Musician's Friend has Taylor 317e Grand Pacific Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitarw/ Hardshell Case (Natural) on sale for $1648.97. Shipping is free.
Thanks to Deal Hunter jk6812 for finding this deal.
Features:
Headstock overlay: Genuine West African ebony
Tuning machines: Taylor nickel with nickel buttons
Bridge: Genuine West African ebony
Saddle and nut: Micarta "wave" saddle/graphite nut
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Musician's Friend has Taylor 317e Grand Pacific Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitarw/ Hardshell Case (Natural) on sale for $1648.97. Shipping is free.
Thanks to Deal Hunter jk6812 for finding this deal.
Features:
Headstock overlay: Genuine West African ebony
Tuning machines: Taylor nickel with nickel buttons
Bridge: Genuine West African ebony
Saddle and nut: Micarta "wave" saddle/graphite nut
If you're in the market, I'd pull the trigger. Taylor makes great instruments. Please do keep in mind though acoustic guitars are not as durable as electrical and need extra care. This is an expensive instrument. It needs between 40-50% humidity all of the time. Leave it in the case when it is not in use and that will help (and protect it from accidents). Also buy some humidipacs. Unfortunately, this is not the kind of guitar you display unless the place you keep it is humidity controlled.
Because the manufacturing process is so good, you can purchase a Taylor of less cost, like this one, (300 series) and as long as you choose the tonewoods you want, you are essentially getting the same sounding guitar as much more expensive models. A 400 is likely going to give the best bang for the buck, although there is a 300 with mahogany sides/back.
Sitka is a great tonewood for a top. As for back and sides, it's all about opinions, but you can expect this to be on the brighter side than it's cousin Mahogany. That's not my preference as I prefer mahogany with more mids and lows. Sapele has become almost a substitute for mahogany according to some because it has some similar characteristics, just brighter sound. That said, it's a 3 series so you cannot expect a top tonewood like rosewood, but this should still be quite good. Lastly consider the body shape. Taylors come in a few shapes with dreadnought being a larger, louder instrument than something like a grand auditorium, but will not give you the playability in the upper register like a GA or GC will. If you frequent the upper third of the fret board, this is not the droid you're looking for. Still, if it suits you, wonderful instrument.
I live 3 miles away from Taylor HQ/factory/warehouse and took a tour of the facility recently.
It was really cool to see how much care they put into the manufacturing of their guitars.
I had never played a guitar at that time, but had wanted to for about 40 years. I got a Taylor (114ce) for Christmas and I've played it all but 4 days since receiving it.
Even my 114 sounds great, well, when my instructor played it for a bit... I get a little less terrible each day!
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I'm not a musician and didn't know anything about Taylor guitars, but thumbed up the deal after reading about the company. It's a literal American success story, and there are a bunch of famous musicians that use their guitars - but two are rather prolific, Dave Mathews and Taylor Swift.
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In 1972, at age 18, Bob Taylor began working at a guitar-making shop owned by Sam Radding called American Dream, where Kurt Listug was already an employee. When Radding sold the business in 1974, Taylor,[6] Listug, and a third employee, Steve Schemmer, bought American Dream and renamed it the Westland Music Company.[7]
Needing a more compact logo suitable for the guitars' headstock, the founders decided to change the name to Taylor as it sounded more American than Listug. Kurt Listug said, "Bob was the real guitar-maker."[8] Listug became the partnership's businessman while Taylor handled design and production. In 1976, the company began to sell their guitars through retailers. In 1981, facing financial difficulties, Taylor Guitars took out a bank loan to purchase equipment.[9][10]
As of 2012, Taylor Guitars had more than 700 employees in two factories in El Cajon, California and in Tecate, Mexico, where the company makes their lower-priced models and guitar cases. In early 2011, the company opened a Taylor distribution warehouse in the Netherlands to serve the European market.[3] In January 2014, the U.S. State Department honored Taylor Guitars with an Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE)[11] citing Taylor's commitment to responsible practices in obtaining ebony for its instruments, which notably included purchasing their own sustainable ebony mill and increasing its usable timber from 10% to 100%.
I'm not a musician and didn't know anything about Taylor guitars, but thumbed up the deal after reading about the company. It's a literal American success story, and there are a bunch of famous musicians that use their guitars - but two are rather prolific, Dave Mathews and Taylor Swift.
Yep. The true amazing thing about Taylors are the manufacturing process. They have it down to a science. You buy a model of guitar 3 years ago and you buy the same model today and they're essentially identical. Mind you, some of the reasons why brings up criticisms in my mind as a purchaser, but regardless they make some amazing guitars and do so consistently.
Have a lefty 316ce that my kids managed to knock off the wall hanger. Fixed it up at a luthier and still sounds great. Would love to find this model lefty style.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank rebel0508
If you're in the market, I'd pull the trigger. Taylor makes great instruments. Please do keep in mind though acoustic guitars are not as durable as electrical and need extra care. This is an expensive instrument. It needs between 40-50% humidity all of the time. Leave it in the case when it is not in use and that will help (and protect it from accidents). Also buy some humidipacs. Unfortunately, this is not the kind of guitar you display unless the place you keep it is humidity controlled.
Because the manufacturing process is so good, you can purchase a Taylor of less cost, like this one, (300 series) and as long as you choose the tonewoods you want, you are essentially getting the same sounding guitar as much more expensive models. A 400 is likely going to give the best bang for the buck, although there is a 300 with mahogany sides/back.
Sitka is a great tonewood for a top. As for back and sides, it's all about opinions, but you can expect this to be on the brighter side than it's cousin Mahogany. That's not my preference as I prefer mahogany with more mids and lows. Sapele has become almost a substitute for mahogany according to some because it has some similar characteristics, just brighter sound. That said, it's a 3 series so you cannot expect a top tonewood like rosewood, but this should still be quite good. Lastly consider the body shape. Taylors come in a few shapes with dreadnought being a larger, louder instrument than something like a grand auditorium, but will not give you the playability in the upper register like a GA or GC will. If you frequent the upper third of the fret board, this is not the droid you're looking for. Still, if it suits you, wonderful instrument.
I live 3 miles away from Taylor HQ/factory/warehouse and took a tour of the facility recently.
It was really cool to see how much care they put into the manufacturing of their guitars.
I had never played a guitar at that time, but had wanted to for about 40 years. I got a Taylor (114ce) for Christmas and I've played it all but 4 days since receiving it.
Even my 114 sounds great, well, when my instructor played it for a bit... I get a little less terrible each day!
Great guitars, in fact China has copied them so well you can essentially get the guitar from a Chinese mfg for essentially a quarter of the price, unlike a martin they can't copy cause of the non bolted neck (high endartins)
I've been collecting guitars for 25 years, including Taylors, Martins, Gibson, Collings, Santa Cruz. I've spent tens of thousands of dollars on guitars and I always go back to my Taylors. Specifically those made between the mid 1995-2010. Manufacturing went down a bit after that time. You'll still get the best playing guitar with a modern model, but tone woods were just better around that time
There 2 acoustic guitars that always come to mind... Martin and Taylor. Martin's are a little darker mid range and Taylor's are bright and chimey... they both have thier place. Don't forget the others though Larrivee for example...
Great guitars, in fact China has copied them so well you can essentially get the guitar from a Chinese mfg for essentially a quarter of the price, unlike a martin they can't copy cause of the non bolted neck (high endartins)
I've been collecting guitars for 25 years, including Taylors, Martins, Gibson, Collings, Santa Cruz. I've spent tens of thousands of dollars on guitars and I always go back to my Taylors. Specifically those made between the mid 1995-2010. Manufacturing went down a bit after that time. You'll still get the best playing guitar with a modern model, but tone woods were just better around that time
Yeah. Plus the fact that the woods get better with age. I just swapped out my 93 510 with mahogany for the 810 with rosewood and the 510 had a better tone on the low end due to its age. That said I switched from a Dred to a GA so it had to be done and I'm sure the guitar will get better with age.
As a side note, comparable American made all solid, spruce top and mahogany (or equivalent) guitars are all in this price range within a few hundred bucks (Martin, Larrivee, Gibson, etc) , and seasoned imports like Yamaha and Alvarez with the same all solid wood combo (sometimes with electronics) are about $300-500 less. Upstart reliable imports like orange wood are about half this price.
Each company has its own voice and strengths and cons, so to each his own.
So this may be a super deal for the Taylor fan who wants v-bracing and a notch above the all solid discontinued Taylor American dream series, but for those entering the all solid market , there will likely be a few cheaper option well worth it, like the Yamaha LL-series or the larrivee simple 6.
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I've been collecting and playing for awhile. This isn't a cheap guitar... Taylor's have a specific sound. Martin's have a specific sound ... So if you know you like Taylor, or, you've never played before and you want an Taylor, this is a great deal on a Taylor.
However. When it comes to getting the most for your money, you're going to find Eastman and Yamaha at the top of every bang for your buck list. Epiphone inspired by Gibson line is amazing as well. Even though this is a good price, you're still paying for the Taylor name.
Comparable... Eastman e6ss-tc. Yamaha FG5. Mahogany and not sapele. Even Recording king rd-318. At this price point, you have a LOT of really good options.
Just food for thought... Or, muddying the waters, however you see it 😂
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Because the manufacturing process is so good, you can purchase a Taylor of less cost, like this one, (300 series) and as long as you choose the tonewoods you want, you are essentially getting the same sounding guitar as much more expensive models. A 400 is likely going to give the best bang for the buck, although there is a 300 with mahogany sides/back.
Sitka is a great tonewood for a top. As for back and sides, it's all about opinions, but you can expect this to be on the brighter side than it's cousin Mahogany. That's not my preference as I prefer mahogany with more mids and lows. Sapele has become almost a substitute for mahogany according to some because it has some similar characteristics, just brighter sound. That said, it's a 3 series so you cannot expect a top tonewood like rosewood, but this should still be quite good. Lastly consider the body shape. Taylors come in a few shapes with dreadnought being a larger, louder instrument than something like a grand auditorium, but will not give you the playability in the upper register like a GA or GC will. If you frequent the upper third of the fret board, this is not the droid you're looking for. Still, if it suits you, wonderful instrument.
It was really cool to see how much care they put into the manufacturing of their guitars.
I had never played a guitar at that time, but had wanted to for about 40 years. I got a Taylor (114ce) for Christmas and I've played it all but 4 days since receiving it.
Even my 114 sounds great, well, when my instructor played it for a bit... I get a little less terrible each day!
25 Comments
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Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank GimmeYoTots
Needing a more compact logo suitable for the guitars' headstock, the founders decided to change the name to Taylor as it sounded more American than Listug. Kurt Listug said, "Bob was the real guitar-maker."[8] Listug became the partnership's businessman while Taylor handled design and production. In 1976, the company began to sell their guitars through retailers. In 1981, facing financial difficulties, Taylor Guitars took out a bank loan to purchase equipment.[9][10]
As of 2012, Taylor Guitars had more than 700 employees in two factories in El Cajon, California and in Tecate, Mexico, where the company makes their lower-priced models and guitar cases. In early 2011, the company opened a Taylor distribution warehouse in the Netherlands to serve the European market.[3] In January 2014, the U.S. State Department honored Taylor Guitars with an Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE)[11] citing Taylor's commitment to responsible practices in obtaining ebony for its instruments, which notably included purchasing their own sustainable ebony mill and increasing its usable timber from 10% to 100%.
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank rebel0508
Because the manufacturing process is so good, you can purchase a Taylor of less cost, like this one, (300 series) and as long as you choose the tonewoods you want, you are essentially getting the same sounding guitar as much more expensive models. A 400 is likely going to give the best bang for the buck, although there is a 300 with mahogany sides/back.
Sitka is a great tonewood for a top. As for back and sides, it's all about opinions, but you can expect this to be on the brighter side than it's cousin Mahogany. That's not my preference as I prefer mahogany with more mids and lows. Sapele has become almost a substitute for mahogany according to some because it has some similar characteristics, just brighter sound. That said, it's a 3 series so you cannot expect a top tonewood like rosewood, but this should still be quite good. Lastly consider the body shape. Taylors come in a few shapes with dreadnought being a larger, louder instrument than something like a grand auditorium, but will not give you the playability in the upper register like a GA or GC will. If you frequent the upper third of the fret board, this is not the droid you're looking for. Still, if it suits you, wonderful instrument.
It was really cool to see how much care they put into the manufacturing of their guitars.
I had never played a guitar at that time, but had wanted to for about 40 years. I got a Taylor (114ce) for Christmas and I've played it all but 4 days since receiving it.
Even my 114 sounds great, well, when my instructor played it for a bit... I get a little less terrible each day!
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As a side note, comparable American made all solid, spruce top and mahogany (or equivalent) guitars are all in this price range within a few hundred bucks (Martin, Larrivee, Gibson, etc) , and seasoned imports like Yamaha and Alvarez with the same all solid wood combo (sometimes with electronics) are about $300-500 less. Upstart reliable imports like orange wood are about half this price.
Each company has its own voice and strengths and cons, so to each his own.
So this may be a super deal for the Taylor fan who wants v-bracing and a notch above the all solid discontinued Taylor American dream series, but for those entering the all solid market , there will likely be a few cheaper option well worth it, like the Yamaha LL-series or the larrivee simple 6.
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However. When it comes to getting the most for your money, you're going to find Eastman and Yamaha at the top of every bang for your buck list. Epiphone inspired by Gibson line is amazing as well. Even though this is a good price, you're still paying for the Taylor name.
Comparable... Eastman e6ss-tc. Yamaha FG5. Mahogany and not sapele. Even Recording king rd-318. At this price point, you have a LOT of really good options.
Just food for thought... Or, muddying the waters, however you see it 😂
Leave a Comment