buying first guitar... is Taylor 814 too much?

[Steadfastly]

That Taylor is a very nice guitar but before you go and buy one, take along someone that can play and try a few. There may be others that you prefer better.

[dgt178]

Originally Posted by HOF dad

Yea - it's the goofy Taylor serial number system:

1107064001 First digit indicates where it was made. (1 = El Cajon, California, USA; 2 = Tecate, Baja California, Mexico)

1107064001 2nd & 7th digits indicate the two-digit year - '14 (2014)

1107064001 3rd & 4th digits indicate the two-digit month - 07 (July)

1107064001 5th & 6th digits indicate the day - 06 (the 6th)

1107064001 Last three numbers indicate the guitar's position in that day's production sequence.

I always have to refer to the site to remember the "code"
The above is copied from their website.

......the serial numbers you've posted are 10-digit.....the picture of the label posted by the OP has 11 digits....the first four indicating year of manufacture.....

[HOF dad]

Originally Posted by dgt178

......the serial numbers you've posted are 10-digit.....the picture of the label posted by the OP has 11 digits....the first four indicating year of manufacture.....

I stand corrected -good catch
here's the 11 digit translation:

11-Digit Serial Numbers

January 2000 - October 2009, the serial number expanded from 9 to 11 digits to accommodate the four-digit year designation. Other than the first four digits noting the year, it's decoded the same as the 9-digit serial numbers. See the explanation for serial number 20070311301 below:

20070311301 First four digits indicate the year - 2007

20070311301 5th & 6th digits indicate the two-digit month - 03 (March)

20070311301 7th & 8th digits indicate the day - 11 (the 11th)

20070311301 9th digit is a series code number - 0 for 300 or 400 Series, 1 for 500 thru Presentation Series, 2 for 200 Series, 3 for a Baby, 4 for a Big Baby, 5 for T5, 7 for Nylon Series, 8 for 100 Series, and 9 for SolidBody Series. This example is number 3, a Baby.

20070311301 Last two digits indicate the guitar's position in that day's production sequence.

[Acousticado]

Taylors have very nice, easy to play necks which is particularly good for a new player to encourage sticking with it. Even if the particular guitar needs a neck reset or setup, with a Taylor, because of the neck joint design, it’s very easy, quick and cheap. I own an 2002 814c since new (with added aftermarket electronics requiring no holes in the side of the guitar) as my main guitar and I very much like it after all these years. If the one you have a chance to get is in good shape, imo, you should buy it and play the heck out of it.

Good luck. Let us know a out what you end-up doing.

[printer2]

I am at the opposite end of the spectrum. Get a 24" scale parlor (13" LB), possibly a nylon guitar. Why do people give up playing? Because it is hard. And to make it harder get yourself a long scale large body guitar. I think the best thing to learn on is a easy playing guitar that you can have sitting next to you so when you look over you say, 'I'll just pick it up for a second'.

[superbitterdave]

Wow. I’m surprised at the forum’s encouragement to drop more than 1K on a purchase for someone who thinks playing might be fun before starting med school.

We are all biased here. The people who take the time to post on this forum have usually spent years playing and see this as a good price on a guitar for experienced players. I myself have over-spent (with no regrets) on a guitar that exceeds my skill.

For a couple hundred bucks, you can buy a guitar that will let you decide if this is a passion or something fun to try before you dedicate yourself to the academic and practical rigor of practicing medicine.

Save your money. If all goes well, you will be a successful physician who can afford to buy nicer guitars as your skills and income grow.

My 2 cents. All puns intended.

Dave

[jojobean39]

I think if you have the money, go for it. If you don't end up keeping it, you can easily get that money back out of it- provided there are no issues.

It's a REALLY nice first guitar, for sure.

I remember trying out a Froggy Bottom at Rudy's Music. It was around $7k (this was 10 years ago). The salesman told me some hedge fund manager came in and bought that same model guitar as his first guitar. I wanted to cry and go to school for finance so I could be a hedge fund manager. I think that purchase is a bit extreme, as there is nearly no place to go up from there in terms of quality.

But a $1600 Taylor 814 is a great guitar. Certainly high end for a first guitar, but it's not absurd.

[fatt-dad]

buy it!

My first Taylor was a Brazilian 914. Sure, I knew how to play to some degree. I stumbled onto the guitar for a good price and I bought it!

(way back in 1973, I bought a Yamaha instead of a Martin. Sure, the Yamaha was a fine guitar, but. . . I would have enjoyed the Martin more and after more than 30 years finally bought a Martin.)

f-d

[TBman]

I've seen interns go from $60k base salary to $300k a few years later, so buy what you want to, lol

[guitar george]

Originally Posted by fatt-dad

way back in 1973, I bought a Yamaha instead of a Martin. Sure, the Yamaha was a fine guitar, but. . . I would have enjoyed the Martin more and after more than 30 years finally bought a Martin.

way back in 1971, I bought a Yamaki instead of a Martin. Sure, the Yamaki was a fine guitar, but. . . I would have enjoyed the Martin more and after more than 30 years
finally bought a Martin.

Do you still have the Yamaha? I still have the Yamaki Deluxe Western.

[vindibona1]

Originally Posted by Tico

I teach and encourage my students to get the best guitar they can, even (actually especially) that all-important first guitar.
It eggs you on and doesn't stand in the way of learning and progress.

I agree entirely. You'll never regret having the best you can afford and will forget what it costs 3 minutes after you write the check.

[merlin666]

Most of us play it safe and get a cheap guitar to start with, so if we are not so talented or have other things in our life that keep us from playing and learning it's not a big loss if it goes unused and and then will be disposed off in some way. For those who love playing and stick with it, if they can afford it they move on to more expensive and nicer guitars as they can provide a better playing experience. So yeah, if you can afford it just skip the cheap guitar step and reach for the stars right away.

[Jabberwocky]

I hope you didn't choose your med school the same way as you are choosing your first guitar...

Welcome but why don't you take a trip to your nearest guitar shop and play a few guitars in the $1600 bracket? Even a beginner to guitar playing knows a good sound when he hears one.

$1600 can buy you a Waterloo or Martin all mahogany 15 series brand new from one of the AGF sponsors. Why deal with an old guitar that you know nothing about and that may give you problems? Let your friend's father sell his Taylor 814 on Craigslist himself if it were that easy to sell and since he suggested it.

I'd spring for a new Martin 15 series and have the satisfaction of starting med school with a new guitar that follows you on that journey. With med school the last thing you want is to worry about a used guitar at the same time.

I love the Martin Hog. I must admit that I do not like Taylor guitars in any size, shape, form or price. I am the one at fault.

Good luck with med school. Hope you don't become a Botox doctor. Good money but what a waste of a good education.

PS I wonder if the pickup and preamp in that Taylor 814 still works.

[lowrider]

''why don't you take a trip to your nearest guitar shop and play a few guitars in the $1600 bracket?''

This is the standard advice on this forum. How is he going to try out guitars? He doesn't know how to play! That's why he is asking for advice about starting on the used Taylor.

[jfitz81]

Nothing wrong with spending big on your first guitar if you can afford it (although your statement about not wanting to lose more than a few hundred bucks makes me question that).

BUT

in your criteria, you mention wanting something better than a "beginner" guitar. As many others have already mentioned, you can get a perfectly fine instrument and save yourself a thousand bucks or more. Personally, I wouldn't pay a high price for an all-solid guitar until I knew what sound and specs I wanted. I started on a very nice all-laminate guitar and am glad I did. Just know that there are many well-built "budget" guitars that sound great, and I bet a lot of the people reading these forums play one.