Favorite X braced Taylor?

arwhite · #1 07-11-2023, 04:49 PM

One for the Taylor fans...

I've given up on the Taylor V braced offerings and have started looking at X braced. Just looking for something cool and fun to add to the mix.

What are your favorite X braced Taylors? I'm open to all models and wood combos.

If you were currently looking what would you be looking for?

Taylorcrazy · #2 07-11-2023, 05:10 PM

I am, obviously, and have always been a Taylor guy. I’ve owned several and love my 514 I currently play. X braced and awesome. This one is a special 514! (Yes, this is a 514!)

GCWaters · #3 07-11-2023, 05:15 PM

My ‘99 814c…..

Lillis · #4 07-11-2023, 05:38 PM

Well I’m fairly new to to Taylor’s but I’m loving the used 2015 322 I bought recently. I also have an X braced 12 string and V braced 12 string. I think they’re equally great guitars.

SRL · #5 07-11-2023, 05:39 PM

My 1998 W14c

Big, warm sound, very unlike modern Taylors.

Quote:

Originally Posted by arwhite

If you were currently looking what would you be looking for?

I'd be looking at the 1990s models. From small to large, there was the concert (xx2), the grand auditorium (xx4), the dread (xx0), and the jumbo (xx5).

I personally like the cosmetics of the mid 1990s ones with
(1) no label in the soundhole (it's on the neck block)
(2) smiley face bridge pins instead of straight
(3) pre-NT single piece neck (even if the neck reset is harder, the NT five-piece neck feels cheap to me)

500 series had mahogany back and sides, 600 had maple, 700/800/900 had rosewood. 900s typically had Engelmann tops, but not always.

Models I particularly like are the special GAs. GA-MC (Magog/cedar), GA-RS (rosewood/sitka), GA-BE (Brazilian/Engelmann), GA-WS (walnut/sitka). Also the BRZ special editions with Brazilian rosewood are fantastic. The W14 and K14 are great too, basically a 914 with different back/sides.

.

RussL30 · #6 07-11-2023, 05:45 PM

I'm partial to Taylor dreads. I really enjoy my DN8. Basically a 810, minus some fretboard bling.

I also really enjoy my little XXXKE grand concert that has Koa/ Engelman.

Some other older Taylor models I've really enjoyed are the 714 with a cedar top and the 710 with Engelman.

I really think an X brace Taylor with the warmth of Cedar or Engelman is a really great sound. Of course my Sitka top DN8 is no slouch.

Jimi2 · #7 07-11-2023, 05:54 PM

I used to have an x-braced 812ce that was surprisingly powerful. The bass was tight and very present, the opposite of the the v-class 812ce that I later played. I traded in that 812, but I kind of wish I hadn’t. It was really nice.

SRL · #8 07-11-2023, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RussL30

I really think an X brace Taylor with the warmth of Cedar or Engelman is a really great sound.

Yeah, I agree. Among the best Taylors I've played have been the cedar and Engelmann ones.

Tnfiddler · #9 07-11-2023, 07:02 PM

My first was a ‘95 Taylor 810 and it was great! My best was a 2008 Fall Ltd. GS Koa/Cocobolo. My DREAM was a 916ce with the Florentine cutaway. The deluxe models with the Advanced Performance bracing sounded the best to me.

TommyKing · #10 07-11-2023, 07:10 PM

I have a 512E (all cedar) and a 612 (maple & spruce). Both are wonderful guitars, I would recommend either to a close friend.

martingitdave · #11 07-11-2023, 07:22 PM

The 2014 816ce I sold. I miss it.

Guitars44me · #12 07-11-2023, 07:29 PM

My fave would be a 1994 or a 1995-9 514c. No E thanks

Cedar over tropical mahogany.

I have had a few and if they were available in a 12 fret I still would have one.

Happy hunting

Paul

IraDuncan · #13 07-11-2023, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guitars44me

My fave would be a 1994 or a 1995-9 514c. No E thanks

Cedar over tropical mahogany.

I have had a few and if they were available in a 12 fret I still would have one.

Happy hunting

Paul

My answer would be very similar to this.

I would also figure a 714C from the early 2000s to be in the same realm of possibility for this discussion. Cedar/EIRW.

jkilgour2000 · #14 07-11-2023, 09:01 PM

Taylor 324

sstaylor58 · #15 07-11-2023, 09:20 PM

I have owned many x braced models. My favorite is the one I still have, a 2012 314ce. In 2012 they switched the fretboard dots to a smaller version than they used to use, which I like the look of better, and it is just a great sounding guitar. I like the simple aesthetic. A close second would be the Fall LTD 512ce L10, which was a special edition all mahogany version from 2006. Play as many as you can find until you find “the one”. Good luck!