Taylor 814CE - what else should I look at?

mags

I keep going back to an ex demo Taylor 814CE which is really nice.  Before I part with £2k+, is there anything else I should really try out in the same price bracket, either new or 2nd hand?  My other guitars are a Martin OM28 and a Taylor 514CE.  Looking for a general all rounder, with a tendency more towards a strummer.  All suggestions appreciated.

maw4neu

GS Mini . . .  Koa or Mahogany . . .You can pick them up for sensible money and they will make you smile all day . . . Great guitars, big tone for a small bodied guitar . . 

mags

My daughter has just bought the Koa mini - it's sounds amazing.  Was looking for something a bit bigger (and will continue to play her mini !)

rustneversleeps

There's not to many about but for your budget a Martin M36 is worth a test drive .Its a good all rounder and you could buy new.

mags

Nice.  Had thought about that one when researching for OM28 but couldn't get one to test drive at the time. Thanks.

ICBM

If you're in Glasgow, there's a nice slope-shoulder J-style Collings that's just come into Strung Out Guitars which is well worth a look - it's not currently on the website yet but is a similar style to the Gibson J-35 they have. I can't remember the price but it's just over £2K, from memory. The Gibson is only just over a grand, if you feel like spending less!

Bluesman1989

I don't like to say it, because I keep hoping £1700 is going to somehow fall into my lap, but definitely at least strongly consider this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nick-Benjamin-Acoustic-Guitar-Top-UK-Luthier-Hand-built-/322666826231?hash=item4b207109f7:g:iYkAAOSwjvJZQTLO

axisus

I have an 814, lovely guitar. I tried quite a few other things but kept coming back to it, then Coda got a secondhand one in so I bought that. 

mags

Will maybe pop into see the Collings in Glasgow.  Never played a Collings before.  Nick Benjamin guitar looks lovely but too far away to try it and couldn't risk buying blind.  Thanks Guys.

imalrightjack

@axisus I've read a lot of stuff about the ES2 system, mostly unkind. What do you think of it?

mags

To be honest, whatever I get will be used predominantly unamp'd. I've played my daughters Koa gs mini with ES2 through an amp and it was fine for our "at home" play. 

BigLicks67

Maybe try a Bourgeois JOM, Lowden s35, Martin M36 or OM28V. I have a OM18V which is far better than my old Taylor 414ce, so make sure you shop around.

guitargeek62

If you like the Taylor sound and GC shape then feel free to make an offer on mine

http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/110675/fs-t-taylor-324ce-k-koa-fall-limited

crunchman

Have a look at some of the smaller British builders like Brook, Atkin, or in Scotland especially, Moon.

Furch are good as well.

mags

Have never tried a Bourgeois, so that's an interesting one.  Martin M36 has come up more than once, so again, worth a look.  Crunchman - you know, Moon is about 15 mins away from my home and I have NEVER been there.  Always felt a little intimidated that I wasn't good enough to go into workshop.  Maybe time to put the brave pants on and venture in !  Thanks for recommendations Guys.

AliGorie

Mags, since yer interested in Bourgie - this is what their JOM, jumbo/ dread depth   + 1/2 inch on the lower bout width up'd to 15 1/2 inch, easy to handle seated for a 6' frame with a (slight) paunch
Strummin, though I use free hand / fingers, flatpicking to delicate fingerpicking - all in one guitar.
Here's an example - if ya dont mind - headphones or good speakers recommend but please excuse the quality - cheap mic was all I had when recording.
Oh the bottom end is tuned to C.

https://youtu.be/pXdGXIRSibo

mags

AliGorie said:

Mags, since yer interested in Bourgie - this is what their JOM, jumbo/ dread depth   + 1/2 inch on the lower bout width up'd to 15 1/2 inch, easy to handle seated for a 6' frame with a (slight) paunch
Strummin, though I use free hand / fingers, flatpicking to delicate fingerpicking - all in one guitar.
Here's an example - if ya dont mind - headphones or good speakers recommend but please excuse the quality - cheap mic was all I had when recording.
Oh the bottom end is tuned to C.

https://youtu.be/pXdGXIRSibo

Wow - guitar sounds fab - despite what you say about mike used.  Really must go and seek one out to try.  Nice playing too.  Thanks for sending this through.

BigLicks67

Nathan Salsburg is playing a JOM here :  

mags

BigLicks67 said:

Nathan Salsburg is playing a JOM here :  

Very Nice.  Thanks.

raphaelsamad

I have quite an old Taylor 814C from 1996 and, to me, it has aged very well and plays much better than new ones. It also came without a pickup in it (in those days) and I have had a Fishman pickup put into it. I would strongly recommend keeping a look out for an old one, particularly if the new pickup systems are not important to you.

broaddick

The new 're-voiced' Taylor models are really nice, and, in my opinion, generally an improvement on the old models. There's a rather tasty looking 812ce 12-Fret on Gumtree at the moment which I'm drooling over. Given that as a general rule of thumb used guitars go for about two thirds of the retail price, the asking price seems about right, and if you can negotiate any further reduction, that would be a bonus. Wish I had the money.