Unofficial Taylor Guitar Forum - UTGF
Taylor Acoustic & Electric Guitars => Taylor Acoustic & Electric Guitars => Topic started by: Lizzy on May 08, 2014, 06:57:00 PM
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Received the HV mini today and I have to say it sounds pretty darn good. I'm always at a loss at how to describe tone but it sounds much bigger than it is and sounds fuller than the Sitka tops...to my ear.
It also shipped with a small dent in the neck. You should be able to see it in the pics I posted.
This mini is very hard to play. So much so that the tips of my fingers hurt after playing about 10 minutes, and they still hurt 5 hours later. Granted I am not used to medium strings, but this guitar feels tighter coming off the nut than the rosewood model I just sold and feels tighter than the other minis I have played recently. I don't think the action is too high...I don't know what it is. I can't barre an F chord without quite a bit of effort. Although the guitar is finished beautifully I would have liked a top that looks less striped. I also think the veneer/laminate on the back and sides looks kind of like wallpaper. I don't think the Rosewood or the Mahogany models look that way.
Anyway, unsure what I will do, but first thing I need to call Taylor and tell them about the dent.
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congrats & thanks for sharing the pics, liz 8)
i like the rectified compression grain on the top (stripey) & the stand is the perfect accoutrement :)
if the neck relief & action height seem to be ok, i would look at the action at the nut -
i think that the nut slots may require some attention, which is not a rarity for certain series it seems
the ding in the neck looks like there's wood missing to me, not just through the finish but dug into the fibers -
if for some reason a repair will not make the blemish disappear completely, i would request a
replacement neck, as you paid for a new, first-quality guitar & that is what you should receive
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Just talked to Taylor. Since the guitar is damaged they will replace it, no problem, if I decide to keep it.
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Congrats, I like the stripy!
I too found this guitar very hard on my fingers. At first I chalked it up to the medium strings and that I play mostly mandolin but maybe I'll have a local luthier look (say that 5 times fast) at it.
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I think Michael is right it definitely needs some attention. There is a hog model at my local dealer that plays great. I think maybe I should send this back (because I have to anyway because it's damaged) and get the hog...it's a known entity. I hate it when this happens!
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So sorry with your disappointment. I've been intrigued by the Holden mini but, despite the fact I acquired my last two guitars without first playing them (Alvarez and Froggy, both last fall), I would be reluctant to buy a guitar without first playing it. Don't settle......
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I think Michael is right it definitely needs some attention. There is a hog model at my local dealer that plays great. I think maybe I should send this back (because I have to anyway because it's damaged) and get the hog...it's a known entity. I hate it when this happens!
if you like the way it sounds, i'd ask to see if a neck replacement is an option -
it's difficult to determine how the playability will be, but hopefully
a little more attention will be given to the nut slots on the next one
So sorry with your disappointment. I've been intrigued by the Holden mini but, despite the fact I acquired my last two guitars without first playing them (Alvarez and Froggy, both last fall), I would be reluctant to buy a guitar without first playing it. Don't settle......
the HV mini is not available through a dealer, so playing the guitar before purchase is not an option, but
i thought i saw somewhere that there was an approval period of some type (i could be mistaken though) -
if that last two guitars were acquired without playing them first, i'd say that still being reluctant is somewhat of an oxymoron
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Michael...yes this mini sounds really nice. I think the Engelman really adds something special, but I also really like the sound of the hog minis and I like the looks of them better. This guitar looks rather anemic in person! At least IMHO.
About the neck....Taylor will exchange the damaged guitar for a new one. Do you mean I should send that guitar back and just get the neck replaced because of the nick in it and not get a whole new guitar as they have offered. I'm sorry, I don't understand.
Yes, there is a 30 day approval period.
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Michael...yes this mini sounds really nice. I think the Engelman really adds something special, but I also really like the sound of the hog minis and I like the looks of them better. This guitar looks rather anemic in person! At least IMHO.
About the neck....Taylor will exchange the damaged guitar for a new one. Do you mean I should send that guitar back and just get the neck replaced because of the nick in it and not get a whole new guitar as they have offered. I'm sorry, I don't understand.
Yes, there is a 30 day approval period.
if the guitar sounds good & damage to neck & the stiff fretting action can be corrected
with a new neck, then at least you'll have a good idea what the guitar will sound like -
it would likely be more expedient to have a replacement sent, as i would think as soon as the
guitar is received, a new one should be able to be sent, or if a call tag is being sent, once the
tracking # is active & shows the guitar is on its way back, the replacement could be on it's way :-\
the maple veneer will get darker over time -
granted this one is 10 years old, but i don't think it'll take that long to develop a "patina"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Taylor-615ce-L7-Fall-Ltd-Acoustic-Guitar-/271442141751?pt=Guitar&hash=item3f33366237&nma=true&si=AOombJXsEhU6a7LPv9huAWKDWA4%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Taylor-615ce-L7-Fall-Ltd-Acoustic-Guitar-/271442141751?pt=Guitar&hash=item3f33366237&nma=true&si=AOombJXsEhU6a7LPv9huAWKDWA4%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557)
but if you're hoping for a "clearer" (less stripey) top also, then i would go with the replacement, although
guitars that i've played with tops that looked similar seemed to have a bit more depth & "punch"
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I appreciate all the advice. I really have some thinking to do.
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if that last two guitars were acquired without playing them first, i'd say that still being reluctant is somewhat of an oxymoron[/font][/size][/color]
I won one in a raffle, the other was an impossible- to- find -in- a -store inexpensive baritone. I reiterate, Under normal circumstances I WOULD NEVER BUY A GUITAR, ESPECIALLY AN EXPENSIVE ONE, WITHOUT PLAYING IT FIRST. I had two bad Ebay experiences; I recall looking for a Breedlove 12 string and having to play 3 of the same model to find one exceptional one.
So much about how a guitar is perceived by the player depends on one's playing style. When I first became acquainted with Froggy Bottom guitars I played 8 different instruments. Only one blew me away -- the one it turns out that was specifically configured. for my playing style. Were the others bad? Of course not! Just not suited to my style!
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Playability and damaged issues aside, I'm going to return this guitar. Although the tone is really sweet I just can't get past the way this guitar looks. Shallow...I know...but it just doesn't call out while it's sitting on the stand and say play me. And for the cost I want all elements working together. For what it's worth my husband really thinks it looks sharp...but if we all liked the same guitar, there would only need to be one.
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Lizzy, as an experiment try tuning down a full step to D-D. The tension of medium gauge strings at D-D is almost identical to light gauge at E-E. My wife had me put lights on her GS Mini (mahogany top). She likes the mahogany much better than the spruce top models, BTW - it has a warmer tone. I have never heard or played a HV model with the Englemann top, however, so I cannot speak to how it compares to Sitka.
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Sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience, but from everything I've heard about Taylor, they will make it right. I have a similar playing experience with my HV Mini. I personnally like the stripey finish, as the stripes gradually appeared over several weeks. As for your comment regarding the action, I have three Tecate-made Taylors, and all initially need a truss rod tightening, and a saddle and nut shave. Otherwise, closing that barre F properly is almost impossible, especially on the fly, without getting a "buzz" or a "thup" out of the big E. After set-up on my 114ce, the problem was solved. So the Mini will go in for set-up, too. Hope all works out well for you!
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Lizzy.....you are who matters......do what's right for Lizzy. Try the hog mini (hint hint.....going to be posting my own ngd ;)).
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I'm going to go in and play the hog mini again at my local dealer. It had great action and tone.
Taylor is taking back the Holden, no problem. Everyone I have talked to has been more than helpful....great customer service.
Will be waiting for your NGD TaylorGirl!
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Lizzy.....you are who matters......do what's right for Lizzy.
Ditto!!
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Lizzy.....you are who matters......do what's right for Lizzy. Try the hog mini (hint hint.....going to be posting my own ngd ;)).
Now that is called teasing TaylorGirl. Let me think out loud here: maybe a Koa 6 string to go with the 12 er, or could it be a mando? Hummm...
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Lizzy.....you are who matters......do what's right for Lizzy. Try the hog mini (hint hint.....going to be posting my own ngd ;)).
Now that is called teasing TaylorGirl. Let me think out loud here: maybe a Koa 6 string to go with the 12 er, or could it be a mando? Hummm...
You have me confused with BigSkyTaylorPlayer (I think). Don't want to hijack Lizzy's thread....but I did drop a hint for you. Will start a ngd thread when I have more time.
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Lizzy, I love your stripes, and wish mine was a bit more stripey, but they have become more defined ... Sounds like you're not into the stripes tho. As far as the maple veneer moray pattern thing, that is actually very common in maple guitars I have noticed ... It's not unique to this guitar, and I' m not sure what causes that. I did expect it to look that way though. My hog mini, which preceded my HV was not as difficult to play as your HV, but it did help me adjust to medium strings, so much that now I don't like light strings usually because the medium adds so much meatiness to tone on all my guitars. However, I had some set up work done on my hog mini, which eased play a bit ... I do think it is a little harder to play than a typical full size Taylor, but I basically accepted that as trade off for small guitar (similar experience with other small guitars).
Does not matter though .... Doesn't sound like your guitar .... well it may SOUND like your guitar, but doesn't look or play like the guitar you want:-) Good luck getting the right one.
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Thanks for sharing your experience. It must be a disappointment, but at least you won't be out any $ because of Taylor's great return policy.
I put lighter strings on my MiniGS Rosewood and find it much easier to play now. It is not as loud--but it was almost too loud anyway, if that is possible. My husband kept thinking I had it plugged in when I was practicing, and I have had to tell him twice--no it is just a LOUD guitar. Anyway, I will probably put the medium strings back on when my fingers toughen up more, but for now as a beginner, the lights have made this a much more playable instrument for me. The mahogany top at my local shop is no longer calling my name as strongly as it once was, anyway. I hope the one you have been eyeing hasn't been sold yet (because I think it was meant to be yours;)
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GS Minis seem to be a different kind of animal, when compared with other Taylor models. While the standard line offers lots of consistency, each individual Mini seems to have its own vibe. For me, it's more of a "try before you buy" thing with these GS Minis. I've played several over the past few years - spruce tops, hog tops, various laminate backs- but in the end you have to find the individual specimen that speaks to you. Mine happened to be a rosewood, although I think that had little to do with it. As far as string gauge, I've played lights for years and years, but I've found no major adjustment with the medium gauge strings on the Mini, perhaps due to the shorter scale and lower string tension. Best of all, the GS Mini offers a nice little "vacation" from all my more serious GAs - it's just a nice, little kick-back and relax guitar. Approaching it that way really kept much of the typical anxiety out of the purchasing decision.
I hope that the next one is a keeper, Lizzy.
God bless....
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Thanks for all the replies everyone! Sometimes buying a guitar can end up being more stressful than fun. But maybe that's only when you don't have the right one:)