NGD! Taylor Walnut Custom Grand Symphony --- deja vu !!

[AH Acoustic]

Hi all,

I have been through about a dozen types of strings on my guitar, a Taylor Walnut Grand Symphony, over the past year, and it has taken this long to decide to keep it for the foreseeable future.

I chose Walnut after reading extensively on this forum, and Wade Hampton Miller's comments about Walnut -- so I had to give it a try. After additional research, I decided to go with X-Bracing while Taylor still offered it. I paired it with a European Spruce top.

Several months into owning it, I can say this:

It offers exceptional string balance, with fullness to the low end, clarity and punch to the mid range, and something of a cool (vs. warm) tonality that inspires alternative tuning experimentation. It is a very articulate guitar, and seems to like medium strings best so far.

BTW - I am including the strings in the NGD because the guitar sounds transformed from one string to the next...

Trouble was I chose strings in the shop where I purchased it, but then couldn't find them any place local to me -- and I like to support local businesses if I can with things like this.

I have tried (all Phosphor Bronze), in light & medium gauges:
Elixir
D'Addario XT
D'Addario XS
D'Addario EJ
John Pearse
Martin Lifespan
Martin SP

The declared winner as of today?

The Martin SP Phosphor Bronze 550, Marquis or standard edition. (same strings, Marquis is silken at the ball end to protect the bridge)

It's been a real struggle to chase the perfect tone - and I have heard that Walnut can be tricky to dial in.

I quickly determined that an uncoated string was best in my case -- but didn't know how the treated strings would sound -- those weren't quite my speed, either.

Once I settled on the idea I could optimize each of my guitars for its own string type, rather than trying to keep everyone on the same string, this became much simpler.

The Walnut really ended up being very particular about its preferred string. The D'Addario EJ and John Pearse I tried produced incredible sustain and overtone content -- however this particular guitar dampens the low frequencies with a more rapid decay, leaving the trebles to pierce the soundscape. The result was a somewhat edgy top end, sending me back to the shops to try something different.

Why are the Martin's different?

They don't offer quite the sustain as the EJs or JPs, at least on my guitar, on the treble strings, which actually ends up rebalancing the guitar, frequency wise. As the trebles dissipate just a touch faster -- I hear an overall, a richer, fuller tone.

I couldn't be happier --

So here I am, mixing my Taylor and Martin, and enjoying every second of it...

Here's an original finger style showcasing the guitar's tone (pardon the less than perfect execution):



-a.h.

*update: I went without this instrument for 9 months, and have it back again. So thrilled!

[AH Acoustic]

IMG_0124.jpgIMG_0132.jpgIMG_0130.jpg

[Wade Hampton]

Interesting post, AH. Yes, I can attest to how picky walnut guitars can be when it comes to finding the right strings for them.

In my case, with my right hand attack, John Pearse phosphor bronze strings are the best strings to use on my walnut guitars. I own two and those are the strings I use on both of them. So it’s definitely a process of elimination figuring out what’s going to work.

I’m glad you’re having fun with it!


Wade Hampton Miller

[Glennwillow]

Pretty guitar! I hope you continue to enjoy it! Congratulations!

- Glenn

[TBman]

Congrats! Really nice looking back on it. Finding the right strings makes the guitar.

[AH Acoustic]

I appreciate your comments, much appreciated.

@ Wade, I did try JPs for several months with this guitar and another I have, and enjoy them very much on my Cocobolo GS. If I could get them locally, I'd use them all the time.

Not sure why the Walnut didn't take to them in my case -- although maybe the fact that I believe Taylor uses Claro Walnut (vs. Black Walnut) is important in that regard?

-a.h.

[AH Acoustic]

Originally Posted by TBman

Congrats! Really nice looking back on it. Finding the right strings makes the guitar.

Thanks Barry, the flame was a nice surprise (this was ordered with no choice in the set selection) -- luck of the draw!

-a.h.

[LakewoodM32Fan]

Congratulations! I've gone through a lot of Taylors over the years and the only one that's stayed with me is a custom X-braced as well (cedar over cocobolo).

It gets along well with most strings I throw at it, cocobolo is probably less finicky than walnut, but I'll have to give those strings a try as I don't think I've ever used them.

Enjoy in good health!

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by AH Acoustic

I appreciate your comments, much appreciated.

@ Wade, I did try JPs for several months with this guitar and another I have, and enjoy them very much on my Cocobolo GS. If I could get them locally, I'd use them all the time.

Not sure why the Walnut didn't take to them in my case -- although maybe the fact that I believe Taylor uses Claro Walnut (vs. Black Walnut) is important in that regard?

-a.h.

I’m not certain whether the species of walnut should be a factor in terms of what strings sound best. The similarities between black and claro walnut are much greater than the dissimilarities, but it’s hard to tell what other factors might be coming into play.


whm

[AH Acoustic]

Added video clip to top post.

[jseth]

If you like the longevity and feel of Elixir strings, don't discount the 80-20 variety... I'm generally a "phosphor bronze guy". but, on my new (to me) Goodall Concert Jumbo (pretty close to the GS size/shape). I tried a set of the 80-20's and LOVED them on that guitar!

I even tried the HD light (medium top/light bottom) and found them to be very balanced with the Goodall (where bass is NOT an issue at all!)...

[JohnW63]

Nice! I like the tune and the wood choice.

[MBee]

Beautiful guitar. I love the sound you're getting out of it already.

[AH Acoustic]

Hi all --

Lucky, lucky me.

I had a spell about 9 months ago where I was starting to get lost comparing my two Taylors.

I ended up selling both to a local music shop, and put a deposit down on a luthier-built guitar.

However -- that guitar is not complete, and... it had been 9 months, and I realized that I missed the Taylor Walnut quite a bit.

The shop still had it in stock. Apparently those that appreciate a Walnut Taylor are not very many. So...

I have it back!

Never going to leave again.

PS

I didn't mention this earlier -- but it was through extensive research about tone woods (back / sides -- as well as tops) done on this forum that led me to order this guitar as spec'd.

Thank you AGF.

-a.h.

[AH Acoustic]