Why are Taylors so bright?

[Hurricane Bob]

Its been mentioned a few times on this forum and my 110 definitely is on the bright side. Not that I mind, it cuts through nicely when playing solos with my acoustic band. Is it the 3 bolt on neck screws? Design?

[dankayaker]

I've owned and tried a few 1-2 series Taylors and felt they were very synthetic sounding. I currently have an 812 with Martin Monel strings on it and it's not bright at all but big, round and warm sounding.

[RP]

I've never bought into the whole "Taylors are too bright" notion. The tone of the ones I own suit me really well. Not to sound snarky, but I truly believe that it's one of those internet forum/guitar store stereotypes that gets repeated often enough to become thrown out as "fact," be it true or not. I imagine that putting varied sets of strings on a bright Taylor would make a noticeable difference but the stereotype would remain....

[Judson]

I've owned my Taylor GA3 for several years and I've never felt that it was particularly "bright" ... but then, I use the Elixir HD Lights which are .013, .017, .025, .032, .042, .053 ... so the heavier treble strings may help keep the tone on my Taylor "darker" ... I dunno. I also use a relatively thick 1.0 mm pick.

[Steve DeRosa]

Because their daddy is such a smart guy...

[mkitman]

Try a set of TI Plectrums on it; they'll definitely 'warm up' the sound...

[sandspike15]

I don't think the coated elixers that ship stock on them helps. Assuming that a pair of monels would tame the treble.

[Brent Hahn]

I wouldn't say generally "bright" so much as "not boomy." As opposed to, say, a big Martin.

[ChrisE]

Some may use the term "balanced."

[RussL30]

Originally Posted by RP

I've never bought into the whole "Taylors are too bright" notion. The tone of the ones I own suit me really well. Not to sound snarky, but I truly believe that it's one of those internet forum/guitar store stereotypes that gets repeated often enough to become thrown out as "fact," be it true or not. I imagine that putting varied sets of strings on a bright Taylor would make a noticeable difference but the stereotype would remain....

Yeah I've owned 8 Taylors over the last 10 years and I've only had one I'd classify as too bright. Bright is the last word I'd use to describe my current Taylor.

[Buc-a-Roo]

I've owned three Taylors in the past and have played many others over the years and to my ear it's not so much an overly bright tone as it is a lack of a balancing midrange. The reduced mid freqs tend to sonically emphasize the highs and the tone is perceived as bright.

Just my ears and my perception.........

[jrs146]

I wouldn't necessarily classify my 814ce DLX as bright. I'd say it's very balanced and has a full piano-like projection. It's absolutely not muddy or woody sounding which I think is what people hear when saying a Taylor is bright. The only Taylor I've owned that I would say was bright was my 2004 314. It was a little too mid-rangy for me.

[Hurricane Bob]

Those TI Plectrum strings sound interesting, gonna have to experiment.

[mercy]

Its no rumor, long before I started on this forum I played many Taylors. They allways had bearclaw tops and they were always bright, I used the term thin back then. I stopped even trying them when looking for a guitar because they were all that way.
I have been reading that there is a new guy in charge that is producing different sounding guitars. I havent tried any in at least 10 years so there may be Taylors that arent thin now but in the past the OP is correct. The good thing about them was they would handle a pickup better.

[fazool]

I fingerpick with short nails - mostly fleshy fingertips. I find that my Taylor gets a little too bright when picking with my nails or a plectrum.

With my style of fingerpicking/strumming however, it is perfect.