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Thread: Taylor Guitars Are Over Rated (imo)

  1. #20
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    I don't know. I've played some really nice Taylors. Unfortunately they were way out of my price range, but they had every feature I could ask for including tone and playability. Some Taylor models may be overrated, but on the whole I think they are a well crafted instrument.

    "No Tele For you." - The Tele Nazi

    Ha! Tele-ish now inbound.

  2. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by street music View Post
    If you want a great acoustic at a good price either buy Carvin or Takamine you will be glad you did.
    I've been eying those Carvin acoustics for a long time.

    Which Takamine models are nicer? It seems like they span quite a range of prices and what not, so I'm never sure what the good models are, aside from looking at what's expensive.
    Quote Originally Posted by Spudman
    Does anyone read the original post?
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  3. #22
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    My wife got me a Taylor 110 for our 10th wedding anniversary in 2009. The guitar was picked out by a family friend (longtime guitar player). He played 20+ guitars (many much more expensive) at our local store and told my wife that the Taylor 110 was the only one he'd consider buying.

    My opinion is barely worth the time to read, but the guitar sounds good, is ALWAYS in tune, and plays really easy. I have not played one that I like better, although this is not saying much.

  4. #23
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    For a non acoustic guitar player this was very enlightening!
    Maxi...................

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  5. #24
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    I have the Takamine EF340SCGN and I love the sound that it has had since the day I brought it home, My Carvin is Cobalt C770T Mahogany Dreadnought Acoustic/Electric and I have had it just a couple of months after selling my C350 to a co-worker, is one of the most beautiful acoustic-electric that I ever put my hands on. Both of these guitars have a great sound both plugged and unplugged. I have two acoustic amps and have played both through the Vox and the Fender, I can get a clear crisp clean sound or I can go to blues side with it and I can say that if I were going to buy just a straight out acoustic to sit down and jam the Carvin C350 would be hard to beat for an all around affordable acoustic.

  6. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by Eric View Post
    ...Which Takamine models are nicer? It seems like they span quite a range of prices and what not, so I'm never sure what the good models are, aside from looking at what's expensive.
    Taks are orgagized in series, with the higher end series made in Japan and thus 'expensive', commensurate with the craftsmanship and materials. So these are the 'nicest'. Street's Tak is one of their newer models value-priced models from the Nouveau Series introduced a year or so ago with a $1,299 MSRP, which translates at a typical 30% discount to around $900, new.

    I've owned 2 from the Santa Fe series, both previously owned and both of which I've posted long ago here. I traded one mid-last year for $750 in 2 guitars and some stuff. My other, a '93 and thier first ever Santa Fe series model, just sold. I had it on consignment at my Local GAS Station and it only took 2 weeks for someone to snag it. It fetched $850 cash.

    Those would be in the 'nicer' class.

    If you're willing to spend $350-$700 for a new one, then look at the Takamine G Series. The lower priced ones are made in China, the higher end in Korea.
    ^^
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  7. #26
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    Quote Originally Posted by dpuckett View Post
    Taylor Guitars Are Over Rated...

    This is a true story.

    February 2004, I walked into Grandma's Music in Albuquerque, NM . I had always wanted a Taylor . I liked the way they looked and thought they sounded amazing. My wife talked me into buying a 714CE with the new ES (this was the first year of Taylor 's "Expression System"). After I took it home and started to "get to know" this new guitar, I soon became quite disappointed with the "sound" of the ES. I thought it sounded "Nasally", like it was having phasing issues depending on where you were at on the fretboard. The sound was also very harsh and brittle sounding. (The guitar sounded amazing unplugged).

    I also became aware of certain static pops when using the ES. I figured it was me or my set up, or perhaps the dry New Mexico weather? I lived with it. I called Taylor Customer Service and they recommended the TRS (tip ring sleeve) cable. That didn't help. I narrowed the "popping" down to my particular percussive playing style. When the guitar string came in contact with the 20th fret (the fret just above the string sensor) a static pop could be heard in the amplifier. This static pop could be produced again in about 20 seconds. Apparently a charge was being build up between the string sensor and the 20th fret. Once again I called Taylor Customer Service and reported my findings. They suggested several solutions, none of which worked. I figured I bought a lemon until I went back to Grandma's music store and tried all the other Taylor's that had the ES. They ALL POPPED!! I went across town to the other Taylor store and experimented on their Taylor guitars with the ES. They to all popped!! I started scaring customers away. They asked me to leave! I got on the internet and asked other Taylor ES owners to experiment with this phenomenon…many reported back with the exact same findings. I wrote Bob Taylor a letter and explained to him my situation and my experimentation procedures. He wrote back and asked me to please keep this under my hat, and that their engineers were aware of this and were on top of it. I replied that I wanted my money back. He offered me a custom built guitar instead. I said OK J. So I ordered a 714 (without the cutaway) with the older Fishman Blender.

    About 2 months later my new Taylor 714 shows up !! Awesome!! Sounds great plugged in and unplugged! Finally!!! But wait…there is a problem. I couldn't adjust my action with the truss rod to correct the fret buzz. Hhmm ?? I take the guitar in to Grandma's Music and they look at it and point out that the neck is twisted. I call Taylor Customer Service and report to them what Grandma's said….they said send the guitar back….so I did. About 6 weeks later the guitar shows up on my doorstep with a new neck. YEAH !!! Finally !! I play this guitar for about a month or so and "lo and behold" if THIS NECK doesn't twist also !!!! EERRGG!!! This is getting old!!!!!! During this timeframe I was doing a gig when all of a sudden the guitar made this loud bang and I lost my tuning…just out of the blue???? I retuned and finished the gig. I called Taylor Customer Service once again (I'm on a first name basis with these guys now) and tell them about this neck being twisted also. They said send it back…so I did.

    A few days after the guitar arrives back at the Taylor factory, I get a call saying that "the neck is indeed twisted and that one of the bracings is broke??" (I remembered back to that night when the guitar lost it's tuning). They're asking me, "What are you doing with this guitar ??? I'm like, "NOTHING?!?!" So they fix the guitar and put on the third neck.

    After about a full year, I finally have a Taylor that I can play. This current neck is not perfect mind you. I can point out a small twist…but to be honest with you, I'm sick and tired of dealing with it…and with Taylor in general. I'm pretty sure they're tired of me also. I'll eventually sell this guitar on EBAY.

    I'm sure that now the bugs in that first Expression System's design have been fixed. I have experimented with some of the newer guitars and have not seen this problem lately. If you have a Taylor with the Expression System and you want to give it a try to see if your guitar exhibits this problem, plug it in and set the amp/PA to a normal listening volume and simply push one of your guitar strings down until it touches the 20th fret and listen…you'll know right then and there…

    Personally I think Taylor's are over rated. I have a 1995 Martin 000 and have never even had to make a neck adjustment. What a contrast.
    Taylor guitars do tend towards being bland but undeniably high build quality. I have a Big Baby (the runt of the litter LOL) that is lovely to play. I also had a Taylor T5 which IMHO sucked big style. It didnt do any job particularly well, let alone the acoustic role. Electric sounds were unconvincing and acoustic sounds nothing more thatn mediocre.

    I do however think that Taylor, to their credit are not afraid to experiment in the guitar arena and do come up with some great products.

    Residual values seem to be an issue in that when you spend 3000$ on your acoustic dream, you've lost a thousand bucks straight away.

  8. #27
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    Get a Guild. 100% made in Conecticut USA.

  9. #28
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    I've got a slight headache so forgive me if I repeat someone's post but I have NEVER picked up a Taylor that didn't play absolutely fantastic. I literally cannot put one down once I start playing it. I know its like anything else, it's based on the individual but I have also played many Tak's, Guilds, Yamaha, etc and they have all been hit or miss. And if you want to talk overpriced and overhyped.... Please don't shoot me... But I can't stand Martins. Compared to a Taylor the necks on a Martin feel lifeless. The Taylor acoustics were made for fingerstyle picking and sound best in that style. If you don't like the Taylors you could always try a Larivee. I really don't mean to down Martins because enough people are devoted to them to make me think there has to be something to them. And maybe its that same quirk of mine that draws me to the Taylors.

    Taylor guitars do tend towards being bland but undeniably high build quality.
    The best sound I've ever heard electrically out of a Taylor was when I plugged it into a Marshall acoustic amp. I do believe the two were made for each other. IMHO

  10. #29
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    This is why i love this forum. I have a Martin D 16 which i love, full booming tone and just an all around fantastic guitar, payed about $900 used 3 or 4 yrs ago. I just bought a Taylor 414 ce and haven't really played it much as I got it off Ebay and wanted it set up to my liking, but in the short time I have had it, I love it. Very easy neck to play, straight and narrow (great for my lil smokies i call fingers) and just a bright, even tone that sounds fantastic to my ears! I highlight this because isnt that what it's really all about? What sounds good to us? I have a bunch of guitars, some "high end" some "cheapos", but they all have their place to me. Sometimes my $50 epi LP Jr. makes a sound that sounds better to me for a particular tune than my $2000 standard. It all boils down to taste, and personally I don't have a favorite flavor, just grab an axe and play what comes out.

  11. #30
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    Quote Originally Posted by sixstringdrug View Post
    tone that sounds fantastic to my ears! I highlight this because isnt that what it's really all about? What sounds good to us?
    ^ That says it all!

  12. #31
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    I bought all my Pro models made in Japan Taks while staying in Florida in winter.
    The reason for my choice was after listening to a performer playing his G series on stage. He was a solo artist that to me had the best acoustic sound I heard on stage.
    I bought 3 CDs from him to get a chance to find out what his secret was. He showed me his guitar pickup on the G series and told me to tell the sound man to set the mixer flat.
    All my Taks, 2 old lawsuit models and 3 Acoustic electric guitars have been bought used at rock bottom price.
    Compared to $3000 other make guitar they all hold their own very well. A Taylor owner came running to the stage when I was doing a sound check and asked me what pickup I was using. He told me after spending $2000 for pickups on his guitar, he still did not have the sound mine had. I told him it was the complete guitar and it was not for sale.
    Of course I own 2 more totally different Taks with different pickups that sound as well as the one I was using that day.
    All my 3 electric Taks cost me a total of $1200 US. And no way I need better as I do feel I have the best.
    My models are. 1977 F340, 1982 F309, 1992 TF340S with AFF pickup, 1994 EF261SAN with Graft X pickup, and finally my best 2008 TF340S BG with the cool tube 2.
    My used guitars are in New condition and will last me the rest of my life. They all cost me less then $2000, the price of one Taylor.
    I have friends with one Martin guitar that needs fretting often so playing many guitars for me leaves me with great playing spares.

    Sent from my B1-710 using Tapatalk

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