Taylor 414ce or Martin d-18. Which one first?

[AmericanEagle]

Originally Posted by JohnW63

Was that remark really helpful or necessary ?

certainly not helpful at all

This is what I get for voicing my opinion,
which in this case went against the grain.

[rosborn]

Originally Posted by JohnW63

Was that remark really helpful or necessary ?

Probably not but AmericanEagle would suggest a Taylor even if a Taylor weren't being considered. It gets tiresome.

[rosborn]

Originally Posted by AmericanEagle

I am a Taylor enthusiast, and I voted for the Taylor.

You never suggest anything but Taylor. Redundant and predictable.

[AmericanEagle]

Originally Posted by rosborn

Probably not but AmericanEagle would suggest a Taylor even if a Taylor weren't being considered. It gets tiresome.

What gets tiresome is the bashing that goes on here if someone posts something against the majority. I feel the Taylor is the better choice.
Sad that my opinion gets jumped on like that.

[AmericanEagle]

Originally Posted by rosborn

You never suggest anything but Taylor. Redundant and predictable.

Martin snobbery is what is redundant here.

[rosborn]

Yawn. Let the thread get back to the OP's intent.


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[nightchords]

Originally Posted by AmericanEagle

What gets tiresome is the bashing that goes on here if someone posts something against the majority. I feel the Taylor is the better choice.
Sad that my opinion gets jumped on like that.

You go with taylor i'm go with martin! we will meet him with gibson and others at a crossroads!

[rosborn]

OP, have you considered a Larrivee? Great guitars that come in at a nice price with a sound that falls between a Taylor and a Martin. Something to think about.


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[ataylor]

The Martin D-18 isn't just a fantastic guitar for the money -- it's a fantastic guitar, period. Good call going with that one -- I want one myself.

I have a friend who had a 414ce. It was a fine guitar, but didn't ever really offer a sound or feel that would ever make me want to play it. Apparently he ended up feeling the same way because he sold it last year. Guess what he bought? A Martin D-16A, which is pretty close to being a D-18. It sounds really good, so much more of everything than the Taylor.

I personally prefer Taylor's dreadnoughts (I own one of the all-solid US-made 210s from about ten years ago) and their 12-fret grand concerts. That said, I don't know that they have anything that punches above its price point the way the D-18 does.

[zoopeda]

Originally Posted by djqsrv

I have not played the 000-18 but I have played the 000-28 and the Eric Clapton. Both great guitars but I'm not looking short scale right now. I also tried the om-21 and really liked that but the D-18 beat it out for me. So I did play allot of guitars. Breedloves, laravees, seagulls, martins, yamahas and Taylor's. It really came down to these 2. I do love them both.
These opinions are very helpful.
It's very interesting that it's a landslide for the Martin.
Anyone think the Taylor?

The 000-18 is far more impressive an instrument than the 000-28EC, in my opinion. To put it in perspective, the 000-28EC has the same bracing on it as the D-18. That doesn't make any sense for a small bodied guitar. The 000-18 has thinner bracing and is far more responsive and open sounding. Others will likely disagree, but the take home is this: play an 000-18 along side the other guitars you've mentioned before you make your purchase. My point is just that the 18 will sound A LOT different from the EC. Your job (and I'm jealous!) is to decide which one suits your ear. Have fun!

[SKYHIGH]

Buy the 414ce and stuff it with bunch of socks for that Martin sound.

[ukejon]

Originally Posted by AmericanEagle

What gets tiresome is the bashing that goes on here if someone posts something against the majority. I feel the Taylor is the better choice.
Sad that my opinion gets jumped on like that.

Perhaps AE it would be helpful or productive to offer more substantive reasons that are based on your experience with a variety of Taylor guitars. In this instance, what attributes of the 414 set it apart from the D-18, which you presumably have played as well?

[6L6]

D-18 for sure!

[rosborn]

Originally Posted by ukejon

Perhaps AE it would be helpful or productive to offer more substantive reasons that are based on your experience with a variety of Taylor guitars. In this instance, what attributes of the 414 set it apart from the D-18, which you presumably have played as well?

Great idea!

When I was originally buying my first high end guitar I played both the Taylor 414 and the D-18. Both are beautiful guitars and both were comfortable to play. To my ears the Taylor was had more balance in a treble-y kind of way and lacked a prominent base response. The low E on the 414 sounded like the A on the D-18. The D-18 was also balanced but offered more bass response and, to me, more clarity across the strings. I ended up with the D-18 but would never rule out a Taylor for future consideration, especially a Cedar topped Taylor.

I've also played a Larrivee L-03 which, to me, reminded me more of a Taylor than it did a Martin. I owned a Larrivee L-03R that was a wonderful guitar with incredible sustain and just a joy to play. I've also owned an Alvarez MD-70 that started me on my solid wood guitar journey. That guitar is with my son now but I have fond memories of that guitar and so does my former guitar instructor. She loved it so much that she considered adding one to her stable and she has three D-28s. So, I've owned and played a few guitars before I realized that a 1-3/4" nut works best for me and before I finally decided to plunge into the Martin world. Believe me, I hesitated purchasing a Martin for a very long time looking for that sound in less expensive guitar. I finally found it in a Martin and now I wonder why I waited so long.

[DenverSteve]

Good choice. I was going to suggest the one that moves you the most as they are very different but, your choice has been made. Congrats.