Would you rather own a 2014 800 series or a 1994/model with some age?

[Jersey tuning]

Age does wonderful things for the tone of a guitar.  But a series of improvements such as extended to the 800 series of Taylors makes a compelling argument for owning the latest and greatest.  If you could buy one or the other--  say a 1994 814 vs a 2014 814, which would it be?

[GoManGo]

If you had said a 2014 800 series or 1998, I would've gone with the 1998.

With what you offered I went with the new 2014 800 series

GoManGo...

[Jersey tuning]

If you had said a 2014 800 series or 1998, I would've gone with the 1998.

With what you offered I went with the new 2014 800 series

GoManGo...

Tell me why the 1998 vs the 1994. In the meantime I will modify the poll to offer a more generally "aged" option

[Jersey tuning]

The response so far is impressive, considering few if any have played the 2014!  The influence of Wood and Steel...(a cynic might say Taylor hype)

[DennisG]

The influence of Wood and Steel...(a cynic might say Taylor hype)

If I wanted to skew the results of a survey, that's exactly what I'd say.

I've played the new 814, and I found it to produce a more balanced tone than my 3-year-old 814 -- more presence in the midrange, more punch in the bass.

[Jersey tuning]

The influence of Wood and Steel...(a cynic might say Taylor hype)

If I wanted to skew the results of a survey, that's exactly what I'd say.

I've played the new 814, and I found it to produce a more balanced tone than my 3-year-old 814 -- more presence in the midrange, more punch in the bass.

culpa me.  Good info.

[azslacker]

After playing all the 8's on display in El Cajon, the thing that stood out the most to me was the mid range responce. Never cared much for rosewood bodied guitars, until that day. Must have picked up the GC 5 times while I was there. I voted for the new one.

[michaelw]

If you had said a 2014 800 series or 1998, I would've gone with the 1998.

With what you offered I went with the new 2014 800 series

GoManGo...

Tell me why the 1998 vs the 1994. In the meantime I will modify the poll to offer a more generally "aged" option

probably because there was no "official" 814ce model in 94
http://www.elderly.com/items/20U-14170.htm
http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/20U-15041.htm
the 814c was available in 96
http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/20U-12066.htm
& 97
http://elderly.com/vintage/items/20U-13721.htm
& the 814ce in 98 - this is a 99
http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/20U-13448.htm

with changes being made from 94 to 13, such as UV finish, NT neck with fingerjoint headstock
ES, grover tuners to ping-sourced Taylors, rosette, fretboard inlay, standard II bracing, 9V ES
maple binding, scarfjoint headstock, CV bracing & ES1, not mention body shape, depth, along
with different standard nut widths & scale lengths on the non X14s models & the X16 & X18s,
just by going from one year to other, with just one choice, there may be fewer members here
that have played 94 800 series models than there are that have played the current 800s

with the options listeds the results of the poll have no choice but to be skewed, imho, &
if one cannot select what would be their first choice & is relegated to second chance,
what if one would rather not, or does not intend to, own a 800 series, or if they intend
to add a 14 800 model to the older 800 series they already own, rather than one or the other ?

does the 94 option mean as close to a NOS "unplayed" model as possible
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Taylor-XXRS-guitar-and-case-near-PERFECT-never-gigged-/251446233930?
& does the aged option mean played to within in an inch of it's life "rode hard & put up wet" ?

i have the latter, but it's 5 years, chronologically, older than 94 & it has eons more physical age on it

after the poll has been altered, a member cannot go back & change their vote, so it is what it is -
if you don't mind my asking, please tell me why the 2 choices span a 20 year difference only ?

[MexicoMike]

I tend to prefer new guitars to used guitars for the simple reason that new guitars don't need neck work or fret work due to wear.  The notion that old guitars sound better JUST because they are old is a common belief but I have never seen/heard anything that actually verifies that guitars sound better or "open up" as they get older.   Sure, old guitars that were constructed better sound-wise sound better than new guitars that aren't but I have never seen any real evidence that your 20 year old Taylor (or Martin, or Collings, or Silvertone) sounds better now than it did then.  (Saying, "I know it sounds better," is no proof that it sounds better).

Yeah, I know, folks are going to disagree  but one would think in all these years of such claims, that someone would have made a quality recording of a new instrument and done the same recording over some years to prove the claim…but nada…

[michaelw]

I tend to prefer new guitars to used guitars for the simple reason that new guitars don't need neck work or fret work due to wear.  The notion that old guitars sound better JUST because they are old is a common belief but I have never seen/heard anything that actually verifies that guitars sound better or "open up" as they get older.   Sure, old guitars that were constructed better sound-wise sound better than new guitars that aren't but I have never seen any real evidence that your 20 year old Taylor (or Martin, or Collings, or Silvertone) sounds better now than it did then.  (Saying, "I know it sounds better," is no proof that it sounds better).

Yeah, I know, folks are going to disagree  but one would think in all these years of such claims, that someone would have made a quality recording of a new instrument and done the same recording over some years to prove the claim…but nada…

recording technology, & likely one's hearing, has also changed, possibly significantly, in the past 20 years &
to have recorded "proof" to appease someone other than owner is unnecessary, imho, because what
really matters is whether the owner of the guitar is happy with the tonal change over time or not -
i am, so i am in the disagreement camp, whether the guitar has been played over a period of time or not & for me
one of my guitars, it took a year's time & one of my friends that knows the guitar & shares similar preferences in
tone agrees also, not that there's validation needed, but for me it was confirmation that i wasn't just "hearing things"

ymmv

[Jersey tuning]

This poll was unfortunately not thought out (by me) adequately enough to yield a truly satisfying result, but nevertheless the responses are interesting and informative; the criticisms are well placed and will stimulate us all to widen our Taylor horizons.  Just as guitar player skill sets vary widely on this forum, so varies our members' knowledge of--and interest in-- the history and development of Taylor guitars. Some just wanna play, others wish to explore every nuance of the Taylor experience, and many of us fall somewhere in between.   

[Cindy]

This poll was unfortunately not thought out (by me) adequately enough to yield a truly satisfying result, but nevertheless the responses are interesting and informative; the criticisms are well placed and will stimulate us all to widen our Taylor horizons.  Just as guitar player skill sets vary widely on this forum, so varies our members' knowledge of--and interest in-- the history and development of Taylor guitars. Some just wanna play, others wish to explore every nuance of the Taylor experience, and many of us fall somewhere in between.

Think it through carefully and let me know if you want the poll redone. We mods have the ability to add more (or delete) options and to also allow members the option to change their vote. If you want more than 3 options, write out what you want and it can be edited.

[Jersey tuning]

This poll was unfortunately not thought out (by me) adequately enough to yield a truly satisfying result, but nevertheless the responses are interesting and informative; the criticisms are well placed and will stimulate us all to widen our Taylor horizons.  Just as guitar player skill sets vary widely on this forum, so varies our members' knowledge of--and interest in-- the history and development of Taylor guitars. Some just wanna play, others wish to explore every nuance of the Taylor experience, and many of us fall somewhere in between.

Think it through carefully and let me know if you want the poll redone. We mods have the ability to add more (or delete) options and to also allow members the option to change their vote. If you want more than 3 options, write out what you want and it can be edited.

Thanks, Cindy, but this research is not being used for a PhD dissertation.  Just some informal musings; if people found this thread to be useful, or at least entertaining, so much the better. If not., better luck next time. 

[Cindy]

Okay...no problem.

[GoManGo]

I've recently played 2 of the new prototype 814's and a First Edition 814ce. All 3 were excellent with solid mid-range and low end. Big improvement. I wish I didn't have to settle for the maple neck binding as my only choice to get the new updated 800 series. Can't BTO the new bracing or thin finish just yet.

Of the "older" Taylor's, I own a 1997 510, 1998 710e and recently sold a 1997 614GB Gerry Beckley. I have never had a 1994 as I didn't care for the Taylor square shouldered dreadnought style from that era. In those years that was my bodystyle of choice, kind'a still is.

While I think the aging process of my guitars, especially the 1998, has contributed immensely to the mellowing and opening up of the overall sound... it's 's the "feel"... or playability, if that's a word, that made me vote 1998 if that was a choice. Something about those hand finished necks and perhaps how they work with the fretboard radius from that era that does it for me. The new necks are fine and feel great, but my point of reference is my 1998 because of all the Taylor's I've owned, that is my personal benchmark.

I'd love for Taylor to come out with a limited production "Traditional Series" with a new Taylor square headstock. Offer this "TS"series in a 12 and 14 fret dreadnought, new slope D body 12 or 14 fret, GA and GC with the new bracing and thin finish. An "Aged Tone" top option would would really shake things up! Now were talkin'....

Great poll BTW.

Tom