Myrtlewood Taylor... ?

[ntotoro]

After playing the sassafras LTD and comparing it to a myrtlewood Breedlove, I became genuinely curious how a myrtlewood GA or (particularly) GS would sound. Has Taylor ever made anything in specific numbers other than the pelican guitar? Anyone ever played a myrtlewood Taylor?

Nick

[Strumming Fool]

I'm not aware of any other series of myrtlewood Taylor besides the Pelicans. 63 Pelicans were made. I own and play one of them. The Pelican is a GA with a Sitka spruce top. The guitar has the balance and clarity of maple with added rosewood warmth. Great harmonics and an excellent alternative to rosewood as a tenor vocal backup.

[timfitz63]

Haven't played a GS in Myrtlewood, but Empire Music in Pittsburgh has a Sitka/Myrtlewood Custom GA that I played the other day.  It struck me as pretty similar -- but not identical -- to the Blackhearted Sassafras used in the Fall Limited guitars.

I'm planning to be up there again on Saturday, and will try to make a more definitive comparison for you, if you like.

[ntotoro]

That would be awesome, thanks! Hate to "task" anyone with such a thing...

When I compared the sassafras Taylor to a (smaller body) myrtlewood Breedlove, the Breedlove had a bit more punch on the lows (not Eq, but punch) and a bit more hog-like mids while still having the clarity of maple. It was a neat guitar.

Nick

[Strumming Fool]

That would be awesome, thanks! Hate to "task" anyone with such a thing...

When I compared the sassafras Taylor to a (smaller body) myrtlewood Breedlove, the Breedlove had a bit more punch on the lows (not Eq, but punch) and a bit more hog-like mids while still having the clarity of maple. It was a neat guitar.

Nick

My wife has commented that my Pelican has more mahogany tendencies than the rosewood vibe I described earlier, but I'll agree that this guitar has a neat sound!

[timfitz63]

That would be awesome, thanks! Hate to "task" anyone with such a thing...

No trouble at all!  Hoepfully my impressions will give you an accurate comparison of the woods!

[ntotoro]

My wife has commented that my Pelican has more mahogany tendencies than the rosewood vibe I described earlier, but I'll agree that this guitar has a neat sound!

It seemed to me to be in the mahogany family (tonally, in the same sense that you can say that about koa), but with the clarity of maple and more punch like rosewood. Doesn't shock me that Breedlove is high on it. Hopefully we'll see Taylor do a future LTD with it.

Or not, because I'd be too tempted... 

Nick

[ntotoro]

No trouble at all!  Hoepfully my impressions will give you an accurate comparison of the woods!

Awesome, thanks. Hopefully it'll echo at least some of what I hear.

Nick

[MR XXXXX]

Saw this while traveling for work...

http://www.northernlightsmusic.com/taylor-custom-go/

[ntotoro]

Wow!!!!!

[timfitz63]

OK.  Compared a 714ce-FLTD (Sitka/Blackhearted Sassafras) and the Custom GA in Sitka/Myrtlewood up at Empire Music today.  Here are my impressions:

• I would estimate that both guitars have roughly the same sonic range; both have good bass and treble responses.
• The 714ce-FLTD has better clarity and a more prominent voice.  As I mentioned in my recent post on my 714ce-FLTD, Blackhearted Sassafras is sonically similar to Makore; or in terms more familiar to the masses, Koa with less warmth and a better bass response.
• The Myrtlewood Custom GA has more warmth and is, perhaps, more balanced across its sonic range.  It was definitely more reminiscent of Mahogany to me than any other 'common' tone wood, but is perhaps more similar (overall) to Ovangkol.  In a smaller body (like the Breedlove or the Custom GC that Empire also has), Myrtlewood does seem to favor a bit more of Maple's brightness.

I'll caveat all of this by pointing out that an important difference between the two guitars I compared is their bracing:  the 714ce-FLTD has the new 800-Series bracing scheme, whereas the Custom GA has the older CV bracing using Adirondack Spruce.  So that may be responsible for some differences in tone.

If you're shopping for one of these guitars, and want something similar to Blackhearted Sassafras with a bit more of the warmth Myrtlewood would offer, Empire also has a Custom GA in Cedar/Makore.  I made a brief comparison of that guitar with the 714ce-FLTD, and I think that might fit the bill -- if that's your preference.

Hope all that helps!

[Montesdad]

just my pelican - more mahogany tone with a little bit of rosewood, also depends on the strings i'm using as well as the pic.

click on 'The Pelican' below - - -

[Strumming Fool]

Love my Pelican too:

[ntotoro]

All of this is killing me... 

Nick

[darylcrisp]

here is a GC size:
http://www.tejonstreetmusic.com/p/custom-taylor-12-fret-grand-concert-w-engelmann-laurel-wood/

and I'm pretty sure I saw either a GA or GS at a dealer shop in the past day or two, just need to remember where.

d