Post by Greg Ballantyne on Jul 23, 2016 15:10:41 GMT -5
Well, I went to town today to A-B Taylor GA and GS, or Grand Auditorium and Grand Symphony body guitars. I'm heading toward a decision point about 6 months away, between a 414ce-R and a 416ce-R, or at least that is today's take on things.
I spent about an hour A-B playing between an 814ce and a 816ce, since they had those two in the shop. Probably a fair comparison, since they both are spruce and rosewood - the tonewood combination I'm considering. A tough choice. Visually, it's difficult to tell them apart easily, since the biggest dimensional difference in the two bodies is the depth. Only 1/4" differences in dimensions of the top.
They were exremely similar in sound as well. I really was appreciating the distinct sound single strings could achieve while in the midst of flatpicking, and the GS body did just a bit better in this. The sound was so similar that I concluded the differences were due to the body dimensions and string guage - although the 814 seemed to have older strings. It sounded just a slight bit muddy compared to the 816. The GA body guitar is also made for light guage, while the GS is made for medium guage.
After an hour of comparison, I came away with no clear direction, although the 816 might have been the choice had I been taking one of those two guitars home today. The fellow in the shop took note of my interest of comparing a 414ce-R and 416ce-R, so perhaps a little later in the year I'll be able to A-B those two.
They were both fine guitars that I enjoyed playing. I also played a 414ce, spruce and ovangkol - it was also a great guitar, but my interest at this stage would be to add a different tone wood combination. I've already got a 418e. This could ultimately come down to a choice between a light guage string guitar or a medium guage strings g guitar.
I spent about an hour A-B playing between an 814ce and a 816ce, since they had those two in the shop. Probably a fair comparison, since they both are spruce and rosewood - the tonewood combination I'm considering. A tough choice. Visually, it's difficult to tell them apart easily, since the biggest dimensional difference in the two bodies is the depth. Only 1/4" differences in dimensions of the top.
They were exremely similar in sound as well. I really was appreciating the distinct sound single strings could achieve while in the midst of flatpicking, and the GS body did just a bit better in this. The sound was so similar that I concluded the differences were due to the body dimensions and string guage - although the 814 seemed to have older strings. It sounded just a slight bit muddy compared to the 816. The GA body guitar is also made for light guage, while the GS is made for medium guage.
After an hour of comparison, I came away with no clear direction, although the 816 might have been the choice had I been taking one of those two guitars home today. The fellow in the shop took note of my interest of comparing a 414ce-R and 416ce-R, so perhaps a little later in the year I'll be able to A-B those two.
They were both fine guitars that I enjoyed playing. I also played a 414ce, spruce and ovangkol - it was also a great guitar, but my interest at this stage would be to add a different tone wood combination. I've already got a 418e. This could ultimately come down to a choice between a light guage string guitar or a medium guage strings g guitar.
I'm not hearing or feeling the diffs too much when the solid wood b/s come into play. I only seem to notice the bit of extra room on the 1.75" nut. In fact, the higher I go, the more ( although, very subtly ) subdued or muted they sound. 
