Taylor experts?

dustin41 · #1 10-19-2018, 10:46 PM

Hey all,

Just acquired a gorgeous Taylor 812-WAL. I haven’t been able to find anything about it online. Anyone have any knowledge of these?

-Dustin

Guitarplayer_PR · #2 10-19-2018, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustin41

Hey all,

Just acquired a gorgeous Taylor 812-WAL. I haven’t been able to find anything about it online. Anyone have any knowledge of these?

-Dustin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcS5_vDUHNg

robj144 · #3 10-20-2018, 12:08 AM

https://playguitar101.wordpress.com/...-812-wal-1992/

dustin41 · #4 10-20-2018, 09:20 AM

I found those two links when googling but couldn’t find any history or any others for sale. It’s a really unbelievable instrument and i got it for next to nothing. Thanks for your help!

Rumblefish · #5 10-20-2018, 10:24 AM

Give Taylor a call if nobody here can help. They’ve always been very helpful when I contacted them. Taylor 800 series are usually very nice guitars.

fitness1 · #6 10-20-2018, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustin41

It’s a really unbelievable instrument and i got it for next to nothing.

Then just be VERY happy - I started buying Taylors in the very early 90's and paying attention to them until the last 10 years or so. I can say I've never seen one before.

dustin41 · #7 10-21-2018, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fitness1

Then just be VERY happy - I started buying Taylors in the very early 90's and paying attention to them until the last 10 years or so. I can say I've never seen one before.

Oh i am happy! My guitar guy took a gander at it today and couldn’t believe it.

I traded a USA highway one Tele straight up for it.

It has an aftermarket Lr baggs lyric installed, which sounds terrible. I’m going to call Taylor and ask them about a retrofit.

jazzguy · #8 10-22-2018, 05:32 AM

Call Taylor about the history etc. They will be very helpful. But I would seriously consider a LR Baggs Anthem or Anthem SL before the expense of the ES2 system. Don't get me wrong, the ES2 is very good, but between the shipping and cost, it is going to be significantly more expensive. Unless of course you live very near the Taylor factory. Plus - you don't have to cut into the guitar for the 3 controls or enlarge the jack opening to fit the ES2.

SprintBob · #9 10-22-2018, 06:31 AM

K&K Pure Mini is another good choice.

Guitarplayer_PR · #10 10-22-2018, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustin41

Oh i am happy! My guitar guy took a gander at it today and couldn’t believe it.

I traded a USA highway one Tele straight up for it.

It has an aftermarket Lr baggs lyric installed, which sounds terrible. I’m going to call Taylor and ask them about a retrofit.

The LR Baggs Lyric does need a preamp to shape the sound better

Guitarplayer_PR · #11 10-22-2018, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzguy

Call Taylor about the history etc. They will be very helpful. But I would seriously consider a LR Baggs Anthem or Anthem SL before the expense of the ES2 system. Don't get me wrong, the ES2 is very good, but between the shipping and cost, it is going to be significantly more expensive. Unless of course you live very near the Taylor factory. Plus - you don't have to cut into the guitar for the 3 controls or enlarge the jack opening to fit the ES2.

I'm with you. I have both the ES2 and the Anthem SL. Both really great but quite different sounding. The ES2 sounds very much like a guitar being mic'd with a regular mic. The Anthem SL sounds much like what you'd normally hear your guitar unplugged. The SL will certainly be easier to EQ.

Athens · #12 10-22-2018, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustin41

...................It has an aftermarket Lr baggs lyric installed, which sounds terrible. I’m going to call Taylor and ask them about a retrofit.

You might also look at the K&K pick up as well. They get a lot of love here and the fact that you never have to take the strings off to change a battery is a definite plus in my book.

I love the shape of my 612, and Taylors from the 90's are GREAT guitars.

Congrats on your find.

dustin41 · #13 10-25-2018, 07:38 PM

Update: Appalachian bluegrass shoppe in Maryland per Taylor is the only place on the east coast to retrofit into the ES2. $300 for the ES2 and $175 for labor. Not too bad. I’ve had a Taylor K4 equalizer for a time as a home preamp, but am stoked to check out an ES2 with it. This 812 may end up as my raised B guitar, but for now I’m excited to see how it does. I usually use the LR baggs venue DI live.

Now if someone would just trade me a Taylor K55 for my 1990 Gibson Chet Atkins SST 12 string....

Guitars44me · #14 10-25-2018, 08:25 PM

Taylor has a way with Walnut and Cedar! Odd that the Elderly site said 1 25/32" Nut as I have never seen a Taylor with that width Nut.

And as you have experienced the nice ones from the 90s are totally different animals from the newer NT neck models from 2000 on.

Congrats! Oh, I would NOT retrofit an ES unless it was a No Controls (NC). It would seriously devalue the guitar and be costly as well... I too would go with a K&K. Sounds great and non invasive.

Paul

Athens · #15 10-26-2018, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guitars44me

Taylor has a way with Walnut and Cedar! Odd that the Elderly site said 1 25/32" Nut as I have never seen a Taylor with that width Nut.......

Paul

Keep in mind that's only 1/32 away from 1 3/4 inch nut with.

If they actually took a pair of calipers and measured it would be very easy to come up with that. Just a thought.