Never played a Taylor

[Steadfastly]

I don't know if you're odd or not; you'll have to ask that of your friends and family.

You should try a few Taylor guitars, though, just to see how they sound to you.

Personally, I think they are great instruments. I do prefer the tone of guitars with more bass than the Taylors so I don't own any. At least, I don't at the moment.

[Trigger]

I' ve always said I wouldn'd buy a Taylor. I dont like cutaways etc. and was not a fan of the thin sound. Anyway after playin lots of guitars from Martin, Gibson, Larrivée I stumbled into a Taylor 324 grand auditorium body size that have that sound I was looking for. The bass sounds as good or probably better than my previous Gibson SJ 100 and all others guitars i tried over the last month. Anyway to me it is an incredible guitar that I will cherish for a long long time. So try any guitars out there if can, you might find a burried tr3easure.

[guitararmy]

I still remember the first time I played a Taylor 810 in the early 90's. The action was so perfect, and there was a delicate top end that I wasn't used to hearing from a dreadnought.
Back then there weren't a lot of choices at my local music store besides Martin, Guild and Ovation.

[Larry Mal]

I wasn't too familiar with Taylors, either, but I knew they had a good name and so when I wanted to new guitar, I just looked up how Taylor named their models, found out what I could afford, and bought a 90's 410.

What same my way was so amazing that I still can't believe it. I've owned probably around 100 guitars (mainly electric) at this point, and I still buy other acoustics. The other ones are all great, every time I play one, though, I have the feeling that I've already bought the best acoustic I'm every going to buy in that 410. Simply amazing.

I also have a Taylor 12 string at this point. That one I played in the store, I was looking for a new six string, or so I thought, but after playing the GA3-12 I knew that I had to get that one.

Taylors are amazing, there's a reason they are competing at the Martin level and have to some degree eclipsed Gibson as well, despite being around for a lot less time than those guitar makers. There's just no getting around that.

For the record, I would never buy an acoustic with a cutaway, and I would never buy a guitar that had onboard electronics.

[51 Relic]

I own a GSMini e and love it gig it . However I've played my friends high end Taylor's and cannot get on with them . It's a real shame because I love the sound and look especially when plugged in . In fact I've just received the new edition of Wood and Steel and the new Builders Edition looks fabulous

[JayBee1404]

I played a number of Taylors yesterday at a Big-Box dealer in Yorkshire, UK. I was in there looking for a comfortable neck-profile to help with my increasingly-arthritic hands. Now I've never owned or even wanted to own a Taylor, and I'm usually a 'Definitely No Cut-Away' kinda guy, but the Taylor neck-profile felt very comfortable. Of the five or six Taylors I played, the 714ce really did grab me, and would have come home with me but for the derisory offer the guy made for trade of the Martin I'd taken in with me, and his stubborn intractability on negotiation - but that's a whole 'nuther story!

What did strike me, however, was that the statement I frequently hear and read about the 'superb setup and playability straight outta the box' of Taylor guitars was not borne-out by the five or six 700/800 models I played in the store yesterday. Every one had need of a setup IMHO, with too-high nut-slots and excessive neck-relief, and none of them played as easy as any of my Martins or my Lowden. The neck-relief may be a hydration issue in the store, but the nut-slots is a factory setup issue for sure.

Has anyone else had this experience, or was I just unlucky?

[pjroberts]

Originally Posted by JayBee1404

I played a number of Taylors yesterday at a Big-Box dealer in Yorkshire, UK. I was in there looking for a comfortable neck-profile to help with my increasingly-arthritic hands. Now I've never owned or even wanted to own a Taylor, and I'm usually a 'Definitely No Cut-Away' kinda guy, but the Taylor neck-profile felt very comfortable. Of the five or six Taylors I played, the 714ce really did grab me, and would have come home with me but for the derisory offer the guy made for trade of the Martin I'd taken in with me, and his stubborn intractability on negotiation - but that's a whole 'nuther story!

What did strike me, however, was that the statement I frequently hear and read about the 'superb setup and playability straight outta the box' of Taylor guitars was not borne-out by the five or six 700/800 models I played in the store yesterday. Every one had need of a setup IMHO, with too-high nut-slots and excessive neck-relief, and none of them played as easy as any of my Martins or my Lowden. The neck-relief may be a hydration issue in the store, but the nut-slots is a factory setup issue for sure.

Has anyone else had this experience, or was I just unlucky?

Yes ... though I find Taylors inherently easier to play, I don’t buy this bit that it’s because they are set up well out the factory door. The have great necks, but of the 6 I have owned, 5 of them have needed set up work. SPECIFICALLY nut work, the slots are usually cut too high. But, this makes sense because if they were low off the shelf they wouldn’t work for the odd birds that like higher action without a new nut.

However, you don’t see many high action loving bluegrass players gravitating toward Taylors:-)

[00045]

I never really cared for Taylor guitars. I always looked at them as a great tool, but never wanted one. The necks were too small for me anyway.
However, last year I was looking for a good 12-string. I tried quite a few, Guild, Martin, Breedlove, Furch and a few others. But I always came back to the Taylor.
Andy Powers really made a difference at Taylor. These new re-voice and whatever he did to them. I like how they sound, feel and look. I bought a 458e, but a month later I played a 856ce. The GS body and the difference in sound on the 800 series made me custom order a 856c. I love that guitar.

[N+1]

Originally Posted by JayBee1404

... the five or six 700/800 models I played in the store yesterday. Every one had need of a setup IMHO, with too-high nut-slots and excessive neck-relief, and none of them played as easy as any of my Martins or my Lowden. The neck-relief may be a hydration issue in the store, but the nut-slots is a factory setup issue for sure.

Has anyone else had this experience, or was I just unlucky?

No, you weren't unlucky.

One of the marvellous things about buying a new Taylor from a specialist dealer is that the 12th-fret action can be set up exactly as you want it by adjusting the neck. It takes 15-20 minutes, and is free of charge. That, in my view, is exactly how it should be. I've had all my Taylors set up like that, under guarantee.

But they have not solved the nut problem, and seem to be oblivious to it - as you point out, and as confirmed from the measurements I made on all my Taylors, here:

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=487670

I love my Taylors, having been a gradual convert - but I play most of the time with a capo, which is the simplest and cheapest way to solve these nut issues. However, a solution of the nut action problem would, in my view, be a far more interesting and user-friendly development than any number of bracing innovations.

[JayBee1404]

Originally Posted by N+1

No, you weren't unlucky.

One of the marvellous things about buying a new Taylor from a specialist dealer is that the 12th-fret action can be set up exactly as you want it by adjusting the neck. It takes 15-20 minutes, and is free of charge. That, in my view, is exactly how it should be. I've had all my Taylors set up like that, under guarantee.

But they have not solved the nut problem, and seem to be oblivious to it - as you point out, and as confirmed from the measurements I made on all my Taylors, here:

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=487670

I love my Taylors, having been a gradual convert - but I play most of the time with a capo, which is the simplest and cheapest way to solve these nut issues. However, a solution of the nut action problem would, in my view, be a far more interesting and user-friendly development than any number of bracing innovations.

Thanks N+1, I've owned five Martins so I'm used to taking a new guitar to my luthier for a setup after a couple of months, and I'd be happy to do that with a Taylor, but I was shocked that the 'perfect setup straight outta the box' thing appears to be an inaccurate myth!

In fairness to the dealer, they did say they would do a proper setup FOC before I took it home but, due to other factors, that didn't happen and I walked out of the store still with my Martin in hand.

[SprintBob]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

I traded these 2 Taylor guitars a couple of years ago.



The 355 introduced me to the wonderful world of jumbo 12-strings.
The 422 established my prejudice against small body guitars - thin and weak, could never bond with it.

Having said that, both guitars were well made and easy to play and I would be proud to own another Taylor guitar .... just not a small one.

Bruce,

If you get a chance, try a 12 fret xx2 series Taylor. The shift of the soundhole more towards the center of the lower bout really makes a difference. My 812 12 fret and K22 12 fret stand up pretty well to my Santa Cruz 00 and even my Collings OM1A. The 714 12 fret I got last fall is so good to my ears that IMO Taylor needs to have a 12 fret, short scale GA as a standard model offering.

I use the the cutaways and the ES2 electronics and find both are beneficial for me even though I prefer the aesthetics of a non-cutaway body. For those who think the 3 knob look of the ES electronics is offensive, it’s no worse if not a lot better than any other factory onboard pickup with EQ on the market (IMHO).

Cheers,

Bob

[JayBee1404]

Originally Posted by SprintBob

I use the the cutaways and the ES2 electronics and find both are beneficial for me even though I prefer the aesthetics of a non-cutaway body. For those who think the 3 knob look of the ES electronics is offensive, it’s no worse if not a lot better than any other factory onboard pickup with EQ on the market (IMHO).

I completely agree Bob. Never had an Acoustic with a cutaway, but I'm sure I could get used to it. The three knobs of the ES2 system are, to my eyes, considerably less offensive than those dreadful barn-door contraptions seen on other acoustic/electrics. I barely noticed them on the five or six Taylors I played yesterday.

However, based on yesterday's experience, the ES2 system isn't a patch sound-wise on the K&Ks I have in my guitars and mando.

The usual disclaimers apply......IMHO, YMMV etc.

[SprintBob]

Originally Posted by JayBee1404

I completely agree Bob. Never had an Acoustic with a cutaway, but I'm sure I could get used to it. The three knobs of the ES2 system are, to my eyes, considerably less offensive than those dreadful barn-door contraptions seen on other acoustic/electrics. I barely noticed them on the five or six Taylors I played yesterday.

However, based on yesterday's experience, the ES2 system isn't a patch sound-wise on the K&Ks I have in my guitars and mando.

The usual disclaimers apply......IMHO, YMMV etc.

I’ve got K&K pickups in both my Santa Cruz and Collings and find the Taylor ES2 is pretty good in comparison but you have to EQ to your ears preference. I got a Tonedexter recently and it made both sound more natural but more so on the K&K pickups. I think ES2 on its own does a good job of reducing quack/nasal tone of an under saddle pickup if you work with the EQ controls.

[Charmed Life Picks]

I've always found them too bright, for my tastes at least.

[Kupuna50]

I have played Taylor's. Nicely built guitars. Variety of wood combinations.
Excellent marketing.
But, IMHO, that is where it stops.
The build and build process are the hallmark of Taylor.
Tone is NOT.
Even after attending several 'Road Shows', listening to the factory guys, their pitch is about the 'build', NOT the tone. So it isn't just me.

Just my humble opinion.