Your experience with the 812ce?

[drose]

Hi everyone,

 I've been playing this 812ce at a local guitar shop off and on the last couple of weeks, until I can afford to maybe purchase it. I was wondering what your experience has been with this guitar, how has the sound opened up? I would be getting the standard one with the spruce top. How has it recorded, and how has it played live? Is it to be compared with the 814ce, I know this guitar has more bass and volume, but the 812ce is just so comfortable! Is it still worth the $ you paid for it, and would you get another one if it were lost?

Thanks everyone, would really appreciate your input. Super new to Taylor and these things.

~Drose~



edited for price

[Fellrunner]

I've owned my 812ce for 2 years and absolutely love it.  Not only is the small body really comfortable but it has a short scale as well - it is a real delight to play, particularly if you play a lot of fingerstyle at which it excels.  Unplugged it has less bass than an 814 but the CV bracing and deeper body than my 2001 712 give it more bass than it's small size would suggest (in my opinion) - certainly enough to keep me happy when playing unplugged at home.  95% of the time I play plugged in anyway and it certainly has plenty of bass with the appropriate eq settings via the ES (which I also love for it's ease of use and feedback resistance).

[drose]

Thanks for the answer! Most of my stuff is a mixture between finger picking and strum, but when I play live with a band, I strum mostly. Will it still be good for blending as a rhythm instrument with other instruments, or even by itself?

[oatordeal]

will this be your only or main guitar? if yes, then i think you should consider the 814 and give it a try. 814's are the swiss army knives across the taylor models. it will pretty much do anything you want it to. 

[drose]

No I have a martin dread, but it would be my back up guitar/might eventually become my main guitar since I want to keep my martin tuned to d standard. Man that stinks. Wish you could pack as much sound in an 812 as in an 814!

[DennisG]

I have an 814, but I have to say, if I had it to do all over again, I'd get an 812 or a 712 ( I love the new burst finishes) instead.  There's only one scenario where the slightly less volume would seem to have an impact, and that's playing unplugged with other musicians whose dreads, fiddles, and banjos might overwhelm you.  But even an 814 might suffer in that context.  But for playing solo (either plugged in or acoustic) or playing plugged in with other musicians, an 812 is a great guitar.

[drose]

Okay, thanks! I think I'm going to go with the 812, now just to save up the $$$ if anyone else has experience with it, I would still like to hear!

[CodeBlueEMT]

 Hi Drose. Have you considered other Taylor GC models besides the 800 series and/or other manufacturers? Maybe give the 612ce a try if you haven't already.   

[drose]

No, but I don't want a maple guitar. I want it to be rosewood. 

[Strumming Fool]

First of all, let me say that I'm a big X14 fan, as you can see by my signature. I have not owned an 812, but I did own a 712 (GA7) for a while. It had a cedar top with rosewood back and sides. The guitar had a beautiful, full sound. However, its short scale made it less than satisfying as a strummer for me. I do believe that an 812 with a standard scale would be a better fit for a finger stylist/strummer, especially in a band setting. That extra string tension is what provides a bit more punch, albeit a touch less warmth. Just my opinion...

[drose]

Thanks, I appreciate the comments, keep them coming! Also, if you guys hear of any deals or used deals on an 812ce, let me know!