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MGR/Derek Mok « Taylor 314CE »
Published on 12/08/08 at 15:00This is a Grand Auditorium acoustic-electric guitar with a cutaway, and Taylor's celebrated Expression System electronics. It is finished in natural, with a spruce top, sapele body and mahogany neck. believe it came strung with Elixir strings
Primarily a singer, I've been playing guitar for about 10 years, been in a band (drummer!), and have continued to record and play with other musicians on a non-professional basis. My styles range from folk to hard rock, with heavy power-pop leanings -- Big Star, not Green Day.
I bought this guitar at Guitar Center in Sherman Oaks, CA for about $1700. I had outgrown my Martin DCX1E and was looking for an upscale acoustic guitar.
This guitar is a perfect summary of all of Taylor's strengths. It plays extremely comfortably, the sound is bright with much depth and projection, the fretboard and neck are as creamy on the left hand as they can be, and the string spacing are perfect for both fingerstyle and flatpicking. The Expression System electronics are a knockout live, sounding crisp and much more organic than any other piezo or magnetic pickup.
I find the cut of the Grand Auditorium shape more appealing than a dreadnought or a jumbo, reducing play fatigue yet still retaining volume and body. And the guitar comes with a very plush Taylor case with the softest interior I've seen on a case, and lots of storage
The particular guitar I bought has a "knot" on the top, a white streak that mars the figure of the guitar's top. I've seen this on other Taylors of this price range, and while the sound and feel still convinced me to go with it, I don't consider this cosmetic flaw a great thing for a guitar of this price. And this is a Taylor, known for bright and sparkly sounds rather than woody warmth. If you want a boomy bass and a very old-time woody sound, this guitar may not be a good match for you. However, since I prefer a more modern, rock-ish acoustic sound with good treble cut, the Taylor sound works for me.
Superb, except for the cosmetic flaw above. The neck is beautiful, as are the sapele back and sides, which have a satin finish that feels very snug to the player.
I'd dare say this was my dream acoustic guitar. It's one of those guitars that can improve your playing due to their superior design and build, an instrument that will last you a lifetime. If you like its basic sonic character, you won't need another acoustic guitar.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
Primarily a singer, I've been playing guitar for about 10 years, been in a band (drummer!), and have continued to record and play with other musicians on a non-professional basis. My styles range from folk to hard rock, with heavy power-pop leanings -- Big Star, not Green Day.
I bought this guitar at Guitar Center in Sherman Oaks, CA for about $1700. I had outgrown my Martin DCX1E and was looking for an upscale acoustic guitar.
This guitar is a perfect summary of all of Taylor's strengths. It plays extremely comfortably, the sound is bright with much depth and projection, the fretboard and neck are as creamy on the left hand as they can be, and the string spacing are perfect for both fingerstyle and flatpicking. The Expression System electronics are a knockout live, sounding crisp and much more organic than any other piezo or magnetic pickup.
I find the cut of the Grand Auditorium shape more appealing than a dreadnought or a jumbo, reducing play fatigue yet still retaining volume and body. And the guitar comes with a very plush Taylor case with the softest interior I've seen on a case, and lots of storage
The particular guitar I bought has a "knot" on the top, a white streak that mars the figure of the guitar's top. I've seen this on other Taylors of this price range, and while the sound and feel still convinced me to go with it, I don't consider this cosmetic flaw a great thing for a guitar of this price. And this is a Taylor, known for bright and sparkly sounds rather than woody warmth. If you want a boomy bass and a very old-time woody sound, this guitar may not be a good match for you. However, since I prefer a more modern, rock-ish acoustic sound with good treble cut, the Taylor sound works for me.
Superb, except for the cosmetic flaw above. The neck is beautiful, as are the sapele back and sides, which have a satin finish that feels very snug to the player.
I'd dare say this was my dream acoustic guitar. It's one of those guitars that can improve your playing due to their superior design and build, an instrument that will last you a lifetime. If you like its basic sonic character, you won't need another acoustic guitar.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com