At wits end: small body Taylor with no electronics or cutaway.

[JenniO]

Hey friends,

I’ve been searching for almost 2 years and I’ve found it absolutely impossible to find a Taylor with no cutaway or electronics. I’ve come really close twice to doing a BTO but the dealer I would go through does not accept returns on BTOs (or they say). So if I build a guitar and hate it, I’d be stuck with it or have to resale it and take a huge loss.

I’ve even started looking at Gibson 00s and Martin -0s , because of my inability to find a stripped down Taylor.

My preference for Taylor is the neck. I have small gal hands and the Taylor neck fits great. I’ve played older Gibson’s and Martin’s and their necks were pretty thick. Especially Gibsons.

Additionally I think Taylor makes the absolute worst pick up in the guitar arena (maybe that’s an overstatement). But I don’t see why someone would cut into a guitar that can last a lifetime or 6 and put in it electronics that will be outdated in 2 years and obsolete within 10 years. It just makes no sense.

I also don’t play up the neck enough for a cutaway so I’d prefer not to have it

Anyone have suggestions? Should I just give up and go martin or Gibson?

[anjoga]

Have you considered the new GT Urban ash?

https://www.taylorguitars.com/guitar...c/gt-urban-ash

[Brucebubs]

What about a Taylor 422 Grand Concert from the later half of the 1990's.

Here's a Reverb listing for a 1997 Rosewood version with hard case for US$1K

https://reverb.com/uk/item/102396-ra...coustic-guitar

These early Grand Concerts had thin body - Taylor added a little more depth some years later.

[JenniO]

Anjoga— I’m not opposed to a GT and am actually considering it (I’ve owned and sold way too many GS Minis wishing they were full wood). But the review here on the forum and over on the Taylor Facebook great haven’t been too good. Folks aren’t blown away.

And as to reverb Bruce. I have gone through that site so many times and I struggle with the prices people want us to pay for a used guitar. If I’m going to pay $3k+ for a Taylor I probably need to buy new to get the warranty. I love the Taylor in that listing but I’ve never been a 400 series fan. It’a a good price though, could pull the trigger today. Going to go read more on the rosewoods. Sending the listing a message.

[DupleMeter]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

What about a Taylor 422 Grand Concert from the later half of the 1990's.

Here's a Reverb listing for a 1997 Rosewood version with hard case for US$1K

https://reverb.com/uk/item/102396-ra...coustic-guitar

These early Grand Concerts had thin body - Taylor added a little more depth some years later.

As someone who owns a 1997 422-R, let me say they are stunningly good. They punch well above their weight class & are more like a 712 than a 412.

The referenced listing is NOT mine. I am not selling mine. Just wanted to chime in and say that you can't judge this 400 by any others. These were in a different class. But Taylors up to 1997 were in a different class than later ones. I have 5 "golden era" Taylors, they are just better than what came later.


Oh, and those '97 422-Rs are a dream to record.


HTH

[anjoga]

Some different all solid wood suggestions:

https://guildguitars.com/g/westerly-m-140/

https://guildguitars.com/g/westerly-m-120/

[guitar12]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

What about a Taylor 422 Grand Concert from the later half of the 1990's.

Here's a Reverb listing for a 1997 Rosewood version with hard case for US$1K

https://reverb.com/uk/item/102396-ra...coustic-guitar

These early Grand Concerts had thin body - Taylor added a little more depth some years later.

That is a nice one and the listing ended so perhaps the OP bought it but I just wanted to mention that for that time period the GC model was not short scale, so if that is important to the OP it is something to consider.

Rob

[JenniO]

Originally Posted by DupleMeter

As someone who owns a 1997 422-R, let me say they are stunningly good. They punch well above their weight class & are more like a 712 than a 412.

The referenced listing is NOT mine. I am not selling mine. Just wanted to chime in and say that you can't judge this 400 by any others. These were in a different class. But Taylors up to 1997 were in a different class than later ones. I have 5 "golden era" Taylors, they are just better than what came later.


Oh, and those '97 422-Rs are a dream to record.


HTH

Really incredibly helpful feedback. I will am drawn to older Taylors anyway. I feel like something has been lost to translation in the Andy powers era. I’ll keep my eye open for a golden era

[guitar12]

Plain Jane 312s are out there, not as plentiful as the CEs but you can find them. Here's a new one:

https://reverb.com/item/36269046-taylor-312-v-class-098

Here's a used one that has a pickup but if you didn't like it you could pull it out:

https://reverb.com/item/36267512-tay...ggs-sl-tru-mic

NFI in either of them. I happen to be on the hunt for a plain 312 myself so these were on my Reverb watch list.

Rob

[Cool555]

Maybe you should just try the Martin 00-18 or 000-18 if you have not. It’s been called the “Swiss Army Knife” of Martin guitars.

[Willie_D]

https://reverb.com/item/36613622-tay...Qb8w4uuS6svZ8E

I put this one on your FB thread, too.

[stringbound]

It always depends on what you want, to me, the Taylor ES2 is one of the best piezo pickups on the market. Compared to a piezo/mic combo, like the LR Baggs Anthem, the ES2 is lacking, but when you combine the ES2 with a DPA 4099 or a similar mic, the Anthem will sound quacky and two dimensional, due to the Element piezo.

You can order almost every Taylor guitar without the cutaway and pickup. It depends on the willingness of your dealer to order the guitar without cutaway for you. You can always reach out to the Taylor customer service. They are very nice and can help you find a dealer where you can purchase the guitar you want.

https://www.taylorguitars.com/guitar...stic/812e-2020

[JayBee1404]

I’ve never loved Taylor’s, never owned one and probably never will, so I’m going to go off-piste here, and suggest you consider a Brook - superbly hand-built in a three-man shop in Devon, UK, slim necks, 44mm (1-23/32”) nut, their models span the whole range of sizes, and they are open to any customisation you may require. And Andy and Simon are great guys, and a pleasure to deal with. Check ‘em out...

https://www.brookguitars.com/index.html

From the Brook Guitars website, ‘News’ page...

7DD4CFD8-32D8-4538-8BD6-875D3CEC8F06.jpg

[egordon99]

Sweetwater regularly has Grand Pacifics without electronics.

Oops, you said small body. I had a 1997 512 awhile back that was awesome. They come up on Reverb every so often.

[fuman]

I think you can find one. I played a 412 ovangkol, straight, 14-fret, no electronics or cutaway, back in 2015, and it was fantastic. Well worth the effort to find one. I would have bought it but for the old one in/one out rule. At the time, I only had one playable acoustic guitar, and I couldn't let go of the one I had. Good luck with your quest.