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Taylor 414ce V-Class sounds like ...
Heaven to me! After reading about the new V-Class bracing system for almost a year, I finally got to audition a recent inventory addition Taylor 414ce V-Class Ovangol at Guitar Center. After tuning it up to concert pitch, I proceeded to play a few of my favorite songs and was immediately impressed with the clarity of individual notes and the nice resonance of chords. The guitar had an open and played-in tone that was sensitive to any all nuances from soft to loud. Having been a Taylor player since 2006, I've owned at least two-dozen Taylors including the excellent-sounding ones in my current signature and can say with certainty that I'd sell or trade-in what I have for similar V-Class models and not look back. Given the tone of the auditioned Taylor 414ce Ovangol V-Class, my goal now is to likely purchase the new Grand Pacific 717e Spruce/Rosewood V-Class Builders Edition model when another one becomes available (these are selling like hotcakes!).
Regarding the advertised better Intonation of the V-Class Taylors: I think there is some confusion by players as to what Taylor means by intonation as applied to the design of the V-Class. My take is that the V-bracing helps reduce and/or eliminate dissonances within combinations of notes and within chords with the result being a sweeter and nicer-sounding musical tonality, and isn't referring to the frequency accuracy of notes fretted along the fingerboard.
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Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom Martin D-18/UltraTonic Adamas I 2087GT-8 Ovation Custom Legend LX Guild F-212XL STD Huss & Dalton TD-R Taylor 717e Taylor 618e Taylor 614ce Larrivee D-50M/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Sunburst Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom RainSong BI-DR1000N2 Emerald X20 Yamaha FGX5 Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2 Last edited by SpruceTop; 02-17-2019 at 10:21 AM. |
#2
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I have come to terms with the fact that I am not a Taylor guy, even considering the fact that I own one! However, I do always test them when I go to music stores just to see if any new models knock me out. I think what Andy did with the 800 and 600 series was a huge step in the right direction. The projection, resonance and bass made me actually want a Taylor. I didn't end up getting one but had an 810 on hold at one point.
For me, after trying a few V class, my initial thoughts were that Andy completely ruined what he had going with the original changes he had made. I have played the V series a bit more and I do appreciate the added sustain but the problem is, the bass has been completely stripped away. To me, they sound a lot like the 90s/early 2000 Taylor guitars. That's not a bad thing at all but they just don't sound full. They are for sure balanced but if I want balance, I will get a Larrivee. I am personally not a fan of the new V bracing but I can see how some people would love it. |
#3
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Yeah the only thing I like about the V class is that there is more sustain on the higher frets. Otherwise I prefer the X class.
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2017 Taylor 714c |
#4
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Addendum: Frankly, I could be very happy with the Taylors I currently own but GAS seems to be an ongoing thing for me.
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Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom Martin D-18/UltraTonic Adamas I 2087GT-8 Ovation Custom Legend LX Guild F-212XL STD Huss & Dalton TD-R Taylor 717e Taylor 618e Taylor 614ce Larrivee D-50M/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Sunburst Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom RainSong BI-DR1000N2 Emerald X20 Yamaha FGX5 Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2 Last edited by SpruceTop; 02-17-2019 at 02:15 PM. |
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#6
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Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom Martin D-18/UltraTonic Adamas I 2087GT-8 Ovation Custom Legend LX Guild F-212XL STD Huss & Dalton TD-R Taylor 717e Taylor 618e Taylor 614ce Larrivee D-50M/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Sunburst Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom RainSong BI-DR1000N2 Emerald X20 Yamaha FGX5 Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2 |
#7
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I agree with this.
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#8
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“The acceptance of Andy’s remarkable V-Class design has been off the charts. We’ve exceeded every production and sales goal we had set for 2018 and achieved the highest ever annual sales by November with a month still left in the year...(We) made and sold thousands more guitars then we originally planned. Still, in the end, we left a lot of demand unfilled.”
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2021 Edmonds OM-28RS - Sunburst (Adi/Old Growth Honduran) 2014 Walker Clark Fork (Adi/Honduran Rosewood)…incoming FOR SALE: 2023 Martin 000-15SM 12 fret w/ K&K mini Last edited by Rev Roy; 02-17-2019 at 02:59 PM. Reason: Typo |
#9
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This is why I bought the Furch GA Cr links to the Taylor 714 it just kept that tune , an open tone at that , the V class has done nothing to the Taylor range in my opinion , but that’s my 2c . The Furch GA crc is. Has more style ,more range, more tone, but hey just my opinion guys don’t crucify me 😀
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#10
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I played a 414ce v class a few weeks back and it certainly wasn't lacking in bass. If I hadn't already had my heart set on a 324, I would have bought that 414. It was the best guitar in the shop that day.
I'm digging my new v class 324ce. Sweet tone and musical as heck. Just a joy to play. It leads me in directions I would never wander with my D18. Variety is the spice of life! |
#11
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#12
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I am a Martin guy but bought a K24ce-V last June mostly because I fell in love with the idea and look of an all-Koa guitar and they are few and far between at Martin. I started playing a year before Bob Taylor opened his doors and never gave his company a thought until about a year ago when I started reading about his reforestation efforts. I came to admire the man and the way they run his company before buying one of his guitars. So, I had zero history with Taylor’s prior efforts. They said the V-Class is the best guitar they’ve ever built so I took their word for it. I demo’d three different models three separate times. They are no doubt different from Martins but I enjoyed the difference.
The Taylor is played daily against two very fine Martins, a custom HD28V in Guat and a custom Adi/Sinker. The Taylor holds its own, although it is very mid-range heavy, I believe due to the hardwood Koa top. The fact that the bracing is different is actually irrelevant in day-to-day playing. BTW, the fit and finish on the Taylor is superb. This model has many custom-like features. Martin would be proud to issue this guitar out of their custom shop, and this is a production line guitar at Taylor.
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Consensus, by definition, is a lack of leadership. Last edited by IndyHD28; 02-17-2019 at 07:39 PM. |
#13
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I've really liked the all the V-class guitars I tried and loved the K14ce Builders Edition which I now own. Go Bob and Andy!
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1938 Gibson L-00 Martin 000-28 Custom Authentic 1937 Taylor K14ce Builders Edition National Polychrome Tricone National Model D Squareneck Weber Gallatin A Mandolin http://www.bandmix.com/jon-nilsen/ https://www.bandmix.com/limberlost/ |
#14
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Glad you are enjoying your BE. It is gorgeous and a very unique combination of specs. Should be an heirloom guitar, especially given it is AP’s first BE.
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Consensus, by definition, is a lack of leadership. |
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1938 Gibson L-00 Martin 000-28 Custom Authentic 1937 Taylor K14ce Builders Edition National Polychrome Tricone National Model D Squareneck Weber Gallatin A Mandolin http://www.bandmix.com/jon-nilsen/ https://www.bandmix.com/limberlost/ |