The all new 800 series!

[michaelw]

I know what it is to be human. One of the first songs I learned on guitar mid sixties was Donovan's Guinevere (draped in white velvet, silk and lace). It has been a long quest ever since. Bob Taylor helped finding at least a piece of the grail 

very cool story and thanks for sharing it

my history is a bit different, in that the first song i learned well enough & the only
one my mom, who had a music teaching degree,  ever heard me play was this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWMVwza_DJI
played it on a rainsong ws1000 carbon fiber guitar, sans vocals

[michaelw]

here's another 14 814ce clip -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9bP9HFycGE

to me, there doesn't seem to be the midrange compression than most 814s
i've heard/played & i don't hear any magnetic "overtones" from the ES2

[Fire]

Wouldn't the members of this (unofficial) forum be better off with a little less 'sales' talk. Taylor builds already for years and years great guitars. The rest is all about our own finger work. And other than the incredible pleasure of playing Bob's beauties there is no 'value' in these guitars (sorry, Fire). It's mass production, period. Even the Ltds and Firsts. So rather than to gloss or not to gloss (or to NAMM or not to NAMM), we should be enjoying our instrument. Before you put me to the sword, I find Wood & Steel time and again mouth-watering (and I don't blame Taylor for that; they have their business to look after), but my 1996 714 is as good as my 2013 812 - both sweet, singing and sustainy in their own right. The real if not only improvement is in my finger style. And of course it is fascinating to discuss on this forum new bracing concepts. No problem with that :-).

Hi Karel,

I meant "bang-for-your-buck" value and not the sentimental "joy-of-playing" value you are referring to. Cheers.

[leeasam]

here's another 14 814ce clip -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9bP9HFycGE

to me, there doesn't seem to be the midrange compression than most 814s
i've heard/played & i don't hear any magnetic "overtones" from the ES2

I used to have an 05 814CE and really liked it. sold it for a CA GX and wish I did not. I now have a 2010 816CE. the latest 814CEs are just a bit weak to me to go back to them and yes the mids seem to be scooped to much where as my 816CE is fairly strong there. NOW with the new 800s maybe it will be a bit more boisterous like my 816ce but would be easier on my hands with light strings. My shop had one in but sold it before I could try it. I possibly would have traded.  I do like the ES2 sound in this vodeo too.

[michaelw]

i had a 02 414ceLTD-R prototype, followed by a 97 814c, non-forward shifted, neither of which had the mid compression
or more direct, less "sparkly" trebles that i'd heard in literally countless examples of 814s & other sitka/rosewood X14s -
i had a CV braced 810ce for a short period of time, not long enough to get to know & really appreciate its tonal palette,
but over the past few years, a few "classic" design sitka/rosewood X10s have found their way to the arsenal, with
square shoulder upper bouts, ultra slim pre NT necks & 1 11/16" nut, non-forward shifted bracing, one of which has
non-scalloped braces & an 810c custom with a dan crary style cutaway, original 800 series slotted diamond fretmarkers,
more repaired cracks on the cherry edgeburst abalone edged top that i can count, along with buckle rash & cold checked
lacquer so thick that the areas where the finish has flaked off make me wonder how the tone can be so ... just, wow

i had a 09 spring 716ceLTD madagascar with CV bracing & wide compression grain sitka top ... still miss it

just waiting for a 418eLTD-R with the 8XX bracing, thin finish with gloss, or satin, top & ES2 to "pop out"

[TaylorMate]

here's another 14 814ce clip -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9bP9HFycGE

to me, there doesn't seem to be the midrange compression than most 814s
i've heard/played & i don't hear any magnetic "overtones" from the ES2

Thanks, Michael! There is some very helpfull explanation in this video. Still hard to tell the differences in sound with the old bracing. Will have to play it one day myself.

[michaelw]

yeah, it's not the greatest representation, but it doesn't sound overprocessed, with supposedly
a raw feed going directly to the video cam mic, the extraneous noise level isn't too high & there
doesn't seem to be any sympathetic vibrations from other instruments or echoing in the room,
but the guitar will also sound a good bit different playing it, rather than hearing it being played -
they show to have a 816ce on their site as well, so maybe that clip will be added, unless it's already gone

[catan]

The next time I buy a Taylor it will have ES10 with ZX5 bracing with Gotoh tuners and bone nut/saddle I know right now there is an smartphone-like pacing of new features every year but at some point it will slow down. At least I hope it will.

[michaelw]

The next time I buy a Taylor it will have ES10 with ZX5 bracing with Gotoh tuners and bone nut/saddle I know right now there is an smartphone-like pacing of new features every year but at some point it will slow down. At least I hope it will.

we'll all be waiting for your NGD in 2020 then -
pics or it didn't happen

it will slow down when it has a reason to, but
i think they're on a roll & just getting started -
buckle up & hold on, it's gonna be a wild ride