Hi
Was trying a few acoustics recently and liked the Taylor Big Baby. Tried the electro-acoustic version as well but that was made of different materials and obviously sounded different.
The acoustic version was Sitka spruce too with layered sapele back and sides and the electro-acoustic was Sitka spruce with layered walnut back and sides.
I really want to try a like for like so does anyone know when they made the change as I think there was a version made of the same materials (spruce and sapele)?
While we’re here, anyone played both acoustic and electro versions of the Big Baby?
Thanks
Comments
Both Big Babies now appear to be walnut so maybe you tried an earlier and later model and there’s another difference in construction?
I can't imagine that there would be much difference between two different cosmetic top layers on the laminated backs, given the same top wood (although Taylor do do some interesting things with laminate).
It is very unlikely indeed that there would be any difference at all between electric and non-electric versions. (Other than the natural random variation you expect between two wooden instruments, which is probably very small indeed if we are talking Taylors with their very high degree of automation and outstanding quality control.)
just because you do, doesn't mean you should.
Well, the benchmark outside Japan anyway - I dare say Yamaha would have a different view. And of course I am talking about very large-scale makers. I should think that a small crafts-based shop like (say) Brook or Lakewood would take a different view again. But so far as the big US makers go, for build quality and consistency, Taylor is the business.
(I don't usually hold with buying guitars without playing them, but just suppose I was going to. Which of the American guitars would I mail-order with full confidence? Taylor. Guild. Also the small-shop high-end ones such as Collings, Huss and Dalton. And I'd probably stop there.)
ive a full size Sitka/walnut and I prefer it to the Sitka/Rosewood which is slightly brighter, and the “Mahogany” Sapele which seems more muted or “warm”. I seem to get a good balance between finger picking and strumming