Taylor 314

Purchased used through eBay auction - $700 and another $25 to ship.

You have to love the tone and sustain. This guitar was an upgrade from my old Yamaha laminate guitar that always sounded a bit muted to my ears. The difference is just amazing, and I felt very encouraged by how much better I sounded on this guitar. It has a slightly wider nut, so is good for finger-style - and it strums nicely, too.

Can there be too much sustain? Maybe - so it does require you to work the strings and strums a little differently. Overall, I'd say this is a terrific guitar.

Solid spruce top, solid mahogony back and sides, rosewood fingerboard, grover tuners. Slim neck - easy to play. Simple and beautiful.

Highly recommend this guitar. If you feel a little stuck on your old 'beginner' guitar, this will really pick you up!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

SATIN SERIES
GRAND AUDITORIUM

- Table massive Sitka spruce
- Back & Sides: Solid African mahogany
- American Mahogany
- Key, bridge and ebony pegs
- Benchmarks for "dot" pearl inlaid
- Finish: table gloss, satin back and sides
- Mechanical oil bath, chrome Grover
- Supplied in case

Made in the USA.
List price € 1450.

UTILIZATION

The handle is very nice! Satin finish gives it an amazing softness which helps the chord changes ... Contrary to a handle with a varnish finish which slows the passage of the hand after some hours of sweat! It is not too large (43 mm I think), well-tuned ...
Access to acute is difficult since there is no cutaway!
Form large auditorium is really nice! Indeed, it is a compromise between the power of a dreadnought and the precision of a 000 ... It is thus not too big or too small!

SOUNDS

It is versatile!
The sound is warm, round, pleasing to the ear, I would say quiet, just the opposite of a Cort or more Guild crillard on the other hand in retrospect I think she lacks a little low.
The sound is really good and a Grand Auditorium has a really good showing!
In addition, it is quite massive so the sound should be even better with time!

"" "" As for the other opinion, I would not say it has no personality, she has! After everyone a way to bring out ... In addition, fortunately with a better J45 1000 euros more would be unfortunate that it is worse!

For audio I would put 7 but I put 10 to compensate for the other three opinions which for me is too much ... even if it is to be taken into account, the principal is that it may please his owner .""""

OVERALL OPINION

She is really pretty, not bulky, very pleasant to play and it delivers a huge sound (loud and clear).
Before buying it I hesitated a long time with a Cort Earth Custom (although not in the same category, Taylor is clearly better) and the Larrivee D-03 (probably well but I never have to try it!) . Initially I intended not to € 1500 so I tried a lot of Cort Electro-acoustic (MR710, MR 740, MR 780), the Takamine EG 523 SC, the Guild GAD 50, the Martin DX1 and Yamaha but I do know which is the best ... The Taylor since I took it!
For the quality / price ratio ... Let's say that when it came out it cost € 1650 and is now at € 1,490 at that price I would have never bought! But I managed to get it for € 1250 and there so the price / quality ratio is great!

"" "" With hindsight I look back at me, I grew up and my guitar too. I return on the notes (which is good).
I have no problem finishing, I got nickel and nickel remains, it has been almost two years that I and the varnish has not moved, it is still beautiful and the sound improves really!
It's really a guitar to get the maximum € 1200-1300 and I think for that price is one of the best. Then it was on that if I had the means I will put 1000 euros more and pay me a high-end home in Martin or Gibson. But for me it is my first "real" guitar that I think is really good for 1200 euros .""""