Chances are you've been following Daryl's reports on the trade he and I initiated involving my GT6 baritone and his GC 12 fret. The guitar actually arrived last Tuesday, but I've been wrapped up with work and related travel all week and unable to spend any decent amount of time with the guitar until yesterday. As required by UTGF rules (
), here is my review...
Aesthetics -- Classic simplicity. I have a few abalone wrapped guitars, and I think they are beautiful. However, there are times when less is more and simplicity has greater impact on the eye than loading on the bling. Such is the case with the GC 12 fret. Classic EIR/Sitka body, Mahogany neck that has been stained darker than what I normally see on a Taylor, simple B/W/B/W/B purfling and Ivoroid binding on the body, neck and soundhole (nice touch). Rosette is standard Abalone ring. Fret markers are microdots, and headstock is slotted. Just classic appointments that look great. The only thing that I'd like to see added to the lineup in the future would be herringbone or some other kind of subtle marquetry.
Playability -- To put it bluntly, tremendous. In fact, almost too good. It was so easy to move around on this fretboard that I was playing things that I've never tried before and they worked easily. The action was set up very low and I was getting a little fret buzz, but that have been simply humidity adjustment for the guitar (Whole house humidifier keeps my office at about 42% RH). I will say that I was a bit apprehensive regarding the short scale of this guitar when I agreed to the trade. I have played several short scale necks from other builders and my left hand tends to cramp up after 10-15 minutes of play on them. Weird, I know, but that's how it's been in the past. Anyway, the guitar got a solid 5 hour workout last night and it didn't bother my hand once. that makes me happy.
Tone -- I've been a fan of Cocobolo for about ten years now. I love the bell like quality of the overtones and the tight bass response. I have other tonewoods in the herd, but the Coco has been the wood of choice for a while. One of my favorites is a 912ce custom built with Cocobolo b/s and Engelmann top and 1-7/8" nut. Essentially a Chris Proctor Sig model with different woods. This was built prior to the revoicing of the GC in 2004, and has a very focused and clear voice and is one of my favorites. I've owned Indian Rosewood guitars, including a 000-28EC Clapton Signature and a OMC-28cLJ Juber Signature models.
About a year ago, I became smitten with the new 916ce with Cindy and the abalone fretboard extension trim. I ordered one with a Florentine cutaway and Tobaccoburst top, thinking it would take time to adapt to the tone of the Indian Rosewood with its more dominant bass and abundant lower harmonics. To my surprise, the tone of the GS hit me immediately as something I really enjoyed (I swear there's magic in that guitar...). The CV bracing maintained the signature Taylor sparkle that I love, while controlling the low-midrange overtones that make EIR sound muddy. Really a nice job. It was my experience with the 916ce that made me want to go ahead a try the small body again.
Daryl warned me that the strings on the 12 fret were dying, and he generously included a couple new sets of strings for me to try. I didn't think much of it at the time and when the guitar arrived on Tuesday, I didn't have a lot of time to think about it. I gave the guitar a quick 30 minute play and decided it sounded okay for now but was not blown away by the tone. Seemed a bit focused like the 912, a little flat due to the strings. Okay, it'll do for now. I have a presentation to finish and a flight to Dallas I need to make. I'll play later.
I was back in the home office on Friday and gave it a more serious listen. Daryl was right, strings were dead. I changed them for my standard for the 912, GHS Juber Signature Bronze. Sounded okay, a little bright. Bass was really kind of disappointing, to be honest. After an hour with the Jubers, I decided to try one of the sets that Daryl sent along with the guitar. Experiment #1 - Red brand Copper/Bronze strings.
The concept behind copper strings is that they are supposed to add a lot of warmth to the tone of the guitar. I don't know about other instruments, but in the case of the 12 fret all they did was make the guitar sound like crap. Muddy, dead, no sparkle, no bass. Just a lot of low mid and mid push against a field of dead tone. Fifteen minutes with Red strings was enough. Off they came, and on went...
Experiment # 2 - DR Rare Phosphor Bronze. At this point, I'm stringing up the guitar for the third time that day and beginning to wonder if I had made a mistake in this trade. I finished up stretching the strings and tuning them up, and put the guitar in my lap to play. The first chord, an open E, told the tale. The tone I was looking for, I was expecting from the guitar, was finally there! The sparkle on the highs, the focused bass I was expecting, the balanced mids. Really a tickle to the ear. That was what I was wanting from the guitar, and that is what I was getting. Bravo!!! Played for a couple more hours after last night, and have snuck in an hour or so of play today, and am truly enjoying the experience.
Does it replace the 916ce? No, the 12 fret is a much more intimate voice, but in no way is it a feeble guitar. Responsive to fingers, snappy with a pick, I can see the 12 fret as a go to guitar for plugged in acoustic leads sitting in with my playing partner, a fingerstyle machine, or as a great recording alternative at home. It is a nice addition to the herd.
