Taylor 324e or 524ce (cutaway higher series or noncutaway lower series)

samirguitar · #1 03-24-2019, 04:34 AM

I have opportunity to buy for the same price in used market
either Taylor 324e non-cutaway or Taylor 524ce cutaway.

I am looking for an all mahogany and 1/34" nut dread or GA.

Narrowed down on taylor GA after trying couple of Martins & Guild options.

Now I only use guitar for accompanying my singing, so cutaway is not needed. I also think that non-cutaway has better bass response than cutaway for the same guitar.

I tried 324e; but 524ce is not available anywhere near to try.

Dilemma is whether higher series taylor would have better sound inspite of cutaway, would it sound fuller than 324 with noncutaway?

If you have these guitars, then I would appreciate the input.

bil40272 · #2 03-24-2019, 07:20 AM

Years ago I was in the same boat as you. I could play a 324, but not the 524.
Finally the GC near me got both in, and with new strings on both, I finally got to do the A/B thing.
I was prepared to prefer the 524, but after playing them, the 324 won out.
This was the Sapele 324.
I believe the sapele gave the 324 a more dynamic sound.
I wound up buying the 324.
I have played the newer blackwood 324, and I like it even more.
Good luck with your choice

samirguitar · #3 03-24-2019, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bil40272

Years ago I was in the same boat as you. I could play a 324, but not the 524.
Finally the GC near me got both in, and with new strings on both, I finally got to do the A/B thing.
I was prepared to prefer the 524, but after playing them, the 324 won out.
This was the Sapele 324.
I believe the sapele gave the 324 a more dynamic sound.
I wound up buying the 324.
I have played the newer blackwood 324, and I like it even more.
Good luck with your choice

thanks for sharing.

DukeX · #4 03-24-2019, 02:21 PM

I played a 324 Sapele B/S several times over a period of months a few years ago and thought it was a great guitar. I bought a 324 Blackwood B/S a year and a half ago and absolutely love it.

I think a 524 would be a fine instrument as well, but I've never played one.

SpruceTop · #5 03-24-2019, 02:33 PM

Cutaway Taylor acoustic-electrics scream Taylor Guitars. I vote to spend the extra cash and get the Taylor 524ce. Then again 300 Series and up, e/ce models are all excellent professional, performance-ready guitars. 324e or 524ce, either way, You Win!

jpmist · #6 03-24-2019, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samirguitar

I have opportunity to buy for the same price in used market
either Taylor 324e non-cutaway or Taylor 524ce cutaway.

I am looking for an all mahogany and 1/34" nut dread or GA.

I tried 324e; but 524ce is not available anywhere near to try.

Dilemma is whether higher series taylor would have better sound in spite of cutaway, would it sound fuller than 324 with noncutaway?

I have the 322ce and just wanted to point out that the 524 and 324 might not sound as similar as you might think with Taylor having given two different body woods the same model number. Currently the 324 has Blackwood back and sides while the 524 has mahogany back and sides.

I've owned several all hog guitars and gotta say my 322ce Blackwood, while similar, has a brighter tone which I prefer. Having owned a bunch of OO and GC cutaways and non-cutaways, I honestly don't find any difference in tone due to a cutaway. I have a cutaway Larrivee OOV and a non cutaway OO and the non-cutaway is actually brighter. . .

After owning several, I've given up on all mahogany guitars, so that's my bias, but the mahogany topped blackwoods sound really nice, so with your money I'd spring for the 324.

boneuphtoner · #7 03-24-2019, 04:53 PM

Never played a 524 all hog, but my hog/blackwood 324 has the smoothest sweetest sound I've found in any guitar. It if has a weakness, IMHO I want it to produce more volume. The 324 is an extremely modest beast in the volume department. But the sound is haunting.

I've read a couple of reports on the Taylor forum that report it took a while for the 524s to open up - can't verify any of that - just passing on what I heard.

samirguitar · #8 03-26-2019, 03:21 AM

The options I have are 324e with Sapele back and sides and 524ce.
And both guitars are at the same price.

My dilemma rises from a belief that more money should buy you a better guitar. Since retail price of 524 is 40% higher than 324; but for me in this used market opportunity both are at the same price, a common man's thinking is making me feel to grab 524

Your input is very insightful and helpful. In general you all are hinting towards 324.

Things that have gone against 524 from your input are:
1. 524 may take time to open up
2. 524 is more focused mahogany sound and 324 has colour.
** I note that 324 comments are for both sapele and blackwood version.

Since I do not have opportunity to do A/B side by side of these 2, I will surely try these before I buy. I have to travel 2 hrs to try 524ce and 324e is local.

I tried 324e sapele few times already and it is nice indeed. If at all I would say that it is slightly strong midrangy than what I would have liked as it fights my voice a bit.
I will be travelling tomorrow to try & if-I-like-I-buy 524ce. From reviews and youtube videos, I seem to feel that 524 is more airy in midrange which may suit my voice better.

I will buy 524ce only if I feel that the sound is more deeper, warmer and darker compared to 324e, even if it has less overtones. I won't be buying it for bling for sure.

Thanks for your input.
Much appreciated.

RP · #9 03-26-2019, 05:51 AM

Get the 524. I always enjoyed the tone of my 524, but must say that it's opened up really nicely....

samirguitar · #10 03-27-2019, 03:32 PM

Tried 524ce in person and bought it.

my impressions for someone in future to consider when searching for the same:

1. Both 324e non-cutaway and 524ce cutaway are not loud guitars when you compare them to something like Martin 15 series counterparts.
I didn;t think that non-cutaway aspect of 324e added to volume compared to 524ce,

2. 524ce as others stated above is focussed on it's mahogany sound.
I found it airy in the midrange (hard to describe this; but in essence it is not strongly dishing out midrange compared to 324e.
324e is more colorful which is stated by others as well.
This may feel like more vibrant; but listening intently I found 524ce has richer vibrancy overall, more so in bass.

3. 324e sapele is brighter than 524ce inspite of the fact that 324e is non-cutaway and one would expect it to be more bassier; but 524ce inspite of the cutawya in more bassier and warmer to my ears.

4. I do think that the guitar I bough inspite of 2016 model and used moderatly over 3 years by the previous owner has not opened up fully yet and will become louder and even more resonating as time goes.
I think that both 324e and 524ce benefit from plugging them in and both are great in enhancing their inherent tone through amp.

I use guitar to accompany my voice so for me airy midrange of 524ce felt more complementary compared to 324e.

Since I had both guitars at same price in used market it became a no brainer for me to get 524ce (2016 voicing) after trying and observing the points above.

I immensely appreciate everyone's input here that helped me to make a right choice for me.

Been playing my 524ce all evening and loving it.

boneuphtoner · #11 03-28-2019, 06:40 AM

Many congrats! I appreciate your comparative comments as I've never tried the all hog 524.

Completely agree with you that the hog topped Taylors are not loud - but the sweet sound makes it worth it, and my 324 plugs in well also.

musicman1951 · #12 03-28-2019, 06:57 AM

For me a two hour trip (I assume 4 if you want to go back home) is a very reasonable investment considering how many hours you're going to spend eventually on either guitar. I'd definitely make the drive. Every guitar is a little different and it's impossible for us to predict which you'd prefer.