taylor gloss finish quality

[oatordeal]

just wanted to share this...i had my 814 for about 7 months now. i posted a few pics and a bit of  review before and as shown there, it has no pick guard. what's surprising to me is that after 7 months of playing, it has yet to have dings at the bottom of the sound hole (where the pick guard should be). the gloss finish is so amazingly done that even with my aggressive playing, i have yet to see marks/dings on it unlike my previous guitars before ( 2 yamahas and 1 fender acoustic). 

[TaylorGirl]

That's good to hear.  I just got my first Taylor w/o a pickguard.  But, I play fingerstyle, so a little easier on the top.  When I strum, I generally use the 414 (w/ a pickguard).

[stepchildusmc]

good to hear. i also have a natural textured carbon fiber guitar. that will cure you of ever getting pick rash ! run the pick across that just a few times and it changes your technique rather quickly. none of my Taylors have pickguards and i'm more of a strummer but pickrash is no longer a worry !

[oatordeal]

run the pick across that just a few times and it changes your technique rather quickly.

how do you mean?

[CodeBlueEMT]

 I like to strum aggressively at times, but I have a zero tolerance policy for Pete Townsend style windmills (on my acoustics anyhow). My SB-1 can handle windmills because I haven't figured out how to lose the pickguard w/o removing the pickups too. 

 I agree, it's a quality gloss finish.

 BTW: A natural texture carbon fiber guitar is pretty rough on the surface. Think "cheese grater" and imagine how fast your pick would slam on the brakes if you strummed one. 

[oatordeal]

BTW: A natural texture carbon fiber guitar is pretty rough on the surface. Think "cheese grater" and imagine how fast your pick would slam on the brakes if you strummed one. 

so you have to avoid it when strumming. got it! thanks 

[coldshot]

None of my Taylor's have pick guards, and I strum with all of them. Just don't hit the top with my pick.

[Strumming Fool]

Same here, from my oldest to my newest, no marks in the finish, and I truly am a Strumming Fool!

[sitedrifter]

I just put the Taylor universal removable pick guard on. You cannot even see it more the 1 foot away and it gives me the satisfaction of knowing this new guitarist is protected from marring the finish!

[stepchildusmc]

thanks codeblue. that's it exactly !  just look up a pic of an Adamas 2080sr and imagine running the pick across it. it's not that rough really( i do save a small fortune in waxes and conditioners) but it wakes you up when it happens. good military grade guitar that i'm not afraid to take anywhere. no humidity issues or other fallacies that wood guitars suffer.

[JB12]

I own a 114ce and have some pick rash right above the pickguard and directly below it.  When I'm at home playing, I make a conscious effort to not drag the pick on the top of the guitar (and I rarely do).  I don't think I could even classify myself as a heavy strummer.  But when I play and sing in front of an audience (whether it be at church or where ever), I can't consciously control it while I'm focusing on everything else.

I suppose I gotta keep on practicing until it's just muscle memory.

[TaylorGirl]

I just put the Taylor universal removable pick guard on. You cannot even see it more the 1 foot away and it gives me the satisfaction of knowing this new guitarist is protected from marring the finish!

Yes...got one with my 512ce just in case I need it.

[MexicoMike]

The Taylor finish is certainly tougher than that of many other guitars, like my Martin HD28.  However, I would install a pick guard unless you play strictly fingerpicking - classical style - with no "pinky planting" and you do not do any flat pick, slap or tap-type strumming.

Clear pickguard material, like that used for flamenco guitars can be cut to any shape and is virtually invisible.  I installed it on both sides of the sound hole on my new Taylor Gs-5 12 so no matter what I do, there is no danger of tearing up the finish.  I finger pick, flat pick, slap strum, etc so for me the pick guard material is mandatory. But I'd suggest that even if you believe you won't ever scratch the instrument,  some sort of pick guard is good insurance.  The Taylor finish is tougher than most but it is by no means scratch or dent proof.