Official Luthiers Forum!

I know this is a site for handmade guitars, but I gotta give kudos to Taylor for their guitars. So far, I have only built classicals--but a steel string is in the near future. Unfortunately I started playing in a quartet at church with violin/flute/oboe and needed an amplified steel string ASAP (like before Easter). Since funds are always an issue, I sold a Martin OM-21 (was never really happy with it) and bought a Taylor 514ce. Man this guitar rocks! I love the cedar/mahogany combination, and the expression system on the guitar sounds awesome with an XLR cable plugged direct into a mixing board. I have a Michael Gurian guitar (size 3) which is about equivalent to a small jumbo, and the Taylor blows it away in tone and volume. I was really surprised at how good Taylors sound for the money. I'm still going to be building the OLF SJ soon, but the Taylor is a great guitar for the money and I think I'll be keeping it for a long time. Bob Taylor is doing something right.

Cheers!

John

John,

Cool! My daughter has a 414 I think it is, and it sounds really nice. I put a bone saddle on it for her and it helped a bit too.

Show us a picture.

Jeff

John,
Congratulations on your Taylor purchase. The 514CE is a great guitar at anyprice and the Expression system is really warm and natural and is extremely usable in any live situation.

Enjoy it and don't ever feel as though the many small custom builders hold any contempt for the big guys. There are a few who like to give themselves way more credit than is deserved, but most really appreciate Bob's work and hold him in very high regard as a luthier. I have played so many great Taylors that I'll occasionally just drop Bob a note telling him how much I appreciate his work. I'm about due to do so since I've just started being able to get my hands on some Expression equipped instruments and have been very impressed.

He's doing alot things right.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega GuitarsKevin Gallagher38799.9777430556

[QUOTE=Kevin Gallagher] John,

He's doing alot things right.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars[/QUOTE]

And one of those things that Bob Taylor is doing right is sharing the knowledge.

By doing so it shows he is smart enough to understand what it is that the buyer of high end factory built instrument wants to know. This is of course that the product they are interested in buying has been well researched and developed, it is produced with a high standard of workmanship and that the materials used in construction are good quality.

It's a pity there are not a few more CEO's with his insight.

Cheers all Kim

I've never been a Taylor fan, even after playing many
over the last 10 years (including BRW/Adirondack
models) I never found one that really 'got me'. I found
them tight an far too tinny.
Then a couple months ago I picked one up in a
Guitar Center and was really surprised, not only did
it 'thump' and have a ton of midrange punch but they
seem to have gotten away from the 'Strat neck'
syndrome and started putting real neck profiles on
them!
I tuned it to Open D and it really came alive, lots of
fundamental and full overtones.

I have two. An older 410 koa that I love except for the skinny neck and a newer 810 that I'm warming up to, though I really like the 1 3/4 neck on it.

Hey Jeff, good to hear from you again! Where you been hiding out?

_________________
Scott Thompson
Port Townsend,WA

"In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune
But this is reality so give me some room"
-Billy Bragg

Cedar and Mahogany is one of the great classic wood combinations, although many seem to be switching to redwood /mahogany. Although a golden era Martin fan, I have to say I too prefer the current Taylor guitars to the current Martins. Although, the top end Larivees sound even better to me.

Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Thats the thing about guitars, everyone has a different idea about what they like, which is of course exactly how it should be, I've not heard or seen the model you have got there, but I listened and looked at some high end ones a while back, the ones I listened too I thought were very neutral played unplugged, but I thought they came into their own when amplified they sounded nicely balanced. I thought the fit and finish was exceptional and the action very accurate, guess this is the advantage of the very accurate CNC work.

For me the styling was not my cut of tea, but hey thats just a taste thing, I just struggle to get over the fact that Taylor are, and behave like a large corporation, but again thats just me.RussellR38800.2158449074

Like Mike, I'm generally left flat by Taylors (also a Larrivee fan here), but I have to say that the best guitar I've ever had in my hands was a Taylor W12 (walnut and cedar small body) that I had in my hands at Dusty Strings in Seattle about 7 years ago. It was really hard to walk out of the store without it.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

I too like Taylors for production gutiars. The best one of their I have owned was a 914c, it was truly the loudest guitar I have ever held. I am somewhat sorry I sold it.

I have had a PS10, which was nice and sounded good, but not even close to the 914ce, and a 614ce that was exceptionally nice.

However I have sold all but 2 guitars (that my parents gave me as a kid...) now that I have started building....

I would buy another Taylor in a second though...

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I tend to prefer Larrivee's slightly over Taylors, but one of the nicest guitars I've ever played was a Taylor 414. Amazing instrument; lively response, full, rich sound, responded very well to changes in playing style...great guitar.

Bob Taylor is a class act all the way. I remember him going to the ASIA Symposiums back in the 80's and he was always willing to share info. I have played many a Taylor and they are in my opinion great guitars. No shame in buying a factory made Taylor.

I own 2 Taylors, an AB-1, and a 612CE. A couple of years ago, I called the Taylor factory to ask about the stain used on my 612. They asked for the serial number and said that they would call me back within 24 hr. Next day they called back with the brand, part number, phone number of the manufacturer, and a description of how they applly it. Needless to say I'm impressed with their service as much as their instruments.

Al

Mike! This testimony caught me off guard. I have always felt that Taylor’s have a much more balanced tone than Martin's, Gibson's, Guilds, or Yairi's for that matter. To me they have better bass and midtone response. A more blended sound. That is why I was surprised that you find them tinty. I do realize you found one that rocks but I was still surprised that this was you initial reaction to TaylorMichaelP38800.4723958333

Michael P. I'm sure (given Taylor's huge success)
that it's all personal preference. I don't like 'balanced'
guitars, I like thumpy, punchy cannons and will trade
midrange for highs (I really like the old Gibson flattop
sound for instance). Earlier Taylors always sounded
overbraced to me.

I've owned a few, til my wife pointed out that if I'm going to sell my guitars, I shouldn't be playing Taylors! I had an 814c, 512, 612c, and a Baby...loved every one of them...and Bob's a standup guy to boot!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

Here are a couple pics of the guitar. one thing that I didn't realize is how big it is compared to the Gurian which is a small jumbo. The Taylor sure plays a lot easier too. The Taylor is a grand auditorium size. I would have thought the Gurian would be bigger in comparison to the Taylor. The guitars from right to left are: Taylor 514ce, Gurian S3, and Hauser model classical. The Gurian is the only guitar with a spruce top. The top is not stained either, it is just that color from 30+ years of aging. It's darker than both cedar tops.

Man, gotta love that Gurian for its extra dose of "soul"!

Like a lot of people have said, I don't really like Taylor guitars apart from the Baby - I own one of those and I think it's great. Occasionally I'll find one in a shop - usually one of the really expensive ones - that I think sounds OK but generally the Taylor sound is not really to my taste. But then I don't like the sound of most Gibson acoustics of any era. It's just personal taste.

I wish I liked them more, because I do like Bob Taylor's attitude and willingness to share information. A couple of years ago I emailed the factory to ask a technical question about how they did something, making it quite clear that I was a builder myself, and they emailed me back with the answer the next day. Try doing that with some of the other factories.

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Pete
http://www.petewoodmanguitars.com

Love Taylors!!! They are the best guitars I have tried! Bob's attitude doesn't hurt either. The neck is perfectly carved and setup.

I recently had a sit down with Santa Cruz, Larivee, Martin, H & D... about 10 makers. The 514 is my guitar. I see why people like Martins, very even tempered tone , but, I didn't care for it, comparatively.

_________________
Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)