Taylor Big Baby too bright?

bertie

Springywheel said:

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

wow that is very loose,  even 1/2 a step makes a big difference   

If I did that on mine, with 12s it would rattle like hell

RickLucas

I prefer phosphor bronze over 80/20 for less zing, if that helps.

Mellish

If 12s are too bright, 13s and tune down a half step? You'd have the tension of 12s but warmer tone, wouldn't you? I don't know, I've always used 12s at 440. I'm happy there. But I'd stick ebony pins in to try to tame it  

Mellish

Yes, the OP hasn't said if he's using PB or 80/20.PB are warmer for sure  

spev11

Its currently got 80/20 earthwounds on it. I've got som elixir polyweb 80/20 12/53 gauge coming which elixir advertise as "warm" . I'll try them first and then start buggering about 

thecolourbox

I have a Big Baby, I'm not very experienced with acoustic sounds, I basically just need "an acoustic" that stays in tune and isn't too big. I'm not sure I'd say it's very bright though, perhaps "lacking in depth" is more how I'd describe it.

I don't use a pick though, I play with fingers (not nails!) so maybe that might be a help.

For reference, this is how mine sounds:

Father & Son (Cat Stevens cover) by thecolourbox (soundcloud.com)

Actually on laptop speakers I guess that is a bit bright, or at least lacking low frequencies

Springywheel

bertie said:

Springywheel said:

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

wow that is very loose

Not so much on a 25.5" scale length

Actually sometimes I will switch to 11s for a looser feel 

spev11

thecolourbox said:

I have a Big Baby, I'm not very experienced with acoustic sounds, I basically just need "an acoustic" that stays in tune and isn't too big. I'm not sure I'd say it's very bright though, perhaps "lacking in depth" is more how I'd describe it.

I don't use a pick though, I play with fingers (not nails!) so maybe that might be a help.

For reference, this is how mine sounds:

Father & Son (Cat Stevens cover) by thecolourbox (soundcloud.com)

Actually on laptop speakers I guess that is a bit bright, or at least lacking low frequencies

Sounds great to me there. I've just been strumming it, comparing different picks (.88s, 1 and 1.38) and using fingers+thumb and all the pics make it much brighter, thumb and fingers get the bass back in.
It's also largely a question of confidence and skill. I approach it thinking its gonna sound bright,thin and a bit crap so it does. Need to knuckle down and work at it a bit harder maybe. Will see what the string change does (i'll give it a good clean same time)

bertie

Springywheel said:

bertie said:

Springywheel said:

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

wow that is very loose

Not so much on a 25.5" scale length

Actually sometimes I will switch to 11s for a looser feel 

mines 25.5  and its noticeably looser on 1/2 step, whole step would be dreadful  - I guess your action/relief must be a lot different  - and  11s are getting to the limit @ 440   

spev11

New string have arrived and are on, will give it a couple of weeks to settle in and see how it goes. Oddly the poly webs are still quite noisy, not as bad as the earth wounds though. I can see a future of me ordering strings endlessly in a futile attempt to eliminate something that’s just going to happen regardless

Mellish

@spev11 ; - oh it's easy to get drawn in, ordering and ordering. Strings, bridge pins, a heap of picks the height of Everest...  

spev11

Mellish said:

@spev11 ; - oh it's easy to get drawn in, ordering and ordering. Strings, bridge pins, a heap of picks the height of Everest...  

nothing new for me  I went through it with amps for the electric. The eternal search, my wife looks at me with pity most of the time

ICBM

To cut a long story short... (all these in my opinion/experience)

Taylors are just bright, that's their sound - compared to something like a Martin or Gibson.

Don't bother changing bridge pins, it will make no detectable difference. (Other than brass, which will increase brightness or at least upper mids.)

String gauges don't really change the base tone, more the 'thickness' of the sound.

Elixirs might help a bit, but I don't really think they're less bright than other strings, just a bit lifeless. I don't like them personally.

Monels might be worth a try.

*Old* strings will help - that's the exact opposite of what Elixirs do. Get some 80/20 bronzes and leave them on past the normal 'good' period, as Tannin said - they'll mellow out nicely and then last ages. At least twice, I've bought a guitar I loved the mellow sound of, then struggled to ever get that sound back once I'd replaced the dead old strings with new ones...

spev11

I quite like the tone of the polywebs to be fair but they do feel a bit funny under the fingers (more so than the nanowebs if my memory serves). I think there's a degree of "getting over myself" to be had here as well.

 I may try some Monels and leave them on. I also have a super budget Hudson bowlback with some unknown strings that havent been changed in 8 years at work (cost £59 as it had a dented headstock), that sounds quite good all things considered.

I'll keep playing it for a while and if after a month or two i'm still not enjoying it then it'll go up for sale and i'll see what I can find to replace it (it doesn't help visiting my brother and playing his APX600 which is really quite good) 

thank you all for your advice, once again the fretboard serves as a font of wisdom

spev11

Decided the polywebs were not for me, actually seemed noisier than the earthwounds, and yes a little dead sounding. So I fitted some Martin Retro Monels 12-54 and so far they are much better, no noisier than the polywebs (possibly quieter even). And a bit less treble so I'm a happy Taylor owner again.
ta

bertie

Mellish said:

Silk & Steel?  

was that the David McCallum/Jo Lumley low budget sequel 

spev11

bertie said:

Mellish said:

Silk & Steel?  

was that the David McCallum/Jo Lumley low budget sequel 

nah its a Five Star album innit?

Mellish

@spev11 ; - some strings for you to try: D'Addario EJ16, DR Sunbeams DR Rare, DR Veritas, Pyramid Western Folk, La Bella... 

Elixir Polyweb have a thicker coating than Nanoweb, which may explain your "dead" comment  

spev11

Could be, I was really expecting them to be quieter though

Mellish

@spev11 ; - oh I forgot, you're after quieter strings. Sorry mate