Posted by Ken
on 6/23/2009, 9:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Martin questions"
Hi Steve,
I knew I'd rattle your cage with that Taylor dig! But you know what? As sad as it may seem, the Taylor dreadnoughts of the last two or three years have featured forward-shifted bracing and other cool mods that have brought Taylor dread tones--for me, anyway--squarely into the dreadnought ring with Martin. Do Taylor dreads sound like Martins? NO! They have their own viable tone with a lot of bass punch and midrange/treble clarity that will fit right into a bluegrass band. Should it sound like a Martin? NO! Why would you or I want a brand of guitar that's just another Martin-clone-tone? But do the new Taylor dreads have what it takes to be a 'grasser? I sure think so.
As my good buddy, Larry "Bud" Melman, may he rest in peace, would have said: If you can find it in your heart to forgive Taylor for any past assaults on your aural senses, please give a new Taylor dreadnought acoustic-electric, especially the new 2007 and later 310ce and 410ce models a spin." These are the least expensive of Taylor's professional line--but to me sound better than the more expensive ones. Please, regardless of what comes your way DO NOT PLAY ANY TAYLOR DREADNOUGHTS MADE PRIOR TO 2007! 2007 and newer Taylor dreadnoughts will have a model designation of 310ce, 410ce, 510ce, 610ce, 710ce, 810ce, 910ce. After you pick one of these sum pups up to try at your local dealer, look in the soundhole at the Taylor paper label on the guitar's back and scope-out the Serial #! If it doesn't start with 2007, 2008, 2009 put the guitar down and look for another with a serial # starting with these years.
If the guitar's strings are fairly fresh and tuned to concert pitch--ever notice how ALL guitars, tuned a whole step down sound great--I think you may find something in a new Taylor dread's tone that speaks to you--I hate that phrase because only people who eat quiche, wear berets, drive Saabs or Volvos and live in a newly-gentrified section of a downtown American city use this term! Then, again, even if you do like something in a new Taylor dread's tone, you won't admit to it here and I wouldn't have it any other way!
Folk On!
Kenny Martin Taylor
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