The "new" Taylor 214

[kwakatak]

Apparently Taylor has been giving their entire acoustic line a facelift after releasing the GS line. It looks like the changes are mostly cosmetic with the mid-level (former 300-800) series but with regards to the "entry level" 100 and 200 series the changes are more drastic. In particular, the 200 series has gone from solid sapele back & sides to laminated East Indian Rosewood back & sides.

Here's my impression: out of the entire Taylor line, I've always thought of the 214 as a good value for an intermediate fingerstyle player but with room for improvement. By that I mean that the jump in quality from the 214 to the 314 (now known as the GA3) is significant and if money was no issue then IMO I wouldn't think twice about stepping up. With this recent change IMO I think the choice would be even easier if I were in the market for a Taylor GA. Fortunately for me, after seriously considering bothe the 214 and 314 I discovered Larrivee and am more than happy with what I now own: an all-solid wood OM-03R.

What are your impressions on this change by Taylor? Is it an improvement or not?

[LawDogStrgsAttach]

But surely there is good reason for it and these "new" 214's are better than ever!!!  Just like the "revoicing," 810 "WMB" ( yes, that was an actual model called "with more bass"), solid neck, er, finger joint, er, scarf joint necks, mexican cases and babies, the "Taylor" method of string changing (!)...c'mon!

Surely their EIR lams utilize some wonderful breakthrough that passes along value neverbeforeseen in the guitar world.  Just don't doubt...believe.

I've owned many Taylors and still enjoy them, but their practices border the amusing.  Just admit, Bob, you are out to make a decent product and MAKE MONEY by implementing these (sometimes ridiculous) building techniques. 

I stick with Larry now.  He knows what works and sticks with it, even if I can't get cedar!   

[Nephidoc]

I just picked up a GA8 and am very happy.  Review upcoming.
I think they went in a great direction.  I hated to spend the
money on all the bilng and electronics when all I wanted was
a great guitar.  Now I have that.
I think this is a hudge improvement in their line up.

Stan

[bigmo]

Surely their EIR lams utilize some wonderful breakthrough that passes along value neverbeforeseen in the guitar world.  Just don't doubt...believe.

You didn't get the memo about the breakthrough "resophonic" glue used to join the laminates?    It creates some sort of stereo effect between the 2 layers of laminate. The catch is you need a special Taylor "stereo decoder" (KSD-22) to pull the sound out. They are only $388, but certified "green" so it's a bargain and saves the earth. 

[FNG]

Who cares?

[LawDogStrgsAttach]

...and our own proprietary, hi-fi, oil-sensored, designed by Rupert Neve, $600, totally better than anything else electronics system!!  (except it does not work as planned....we released a new design...we'll give you, oh loyal Taylorite, an upgrade to the update for only $400!!...plus shipping both ways...)




(but that story is also true...and ridiculous!)



But seriously, I'd love to have an old cedar-topped 712.  Taylor does make a great GC!...and Larry should release -03's in the LS body to compete!

[Denis]

...and Larry should release -03's in the LS body to compete!

If only that could happen...I would love an LS-03(sapele) or an LS-03R..I bet they would sell lots of those. 

[LawDogStrgsAttach]

LS-03R's would sell fast!  I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

[Denis]

LS-03R's would sell fast!  I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

Especially if the MSRP, and the sale price, was the same as the rest of the 03 and 03R series.  Larrivee has scaled back on models in the 03 series over the past few years but they should add these to the catalog IMO. 

[jwb]

LS-03!  What a concept...OK, everybody at the Larrivee Canada facility listen up.  We NEED a LS-03, and it would be very good for business.  So call up the boss and let's get this show on the road! 

[kwakatak]

LOL - you guys are cracking me up! No love for the 214 either way though, huh?

[jwb]

Sorry, no love...

[Caleb]

Someone said "who cares".  That about sums it up. 

[LawDogStrgsAttach]

It is an interesting philosophical quandry when one takes the effort to state they do not care.  True lack of care absolves the need to state one's lack of care.  Therefore, if you use energy to state it, you did exercise some level of care.   

[kwakatak]

It is an interesting philosophical quandry when one takes the effort to state they do not care.  True lack of care absolves the need to state one's lack of care.  Therefore, if you use energy to state it, you did exercise some level of care.   

Kind of like "if a tree falls in the forest does it make a sound," huh?

[rounder]

Kind of like "if a tree falls in the forest does it make a sound," huh?

Actually, mahogany trees make sort of a 'crash' sound when they fall.  Sapele sounds similar, but with a little bit more of a boom on the end.  Rosewood ........well, I gotta be honest......never heard one fall.

[woodruff]

i think the new acoustic line is a great idea, and the prices are better than before, though i will always think overpriced wihen i think taylor. but the 214 being a laminate, for that price, one could nearly get a Larrivee 03 series, so really it is a non decision in my mind....

[kwakatak]

UPDATE: I just played a new Taylor 214 today, and I gotta say I was impressed.

First impression: the sucker is heavy. Apparently laminated rosewood is heavier than solid sapele. Add to that the fretboards are now rosewood instead of ebony, white body binding (for a nice visual contrast) and a satin top that seems much more cleanly-done than previous incarnations.

Second impression: it sounds good, especially with the minty fresh strings. Good bass response for strumming yet delicate enough for fingerstyle.

Third impression: either there's something wrong with my technique or the high E string is too close to the edge of the fretboard because it slipped off a couple of times. That used to happen with my OM-03R but when I put the new saddle on I sanded a bit more heavily on one side so that the higher strings would be much lower than the lower strings. My point is that a setup would probably fix this "problem".

So what did I A/B it with? Why, a used solid-sapele 214 of course. That guitar was lighter and had an ebony fretboard but just didn't sound as full as the new 214 next to it. No comment on the quality as that guitar seems to have had some miles put on it, though no marks were visible.

The price was strictly MAP I believe, but seasoned shoppers know what that means. All in all, definitely a good guitar for the budget minded yet serious though underpaid musician (like myself).

- Not that I'd trade my OM-03R for it of course! 

I also tried a GS MC (mahogany/cedar): sweet. I'm changing my opinion of Taylor even more. I may have to go back to the shop next week because the Taylor rep will be there.

BTW - this is the same shop with the HD-35 that I love. I fought the urge to take it for a spin today.

[stuco]

 

Thats a shame.

I suppose the target buyers are moreinterested in apperance than sound and laminated rosewood looks better than solid sapele so there you go. 

[kwakatak]

Actually my experience with th new 214 was actually pretty good. I enjoyed the tone (from the player's perspective) and it was surprisingly resonant so that it tickled my belly! Oddly, I found that rather enjoyable and it didn't even cost me a quarter! 

The pricing is a bit on the high side though: MSRP is $998, MAP is 30% less than that. When you do the math though, it's still $100+ more than an all-solid rosewood/sitka Epiphone Masterbilt though cheaper than a Breedlove Atlas AC25/SR (which has laminated sides). Still and all, I'd have to say that with the exception of my Larrivee OM-03R it's the nicest guitar priced below $1000 that I've ever played.