New member from Cape Cod ,MA

[ccreddog]

Hi All, Thanks for having me...Been playing for approx 50yrs.. Bought and sold many Guitars as most .. Im down to my Taylor 2011 414ce-LTD fall edition. Bought brand new so its only seen my fingers..Love it to death. However.. I am a flat picker and play all different styles.. I am looking for a new different sound... I want to keep it in the 2k range... I was looking at a Taylor dreadnaught for more comfort and using the flatpicking a little more..I was thinking about the Taylor 324e Grand Auditorium Tropical Mahogany/Tasmanian Blackwood.. Not a fan of Sapele.. Guess I'm old school.. Any suggestions...  Would be very welcome...324e 314e... Just dont know...need a different sound

[donlyn]

welcome ccreddog,

I too have been playing for quite a while, dating back to the british invasion in the mid-60s.

You didn't mention what woods are on the guitar you are playing, and being a Limited model, Taylor could have put anything on it. So I'll take a shot you might be playing with ovangkol. My favorite is kind of basic, I like a good combo of spruce over rosewood. I cycle through my instruments, but my current favorite is my 412e-R Grand Concert. It is a short scale spruce/rosewood (the 'R' in the nomenclature) Grand Concert and has become a joy to play. I fingerpick all my instruments and string many with Elixir PB HD Light gauge, .013 - .053. You didn't mention a rosewood option, so I thought I'd mention it.

Cape Cod caught my eye. I'm in Boston, and been around the city all my life. Care to mention what municipality you are in?

Again, welcome to the forum.

Don

[TaylorGirl]

Welcome, from another oldie. You've come to the right place for information and suggestions on a new Taylor. The combined knowledge here is wonderful. Enjoy your time.

[Strumming Fool]

Welcome ccreddog !

Your 414 is a great all-around instrument. I'm guessing from its age that it has ovangkol back and sides. Besides the 324 (another grand auditorium like what you have), you might be looking for a dreadnought. You might want to consider a 327. It has the same wood combination as the 324, but it is a grand pacific shape - sort of a slope shoulder dreadnought, great for flatpicking, but still having the Taylor signature articulation and balance. Here's a link:

https://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/327e

If you don't need the electronics, you can order the guitar without them and shave that price down a bit. Enjoy your stay and your guitar search!

[ccreddog]

This Taylor 414ce 2011 Fall LTD. I search for a while. Found this brand new at I believe it was wildwoods.. Been a while so I am not sure.. It has The back & sides are rosewood, Spruce top, mahogany neck, ebony fretboard & bridge.
This particular Fall edition has the gold hardware as well as the best woods...
 

[ccreddog]

Don, Thx ...If you ever hit the Camb scene back then you would know me.. I would live at the Plough play all day and night. Omar who did the white rabbit in the phoenix would come in w/his piccalo.. We would get that place jumping..I was the only longhair w/shades/leather who was playing at that time in the streets & the Plough and w/ D. Hunt.lol  I used to play at Plough & Stars w/Deklan Hunt as well as open for who ever was at Jacks..Bonnie R, John hammond, Spider john and such..Played most of the clubs... We had the best music scene around back then.. I will check out the 412...Not a sapele fan..
Strumming fool...I was actually looking specific at the 327e. My 414ce is rosewood back and sides.. I always try to find the LTD's however not much that interest me except the 327e. What is everyones opinion on the GP's...Thx so much Taylor girl...Looking forward to the picking all your exp on some nice guitars

[Strumming Fool]

I have played several GPs,  and have been duly impressed with their power, sweetness and balance, and this is coming from a dyed-in-the-wool grand auditorium guy. They are definitely worth your time and consideration.

[ccreddog]

Thx SF, I think Im set on 327e... Had my eye on that for a bit ...Just wasn't sure on the GP's

[Strumming Fool]

I'm excited for you! Please keep us posted on your progress,,,,,

[ccreddog]

  Will do..SF..Thx for everyone help..
SF...How do you like the 2020 714-lutz spruce/rosewood ??.. That will be my next one after next yrs litter of pups..Just had 9.. 30 yr V breeder.. Let me know how you like the Lutz spruce... When I worked at Daddys many moons Played some of the custom 700 series... But the 2020 is a a whole new game..

[Strumming Fool]

Hey I used to breed and show cats, but that was back in the 80s and 90s. The 714 is an amazing guitar. I've never been a huge fan of rosewood, having owned many rosewood guitars over the years, including Martin's, Larrivees, Lowden and yes,Taylors, among others. They all came and went, but this 714 is a whole different ballgame. The Lutz spruce is very much like Adirondack spruce with its power and presence. I'm convinced that this V class 714 along with its 614 counterpart is represents a definite improvement in volume, sustain and intonation. Hope this helps!

[donlyn]

Don, Thx ...If you ever hit the Camb scene back then you would know me.. I would live at the Plough play all day and night. Omar who did the white rabbit in the phoenix would come in w/his piccalo.. We would get that place jumping..I was the only longhair w/shades/leather who was playing at that time in the streets & the Plough and w/ D. Hunt.lol  I used to play at Plough & Stars w/Deklan Hunt as well as open for who ever was at Jacks..Bonnie R, John hammond, Spider john and such..Played most of the clubs... We had the best music scene around back then.. I will check out the 412...Not a sapele fan..
Strumming fool...I was actually looking specific at the 327e. My 414ce is rosewood back and sides.. I always try to find the LTD's however not much that interest me except the 327e. What is everyones opinion on the GP's...Thx so much Taylor girl...Looking forward to the picking all your exp on some nice guitars

Hey ccreddog,

It's possible our paths crossed, but not at the Plough. Basically being a bar, and a small one at that, I was under drinking age back then. Went to a lot of places, but most of all the Club 47. I saw John Hammond and also Spider John Koerner there. I think he spent half the night in the Oxford (Grille?) across the street. Saw Raitt somewhere back then and heard a whole lot of good music. And it was a lot of fun. My favorites were Muddy Waters and also the Chambers Brothers, sans drummer. Jim Rooney used to book a lot of nice acts at the 47. Also had a lot of fun going to the Boston Tea Party in the old church/meeting house in the back bay not too far from the Public Gardens. Place had a lot of serious rockers come through there like Zeppelin's first US tour, Jeff Beck with Rod Stewart, and the original Fleetwood Mac.

Then I got drafted and was in the Army 2 weeks after finishing school. By the time I got out, everything had changed. But my favorite song to play as a soldier was "Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag".

Don

[ccreddog]

You must have been after me..Although I was in the Pub and the Bar scene @17yo..OMG..The tea party was best. My roomate had neil Young, Steve miller over for interviews since he wrote for Fusion Mag.. We had the best music of all.. I was up on stage w/edgar winter , ELP concert at the Hatch ...Saw Mitch ryder & Detroit wheels sing"devil w/ blue dress" at Camb Comm. Joplin @ Harvard stadium.. Just about anyone who was anyone played the Tea party..On my stoop(mass Ave) I would gather 10 -15 musicians from all genres.. as they were headed to Berkley/Bost Conserve ...Fun times...