Best guitar for playability?
 

What guitar company (mainstream factory Martin, taylor ect) has the best playability.

When I say playability, I am referring literally to how easy it is to play the guitar.

There is no "best". It's all personal preference.

Taylors are great out of the factory but playability is a function of a good setup.

When you buy an expensive suit it needs to be tailored, when you buy an expensive guitar it "usually" should have a setup.

In general playability is the result of a good setup not the name on the headstock.

With as many definitions of "playability" as there are players, I think that's an impossible question. Nut width, neck profile, scale length, string gauge, body size, action, string spacing, etc. all play into what an individual finds comfortable. Setup also plays a big role in how "playable" a guitar is. The same goes for playing style.

What is comfortably low action for a fingerstylist could be a buzzing nightmare for a bluegrasser... and what's comfortable for that bluegrasser could be that fingerstylists undoing.

Ed

For me, it's Taylor. Not a doubt in my mind. If you try the new Grand Concerts you'll see what I'm talking about. Short scale, Taylor's fast necks.... Simply the most playable, comfortable guitar you can imagine.

Honestly, playability truly is on a guitar by guitar basis, and also requires a good setup.

A lot of people will say that Taylors in general have better playability than Martin for example, but I had a Taylor 810 setup for super playability, yet it wasn't very comfortable for me. So in that case I'd say for me that playability wasn't very good. On the other hand, I now own Martins (one that had a setup, and one right out of the box) that have ideal playability for me, and were both half the price of the Taylor. I excel in ways on these guitars I never could on the Taylor because they feel so natural to me.

So in other words, seeking out a certain brand or even model over another isn't going to guarantee you anything.

If we're talking about guitars right from the box then i'd say Taylors.
Otherwise it's just a question of having a good set up. Intonation can make pretty much any guitar play like a dream.

Rumor has it Zagers and Estebans are EASY to play. :)

I'll agree with the setup being the real issue that makes a guitar as playable as possible, but Taylor has developed a reputation for having guitars arrive eminently playable straight out of the box. That's not to say any other brand can't be made to play equally as well.

I always find it funny. Every time I post on here instead of answering the question people only ask another question. I am not asking about the finer points in life and how its all about personal choice. All I was asking is "In your opinion strait out of the box which guitar is best for playability?"

I don't understand why people insist on giving generalized it depends answers.

As already said , this is a case of each to their own.
BUT as for me, in a Dred, the Guild D55.
As for a small body, short scale Guitar, I like the old Gibson LG-2s.
Dale.

Larrivee. How's that for a one word answer Taylor. :)

I suppose because people realize there are so many opinions and experiences, that we are all different, that we perceive things differently, we are all physically different, because there is no "general" answer for all of us.

For me and my preferences, I would say Taylor is the easiest to play right off the rack, but not everyone is going to agree with this, as we've already seen.

Thanks, Glenn

Except "out of the box", wasn't part of the orig. question... and I'd still say it depends on what you're looking for in a guitar. The orig. question is like asking which is the best meat for eatability. (lol)

Ed