Survey: Which Taylor would you prefer?

[PeteyPower16]

Originally Posted by davidbeinct

You can only get maple from Taylor if you go with the torrefied top?

Yes, except apparently the 618 has a “normal” untorrefied Sitka top with Maple.

[GoPappy]

Originally Posted by PiousDevil

Probably a 522, based on my love of other 12 fret all hog guitars.

The 522 12-fret is a special guitar IMO. Both the tone and playability are fantastic.

[TedBPhx]

My 814ce Dlx made in 2019 is my lifetime Taylor. Though the GT K21e would be hard to part with.

[PassingThru]

Taylor 11X/21X - Sitka Spruce/Layered for a beachfront guitar.

[donlyn]

Which Taylor would you prefer?

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

Actually Don I see you have an older Taylor Jumbo with 17" lower bout and 4 5/8" body depth and the newer Grand Orchestra body that replaced it with 16 3/4" width and 5" depth.

How different do they feel to play and is one more comfortable than the other?

Hey Bruce,

This is not really an easy question to answer, mostly because there are actually few direct comparisons. First off, here are some stats for three of my guitars, which may create more questions than answers.

Body Stats : length ; up.bout ; waist ; lr.bout ; depth.

818 is 20 1/2", 11 3/4", 10 7/16", 16 3/4", 4 3/4".
355 is 20 7/8", 12 1/8", 9 7/8", 17", 4 7/16".
J 200 is 20 15/16", 12 1/2", 10 1/4", 17", 4 7/8".

Second off, I have two Taylor Jumboes, both of which are OOP. That's the first hiccup.

Taylor Jumbo body depth is actually 4+7/16", not 4+5/8".
Taylor G.O. body depth is actually 4+3/4", not 5".
Gibson J-200 is the original Jumbo, and is shown for comparison.
So there are 4 guitars to compare.

Gibson J-200 is sitka over (EIR) rosewood and strung with Elixir PB HD Lights (013 - .053).
Taylor G.O. is sitka over (EIR) rosewood and strung with Elixir PB HD Lights (013 - .053).
Taylor 355 Jumbo is sitka over sapele and strung with Elixir 12 string Lights (010 - .047).
Taylor All Walnut Jumbo is walnut over walnut and strung with Elixir PB HD Mediums (013 - .056).

Love the Gibson neck; the Taylor walnut (was someone's Custom) has the Taylor electric neck (T-5?) and is very easy to play. Add in my short scale Taylor 412e-R, and these three are my easiest to play. While different, about a three-way tie. But the J-200 has the skinniest nut width, about a hair over 1+11/16", and the 355, being a 12 string is 1+7/8" wide. the Taylor Jumbo six strings (G.O. and Walnut) are standard Taylor at 1+3/4". Allowing for the 12 string neck width, none are difficult to play. All of them have about a 4" SAW and are very easy to play seated. (SAW is a measurement of 'Strings Above the Waist' and measures how well they sit on your leg.)

I think I've provided you with some answers to your questions. Since my guitars do not fit the limited profiles of the accompanying poll, this is somewhat off-topic, so I'll send you an email with some more observations rather than further derail the thread.

Kind of like "Stoneman's cavalry came, and tore up the tracks again." ?!

Don
.

[Brucebubs]

Thanks for that comprehensive reply Don, appreciated.

[donlyn]

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa

If they ever brought back the xx5-Series 17" jumbos I'd have a 525/565 matched 6-/12-string set in a heartbeat...

Steve,

For what it's worth, I spent a number of years looking for a good Taylor sitka/rosewood 815, but never found one I liked enough. None compared favorably enough to my Gibson rosewood J-200. And I already had the 355 twelve string.

But I did end up getting a Taylor Grand Orchestra 818 and later a 458-R Grand Orchestra 12 string, both Sitka over rosewood. Sometimes things just have a way of working out.

Don
.

[PiousDevil]

Originally Posted by GoPappy

The 522 12-fret is a special guitar IMO. Both the tone and playability are fantastic.

Also want to try a 562

[Ceabeceabe]

Taylor GS5, which I have.

[pukematrix]

I've played all the body styles but the GO and the old jumbo and have owned a couple of GA models. I have a cocobolo/sitka GS (2008 limited) currently and find the GS body terrifically versatile. I also love a cedar/EIR combo, so it would be the 716 in cedar/EIR for me from their standard line-up.

Austin

[wisedennis]

I would take cedar 714 if there is no options of 800 900 or PS

[DownUpDave]

I love the one I own, a 512, cedar/mahogany 12 fretter.

I have always liked the sound of the 712 & 714 with Lutz spruce over rosewood

[pdidmh1]

I have 2 Taylors. A 322 12 fret short scale that I love. However my 814 dlx is simply an amazing guitar in every way. I have other acoustic guitars including a Santa Cruz but it is by far my favorite.