Taylor guitars

[StevenLindsey]

Does anybody know where you can get Taylor acoustics by mail order? I found a 710ce at a local music store for $2,050 but I think I can beat that. Them Taylors are killer! Any Taylor owners out there with suggestions on a better model ( than the 710ce )? I'd be interested on any comments about Taylors or about shopping for higher-end guitars. I'm hoping to buy about mid-year. Thanks for any info!

 

[Track Rat]

I have a XXV-GA which is a grand auditorium sized body. VERY nice guitar. I can't help you on an on line vendor though.

 

[StevenLindsey]

Try www.google.com

Already done that. Thanks anyway.

 

[TexRoadkill]

Taylor probably has a list of dealers on their website. I don't think any of the major mail order places carry Taylor but you can probably get a small dealer to ship you one. I personally wouldn't buy an acoustic without trying them but that's me.

 

[StevenLindsey]

Tex - You're probably right about not buying before trying, but I hate to pay 5-600 more than necessary. My local dealer had a Martin HD-28 for $2200 ( negotiated price ) and they have them at MF and AMS for $1700. That's a $700 difference when you include the local taxes! I think that the quality control of the Taylors or Martins is probably good enough to risk buying by mail-order. Maybe not?

Track - I'll have to check out that model. They only had the 710, and 810 and one of the jumbo models at the store. The 710ce had a beatiful full sound. I'd like to try a bunch of them all at once but I may have to drive to Dallas or somewhere to do that.

Thanks!

 

[Track Rat]

I picked mine out of a large crowd. I picked it out of about 15 guitars. I picked the one that I did because of tone and playability. I can't imagine buying one online without having my hands and ears all over it first. By the way, the XXV models are 25th anniversary special editions. They only made 500 of the grand auditoriums and 500 dreadnaughts so there's a limited supply of those.

 

[StevenLindsey]

Probably too rich for my blood then! I'd love to see one of 'em though. Got a picture of it on a website?

 

[Track Rat]

Check it out.
http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/models/xxvga.html

 

[TexRoadkill]

I don't know about Taylor QC. I prefer Larivee's myself. They seem to be a much better value for the money. But I have played the same model that I have in other stores and I still think mine is the best

At $700 savings it might be worth it to fly to a city with a bigger selection and good prices. For you that would probably be Dallas or Austin. You could probably do a day trip for $200, save some bucks and still get THE guitar. I would buy an under $500 guitar mail order but when you start getting over a grand that's serious cash and you have to figure that if they have 2 guitars and one is a little nicer they are going to give that to their buddy who they have to see face to face.

 

[StevenLindsey]

Track - Absolutely beautiful. I'd have to pick her up every day! I'm kinda concerned about whether the gold plating would wear off the tuners. I'd be afraid to use a peg winder on em.

Tex - Yep. May have to do some travelling. I am going to try out the Larivees if possible.

 

[Track Rat]

Steve, you're right to be concerned about gold plating on tuners. My D-41 has gold plated Grovers and over the last 25 or so years the gold has been coming off. The Taylor on the other hand, the tuners themselves are gold but the buttons are made of ebony so no worries there.

 

[TheGuitarMan]

$700 difference? Is that the actual selling price or the one on the tag?

 

[StevenLindsey]

hmmmm as I suspected. The 710 I played had gold plated pegs. I guess you could use a felt-lined winder and keep them wiped off good with a soft cloth. Gold plating doesn't really make much sense for tuning pegs. It looks good but I'm more practically minded. If the aesthetics are not useful or will cause problems, I don't like them. The old chrome pegs on my Yairi are still in perfect shape after 20 years. Good info. something else to ponder.

 

[StevenLindsey]

$700 difference? Is that the actual selling price or the one on the tag?

tag price was $2,850. They hid in another room, schemed a bit and then returned with the $2,200 price. Pretty good little gouge, eh?

 

[tdukex]

www.buffalobrosguitars.com

Contact these guys. I have bought three guitars from Bob. He's in San Diego (Carlsbad, actually), and I'd be surprised if they didn't have the best price in the nation.

But for the price you are talking, I'd look at their used boxes. They have some very good deals, and I've played a lot of them recently. Played a couple of nice Larrivees (excellent OM Custom $1895, OM-10 $1299), Webbers (very affordable, very nice handmade guitars $1695)--I actually have one of these. Santa Cruz (used OM-PW $1695). Hell, you can get a new Santa Cruz D-PW or OM-PW for $2250. He even has a couple of nice used OM standards for $2250 very sweet. Collings C-10 ($2299 very, very sweet small body), Breedlove ($1395, $1795).

Of course, if you have your mind set on a Taylor, he has dozens of those.

 

[tdukex]

Amost Forgot

Oh, and here's the kicker. Bob has a 100% trade-up policy, and it's for real. At anytime you want to trade up, he will give you credit for 100% of the amount you originally paid for the box you are trading in. Box must be in reasonably good condition.

So, you spend $2000 on a box, play it for a couple of years, save your money, and decide you want to buy that $3000 Goodall you've always wanted. You just trade in your current box, get $2000 credit, and pay only an additional $1000.

I've taken advantage of this policy three times in five years, and I will again.

 

[rpe]

String gauge on Taylor.............

Don't mean to derail this thread but the Taylor website says the string gauge are 12's. Just wondering if you (Trackrat) stuck with those or went to a lighter gauge. Would appreciate your comments on your preferred gauge on that guitar and reasons.

thanks,


rpe

 

[Track Rat]

Mine is set up with the 12's. It plays like butta and I like the way it sounds with the 12's.

 

[rpe]

thanks TR. 12's on my old Yamaha are too much for the neck so I stick to 10's. Would much prefer a heavier gauge.

rpe

 

[esun127]

tag price was $2,850. They hid in another room, schemed a bit and then returned with the $2,200 price. Pretty good little gouge, eh?

$2,200 is a horrible price for a 710. My 314ce had an $1834 price tab on it, and I got it for $1350 out the door, which is around $600 off the price tag before tax. The 710 costs 50% more, so you should aim for $900 off the price tag -> $1950. I bought mine from West LA music near UCLA.

My friend got a 414ce for $1400 out the door which is a better deal than what I got. He bought his from Guitar Center in San Jose.

If there's a guitar center near your place, go there because they can definitely sell it to you for under 2 grand.