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New here - tried several, thoughts, and bought...
Hi All,
I'll apologize up front for the long post - it's my first one here. I'm sure some of you guys just love this stuff anyway so... Quick background; I started playing guitar when I was in high school and ended up selling it when I got married (18 years ago). It just wasn't practical (Telecaster, fairly large amp, several effects pedals). I was fine for quite a while. Then about four years ago I started playing ukulele, and still like it. But, I've been thinking about getting another guitar for the last 6-8 months. So, I'd say I'm a rusty, somewhat intermediate player. I didn't really want another electric and all its accoutrements. Besides, my tastes changed a bit anyway, and I'm not as interested in being the next Stevie Ray Vaughan anymore. So last week I went to a few local music shops. I played a few Taylors and Martins, and a few others I don't remember. I liked the Taylor 214ce, and it was about the top end of what I wanted to spend. But, I didn't get it because hey, it's a thousand bucks. So yesterday I went again, a little more seriously. Here's what I played and thought... Yamaha AC3R & AC3M These are all solid, and are supposed to have a pretty impressive pickup system, though I didn't plug them in. I watched some videos demonstrating the pickup, and it does some cool stuff. But, it's got like, 10 little buttons and knobs on it. I liked the tone pretty well. However, I think there was a bit of a gloss on the neck, which gave them that slightly sticky feel. Also, I believe they're dreadnought bodies, which I'm not crazy about. In short, nice, but not quite what I wanted. Larivee I don't know which model, I think they only had one and I think it was $899. It was OK, but the tone seemed a little muted. Playability was OK, but it didn't grab me. Guild Again, I don't know what model, but I think it was around $700-800. Honestly I didn't like it at all, and it didn't take me long to come to that conclusion. Martin - a couple of different models in the $800-1500 range. I just don't think Martin is my taste. They are what they are, but there's just something about them that is a bit hard for me to play. I think it's mainly the neck/action and I'm not in love with the tone - especially for fingerstyle playing (which is what I think I'd like to work on). Clearly great for solid strumming though. In general, I have a pretty light touch, so the Martins didn't seem to agree with me. Some were nice and playable, but none grabbed me. Eastman I don't know what model I played, but the store's price on it was $1025 and he said he'd let me have it for $899. I must say I was pretty impressed with this guitar, and it's made in China. I actually picked one up in a store last weekend, saw it was made in China and just gave it a few courtesy strums and put it back. However I paid attention yesterday, and it was really nice. It's all solid with an Adirondack Spruce (I think) top, and Rosewood back & sides. It had great projection, and a nice full tone. However, it had a pretty heavy gloss neck, which made it sticky and a bit hard to play, it didn't have a pickup, and it was a full dreadnought. These things made me not want it, but someone is going to love that guitar. Today I was in that first store where I originally saw the Eastmans (where I courtesy strummed it). I picked up another one, which had a satin neck. It was much easier to play, sounded great, and was only about $400. Eastmans seem to be a great value. Taylor 114ce and 214ce I really liked both of these. Honestly, they sounded almost the same to me. There was a slight tonal difference (the 114ce seemed brighter), and the 214ce seemed a little easier to play. But, I think it might be just these specific guitars and not really a difference between the two models. They just seemed very similar other than aesthetics. I also picked around on a 314ce, but figured it was out of my price range, so I put it back (see below...). I actually saw a used one on Craigslist earlier for $950. So, I called the guy yesterday, but he had already sold it. His listing was from a week or so ago, so I wasn't surprised. By the way, I had the store clerk play the Eastman, the 114ce and the 214ce back-to-back so I could hear them head-on. The Eastman actually sounded best of the three, but again, it still wasn't quite what I wanted. Seagull S6 Original and Slim I actually left the first store yesterday, and went to another just because I knew they carried Seagull. Neither of these two sounded very good to me. They were the least expensive of all I tried yesterday, but still - they just seemed harder to play, and I didn't care for the tone much. This is weird because I remember playing around on a Seagull in a store 10-12 years ago and thinking I liked it. Taylor 314ce So after trying the Seagulls, I went back to the first store. I was pretty sure I might be leaving with a 214ce, because I liked it best overall of what I'd played. But just for grins I picked up the 314ce again and actually gave it some attention. I played it myself for a few minutes, then had the store clerk play it for me for a few minutes. He played the 214ce and the 314ce back-to-back. I must say there was a VERY noticeable difference between the 214ce and the 314ce. When compared, the 214ce seemed very thin and hollow in tone. It sounds great on its own, but when played back-to-back against the 314ce, it's noticeably thinner. The 314ce has a much fuller, rich tone, and may have even been a little easier to play (the 214ce is already easy to play though). It could be the slightly wider nut. As you guys probably already know, the 314ce also has a better pickup system, is solid wood, comes with a hard case, and has a lifetime warranty. All of this for about $600 more than the 214ce. The $1000 for the 214ce was already a stretch for me, but I figured I'd be better off spending the extra and getting something that could really be my guitar for life. I'm not worried about outgrowing it for quite a while, if ever. So, I bought the 314ce. Funny thing though, about an hour after I got home with it we had to get ready and leave for a party, got home late, and have been to church, lunch, and to that other music store today, so I haven't even had a chance to play it yet. I hope it sounds as good at home as it did in the sound room at the store. Anyway, thanks for bearing with me through this long post. I did do some research over the past week on this forum, checking out information on these Taylors, as well as a couple of the others I played. It was very helpful, and I read several posts by people saying to try to get the 314ce over the 214ce if possible, and I can see why. Thanks, Jason Last edited by Jason Paul; 05-28-2012 at 12:48 AM. Reason: Corrected spelling on SRV's name. |
#2
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Just as a counterpoint, you may be overthinking this a bit. You are just getting back into guitar so you may consider that whatever you choose at this point may not match your needs for long anyway.
Go with whatever had a combination of sound,playability and budget you liked and rest assured you can always change later as you see where it goes. |
#3
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Congrats on the new git. I think you made a wise decision and you truly do have a guitar for life. It will last longer than you if you take care of it.
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#5
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...
Congrats and good story. Thanks for the write-ups of the guitars you tried - I'm in the same boat. I've been looking mostly used due to money. Any word if the lifetime warranty applies if you purchase it used from original owner?
Enjoy the guitar! James |
#7
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It sounds as though you followed your usual approach to comparison shopping, and then arrived at a well-thought-out choice that is consistent with first-hand experience.
It doesn't get much better than that. Congratulations.
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Yours truly, Dave Morefield A veteran is someone who at one point in his or her life wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' |
#8
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Congratulations and welcome to the AGF! This is definitely a great place to hang and learn a lot about acoustic guitars. I have a decent size herd of guitars (about 11 acoustics...) and mostly gig with my Taylor 314ce and my Martin DC-16RGTE. I have a Martin D-28 which I semi-retired after 35 years of service- but to be honest- I'm extremely happy with my DC-16. My Taylor is a 2002 and has the older Fishman Pre-Fix Pro system which I like a lot too. The Martin is a bit warmer and great for strumming (pretty great all-arounder) but the Taylor has the edge for finger style playing.. I also have a very nice Larrivee 0M-03. Don't write off Larrivee's too quick based on 1 try. These can be very nice guitars-especially for the price.
I also have 2 older Guilds (70's Westerley Factory-which you'll hear often mentioned..) Again- don't write off Guilds based on 1 entry level model. Some Guilds are fantastic guitars! I still gig with my D-40C. Enjoy your Taylor! Mike
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www.reverbnation.com/mikealicke Martin D28 Martin DC-16RGTE Aura Guild F-30rce (New Hartford) Guild D-40c Guild D-35s (both Guild Dreads are late 70's Westerley models) Larrivee 0M-03 Taylor 314ce (Mahogany top) Frog Level FL-18 (Custom-Martin D-18 style) Tacoma Chief C1C (sunburst) Fender F95 (mid 70's beauty-really!) Sigma GC1 (Martin 00-18 style) Takamine EG128sc (nylon) |
#9
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Congrats on the new guitar! I couldn't be happier with mine...
Ron
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2018 Taylor 312ce 12 Fret NAMM Lutz/Blackwood 2018 Taylor GS Mini Koa 2011 Taylor 314ce 2006 Ovation CC24-4Q |
#10
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grats on the 314 mate!
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#11
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Congrats on the new guitar. Sounds like you thought it out well.
Bryant
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1994 Martin D-16H Silvertone SD-50CE Greg Bennett D-8CE 1991 Takamine EF350MC Fender T-Bucket 400CE $19 Silvertone Bobby Labonte SNBLA |
#12
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Thanks all.
I didn't necessarily mean to write off the Larivee and the Guild - just that I didn't connect with the ones that were available in that particular store. I know I saw Larivee recommended here several times when I was researching. I usually do tend to do a lot of research before buying something - especially something that's kind of a major purchase. This was actually pretty quick though - I'll often shop around and research for months. That's part of the fun for me. I played for a while this evening. I've got a ways to go before I'm comfortable with it, and will have to build some strength and callouses. It was interesting how a few bits and pieces were still in my muscle memory though. Although playing it does feel somewhat familiar, I feel like I'm starting from scratch. I don't necessarily want to play the same stuff I played back then, so I feel like I don't really have a style to pursue. Thanks again, Jason |
#13
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Quote:
Welcome and congrats to your new guitar.
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Living a life worth living |
#14
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Good choice. If its one guitar, that will do ya. Grats!
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#15
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Congratulations on your new guitar! The 314ce is fantastic and I really love mine. I mainly fingerpick but it does sound great when I strum as well, and I'm sure it works well for flatpicking as well. I think you got yourself a really good, versatile guitar that you'll be keeping for a long time. Remember to keep humidity in check, and it should last you forever. At least I hope mine will.
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Martin 00-15 Taylor 314ce Tanglewood TW73 VS Yamaha AES620 |