NGD x 2 -- A 'Beater' and a BTO

[timfitz63]

OK, well, like I confessed in Susie's recent thread, I was looking for a quality 'beater' guitar to drag around the country with me wherever my job takes me.  The only real criteria I was going to impose on the guitar was that it have a 1-3/4" neck width, to keep the feel similar to the rest of my collection.  Otherwise, it just needed to sound good and have no major damage/issues.

So, into Empire Music I did recently wander.  After chatting a bit with Joe, he pointed me toward a used 2011 414ce he had.  Once I put the guitar through it's paces, I decided that I'd found my 'beater,' and have now gladly joined the Ovangkol crowd.  The guitar (and the case) has a few nicks and dings, but all very minor.  As a bonus, the Sitka top has some nice "bear claw" figuring in it, and the Ovangkol back displays an interesting bit of sapwood (see first pair of attached photos).  So win-win all around! (Sorry, Dave; I still haven't found a Rainsong to try out...)

I'd also made the mistake (from my wallet's perspective) of trying out some of the guitars in the recent Custom GA run that Empire did:  Engelmann Spruce over "Wild Grain" Rosewood, Bloodwood binding, and Performance bracing.  One of those has also followed me home (see second pair of attached photos), ultimately to be paired with the "Crazy" Rosewood Custom GS-12 that I picked up a while back.  I'm going to call them my "Wild & Crazy" Guitars (those of you old enough to remember Steve Martin on SNL will get the reference)...   Actually, I think the figuring on both guitars matches up relatively well for having come from two entirely different wood batches.  While this guitar was my second choice with regards to the wood figuring, it was the clear winner in tone.

[TaylorGirl]

Tim, those are both amazing. I love sapwood (hence my avatar).....you don't see too much of it with ovangkol. That's pretty cool. You'll love that "beater"....they are great all-around guitars. The "wild grain" rosewood is beautiful! Very unique. You have every reason to be smilin'. Have fun!

[Craig]

Beautiful Tim, it's been a good year for Customs

Craig

[timfitz63]

Tim, those are both amazing. I love sapwood (hence my avatar).....you don't see too much of it with ovangkol. That's pretty cool. You'll love that "beater"....they are great all-around guitars. The "wild grain" rosewood is beautiful! Very unique. You have every reason to be smilin'. Have fun!

Thanks, Susie!  I'm generally a fan of sapwood too, and was also surprised to find Ovangkol displaying some; usually the grain is fairly uniform.

Beautiful Tim, it's been a good year for Customs

Thanks, Craig!

Indeed!  It seems that many of our forum members have found some unique and compelling custom Taylors this year!  The good news in this case is that I didn't get the only one; Empire has at least five other of these "Wild Grain" Rosewood BTO's in stock, each one with a unique-looking wood set on it.  The price on the guitars is good too, since Empire got a cost break from Taylor for doing multiple guitars with the same BTO specifications.  These Custom GA's can be had for only a little more than a standard 814 -- but look and sound considerably better to my eyes and ears.

[NavyChap]

Tim = good luck with the 414ce - I recently picked up a 1997 414ce and LOVE IT!!!!

[Strumming Fool]

Two beautiful acquisitions - congrats Tim!

[timfitz63]

Tim = good luck with the 414ce - I recently picked up a 1997 414ce and LOVE IT!!!!

Two beautiful acquisitions - congrats Tim!

Thanks, guys!  It's taken me a while to warm up to Ovangkol, but this 414ce has a great tone and look to it!

[Edward]

Yeah, sure, a "beater" alrighty! 

I kid you because some time ago I, too, thought it'd be a great idea to have a "beater" acoustic that I'd not have to fuss or sweat over.  I'm too embarrassed to tell you what I ended up getting for said "beater" status.  So yeah, enjoy that humble beater of yours

Edward

[zeebow]

veryyyyyy nice and your signature.wow!!

[timfitz63]

Yeah, sure, a "beater" alrighty! 

I kid you because some time ago I, too, thought it'd be a great idea to have a "beater" acoustic that I'd not have to fuss or sweat over.  I'm too embarrassed to tell you what I ended up getting for said "beater" status.  So yeah, enjoy that humble beater of yours

Thanks, Edward!  Yeah, it's probably something of a misnomer to call this 414ce a true 'beater.'  But I thought it made for a clever thread title.   It's probably an 8.5/10 in condition; merely three or four relatively inconspicuous nicks on the top, with the back/sides effectively unmarked.  I initially had my eye on a different guitar, that Empire has on consignment, for this purpose (a 2003 600-Series Dreadnought).  But the owner is asking far too much for it in my opinion.  Its condition is much more in keeping with the term 'beater,' but he's asking more than twice what I paid for this 414ce.   I mean, Joe has a very nice factory-used 2015 610e sitting right next to it in Empire's Taylor Room -- for less than what this guy wants for his beat-up 2003...   So it turned out that the nicer-condition 414ce was in the price range I was seeking for a 'drag-along' guitar; and I'm pretty careful about handling my guitars, so it's likely to stay in its current condition while in my care.  But since it came (no extra charge) with a bit of wear-n-tear, it won't be such a heartbreaker if it does get another nick or scuff along the way.

veryyyyyy nice and your signature.wow!!

Thanks, "zeebow!"  Yeah, I guess my signature makes it apparent why I wanted something less 'conspicuous' to leave in hotel rooms around the country...

[timfitz63]

For anyone who's interested, Empire Music has released a YouTube video demonstrating their Custom Engelmann/"Wild Grain" Rosewood guitars.  Give it a listen!

[Frettingflyer]

(Sorry, Dave; I still haven't found a Rainsong to try out...)
Hi Tim,
That sounds like a great solution. I thought about dragging my 314ce and/or 414ce around, and even got a Taylor GA hard bag for the purpose, but after a couple trips I really was paranoid about having to check them in on a flight.
I love the sound/feel and look of my 414ce and I know it will make a great "travel" guitar for you! Great score on the custom as well, enjoy them both!

[timfitz63]

... Great score on the custom as well, enjoy them both!

Thanks, Dave!

... I thought about dragging my 314ce and/or 414ce around, and even got a Taylor GA hard bag for the purpose, but after a couple trips I really was paranoid about having to check them in on a flight...

Likewise.  But based on past experience with this test program, I think I can manage to avoid checking the 414ce on airlines.