SeriesTaylor 300

Grand Auditorium 12-string acoustic-electric guitar in natural finish, with the Taylor Expression System. It comes 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 from Musician's Friend with a 10 per cent off coupon, bringing the price to about $1600. Taylors are known for their 12-string acoustic sounds (Chris DeGarmo of Queensryche played one for his MTV Unplugged session in the '90s) and the 354CE doesn't disappoint. I've always had trouble finding a truly great 12-string acoustic guitar. I've owned Yamaha, Ovation and Takamine 12-strings, and all of them have something wrong with them: The Yamaha's frets wore out after only about a year; the Ovation's neck was massive, and its string spacing was far too wide, making it tiring to play; the Takamine jumbo's string tension was very high and the jumbo body made it unwieldy especially if you're playing standing up. I further auditioned Breedloves, Martins, Seagulls, Rainsongs and Ibanezes, and none of them had the right feel or sound. The Breedlove didn't have enough projection; the Martin sounded and felt good, but had a too-wide neck, no cutaway and no pickup; the Seagull and Ibanez didn't have enough top-end sparkle; and the Rainsong didn't sound good acoustically. The Taylor 354CE is the closest I've seen to the ideal feel and sound I was looking for. The string spacing (such an important thing on a 12-string) is perfect, the neck is large but shallow enough for easier fretting, the Grand Auditorium shape fits my posture perfectly, and the Expression System works well for live amplification. It has the signature bright, almost mandolin-like Taylor sound, but isn't as harsh or synthetic as an Ovation 12-string. Compared to my 314CE, the 6-string version, the 354CE's electronics sound a *lot* quieter for some reason. I tried switching to the 12-string in a set, and the volume discrepancy was quite substantial, forcing a lot of knob twiddling to get the sound back up. The balance of the guitar is neck-heavy; the solid weight of the neck is reassuring for handling the incredible string tension on a steel-string 12-string acoustic, but the balance problem is still there, a nagging issue. Otherwise, the 354CE pretty much meets all of my expectations. Excellent. This 354CE doesn't have the cosmetic flaw on the top as on my 314CE, and the construction and looks radiate class. I've been very picky with my hunt for a 12-string acoustic guitar, a quest that's gone back about nine years now. This 354CE is not quite perfect for my ideal, but it comes the closest. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

This 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

I've played guitar for over 30 years. Took my first lesson at age 10. I play guitar and mandolin, and am currently in a folk/bluegrass trio, and a four-piece rock band. I like all styles of music! My buddy in our band plays this guitar. He was looking to step up from his other acoustic. I had owned a Taylor and really liked it, he played it and went out and found himself one. He paid $1500 new for this Taylor. This Taylor guitar is really nice! Mahogany back and sides, Sitka spruce top. The tuners are top notch, and the fit and finish of this instrument is what you'd expect from Taylor. My partner in our band plays this one. Comes with a great hardshelled case. This guitar is rather quiet though, I guess to be expected with the mahogany body. Not a very big bottom end. Somewhat thin top end. What makes up for this is the built-in pickup and preamp. You can dial in just about any sound you'd like, and this makes up for it's shortcomings. If you're looking for something more open acoustically, I'd look around. But a great value nontheless. The only thing I don't like about this guitar is that the tone is somewhat quiet, and thin. I guess that's due to the mahogany back and sides. Taylor quality is well known. This is a very nice guitar. Beautiful tone woods, great fit and finish, and a nice hardshell case. This is a beautiful, quality Taylor guitar. I'd recommend it for anyone looking for a great acoustic. The built-in electronics make it very versatile. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

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

I was in the market for an acoustic guitar for about 3 months when I happened across Canyon Music Woodworks in Durango, Co.. I narrowed my search down to two guitars, after some time I found I cound not put the Taylor down so paid the $1000.00 which included a Taylor hard shell case. I have been playing for about a year and in that time I have played a dozen or more guitars my friends have. None of them could compare to the action of the Taylor, the speed of the neck. The incredible tone and overall rich sounds. The ease of play is almost as if the guitar plays itself. Everytime i get the guitar out to play it always seems to sound better than the time before. Nothing bad to say. Some people complain about the plain looks of the Guitar but I disagree I like the satin finish. Construction is purely top shelf. Guitar is as straight as an arrow. flawless seams, quality one usually sees in more expensive instruments. Excellent value, great sound, fun to play. My friends love it and are planing to buy one. I really recommend checking one out. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com