TS Guitar Top Woods

[meridian]

When it was my turn with Bob T to find the right sitka tops for my 2 TS guitars, I asked him "So what are you looking for?" and he showed me various things relating to stiffness and grain structure and asked me about my playing style and then said to the group at large:

"I wish you all knew what great wood this is! Maybe we should get some ordinary wood in here so you can see the difference."

Well, I have taken a good close look at the top on my 654CE and the photos of other top woods and have to say that I have NEVER seen tops like these! The overall clarity, tightness and regularity of grain and the most amazing silking I have ever seen really set these tops apart.

It may be a few months late, Bob, but I really get it now, and I think every other TaylorStocker will agree that although picking out the backs and sides was way cool, the tops that we got to pick with you are just sensational!

Thanks again, Bob!:)

[jeffrey]

Yes!

Ryan and I briefly touched on this subject while we were still San Diego.

How we were all obsessing over these little details when all this wood is amazing. More amazing than 90% of the Taylors most of us have probably seen in stores.

Only now will we fully appreciate this I think.

[MJH]

I can't agree more! The Engelmann on my 314 was the lowest quality in the stack and it is outstanding. I look at it now and wonder how great the other pieces must have been.

My local dealer got a 414ce Ltd in last night. Nice guitar, great Taylor sound. The imbuia was ok, but the sitka spruce was wavy and not as nice as most I've seen. It no way compares to what we were able to choose from.

I will add my thanks and gratitude to Uncle Bob as well.

Mark

[cpmusic]

I think Sitka spruce got a little overshadowed at TS because of the redwood and Engelmann, but TS was a bonanza for Sitka fans. The entire stock they brought out was high-grade stuff, and when Bob was sifting through it for me, he said that you could choose from that lot with your eyes closed and still get a great top.

The two things he was looking for for my 355 was a really stiff board ("It's gotta be Sitka for a 12-string," he said) and a slight bit of shading to work visually with the stained maple. And I'll be darned if he didn't find the perfect one. It's visually dazzling, but playing it almost makes you forget what it looks like.

Thanks again, Bob!

[rsimper]

Picking out the top wood, to me, was the highlight of the wood selection process. Sure, the wood from the back and sides gets all the glory, but while y'all ran over to the cocobolo when we first came in, Doug and I headed for the engelmann spruce. This is the single piece of wood that mattered most to me as I chose my guitar woods and it was just so cool for Bob to ask me what I wanted this guitar to be for, and pick up a few pieces of spruce and say "here, hold this one...its a good one" followed by ever-curious me asking "why?" and he gave me an impromptu lesson on flexing the board...now THATS what I call hands on learning...him holding one end of the same one I'm holding and explaining exactly what I'm feeling for.

And, if the wood selection process didnt put into perspective how good the wood is, then maybe when I took my top around and set it down to help look for the back with some of the other employees, when each one of them said "WOW, what a top!' I kinda got the picture.

NOT TO MENTION, this all coming on the heels of the wood grading seminar with the video that BT shot of the wood expedition and us all finishing up with "Okay, okay, I'll NEVER complain about an imperfect top AGAIN!"

:)

[worshipvertical]

Originally posted by cpmusic


The two things he was looking for for my 355 was a really stiff board ("It's gotta be Sitka for a 12-string," he said)

I wonder, this can't be true of all 12 strings since the PS and 900 series 12's are E. spruce.

I guess it was because it was a 300 series????:confused:

[cpmusic]

You have a point, Chris, although I think I heard him say somewhere along the way that they were taking Engelmann out of the standard run of jumbo guitars because it's hard to get E-spruce boards wide enough. Anyway, I was just quoting The Man. :)

BTW, on standard orders Sitka is the only top available for 300/400 models, but TaylorSmitten, Cynbrad, and MJH all got Engelmann tops on their TS satin x14s. I didn't know that was possible when I was choosing my wood set, but I think I would still have chosen Sitka if I had known.

[meridian]

Chris, I actually asked Bob about Englemann for my 654CE and he said "Nope. Sitka."

[Mike Carter]

I think you are absolutely right Joe.


Most of us probably didn't realize that the tops uncle bob had in those stacks were the most phenomenal pieces of wood he ever seen, and I bet he sees a tons and tons of wood, literally.

I can't believe how awesome my TS 814c custom sounds, I have to credit that to an incredible top. That beautiful Cocobolo may help in the sound, but the top is what makes it ring with a tone I have only dreamed of up to this point.

I can't wait for the new electronics to be installed. On Uncle Bobs advise, I think I will wait till spring when they have the bugs worked out though.

It took me a day to get used to the neck. Not having traditional fret inlays psyched me out at first, but it feels as natural as can be now. I know the 8th fret is at the front horses hoof, but I don't have to look anyway so it doesn't matter.

I hope the others get their guitars soon, I kinda feel bad that I have mine and they are still waiting. I can't wait to see the pictures, and posts on how awesome the rest are.

Mike

[cpmusic]

Interesting note, Joe. Now I'm curious to know what the other x54 TS guitars have for topwood!

I suspect that Sitka is the choice because of its stiffness, perhaps to hold off against the extra tension and/or to provide more volume. It might also be that the 12 gets a little muddy with the softer top, but that's a broad guess. It would be interesting to compare two otherwise identical x54s with Sitka and Engelmann tops.

[Mike A.]

"Cinnamon" Sitka(as Bob put it) for me and my 754ce.

I wanted Cedar, but that was probably going to weak a wood for the 12str bracing and as you say "might muddy up the sound." Besides, 12str guitars are for jammin'! You can't overdrive Sitka like you can Cedar!

-Mike A.

[trombone]

Yeah, that wood was NICE!

I chose sitka for my 915 -- for volume and to handle heavy strumming. The sitka is outstanding! It almost looks like Engelmann. Just a wee bit darker.

I was impressed with his desire to find a cedar top to match the yellow of the satinwood. He did the flex-flex thing on all the tops, telling what properties each one had. Definitely the highlight of the choosing process.

Even though the NS54 comes with a cedar top, he talked me into an engelmann. Maybe the cedar would have been too dark? Anyway, it looks nice and sounds great.

This was definitely one of those experiences I'll remember as long as I live.

[meridian]

Originally posted by cpmusic
Interesting note, Joe. Now I'm curious to know what the other x54 TS guitars have for topwood!

I suspect that Sitka is the choice because of its stiffness, perhaps to hold off against the extra tension and/or to provide more volume. It might also be that the 12 gets a little muddy with the softer top, but that's a broad guess. It would be interesting to compare two otherwise identical x54s with Sitka and Engelmann tops.

J.R.'s 854CE has an Englemann top, but it is coupled with Ziricote.

[rlwing]

You know, when people come to look at my new guitar, I find myself describing the wood to them - showing them what silking is. I turn the guitar back and forth in the light so they can see the effects. They all seem to look at me like I'm crazy or somthing! I guess non players and non TaylorStockers just won't understand. I'm still happy!

Hey, Thanks again Mr. Taylor!

[Steve314]

Originally posted by Mike Carter
It took me a day to get used to the neck. Not having traditional fret inlays psyched me out at first

Hehehehe... yeah, you AND Pat Kirtley!!!

Steve

[meridian]

I just think I was amazingly fortunate to have the urge to get back into playing guitar when I did, to "discover" this brand that didn't even exist when I bought my last guitar, to find this Forum and to go to this event.

[Gutch]

I have to agree with you all. For the first time in my career, I actually brought my guitar with me on the road to play in the hotel at night. My TS 814c is not only beautiful to look at, but I cannot believe the tone of this instrument! Bob was right when he called my sitka a "Killer Top"! Not only the near 100% silking, but the tone of this thing is INCREDIBLE!!!

I've finally found a perfect guitar! I may end up living in the gutter if the telecom industry doesn't turn around soon but, if I do, my 814 will double as my pillow!!!