The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 07-17-2017, 09:52 AM
Mickey_C Mickey_C is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Prescott, AZ
Posts: 483
Default Taylor 510e sound tweaks

I traded my 412ce-R for a Taylor 2016 (the slotted headstock version) 510e. I am very happy with the trade, but am trying to get just a little more volume and presence from the guitar. It's on the warm side. It's got a sweet tone but it's not very loud either.

I tried the recommended elixir strings, and didn't care for them at all. but I am not an elixir fan. I put on some DR Rare lights, and it was better.

Should I go heavier, go brass 80/20, or should I try replacing the tusq with bone?

Does the Tusq darken these guitars up a little bit? Is bone a little brighter with more sustain?

Any advice from Taylor dread owners (or people who've played with them) would be appreciated, thanks!
__________________
Some guitars I currently own:
2018 Martin D41
2013 Alejandro Cervantes "Rodriguez Concert Classical"
2015 Martin HD28E Retro
2015 Gretsch 6128 Power Jet
2003 Amalio Burguet F1 concert flamenco
2010 Langejans R-cb classical
2019 Gibson 1958 true historic
2012 PRS Stripped '58 with 5708 pickups
1992 PRS CE24 (all original)
Many including Gretsch, Tokai, Yamaha, and Fender.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-17-2017, 10:30 AM
RussL30 RussL30 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: MS
Posts: 2,266
Default

Did you have meidiums on it before put on the lights? Taylor dreads need medium gauge strings to drive the top and come from the factory with .13's.
__________________
Taylor- DN8, GS Mini, XXX- KE
Gibson - Gospel Reissue
Takamine- GB7C
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-17-2017, 03:13 PM
Mickey_C Mickey_C is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Prescott, AZ
Posts: 483
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by RussL30 View Post
Did you have meidiums on it before put on the lights? Taylor dreads need medium gauge strings to drive the top and come from the factory with .13's.
I think it had factory strings... and looking online you are correct they recommend 13-56 elixirs.

Ouch. I am not a huge fan of 13 strings, funny my full length dreadnought doesn't need 13s, sounds great.

Is this due to the shorter scale?
__________________
Some guitars I currently own:
2018 Martin D41
2013 Alejandro Cervantes "Rodriguez Concert Classical"
2015 Martin HD28E Retro
2015 Gretsch 6128 Power Jet
2003 Amalio Burguet F1 concert flamenco
2010 Langejans R-cb classical
2019 Gibson 1958 true historic
2012 PRS Stripped '58 with 5708 pickups
1992 PRS CE24 (all original)
Many including Gretsch, Tokai, Yamaha, and Fender.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-17-2017, 03:16 PM
Mickey_C Mickey_C is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Prescott, AZ
Posts: 483
Default

I just checked and I have an unopened pack of Martin SP 13-56, but they're 80/20 bronze, not the phosphor bronze.

But I'll at least give them a try.

Thanks!
__________________
Some guitars I currently own:
2018 Martin D41
2013 Alejandro Cervantes "Rodriguez Concert Classical"
2015 Martin HD28E Retro
2015 Gretsch 6128 Power Jet
2003 Amalio Burguet F1 concert flamenco
2010 Langejans R-cb classical
2019 Gibson 1958 true historic
2012 PRS Stripped '58 with 5708 pickups
1992 PRS CE24 (all original)
Many including Gretsch, Tokai, Yamaha, and Fender.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-17-2017, 03:25 PM
darylcrisp darylcrisp is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 7,718
Default

Mickey

try all the strings you can, that guitar may just prefer a certain blend/brand/size to do its best.

I would mention trying the "new Mediums" from John Pearse, they are a mix of light gauge and med gauge, and tend to feel about the same in tension as lights overall. I have no scientific experiments to back this, just the feel of my hands, but pearse strings to me seem to feel less tense than other brands. they make them in 80/20 bronze, and phos bronze.

let us know how you get along with it
d
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-17-2017, 03:56 PM
Brucebubs Brucebubs is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Eden, Australia
Posts: 17,792
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by darylcrisp View Post
Mickey

try all the strings you can, that guitar may just prefer a certain blend/brand/size to do its best.
This is the best advice.
Throw some D'Addario Nickel Bronze in the mix - I like them for their tone and volume - they also have some interesting new 'Balanced Tension' gauge sets.
__________________
Brucebubs

1972 - Takamine D-70
2014 - Alvarez ABT60 Baritone
2015 - Kittis RBJ-195 Jumbo
2012 - Dan Dubowski#61
2018 - Rickenbacker 4003 Fireglo
2020 - Gibson Custom Shop Historic 1957 SJ-200
2021 - Epiphone 'IBG' Hummingbird
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-17-2017, 03:59 PM
Song Song is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Boston Texas
Posts: 2,064
Default

My 510e likes medium monels. https://spark.adobe.com/page/Vc3YMIWf6cLVi/
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-17-2017, 04:10 PM
vindibona1 vindibona1 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Chicago- North Burbs, via Mexico City
Posts: 5,219
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brucebubs View Post
This is the best advice.
Throw some D'Addario Nickel Bronze in the mix - I like them for their tone and volume - they also have some interesting new 'Balanced Tension' gauge sets.
D'Addario NB's will be different than what you've tried. Also try DR Sunbeams and Veritas. All are different than the Rares, but sound great on the right guitars. Like the others have said, test a lot of strings. You never know when you'll come across the perfect match until you come across them.

In terms of your question regarding saddles, if I'm not mistaken Tusq is brighter than bone and more consistent.
__________________
Assuming is not knowing. Knowing is NOT the same as understanding. There is a difference between compassion and wisdom, however compassion cannot supplant wisdom, and wisdom can not occur without understanding. facts don't care about your feelings and FEELINGS ALONE MAKE FOR TERRIBLE, often irreversible DECISIONS
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-17-2017, 04:37 PM
ii Cybershot ii ii Cybershot ii is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,216
Default

Throw mediums on and tune down a half step. It will be awesome! I find Taylor's too stiff with medium and tuned normally.

Bone is not as loud as tusq in my experience. I have expiremented with many saddle types, and the micarta Taylor saddles are a good 20% louder than bone. Have yet to compare micarta with tusq but a tusq saddle is on the way so I'll know in a few days.

Edit: I should say, I have yet to compare tusq and micarta on the same guitar.

Last edited by ii Cybershot ii; 07-17-2017 at 08:45 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-17-2017, 06:41 PM
Mickey_C Mickey_C is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Prescott, AZ
Posts: 483
Default

Well, first off...

The 13-56 Martin SP 80/20 set sounds amazing on the guitar. The play-ability has gone down substantially however.

Maybe a neck tweak would fix it? Suddenly it's all there - it's big, it's loud, and has articulation, but still has the sweet sound I first liked in the guitar. It's not as loud as a martin dread, but it's got a very sweet tone. Must be the lutz spruce. I'll see if a neck adjust will help.

I'm going to have to try some of the strings listed above. Maybe I can get the same kind of sound but with less tension?

I had some Martin FX phosphor-bronze .0125-55 on a custom shop D-28 for a long time, they were great strings. But they are no longer made.

The DR sunbeams sound like they're worth trying as well as the monels.

Thanks for the advice!
__________________
Some guitars I currently own:
2018 Martin D41
2013 Alejandro Cervantes "Rodriguez Concert Classical"
2015 Martin HD28E Retro
2015 Gretsch 6128 Power Jet
2003 Amalio Burguet F1 concert flamenco
2010 Langejans R-cb classical
2019 Gibson 1958 true historic
2012 PRS Stripped '58 with 5708 pickups
1992 PRS CE24 (all original)
Many including Gretsch, Tokai, Yamaha, and Fender.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 07-17-2017, 06:44 PM
TBman's Avatar
TBman TBman is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 35,828
Default

If you aren't used to mediums it'll take a week or so, maybe sooner for your hands to adapt to the heavier strings.
__________________
Barry

Sad Moments {Marianne Vedral cover}:


My SoundCloud page

Some steel strings, some nylon.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 07-17-2017, 07:23 PM
RussL30 RussL30 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: MS
Posts: 2,266
Default

Like Barry said, give the mediums about a week to
see if you can adjust to them. If not, maybe try some of
12.5 gauges in different brands. The Martin TonyRice Monels have a medium
Gauges on the E strings and are a little lighter with less tension on the other strings.

I isn't realize the new 510's were short scale. It's going to be a little less
Powerful, but maybe a little sweeter than a long scale of the same model.
__________________
Taylor- DN8, GS Mini, XXX- KE
Gibson - Gospel Reissue
Takamine- GB7C
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 07-17-2017, 10:10 PM
Mickey_C Mickey_C is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Prescott, AZ
Posts: 483
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by TBman View Post
If you aren't used to mediums it'll take a week or so, maybe sooner for your hands to adapt to the heavier strings.
I have a fretted straight edge in my garage... went and dug it out, the neck was pretty bad, so I tightened it up a bit. I'll check it again tomorrow.

But it doesn't feel like 13's now, it's like just a little heavier feeling than my 25.5" dread with 12s. I think the shorter scale makes it feel lighter.

The sound is a big improvement. I ordered a bunch of strings online, so I'll try some different ones, but I agree the key was the 13s.

Maybe the short scale just needs the bigger strings to get the top moving?
__________________
Some guitars I currently own:
2018 Martin D41
2013 Alejandro Cervantes "Rodriguez Concert Classical"
2015 Martin HD28E Retro
2015 Gretsch 6128 Power Jet
2003 Amalio Burguet F1 concert flamenco
2010 Langejans R-cb classical
2019 Gibson 1958 true historic
2012 PRS Stripped '58 with 5708 pickups
1992 PRS CE24 (all original)
Many including Gretsch, Tokai, Yamaha, and Fender.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 07-17-2017, 10:39 PM
dragon1952 dragon1952 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Oregon Coast
Posts: 533
Default

Interesting post regarding the 510. I just bought a 2016 310ce and I also was surprised that it wasn't louder. I thought maybe the strings were just dead so I put some new DR Sunbeam 12-54's on it and it still wasn't very loud. The tone and sustain were excellent, it just didn't seem as loud as I expected... especially compared to my Blueridge which is a cannon.
I'd replaced the saddle in the Blueridge with one from Bob Colosi and it had helped a lot with the volume on that so I decided to try the same thing with this one. The stock micarta saddle didn't fit super snug, but then again it didn't fall out on it's own either, but there was a slight amount of play length-wise so I had Bob make it a tad bit thicker and about 1/32" longer.
While I was waiting for it I read, as the OP did, where Taylor sends the dreads out with mediums so I bought some D-Addario EJ17 13-56's. I don't know if it was the strings or the saddle, or a combination of both, but it helped a lot but it's still not as loud as I expected. What I did notice though is that if I point the sound hole more upwards towards my face and strum it's actually pretty darn loud. So I don't know....maybe these project outwards a lot better than upwards? I love the guitar, and I know I'm getting a little hard of hearing, but I'm still surprised it's not louder than it is.
__________________
1978 Guild D-55
Taylor 114E
Alvarez MD60 Herringbone
Guild GAD-50

Last edited by dragon1952; 07-18-2017 at 12:41 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 07-17-2017, 10:52 PM
ataylor ataylor is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,354
Default

When I played the most recent Taylor 510 a while back, my first impression was that it was essentially a bigger and deeper version of the sound that I've heard from their 12-fret mahogany guitars -- and the words such as 'warm' or 'sweet' sound about right to what I heard from the guitar. Another comparison I thought of when playing was that it almost had more of an OM sound, particularly if you were to compare it to sounds and shapes from other brands.

I think between the scale length, the slotted headstock, and the slightly shallower depth that Taylor gives all their dreadnoughts, the guitar's sonic profile is just going to be a little more mellow and a little warmer and a little more balanced than your typical standard-scale mahogany dreadnought.
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:32 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=