Thinking about a Taylor or other High-End Acoustic

  • Thread starter Thread starter azraelswings
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Guitars are like mics, love one and not the other depending on what sound that YOU are looking for that fits your style of music. All the guitars listed in this thread are great guitars, and you will love any of them.

If I was buying a new acoustic now with a budget like yours, I would find a nice guitar shop and try out guitars of every brand. Many of the brands listed in this thread can not be found at guitar center, so you may have to travel if you do not live in a larger city. Line them up, give them a test drive, and pick your favorite. It really is just that simple.

As for me, when all was said and done, a Taylor 814ce just spoke to me. My style and sound and I was sold.

Charlie
 
cnix said:
Guitars are like mics, love one and not the other depending on what sound that YOU are looking for that fits your style of music. All the guitars listed in this thread are great guitars, and you will love any of them.

If I was buying a new acoustic now with a budget like yours, I would find a nice guitar shop and try out guitars of every brand. Many of the brands listed in this thread can not be found at guitar center, so you may have to travel if you do not live in a larger city. Line them up, give them a test drive, and pick your favorite. It really is just that simple.

As for me, when all was said and done, a Taylor 814ce just spoke to me. My style and sound and I was sold.

Charlie
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I have a Taylor 314CE (~$1200), and I love it. I tried out a room full of guitars at the now defunct Mars Music (and some other places as well, but Mars had a big stock of guitars which made it easier to A/B them), and this particular guitar stood out from the crowd, even considering some that were twice the price. DSFDF and YMMV, of course.
 
they say taylors are for lead, martin is for rhythm. take that into account.


taylors have a nice high end response while martins have a nice deep response.
 
Replies to all:

mikemorgan - Thanks. Please tell Taylor, or any other manufacturer so. :)

madaudio - Thanks, I'll check out Benito

Milnoque - thanks, I'll play as many of those as I can find when I get a chance. My unit is national guard from CT, I live in southwest CT, near new haven. Stylistically, I suppose I'm looking for something pretty versatile. I'd call my style general a bit percussive, rather riff-rock sort of things. At the same time, I do a reasonable amount of ringing arpegiated bits. The truth is, I'd like to start a pretty eclectically influenced jam band sort of thing, but I suspect that I'll be writing and performing on solo acoustic for a long time, so its my focus at the moment. In regards to guitars that have tickled me in the past, I really haven't played anything high end, since I've never had the $.

Jeffree - I'll try to find that CD, thanks

Gordone - Thanks, I'll definitely check out S. cruz

Generally, thanks to all for encouragement. I have considered a martin but none of the ones I've played have really sung to me. I'd already planned on playing anything I could get my hands on, and thanks all for the make suggestions, that I'll certainly try to check out.
 
azraelswings said:
mikemorgan - Thanks. Please tell Taylor, or any other manufacturer so. :)

madaudio - Thanks, I'll check out Benito

Milnoque - thanks, I'll play as many of those as I can find when I get a chance. My unit is national guard from CT, I live in southwest CT, near new haven. Stylistically, I suppose I'm looking for something pretty versatile. I'd call my style general a bit percussive, rather riff-rock sort of things. At the same time, I do a reasonable amount of ringing arpegiated bits. The truth is, I'd like to start a pretty eclectically influenced jam band sort of thing, but I suspect that I'll be writing and performing on solo acoustic for a long time, so its my focus at the moment. In regards to guitars that have tickled me in the past, I really haven't played anything high end, since I've never had the $.

Jeffree - I'll try to find that CD, thanks

Gordone - Thanks, I'll definitely check out S. cruz

Generally, thanks to all for encouragement. I have considered a martin but none of the ones I've played have really sung to me. I'd already planned on playing anything I could get my hands on, and thanks all for the make suggestions, that I'll certainly try to check out.
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Try anything and everyhting you can get your hands on. With that budget, the world's your oyster.
 
azraelswings said:
none of the ones I've played have really sung to me.
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You hit it right on the nose there, Sean. When I buy a guitar, I play as many as I can, preferably in quiet rooms, until one speaks to me, sings to me. That one's always the winner, and I've found that it's not necessarily the most expensive. Enjoy the search.

J.
 
Lots of good guits out there. In general, I just don't seem to connect with Martins. The ones I did connect with were $3,500 or more. I like the mid-priced Taylors better. I like Larrivees even more.

The key for me, thoiugh, is to play 'em. My last two guits, a Webber OM and Larrivee nylon, selected me.
 
Martin D28

I've got a c. 2002 Martin D28 that I really, really love. I played a few Taylors, but they were too bright for my ears. Old Gibsons sound ridicously good, no one seems to mention them, but they are beautiful sounding guitars.


Hey, all us Canadians are pulling for all the troops in Afghanistan.


Good luck with the guitar hunting.
 
Many of the best sounding guitars I have ever played had Honduras mahogany back and sides. When looking at upper end guitars people often focus on more exotic fancier woods and ignore mahogany. It may not be as attractive but it has wonderful tone.

For instance I've always preferred the sound of a D18 to a D28. You may find the tone more suitable for the style of playing you describe.

Also, take someone with you who can play it for you ( I wish it could be me )so you can hear what it sounds like to others.
 
If you like the mahogany sound, Larrivee makes a killer . I think it's an 03m or some such.... usually had for around $800
 
Big Kenny said:
If you like the mahogany sound, Larrivee makes a killer . I think it's an 03m or some such.... usually had for around $800
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I owned one of those 03 models when they first came out. Nothing fancy, just great sound and playability. A true bargain in the acou guit world.
 
jeffree said:
Heya, Sean. My cousin just got back from two tours in Iraq. You guys are the best. Thanks for all you do, man. Listen, about the Taylors, I don't own one, but I'd suggest picking up one of the 3-4 compilation CDs put out by Taylor and Windham Hill--"Sounds of Wood & Steel" (1,2,3, etc.).

In short, Taylor contacted pro guitarists playing different Taylor models and asked these folks to each record a song, using their Taylors, for a CD. Some tunes sound better than others, but there are some real knock-out recordings there, many of them solo or small-group so the guitars ring clearly. What's nice is that the CD notes often explain which Taylor and mic models each player used, so you can get a pretty good idea of how the models compare. Nothing's better than playing a guitar yourself, of course, but some of these CDs may help in some way, especially if you're far from home.

Stay safe,
J.
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Good call. I've got "Sounds of W & S volume 2"...really a cool CD.
 
tdukex said:
... I like Larrivees even more.

.
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I played a beautiful sounding Larivee a while back...unfortunately I forget the model...retail was something like $1700, but definitely worth it. You might also check out Breedlove. They've got an expensive "made in America" line and a budget "made in Korea" line.
 
To echo some other posts, If you're looking at guitars around $1K (or even a bit less), then check out Larrivee. I have an OM03R which is a really nice instrument. Is it as nice as my OM/PW? No, but it's close (and 1/3 the price!) The 'R' has rosewood back and sides, as opposed to the OM03 (or D03) which has mahogany B&S.

What's nice about the 03-series Larrivees is that for under $1K, you get a North American-built instrument with ALL solid wood, nice ebony bridge and fingerboard, and dovetail neck joint. No bling, but if you're paying $1K, I'd want all of that money to go into the tone. No use in paying for fancy abalone if the rest of the instrument isn't up to snuff.

Oh, my OM/PW doesn't really have any bling either (can you tell I'm anti-bling?) It's the same raw materials as the Larrivee, but glossy finish, and ALOT more handbuilt attention.
 
I believe Jean Larrivee has trained more great small shop luthiers than any man alive. He's part of the reason we are now living in the golden age of acoustic guitar. My hat's off to him.

A good Larrivee is a very good guitar.
 
TelePaul said:
I might get shouted out for this....but...have you considered a Martin? :o
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:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: Shut up TELEPAUL dammit! JUST SHUT UUUUPPPP!
 
Try a Taylor T5 - it is an amazing guitar - you can play it acoustic, but it will also perform sweetly when plugged into a distorted stack - it is about 2 grand for the standard, and another few hunge for the fancy top ones - seriously - TRY ONE! Thanks by the way for being there kicking terrorist ass. When you get the T5, you should write a song about it! :D
 
FWIW i fell in love with a taylor 314-ce, although thats probably too cheap for you :)

only 1600. i bought a cheaper martin ooox1, which i still really liked.

taylors are the shit, and so are our soldiers and you deserve one dude! thank you for protecting our freedom!
 
I have a T5 also and while it is a kickass live guitar, it really doesn't sound acoustic. It is a fabulous sound but very unique. It sounds like the best acoustic impersonator I've ever heard though
 
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