Comments on Adi tops

[ggj]

I'm considering an Adi top with Rosewood body in a GS class.  I've been told that Adi tops take a long time (20 years plus)  to really open up and come into their own. Candidly, I'm too old for that.  Does anyone have any comments on their experience with the sound/tone/volume of Adi tops in the near to mid term?  Thanks for any input.

[Gary0319]

Can't speak to the Taylor ADI tops, but my 6 months old Eastman E10-OM ADI/Mahogany doesn't need any more opening up. It's got a whopper of a sound right now. If it opens up any more I'll have to put a muffler on it.

Gary

[darylcrisp]

play it regular and you should hear changes in 6 months or so. after 2-3 years(played regular) it will come into its own even better.

it would always have to impress me from the start though, i personally never ever purchase a guitar based on what it might become.

here's the deal if its still available-if i had the $ right this minute i would pick this up in a hurry:
http://www.guitarrodeo.com/taylor_detail.php?guitar=U-GSCust.0729.140&series=PP

d

[Edward]

I can't place any stock in what anything may sound like down the road ...I don't roll those dice.  But what I can tell you from the two Adi-topped at a road show and the one RT Adi I had played is that they sound big!  Yes, this ain't just "spruce" but spruce with extra horsepower.  Even for the short time these three were in my hands, I could easily tell that the adi top made a difference in these guits: volume, girth, more "guts" for lack of a better descriptor.  But as always with all things tone, your mileage may vary...

FWIW, the three I happened to play were GA or GS sized, but I would be curious if Adi supercharges a small body, as well.   And given RT's extra sonic prowess, I wonder what a Style2 (GC) with Adi/RW would sound like ...mmmm.

Edward

[Tammany Tiger]

I agree that you should buy a guitar based upon how it sounds now. That's one of the reasons that I like Addi. It has a big sound right away and will keep getting better. It has lots of volume and head room. right out of the gate.

I have never heard that it takes that long for an Addi top to open up. Sounds a little like a guitar urban myth. By the way, did you know that the Addi used on Taylors is from old growth red spruce trees planted by Billy Addiseed, a disgruntled Martin employee who hiked from Nazereth to San Diego in 1843?

[sachi]

By the way, did you know that the Addi used on Taylors is from old growth red spruce trees planted by Billy Addiseed, a disgruntled Martin employee who hiked from Nazereth to San Diego in 1843?

Gosh, I did not know that!

I'm gonna go add that little fact to Wikipedia and repeat it all over the 'net.

[Guitar Rodeo]

I have seen a lot of Taylor Adi top guitars and I love them. Yes, they take a long time to fully open up, but they have more character right off the bat too. I admit to being old school and looks are not the most important attribute in a guitar in my world. If you want pretty, don't go Adi. If you do specify an Adi top, specify the Adi bracing too, or at least CV bracing. They are powerful and amazingly flexible. They will warm up after about ten minutes of play and their dynamic range is excellent. They respond well to a light touch and they don't seem to have a top end. You can play them hard and they don't compress or clip. Today, they sound great. In 20 years, they will sound transcendental. Remember, just about all of the "Holy Grail" guitars that sound amazing are Adirondack. They sounded just great in 1940 too.....

[rolleiguy54]

I own a BTO ga with adirondack top and braces, two d 28's with adi tops.
All sounded great out of the box. No question I would order the same woods again.
If they open up down the road....great. They sound wonderful already.

[Roseadi]

Can't speak for adi topped Taylors but I do have one guitar with that top. I would classify it as having more clarity, punch and unlimited headroom. The highs seem to be more rounded/sweeter sounding as well. As far as opening up, time will tell. I can say that it seems to take around 15 - 20 minutes to fully open if not played for a few days. I also notice this doesn't happen when I've been playing it every day for a good stretch of time. Maybe that's just me since audible memory so unreliable!

[skavon]

Listen to what Jim has to say. He helped me put together my Adi/Rosewood GA BTO and I couldn't be happier. Also has the Adi CV bracing. The sound is booming and the dynamics are fantastic (just as Jim described). Adirondack is by far my favorite wood. I personally wouldn't worry about it needing to open up. It sounded great from the get go and even better after playing it for a few days. I can only imagine what it will sound like in a few years. Here's a few photos:

[e8n]

Jim did both my GS and Dread Adi topped/ Rosewood BTOs and he does speak the truth.  They sound very good out of the box and improve every day you play them.  As the Taylor rep said at the road show, the worst day with your adi is the first day you own it. 

I've been extremely happy with my GS (the dread is very nice also but the GS is magical with that top on it) and would do it again in a heartbeat.  The only change I might make would be to do Coco instead of rosewood. 

-Dave

[Edward]

Well great ...that's just great.  Give me something else I need to put on the want list.  Yeah sure, thanks a lot guys.
 
Edward

[Roseadi]

skaven, that's one gorgeous guitar and one I would LOVE to hear!

[Tammany Tiger]

Jim's comments about the Addi bracing are spot on.

I wouldn't buy an Addi top without Addi bracing based upon my experience with two Taylors with this spec.

[ggj]

Wow , that is a striking guitar!!  Absolutely beautiful in its clean lines and simplicity. Congrats on a wonderful BTO.