Played A Few More Taylors

[Jeff_H]

At Sam Ash. Off topic, but this was my first trip into a Sam Ash, and definately my last. Worst guitar store I've ever been in. GC is 10x's better. Guitars in poorly maintained condition, very little selection unless you're looking for bottom of the line Mexican or Korean guitars. The front of the store bombards you with cheap crap who's names I didn't even recognize....perhaps this should be a different thread? fftopic:

Played the 310C and CE, 314CE, 414CE, 714CE and 814CE. For my taste it's the 314 or the 414. The 714 and 814 sport nicer back woods, Rosewood on one and I'm not sure on the other right now. Nicer inlays and Rosettes as well. The wood is more highly figured on teh 714 and 814, and the spruce top is more consistent in color, no striping, and tighter grain. I just don't hear $600-$1000 difference over the 314 or 414. The 714 and 814 sounded boomier to me, with more bass, due in no small part to the back and side woods being different. It's just not what I want to hear.

I played every other acoustic in the sound room that was over a grand, and nothing came close. Didn't care for the Gibson Jumbo Cutaway, and it's a $2500 guitar. Played a Laravee(sp) and it was decent, but came in 3rd overall behind the Taylor and one other sleeper.....a Takamine dreadnaught cutaway, mahogany back and sides with a ceader top. $1100 guitar on clearance for $850. It had a sound remarkably close to the Taylor, although slightly brighter with a different midrange curve. Not bad at all, just different. It didn't come with a case, as the Taylor's do, so even at $850 by the time you buy a decent TKL case or similar and pay tax you're over a grand anyhow. I'll take the Taylor for a few more $$.

I'm off to find a REAL Taylor dealer in the area. Update at 11.

 

[darkshadow54321]

Re: Played A Few More Taylors

Good luck man!

I really really want an acoustic so this thread isn't helping much! Then again, I usually want one of everything...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Played A Few More Taylors

I don't think all that much of the Takamine's I've owned acoustic tone, it's just good. Not excellant or anything. But they do have the best built in pickup and EQ system there is for onstage use. Great onstage tone! Worth considering if you're going to play out. Lew

 

[xerxes]

Re: Played A Few More Taylors

do me a favor and see how much a dreadnought 314 is going for!

 

[sooperunkn]

Re: Played A Few More Taylors

I don't think all that much of the Takamine's I've owned acoustic tone, it's just good. Not excellant or anything. But they do have the best built in pickup and EQ system there is for onstage use. Great onstage tone! Worth considering if you're going to play out. Lew

Hey Lew, have you had the chance of playing through the Taylor Expression System? I think it's absolutely amazing! It's the natural acoustic tone... only amplified! It sounds like your playing a 40 foot acoustic!! I wonder how you feel it compares to the one used by Takamine?

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Played A Few More Taylors

do me a favor and see how much a dreadnought 314 is going for!

Will do. Heading out the door right now.

 

[xerxes]

Re: Played A Few More Taylors

thanks bro!

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Played A Few More Taylors

Ok - They didn't have any of the 314 dreds in stock. The guy down at this store will sell all of his Taylors at 30% off list if they're new model years. More than that off if they're older, but that's another thread, because he got me.

I've noticed that Taylor makes several different models that are very similar to each other, but differ widely in price. Do me a favor, get on the Taylor website and get me all of the model numbers that you would consider, and do you want acoustic/electric, or strictly acoustic? This guy had some 355's and other taylors that were under a grand....some new and some used. There was one that was like $775, but I can't remember for the life of me which model, but I am sure it was acoustic only.

The prices at this shop were better than any I'd seen, save eBay....and you can't play those first. I'm withing 10 minutes of this shop 2-3 times a week, so let me know models numbers and I'll check it out.

 

[Curly]

Re: Played A Few More Taylors

here's a 310 for $1150:

more pics here

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Played A Few More Taylors

Damn that's pretty Curly. If you had posted annother hour or so earlier, I might have been hooked. I really wanted the Grand Auditorium style with cutaway, as opposed to the more classic dreadnaught.

See my new thread....I beat this price by $50 for the 314CE.

 

[Mojoe01]

Re: Played A Few More Taylors

isn't the 314 a grand auditorium?

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Played A Few More Taylors

isn't the 314 a grand auditorium?

Yes it is. It just has a Venetian cutaway. I really like this body style (Grand Auditorium). It just looks sexier than the dreadnaught or Jumbo. The Grand Auditorium style reminds me of Monica Belucci.....

 

[xerxes]

Re: Played A Few More Taylors

crap! i ment the 310 dread!!!! my bad....

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Played A Few More Taylors

crap! i ment the 310 dread!!!! my bad....

That's ok bro. Listen...go to the website and take a look at all the models, and shoot me the one's that interest you at all. I'll be back near this dealer today. The best deals were really on plain acoustics with no cutaways and no electronics.

Let me know.