My first post and first Taylor (416ce - sltd)

[jjrpilot-admin]

Congrats!  It's beautiful guitar!   

[Strumming Fool]

Yes, it is a three piece back. When I get home from work I can take some more pictures to show...

Very nice- is the center wedge made of a wood different than the ovangkol?

[alxkirkland]

Yes, it is a three piece back. When I get home from work I can take some more pictures to show...

Very nice- is the center wedge made of a wood different than the ovangkol?

All ovangkol

[Strumming Fool]

Ovangkol can display many different colors and patterns. I'm still wondering whether that's really a two-piece back with some dramatic color/grain variation in the center. Most Taylor 3-piece backs  have a distinct purfling border on the middle wedge, but in all instances, you can really see the three pieces clearly. Yours appears to a two piece back with some striking varigation. Not trying to be argumentative as you have the actual guitar in front of you. In any case, it is very pretty!

[mgap]

Ovangkol can display many different colors and patterns. I'm still wondering whether that's really a two-piece back with some dramatic color/grain variation in the center. Most Taylor 3-piece backs  have a distinct purfling border on the middle wedge, but in all instances, you can really see the three pieces clearly. Yours appears to a two piece back with some striking varigation. Not trying to be argumentative as you have the actual guitar in front of you. In any case, it is very pretty!

If you look into the sound hole you will see the bracing for a three piece back is evident.

[timfitz63]

Ovangkol can display many different colors and patterns. I'm still wondering whether that's really a two-piece back with some dramatic color/grain variation in the center. Most Taylor 3-piece backs  have a distinct purfling border on the middle wedge, but in all instances, you can really see the three pieces clearly. Yours appears to a two piece back with some striking varigation. Not trying to be argumentative as you have the actual guitar in front of you. In any case, it is very pretty!

I hear what you're saying, and thought the same thing myself.  But if you look at the photo showing the inside of the soundhole, you can see the thin wood strips that Taylor puts along the seams of the back splaying out along that third piece in the center.  It's definitely a three-piece back -- and a very interesting one at that, the way Taylor used the lighter-toned Ovangkol between the two darker pieces.  I think they may have deliberately omitted the purfling they typically place between the pieces of the three-piece back to create a more seamless visual effect for the back, letting the differences in shading do what the purfling normally does for the asthetics of the three-piece back.  Definitely eye-catching!

[alxkirkland]

The wood strips actually made it difficult to read the Where serial number as its on the right side of the strip along the seam. When I bought the guitar the dealer had to use a mirror just to see it.

[Strumming Fool]

If you look into the sound hole you will see the bracing for a three piece back is evident.

Should have seen that - thanks mgap! Interesting that the specs display a 2-piece back , no wedge, but those specs have been wrong before....I wonder how many 3-piece backs were done on these...

http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/416ce-sltd#specifications

[timfitz63]

... Interesting that the specs display a 2-piece back , no wedge, but those specs have been wrong before....I wonder how many 3-piece backs were done on these...

From what I've seen, it's turning out to be a fairly common feature on the 2014 400-Series Spring Limiteds.  Empire Music in Pittsburgh has 416ce and 456ce Spring Limiteds, both with 3-piece backs (and both with the typical purfling that separates the pieces).  But neither is quite as visually interesting as "alxkirkland's"!

[mov wiz]

 . A lot of Taylor fans out there!
I also recently bought the 416 over the 414ce as continue to do a modified Travis style James Taylor style picking.  The lower registers are more attune to my ear I guess.  It is a great guitar !   Love the unfinished wood look but urs does look awesome!

[michaelw]

congrats on the 416ceSLTD & thanks for sharing the pics

Ovangkol can display many different colors and patterns. I'm still wondering whether that's really a two-piece back with some dramatic color/grain variation in the center. Most Taylor 3-piece backs  have a distinct purfling border on the middle wedge, but in all instances, you can really see the three pieces clearly. Yours appears to a two piece back with some striking varigation. Not trying to be argumentative as you have the actual guitar in front of you. In any case, it is very pretty!

the size center panel on the 3 piece ovangkol backs is in-between a miniwedge & "full-third" panel &
i've seen a 412ceSLTD with a 3 piece back & it was unexpected on the smallest all-solid body shape -
i've owned 300 & 400s with 3 piece backs that not only had no purfling strips, but no inner backstrips
either & the one that still hangs out here is a 414k, all matte with pinless bridge & full-third middle panel

ovangkol can vary a good bit in appearance
414e

416ce

BTO


martin uses a rosewood center panel on one of their ovangkol models
http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/names/martin-dc-16ogte-cutaway-guitar-and-case-with-rola--DC16OGTE.htm

it's a little different, but then so was their MTV unplugged rosewood/maple 000
http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/MTV2G.htm

[Strumming Fool]

congrats on the 416ceSLTD & thanks for sharing the pics
the size center panel on the 3 piece ovangkol backs is in-between a miniwedge & "full-third" panel &
i've seen a 412ceSLTD with a 3 piece back & it was unexpected on the smallest all-solid body shape -
i've owned 300 & 400s with 3 piece backs that not only had no purfling strips, but no inner backstrips
either & the one that still hangs out here is a 414k, all matte with pinless bridge & full-third middle panel

ovangkol can vary a good bit in appearance
BTO

Thanks for the info, Michael. I played the one above, which helped me to decide on my own BTO. This one had a great sound, having an Adi top with Adi CV bracing!