Best Value Taylor Grand Concert?

[ahorsewithnonam]

Ed where in Ohio are you located ?

[Ed-in-Ohio]

Thanks for all the replies! Excellent stuff here, and yes, hardwood top Grand Concerts count.

Best value = best bang for the buck (new or used)

Originally Posted by ahorsewithnonam

Ed where in Ohio are you located ?

The Youngstown/Warren area.

[fazool]

Originally Posted by PorkPieGuy

I have a GC8 and I love it. It's really held its value.

I'd be more tempted to get a cedar-topped one these days if given the choice, but I still love my GC8.

GC3's are a good value...if you can find one!

Use this search in google to find one used on craigslist:

taylor gc3 site:craigslist.org

My all-time favorite keeper guitar is a GC7 which is the cedar topped version....simply amazing!

[ManyMartinMan]

Originally Posted by Ed-in-Ohio

Best value = best bang for the buck (new or used)

For me it's the 312 without much thought. I've owned 3,6,8 and 9 series *12 guitars and to me, for the money, it's the 3 hundred series every time.

[Johan Madsen]

Originally Posted by Ed-in-Ohio

For those who have played multiple models in the Taylor Grand Concert line, which model do you think is the best value?

I agree about the GC4 (sitka/ovangkol), I tried one once, very good sounding, I went back to the shop a few days later for buying it but it was sold, big regret

[AZLiberty]

Currently produced: the 322 without a doubt.

[Mark Lew]

Originally Posted by rob2966

Another ringing endorsement for the new 322ce 12-fret with HOG top and Tasmanian Blackwood back and sides.

Later
Rob

Count me in with Rudy, Rob and Horse. The 322ce has become my every day go-to guitar because it sounds so nice and is soooo fun to play. Give one a try. It really records nicely too.

[Turp]

e's good prices on used which can provide the most guitar for the money. If I could only have one, it'd be a 12 fret regardless of the wood combo.

That said there's regular postings for used GC7's and GC8's (712 812). I've seen prices as low as $1200 on GC8 and feel good price is approximately sub $1400 on a EXC-Mint guitar.

[rpatkin]

Another for the 322 (Blackwood) 12 fret.

[fuman]

Straight 412, no cutaway or pickup. I played one of these a couple years agon and it impressed me more than any of the other (excellent, name-brand, more expensive) guitars in the shop. Very articulate, louder than you think, awesome playability. Might depend on whether you like Ovangkol (I do).

[10304cpg]

I have played many Taylor's over the years, and the most consistent series is the 300s. Does not matter , GO,GS,GA,or the GC. All great. A lot of tone woods vary but I do not find this with mahogany tops. Taylor's home run,slam dunk best bang for your buck. Add the slinky 12 fret feel,which I find great to lay down those big bends or vibrato, it's so much easier with less tension. Let us now what you get and have fun in your pursuit!

[fazool]

Originally Posted by 10304cpg

...Add the slinky 12 fret feel,which I find great to lay down those big bends or vibrato, it's so much easier with less tension. ...

I agree (see my post up above)


Not to put too fine a point on it. It's the short scale that lowers the tension, not the 12-fret. Current 12-fret models happen to have a short scale also. But I have a 14-fret short scale version which is semi rare and beyond fantastic!

[gerardo1000]

One more vote for a plain and simple 312. It is my current guitar and it is awesome. If you have a few hundred dollars more to spend, consider also the 322 with tasmanian blackwood back and sides.

[Ed-in-Ohio]

Originally Posted by SprintBob

312-412-512-612-712-812 are now all distinct tonewood combinations so if cost is not a factor, the one that sounds best to you. Personally, I would not mind having one of each!

Originally Posted by DM3MD136

Good question... I'm a big short scale fan and I was most impressed with the GC4 (aka 412) with sitka/ovangkol... ...snip...

Originally Posted by Johan Madsen

I agree about the GC4 (sitka/ovangkol), I tried one once, very good sounding, I went back to the shop a few days later for buying it but it was sold, big regret

Originally Posted by fuman

Straight 412, no cutaway or pickup. I played one of these a couple years agon and it impressed me more than any of the other (excellent, name-brand, more expensive) guitars in the shop. Very articulate, louder than you think, awesome playability. Might depend on whether you like Ovangkol (I do).

Quick resurrection bump to thank everyone who contributed to this thread.

I ended up going with a used, recent 412 (all gloss) that I purchased off of a fellow forum member (Thanks Rick!), and I could not be happier. What a great guitar!

I recently owned a 412-R that just didn't do it for me because I found the middle strings (D & G) on that guitar lacking both punch and clarity (I play a lot of fingerstyle stuff that uses a droning D string). Despite that, I gave this "standard" 412 a shot (having played a new 414ce at my local GC, and being very impressed by it)...and BOY am I glad I did! The D & G strings on this 412 (spruce/ovangkol) ring like bells, and punch through beautifully.

The guitar's voice offers wonderful clarity, punch, balance, volume, and character. It has wonderful playability too.

I guess it is safe to say I am a big fan of Ovangkol. To my ear, it seems to offer the best of Mahogany (a rich midrange and strong fundamentals) along with the best of Rosewood (an extended frequency response and bell like treble).

Thanks again! (Obligatory pics follow... )

[Ted @ LA Guitar Sales]

Originally Posted by Ed-in-Ohio

For those who have played multiple models in the Taylor Grand Concert line, which model do you think is the best value?

The 300 series is by far the best bang for the buck from Taylor, and this holds true for the GC, grand concert models. However, there is a an even less expensive GC now, the Academy Series GC, the A12. With the armrest this guitar feels like a GS Mini, but it's a full size GC with standard 24.9" short scale. At $499, it's a "best bang" even if we include other brands.

Originally Posted by fazool

GC3 - no longer available, but if you can find a used one - there is no better bang for the buck.

Actually you can buy a 312 without cutaway or electronics, which is the same thing as the GC3.