4 reasons some people don’t like Taylor guitars

[@philhood4604]

Radical idea. If you do not like the sound of Taylor guitars, do not buy one?

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Spot on!!

[@georgevadnais3516]

That's it ☝️

[@jane55ism]

Haters? Isn’t that a bit over the top? There are so many other problems in the world to get that upset about…

[@joecontreras5068]

I’ve never liked Taylor and it’s real simple to just not buy one.

[@stefanhamilton8713]

It worked for me.

[@rtmca1]

I have owned and played several high end Martins, Santa Cruz, Gibson and custom luthier hand made guitars over the decades. Never a Taylor. But when I was over at a friend’s and he played a fingerstyle composition of his on his new Taylor, I was gob smacked. The sound was gorgeous, articulate and balanced. I now own a Taylor (700 series x-braced) and it is my most played guitar. In fact my Martins and Santa Cruz guitars have been sold. The Taylor sounds and plays great. There’s a lot of disdain for Taylors out there but there’s also a lot of Taylor love, I can now attest.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Nice!! 😊 Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment

[@JDB1184]

When I was finally in a position to buy a new acoustic guitar , I was set on a Taylor 414-CE ; since I had been trying them out for several months previously . When I finally went to try them out ; something had changed with the neck dimensions on this model ! The ones I tried had a thick ; overly narrow neck compared to the ones I had tried just a few months earlier ! I tried several different shops with them on hand ; but they all had the same issue ! I couldn’t get a good answer from anyone on what may have happened ; but I ended up going with Martin ; and I can’t say that I regret it . 🤷‍♂️

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Definitely have to go with whatever feels good for you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@carltonholderjr]

I played the tailor guitars and I liked the Martin d15m better so now I play my tunes with a Martin d15m usa made .

[@steveb9325]

It's just like anything else it's subjective. I like Martins. You like Taylor's let's jam! It's also, whatever you can afford! My first guitar was a $20 dollar nylon string from Mexico. I was incredibly thankful just to have a guitar!

[@sonusaurelius6576]

It is all very subjective, you’re right. Thanks for watching!!

[@VajrahahaShunyata]

Its better if they sound a little different when you play together anyway 👍🤏😃🤣

[@patrickmacleod2415]

Yep- and some, like me, like both. I like a variety of tones, as long as they are good. I love, Martin, Gibson, Taylor, etc. and own all three. I probably favour the Martin tone but I think Taylors sound beautiful too. One thing I like about Taylor is that Bob Taylor and the company made their name on their own. Same with PRS (even though I don’t own a PRS). They made it on their own, not from living off of a legacy created by someone else.

[@jed1166]

I play out several times a week, and know a lot of the local players. There are more Taylors out there than all other premium brands. And, they all sound quite good! You can’t sell 750 guitars a day, unless you are making an excellent product.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Spot on mate. Thanks for watching!!

[@DjNikGnashers]

That is a silly quote. McDonalds sell 100 times more meals a day than a nice restaurant, but nobody would say they are better quality.

[@jed1166]

@@DjNikGnashers do they sell for the same price?

[@DjNikGnashers]

@@jed1166 Taylors can cost 3 or 4 thousand pounds, which is where Lowden range starts, and for the same money, you are getting a hand made, built to your own spec (I specified the nut width, neck shape, etc). So along with the unique bracing system Lowden uses, and the top quality tonewoods, I'd say a Lowden is a much better guitar for the same money.

[@jed1166]

@@DjNikGnashers All solid wood, USA made Taylors start at $1,749.

[@carljohnson7517]

When I was looking for a high quality guitar I tried all the acoustic guitar they had and I leaned to Taylor because I thought it had the best all around sound quality. It had high and lows too. I did not plug them in. I have found the strings have a greater impact on sound quality.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Yeah often changing the strings will make a big different in tone. Thanks for watching!

[@powbobs]

Hilarious

[@cressmanfoster]

I’m one of those who find them too bright and always thought they felt very machine made. The CNC technique definitely plays a role in this because a lot of Martin’s leave a similar taste in my mouth now. A Gibson feels more handmade to me now and their ongoing quality control problems seem to reinforce the fact a good portion of them are still hand made, for better or for worse. I’m not a hater or any of these brands. I currently have a D-28 and a GS-Mini and have owned an SJ-200 in the past. They all have their pros and cons.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Good points about handmade and variability of quality! Thanks for watching

[@matthewwillis4892]

This is my thoughts exactly.

[@nicknorthcottfingerstylegu3493]

Their Mexican models have way more punch and mid range without all the $$ and bling. I’m with you on the US made models.

[@garrystubbs4891]

@@matthewwillis4892*These are

[@crispycat4852]

Have you ever tried a Furch?

[@ponterotto6870]

I’m an older guy with a high-end model of both a Martin and Taylor. The Martin just sounds like what a guitar should sound like based on a lifetime of listening. I like the bright Taylor too, but it sounds like an alien that just landed on Earth - to serve man, as it were. I enjoy playing both.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

😂 I enjoy playing both too.

[@architypeone8646]

Bob Taylor has done more to make the guitar industry thrive than anyone else in the business. He has driven the industry with production techniques that increase quality and consistency so much so that every major manufacturer now use these techniques and technology. He also has done great things for sustainability with his use of non-traditional tone woods and literally buying the ebony company in Cameroon that supplies most of the ebony to the industry and developing good forestry and harvesting practices to make sure that ebony will be available for many years to come. I have a 2009 Taylor 414ce limited in Tasmanian Blackwood that sounds fantastic. I get the comment, "That doesn't sound like a Taylor" all the time. I think there is a preconceived notion about what a Taylor is supposed to sound like and in reality they all have a unique voice depending on body size, tone wood and especially who is playing it. So much of tone is in the hands of the player.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Soooooo true!! I feel like people who hate on Taylor haven’t explored their possibilities! And you have to respect their ethos. It’s also employee owned which I regret not talking about in the video!! Anyway, thanks for watching!

[@strummercash5601]

At the same time, if walking up behind a busker on the street, Taylor is the one brand I can accurately guess by tone without seeing the instrument. However, I was once playing a Martin by the beach, and a fellow came down the path from behind me and said “that’s a fine sounding Mennonite guitar!” “A Mennonite guitar?” I asked. “Well, why do you think C. F. Martin moved his shop to Nazareth? It’s a Mennonite town and Mennonites build all Martin guitars.” I was dumbfounded. Of course, that he knew Martins by distant tone. More so, that my father was a Mennonite. The gentleman I met was a Kleinsasser. My aunt married Louis Kleinsasser, so this man with well-tuned ear could have been my cousin, haha. Moral of the story? Nothing really. Perhaps some of us have particular ears? Maybe brands do have a bit of a “known tone” component throughout their range? Not a bad thing if they are excellent guitars and sound great, really. Speaking of Bob Taylor’s work, I had a custom FS made by local Minnesota luthier Brian Applegate. Sides and back are ebony-absolutely stunning. The sound board is redwood reclaimed from a railroad tunnel in Northern California, Tunnel #14. Thus, the luthiers that split the wood all call theirs Tunnel 14 models. I wonder if Brian sourced the ebony from Bob? It is striated with rusty-red with black and is amazing. My late-mother’s initials are the fret markers on 5, 7, and 9 in…mother of pearl, as ma liked a strand of pearls on a night out. Anyway, great info. and insight you have provided here. Have a super day!

[@davidbaise5137]

Another Taylor has done a ton of work promoting guitar. Coincidence???

[@colinclement2752]

Dude that's true. I have a 130$ Orangewood as a knock around and I can make that thing sing

[@tamboblake4835]

I put 10 guage strings on my Taylor 114E and it has made a huge difference in the sound and more on the low end.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Yeah I’m partial to light gauge strings on Taylors too for the sound and feel!! Thanks for watching!

[@2Kings315]

I have nine acoustic guitars, five of which are Taylors - a 714ce, 305 (baby), 555e (custom), 110e and a GA3-12. Each one serves a different purpose. I've been playing for almost 60 years, have played everything imaginable, and have settled on Taylors. I love the way they play and sound - especially the 12 string models. That being said, in spite of the the CNC machining and automation, no two are identical. I was checking out a couple 150ce 12 string models for a student and found them very different. One sounded full and rich and was butter to play, and the other, not so much. I have two sons, Scott and Jason. Both made by the same people in the same factory and they're are as different as night and day. Just sayin.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@StratsRUs]

They feel beautiful and all I found was it fitted fine in a full band when recording.But not on its own. I got a D28 later and it is magical and put me in a trance straight away.Suited a vocal immediately !! My fave players tend to use 12 String Taylors though.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

The d28 is a beautiful guitar. Thanks for watching!

[@GreggBennett-j3p]

20 years ago I went looking for a premium acoustic guitar. I was living in nyc at the time and 48th street music district was still in full swing. This allowed me to play virtually every premium acoustic guitar in a 1 block walking distance. I liked many of them. Even some relatively inexpensive guitars from Korea. But, one stood out: a Taylor 514. I learned it had a cedar top. Did this really matter? Dunno, but it just sounded so full and warm, but still retained clear highs. I was sold. Because I had no need to play high. Up the neck or play it amplified, I custom ordered one without a cutaway or a pickup. It saved $800 and I never regretted it. So, 20 years later, what do I think? I love it. One little complaint I do have, tho, is the 1 3/4” wide neck. The one I played on 48th st had the more trad 1 11/16”. Apparently I ordered mine right at the point where they switched to the wider neck. I’m used to it now, but would still prefer the narrower neck. Also, my 514 stays in tune almost indefinitely and has never needed a truss rod adjustment. It’s sound still makes me (and anyone else who plays it) smile. Some things to be aware of. It’s a very light guitar. I think the back and sides might be relatively thin. Maybe this is why it sounds so good? Side by side with a D28 it’s really noticeable. That said. It’s been bounced around a lot in 20 years and is still fine. My biggest complaint is probably with the rapid wear of the frets. I had the first 3 frets replaced about 5 years ago, and the new ones are still like new. Enough words. Bottom line, you simply have to go play guitars to know what you like.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Great story! Thanks for sharing and you’re right. Try lots of guitars and then make up your mind 😊

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

Never have liked Taylor guitars until I played a friend's 12 string a couple weeks ago. Best feeling neck on a 12 string I've ever played' never thought I'd say that.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Their necks are great. Thanks for watching!

[@markharwood7573]

I feel the same. I have a limited edition K62ce, it's a dream to play, but I'm not interested in owning a Taylor 6-string. Nice kit, but not for me.

[@paulheartsongs]

Taylor 12 strings are definitely easier to play than other brands and the sound is smooth and integrated. My feeling I that the way Taylors are made works well for the 12 string sound.

[@johnviolette5511]

There are some recent podcast where Bob Taylor said the early feedback he was getting from players was to make the guitar less muddy and brighter. So he built guitars that players wanted and thus the Taylor sound was born.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Yeah. I’m not surprised. Thanks for sharing!!

[@VajrahahaShunyata]

And I just buy older Taylor's for the increased warmth, mine aren't muddy but they are warmer. It still chimes 🤷‍♂️

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Yeah they definitely deepen over time.

[@MrFlames01]

I changed a cheap Martin for an expensive Taylor and am having problems adapting to the new sound. When playing unplugged the sound is not as loud, and que using the amplifier (the same Fishman amplifier), I get a lot of noises coming from my fingers touching the strings, something I did not get from the cheap Martin I had. I’m trying to figure out what’s causing this, probably poor grounding of the amplifier. I’m not a hater, and I’m not saying the change I made was a mistake; I think I just need to figure out how use the amplifier’s equalizer and controls to better fit the new guitar.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

It’s the ES2. You’ll get used to it but it does up more finger noise. When EQing the ES2 just remember that louder isn’t better, i keep the volume knob low on mine guitars. You can also adjust sensitivity if the three pinned bridge pickups with a t5 (or 3 can’t remember ) screwdriver.

[@4Marktk]

Funny how I've heard about 50 Taylor owners say "My Taylor is as good as a Martin". I've NEVER heard one Martin owner say desperately : " My Martin is as good as a Taylor"

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Ha!! So true

[@scottyluvsguitar]

I own both, and for how they are used, they are as good as one another. The Taylor is a beast for fingerstyle and sitting easily in a mix. The Martin is sensational for solo gigs or playing bluesy fingerstyle.

[@zebfox011]

That's because Martin sets the standard and always will. Taylor does still make a pretty nice guitar though.

[@bobo8741]

Yep

[@dethcult]

They have a more treble tone to my ear. I desire a fuller midrange tone. As much as I want to like a Taylor I find myself still playing Martin, Gibson, and Guild acoustics.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Absolutely!! All great makers. Thanks for watching!

[@Turtlpwr]

I actually always preferred the sound of a Taylor over a martin. Don’t really care what anyone else thinks about it

[@sonusaurelius6576]

I’m the same! Go with what you know and love mate. Thanks for watching

[@stephencook7720]

In my opinion, you should buy a guitar based on your ear, on and off the instrument in question, and the feel. I had a Martin, came across an older Guild I really liked, and parted with the Martin. Taylor makes a range of solid quality instruments, but I've found only one I really liked by ear and feel, but that's my ear and feel. Play the best gear you can, so called lifer instruments, but it has to sing to you for you to make it sing. Do your best on your Taylors and Martins, I'll do so on my Guild, and hopefully they will bring out the best in what we do.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

That’s a great way to put it- the guitar has to sing to you, so true

[@videolenzo]

I've owned 10 different Taylors over the years. Their 800 series have been not only an excellent sounding guitar, but they are really fun to play. I didn't care for the T5 custom or the K65 I bought, but all of the others were really nice guitars. And I received a lot of compliments on the sound of my 815 and 655 when I took them out. And their neck system can save you a ton of money if it needs a reset. I had an 855 that needed a reset. Taylor in San Diego did it, as well as fixing all of the nicks and scratches on the guitar. They did a fabulous job at a very reasonable price. Every manufacturer makes good and bad guitars. You just have to find one that fits your needs.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Completely agree and I also love my 818 for the reasons you stated! Thanks for watching

[@derelictfields]

I love Martin guitars, but I find many hardcore Martin fans to be insufferable and I can totally imagine the anti-Taylor comments coming from Martin fans who have never even played a Taylor. I admire what Taylor is doing with innovations and sustainability.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Spot on! you have to really play something to have an informed opinion. Thanks for watching mate

[@chullerism]

I don't think the issue with "Brightness" is actually that, but more the lack of low end and not just larger guitars, like dreadnoughts. Even the Grand Auditorium body is lacking bass when compared to the Martin Grand Performance body. As far as price is concerned, Taylor's should be $500-$600 less than a comparable Martin, due to the "cheaper" neck joint. I'm not opposed to bolt-on necks, but there should be a cost savings passed onto the customer and not only going toward increasing Taylor's profit margin.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

I wouldn’t say no to $500 off a guitar!! Great points made. Thanks for watching ☺️

[@crispycat4852]

Yes , I have a custom Taylor so not really he same issues as the series models , the woods are Sinker Redwood and Amzonian Roswood and its a GS body not a GA so absolutely thumping bass Also the bracing is Performance being from 2017 and theres many who feel the new V bracing adds to the problem?

[@VajrahahaShunyata]

@@crispycat4852 yes, I also prefer the warmth in the lower end frequencies of the x brace system of the older Taylor's. The V brace is trebley...er..

[@deans.8659]

I decided to purchase a Taylor 814ce and I love the full and clear tone. Using an amp too. You also can find Taylors with a darker or warmer tone more mids oriented. At least I liked the look more compared to Martin or Gibson. But they sound great too. About the price: Buy once for a lifetime. So if you want an exzellent Instrument you have to pay more of course. But it's worth every cent. I love the great handling and playability and the fantastic sustain. So it' s no question of the brand but how you feel with the guitar, how you like the tone and of course the look.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Yeah completely agree!!

[@jaburchfield7194]

I got a 317e. Got a beautiful deep end with pristine highs. Slightly scooped middle (perfect for vocals). The ES2 sound fine. IDC what the Martin/Gibson purists think. Thanks for the video.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Thanks for watching mate!!

[@jstar1000]

I was once told by a guitar store owner that Martin has been buying wood from the foreign countries for so long and buy so much that they get first pick of all the wood coming in from those countries and everyone else picks what's left. Not sure if that is true or not but kind of sounds ligit.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Interesting!

[@powbobs]

Yes, Martin has a huge stockpile of old wood.

[@andrewstirling6457]

I just purchased a new Taylor 117e Grand Pacific with the torrified spruce top I think it is a great sounding guitar and it looks nice too it is certainly not tinny I chose it over a Martin because I like the narrower neck and it just seemed like a better choice I also heard that Taylor guitars were a popular choice by beginners and professional musicians I am an intermediate player I normally play Fender acoustics I have a one year old Fender villager California series 12 string acoustic and I have been playing a Fender CD 60 -SCE electro acoustic dreadnought for the past 3 years I just wanted to try something different and I love my new Taylor 117e. I agree with one of the other comments If you don't like Taylor's don't buy it simple. Andy, Glasgow 🥰🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Thanks!!

[@NickMcC]

Another fine video. I couldn't agree more on most of your points. I do however have to respectfully disagree about ES2. I'm an audio engineer and I don't personally know any engineers who enjoy mixing ES2 or, better yet, who don't vocally bemoan having to work with it. Likewise, I don't know any who don't love working with the older Fishman Prefix systems Taylor used to use. My own '99 414ce uses this system and it gets compliments every time I play it. That said, I respect your take on ES2. As has been mentioned elsewhere many times, it does do a good job of capturing elements of the instrument that are totally ignored by under-saddle pickups. I just don't think those elements desirable when using a pickup.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

There are excellent pickups out there. The fishman prefix is one of those. I haven’t used one but have a martin with similar features that allow you to blend mic and piezo. I did a comparison between a $50 JJB pickup and the ES2 and to be honest they compare well. The ES2 is clearer but likes body. While the JJB has that classic (albeit subtle) quack with a warm and fuller overall tone. There is also something to be said about Taylor exclusively using the ES on their guitars, which I don’t necessarily agree with. They also offer few non-electronics models.

[@markharwood7573]

Interesting. As a performer, I like the ES2 at least as much as any pickup that I've had. In fact it's a major reason why I bought a Taylor. It's not in a complex mix though, so perhaps your reservations don't apply. Also, the fact that my Taylor is a 12-string might be relevant: the ES2 might be better suited to that.

[@NickMcC]

@@markharwood7573 You’re not the first person to tell me that they enjoy how ES2 sounds with a 12-string. That is interesting. I wish they’d offer other options, but I’m glad there are people who love ES2z

[@NickMcC]

@@sonusaurelius6576 I agree - perhaps I wouldn’t be so displeased with ES2 if they still offered other options.

[@omegacanon]

Taylor guitars are really good despite what people say. They used to fill a only niche market and now they are top competitors. What I will recount here is purely statistical anomaly and confirmation bias from me. I've spoken with about 8 luthiers around Missouri and found the following 2 or 3 things that stand out. 1.) Every Taylor that had been brought in save for a handful had something wrong with the bridge regardless of model. Lifting, loose pegs, incorrectly shaved bridge leading to bad intonation, etc. These problems become exacerbated when someone pays over a grand for a guitar and it comes with problems. 2.) When it works, the ES2 is a very good upgrade from the ES1 and has useful tools. They've had reports of it dying live on stage, buzzing, shorting, battery leakage (dramatically low life). The frequency of problems with it compared to other pickup models is significant.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Yeah the ES1 was a shocker. I didn’t know about the bad bridge work. Thanks for sharing!!

[@donaldbutcher1260]

I have a 214 ce dlx and other than having the action lowered I have no issues at all, plays great and sounds great 😊

[@sonusaurelius6576]

A comfortable is a great feeling! Thanks for watching.

[@kellyreed8714]

I have the 214ce plus. I love the sound and playability of it.

[@joe19912]

Same. I actually think Taylor excels at the $1k-2k mark. Martins at the beginner level use too much laminate, although they both have excellent QC. My advice to a beginner is start off with a Yamaha, move to a Taylor, save up for a nice Martin or by then you might lean towards a more niche brand.

[@Splandrocity]

I have the same DLX too. It's very comfortable and I actually enjoy the bright sounds. I play with Elixir 80/20 light strings.

[@gregpiper8416]

I've got one Taylor, a 317 (not e). There's things to like about it. The best thing about it is the playability and it has a nice even tone. I can't explain why, but there's no projection and it doesn't record well. I prefer Martins.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Completely understand. Sometimes guitars just don’t feel and sound right to us. Thanks for watching 😊

[@ironmikehallowween]

Yeah. I don’t get it. The brands all sound a little different at least to me. I like that character about them. I don’t want them all to sound the same. How boring would that be.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

So true!! Thanks for watching

[@TrevorWilliams-fq8mg]

Not only the brands sound different. Any 2 guitars of the same make and model sound different as no 2 pieces of the same wood will give an identical sound.

[@_left_eye]

A decent or satisfying amplified acoustic tone has always been a pain in stool we usually sit on. My 2 cent about Taylor is I sold my GS mini because of the es1 outrageous sound. Taylor deserves the greatest acknowledgement for bringing playability up to light, but any cheap acoustic guitar stock piezo gives me less inhibition compared to Taylor’s

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@theronb1177]

Taylor and Gibson make fine guitars that are preferred by lots of people I respect and I've played some (used to own a nice J-45) but Martin has the sound I prefer. For the kind of music I play, bluegrass and folk, they are the standard.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Absolutely!! Thanks for watching mate 😊

[@CameraLaw]

I refer to my experience as: went to buy a Martin, came home with a Taylor. At the time, I had picked up guitar after a 50 year hiatus. And my dream guitar back in the early 70s had been a Martin D-28. ($450 at my local store in Los Angeles which catered to the pros in the heady days of folk-rock). After lockdown, I entered a music store, one of my first in person choices after those long isolated months. I played a Martin HD-28, a Gibson J-45, and three Taylors. All the Taylors were easier to fret, had great easy rolling tuners, and best of all the notes of a jazz chord all rang out and didn’t get muddled. As a piano player, this was a key element. I want to hear the fundamentals and the harmonics because … well, it’s lush and gorgeous. So, I’d say tone and feel drove the Taylor purchase of a model with maple back and sides, the 614ce Builder’s Edition. It plays beautifully, acoustic and ES2. It may be my favorite jazz guitar. But my try-out was limited to a few models. And since, I found a old 1930s sounding Martin mahogany top and sides model, the 000-15SM, that I also purchased and love playing. They scratch different itches and are both beloved.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Well said!

[@jamesfe5]

I have a Taylor GS since 2006. Straight acoustic , no electrics. Its jumbo shaped but still has that Taylor treble tinnie sound. But the base notes are huge, like the say a piano sounding. But an annoying thing is , it has an extremely High pitched ringing drone behind all the chords your playing. Not sure where this comes from. I've tried changing all the individual parts, but its still there. Even tape under the nut slots . Funny thing was that I could just hear the same thing on the Taylor you did the pic up domo on. Previous video. This annoying sound wasn't alway there though. Have you any experience with this sound. Or am I going mad lol.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Do you mean the Taylor 818 demo had ringing? Sometimes guitars have annoying sympathetic resonances. It’s usually due to a combination of issues like uneven frets, neck angle, saddle height and choice of string gauge. Sometimes playing style can be the cause like hard strumming and fretting hand technique. A good setup can usually fix that but make sure you show the luthier what you’re concerned about. Hope that’s helpful!

[@jamesfe5]

@@sonusaurelius6576 yeah thats the one. 818 grand auditorium. You were testing the es2 pickup system after the luthier had it. I could hear that same High pitched notes through your stumming, but not as prominent as mine. This can't be electronics related, because my GS has none. But it has a place under the bolt on neck joint if you want to put one in. I have changed the shims on mine for a better neck angle. Thanx man , thats a help . Ill keep trouble shooting.. Maybe some people can hear it and some don't notice it. Or maybe I'm just half dog. Lol

[@Dex619]

A lot of it is about brand loyalty. All their lives people heard about how Martin makes the best guitars. Along comes Taylors which are every bit as good as Martins and many times play better. It’s like Martin fans seem threatened by the continued popularity of Taylors. As far as hearing that a guitar is made with a CNC machine; that’s totally ridiculous. I challenge anyone to do a blindfold test and pick out the ones made by a CNC.

[@gerryhardman9060]

Excellent review with every topic and every scenario covered. I don’t own Taylor, but I noticed they exclusively use elixir strings. I never thought anything of it until I bought a couple of pairs for my acoustics and I couldn’t believe the difference it brought to my old guitars. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and clearing up a lot of wrong ideas about these guitars. I played them in shops and as far as I’m concerned they’re beautiful guitars and actually I like a brighter tone.👏🙏😊

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Glad you liked the video. Strings make a huuuuuge difference to acoustic guitar tone. I also don’t mind a brighter tone. Thanks to watching!!

[@2Kings315]

Taylor just switched to D'Addario strings.

[@Jodyrides]

I tested Taylor, Martin, Takamine, gibson, guitars, side-by-side in the sound room of a music store that was well stocked with acoustics in a special sound room liked the Taylor neck and fretboard finish better than the others The gibson was a big disappointment to me. For the price, I expected them to be easily better than everything else in sound. I ruled out the gibson’s pretty quick. The sound difference between the Taylor and the Martin in my opinion, the taylor was brighter and louder than the Martin. I tried to Takamine.. I liked it but I wanted a single cutaway guitar I strolled around the store I went to the service department/you which is where the used department was., I noticed the pricing on the wall for a set up of acoustic guitars, as well as electrics. to set the action on a trailer was $80 plus strings to set the action on a Martin started at $500 plus strings I asked the guitar guru why the big price spread between Martin Guitars and Taylor Guitar‘s for a set up where you have to change the action to make it higher or lower.. he said it’s cheap on the trailer because the taylor has a bolt on neck which makes it very easy to change shims just by unbolting the neck inside the sound hole.. with a Martin, you have to steam with the neck off, so the glue will release the neck, and then glue it back on after you change the action shims, or whatever needs to be done to make the action lower or higher.. right there that made my mind up in a nanosecond I ended up buying the trailer and the Takamine..

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Yeah man! If you consider the ongoing costs of maintenance and setup, Taylor wins the race… thanks for watching mate!!

[@twangmeister]

I've not played a Taylor, but do admire the innovations they have introduced such as the neck joint system which has simplified the neck reset issue. However, if you go on the Taylor website and filter out all the models with pickups (I don't need one) and cutaways (I personally think they look ugly), there aren't many left to choose from!

[@sonusaurelius6576]

You’re spot on! Would be nice to a non-electronics version on some models. Thanks for watching!!

[@aaronlarsen7447]

I bought a beautiful 614. It was bass deficient, thin and sterile. My Gibson Dove really didnt sound fabulous either, but had some personality. Ive had several Martins. Buy a 28 or an 18 and you'll be in love forever. A new standard series Martin is no more expensive than a Taylor. My D28 was 2,500 in 2018. They are 2,700 now. Best sounding guitar i ever heard.

[@jimdoner3443]

Not a Martin fan , muddy thuddy rollie pollie tone

[@aaronlarsen7447]

@@jimdoner3443 I know it's subjective, more about taste. They both seem to favor certain styles. I would like to see Julian Lage do a head to head with those two brands of equal price. I will concede that novice players can more easily play and get good sound with a Taylor and those tired d drone church chords. When using peddle techniques, fingerstyle, pinching, and walking bass the Martin comes alive, like a grand piano.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Thanks for sharing!

[@anthonyfoster1476]

A Taylor 614 has a maple back and sides- comparing apples and oranges with a D18 hog or a D28 rosewood. If I want maple I'd go with a jumbo body size to give more bass, Which I did.

[@aaronlarsen7447]

@anthonyfoster1476 The Dove was maple, and spruce same size, different shape.

[@edman1015]

My Taylor guitar has the older Taylor system installed before they switched over to the Expression System. The older systems use a mic and a bridge system and it sounds great. I like my Taylor but I miss my Takamine guitar. Another Takamine is in my future.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Yeah man, go with your heart!!

[@martinkerrmusic]

I love my Taylor 414ce from 2012. In fact I love it so much I bought two of them so my backup guitar on stage would be as good as my first. So easy to play, so comfortable, such a balanced sound. I get compliments on it all the time. It's too bright for most recording unless you have a really dead strings, and then the low end suffers, but it's amazing for live. Personally I hate the ES2 as it picks up way too much finger noise. But the ES1 works great for me.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Martin Kerr!! Love your music mate. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. 😊 Yeah the ES2 isn’t for everyone.!

[@uvp5000]

Oh, goodness. This round of comments again? Sure, I can add a comment to the ether. This video was released in May 2024, and I am commenting on June 09, 2024. Depending on where you live and what manufacturer's instruments are available, most musicians can find a guitar that suits their tastes. Stating reasons why you may not prefer an instrument is fine when asked or contributing to the conversation, but focusing on your playing is more productive than bringing other people or instruments down. If you are complaining to complain, please, most of us are not interested in hearing your gripes. There are good, viable choices out there. Choose the instrument that works for you and make music, not unnecessary criticisms. I've played a ten-year-old Taylor 618 and found it nice sounding. I've played 1970s and 1980s Martin guitars which left me unmoved. Bolt-on necks make it easier to reset the neck. Excluding hide glue, most adhesives absorb energy which does not contribute to resonance. I find that newer guitars sound much more to my taste than an antique. This is largely because luthiers, both one-person shops and major manufacturers are simply making much nicer instruments than what was produced from 1960 through 2000. There are many Taylor models that leave me unmoved. I won't work toward purchasing them. There are many Martin models which leave me unmoved. I won't purchase any of those either. The whole point of an instrument is to make music and not be a static ornament. So, in brief, go play your guitar and have fun.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Thank you for a well considered response and for adding your thoughts to the ether - again ☺️

[@jayfurness6695]

Taylor is an AWESOME GUITAR.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

It is!! Thanks for watching

[@Firedog53]

I appreciate your thorough and well thought out presentation!

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Thanks mate!! 😊

[@arendzen]

One study into what made Stradivarius violins sound so good concluded that it was due to the tiny imperfections built into the instruments. Speaking to The Telegraph newspaper, physicist Dr Franco Zanini said: “We noticed there were a lot of asymmetries in the instruments. In principle they have no reason to be there, but it is possible these imperfections were made to remove the unpleasant harmonics that you get in symmetrical instruments.” If there is anything in this theory, it could explain why CNC manufactured guitars don't sound so great to some ears. 20 years ago, I bought a second guitar to supplement my '65 Levin Goliath, which itself has a bright sound (flamed maple back and sides with spruce top) I found Taylors too bright and ended up with a Martin 00028ec. I spent hours comparing the standard 00028 with the ec version before buying.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

In the same interview he talks about the violin having had modifications and natural imperfections resultant from over 300 years of life. And that any affect to harmonics may be by chance. I think it confirms that instruments need to live and breathe. It also highlights the importance of Luthiery as a skill, something I think a consumer culture is slowly diminishing. Regardless, my experience is that guitars come into their true voice at around 5 years, but they have to be played, and playing, changes in climate and general wear and the consequent tiny imperfections I think definitely impact the sound for the better. Thanks for sharing this - really interesting perspective to add to the conversation!!

[@smandez2023]

Yep, the NT neck is a reason to gravitate to Taylor, not run away. I agree that they are more modernly voiced, or someone’s definition of “bright “, but as a fingerpicker I need the treble spectrum to pop. Plus, show me a guitar out of the box that sounds and plays as great as an Academy Series guitar. The crazy thing is that even the MX made guitars are pretty sweet, and nobody does a layered back & sides guitar as good as Taylor. I can’t speak to their electronics though since I’ve never owned one.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Totally agree! Thanks for watching 😊

[@tiduschapman1774]

Yeah it is a matter of personal preference. I have the Taylor 114e. I do like the es2 on my guitar. I think simple thing is make sure volume is up all the way but then every thing else makes a huge difference. Also I used the use Elixir Nanoweb strings but they were too bright so I love the Polyweb 11s. Huge difference.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

👍🏼👍🏼

[@EzyoMusic]

I got a beautiful 424ce recently and it just has everything I love about a Taylor. Balanced tone, great playability, looks amazing and I like the pickup too.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Congrats! 424 is a beautiful guitar

[@adrianbambrough7366]

There are too many people that don’t know how to set them up properly I have and use 3 one has a fisherman and the other 2 have there own . Firstly use a TRS to XLR cable then less is more on the EQ set up there is a very good set up video on here try it and you will be happy with your sound x

[@sonusaurelius6576]

👍🏼

[@zunif]

Taylor guitars were great until Andy Powers ruined them with the v class bracing.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

I haven’t extensively tried a v class guitar. Do you mean in terms of engineering problems or tonal problems?

[@zunif]

@@sonusaurelius6576 tonal. the v class makes the guitar sound compressed in a way. it doesn't have the depth, volume, and bottom end that it use to.

[@phanhuyduc2395]

They really ruined it for sure

[@spade2you]

I hope they eventually go back to x bracing. I don't see a real benefit. I'm still kicking myself for not grabbing an 810e DLX and 618e when I had the chance.

[@markozinga]

The v class does two things to my ear. It provides a lot of balance across lows mids and highs and the sustain is amazing

[@Mike-hr6jz]

That sound of Taylor guitars in my opinion, is very balanced, and overall a little bit louder than Martin but if you don’t like that, then you should go with the Martin both are high quality but for my money Taylor is more bang for the buck and the playability is much closer to electric video action and just comfort then Martin the only Gibson I like is the jumbo series but you have to shell out $4000

[@sonusaurelius6576]

So true!!

[@neilcorbett5057]

A really well balanced and intelligent piece. Well done. I don't own a Taylor but I always thought they were OK. I think the brightness is a personal taste thing. Far better than a muddy sound at any rate. I think the general problem with guitars made in quantity is that maintaining consistency is tough just because of the variable quality of individual pieces of wood. The best luthiers who hand build go to great lengths in choosing a piece of wood and often store them for many years before using them. Then they work each soundboard differently according to its characteristics. Large scale manufacturers can't really do that. I recall many years ago going into a guitar store where there were two Martin OOs hanging side by side. I played each one, and one sounded great and the other was pretty poor. They looked identical. About very expensive guitars, I'm lucky enough to own one and for some years I was afraid of it. I felt I had to play brilliantly if I was to do it justice. I'm an OK player but I'm no Tommy Emmanuel or Martin Simpson. Now nearly 30 years later I treat it as just my old guitar, play it sweetly and let it speak for itself and it's absolutely great. I don't think of its value and I don't even mind if it has a couple of small dings. It's a lovely musical instrument and that's the important thing.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Mate!! That’s the right attitude. Nothing worse than a premium guitar that sits unplayed. Enjoy!! And thanks for watching 😊

[@chrisb9740]

As a professional musician since the 80s, I always think of guitar quality in two ways: How they sound acoustically, and how they sound plugged in. Ive always thought that Taylor guitars were very average acoustically, but superior electronically. Martin is the opposite. Did the people who thought Taylor's were too bright mean acoustically, or when plugged in? This is a key part of the conversation. For example, Takamines are exclusively known for their great electric sound, and nobody ever claims they are good acoustically - and quite rightly so. Taylors are very similar in this regard and have made great headway in the market positioning themselves in this way.. Martins have a different issue, they are great sounding acoustically, but they don't put good enough electronics in them. This is the reason that many folks pick their own electronics for Martins. The opinions of a retired musician only of course. Interesting conversation and great video.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Interesting perspective from a very experienced musician, thanks for taking time to comment ☺️

[@richardelliott8352]

Martin has a sustainable rare wood program. The machining under the top is guided by a logic computer that compares the grain to thousands of successful hand shaped approaches , and is then finished by hand after the first machine shape. Some companies have neither of these construction approaches.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

That’s useful thanks for sharing!! ♥️

[@venturaVlogger]

Theres not much bottom end tone in taylor acoustics , but their string actions are superbly low without buzzing and they are ludicrously expensive. For me , i vote for martin acoustics or yamaha solid woods and those yamaha red labels

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Great points thank you for watching!’

[@BaktaBak3]

Fender had a wonderful pickup system in the older (first model Parlor & 000, guitars) . The pickup has volume control, tone control, and built in tuner. Takes 9 volt battery with access near the end pin. I have a Martin 00-LE Whiskey Sunset . The battery access is at the end pin. Makes sense doesn't it ? If it goes dead or low on a gig, it's a quick fix to drop in a new, extra battery kept the gig bag. Just sayin.🎸🎸🎸

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Thanks!!

[@TJMonster51]

I own a 214 black. It plays amazing. I paid 1700 for it new. I also own an Alverez. It was 600. The Taylor plays far better. The Alverez just sounds better all around. The pick up sounds better. I ended up putting an aura system into the Taylor because the new pickups just don’t have any volume to them.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Alvarez make GREAT guitars! Thanks for sharing mate.

[@cheapskate8656]

What we think affects what we hear. Much of the tone debates distil down to this.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

So true!!

[@powbobs]

WTF? That is not true.

[@cheapskate8656]

@@powbobs Your reaction is not unusual. Have a look into it and you will see that what we think affects sound, taste, even sight.

[@powbobs]

@@cheapskate8656 What I think won’t give a Taylor decent bass response. That’s physics, not wishful thinking.

[@cheapskate8656]

@@powbobs Physics is double blind testing with scientific instruments and has nothing to do with our opinions or what you hear vs what I hear. As I suggested, research the topic.

[@bobaldo2339]

Lots of us hate acoustic guitar PU's, since a good mic sounds better than any PU. As for Taylors, they tend to lack bass response. Of course relatively inexpensive Martins (thousand bucks or so) tend to lack treble response. I prefer Guilds because they are balanced, and have a rounder fretboard radius ("12"). Still, nothing sounds better (if you have 3k to spend) than a good standard series Martin - although plenty of guitars are easier to play.. Pretty much all boutique guitars are essentially Martin copies.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

True on all points!! Thanks for your thoughts 😊

[@GraemeSPa]

I tried a few Taylors on my journey to find the "ultimate guitar to retire with". I felt they were all a bit light in tone and construction for me. Gibsons were too boxy. The one I finally pick was a James Goodall TROM - I was lucky enough to be in Rudy's Music and it had just arrived that day - hadn't even been unboxed. I had tried every acoustic in the room and nothing really lit my candle until I played the Goodall. The guitar just felt good to play and I could feel the vibration from the back. It was more expensive than I had planned, but I bought it and have never looked back.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Goodalls are great! Thanks for watching

[@barrycole]

Professional musicians seem to love them. I have used Taylor since 2001 and am as happy as a clam.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Thanks for watching!!

[@DjNikGnashers]

And how many other guitars have you played extensively to compare ?

[@barrycole]

@@DjNikGnashers Owned and played dozens over a period of sixty years. Every manufacture you could imagine.

[@DjNikGnashers]

@@barrycole ok, well that at least gives a lot of credibility to your opinion. Thank you. I have owned around 30 guitars, from over 20 brands, and I didn't like the Taylor sound. But, that is probably because I don't like bright sounding guitars, my Japanese Takamine was another example, others loved it. I found my perfect sound with my Lowden, a superbly balanced, yet warm top quality instrument,

[@hollowbodymusic]

I own a Taylor 310 CE and just bought a Martin dreadnought special and while I love my Taylor and the ES two pick up system, there is no comparison to the soft tone of the Martin guitar.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Yeah Martins are beautiful sounding guitars.

[@BaktaBak3]

Taylors are great guitars, (as with ANY instrument) sound, playability is subjective & personal. Personally, think they should 'can' the ES System . Not good. IMO. Furthermore, NO 2032 batteries in ANY guitar. They suck in a guitar. Stick with the 9 Volt Battery or double A at the end pin. THEY WORK and LAST ! 🎸🎸🎸 Listen to the people/musicians who buy this gear . 🎸🎸🎸

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Thanks! The ES2 uses 9 volt and the compartment is at the end pin. I think the ESB used to use button batteries but they’ve since upgraded that too, so it takes AAs or something. Anyway, I’m not a fan of the ESB. But think the ES2 is an excellent piezo pickup. Not the best and I wish they wouldn’t put it on everything.

[@nicknorthcottfingerstylegu3493]

“No acoustic pickup is a replacement for a microphone”. Unless it’s a mic pick up. Piezo pick ups are awful.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

😂 great point! Should have mentioned that technicality.

[@davestagner]

Mic pickups aren’t as good as external mics, either. They can be good, but they’re still inside the body or the soundhole, so they get a limited view of what’s going on with the guitar. (I have used a few, and have a Schertler A6 w/mic in one of my gigging guitars.)

[@bobnat2]

I bought a Taylor 414 CE about 12 years ago for almost $2,000 and it was the best guitar I've ever had. I like it, it sounds great but I never felt totally comfortable with the neck. Why, I don't know. About 3 years later I bought a Martin 000-15m for $1,100 because I had started fingerpicking. When I play them one after the other I really noticed the high ends of the Taylor. The Martin definitely has a warmer sound for me. It's all I've played since then. I don't think I've spent more than 10 hours on the Taylor in all this time.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

👍🏼 Martin’s 000s are wonderful!! Might be time to sell the Taylor.

[@callaway5148]

I appreciate the quality and playability across their entire line. Every Taylor plays fantastic. Their bolt-on neck is fantastic and produces a solid, well-coupled neck joint. Set-necks require much more care to get right, and you're not going to get a consistent product in the low-cost range. Regarding the bright tone, yes, it is a preference. However it is undeniable to anyone with a decent ear that across their line and regardless of wood, they all have a characteristic brightness to the sound. Older Taylors had a little more variation across models, but since the V-class bracing they are even more similar sounding. Yes, the wood used does make a difference; however, it is possible to design bracing and voice guitars in such a way that largely neutralizes the wood used, so long as it's solid wood. And that is what Taylor does. The good news is that if you want a guitar that plays great and sounds like a Taylor, you can just buy a 200 series. The same can't be said for most other manufacturers where you have to get into their mid-price range to get what you really want. All that said, Taylor guitars are not for me. If they're for you, cool. Never played a Taylor that didn't play great and sound like a Taylor. But that "Taylor sound" is real and it isn't for me.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Yeah completely agree with you. I think Taylors overall are good for a specific sound and I failed to mention it in the video. I personally like them in band context because they cut through well but when it comes to recording bare acoustic I use my Taylor 818 which is a larger body guitar that is more balanced with a moderate low end. The shape makes a difference. In saying that I also use Yamaha and Martin. So it’s good to have a mix! I’ve heard mixed reviews on the v-class bracing. Seems people more broadly aren’t happy with it.

[@garypannone7755]

Great review. I recently Bought a Taylor Big Baby. I know it's not the top of the line Taylor. It does seem a bit brighter than my vintage Yamaha. I love the Taylor it's very comfortable plays great. My biggest complaint, and please don't laugh. It's to loud. When practicing I find myself using a electric because I can turn it down. I can hardly hear my metronome over the Taylor. I guess that is not a real problem. But if you have a remedy I am willing to listen.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

BBTs are great!! You could try reducing the string gauge? It’ll result in a little less projection.

[@emanruoy]

I bought a Big Baby new in '08 without any electronics and Taylor helped me find a hard case for it. It has been a great player for the money and sounds beautiful. Having a new instrument professionally setup can make a huge difference too.

[@Acoustic_Music-h6x]

IMO Taylor have the best single source pickup on the market. No it does not compare to the Anthem or Duo but for what it is, it is great, if properly adjusted. The mid range level is fixed but the highs and lows are adjustable which confuses some people who do not account for the fixed mid range. It is far superior to any under saddle piezo or saddle plate transducer unless you add a microphone to them.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Completely agree!!

[@2bookoo4u]

New to Taylor and just bought the 314ce. The guitar was setup correctly to the Taylor factory specs, but the action is still just a little too high for my preference. So far that's my only complaint. Beautiful guitar otherwise. Glad I bought it.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

314s are nice. You could look at getting the neck angle adjusted when you take it in for a service - no extra cost, usually. It might help with the action. One of the benefits of having a Taylor.

[@SrServ]

The upper necks warp badly and the belly lifts on them behind the bridge. I repaired 5 like that and they were not really old. Junk design. I fixed them but there is no excuse for them them

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Wow that’s some serious bad luck! I’ve owned plenty of Taylor and never had any issues. Were these yours or did you fix for other people!?

[@hughnguyen1772]

Some people must have the perfect guitar and those people will keep complaining about every guitar. Some other people just have many guitars because of their different tones, etc., and those people are happily playing different guitars for different songs and moods, etc.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

So true!! There’s no one guitar or guitar brand to rule them all.

[@Euthymia2020]

@@sonusaurelius6576not yet ;)

[@paulhendershott667]

My brother-in-law has a GS-Mini and another OM $2500 Taylor (not sure the model#?) with a spruce-top and solid mahogany back and sides. The GS-Mini was heavy to me and sounds terrible with very little sustain. The expensive Taylor sounded nice but wasn't very warm, more on the brash side. I watch Alamo guitars and have listened to Cooper Greenberg play some gorgeous, beautiful sounding Taylors! I love my Martin 000-15M and seems like magic to me. The sustain is out of this world, and my brother steals it to play every time I visit with them! I thinks Martins baby Martin is as bad and heavy as the GS-Mini. I played an $800 Alverez Parlor guitar a couple months ago that sounded just like the martin 00-28 which amazed everyone including myself. I think Taylor and Martin make wonderful guitars and sucky guitars. At the Martin Factory I played 11 of their guitars last summer, and found the nicest most amazing guitar in the Player's Room was the road-warn style of the 000-16 Streetmaster with the VTS spruce top for $1,900. I played 5 guitars over $5000 and the Streetmaster sounded way better, and for the price was unmatched! I don't think I'll ever sell my 000-15M, but I would like to add the 000-16 Streetmaster when I have a few extra bucks. I would also like to pick up an Alverez.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

👍🏼👍🏼

[@robmartinez7517]

One important element for a guitar to sound good is knowing how to play it. I have Taylor guitars and love them.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

😂 that’s a good starting point

[@trevorgwelch7412]

I love my Taylor guitar 110e . Excellent . 🇺🇸

[@sonusaurelius6576]

No better feeling!! Thanks for watching

[@trevorgwelch7412]

@@sonusaurelius6576 Have a great weekend

[@keestoft250]

I think you could also say populist opinion that highlights the negative aspects of Taylor guitars is a type of unconscious bias? Maybe more so in the US where Martin guitars are so deep seated into their history and culture. It's interesting too, that builders like Bourgeois, Collings, Huss and Dalton, Santa Cruz etc are well respected, possibly by remaining faithful to the Martin esthetic, but are bolt on neck designs with more articulation like a Taylor.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

That is a great point! Thanks for sharing your thoughts

[@JohnDoe-xr5is]

I played a Taylor American Dream model a few weeks ago. It played great, it sounded great. (It had a good setup and new strings) The two reasons why I didn't buy it was the top/soundboard looked rather cheap for a $2000 guitar. And second, it sounded very close to another guitar I have...so it would be overlapping and duplicating an existing guitar of mine.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Yeah, did it have a satin or natural finishes? They definitely look cheap, and doesn’t necessarily mean the wood is cheap. Sometimes a nice gloss finish can add a bit of dazzle and shine.

[@JohnDoe-xr5is]

@@sonusaurelius6576 It was satin (which I wanted) but even a gloss wouldn't have made it look better. Bad tobacco burst.

[@douglasboyd8475]

I’ve owned a couple of Taylor‘s and it’s hard to get a deep bold sound. They’re always very bright and in actuality the best Sound I ever had was from the GTE urban ash which is a smaller body guitar.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

That’s interesting thanks for sharing!

[@TrevorWilliams-fq8mg]

Phosphor Bronze strings give a warmer sound than Bronze.

[@ricknielsen4160]

Good video. I am one who doesn't think Taylors measure up to competitors, and the sound is the clincher for me. I prefer Martin dreadnoughts and boutique guitars. There is plenty of room for Taylor in the population of nice guitars for the several reasons you give. My preference is just elsewhere.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Yeah completely understand!! Thanks for taking the time to comment mate!

[@sonicbluestrat934]

As a luthier, one of the reasons why Taylors sound brittle- and they do.-is the bracing system and the voicing of the braces. Wood have a big effect on tone, but it is the voicing of the top, the bracing system and the design elements that will determine the character of the voice. Some people prefer that sound, it's a matter of taste. But people with bad tastes need guitars too ;)

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Haha! 😂 Are you referring to the v class bracing? Or do you think they’ve always braced them to be brittle sounding?

[@federicoines1848]

The new Taylor legacy came out witj Lr baggs vtc is already available at Guitar center for 3499 its x bracing too not v bracing

[@sonusaurelius6576]

👍🏼👍🏼

[@romeovelasco4151]

I own a gs mini e koa and it sounds great. The best guitar in the world is always the one you prefer. No use comparing brands because no guitars are exactly the same ...

[@sonusaurelius6576]

👍🏼👍🏼

[@chriswheeler9358]

For those who may not know, or have noticed, Taylor guitars have been changing, in the last few years, as the reins of the company have been given to Andy Powers, who is a very talented luthier, and player. He has brought innovation to the company, in the form of new bracing on the inside of most of their line, and I suspect he's behind the recent string manufacturer change that they include with their new guitars. I have also noticed an overall shift from the "brightness" in the highs to a more pronounced mid-range/bass tonal quality. I have been a Taylor fan since 2002, when I bought my first...to this day, when I go into a guitar store, I will start out playing a couple of Martins, maybe a Gibson, but will gravitate back to the Taylors that are there. I have other brands I have bought, over the years,(Ibanez, Epiphone, Yamaha, D'Anjelico) and even loved some of them, but I still prefer three Taylors. My first, a 2002 414ce, a 2007 GS5 (my favorite), and recently, a 522ce 12-fret, all Mahogony, my first foray into slotted-headstocks. I would also point out that most of the major brands also offer custom-built guitars, including Taylor. As for the price complaints: the range of Taylors is from around $500 to $thousands, so there's something for everyone there... Nice video, btw. I enjoyed the balance, in your coverage of the subject!

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Thanks for an insightful comment. It’s good to hear from an early adopter. Glad you liked the video!!

[@jupitermoongauge4055]

I've gigged a 710 for almost 20 years. I've never felt the need for a different acoustic guitar

[@sonusaurelius6576]

♥️♥️

[@jguitar23]

Just bought a 214ce spruce/rosewood, very dull on mids and highs. Gonna send it back.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Strange. People typically complain that they’re too bright. Hope you find the right guitar for you.

[@boulderdesigner]

I have a Taylor AD12 and a 324 nylon. They both sound amazing to me and I have never experienced playability like the Taylors have right out of the box. It took me 8 years to try a Talor and now that is all I want to play.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Thanks for sharing mate!!

[@brianclark641]

I have the AD12e and play it hours a day…love it so much

[@phanhuyduc2395]

Why you bought a nylon string from Taylor ? Thats a crime against humanity lol

[@jimvandemoter6961]

When I was looking for an acoustic guitar almost 20 years ago I tries a number of guitars in the $800.00- $1200.00 range. I finally got it down to Taylor, Martin and Breedlove. These were the most available where I lived. To my ear the Martin was too boomy, too much bass bias. The Breedlove was just plain bland. I finally settled on Taylor because, to my ear it had the most balanced sound and I felt the expression system had the most natural amplified sound.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!!

[@howabouthetruth2157]

When Bob Taylor first started building acoustic guitars a very long time ago, he made some amazing sounding traditional dreadnoughts. But that all gradually changed when he began "re-inventing internal bracing". Pertaining to relying on CNC machines to cut parts, that has absolutely NOTHING to do with tone. Most boutique builders are now using CNC machines because not only do they speed up the process, but they assure exacting parts, each & every time, on a consistent basis. It's THE DESIGN of a guitar and how it's put together, along with choice of woods that affects tone, volume, sustain, resonance, and equally importantly: TOUCH SENSITIVITY. This touch sensitivity is where most Taylor acoustic guitars suffer the most: play it softly, play it with a medium attack, or really start digging in, and most Taylor's STILL SOUND THE SAME. The nuances of the tone timbres don't change very much using various picking attacks on Taylor's. I've learned this firsthand from owning a a high-end Taylor. Sorry, I can't recall the exact model now, but it was very expensive when I bought it new back in 2005. I loved the tone & overall sound at first......but it didn't take long before I started noticing the issue I mentioned above. All 3 of my Japanese Takamine's were FAR MORE touch sensitive. I'm talking about natural, unplugged tone. Taylor's are indeed far too expensive for what you're getting for the money. There are much better alternatives, that actually cost a good bit less. Pertaining to pickup systems for acoustic guitar, I find that nothing beats the Journey Tek EP001K passive system.......and ironically, it's one of the least expensive in the entire industry at only $50 US. ME: seasoned guitarist/singer/blues harp/performer who began playing guitar back in 1973.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Thanks for this interesting insight!!

[@howabouthetruth2157]

@@sonusaurelius6576 You're very welcome! I'm NOT saying that "Taylor guitars are junk"..........but a growing number of professional players like world-renowned bluegrass/folk guitarist JP Cormier have also learned the same thing via firsthand playing & performing. Most Taylor guitars, regardless of price range, do in fact, sound virtually the same, no matter what picking attack you employ. It's not that it's "a bad tone".......but it is THE SAME TONE........no matter what you do. A really well-designed & built acoustic guitar WILL give you an entire palate of tones & tone timbres when you employ various picking attacks.......making that guitar QUITE versatile tonally!!! I do give all credit to Bob Taylor for employing bolt-on necks for acoustic guitars though. I can vividly recall how the vast majority of guitarists scorned him for using the bolt-on design. Nowadays of course, almost all builders are using it. A well-executed dovetail joint will always be stellar.........until ya have to repair or service that neck.

[@superblindeye1]

I own a Taylor 314 guitar, and love it. Because I had friends of mine help me purchase it, I have no doubt that I will never get rid of it, due to its sentimental value. This being said, I am a huge fan of Tony Rice, and that does make me want to get a Martin.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Polyamory in guitars is totally allowed!

[@crispycat4852]

Haha, yeah, you'd be a very brave man turning up at a Blue Grass Jam with a Taylor and proceeding to play Church Street Blues ! 😉😅

[@mfascuba]

I’ve had Taylor’s and I’ve had Martins. I’ve never had an issue with the binding coming off of a Taylor……..

[@sonusaurelius6576]

👍🏼👍🏼

[@Anthony-ll4nh]

I do feel that Taylors are a bit bright, and Martins have a better overall frequency response. However, you need a microphone to really bring that quality out. I do feel recent Martins are not quite as deep sounding. But I still like it better than the Taylor's over-brightness. Also, Martin is on this really unattractive matte finish kick lately, while Taylor makes a more aesthetically pleasing guitar. The bottom line is, it comes down to preference.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

So true!! It’s all about preference. Thanks for watching mate

[@ianferguson3543]

My Taylor is a modern 414 ce-R and it sounds superb. I tried a friend’s old Taylor and I thought it had a wonderful tone.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

I feel like people with older Taylors need to do demos. I’m sure they sound great!! Thanks for watching mate.

[@bitwise2832]

I have had my 214CE for 15 years. Plays quite well. My only complaint is the ES1. BUT, a there is is no alternative for a good mic. Use the AKG 420. Rich full sound using that.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Yeah the ES1 isn’t very good. Such a good point. You have to have a good mic to get the most out of your guitar in the studio.

[@barrettflorida]

Went from a Taylor 214ce Deluxe to my current Taylor 714 cedar top. Absolutely love Taylor's. Also have a 214ce nylon. I get that Taylor's tend to be bright. My 714ce Cedar takes care of that issue

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Nice!! Thanks for watching mate

[@TrevorWilliams-fq8mg]

I have a 2017 714ce limited edition, cedar top, Koa back and sides. It's now played in and is one of the best sounding guitars I've ever heard.

[@cbayardelle]

I’m 73, I own 2 Martin, I also think that Taylor guitars have a bright not full enough sound. The only great thing is they don’t need a neck reset, I just paid over a grand for my 63 Martin neck reset, but it took 40 years for the reset.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

63 Martin!! Nice. Those days they most often made them with Brazilian rosewood, which is expensive now.

[@mikelair9144]

I love my Taylor 110CE. I agree it is bright. Sounds great with open tunings and alternate tunings such as DADGAD. And I don't like it for heartier songs which need more depth and tone...love a Martin there. I'll never get rid of my Taylor, but I wont stop with it.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

👍🏼👍🏼

[@DaveByers]

Bought a Taylor 224CE DLX. Loved the look, the feel of it, the acoustic sound of it. Took it home and went to my next 2 gigs. Absolutly hated the sound of the ES2. Even recorded with it and hated it. Took it back and bought a Martin GPC16 with a typical pup in it.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

👍🏼

[@JW23551]

I think a lot of the “too bright” woes are a simple fix…strings. Taylor ships their guitars with Elixer coated things that are super bright, and stay that way for a long time. Swap on a set of phosphor D’addarios and play it for a few hours-it changed my perceptions. The second thing, unfortunately, is time. I bought a 414CE in 2010. I bought it over similarly priced Martin and Breedlove offerings because of how it played and, at the time, the ES1 sounded superior to the Fishmann electronics (to me). The Martin sounded better acoustically, but 90% of my use was plugged in. Fast forward about 5 years, and after a bit of a hiatus, I could not believe how much the unplugged tone of that guitar blossomed. It sounds phenomenal, and maybe not as noticeably as that first few years, sounds even better today 9 more years on.

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Completely agree - strings and age will definitely change/improve the tone! Thanks for sharing your thoughts

[@Valen-D]

Taylor stopped using Elixer in 2023. Its now D’Addario’s premium XS coated Phosphor Bronze

[@TomZola1]

I have to disagree with you on the ES2 pickup. Yes, it's better than the undersaddle pickup we had in the 1990s and better than the first ES system. But it's not a patch on the best pickups of the last ten years. You might say that that's a matter of taste, and it is. But what's not a matter of taste is that it's almost impossible to replace the system. You hear better pickups, you try to install one, and you're mostly left with three unwanted holes in the bridge and another three in the side beside the neck. You've paid a small fortune for your guitar and are stuck forever with a sub-par pickup. My advice (too late for myself) would be to only buy a Taylor with no pickup. And even then, only if you really like the guitar's acoustic sound - I wouldn't say they're too toppy, rather that they're not always very warm, which can be an advantage for recording. But even if you like the sound, there's always a risk in getting a pickup installed yourself. It might invalidate your lifetime warranty. It might leave you with an unbalanced, difficult-to-rectify sound. And maybe you'll just be disappointed in the sound, despite the days of Internet research you no doubt did. The best thing about a Taylor is the neck joint. Not just for neck resets, but for keeping a great action throughout the life of the guitar. It means you no longer have to keep shaving bits off the bottom of the saddle when the neck moves a little. Once you've done that a few times, you find yourself having to file down the top frets. Over the years, this can be a never-ending nightmare on some guitars. You end up paying out large amounts of money to luthiers in exchange for a guitar with a saddle so low you've lost half of the tone of the guitar. Not on a Taylor. Pity it's not really "plug & play".

[@sonusaurelius6576]

Yeah consumers should be able to purchase any Taylor without the ES2 and put in a pick up of their choice.

[@travlintexas3118]

I have had a Taylor AD17e for about a year now, it is the best acoustic all around I have ever owned. I gifted my Martin to my son and kept the Taylor for myself!

[@sonusaurelius6576]

I’ve heard good things about the American dream series! Thanks for watching 😊