^^^Good thoughts, sir.
FWIW, if my comments may have come off as negative or skeptical, it was not my intention; and if so it's because I've inexpertly phrased it as such. This is why I hope for the best for this bracing change. That regardless of how I ultimately feel, that the change is embraced in a big way by the marketplace ...not by cork-sniffing guitarists, but by the masses who "validate' change with their wallets. Witness the aforementioned successes like the GA, GSm, ES, etc.. None needed hyperbolic (yes, my opinion here) ad-copy salesmanship as the results yielded instruments customers flat-out wanted, and did so in a big way with sales volume, and this over years. Not a bad trick
I see not just my own sentiments here, but that of others too, are borne
not of "skepticism" but more of "critical analysis" based not just on Taylor's own claim, but on what they have, in fact, produced in the past. As I had said, some were groundbreaking changes, others not --arguably, "flops" as the market has responded with its vote. So if the company --one as much as I admire and an industry leader in so many ways-- have claimed "x" and delivered less than "x" well guess what, I have grounds for valid criticism the next time a claim comes around. This, I believe, is fair, and
not negative; nor does it diminish whatever they have already --in fact-- accomplished. Moreover, upon that next claim, I reserve the right to be bowled over and want to buy it if it does, in fact, pan out to be as they had promised. I'm just calling em as I see em, that's all.
Further, I don't espouse the "traditionalist" view of a Taylor voice of this and that: I like or don't like what a guitar --any guitar-- brings or fails to bring. Most certainly, a brand has its own signature tone with Taylor, Martin, et.al. clearly carving their own place in gearland. So yes, I am a markedly clear Taylor Fanboy for many reasons: key is tone and playability, but its not because of any "traditional Taylor" tone as all my Taylors sound different ...which is why they are keepers. That said, the revoicing of the 800 series didn't "bother" me in any way. It wasn't to my liking, but that's cool since
many others love/prefer it ...even brought those "non-T" folks over. Again, not a bad trick! What
would bother me, however, is if Taylor
replaced entirely their previous voicing because they felt this new coke
were superior ...yeah, that'd be bad for the brand.
So yet again, I hope the V-bracing does the factory very well, and may indeed sway me. But with equal vigor, I hope the flavors that already are enjoyed by a great many do not succumb to the great "new and improved" mantra that seems to pervade all too many makers. I am waiting, somewhat now less eager than before the unveiling because of how they marketed this roll-out, but still eager nevertheless ...albeit with a critical eye and ears wide open, as always.
Edward