Thoughts on a Taylor 312ce from 2004
 

I'm considering getting a 2004 Taylor 312ce as my "couch" guitar.
I contacted Taylor and they said the 312ce from 2004 would be African mahogany and the standard 25.5 inch scale.

Does anybody have hands (and ears) on experience between this guitar and the short scale ones with sapele back and sides?

Thanks so much.
Chuck

I know there is a lot of knowledge on this forum.
Thoughts?
Thanks so much.
Chuck

It should be a fine guitar. I owned a 312ce with Spruce top and Koa back. It was very nice. I have played the Sapele version as well and it is fine. I would say it leans bright and to the note fundamental, but hopefully will have warmed somewhat for 15 year old guitar. Play it in person if you can.

Thanks so much JazzGuy. This will be my sit on the sofa and lightly pick guitar.
If I want thunder, I've got the Martin D's.
Chuck

I used to have a 412 or 312 from that era, long gone now. The spruce/mahogany 412 was my first "nice" guitar. The guy at the shop put guitar after guitar in my hands for about an hour and the Taylor GC is what appealed to me the most.

I had it long enough to need a partial refret and I remember marveling at how it opened up without me really noticing, but one day I recall hitting the strings and feeling the entire body resonate and overtones I hadn't focused on before.

Given that you're used to Dreds and OOOs this will be a pleasant change in size. It's definitely a noodle on the couch watching tv type of guitar. Do it all the time.

Can't answer as to comparing with a shorter scale, I had the standard then.

If I could add, you might consider a 12 fret Grand Concert. It'll give you a bit more bass and midrange than the 14 fret. You might miss that dropping down from a larger dreadnaught.

I have a 2010 GC8 (8-series grand concert body guitar), and it's a perfect couch guitar. The GC3 and the GC4 sound a little tinny to my ears when strummed, but sound good fingerpicked. If I had it to do over again, I'm getting a cedar-topped Taylor.

I’ve got a 2000 312ce, and while it doesn’t have the NT neck, it is mahogany, and it’s a great comfortable small instrument that sits between a 00 and 000 size.

Thanks so much everybody !!
I'm in the process of acquiring this little guitar right now. I love my dreadnoughts, but I'm really excited about having the comfortable little guitar to just lightly pick on while watching TV or just hanging out.
Chuck