Why can't I like Taylor?

[samirguitar]

I tried my best to like a Taylor.
During Christmas and new years sales I wanted to buy a new guitar.
Tried Taylor GA and Dread in series 3 & 4 with both Hog and rose.
Couldn't get my ears past the zingy-ness.
Went up the series and tried new 710 and 814 and still the same.
Today I realised truly that people do hear things different.
At one point after trying at least 7 different Taylors, I was like, is this for real?
I thought at one point that Taylor has done good marketing to win over the follower-ship. The guitars over £1500 did not sound any better than Alvarez or Yamahas under £500.
I think I have heard Guilds under £800 sounded way better.
I ended up buying Martin D18.
I guess I am way differently wired in my brain about sound. Because I know that there are millions of Taylor fans and they all can't be victims of hyped up marketing.
Wow. How different people can be and the sounds they prefer.

[brad2001]

I believe that what we hear is so subjective that our preferences (brightness, mids,ect) lead us to the guitars that suit us. FWIW a D-18 is the only other guitar I'd stable if I wanted another.

Gibson Dove

[IndyHD28]

A D-18 is bright compared to a K24ce so you can find what you what somewhere in Taylor’s extensive lineup if you want to. But....

A) there’s no reason why you have to have a Taylor in your collection.

And

B) there’s certainly nothing wrong with a D-18.

[AZLiberty]

When Taylor started building with the NT neck the Guitars (for whatever reason) got brighter, shriller, and tinnier.

On the other hand, I really like their Cedar topped models. The Cedar tends to round out their inherent bias towards treble response.

I also rather like some of their short scale mahogany topped models (like the 322) much more than their spruce topped equivalents for the same reason.

[RussL30]

Who says you have to like them? Not everyone hears the same and that’s ok. While I will always have at least one Taylor in my stable, I don’t like every Taylor. Sometimes I feel like the weirdo because I like most all guitar brands and hold Gibson, Taylor and Martin with equal esteem and would love to own guitars by all three.

[DownUpDave]

Well I can't fault you..........buying a D-18 is next on my list. As another said a Taylor cedar top, I own a 512 is warm and deep and resonant. The 322 and 324 mahogany top is right their with Martin 15 series. But those are different beasts to Taylors usually spruce heavy line up

Beauty is in the eye and the ear of the beholder.

[Oldguy64]

I have a 110e that has bass for days.
Find one that has been relieved of its factory strings.
I used to have a 150e.
I liked it a lot when I bought it.
I LOVED it when I went to a PB non-Coated string.

I recently played a V-braced 324ce. It was a boomer.
BTW, I don’t like xx4’s. I don’t like mahogany topped guitars.
And I really don’t like Elixirs. They don’t work for me like they do for some of y’all.
The 324 was all these things and I loved it.

[89bruin]

You’re not alone ... and there’s nothing wrong with that.

[Tony Burns]

Taylors are wonderful in their own way -ive tried to like them as well but their not my cup of tea either .

-Im not a brand specific person - I get a kick out of people who list like 10 of the same brand under their signature.
wonder why one or two wouldnt be enough of any brand how different can they be ( the most i have of any brand is my two Guilds )
but really their is no right or wrong guitar - what ever floats your boat -
It would be a boring world if every guitar sounded the same , and looked the same -

[tippy5]

I had a fugly all Koa 2006 Fall Lmt 324 that was warmer than most but still had some of the Taylor chime. I like the Taylor chime. I had my one and only and that's it for me. If I was in a country or top 40 cover band I would seriously consider one for under the hi hat level (low volume) rhythm. They sound amazing in that sonic capacity. Yet instead of new store tinny tone I have heard quite a few that had good, warm singer solo songwriter tone from fellow players.

When you try them new I also shake my head going through 10 of them on the hooks, while seeing the price of entry. They do have amazing feel. The fretboards don't have that slight sink into the sound hole like most acoustics. Nice fretboard, fret ends and sometimes fine neck binding. I vote for an A+, on Taylor's smooth sweet feel. Their 12 fret, twelve string cutaways I do like very much too. Chimey tone is happening for a lot of tunes.

You can hear two bright guitars in a great acoustic rhythm ( and slide!). Chimey Strummers rule in the right mix:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88lEWTEk3jg

[Paddy1951]

I don't know how old you are, but if you are 50 or older it is very possible that the sound track(s) of your life were played on Martin or Gibson guitars. Those sounds are what you became wired to expect and accept as what an acoustic guitar should sound like.
The Taylor sound started in the seventies and came into its own as Bob Taylor was finding his way into the business of selling guitars and making his different from the mainstream sounds and technology.

You are used to a more classic sound. You expect it. As long as you do, you will have a hard time with the Taylor sound.

There are things you can do to moderate the Taylor sound but a Taylor is always going to sound like a Taylor. If it sounded like a Martin what would be the point?

It is entirely OK to not like the Taylor sound or any other.

If you want a Taylor guitar in your mix then you have to wrap your mind around the fact that it IS going to be different. Not bad, not worse but different. DIFFERENT. This is the only way that you will be OK with a Taylor.

Now, a young player might have the exact opposite feeling. Hey, Martins are bass heavy, muddy sounding, etc. Guilds are kind of choked sounding, lack luster, etc. Gibsons are wishy-washy.

You don't have to like a Taylor or its sound.

I can say this because I have experienced the same kinds of things.

I had a Taylor in the 90s. Never quite took to it. Got a Martin HD-28.
I have owned a 1/2 dozen Martins.
I am down to 2 now.

Plus, a Seagull, Guild, a Gibson AND a small body... yup, Taylor. These are all different in sound. But I like the different tone pallettes.

For you (and me) Taylor may be like good Scotch. An acquired taste.

[JeffreyAK]

Originally Posted by samirguitar

Because I know that there are millions of Taylor fans and they all can't be victims of hyped up marketing.

Ditto Martin fans.

[6L6]

Once owned a nice 1997 Taylor 714 with a cedar top that would have met your needs.

[Bob from Brooklyn]

Don't force it. I went decades not liking Martins. Now I have 2

[Brucebubs]

Start at the big end and work your way down... if you have to.
Their Grand Orchestra size guitars are wonderful.
I'd be very happy to own one.