Here We Go Again! June 14th UPDATE

[Strumming Fool]

Good to know, Edward - thanks for confirming my choices!

[Jimmer]

I was under the impression that cedar tops would top out with heavy strumming. I love cedar and I'm looking at a 514. I don't need a lot of projection but I do love the tone of cedar. Maybe it's a different story when you get to the 900s.  I don't know. I played a 2006 714ce (cedar) and loved it.
I'm going to win the 614 so I don't need to worry about that.

[zeebow]

strumming fool and I both think the bracing on the 900 series attenuates the projection. he 714 I pkayed (with standard bracing) did sound louder than my 914ce cedar.

I think SF made a great choice.

[krugjr]

talk about a tease!!!!!    bummmmmmer

[guitarsrsoawesome]

I was under the impression that cedar tops would top out with heavy strumming. I love cedar and I'm looking at a 514. I don't need a lot of projection but I do love the tone of cedar. Maybe it's a different story when you get to the 900s.  I don't know. I played a 2006 714ce (cedar) and loved it.
I'm going to win the 614 so I don't need to worry about that.

I have something to report about my experiences with hard strumming on my cedar topped 514ce.  I've been playing 80/20's since getting her over a year ago.  Sometimes Elixir Polywebs, but often Martin FX and sometimes Martin Life Spans (SP's).    The guitar is super loud with all these strings and when I would strum hard it would seem to break up as others have said.  But at this point it's so loud it's blowing my hair back.  But, then Martin stopped making FX 80/20's, they're only doing PB's now, so I tried a set and noticed that they were much smoother in tone and DID NOT break up during harder strumming.  I never thought I'd say this, but they were so smooth I actually have become a PB fan, which is something i didn't think would ever happen because most of the time in the past I thought PB's sounded too compressed and did not have the girth of highs to lows that 80/20's have.  But now that I've experimented with those and also D'Addario PB's, I'll be using PB's from now on and let that cedar top sing out with some loud strumming!

[zeebow]

I do agree, I like PB strings much better than the standard elixir lights that came with my cedar 914ce. I use elixir PB at the suggestion of Cindy on this forum, and I like the extra projection and range it brings.

in terms of projection, your 514ce has standard craving, where the 800 and 900 series in previous generations had the cross bracing. this changes the tone (and in the case of cedar) attenuates the volume.

I based my decision (scary bc I couldn't play before buying) to modify a 914ce top to be cedar, based on a tone I heard on a 714ce (at that time it was cedar and rosewood back and sides) I had an in depth tone review in one of my first posts ever here (where I posted about my 914)

there was another user here, I can't remember who, who also noted that the cedar 914ce was "quiet"

I have not played the new Andy powers bracing, so I have no comment on that

I think, at some point in time, I will look for the 2011 714ce, it was one of the best sounding guitars I have ever played

[guitarsrsoawesome]

Taylor's site list the bracing for the present day 514ce: "Forward Shifted Pattern with Relief Rout."  I'm pretty sure that's what is in my November 2013 version.   If so, I should speak up in support of this bracing pattern.

If I sing along with my guitar un-amped (sans a PA), it doesn't take long for me to strain my voice, especially when strumming, because it is SO LOUD.  I really have to dig in vocal wise just to keep up with her.   And if I barely touch the guitar fingerstyle-wise the response is gentle, yes, but you can hear and feel it in a big way. 

(I just looked up a 714ce cedar top on Sweetwater and it shared the same bracing pattern as mine.) 

I wonder if strumming fool can get that pattern for his 914, or if he would even want to?  But I can personally attest, at least in my case, that I am completely happy with the volume, projection, response, etc.  I honestly couldn't imagine it being better.

[Strumming Fool]

Taylor's site list the bracing for the present day 514ce: "Forward Shifted Pattern with Relief Rout."  I'm pretty sure that's what is in my November 2013 version.   If so, I should speak up in support of this bracing pattern.

If I sing along with my guitar un-amped (sans a PA), it doesn't take long for me to strain my voice, especially when strumming, because it is SO LOUD.  I really have to dig in vocal wise just to keep up with her.   And if I barely touch the guitar fingerstyle-wise the response is gentle, yes, but you can hear and feel it in a big way. 

(I just looked up a 714ce cedar top on Sweetwater and it shared the same bracing pattern as mine.) 

I wonder if strumming fool can get that pattern for his 914, or if he would even want to?  But I can personally attest, at least in my case, that I am completely happy with the volume, projection, response, etc.  I honestly couldn't imagine it being better.

 That's exactly what I wanted for my BTO, but Taylor said that it's no longer offered in its custom program for six strings...

[guitarsrsoawesome]

Taylor's site list the bracing for the present day 514ce: "Forward Shifted Pattern with Relief Rout."  I'm pretty sure that's what is in my November 2013 version.   If so, I should speak up in support of this bracing pattern.

If I sing along with my guitar un-amped (sans a PA), it doesn't take long for me to strain my voice, especially when strumming, because it is SO LOUD.  I really have to dig in vocal wise just to keep up with her.   And if I barely touch the guitar fingerstyle-wise the response is gentle, yes, but you can hear and feel it in a big way. 

(I just looked up a 714ce cedar top on Sweetwater and it shared the same bracing pattern as mine.) 

I wonder if strumming fool can get that pattern for his 914, or if he would even want to?  But I can personally attest, at least in my case, that I am completely happy with the volume, projection, response, etc.  I honestly couldn't imagine it being better.

 That's exactly what I wanted for my BTO, but Taylor said that it's no longer offered in its custom program for six strings...

Wow, can't understand why they wouldn't do a bracing pattern for a BTO that seems to be their standard for Cedar in their production line guitars?  It's not like they'd need new tools, techniques, or overall approach.  This is really disappointing to me and it's not even my guitar.   Sorry, strumming fool 

[Strumming Fool]

I'm not giving up yet...I may  try to order it as a "custom" option. If they approve it, I hope that they don't charge an arm and a leg for it. This guitar is already expensive! I'll keep everyone posted.

[zeebow]

doh, just noticed you mentioned it can't be ordered (by updating your first post)

do you want cedar and rosewood for sure? what about a 2014 ltd coco 914?

[Strumming Fool]

Cedar with standard bracing. If no longer possible,  I'll consider other top woods as alternatives that go well with CV bracing.

[Strumming Fool]

For those interested, I updated the original post at the beginning of this thread. I tried to keep it short, but so far, Taylor is making it difficult for me to buy a guitar from them! So the saga continues...........

[guitarsrsoawesome]

I will be sorely disappointed if Taylor cannot accomodate such a simple bracing request, a pattern that they produce on all their production cedar topped 5's and 7's dozens, if not hundreds, of times a week.  All they have to do is take the premium top you picked, walk across the plant to where cedar tops are braced, and do the same exact thing they've already done countless times and will most certainly do countless more times in the future. 

As well, you are a customer that has purchased well over $20,000 in product from them, sing their praises in an open forum day in and day out, teach others about their guitars, and encourage their purchase.

If they can't make your BTO with Standard II bracing, my fanship will take a rather large hit, in spite of the fact I'm on my fifth Taylor at the moment, and the one I have now, a cedar top with, you guessed it, Standard II bracing, is the best Taylor I have ever heard: bar none.  Beat a couple of ziricotes I heard among a plethora of others. 

Anyway, I hope it works out for you.

[Psi]

Could it be possible to order a standard 700 series, with cedar top, and then choose a whole load of options to get as close to your ideal as possible?

Would that not solve the bracing issue where I imagine they want their BTO guitars to have the best, i.e. CV only, whereas you seem to want a specced up 700 series.

Just a thought, bit new to this so there could be vital things that still aren't achievable going that route!