**Update** - NGD - Taylor 12 Fret

guitargeak99 · #1 03-17-2018, 12:24 PM

I’ve never posted a new guitar, but I really like this 322 12-Fret.
I’m not a big guy and wanted something smaller & comfortable, with a short scale, to just play on the couch. I’m an intermediate player, and will probably never progress past that - which is just fine.
I had played one of these at Gryphon along side a 522 12-Fret. The 522 was gorgeous, but I’m not really a Mahogany guy (I prefer spruce tops), and that is an all-Mahogany guitar. I saw that the 322 was also Mahogany and I almost passed on it.
But the 322 had a small chime to it, or a piano-like sound, that I liked. The guy there explained that the chime was probably due to the solid Blackwood B/S.
I ended up ordering one from GC without electronics or cutaway, and 15% off - I really needed to keep cost down. Taylor called GC and asked if I wanted ebony tuner buttons - well hell yeah I do! Without the electronics this thing is so light, I love it.
I don’t play above the 12th fret or capo, otherwise there ain’t a whole lot of real estate on the fret board.
This little guitar squashes the “Taylors sound thin” reputation. I’m stoked with the full sound and the bass response.
The factory set up is pretty good, so I’ll wait a few months before I take it to Sacramento Luthier “Arnie Gamble” to tweak the set up.
I also threw in some Colosi bone bride pins that I had, for the heck of it. No change in sound, but I’ll let the AGF crowd decide whether I should keep them in or put back the ebony ones.
Sorry for the crappy pics - not one of my strong suits.

DukeX · #2 03-17-2018, 12:36 PM

Awesome choice. Awesome value. Mahogany/Blackwood is a great combo, and you didn't pay for any bling that doesn't improve tone or playability...ok, maybe a cut does, but I don't need or like them.

Shoreline Music · #3 03-17-2018, 12:42 PM

Congrats—you got a great guitar!

I've been trying to get Taylor to make me a 322 12 fret without electronics for 2 years. They finally agreed to do so last fall, and I just took delivery of our first one. Maybe yours and ours were born in the same batch.

SoCalSurf · #4 03-17-2018, 12:43 PM

Tasmanian Blackwood is an under-rated tonewood, in my opinion. I'll bet it sounds wonderful. Enjoy!

Br1ck · #5 03-17-2018, 12:54 PM

I played one of those a couple of years ago when they were all mahogany or maybe sapele back and sides. I liked it precisely because it didn't sound typically Taylor.

Ultimately lost out to my 12 fret Martin, but certainly was a better value.

Glennwillow · #6 03-17-2018, 01:07 PM

Congrats on the nice guitar! I like Taylor's 12-fret guitars. I have a Taylor 12-fret, also, more like an 812CE version. Easy to play, nice warm sound, and the short scale is good for me when my arthritis acts up.

- Glenn

guitargeak99 · #7 03-17-2018, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shoreline Music

Congrats—you got a great guitar!

I've been trying to get Taylor to make me a 322 12 fret without electronics for 2 years. They finally agreed to do so last fall, and I just took delivery of our first one. Maybe yours and ours were born in the same batch.

I think you’re right. I just picked this up on Tuesday.
I actually ordered this the first week of December - in January I went to pick it up at GC and it was a 322 “14 Fret”. My lower lip stuck out like a little kid.
It was a great sounding guitar, and probably more versatile, but it lacked that low end thump that I remembered the 12 fret had. I was really banking on the fact that these are consistent guitars, which they seem to be.

Speedwagon · #8 03-17-2018, 01:40 PM

Really great guitar! I love 12-fretters...so comfortable, very responsive, and pretty darn loud.

Congratulatios! Enjoy!

ifret · #9 03-17-2018, 01:47 PM

Beautiful!
Keep the bone pins, they are very classy!

BrunoBlack · #10 03-17-2018, 02:01 PM

Great guitar. Happy NGD, congratulations.

SpruceTop · #11 03-17-2018, 02:08 PM

Beautiful Taylor, Enjoy!

guitargeak99 · #12 03-17-2018, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frets4fun

Beautiful!
Keep the bone pins, they are very classy!

Thanks. I just looked at the pic I posted and I think I like them too.
I’m not much of an Elixer string guy, so I’m looking forward to throwing on some of my John Pearse strings to see how she responds.

jpmist · #13 03-17-2018, 03:05 PM

Congrats! I've owned a couple of spruce top Taylor 12's and never really warmed up to their tone, but the 322 I tried at Sam Ash stopped me in my tracks and a few months later I owned one.

The blackwood gives it a nice crisp growl the spruce tops never had, but it wasn't until I put some Ernie Ball Aluminum Bronze strings on it for it to stay in my harem.

Hope you enjoy your nice guitar

bryantjudoman · #14 03-17-2018, 03:23 PM

I am rather smitten with this particular model. I can't get over the big sound it creates. I feel bad that you passed on the electronics. These guitars plugged in make monster sound.

guitargeak99 · #15 03-17-2018, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpmist

Congrats! I've owned a couple of spruce top Taylor 12's and never really warmed up to their tone, but the 322 I tried at Sam Ash stopped me in my tracks and a few months later I owned one.

The blackwood gives it a nice crisp growl the spruce tops never had, but it wasn't until I put some Ernie Ball Aluminum Bronze strings on it for it to stay in my harem.

Hope you enjoy your nice guitar

I’ll make note of the Ernie Ball strings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bryantjudoman

I am rather smitten with this particular model. I can't get over the big sound it creates. I feel bad that you passed on the electronics. These guitars plugged in make monster sound.

I can only imagine how good the plugged-in sound is.
But I’ll never plug in, though.

Regards