://www.aaroncheney.com
 
Just another note that may be of interest.....


I have recently played an all graphite guitar and the playability,, tone, and all around sound for an instrument that has no wood in it at all, is completely suprising. It plays like a dream, sounds wonderful, and never is effected by temperature, humidity, or any of the other things that do nasty things to wood .....

I was astounded at the sound..!!!

The guitar is called a 'Rainbird' and can be had for about $1800.
US . I'm not sure if there are more models, but the one I played was totally amazing.


Upstate:D
 
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