Thoughts on Taylor's new 50th anniversary line?

[Guitars44me]

What Bob W said!

I guess model churn keeps sales humming.

I do NOT mind the ecological woods and the company committing to low carbon, etc.

Still, for me, some of the 94-99s and the R.Taylors are about as good as “newer” factory guitars get. Since I gravitate to Cedar and Redwood tops, I managed to escape the dreaded “Bright Tone”. Maybe that is part of the reason, come to think on it.

Plus one on the exemplary Customer Service!

What the hey, now I can get all the features I want from John Kinnaird.

Over the decades I asked Bob T for Elixir strings, 12 frets, bevels, etc, and he said, “No one wants that.”
My reply was always, I do so others must, too.

Eventually they did build them and they sold, so neener-neener…. Haha

Go 50! What will happen next?

Paul

[edward993]

Originally Posted by waterlooz

It seems many companies including Taylor and Martin are treating their guitar lineups like fashion/apparel. Each year, a new trend, a new color, what's in, what's out, etc. All for the customer/player, right?

I think this is an entirely fair observation. It seems anecdotal, yes, but I agree that not much has "moved the needle" of late. And I am a Taylor guy with the "legacy" guits (read "old") that I adore. But of late, just more finishes and cutsie doo-dads is what passes as "new." Or maybe it's just me....

Edward

[RussL30]

These are definitely a dissappointment. Especially when you look at how great their 30th anniversary series were twenty years ago.

[Steve DeRosa]

Originally Posted by Guitars44me

...for me, some of the '94-99s and the R.Taylors are about as good as “newer” factory guitars get...

Plus one on the exemplary Customer Service!...l

Ditto.....

[Shuksan]

Originally Posted by TimeOfYourLife

Then again, does $300 worth of Lumber and $100 of seashells equal to 20k?

https://www.taylorguitars.com/guitar...d-circa-74-amp

There's way more than just $300 worth of lumber and $100 worth of shell in that koa guitar in the link, however, certainly not $20,000 worth.

[slimey]

I'm a fan of simple aesthetics with great tone. It seems to me the glitz is Taylors focus at the moment.
I've only owned one Taylor and it didn't stay with me for very long. I enjoy how they feel to play , but I can't seem to find one the sounds how I like a guitar to sound.
Obviously there's a lot of people that like glitz and are happy to pay for it, otherwise Taylor wouldn't be building it, would they?

[Jeremy]

I had a chance to demo the 314ce LTD and AD14ce-SB LTD in my local shop today.

The torrefied top of the 314ce LTD gives it a much nicer sound than a standard 314ce, but it's not something I'd pay $2800 for. Pass.

The AD14ce-SB LTD had harsh trebles and weak bass. I liked the smaller AD12e-SB with the same wood pairing, so I imagined its bigger brother would even better. It was worse; the one I played, anyway. Pass.

Looking forward to the 50th Anniversary GS Minis coming later this year.

Another thing that got my attention...

In the video below, at the 7:05 mark, they mentioned they're going to be bringing out some "throwback" models throughout the year. Shown in the video is a 858 12-string with older 800 series specs - including white nut and X bracing. I hope to see more of these, because V-Class just doesn't do it for me.

[Pender]

Thanks for the review!
Do you have more info about the GS Minis?

[Keith Lee]

In the early 2000's bought 655 12 string and 615 I really liked, sold / traded away for no reason

Both were fine instruments, but like others, nothing new has worked for me

Could still see adding the right 855 to my mini- flock

[Jeremy]

Originally Posted by Pender

Thanks for the review!
Do you have more info about the GS Minis?

They are mentioned starting at 2:08 in the video above.

[dnf777]

Originally Posted by Jeremy

I had a chance to demo the 314ce LTD and AD14ce-SB LTD in my local shop today.

The torrefied top of the 314ce LTD gives it a much nicer sound than a standard 314ce, but it's not something I'd pay $2800 for. Pass.

The AD14ce-SB LTD had harsh trebles and weak bass. I liked the smaller AD12e-SB with the same wood pairing, so I imagined its bigger brother would even better. It was worse; the one I played, anyway. Pass.

Looking forward to the 50th Anniversary GS Minis coming later this year.

Another thing that got my attention...

In the video below, at the 7:05 mark, they mentioned they're going to be bringing out some "throwback" models throughout the year. Shown in the video is a 858 12-string with older 800 series specs - including white nut and X bracing. I hope to see more of these, because V-Class just doesn't do it for me.

Sounds like some folks at Taylor have been reading AGF and taking notes….

[Treky]

Originally Posted by Bob Womack

I love the Taylor Guitars Company, for the guitars I've bought from them and for the excellent customer service they've rendered to me more than once. I also appreciate the craftsmanship and fit and finish their guitars have featured for so many years.

With that understood, I feel like their visual aesthetic has dramatically moved away from me, to where I rarely see one of their guitars that I find appealing. That and the constantly changing kaleidoscope of features, shape, and wood changes, and their strong integrating of reclaimed wood into the regular lines have made me an outsider who can no longer distinguish or recommend any model because I have no frame of reference.

It is all very disappointing.

Bob

Same on all points. I would own a few Taylors if their website made sense of their line up. I can't tell what I want. Its poorly done in my view.

[Godfather]

I like Taylor Guitars, really. While searching for what I like and what fit, I owned several Taylor models over the past 12 years. I have held on to only one though, my 2017 322e 12 fret... however I wished I had kept my 712e 12 fret.

The 50th Anniversary guitars look great, but I believe they are priced out of line. $20 K for the PS Koa with amp. C'mon.

I admire their responsible harvesting/purchasing of resources, eco friendly approach, etc, and if I should run into a Taylor that strikes my fancy, I may buy it. Until then, I will keep whats in my signature line.

[Pender]

Originally Posted by Jeremy

They are mentioned starting at 2:08 in the video above.

Warm thanks!

[Tnfiddler]

Originally Posted by Godfather

I like Taylor Guitars, really. While searching for what I like and what fit, I owned several Taylor models over the past 12 years. I have held on to only one though, my 2017 322e 12 fret... however I wished I had kept my 712e 12 fret.

The 50th Anniversary guitars look great, but I believe they are priced out of line. $20 K for the PS Koa with amp. C'mon.

I admire their responsible harvesting/purchasing of resources, eco friendly approach, etc, and if I should run into a Taylor that strikes my fancy, I may buy it. Until then, I will keep whats in my signature line.

I grabbed a PS10 at a Roadshow back in the day and while it was a looker, it sounded SAD, by that I mean, not good at all!! I put it down and grabbed an 810 that was sitting there and it KILLED the PS model!! Louder and just open! The PS was really tight and boxy sounding! $10k at the time, for a guitar that sounded horrible.