12 fret itis... Taylor 712 or 522?

[tundraspyder]

Which one should I buy. The 522 is without electronics, but is much cheaper than the 712 due to sale price coming up...

I like the look of the 522 better, the sound is similar, the play is similar.

which would you buy?

[DAVE 57]

Originally Posted by tundraspyder

Which one should I buy. The 522 is without electronics, but is much cheaper than the 712 due to sale price coming up...

I like the look of the 522 better, the sound is similar, the play is similar.

which would you buy?

I think you may have answered your own question here.i might seem a bit biased here as I have a 522.I recently played a 712 which was nice.But is it worth the extra.The 522 is really nice allround guitar and mines a keeper.

[williejohnson]

I also have a 522 (522ce 12 fret) and it is a wonderful instrument, one which I would highly recommend.

Willie

[PTC Bernie]

You owe it to yourself to try other manufacturers before you decide. Specifically, I would look at SCGC 12 Fret D and the equivilant Larivee.

[wooglins]

I love my 712 and it is not a 12-fret. Get the one you like better between the two, the price difference should not be great.

[llew]

The SCGC 12 fret D is a great guitar but is substantially bigger than a Taylor X12/22. As is the Larrivee SD.

[tundraspyder]

I dont gig, and the only thing I could see using the electronics for would be a looper. I would use a mic for recording my progress.

Would it be worth $500 for electronics?

I played a 522 and was pretty impressed. If I was buying a small, all-mahogany guitar, however, I'd be looking pretty hard at the custom OM15, 000-15S, and 0015's at L.A. Guitar Sales.

Edit: I now realize that not all of these custom Martins are 12-fretters. However, I hear nothing but rave reviews about the 00015SM, which is.

[llew]

I haven't played a Taylor in a while but if memory serves the 700 series has EIR back & sides. If you're thinking about a small body rosewood guitar I have to cast a vote toward the Martin 000-28VS. Wonderful guitar!

[Captain Jim]

Another 522ce 12-fret owner logging in. I like the warm sound of the all mahogany. And I really appreciate how my 12-frets play.

Good luck with the decisions.

[painasusual]

I don't undèrstand people who when asked about taylors start recommendin their favorite martins. Its likewhen you want apples and ask the salesperson which apple is better the green orr the red. Then someone behind you starts going on about how you don't want an apple but a banana instead.

[email4eric]

If I were into that Taylor sound, I'd choose the 522. I played one and another Taylor hog along with a Martin 000-15sm. I found the 522 impressive though I went with the Martin 000-15sm because I preferred it's tone.

I'm not suggesting that the Martin is "better;" just that I preferred it.

In a mini-review I wrote about these, I think I referred to the Taylor as a "choir" whereby the Martin was more of an "angelic soloist."

Sounds like you're lovin that 522 though!

[FrankB2]

My 2014 Taylor 712e 12 fret is an awfully nice guitar. The 2013 model had an Engelmann top, and the 2014 is Sitka. I play a few different genres, including classical, and the Taylor mahogany guitars are a little too dark for my tastes. I played a 522 14 fret, and the 712 12 fret has more volume. I played a Taylor 524 this afternoon, and it didn't have much more volume than the 712, and was dark. I'm running out of time to return and replace my 712e, and nothing has come close yet. I also played a Martin OM-28EC today, and it sounded dead compared to my 712e.

I was able to get 15% off when I bought my 712, so that takes some of the sting out. It can produce deep, rich basses, along with bright chimey highs, but it can also play mellow tunes just as well. It projects great, and I'm using EXP16's. The stock Elixir HD's don't provide anything more in terms of tone and volume, but will make your fingers sore. I'm still trying to justify spending $2,500 on a steel string guitar, but the 712 12 fret is just that good. They aren't giving away 522's, and you'll be paying a lot either way. The extra several hundred for the 712 might be worth it, if you like the guitar. Play them both, and then choose which bullet you're going to bite.

P.S. I dressed my 712 up in its Sunday best in case I exchanged it for something else today. It's still sitting right next to me.

[FrankB2]

Originally Posted by tundraspyder

I dont gig, and the only thing I could see using the electronics for would be a looper. I would use a mic for recording my progress.

Would it be worth $500 for electronics?

I never planned to use electronics on an acoustic guitar before I bought my Taylor 514 FLTD with ES2. I bought a cheap acoustic amp to make sure the electronics worked, and then began using it to boost my sound as needed. Same thing with the 712e. It's not a junk amp, just one that was on clearance for $59: An Acoustic AG15. The ES2 electronics amplified fingers on the strings at first, but I've adjusted my technique (minor), and EQ settings to pretty much eliminate that. ES2 is MUCH more acoustic sounding than ES1. There are other aftermarket systems that promise great acoustic sound, but as I looked into them, they all have issues that need to be dealt with as well. $500 over the next two years works out to $.62/day. Over three years is even less.

[bajawatt]

522 owner here. I A/B'd Taylor hogs with the LA Guitar Sale customs. Went Taylor, which surprised me.

I love smelling it. I love holding it. I love playing it. I love singing with it. It fits my voice better than my Yamaha LJ16 and its rosewood overtones. Which, I thought, was weird. But it's true.

I love its sweet growl.

At the time of purchase, I thought I'd have no use for the electronics. I'm playing out in public in a week and wish I had them now. But I was already at the tippy top of my budget, so electronics was out from the start. I only wish these "sale prices" you speak of were around last year.