|
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Ditto CWK2, I'd get a Seagull before a taylor. That Taylor marketing is dynamite though. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 123
Location: Massachusetts | I still want a Taylor. I would buy used but they are still outrageously priced used.
New for their low end 314ce you can buy an Ovation Custom Legend for the same price and have a better feeling, looking and sounding guitar hands down.
Unfortuenetly, with Taylor you have to spend more money then the entry 3 series to get any guitar with midrange or any bass.
Oh, and to get any guitar with glossy sides you have to spend over $2k. Satin guitars are crap..my Ovation s771 is satin and never again, it dings just looking at it. Gloss all the way baby. That rules out Larrivees cause most of them are satin.
But Taylors, great build quality, customer service and reputation but they are absolutely overpriced. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 1225
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | I've played Taylors and they are great guitars but I agree with those who say that they are overpriced. I wouldn't want to bring a $2,500 guitar to a bar for a gig. I would be suicidal if a scratched or dinged it, which I can't avoid with a gig guitar. Even the Martins that I have are not the real high end models. They sound and play great but don't have the real fancy bindings, inlays, etc. I also am really not a fan of the Taylor expression system. If a flay lands on the top of the guitar, a loud thump comes through the amp. I appluad the new approach, but it's not for me. Back to the drawing baord there, Bobby. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Taylors are expensive, but not overpriced if you stick with a 400 series all acoustic model. The 410's and 414's with no cutaways or electronics have an acoustic sound that is better than most of Taylor's higher end guitars. Used on eBay these guitars sell for $700 to $900, new they go for $1100 to $1200. Ovations are still better values and better guitars for plugging in, but the acoustic tone of the full bodied 400 series all-acoustic Taylors is great. My suggestion for those interested is to play a 410 (or a 414 for fingerstylists), with no cutaway or electronics which detract from the acoustic tone, and see if the Taylor flavor is to your liking. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 171
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma | Given the difference in price between a new Martin D-45 ($5,000+) and a top shelf Taylor I'd have to take the Martin... I'd take the Martin D-18 over any similar priced Taylor... Martin is the Mercedes of the wooden guitar world and Taylors tend to be the newer upcoming BMW... Although both are "rather" mass produced unlike Olsens or other luthier made guitars....
To me Ovations are the perfect moderate priced guitars with great sound, durability and playability... For example I'd rather not drive a car (especially around Tulsa) that's worth $150,000 when I can drive one that costs a 1/5th of the price and get the same thrill... To alot of people the NAME is STATUS...
Mercedes,BMW=Martin,Taylor... Although each has lower priced entry models to build consumer loyalty... If I'm going to have an unlimited amount of money to spend on guitars I'd like to have a nice cross section of many different brands and types... Even Eric Clapton doesn't just play one brand or type of guitar... That would be like drinking just one type of wine... Each one has it's own allure...
Gerald |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | You know, we should really avoid this kind of discission, it serves no useful purpose. I personally dislike Taylor guitars, and I can offer numerous reasons from a practical, personal & professional standpoint why I would never spend my hard-earned cash on one. I would also never buy a current Martin, Guild, Gibson or several other big names. Are they bad guitars?..... No, they just do not suit my purpose or reach my standards. Equally, I can tell you exactly why I choose to play Ovations.
As a group we should avoid unqualified criticism of other brands, otherwise we are guilty of the reactionary narrow-minded pissant attitudes of the likes of the Acoustic Guitar Magazine message board. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by Paul Templeman:
As a group we should avoid unqualified criticism of other brands, otherwise we are guilty of the reactionary narrow-minded pissant attitudes of the likes of the Acoustic Guitar Magazine board.
Well, yeah, Paul, but this is *us* we're talking about. When *we* do it, it's ok. Right?
:D
(It's a joke people, take a deep breath...) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | Originally posted by cwk2:
If someone wants a machine produced wood guitar that's cheap and still manages to have some soul, get a Seagull.
yeah, a guy who comes down here every winter has a seagull and it does the job pretty well. made in canada, right? the nissan pickup truck of guitars. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Paul T
We are not knocking Taylors or any other brand as "pissants", and I will agree that you have nailed the magazines editors and columnists quite well, and I'm sure you have seen them at the various gatherings of cognescenti. We, the great unwashed, are just commenting on the fact that, regardless of the reaction of the media farts, we don't have mental orgasms when faced with a guitar with the designation D-45. I, personally, do get rather teary eyed when confronted with a CAT D-12 in the hands of a heavy equipment operator as he bulldozes a certain magazine office building.
Bailey |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | mmmmmmmm Cat D-12 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | The funny thing in all of this is that yesterday lunch break I had to go to GC (3 miles from my office) to pick up new strings for a guitar I sold, and I figured what the hell let's try the Taylors. I actually thought they sounded pretty damn good. Not sure if I would ever buy one, but I certainly did come away with a good impression of them. Btw - nice to see that GC had a large selection of LX guitars. They also had 3 left handed (non-LX) Ovations, all mid depth bowls. That was pretty interesting. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 83
Location: Columbus, OH | Here's an informed opinion.
I own two Martins, a 1980 HD28 and a 90's D41. I also own a Taylor 714BCE (Brazillian back and sides with 2 piece back) and the 300 series 12 string jumbo cutaway. I also have a custom Legend and just bought and sold an Adamas.
Without question the best sounding guitar acoustically is the HD28. There's no comparison. The D41 had some custom scalloping done to take out some of the boomy bottom and it's a different kind of nice. The HD28 played like a bear for awhile until I had the neck adjusted (not a complete reset, but a "neck slip"). Now it plays much better but it still take a little more effort to play than the others. But it's worth it.
The Taylor 714 has a cedar top. It plays beautifully and is beautiful to look at. At first it didn't do a lot for me acoustically but plugged in with the Fishman Blender system it was really wonderful. Over time the guitar has gotten much better acoustically and it really does sound really good now. I did a trade deal for the guitar that was too good to pass up. It's beautifully crafted by machines but the end result is great.
The Taylor 12 string is another story. I had a Guild JF65-12 that was awesome to look at, great to listen to, but impossible to play. I bought the Taylor to replace it because the Taylor is extremely easy to play. Taylor really has that down. Acoustically it's mediocre at best. I think a Jumbo should have more thump, but frankly for plugging in it's probably best that it doesn't have that thump. Now plugged in, this guitar shines. And since I play the 12 plugged in, this works for me.
Ovation Custom Legend. Beautiful to look at. A joy to play. Love the details like the carved bridge. Plugged in it sounds very good. Acoustically? Sounds like shite. And it's a deep bowl. But I didn't buy it to play acoustically, so it works for its intended purpose.
Adamas. Ok, so I didn't bond with it immediately like I thought I would. Plugged in, it really didn't sound much different from my Custom Legend. But acoustically, it was very nice. The original post said Taylors are "too perfect?" To me the Adamas is too perfect in that each note seems to ring clear with the same volume. Pretty creepy but I like it. But since the guitar didn't give me anything plugged in over what I already had, and it didn't come close to the sound of the Martin acoustically, I didn't keep it.
With all that being said, I haven't liked most of the Taylors I've played. Some exceptions have been the maple/spruce 614ce and a recent dread size 30th anniversary. There are gems out there, but you have to play them to find the right one. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 83
Location: Columbus, OH | I forgot to add something....
My Ovation is now my backup at acoustic gigs. The #1 is an Alvarez maple/solid spruce jumbo. Why? It plays beautifully and came used with a K&K triple transducer system coupled with the onboard piezo (on board tuner too). With the K&K system mixed with the piezo, the sound is great. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 338
Location: Omaha | Corvairfan wrote:
"Gloss all the way baby. That rules out Larrivees cause most of them are satin."
Actually, there are quite a few gloss 05 series Larrivees that LIST for @ $2K, but can be had for much less, and the woods, build and sound are incredible. They're a much better value than Taylors, plus they're just better guitars, in my humble dogmatic opinion!!
:D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 83
Location: Columbus, OH | I had a beautifully crafted Larrive OM10. Looked great. Sounded great. BUT, I couldn't get used to the neck shape. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2004
Posts: 95
Location: Monroe, Ohio (Cincinnati) | I have two Seagulls.
I bought them because they had a good acoustic sound, better than anything close in price.
Paid Under $ 300 for each without pickups.
1- 12 String used in excellent condition with case from ebay (Seymour Duncan Acoustic Tube pickup).
1-6 string Blem from a local music store.
My six string has been my main P&W guitar for over 2 years(Fishman Rare earth humbucker pickup). It has lots of scratches and dings in the cedar top, as well as, the beginnings of a Willie Nelson type hole.
It is a working guitar, and it looks like one, but it does the job as well as it did from day one.
I would never want to put a high $ anything through what the Seagull has been through.
It will now become my backup and my new 1861 Balladeer will become my main P&W guitar.
Paid $ 310 for it with hard case on ebay.
It has many advantages, mainly sound, amplified.
It is easy to pay a lot for a guitar, but it is an art, in my opinion, to find a modestly priced guitar that really sounds good and performs it's job well.
In my opinion, high $ Martins, Taylors, Gibsons, etc. are for collectors and personal gratification playing. And that's ok if it is what you buy it for.
Another form of different flavors. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2004
Posts: 95
Location: Monroe, Ohio (Cincinnati) | This topic reminds me of a story.
I have an acquaintance who's wife purchased a new Martin guitar for him for Christmas a number of years ago, maybe 8 or 9. I don't remember the Model, but they said they paid almost $3,000 and it was acoustic only with no pickup or preamp.
He got it out and let me try it on a visit the year he got it. It was very nice, but he could only play about 1/2 of 2 or 3 songs.
He still has it, but I believe he can still only play about 1/2 of 2 or 3 songs. He enjoys owning it and looking at it a lot. It is good for him.
With four kids keeping me busy, I don't get much chance to play around home. Most of my playing is when I can escape them for band practice or P&W.
I have what suits me, he has what suits him.
Everyone is happy. The way it should be. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | When I was quite small, my great-grandfather was fond of saying:
It takes all kinds to make the world go 'round. And not one of them is missing.
Kind of sums up the preferences/opinions regarding guitars, eh? :) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | DavidE
I just noted your member number of 41, and some of the best discussions of various guitars I've seen. Where have you been the last three years? We need your input.
I have been playing for over 50 years and you show some of that sort of experience. (I haven't been playing very well, just bluegrass where introspection goes by the wayside for speed). In bluegrass thinking would leave you 6 bars behind before you even realized you were thinking.
Bailey
Bailey |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 83
Location: Columbus, OH | I've been at the Hamer Fan club. ;-) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by DavidE:
I've been at the Hamer Fan club. ;-)
Making trouble over there, I see. :p
(just kidding) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | He was just helping Al stir it up a little! :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Do they really need stirring? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Well, yeah, otherwise they burn on the bottom...uh, wait...
:p |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 623
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Sorry for the delay, been away on vaca for the past week.
A new friend of mine has a Taylor. I don't know the model, but it's a 25th Anniversary model in Brazillian wood. It's beautiful, and sounds amazing. I've never played a Taylor before, and this one sounded really sweet. He got it for $1300 new a few years ago, and it's his main guitar. He A/B'd others of the same model and they don't compare. Guess he got lucky, but I love the guitar. Don't know if it would suit my purposes, but it sounds beautiful, and I'd buy his if he sold it.
Another friend of mine has a Seagull, in the $500 range, with a LR Baggs pickup system in it, and it too sounds very impressive-Far beyond it's selling price, if you asked me.
Johnny |
|
| |
Taylor veredict
