Taylor GT 811e

[Acoustic Corky]

https://youtu.be/hWnjlfgSnjs

[Acoustic Corky]

Not sure if I posted this properly.
Moderators please change if you wish.

[LeitzMusic]

Here's a slightly different, but very entertaining, take on the new Taylor GT 811e. https://youtu.be/rS3joPEEGPA

[boneuphtoner]

Very interesting new offering.  It certainly is a very pretty guitar.  In line with the GS mini lineup, I'm surprised their first new GT after the initial release would not have a koa or mahogany top - like a 321, 521, k21, etc.  I can only speculate that perhaps they wanted to differentiate the original offering with urban ash (like mahogany) with rosewood back/sides.  If it were me, I would try to price these at the lower end of the spectrum (perhaps put in the 400 series where there are some rosewoods), but Taylor is clearly betting people are willing to pay a premium by placing these in the 800 series with all of those upgraded appointments. 

[Maple422]

Wow! Did not see this coming. This is the GS mini on steroids. When I bought my GT urban ash, I saw that they would consider upgrade wood versions. I had no clue that they would reach this high. I am happy with the urban wood version, and would never consider the GT at this price point, not to say that the 811e is most likely a wonderful guitar.

[tdavis]

It’s absolutely a beautiful instrument, for sure...and as soon as I saw it I wanted one. However...the price point of $2999, although considerably lower than its bigger 800-series brothers, is still (in my mind) too high for a guitar that is a niche instrument, and probably won’t have the inherent resale that the 812/814/816 models have.

I still want one, but I can’t justify one.

[donlyn]

Taylor GT 811e

OK, I watched these videos and also the one from Alamo. I have a case of gas, maybe?

Here's the thing. It's beautiful. It looks like a parlor version of the Grand Orchestra. And I love my rosewood Grand Orchestra and the sounds it can make. From the videos it sounds wonderful. I have no qualms about the smaller scale and the narrower neck. I also love my short scale rosewood Grand Concert, which might be a tad larger than a GT. The GT comes in an un-electrifed version. Maybe I can get one without a pickguard too. I fingerpick and use my nails as picks, so this is a relatively safe want for me.

It kind of comes down to 2 things, both of which tdavis just posted:
> price point of $2999.
> I still want one, but I can't justify one.

Right now "I still want one" is leading the "I can't justify one" but it's a neck and neck race, and I just might run out of gas, with no pit stop in sight.

Don

[Coco Kid]

Closed the YouTube video as soon as I saw "the best guitar ever" in the title. Yes it had a question mark to leave the answer open, but it clearly was intended to be clickbait and is an insult to even ask the question, kind of like Zager's advertising, unlike some dealers who in my opinion are reputable and will give you an honest opinion, I will be wary of anything Casino Music ever say.

[Coco Kid]

Here's a slightly different, but very entertaining, take on the new Taylor GT 811e. https://youtu.be/rS3joPEEGPA

Did Taylor send out a memo to dealers telling them to overdo the advertising for these models? Hate to post two negative posts in a row, but I don't like to beat around the bush and seriously couldn't make it past 15 seconds of that video.

[tdavis]

Closed the YouTube video as soon as I saw "the best guitar ever" in the title. Yes it had a question mark to leave the answer open, but it clearly was intended to be clickbait and is an insult to even ask the question, kind of like Zager's advertising, unlike some dealers who in my opinion are reputable and will give you an honest opinion, I will be wary of anything Casino Music ever say.

That's a little extreme, if you ask me. Look on YouTube for a video review of virtually ANY guitar and you'll find nauseatingly glowing results from music shops across the nation that happen to have semi-charismatic owners who like to be in front of cameras...and can play at least well enough to demonstrate. These guitars are usually recorded with the best mics, with added reverb and compression...and processed so that the guitars sound at their very best. Also, most of these shops are under the scrutiny of the manufacturers that they are representing. If a shop that was a Taylor, Martin, Gibson or whoever franchise dealer for instance...and gave a bad review of that manufacturers guitar, they'd probably find themselves with lowered supply or being dropped by the company completely as a franchise dealer. Bottom line...most reviewers give ultra-positive reviews so they can keep themselves in business. You can't blame them really. So, to slam them for posting "click bait" is ridiculous.

[Chris_T]

Another review from Joe @ Empire Music-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwrR4JUuPiU

[tdavis]

And one from Music Villa...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuZl027EOQI

[Coco Kid]

Closed the YouTube video as soon as I saw "the best guitar ever" in the title. Yes it had a question mark to leave the answer open, but it clearly was intended to be clickbait and is an insult to even ask the question, kind of like Zager's advertising, unlike some dealers who in my opinion are reputable and will give you an honest opinion, I will be wary of anything Casino Music ever say.

That's a little extreme, if you ask me. Look on YouTube for a video review of virtually ANY guitar and you'll find nauseatingly glowing results from music shops across the nation that happen to have semi-charismatic owners who like to be in front of cameras...and can play at least well enough to demonstrate. These guitars are usually recorded with the best mics, with added reverb and compression...and processed so that the guitars sound at their very best. Also, most of these shops are under the scrutiny of the manufacturers that they are representing. If a shop that was a Taylor, Martin, Gibson or whoever franchise dealer for instance...and gave a bad review of that manufacturers guitar, they'd probably find themselves with lowered supply or being dropped by the company completely as a franchise dealer. Bottom line...most reviewers give ultra-positive reviews so they can keep themselves in business. You can't blame them really. So, to slam them for posting "click bait" is ridiculous.

All I can say is if a Martin dealer posted a video titled: "Martin Dreadnought Jr. The Best Guitar Ever?" I would do exactly the same thing. The more guitar dealers do this, the more they will create a notorious reputation of being like used car salespeople stereotypes.

[Frettingflyer]

Some people just get caught up in each new development of their field, or really excited about an instrument with new properties that they haven’t experienced before. It stands to reason that many people with these traits would become guitar dealers. They also must always be positive in their reviews or just not review an instrument as mentioned above. Looks like a nice guitar, not needed for me right now though.

[zeebow]

the guys at casino guitars are really good friends of mine. the title is just playful, but they all really love the 811 and plan to buy one to keep at their shop. i wouldn’t read too much into it, they’re just poking fun at there are so many new taylor guitar releases this year, and this is their favorite so far.