It's a subjective thing, but i simply love the Taylor sound. I just purchased a Taylor Big Baby (from eBay for £230) and I'm blown away. it's essentially a 15/16 version of the 110 (same woods and build) and it sounds so sweet i might just get a pickup installed. My housemate (an electric player) decribed it as hauntingly beautiful yesterday and has asked me with getting another for him.taparoo wrote:Okay, so I went to Guitar Center today, tried out some guitars, and still can't make up my mind!!! I tried out the Taylor 110e Dreadnought, sounded good, but nothing really jumped out at me (may be due to the ancient strings?), a really nice-sounding Martin... 00Xe something I believe, not a Dreadnought, smaller, again it had dead strings, so I couldn't really fairly judge the guitar. I really liked two Ovations I tried out. I tried out one that was about 300 dollars more than another one I tried out and couldn't tell the difference. I really like the banjo-ish, thinner sound they have to them.
And I'm set on buying an acoustic-electric, and a guitar that is good for fingerpicking/fingerstyle. I'm definately open to more suggestions, etc. I think I'll do some more shopping. This is really hard!!
But play everything you can get your hands on. I've also got a Takamine AN16 (all solid spruce & rosewood) which i bought after playing about 60 guitars, and the complexity of the harmonics from that axe are astounding.
If you play a guitar with bad strings, find another one that has good strings, or ask the store to restring one you really like. It makes a massive difference, if they think you're gonna drop $800 and you ask right, they'll do it.
As for buying online, Taylor reviews on HarmonyCentral are amazingly consistent, that's why i took a chance with the Big Baby - and it paid off. But some manufacturers aren't so consistent (*cough* Martin) so just do your research and follow your instinct...
