Do you miss cedar?

[Edward]

I sold my beloved GA7e some time ago now, and have since discovered the tonal beauty of engelmann (and euro spruce) so it kind of makes up for no longer having cedar/rw tone.  Still, thinking of the Taylor line in the past couple of years, and now with the current W&S out, I feel like the factory has "moved on" and left a big sans-cedar gap in their lineup.

Yeah, I know they still list the wood, but no longer does cedar enjoy a spot as a distinct model of their standard line.  Remember the 500s and 700s of old?  The richness and punch of cedar/mahog 5s, or the deeper voice with pronounced mids in their cedar/rw 7s?  Perhaps their sales numbers said it all, but I still miss em.  Maybe there just wasn't enough cedar love out there...  Your thoughts?

Edward

[MR XXXXX]

I am pretty sure if you order or find a 514ce, 512ce in a store, it will still have cedar...

http://www.nstuffmusic.com/p-433-taylor-514ce-grand-auditorium-cutaway-acoustic-electric-guitar.aspx?gclid=CL7Ym-ecwLwCFa1lOgodm2UAnQ

http://www.themusiczoo.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=11969&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CNn24ticwLwCFURnOgod63gAMw

[michaelw]

the 98-00 700 series had cedar tops, even the 710 & the 516ce went from
cedar to engelmann in 12, where the 512ce went from engelmann to cedar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGx5wOmUKR0

with the current 51X & 700 series having sitka tops, perhaps the overall trend was
that the models sold were a little more about the aesthetics last year, with other
differences being the 800s having CV bracing & the 900s with a bone nut & saddle -
to me, cedar/rosewood, especially in the 716ce/GS7 & cedar/hog in the 514ce/GA5
have a certain warmth & the tone is "comforting" to my ear, for lack of a better word

there is no cedar top Taylor in the stable at the moment & i did pickup a washburn wg26s
not too long ago, but i believe i'm fixin' to rectify that situation here shortly ... aiiiiiiee 

I am pretty sure if you order or find a 514ce, 512ce in a store, it will still have cedar...

http://www.nstuffmusic.com/p-433-taylor-514ce-grand-auditorium-cutaway-acoustic-electric-guitar.aspx?gclid=CL7Ym-ecwLwCFa1lOgodm2UAnQ

http://www.themusiczoo.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=11969&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CNn24ticwLwCFURnOgod63gAMw

the default specs show sitka, but there are cedar ones out there -
here's one more
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/514ceES2?device=c&network=g&matchtype=&gclid=CMzxh5ijwLwCFSzNOgodR38ApA

[Ironhead1977]

I have a cedar top 714ce that works really well.

[MR XXXXX]

MichealW, I believe you are mistaken... On page 33 of the Winter 2014 Wood and Steel, it clearly lists 512/514, JMSM, and Standard Model Options all as ways to get a cedar topped Taylor.

[michaelw]

MichealW, I believe you are mistaken... On page 33 of the Winter 2014 Wood and Steel, it clearly lists 512/514, JMSM, and Standard Model Options all as ways to get a cedar topped Taylor.

i may  have made an error, but the 514ce at nstuff music has ES1 & the
514ce at the music zoo, also with ES1, is was started in september 2013 -
the 514ce at sweetwater clearly has ES2, even though the start date was around
a month later than the one at the music zoo, so it could  be a SMO cedar top


the 2014 $ list shows only the 512ce & 514ce-n as having standard
cedar tops & the JMSM as well, which is also a nylon string model -
page 5 & 12
http://www.taylorguitars.com/sites/default/files/TaylorGuitars-2014PriceList.pdf?utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Guitar%2BMenu%2BDropdown%2BLink&utm_content=PDF&utm_campaign=Price%2BList%2B2013%2BDownload
page 9 shows a SMO for a cedar top on the 500 series, which likely
means for steel strings, as the nylons have a cedar top standard

'e' after 'a', please ...
thanks

[MR XXXXX]

AE. 

Pretty sure it's as simple as the 512s and 514s have cedar tops.  They did last year, and they do this year.  The new pickup was phased in late last year apparently.  Serial numbers are start dates so, an Oct serial may not have shipped until recently.

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-TAY-514CEES2-LIST?src=Y0802G00SRCHCAPN&gclid=CPu10fLYwLwCFQvxOgodK2kAEg

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/512ceES2

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/51212fretES2

http://www.themusiczoo.com/product/18015/Taylor-512e-12-Fret-Grand-Concert-AcousticElectric-Guitar-Shaded-Edgeburst/

[michaelw]

the ams model is a pre-order, as it's not in stock & the edgeburst
12 fret at music zoo is a february 2013 with ex-legacy model specs -
here's a 14 512 with cedar top
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/512

[GoManGo]

I had a 25th Anniversary 710 Brazilian with a cedar top. Wish I still had that one!

[Black Dog]

I don't miss cedar, because it have one !
I think my favorite Taylor is my 516ce cedar top with a honey sunburst top. Beautiful to look at, even more beautiful to listen too. I love it.

[guitararmy]

Two of my favorite Taylors have cedar tops, a GS7 and a 710 Koa dread.
So I understand your love of cedar!

[Jersey tuning]

I think for what Andy is trying to achieve tonally cedar works against his plans.  Cedar might be reintroduced once Andy figures out how to best tweak it.   Am I close?

[michaelw]

up until 07, the top woods used to differentiate the 700-900s, the X14s in particular,
with the 714 having a standard cedar top, sitka on the 814 & engelmann on the 914 -
out of the models i've played, the wood combos, seemed very well matched to the
respective series, as that time, all 3 series shared the standard II bracing pattern &
the cedar top 700s sounded richer & warmer, to me, than a cedar top on a 900 series

currently, the bracing patterns are responsible for the tonal differentiation, with
standard II on tne 700s, AP on the 800s & CV on the 900s & i imagine before too
much longer, AP bracing will likely be phased into the 900 & koa series as well -
cedar is an option on 500/up models, except for the X18, which may  be either due to size or
strength constraints, or cedar may  not have the desired response with the voicing of the X18

i don't think cedar is "working against" anything, as Andy has worked with & is familar
with a very wide array of tonewoods, body shapes & instruments other than guitars
http://www.andypowersinstruments.com/wood.html
http://www.andypowersinstruments.com/models.html

[fretted]

I have a 714 cedar/rosewood from around the turn of the century. I love this combination of woods which is ideal for my thumb pick/bare fingers style of playing. It sounds rich and easy if that makes sense.

[espgnlo]

Well here's the thing Edward, just last Thursday night I sat down with my GS7 and had some quality playing time. Again I was amazed at the tone coming out of the combination of Cedar and Rosewood. I am not a finger picker but play with a pick. I do some pretty decent strumming and never experience a lack of tone due to using a pick like I so often read about. I can play any style of music and yet this guitar consistently does the job. From the first time I heard the combination of Cedar and Rosewood at a Taylor Road Show I knew I had to have one of these, just really liked that tone. And I'm a big fan of the GS size. So I'm with you and many others that appreciate this tone and warmth in sound. I would never encourage anyone on this forum to buy another guitar...but if you are so inclined add another cedar top to your stable...and this time keep it! Good luck!!!