"Old vs New" Taylor sound

[PTC Bernie]

To my ear the Taylor's of the 90's and the Taylor's of today have a different sound.  Yes, the old ones have "played in" but it's more than that.  It seems as though Taylor was going for a different sound then.  It seems more recent models have a brighter sound with more overtone and less of the fundamental.

Of course, that's just my ear, but, can anyone tell me when that change occurred?  The reason is that I'm considering a 2002 Taylor and can't decide if it'll have the "old" sound or the new brighter one. 

Thanks,

Bernie

[soma89]

bump..i`m curiouus

[ctkarslake]

What I'm curious about is how many older guitars have you (and which models) played and compared to newer guitars (and which models)?  Maybe a better way to separate them is by NT vs. Pre-NT necks?

Sounds like a question for Bob.  Only he can answer whether he was going for a certain sound back then and has since changed his focus.

[Rockitman]

I agree on the different tone...my '82 710 Lemon Grove  has a much fuller, mellow tone to me than the more recent models do. Personally, I like the tone of the older models myself...nothing against the brighter tone of newer models. Just a personal preference...

[uberschall]

A friend has a pre-NT neck 510 dread and it sounds much mellower than my recent 414. I like the current sound, though...

[Strumming Fool]

There two factors here:

1. Our own subjectivity - if I were to compare my older Taylors to my newer Taylors, my description would be the reverse of the OP's description. It has been said that the Taylor signature sound has always been brighter ("brilliance" and "zing" are alternate terms in use) and more balanced than, say Martins. That's why (IMO) Taylor did make changes to create guitars that would feature more bass, volume and depth (again, depending on the individual listener's ear) to address the unfavorable comparison to more traditionally built guitars. Today, Taylor simply typifies what is termed a "modern guitar sound".

2. The changes themselves - modifying each shape, adding the relief routing to the top, CV bracing, etc. all contribute to a modified Taylor sound.

With all this said, I happen to like both my older and newer Taylors. While they all carry a signature sound and feel, there are differences that appeal to my different moods on different days....

[R1balla]

i have a 2003 and the tone is awesome. sounds more like the newer models to me.

[tedtan]

My thoughts were along the same lines as Strumming Fool's when I read the OP. Assuming we are comparing like models (e.g., a 1995 814ce as compared to a 2013 814ce), the older ones are the ones I would characterize as brighter and the newer ones are what I would characterize as warmer. Note that I have not played a Lemon Grove era guitar, so I can't comment on them.

[Rockitman]

I guess it just proves that the sound and tone from a guitar really depends primarily on one factor...the guitar itself.  I've picked up several guitars of a certain model/make before, and not one of them sounded just like the other.  Strings, pick type used, etc. all contribute to a different tone and sound...at that point, it becomes purely subjective and personal choice of the player.  Like some of my fellow motorcycle riders have probably heard before...it's not what you ride, but THAT you ride.  Same goes for guitars...the important thing is that you play and enjoy what you are playing on.  That is all that matters!

[Herb Hunter]

I have Taylors made in 1996, 1997, 2001 and 2003. As far as I'm concerned, what I perceive as the Taylor signature sound remained consistent, though with incremental improvements, until the advent of CV bracing and the Grand Orchestra guitar. Had I been handed a CV braced 814 Taylor  in the dark (I have a '96 814), I likely would have assumed it wasn't a Taylor and the same holds for the Grand Orchestra though its timbre is an even greater departure.

[Strumming Fool]

I have Taylors made in 1996, 1997, 2001 and 2003. As far as I'm concerned, what I perceive as the Taylor signature sound remained consistent, though with incremental improvements, until the advent of CV bracing and the Grand Orchestra guitar. Had I been handed a CV braced 814 Taylor  in the dark (I have a '96 814), I likely would have assumed it wasn't a Taylor and the same holds for the Grand Orchestra though its timbre is an even greater departure.

I agree with Herb in some aspects. The CV bracing does add a new, darker, warmer dimension to the Taylor sound when it's good. However, I've heard some CV braced Taylors that seemed to have lost all of their characteristic brilliance. Regarding the GO and the GS, they're both in a different realm from the Taylor signature sound IMO...it's as if they can't make up their mind as to whether they're a Taylor or a Martin. If it were me, I'd acquire a Taylor GA or completely different brand rather than choose a GS or a GO, where the Taylor sound seems diluted at best.

[cedarkoa599]

I have Taylors made in 1996, 1997, 2001 and 2003. As far as I'm concerned, what I perceive as the Taylor signature sound remained consistent, though with incremental improvements, until the advent of CV bracing and the Grand Orchestra guitar. Had I been handed a CV braced 814 Taylor  in the dark (I have a '96 814), I likely would have assumed it wasn't a Taylor and the same holds for the Grand Orchestra though its timbre is an even greater departure.

I agree with Herb in some aspects. The CV bracing does add a new, darker, warmer dimension to the Taylor sound when it's good. However, I've heard some CV braced Taylors that seemed to have lost all of their characteristic brilliance. Regarding the GO and the GS, they're both in a different realm from the Taylor signature sound IMO...it's as if they can't make up their mind as to whether they're a Taylor or a Martin. If it were me, I'd acquire a Taylor GA or completely different brand rather than choose a GS or a GO, where the Taylor sound seems diluted at best.

I agree 1000 percent!

[Joseph]

Yea... I agree... my 2009 GS custom with cedar/rosewood is a major departure from the vintage Taylor sound. In spite of it, the sound is
incredible.  I would never have guessed that it was a Taylor in a blindfolded test.  I love it extremely... all the same. It shares nothing in a sound comparison with my 98 415 jumbo.   

I was reminded of a player who's schizophrenic GS can't seem to figure out what it is supposed to look like, or sound like!
Vive... la GS (or is that el GS) !!     

http://youtu.be/RvI_19tWWFc

[Herb Hunter]

Yea... I agree... my 2009 GS custom with cedar/rosewood is a major departure from the vintage Taylor sound. In spite of it, the sound is
incredible.  I would never have guessed that it was a Taylor in a blindfolded test.  I love it extremely... all the same. It shares nothing in a sound comparison with my 98 415 jumbo.   

I was reminded of a player who's schizophrenic GS can't seem to figure out what it is supposed to look like, or sound like!
Vive... la GS (or is that el GS) !!     

http://youtu.be/RvI_19tWWFc

I believe symphony in French is feminine so the correct article would be, la.