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Jester 
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2006
15703 posts
| re: If you were upgrading your acoustic, what would you get? (Posted on 1/31/13 at 2:24 pm to Flamefighter)
quote:
Taylor without any questions
Taylor makes some really nice guitars, but I find this comment very funny. They make entire lines of cheap, laminate guitars. They even have laminates approaching $1000. In my opinion, you most certainly can go wrong with some Taylors.
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Spock's Eyebrow
LSU Fan
Member since May 2012
1232 posts
| re: If you were upgrading your acoustic, what would you get? (Posted on 1/31/13 at 2:41 pm to finchmeister08)
quote:
On any budget
I'm going to take that to mean expensive. For a mainstream brand, Martin. For the more adventurous, Huss & Dalton.
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CottonWasKing
LSU Fan
4,8,15,16,23,42
Member since Jun 2011
12740 posts
| re: If you were upgrading your acoustic, what would you get? (Posted on 1/31/13 at 3:28 pm to finchmeister08)
Taylor's lower end guitars are much better than martins but if I'm going the high end route then I'm going with Martin
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TheDoc 
USA Fan
Louisiana
Member since Dec 2005
88314 posts
 Online
| re: If you were upgrading your acoustic, what would you get? (Posted on 1/31/13 at 3:45 pm to CottonWasKing)
quote:
Taylor's lower end guitars are much better than martins but if I'm going the high end route then I'm going with Martin
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Meursault
Member since Sep 2003
21253 posts
| re: If you were upgrading your acoustic, what would you get? (Posted on 1/31/13 at 3:56 pm to CottonWasKing)
quote:
Taylor's lower end guitars are much better than martins but if I'm going the high end route then I'm going with Martin
For me it depends on the shape, sound and tone woods you're going for. A full-bodied Martin HD-28 is going to bring something entirely different to the table than a Taylor 512ce. Are you fingerpicking? Do you prefer a short scale neck? Depending on what you actually want would determine which offerings from various brands you're looking for.
I've owned Martins, Guilds, Taylors, and various classicals. Probably the best instrument I ever owned was a Guild DV-52. I would take that one over the Martin HD-28 and the Taylor 512ce I owned any day of the week. The sound, for what I was playing at the time, was superb.
As for now I'm saving up for a Jose Ramirez classical.
This post was edited on 1/31 at 4:08 pm
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ddbnsb 
New Orleans Saints Fan
Raised in Gentilly living in Kenner
Member since Dec 2005
1461 posts
| re: If you were upgrading your acoustic, what would you get? (Posted on 1/31/13 at 4:54 pm to Meursault)
Go play a bunch of different guitars in various price ranges. After a while, you'll know which one you want.
I did this and wound up with a really nice Seagull. It felt right and had a great sound (for the money)
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Finkle is Einhorn 
Alabama Fan
Member since Sep 2011
384 posts
Online
| re: If you were upgrading your acoustic, what would you get? (Posted on 1/31/13 at 7:25 pm to ddbnsb)
I went to a music store and played just about every acoustic they had and I left with the best sounding one to me.
It was a Martin D'18
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Jax007
Alabama Fan
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Oct 2010
1001 posts
| re: If you were upgrading your acoustic, what would you get? (Posted on 1/31/13 at 10:21 pm to Flamefighter)
I have a Breedlove acoustic/electric with sweet inlays
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TigerPanzer
LSU Fan
Orlando
Member since Sep 2006
5550 posts
| re: If you were upgrading your acoustic, what would you get? (Posted on 2/1/13 at 7:40 am to Jester)
quote:
They [Taylor] make entire lines of cheap, laminate guitars.
Their lower end models—the 100s and 200s—have laminate backs and sides, but when you say "cheap" are you referring to price or quality? If by cheap you mean poor quality ... well, that I suppose is subjective, especially if the highly personal "I like/hate the guitar" evaluation is factored in. I have a Taylor 110 and I've read many comments from other 100- and 200-series owners, and never have I read any complaints about poor construction, performance or personal dissatisfaction with the instruments. I'm sure there are people out there who, like you, find these instruments to be of poor quality, but they seem to be a small minority, at least among those who voice an opinion.
quote:
They even have laminates approaching $1000.
As do many other reputable manufacturers—such as Martin. I should clarify: when I say "laminate" I mean a guitar with a laminated back and side and a SOLID WOOD top, such as my Taylor 110 (Sitka spruce). I am not, for purposes of this discussion, referring to guitars that are completely 100% laminate-made.
I just received my copy of the Taylor 2013 product guide and they discuss the use of laminates in their lower-end guitars. They're straightforward about laminate vs. 100% solid wood construction, basically stating the obvious:
• Building guitars with laminate backs and sides allows them to offer nice guitars at a lower price point (this, in so many words, is their production and marketing philosophy regarding laminates—whether you agree with it or not).
• All things being equal, solid wood construction is preferable (well, duh) particularly as the guitar ages.
I'm sure any player would agree that if you have the money, a solid wood guitar is the way to go. Not much argument there. But to say that all—or specifically, Taylor— "back/side laminate" guitars are cheap or of poor quality ... well, I'd dispute this as would many other Taylor 100- and 200-series players.
In the end, the proof is in the playing—if you play a 110 and like it, it's a great guitar. If not ... you put it back on the rack and play something else.
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Jester
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2006
15703 posts
| re: If you were upgrading your acoustic, what would you get? (Posted on 2/1/13 at 8:03 am to Jax007)
quote:
I have a Breedlove acoustic/electric with sweet inlays
I played Taylors, Martins, Gibsons, Fenders, Takamines, and most every acoustic in several stores around BR and ended up buying a Breedlove. I almost feel like that guitar deserves better than I can give it.
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Jester
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2006
15703 posts
| re: If you were upgrading your acoustic, what would you get? (Posted on 2/1/13 at 8:09 am to TigerPanzer)
quote:
As do many other reputable manufacturers—such as Martin. I should clarify: when I say "laminate" I mean a guitar with a laminated back and side and a SOLID WOOD top, such as my Taylor 110 (Sitka spruce). I am not, for purposes of this discussion, referring to guitars that are completely 100% laminate-made.
I just received my copy of the Taylor 2013 product guide and they discuss the use of laminates in their lower-end guitars. They're straightforward about laminate vs. 100% solid wood construction, basically stating the obvious:
• Building guitars with laminate backs and sides allows them to offer nice guitars at a lower price point (this, in so many words, is their production and marketing philosophy regarding laminates—whether you agree with it or not).
• All things being equal, solid wood construction is preferable (well, duh) particularly as the guitar ages.
I'm sure any player would agree that if you have the money, a solid wood guitar is the way to go. Not much argument there. But to say that all—or specifically, Taylor— "back/side laminate" guitars are cheap or of poor quality ... well, I'd dispute this as would many other Taylor 100- and 200-series players.
In the end, the proof is in the playing—if you play a 110 and like it, it's a great guitar. If not ... you put it back on the rack and play something else.
My point is that you can find quality solid wood guitars for the price of their laminates. Sure, Taylors and Martins will have solid construction, but some of them also sound like laminate guitars. That's not to say all of them are bad, but I have played a Taylor that made me question the owners sanity when he told me what he paid for it.
My whole point was to caution the OP against several people who have implied, intentionally or not, that Taylor only makes really good guitars. They certainly have higher quality control than some other brands, but that only goes so far.
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TigerPanzer
LSU Fan
Orlando
Member since Sep 2006
5550 posts
| re: If you were upgrading your acoustic, what would you get? (Posted on 2/1/13 at 9:09 am to Jester)
quote:
My point is that you can find quality solid wood guitars for the price of their laminates.
I'm not aware of many solid wood guitars in the $600–$700 price range of a Taylor 110 for example—but I'm no authority on this stuff and for all I know, there may be many such acoustics on the market. I believe a Seagull S-6 is solid wood, but I can't recall for sure. Maybe some Epiphone models—or even a Gibson in the under-$1000 price range? Anyway, I'd be the first to tell the OP to compare any solid wood guitar with comparably-priced Taylors, Martins, etc. Absolutely. Or maybe a used solid wood—last summer I picked up a used Larrivee L-03 for $650, and I love the thing.
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Meursault
Member since Sep 2003
21253 posts
| re: If you were upgrading your acoustic, what would you get? (Posted on 2/1/13 at 9:44 am to TigerPanzer)
quote:
Epiphone
I just want to add that I've played some Epiphone Masterbilts that absolutely blew me away. I don't know what the construction of these are, but I would say they are worth looking into.
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MyNameIsInigoMontoya
LSU Fan
BR
Member since Oct 2012
281 posts
| re: If you were upgrading your acoustic, what would you get? (Posted on 2/1/13 at 10:28 am to Meursault)
Trying to save up for a Collings...most beautiful sound I've ever heard...even with me playing it. lol
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Spock's Eyebrow
LSU Fan
Member since May 2012
1232 posts
| re: If you were upgrading your acoustic, what would you get? (Posted on 2/1/13 at 10:11 pm to Meursault)
quote:
I just want to add that I've played some Epiphone Masterbilts that absolutely blew me away.
I've heard some good things, but talking Chinese-made guitars (which Masterbilts are), Blueridge and Eastman are perhaps even more highly regarded. These are legit instruments.
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The Dude's Rug
LSU Fan
Fourside
Member since Nov 2004
3597 posts
Online
| re: If you were upgrading your acoustic, what would you get? (Posted on 2/1/13 at 10:19 pm to finchmeister08)
Taylors and Martins are both awesome. I prefer Martin myself since they usually have a much darker tone.
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Zappas Stache
Snotterburgh
Member since Apr 2009
4960 posts
Online
| re: If you were upgrading your acoustic, what would you get? (Posted on 2/1/13 at 10:44 pm to The Dude's Rug)
Blueridge and washburn should be in the conversation.
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Art Vandelay
LSU Fan
LOUISIANA
Member since Sep 2005
4855 posts
| re: If you were upgrading your acoustic, what would you get? (Posted on 2/1/13 at 11:15 pm to Zappas Stache)
I have two categories of acoustic. You want a good acoustic to plug in and sound great Taylor. Pure unplugged, Martin. Put my Martin hd28 in a room full of guitars and its by far the best tone and loudest pure acoustic.
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finchmeister08 
Florida Fan
Slow dancing in a burning room.
Member since Mar 2011
8459 posts
| re: If you were upgrading your acoustic, what would you get? (Posted on 2/2/13 at 6:15 pm to Art Vandelay)
Should you replace stock strings when you first buy?
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