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Your Favorite TAYLOR and the Story Behind It...
This is, of course, an obvious ripoff of Toby Walker's OP, but we Taylor owners were feeling a little left out of his favorite Martin thread. I've owned a bunch of Taylors over the past ten years but my 524 First Edition (#64 of 100) is very special to me. It's not just the amazing tone and playability of this great guitar; but believe it or not I've foolishly sold it twice and was able to get it back both times. My ladyfriend gave me some holiday $$$ to help buy it back the second time making it extra special. I think that coming home to papa twice makes it a definite keeper....
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Mine is my 320. My mum gave me some money shortly before she died and asked me to buy a guitar with some of it and take that guitar to my gigs.
I knew I wanted a hog top and this Taylor came out on top for me! I've got a Baggs M80 to go in it and I'll permanently install it when I do my next string change. |
I had an old 1980's Sigma that I got as a teenager and it was my only guitar for many, many years. Then a few years ago I got into playing in the church band, then some weddings, then some solo gigs, then playing in a cover band. So then I figured since I was "professional" musician I should get a pro-level guitar.
I almost pulled the trigger on a 210ce in a pawn shop, but my wife said "Is that what you really want? If not, why don't you just wait and get the one you really want?" So I ended up waiting another year and found a great deal on a never-used 314ce on ebay. I bought it on "make an offer" and got a great deal. It really was like brand new. I think the reason I got such a great deal was because the pics on ebay were terrible and I took a chance on it. Anyway, I've had it a couple of years and I play it all the time--at home, at church, at solo gigs, band gigs. I seem to like it more and more all the time. I've noticed the top starting to darken and the tone just gets better and better. And, being such a great playing guitar has made me want to play more which has improved my playing which in turn helps me to appreciate it that much more. http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/...ps81benh65.jpg |
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Those who have met Martin Taylor (the jazz guitarist) will have their favorite Martin Taylor story.
Tony |
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I've had this one for 22 years. My wife got it for me when she was pregnant with our daughter Taylor. I originally went in looking for a Martin, but this one just sounded amazing.
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Sorry. No guitar stories. I buy them. I play them. Simple story. Nick's story is nice though.
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I've told this before so stop me if I'm boring you. No?
My favorite Taylor came to me as probably my first really nice acoustic. My wife and I were approaching twenty years of marriage and were looking for nice gifts for each other. I found a diamond "wrap" for her. A wrap is a ring with two rows of diamonds with a space in the center. It is designed to allow you to wear the wrap and your solitaire engagement ring together and it looks like one ring with several stones. My wife decided to get me a nice acoustic guitar. A few months before I'd had a national recording artist in my studio and she had brought along her Taylor 912ce with the Cindy inlay. I had never seen a Taylor before and I was absolutely blown away by the quality of the guitar's fit and finish. Then she played it, and it filled the room. The Cindy was a bit much for me (that has changed) but I was impressed with this guitar. The next time I had a day off I ran down to a dealer who had literally the entire Taylor line on the wall in their upper-end room. I played from the bottom to the top of the line and back down again, several times, and one guitar kept sicking out as really coming alive to my playing style. Eventually I went home, grabbed my wife, took her back, and had her listen through the line, without showing the hang tags to suggesting any preference. Every time I played this particular model it just jumped out. So, eventually it was January of 2000. The bottom of the Taylor line had been converted to the NT (New Technology) neck but the upper lines hadn't, and I wanted to get one of the pre-NT guitars. The manager of my dealer and I went back to his office and called Taylor. Taylor only had two of this model made up and both had been started on the last day of production of 1999 before the crew took the holiday recess so this is a guitar "from the last century." The sales rep compared the two and we chose the best one. It was delivered in four days and it turned out to be a really nice guitar. It is a really personal guitar that is really responsive to quiet fingerstyle. It is a K14c (no E) with a western red cedar top and koa sides and back. The guitar is very light and resonant. http://www.in2guitar.com/images3/K14c1sm.jpghttp://www.in2guitar.com/images3/K14c4sm.jpg It is the acoustic that I most like to play on the couch or when I'm playing just for me. Bob |
I'd always wanted a high end Taylor or Martin for as long as I can remember.
I just could never justify paying 1K+ for them. So I'd patiently waited for many years till the right deal presented itself. Two years ago I stopped by one of my regular pawnshops to see if the had anything of interest. I asked my regular sales guy if anything interesting was coming out. He said there was a pretty nice guitar he could bring out now. He brought it to the front and it turned out to be an '03 515-CE Jumbo Custom. I looked over to find any faults in the guitar. It has a few small scuffs, scratches, and dents here and there I asked the price, and he said $350. I couldn't believe what I heard. Well, I NEVER EVER pay full asking price for any guitar. I showed him all the issues with the guitar, and told him I'd give him $270 out the door right now. He agreed, and that's how I got my 1st quality Taylor. |
My favorite Taylor is my 814ce. I've always loved Taylor guitars, and have owned a 110, 210, 214, and 414ce. There really isn't a special story. I ordered it after playing a few Taylors in a local shop after I sold my 414ce.
There is nothing like it.... http://i755.photobucket.com/albums/x...pslhzh5gia.jpg |
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Oh boy, where to start?
I'd been playing low-mid level acoustics for decades. Much later in life I knew I wanted to get back into playing guitar and was able to step up in quality. I did a lot of research and had never played a Taylor before. I heard the name a lot and a lot of accolades but I didn't know what the "big deal" could be. About 6-7 (?) years ago I was playing around with sub-$1K Takamines, Breedloves, Yamahas, etc. I wandered into the GC room and saw a Taylor on the wall. OK I'll try it. I picked it up and played it and it was an almost religious experience for me. At that moment every fiber of my being knew that the die was cast and the decision made - I was going to own a Taylor guitar. I left the store a literally changed man. It had a big impact on me. Since then I've bought eight Taylors and tried/tested/trialed every one I could find. And my favorite was the first one I bought which, through providence not planning, had every feature I love. My GC7 is a bling free 712 with a short scale, slot head 14 fret cedar topped EIR bodied fingerstyle crystal ball of perfection. I customized it by upgrading the tuner screws, the TRC and adding a JP armrest. |
Another easy one, and another gift from Helene, my 90's Rosewood Cedar 714ce.
In the 90's, most of my guitars were still electrics, but I decided I "needed" a really good acoustic, so I hit the Hollywood GC thinking I would end up with a D-28. I got lucky and got a salesman that knew his stuff, and after watching me play some Martins, he handed me a Taylor 714ce. It was love at first strum, but as it was a few weeks before Christmas, I was under strict orders not to buy anything. Helene is a very clever woman, so that Christmas Eve, I received a small box with instructions where to find my new Taylor 714ce. That guitar started me on a path to collecting acoustics, and might be the reason I am in the guitar business today. And although I have owned hundreds of guitars since receiving that Taylor, that 714ce is still my favorite acoustic. Here's a terrible photo. :) https://scontent-mia1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...92&oe=58E54B53 |
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My first, because it introduced me to the world of Taylor.....my 2002 414.
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You beat me to it.:D |
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This is my first and only Taylor -- a 210 from late 2005 back when they were made in California from all-solid tonewoods (spruce/sapele). It has a really nice, crisp sound, and records really nicely. The local guitar shop where I got my first guitar -- a laminate Art & Lutherie dreadnought -- carried Seagull and the other Godin brands and Taylors. Since the Taylors were the most expensive guitars in the little shop, they became the holy grail of guitars to me as a beginner. I'd go look at them when stopping by to get strings, I'd pour over the Taylor catalogs, and I'd dream of one day being able to buy one. Money was tight over the next 4-5 years as a college student, and any extra money I had saved up went towards a couple years of volunteer service in Eastern Europe and a summer study abroad art program in London. Finally in early 2006 I found that I had enough extra money to buy a Taylor. Taylor had just come out with the 100 and 200 series. I had set my sights on either the 210 or the 310. My local shop had a couple of both. I found the 210 to feel a little lighter, sound a little louder and crisper, and it was cheaper. So that's what I walked out with. I couldn't wait to show my friends and family my new treasure. It was like I had finally "made it" as a guitarist when I got home and opened the case up. I used to play acoustic shows and open mics and open for local bands and such, and the Taylor was fantastic. Whether unplugged or using the pickup I had the shop install when I bought the guitar, it always sounded great and I would regularly get compliments on the sound. People who knew guitars would be floored when I told them how much I paid (or didn't pay!) for the guitar. Once, in a moment of stupidity, I sold the 210 to a friend. I had found a deal on a Taylor 410 at a different guitar shop about 45 minutes away and had convinced myself it was the next step up for me. I knew my friend wanted to buy a Taylor and liked my guitar so I sold it to him and went and bought the 410. I instantly regretted it. So I called up the shop I bought from, who kindly took the guitar back minus a small fee, and I called my friend to beg him to sell me my guitar back. He told me he figured I might regret it and we traded back. I gave him a little extra money back for being so understanding. (He later found a great deal on a really nice 310.) It's got its fair share of wear and tear, dings and scratches (several courtesy of the kiddos it now shares a home with these days), and I've grown to embrace it as a player's guitar. It has been in its case more than usual over the last few years since I got a Fairbanks slope dreadnought, but I have found myself getting it out more often in recent weeks -- and it doesn't take long to rediscover my affinity for its tone and playability. It's a fantastic guitar that I intend to keep forever. |
I just have to tell a story about another Taylor. It's not mine, but the irony of it just kills me.
I have a friend who got a brand new 414ce from one of the big box stores. It's a beautiful guitar with really neat looking figure on the ovankol. He proudly paid full price AND he also bragged about adding on the "extended warranty." My first bit of amusement is that he paid way too much. Then, he took it to "a guy" to have some work done on it. In addition to a "setup" (which consisted of shaving the saddle down almost level with the bridge, he had another end pin installed and moved the cable jack. So now he has 3 holes in the guitar. In the process of moving the jack, something got messed up so it caused him to lose signal about half of the time he played. I played it a few times, and it was impossible to play without buzzing, and had very little volume acoustically. I wouldn't normally take joy in someone else's problems, except this guy, whenever we would play together, would grab my 314ce, strum a few chords and comment "When are you gonna get a real guitar?" or "I hope you didn't pay a lot for this clunker" or "You need to get this thing set up." Still that never stopped him from picking it up and playing it whenever I set it down and turned my back. Fast forward a couple of years and he left his case open and I saw a receipt in there. I took a look and it was a receipt from a a legitimate guitar shop where he had taken it to get all the stuff fixed the first guy messed up. He never said anything to me about it, but he still grabs my 314ce whenever I put it down. |
Chris, I think that there are some people that you just can't save from themselves. They just can't avoid getting in their own way....
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The NOS 320e Baritone LE my wife generously bought for me (for a ridiculously low price) on Valentine's Day 2015, during our last visit to the ruins of what was once MandoBros :( (she asked, "Is there anything here worth buying?" - uh, yeah... :cool: ); even though a choral instructor once classified me as a "Renaissance dramatic tenor" (I could explain, but why...) the low register and hog-top construction seem to complement my voice when I get into the upper reaches - as do my other (Martin) all-hog guitars BTW, but that's another thread...
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My 90's 714ce belonged to my good friend Jeremy, who was a pro musician and a mentor to me. Shortly before he passed away of cancer, he inscribed on the label:
KRIS: YOURS NOW. GO PLAY. LOVE YOU BROTHER -JER The guitar is a symbol of our friendship. It also happens to be one of the best playing and sounding instruments I've ever played. |
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Walnut LTD 12 fret. I don't know if I have much of a story. I was looking at the 618e and decided to A/B it with....what's that? Picked it up and was very impressed. Picked it up on the spot because I figured I could always get a 618e later. For whatever reason, the guitar gets me and I instantly felt at home. I usually keep it tuned to dropped D and I might even post some clips on this site as soon as I get some decent recording equipment. I neglected getting much since I had been in bands with studio equipment. |
Guess my favorite Taylor was a used BTO red spruce/Madagascar -- a x15 shape, IIRC -- that I played a guitar shop, but didn't buy. The price was high but reasonable. Very deep, sweet, rich tones, incredibly responsive and easy to play. It certainly didn't sound like any Taylor I'd ever played. In fact, I couldn't think of a guitar brand that it reminded me of.
My wife really wanted me to buy it, but I couldn't think of what I'd do with it. Too luscious a tone for my style of play. Maybe I should have bought it anyway. |
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There are a couple of good stories. My wife had decided from well before we were married that if she had a daughter her name would be Taylor Elizabeth after her grandparents Taylor and Elizabeth. Well I always wanted to name my kid after the songwriter that started me on this journey Bob Dylan but she would have no part of that. What she didn't take in account was that they always ask the Dad to fill out the birth certificate so her name is Taylor Elizabeth Dylan Kyte. LOL The other story involving my Taylor 710 in the pic is pretty cool too. Our 2nd date ever was her accompanying me to a solo gig I was playing. Glenda has big deep brown eyes so I learned Brown Eyed Girl to sing for her that night and it became our song. Well the day I was trying out guitars to pick the high end (to me especially back in those days) guitar I kept playing other guitars and just going back to the 710. I didn't realize it but the progression I was playing while listening intently to the guitar was Brown Eyed Girl. One time when I switched from another guitar back to the Taylor she turned around with big tears in her eyes and said "buy that one". LOL |
My favorite was one that got away.
You will have to bear with me as I really don't know all that much about their models, designations, and such.... The owner of a local music shop was a serious Taylor fan. He had made many pilgrimages to the factory, had met Bob several times, had an autographed pic taken with Bob... Not to mention that he sold a LOT of Taylor guitars. He also sold Taylor Custom Shop and R Taylor guitars. The irony is that the expensive ones generally moved pretty fast where the cheap ones tended to sit around. Well - he decided to make a pilgrimage and commission himself and his father their own full on customs. He hand picked all the wood himself at the factory, model/serial number had his name, Etc. His was whatever Taylor calls their 000.... His dad's was a dread. His Dad's guitar was pretty good but his was a monster. And then he put them both up for sale.... When I asked why - he said something about everything has a price.... But he wasn't asking some stupid price for it... It was maybe $3,800 or so... It was a weird horizontal bearclaw top and a beautiful quartersawn Ovankol back and sides... And weirdest of all - Adirondack bracing... And it was an absolute cannon. But it had an amazing tone to boot. It would play loud and it would play soft, it would play dry and it would play lush, and everything in between..... I kept going back to play it... It was only in the shop a few weeks and somebody bought it and it disappeared.... And I have NEVER played another Taylor that could touch that one... If I do - it will come home with me - I won't make that mistake again. Thanks |
Walked into GC way back in 2004 and they had two Taylors on sale,a 314ce and a 414ce either one for $1500 w/HSC. I played them both,called some player friends to come over and help me decide. The 314ce won out Bigtime and has opened up to be a warm sensitive sounding guitar even if I`m fingerpicking softly or banging the snot out of it. This puppy Plays!. No issues with it ever,Thanks to Taylor!!!.
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