Taylor Big Baby too bright?

spev11

I rarely use my taylor bbt as I find it very bright sounding. I replaced the elixirs with some light earthwounds ( 11-52 I think).
Short of selling it is there anything I can do simply to darken/warm the tone? I'll probably refit elixirs anyway as I find the string noise of the earthbound very annoying.
It's a shame as I do enjoy a bit of acoustic playing as an alternative but I'm just not enjoying the tone as it is ( I've been using the acoustic simulator on my waza air rather than pick up the taylor)

Mellish

What bridge pin material are you using? If not ebony, try it with those  

bertie

I think it of a bright /  zingy guitar  anyway  - could try some different strings (again !!) and go up a gauge

Doesnt the EB describe Earthwounds as   "zingy/crisp" sounding strings?? .......... try some Thomastik  Spectrums 

Ive got some 12s you can have for a £7.50

 

Mellish

Silk & Steel?  

sev112

11 sounds very light for that short a scale, we have 13s on the Taylor Mini.
but I guess it is partly the consequence on its size

TheMadMick

I really like the sound of Monel. It's not that it's less bright but I find the balance better - but it's a matter of taste.

I'd agree that heavier strings should also help if the nut doesn't bind.

spev11

Bridge pins are the originals but I'll get some ebony if you think that will help.
Bertie- ta for the offer, I ordered the elixir strings about 20mins before you replied but I may still.ttake you up on that.
Suppose my other option is to sell it on and get something that's fits the bill 

spev11

sev112 said:

11 sounds very light for that short a scale, we have 13s on the Taylor Mini.
but I guess it is partly the consequence on its size

scale is 25.5", body is 14/16th size though which, on top of Talyors reputation for brightness (according to various reviews etc) is probably contributing to the zing as well.

thermionic

My Taylor 310 was vastly improved (deeper, less bright) when I swapped the Elixirs for D’Addario EXPs. Monel is definitely worth a try - they suit some guitars better than others but you can’t really say in advance.

Tannin

A couple of things short of selling it:

* Change your pick to a softer one

* Strings. Monel, flatwounds, silk and steel, brass played past its short extra-bright stage and into its long-lasting mellow stage.

* String gauge: lighter strings (11s) have just as much twang as standard strings (12s, called "light" by this stupid industry) but less body, so they seem brighter. Heavy strings (13s, called "medium", which they ain't) can "strangle" a small guitar, compressing the tonal range on offer and reducing volume. On a big guitar they can add volume and improve tone. It's all about matching the input energy of the string to the ability of the top to vibrate. 

(PS: Earthwoods have the roughest finish of any guitar string I have ever used, but excellent tone. They are a bugger for string noise. Elixirs have the least string noise of anything outside the flatwound world but slightly odd tone that not everybody likes.) 

spev11

Tannin said:

A couple of things short of selling it:

* Change your pick to a softer one

* Strings. Monel, flatwounds, silk and steel, brass played past its short extra-bright stage and into its long-lasting mellow stage.

* String gauge: lighter strings (11s) have just as much twang as standard strings (12s, called "light" by this stupid industry) but less body, so they seem brighter. Heavy strings (13s, called "medium", which they ain't) can "strangle" a small guitar, compressing the tonal range on offer and reducing volume. On a big guitar they can add volume and improve tone. It's all about matching the input energy of the string to the ability of the top to vibrate. 

(PS: Earthwoods have the roughest finish of any guitar string I have ever used, but excellent tone. They are a bugger for string noise. Elixirs have the least string noise of anything outside the flatwound world but slightly odd tone that not everybody likes.) 

I didn't mind the tone of the elixirs ( as I remember) really hence me ordering another set. And yeah the earthwounds sound like my fingers are Bastard Files scraping along them. Picks, I tend to use either my fingers for an odd hybrid finger strumming (I look demented I think) or a .88 pick, I usually use a 1 or 1.38 on the electric. I'll try the elxirs first, then ebony pins and as a last resort I'll sell the bugger and see what's about for sub £400  (can't justify more than that at the moment and ideally a lot less would be good)

drofluf

I think that’s part of the Taylor sound. When I was looking at acoustics I described the Taylor sound as “bras(“ compared to the more laid back sounds of the other guitars I was comparing. 

Evan

bertie said:

I think it of a bright /  zingy guitar  anyway  - could try some different strings (again !!) and go up a gauge

Doesnt the EB describe Earthwounds as   "zingy/crisp" sounding strings?? .......... try some Thomastik  Spectrums 

Ive got some 12s you can have for a £7.50

 

If spev11 doesn’t want them, I’ll definitely have them off you. PM me if they’re still available please bertie.

spev11

Evan said:

bertie said:

I think it of a bright /  zingy guitar  anyway  - could try some different strings (again !!) and go up a gauge

Doesnt the EB describe Earthwounds as   "zingy/crisp" sounding strings?? .......... try some Thomastik  Spectrums 

Ive got some 12s you can have for a £7.50

 

If spev11 doesn’t want them, I’ll definitely have them off you. PM me if they’re still available please bertie.

i'll step out seeing as i have the elixirs on the way

bertie

spev11 said:

Evan said:

bertie said:

I think it of a bright /  zingy guitar  anyway  - could try some different strings (again !!) and go up a gauge

Doesnt the EB describe Earthwounds as   "zingy/crisp" sounding strings?? .......... try some Thomastik  Spectrums 

Ive got some 12s you can have for a £7.50

 

If spev11 doesn’t want them, I’ll definitely have them off you. PM me if they’re still available please bertie.

i'll step out seeing as i have the elixirs on the way

OK -   now I best go find em..............................

Evan

bertie said:

spev11 said:

Evan said:

bertie said:

I think it of a bright /  zingy guitar  anyway  - could try some different strings (again !!) and go up a gauge

Doesnt the EB describe Earthwounds as   "zingy/crisp" sounding strings?? .......... try some Thomastik  Spectrums 

Ive got some 12s you can have for a £7.50

 

If spev11 doesn’t want them, I’ll definitely have them off you. PM me if they’re still available please bertie.

i'll step out seeing as i have the elixirs on the way

OK -   now I best go find em..............................

Righto Bertie! Toodle pip!

Mellish

Assuming Wilf hasn't had 'em  

bertie

Mellish said:

Assuming Wilf hasn't had 'em  

he uses em to cut cheese.....................................TBH,   he has all the traits of being a drummer

Evan

bertie said:

Mellish said:

Assuming Wilf hasn't had 'em  

he uses em to cut cheese.....................................TBH,   he has all the traits of being a drummer

Is that in the American sense or the British sense?

spev11

I'll see what the Elixirs sound like, I'm loathe to sell it as its a 2001 model, in decent condition and apart from the tone issues I do like it. although I've played my brothers Yamaha APX600 and that sounded and played great.

Springywheel

I tune down to c# standard with a set of 12s to get a warmer tone on my furch