$2000 to spend at Musicians Friend, what to get, maybe a Taylor?

[matt99camero]

So I applied for a MF credit card and got approved with a $2000 credit limit. I think I'm going to take advantage of the no interest, no payments till 2008 thing and hope that I'll have the money to pay for it by then. I think I'm pretty good on electrics, I'd love to have a really nice amp but they don't sell the ones I want maybe except a nice Marshall. I think I could use a good acoustic/electric. I don't really like the playability of my Ibanez and I need to get better on playing an acoustic. I've always really liked the neck on Taylors I've played, and love the tone.

How big of a difference is there between the 314-CE and the 414-CE. African mahogany back and sides on the 314 vs. Ovangkol on the 414. What about between the 314-CE and the 312-CE. I've really liked the 314CE but I've never played the 414-CE.

I've played a few Martins and they didn't do much for me. One that looked interesting that I haven't played is the JC-16GTE. Anyone played one? What about Takamine.

 

[CGord]

Re: $2000 to spend at Musicians Friend, what to get, maybe a Taylor?

Buy a 6505 combo & have it shipped to me. Really, you'll get a tremendous improvement if you do this.

No, wait. I will. Whichever.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: $2000 to spend at Musicians Friend, what to get, maybe a Taylor?

Not to sound like your dad, but credit for gear is a dangerous trap when you're 22. It might be better to wheel and deal in gear to get things you want....constantly trading up.

 

[CGord]

Re: $2000 to spend at Musicians Friend, what to get, maybe a Taylor?

Hey, hey, hey, unless you're gonna buy me a combo, butt out!

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: $2000 to spend at Musicians Friend, what to get, maybe a Taylor?

To me there was not enough difference between the 314-Ce and the 414-CE to justify the difference in price. I bought the 314 and never looked back. My personal opinion was that until you got up to the 714 and higher range, the difference in quality wasn't substantial. I have really enjoyed my Taylor.

As for the credit card...just be careful. Credit can be a great thing, and is very necessary to having the nicer things in life, but keep your credit GOOD. Take advantage of the no payments/interest thing until 2008 by MAKING PAYMENTS every month...right away. Even if it's $100. What they put in small print is that if the balance isn't paid of by December 21, 2007, interest is retroactive to the beginning of the account. Make sure it's paid off by then, and you've just used someone elses $$ for 1 year to pay for your gear. If you don't, that $2000 guitar just cost you $3000 and your good credit for the next 7 years.

 

[devastone]

Re: $2000 to spend at Musicians Friend, what to get, maybe a Taylor?

Put the credit card away and start saving. Walk into a local store with cash in hand and you'll walk out with a better deal. It's no joke, these companies are counting on you to not have it paid off at the end of the time limit, and believe it or not, a high percentage of people don't, then they get hit with 21%+ interest for the full amount, usually backdated and compounded annually.

Sorry for the "dad" thing, but we went through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University this spring, it's amazing how many people get caught by these things by putting it off, forgetting, whatever, then getting nailed.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: $2000 to spend at Musicians Friend, what to get, maybe a Taylor?

This is the voice of experience talking.

Don't do it.

That is all...

 

[matt99camero]

Re: $2000 to spend at Musicians Friend, what to get, maybe a Taylor?

I'm not worried about the credit, right now I have a credit score in the 800's. It's kind of an early graduation present to myelf. I have $300-$400 of disposable income a month while I'm in school so I'll probably have it paid off before then and all my other debts will be payed off next month. I graduate in August so hopefully with the job I get I can pay off anything thats left in one payment.

Thanks Jeff for the info of the Taylors. Anybody else got something to add?

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: $2000 to spend at Musicians Friend, what to get, maybe a Taylor?

Ok, let me say that I actually bought 2 314-CE's. One was a standard, and one was a 30th Anniversary. The difference was the 30th has some unique inlays, and the top was a little lighter colored, and had the expression system. The other had the Fishman eq, and was a 2001 or 2002 I believe. The top on the standard had yellowed nicely, but I wanted something that looked new that could age with me, and I really dug the inlays over the standard dots. I also figured that having the 30th Ann couldn't hurt if I ever decided to get rid of it either.

As for difference in tone, I don't know. Maybe I convinced myself that the Ann sounded better because I liked the way it looked so much. I can say that virtually every Taylor I've picked up has sounded really good. I can't say that for other brands. I actually had my heart set on an Ovation, because I had dreamed about one for years. I found the Taylor by accident, did some research and was sold.

Hope you find one you really like.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: $2000 to spend at Musicians Friend, what to get, maybe a Taylor?

Usually when I go into music stores, I don't spend much time looking at electric.
I go straight to the acoustic room, and spend a long time in there playing everything. For me, it really comes down to Martins and Taylors exclusively. There's other nice acoustics, but none that have the tone I like quite as much as those 2 brands. I can't even point you at a model, because it's such a personal thing.

If you are going to buy from MF, spend a weekend playing dozens of Martins and Taylors, decide on the exact model, then order it. With any luck it'll have a tone as good or better than the one you tried.

As long as the nut is cut perfectly and the action is set at the perfect point for your right hand attack, you'll love it. Saddle height is the most important thing to get right with a new acoustic. For me...I can't even let a luthier do it, because I spend a few days, sanding little by little off the bottom of the saddle, till the guitar rings just right for my playing attack. If you get that right, the guitar is a joy to play for years after that.

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: $2000 to spend at Musicians Friend, what to get, maybe a Taylor?

Yeah.....get a GUILD D-55 & enjoy the hell out of it !!!

Some say Taylors are bright....some say Martins are dark

The Guild is harmonically beautiful across the board :bigok:

I'm biased, but I don't think you could go wrong with a Taylor.

 

[34029324079]

Re: $2000 to spend at Musicians Friend, what to get, maybe a Taylor?

do the credit thing - but only if you can put down the entire 2K on the day that the 0 interest expires. I recommend the taylor 410ce, but beyond that I think that beater acoustics are the way to go - save up for the high priced electric stuff. I have a beater ovation 1776 that I like:

 

[Imp]

Re: $2000 to spend at Musicians Friend, what to get, maybe a Taylor?

just remember you don't have to spend $2000 to pick up a fantastic electro-acoustic, and you don't need to go and spend it this second either

i'd seriously go in and ignore everything on the headstock. try a limited repertoire on a dozen totally random guitars - i did this exact same thing recently (on a smaller budget - about $600) and walked out with a $300 simon and patrick 6 cedar - though i did have my eye on a maton!

it wasn't electro mind, so i snagged a woody to go with it (puns ahoy! )

tom

 

[LesStrat]

Re: $2000 to spend at Musicians Friend, what to get, maybe a Taylor?

Perluss whun to avoiding the use of the CC.

However, it IS hard to go wrong with a Taylor. Our pastor's son has a 314ce. I LOVE that guitar.

I agree that playing several and picking your favorite is a good idea.

That said, Taylors are manufactured VERY precisely, and the differences between individual guitars in the same model line are minimal.

BTW, I think the current Taylors (above the 100 series) all have the expression system .

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: $2000 to spend at Musicians Friend, what to get, maybe a Taylor?

devastone has a good point.

If you have the disposable income that you say you do, you can easily save up enough in a few months. It's Sooooooo easy to fall into the "I'll get to it later" trap and end up paying "stupid tax."

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: $2000 to spend at Musicians Friend, what to get, maybe a Taylor?

devastone has a good point.

If you have the disposable income that you say you do, you can easily save up enough in a few months. It's Sooooooo easy to fall into the "I'll get to it later" trap and end up paying "stupid tax."

Think about it for a second. Musician's Friend is counting on you to be irresponsible and not pay the thing off in time. That's how they are going to make money!

I bought my first new couch 90-days-same-as-cash and paid it off on the 88th day. That finance company kept trying to lend me money at painful rates for about 5 years.

BTW: I love my Taylor 314C (no electronics), custom ordered from a local store.

Chip

 

[devastone]

Re: $2000 to spend at Musicians Friend, what to get, maybe a Taylor?

devastone has a good point.

If you have the disposable income that you say you do, you can easily save up enough in a few months. It's Sooooooo easy to fall into the "I'll get to it later" trap and end up paying "stupid tax."

"Stupid Tax", do we have another Dave fan here? Honestly, I still have a CC, I have to use it for company travel. I do occasionally use it if I find a really good deal on the bay or somewhere and I can pay it off quickly (meaning within 2 - 3 weeks).

As far as using the $2k on a guitar, seriously, if you save your disposable $300 - $400 a month for a few months, you can walk into a store with cash and walk out with the same guitar for $1600 - $1800 or less. MF really doesn't have the best prices, and if you find a better price and want a price match, you don't get the 0% financing.

 

[matt99camero]

Re: $2000 to spend at Musicians Friend, what to get, maybe a Taylor?

Well I went ahead and ordered the Taylor 314CE and some other stuff. I've always loved it when I've played one and think I made the right choice. To be honest, I'm not very good at saving up for something, I'll find some other crap to spend it on, but if I have it hanging over my head and know I have to save for it I can. Plus my roomie is graduating in about 4 weeks and it may be the last time we ever play together and I just want this guitar to play our last gig. Seriously, I'm not worried about paying it off. I'm working my butt off at two jobs for something. I'll have money coming in at Christmas and graduation also.

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: $2000 to spend at Musicians Friend, what to get, maybe a Taylor?

Martin acoustics have never done much for me either. When I play acoustic at music shops I always end up picking up a Taylor.

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: $2000 to spend at Musicians Friend, what to get, maybe a Taylor?

Matt,

I have a cheap Hohner acoustic and put a set of Elixir (Poly webbed) strings on it and it sounds alot better to my ears. You should give it a try.