TaylorStockers, Do Ya Like Yer TS Guitars??

[meridian]

Now that the blush is off the rose and we have -- for the most part -- had a chance to get intimately acquainted with our TaylorStock custom jobs, what do you think??

I'll start off by saying that I am very happy with my choices of a 654CE-LTD and an 810-LTD and that BOTH guitars exceed my expectations on all fronts.

While I am here in Florida, it is the TS 810-LTD that I keep wishing were at hand. It will be the first guitar I play when I get home.

I have to admit that I am discovering that maple is my favorite tonewood -- something about the dryness of it, I think. But the sound of cocobolo and koa are both fascinating and richly complex (to my ear). Oddly enough my least favorite combination seems to be sitka/EIR. Which strikes me as odd since it is so classic a pairing. Maybe the one's I've played have been too new.

I NEVER had given so much as a moment's thought to ordering a custom guitar before coming to this forum. I NEVER thought I'd be standing with Bob Taylor going over wood selections for 2 custom Taylors. That is a life experience I am truly glad for. To have these two brilliant guitars as a reminder is pretty amazing to me.

(See, I CAN write a post with no smileys or exclamation points. Ok, I DID use all caps, a little bit.)

[MJH]

I love both of my TS guitars!

My 615 Ltd is gorgeous. I still can't get over the look. I am really happy with the sound of maple. As Joe said in his post, I think it might be my favorite overall tonewood. The appointments on the Ltd's are incredible. I also love the current 900 series inlays that I had changed to. I am trying to be patient and wait for the new Taylor pup, but I really want to use this guitar for gigs.

My 314c Engelmann/Satinwood is incredible. This guitar was really an afterthought that day when I saw the pieces of satinwood. The combination has proven to be a very fine sounding guitar. Again, like the maple, it is a bright sounding guitar. But even in the X14 size, it packs plenty of muscle for my strumming style. I had a Fishman Natural put in so I could use it at a recent gig. Great sound!

I still am in awe of the beauty of both of my guitars. What a wonderful opportunity we had. Bob Taylor and his great staff really went out of their way to make our experience the best.

Mark

[cpmusic]

I'm very happy with my maple 355C. It's usually not the first guitar I reach for, but that's the nature of the 12-string beast. Well, that and my lack of familiarity with 12s compared to 6s. :) But this is a 12 that inspires me to do more instead of less, and when that incredible Sitka top has had a chance to age it's gonna be a powerhouse. This 12 is a keeper, and the one that finally took the "hate" out of the love-hate relationship I've had with 12s over the years.

Joe wrote:
I have to admit that I am discovering that maple is my favorite tonewood -- something about the dryness of it, I think.

Hear, hear! I knew you guys would come around eventually. :)

Many thanks to Uncle Bob and his crew!

[SonShine]

I love my TS 810 LTD! Of course, it is my first (and only - at least for now) Taylor so it's always going to be special.

Now, if I can just convince my wife that I will need a 12-string sometime in the next year or two.....

[DickensDad]

Originally posted by meridian
While I am here in Florida... Hey Joe,

Where in Sunny FL are ya?

[rlwing]

I was beginning to wonder about my 810 LTD. It was getting awful hard to play. Yesterday, on the advice of a friend, I took it to a Luthier shop in Boulder. Turns out the neck was 24 whatevers from true! Go figure, I guess that would make it hard to play. They fixed that, gave me a new saddle and now it's great again. I noticed that I have a couple of my very own dings in it too(sniff sniff). Since I was at the shop, I had them put in a new mic for my dual source, an Audio Technica (not sure what model), boy does it sound sweet now!

So I guess the bottom line is, YES, I love my TS Guitar.

[rsimper]

Ariel is amazing...I love this guitar more than I ever thought I would..first and foremost for its sound and beauty...then I remember that it has such great sentimental value for me too, and it was borne out of a great weekend in my life...all too perfect...

I just gotta make sure not to store it in my closet underneath a 115lb safe :roll:

But yeah, too perfect is how I would describe my Taylorstock guitar (from my VERY biased perspective) :)

[meridian]

Originally posted by DickensDad
Hey Joe,

Where in Sunny FL are ya?

Sarasota -- kinda diagonally opposite the Space Coast. But I have a neice who goes to Stetson and a future nephew-in-law (??) that goes to Embry-Riddle (did I spell that right?).:)

[Lisa]

"Like" is not a strong enough word for the way I feel about my TS 414. I played it several hours today and every time I pick it up I am amazed all over again at the sound The fact that it also looks great is just a bonus.
There is something almost sacred about it. It is my special guitar. What an awesome time that weekend was :)

Oh, and J.R., that comment should tell you that you gave me perfect advice!

[amcd]

Joe,

First, thanks for the excuse to stop working for a few minutes and go do some comparison playing...

I have to say my TS 812 Redwood/Coco has become my favorite (beating out a '97 914c). I really like the x12 body size and the sound is just great, more "brassy" and chime like than my others.

There are times I just sit and stare at it, not believing that I actually own it. I'm sure that's a feeling shared by many of us.

Art

P.S. This is also a good excuse to go back and look at the pictures of everybody's guitars.

[meridian]

Originally posted by amcd
P.S. This is also a good excuse to go back and look at the pictures of everybody's guitars.

Ooooh yeah!

Here's the link!

http://www.taylor-gallery.com/taylorstock02/index.htm

:)

[Mike Carter]

My TS guitar, is the perfect acoustic guitar for me.

I have played it everyday since I got it, and I love it more everyday.

It doesn't get any better than this.

Mike

[tbondo]

Hey Joe, where you going with that gun in your hand???

My 912C (Cinnamon Girl) is awesome....even though I have put a ding on the top (dropped the phone on it?) that redwood top is just awesome...my wife (Vicki) thinks it sounds like a 12 string when I play some open chords......I have trouble figuring out which Taylor I like the best, so I don't try....but the 912C is getting more play time than ever since I bought a Shubb 12 string capo (1 7/8 neck).....got a new song or two that I am developing and they sound great on all my beauties....the 912 sound is wonderful.....

Happy, no ....ecstatic.....it's beautiful too!

[tvkruzan]

Have to say that I love my Taylorstock guitar. I love the way it plays and sounds. Because it was so easy to play, I took my 414 in to my luthier and had them set it up just like the TS. He actually did it even better than the TS setup, so the 414 is great pleasure to play now also.

Would I do it again??? Just tell me when and where, I'll figure the rest out!!!!

[ScottyMac]

I'm loving the 814c, and this past Sunday, it had its first debut outside of the house. I normally play my 710 in church, but I had to accompanying some singers on a song that lended itself well to the fingerstyle tone of the 814.

Since there are no electronics in it, I used an AKG C1000 mic. I rarely have any distractions while I play, but during the song I'm feeling this vibration on my abdomen. I'm thinking, "I've either got the worst case of gas or this guitar is really moving". Turns out to be the latter. It really seems to sing.

Love the smell, love the look, love the sound.

[Rick Crider]

.....good thread topic, now that we've had a while to get to know the TS guitars.....

I'm absolutely *entranced* and *awed* by both of them. I simply cannot pick a favorite between the two. I've tried. Much like humans, they both have different but intriquing personalities.

Though I've yet to spend a lot of quality time with both of them out of the case at the same time, the 812 Ziricote is the first GC sized guitar that I've spent *any* serious time with, and I'm really liking that body style now. There was a time previously that I thought I wouldn't like the GC bodied guitars. My mind has been changed.

Also, I've yet to do an A/B comparison with these two TS guitars, both with cedar tops, with any other similar guitars with other-than-cedar tops......but......even though it may be a biased-owner opinion.....the cedar tops on both of these guitars just really seem to be the perfect match for my tastes.

I'm looking forward to one day getting together with David Moore and sitting back and listening to David play my Ziricote/Cedar and then knock out the same tunes on his Ziricote/Engelmann.

Overall, these two TS guitars are the most awesome guitars I could ever hope to own. I feel *very honored* to have been part of the TaylorStock experience and to now own these very special Taylors as a result of that.

Rick
TS-812C-Ziricote/Cedar/Cindy
TS-814C-Cocobolo/Cedar/Cindy

[Rick Crider]

.....while on the topic, it'd be a good time to mention this....

Since the TaylorStock guitars have arrived, I've had a *huge* drop in my TAS fever. There was a time in recent history that not a single day would pass that I wouldn't check eBay (several times) and any other pertinent ad sites for yet another *ultimate* Taylor.

Now, it's almost as if there's no way to top what I have now, thus no need to feverishly keep up with what may be available. I probably haven't scanned the Taylor selection on eBay in well over a week now.

Anyone else seeing the same effect?

Rick

[cpmusic]

It's funny, but I've had the same feeling lately. Maybe buying three new guitars in 2002 had something to do with it, but while I still go into guitar stores to look and play, I haven't really felt the urge to buy anything lately. Of course, I couldn't afford it anyway, but that hasn't stopped me before. :)

[rsimper]

Me too...im actually downsizing my collection (with the sale of my 710ceLTD within the next 2 months hopefully...)

Yes, part of it is a money issue, but somehow money issues never stopped me before :p

[ScottyMac]

Yes, I too am sensing a settling in of my instruments. I alternate between the 710 coco and the 814, and feel like I've got two instruments that I can finally live with. Even my BB plays a role with all of this.

Over the past 3 years or so, I've been through a number of Taylors in search of the Holy Grail. Part of the relief has been that I've mostly gotten over thinking that everyone else's must sound better than mine. Actually, Taylorstock helped get me past that feeling with our chance to play so many top notch instruments.

When I pick up my 814, I realize that it is a very special instrument...unlike most other Taylors in the world. It's got my name on it....literally and figuratively.

Do I still long for another instrument? Yes. But not in the same manner. The two things that I still desire...a small body guitar such as an x12 or OM, and a small shop instrument such as a Lowden, Ryan, etc. The latter is probably a dream.

[meridian]

I am also finding that my TS guitars are more pleasing in many ways than my other guitars and will sell a few sometime soon.

This is an unexpected benefit for me as well.

[tbondo]

Yeah Rick, I'm definitely in remission....I'm having so much fun playing my 912C, PS14, and K14C that I have no desire to buy another guitar.....thinking about a Carvin PA, and maybe a bone bridge (just cause tusq gets indented too easily)...working on several new songs simultaneously, and having a blast getting better at finding new chord voices (Thanks, Mapletrees...you da man....your advice and instruction have been excellent)....got up at 6 am to play until I had to shower for work today....and I'm 51 years young.......I'm planning a X54 for the next Taylorstock (whenever that may be).....but I keep hearing all my guitars improve, and they were already flipping outrageous....that 912C is growing on me hard.....

[buddiesorg]

I like my TS guitar quite a bit ... I also like my newest Taylor alot ... I haven't gotten anything since and not really looking at any Taylors, but I know that will change when new models are announced ... though I am waiting for a particular guitar ... should get to see it next month sometime.

[tbondo]

Mary, shouldn't your sobriquet be Taylor Queen? Nice to read you.

[jmeinel]

Originally posted by tbondo
Mary, shouldn't your sobriquet be Taylor Queen? Nice to read you.
That's what I've been saying for a long time! This male dominated thing sucks! ;)

BTW...I love my TS guitars. :roll:

[buddiesorg]

Originally posted by tbondo
Mary, shouldn't your sobriquet be Taylor Queen? Nice to read you.

Well, I won't say what the fifth graders I had a couple weeks ago would say I should be called ... actually, I'm pretty sure it would (should) be censored anyway ... :eek:

[J.R. Rogers]

Originally posted by buddiesorg
Well, I won't say what the fifth graders I had a couple weeks ago would say I should be called ... actually, I'm pretty sure it would (should) be censored anyway ... :eek:

Whoa! :) Taylor Queen is much nicer, I'm sure. :D

[jmeinel]

So does this mean I get to actually keep my title this time? Last time you gave me a title I only had 24 hours with it. :( Even though I liked the goddess one better, I don't mind being a Queen. ;)

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Lisa]

My isn't our J.R. feeling generous towards us females tonight?

We love you J.R.! :)

[buddiesorg]

Originally posted by jmeinel
So does this mean I get to actually keep my title this time? Last time you gave me a title I only had 24 hours with it. :( Even though I liked the goddess one better, I don't mind being a Queen. ;)

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I got to keep my special title a little longer than that ... but I haven't been the Official TaylorStock Guitar Scout for months ... :( ... but then, I haven't been to the Factory for quite some time either ... :(