Taylor 300 series

Jenns4Ever9501 · Unread post by **Jenns4Ever9501** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 12:53 am

I'm tentatively looking at trading in my Takamine EF341SC http://www.takamine.com/?fa=detail&mid=139&sid=66. I was at GC the other day, and I picked up a Taylor 310ce, and I LOVED it. The sound is awesome, the feel is great, it's right in my price range, and I need both the cutaway AND the electronics. I've been doing some research, and it's received excellent reviews all around, however, I looked at the 314ce as well, and it's an extremely attractive guitar as well. Now, other than looks (dreadnought vs. grand auditorium), I really don't know the difference. I hear that dreadnought body style is more suited to heavy strumming, which is my style, but I dunno. So any input you guys might have regarding the Taylor 300 series, or different body styles, would be greatly appreciated. :thumbsup:

I'm kinda regretting buying my Tak. Although it sounds great, I kinda jumped the gun on buying it. I was trading up from an Ibanez AEF30MS http://www.ibanez.com/guitars/guitar.asp?model=AEF30EMS, and I loved the sound of the Tak, and the black finish, but now the finish has gotten REALLY old.

Kahn · Unread post by **Kahn** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 12:58 am

1) I, and others have complained extensivley about Taylor's ES system. So if you're looking for great electronics, look into getting a better pickup.
I think the satin finish back and sides on the 300 series is a rip off considering your paying around $1500.

I suppose it's your decision, just trying to give you some input. As far as your question goes:

A Dread is going to be louder and bassier than the GA. The GA is good for playing with other people, or lead seeing as it is brighter sounding, it can cut through other instruments well. Honestly reconsider though.

I think for $1500 you can get a much better guitar. Check out some Breedloves, Lakewoods, and of course.

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RunsWithBuffalo · Unread post by **RunsWithBuffalo** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 2:25 am

Weird, i was just at a local store today playing a 314ce, I thought it was fantastic sounding, this place had it listed for $1283 which i thought was a great price. Kahn is right, 1500 is probably too much for it and for the same money you could get a better guitar if you looked at Larrivee.

As far as shape goes, it all depends what you want to use it for, the bigger the guitar usually the bigger the sound. Dreads are great for sitting down and recording at home. if you are standing up playing somewhere, i have found the smaller body guitars are much more comfortable, the dreads just get bulky.

The ES system i believe i read was kind of hit or miss a couple of years ago, however these days everytime i pick one up i think it gets a pretty pure tone. You gotta remember though that an ES usually jumps the price of the guitar up 300-500 dollars and you could get a fucking amazing pickup for that. Just try them out, plug em in and see what sounds best.

Also, try to run them through an amp that you have, or could afford. Dont plug it into a $1500 amp and expect it to sound the same at home.

guitardmb · Unread post by **guitardmb** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 7:31 am

I personally really like that guitar. But I would suggest, like others have, that you go for one without and pickup and put one in later. It would save you a lot of money that you could use on other equipment or even spend on a different better guitar.

Jenns4Ever9501 · Unread post by **Jenns4Ever9501** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 10:33 am

RunsWithBuffalo is right, I was at GC, and the tag on the 310ce was around 1200 or so, which is the reason I looked at, seeing as it was a Taylor and I didn't expect to see one for under 1500. I didn't get a chance to plug it into a Marshall AS50R (the acoustic amp I currently own and use on a weekly basis at my church), but I plan on swing by GC again very soon to play around some. Thanks for the comments guys.

*Edit: With regards to a non-acoustic-electric, I'd have to get the pickup put in incredibly fast, I play every week at my church, we've got a full band, and I'm the guitarist and lead vocalist, and mic-ing the guitar just ain't gonna happen.

Kahn · Unread post by **Kahn** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 12:48 pm

Jenns4Ever9501 wrote:RunsWithBuffalo is right, I was at GC, and the tag on the 310ce was around 1200 or so, which is the reason I looked at, seeing as it was a Taylor and I didn't expect to see one for under 1500. I didn't get a chance to plug it into a Marshall AS50R (the acoustic amp I currently own and use on a weekly basis at my church), but I plan on swing by GC again very soon to play around some. Thanks for the comments guys.

*Edit: With regards to a non-acoustic-electric, I'd have to get the pickup put in incredibly fast, I play every week at my church, we've got a full band, and I'm the guitarist and lead vocalist, and mic-ing the guitar just ain't gonna happen.

A luthier can install a pickup in hours

Jenns4Ever9501 · Unread post by **Jenns4Ever9501** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 12:50 pm

Kahn wrote:
Jenns4Ever9501 wrote:RunsWithBuffalo is right, I was at GC, and the tag on the 310ce was around 1200 or so, which is the reason I looked at, seeing as it was a Taylor and I didn't expect to see one for under 1500. I didn't get a chance to plug it into a Marshall AS50R (the acoustic amp I currently own and use on a weekly basis at my church), but I plan on swing by GC again very soon to play around some. Thanks for the comments guys.

*Edit: With regards to a non-acoustic-electric, I'd have to get the pickup put in incredibly fast, I play every week at my church, we've got a full band, and I'm the guitarist and lead vocalist, and mic-ing the guitar just ain't gonna happen.
A luthier can install a pickup in hours

I'll look into it. And yeah, leave it to Kahn to recommend Larrivee. 8-)

Kahn · Unread post by **Kahn** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 1:14 pm

What can I say?

Jenns4Ever9501 · Unread post by **Jenns4Ever9501** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 1:32 pm

guitardmb wrote:I personally really like that guitar. But I would suggest, like others have, that you go for one without and pickup and put one in later. It would save you a lot of money that you could use on other equipment or even spend on a different better guitar.

I personally like it too, and like I said before, the 310ce at GC was tagged about around 1200 or so, which to me doesn't seem like a bad deal. But another question: Wouldn't I be hard pressed to find an acoustic w/o a pickup system that also has a cutaway? It just seems that every cutaway dreadnought I play already has a pickup installed in it. Cutaway=good. :thumbsup:

And yes, I'm probably going with a dread, because I play unplugged at home and around, but I also play plugged in fairly regularly, and the dread shape and size doesn't really bother me while playing live, and I'd still love that dread sound while playing unplugged.

Kahn · Unread post by **Kahn** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 1:50 pm

Jenns4Ever9501 wrote:
guitardmb wrote:I personally really like that guitar. But I would suggest, like others have, that you go for one without and pickup and put one in later. It would save you a lot of money that you could use on other equipment or even spend on a different better guitar.
I personally like it too, and like I said before, the 310ce at GC was tagged about around 1200 or so, which to me doesn't seem like a bad deal. But another question: Wouldn't I be hard pressed to find an acoustic w/o a pickup system that also has a cutaway? It just seems that every cutaway dreadnought I play already has a pickup installed in it. Cutaway=good.

And yes, I'm probably going with a dread, because I play unplugged at home and around, but I also play plugged in fairly regularly, and the dread shape and size doesn't really bother me while playing live, and I'd still love that dread sound while playing unplugged.

Since you're going with the Dread, shell out an extra 6 bucks and get a feedback buster

Jenns4Ever9501 · Unread post by **Jenns4Ever9501** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 2:03 pm

Kahn wrote:
Jenns4Ever9501 wrote:
guitardmb wrote:I personally really like that guitar. But I would suggest, like others have, that you go for one without and pickup and put one in later. It would save you a lot of money that you could use on other equipment or even spend on a different better guitar.
I personally like it too, and like I said before, the 310ce at GC was tagged about around 1200 or so, which to me doesn't seem like a bad deal. But another question: Wouldn't I be hard pressed to find an acoustic w/o a pickup system that also has a cutaway? It just seems that every cutaway dreadnought I play already has a pickup installed in it. Cutaway=good.

And yes, I'm probably going with a dread, because I play unplugged at home and around, but I also play plugged in fairly regularly, and the dread shape and size doesn't really bother me while playing live, and I'd still love that dread sound while playing unplugged.
Since you're going with the Dread, shell out an extra 6 bucks and get a feedback buster

Got one Kahn, I use it on my Tak while plugged in.

Any thoughts on the dread/cutaway/electronics topic?

Kahn · Unread post by **Kahn** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 2:43 pm

I myself dont like the look of a Dread with a cutaway. I love the classic Martin look, ya know?
Electronics, man there are a lot of options. I am getting a Matrix II installed in my Larrivee this Christmas. You should ask around about different pickups.

Jenns4Ever9501 · Unread post by **Jenns4Ever9501** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 2:49 pm

Kahn wrote:I myself dont like the look of a Dread with a cutaway. I love the classic Martin look, ya know?
Electronics, man there are a lot of options. I am getting a Matrix II installed in my Larrivee this Christmas. You should ask around about different pickups.

As do I love the classic full-dread body style, no cutaway. However, it's not really condusive to my playing style. Try to play "No Such Thing" by Mayer without a cutaway, I fvcking hate it. There was a Fishman pickup in my old low-end Ibanez (factory installed), I liked it, Fishman makes good shit, I'll keep lookin' around. If I can find a dread w/cutaway w/o electronics that has that same playability that I loved in the 310ce, I'll consider it (installing a post-factory pickup system).

Kahn · Unread post by **Kahn** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 2:50 pm

Good Deal, keep us updated.

How is Jen?

Jenns4Ever9501 · Unread post by **Jenns4Ever9501** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 2:53 pm

She's good, thanks for askin'. 4 years and change, and we're still together, even with 130 miles between us. Gotta mean somethin', right? Even if I DO love my guitar playing almost as much as I love her. :thumbsup:

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Taylor 300 series

Taylor 300 series

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