what's Taylor's "holy grail"?

[M19]

I think of the 814ce being akin to the HD-28 (the "Mainstays"), and the 914ce more akin to the D45 (the "Grails"). More bling, top woods, not over the top (like the D-100/PS).

[Frettingflyer]

Is the holy grail the most popular or the best? They may be different things.

[TaylorGirl]

Is the holy grail the most popular or the best? They may be different things.

"Most popular" would be fairly easy to define, whereas "best" is very subjective.

[Strumming Fool]

To me, the holy grail is seemingle unattainable and legendary, such as the Martin D-45 (with the D-28 being more attainable). I chose the 914, because it is Taylor's highest level rosewood guitar in keeping with the classic rosewood spruce tradition.

[kbraker]

Don't know about "Holy Grail" Guitars but the best ones I played was the late 90's 510 WMB the local shop and my good friend had.

[Redwood Tree]

 I'd have to say any 2004 900 L7 Brazilian.
 Or my Kenny Loggings KLSM

[Jersey tuning]

While most would agree that Martin's 1930's D45 and 000-45 guitars are holy grail worthy, Taylor holy grail status is on a personal level via the BTO program.  No one stock model Taylor has yet risen to holy grail status, but it is possible to have crafted your own particular holy grail.............

[Strumming Fool]

Good point Jersey...my cedar/rosewood BTO has a bit of the holy grail vibe going on at least for me....

[gruuv]

For me, it would be a mid-90's 912 or 912c with Engelmann... to really go nuts Brazilian back and sides, although I don't know if they made them with BRW.  I've really grown into a rosewood guy and love the GC/OM body size.

[boomklever]

Is the holy grail the most popular or the best? They may be different things.

All I know is that I never really believed in those vintage Martins to be so good that they match their high prices.

Until I played a D28 and an OM28 from around 1930. These guitars were both very different, yet I have never played an instrument that comes close to one of these. There was something magical on both of them. I've played hundreds of guitars in my life and also own 20+ premium guitars. But none has the sound I experienced in these old Martins.

Holy Grail = something you don't have and is very very hard to get?

[donlyn]

holy grail is a non-existant item of mythological and allegorical origins for which many have searched but no one has found.

. . . hmmmm, was that 'san greal' or 'sang real'?

[tbeltrans]

For me, it would be a mid-90's 912 or 912c with Engelmann... to really go nuts Brazilian back and sides, although I don't know if they made them with BRW.  I've really grown into a rosewood guy and love the GC/OM body size.

I appreciate reading this because I only have one Taylor, and it is exactly this (not BRW, but I think EIRW).  My other wood acoustic is a Santa Cruz (SCGC) Firefly.  I like smaller guitars.

As for "holy grail", I honestly don't know since I really have not played many Taylors, but I do think my 912c is a fine instrument.

Tony

[TaylorGirl]

I was thinking about this. For me, I can't answer the question in terms of a guitar. I think it's because I see Taylor as never being stagnant, always trying to "one up" (to quote Walt Disney.....similar philosophies). Always trying to improve the products and never accepting something as the best that can be done. I see Taylor as wanting to make every single guitar a great guitar, whether it's a 100 series or it's a Presentation Series. All guitars are important and that's why we see so many great examples on this forum. We are all trying to find that one or those few that really match the type of player we are. We are looking for that fit. That doesn't mean what we love is Taylor's best, it means it fits what we are looking for really well. This is hard to say, but think of it this way. If there was one holy grail for Taylor, would so many of us have so many Taylors? I guess Taylor's never quit attitude is their holy grail to me. To quote another company (which I won't go into)....."it's always too soon to quit."

[Stringband Eric]

For some folks it may be the Taylor you plan to get next. 

Am going to look at it a bit differently, as in maybe the guitar that helped define something. That way, a number of instruments would fit.  The Liberty Tree guitars.  The 912 with Cindy inlay.  The 855 jumbo 12 string.  Each guitar in a way helped define what a Taylor guitar is to some folks.  The Liberty Tree because it had a lot of crossover press, including the cover of American Forests magazine.  The 912 with Cindy inlay is in my mind the guitar that really helped establish Taylor as not just a good fingerpicking guitar, but also one that could look really nice on stage.  And the 855 could be considered the 12 string that helped break the hold Guild had on the market. 

With all that said, for myself the Holy Grail (or at least grail shaped) guitar would be the paisley jumbo made for Prince.  In my mind it is the guitar that really got Taylor off the ground from a small struggling operation to a "legitimate" guitar builder in the eyes of many.  And will also consider it a grail as it was for sale at least a couple of times.  And I've held the guitar. (For those interested, it sat in a closet at The Podium in Dinkytown, MN when the shop was the bottom floor of a house).

[gruuv]

For me, it would be a mid-90's 912 or 912c with Engelmann... to really go nuts Brazilian back and sides, although I don't know if they made them with BRW.  I've really grown into a rosewood guy and love the GC/OM body size.

I appreciate reading this because I only have one Taylor, and it is exactly this (not BRW, but I think EIRW).  My other wood acoustic is a Santa Cruz (SCGC) Firefly.  I like smaller guitars.

As for "holy grail", I honestly don't know since I really have not played many Taylors, but I do think my 912c is a fine instrument.

Tony

Enjoy it, Tony!  The 912's are fantastic.