grand orchestra

[gerrytay]

I am very impressed with the grand orchestra series. Love the big body as it produces more bass than many other taylor body sizes that I have played.
I prefer a non-cutaway and really like these guitars. Anyone else?

[Strumming Fool]

I've played a few and was duly impressed - big sound and very balanced. They're just too big for my personal comfort, but they are great guitars.

[cigarfan]

I like em. I bought a 618e FE when they came out. Big sound and excellent for fingerstyle play even with the larger body which is not normally the case.

That said I am thinking about selling it. I just like smaller body guitars. Haven't made my mind up on the 618e. Tough decision.

[ntotoro]

I played a 518e when it first came out and really liked it... a lot. Encouraged a friend of mine to get it, but he wanted something smaller and went with a 522e instead. He couldn't go wrong either way, honestly, and wanted the smaller body. I'd have gotten the 518e, but was glad I waited because I wound up falling in love wih the 516ce-LTD.

Nick

[timfitz63]

Like all the guitars in the Taylor line, the Grand Orchestra is a great guitar; if you want a sound that is bigger (yet still balanced) than the Grand Symphony can provide, it's your guitar.  It's just not my personal preference, though; I'm finding that I largely prefer the Grand Auditorium and Dreadnought bodies for the 6-string, and Grand Symphony for the 12-string (still would like to explore a Dreadnought 12-string, though...).

It does beg the question, though:  How well would a Grand Orchestra body accommodate twelve strings, particularly given the discontinuation of the Jumbo body...?

[MB]

I'm loving my 528e all HOG GO! Great balance and big low end.
I agree with the GO body and a 12 string configuration! To me it would be a perfect match!
The low end is what most 12 strings are missing in my opinion. They're all jangle and no growl.

[Earl]

We were in Phoenix last week, and visited Acoustic Vibes Music in Tempe (a great experience).  There I played a wonderful all mahogany 528ce that very nearly came home with me.  The wife agreed that it was pretty special.  I have to spend some time with my two best guitars here back at home, but I have the serial number written down just in case I want to phone them up.  I had previously only played a 618FE last year locally and was underwhelmed by the boominess.  But the mahogany seems to tame the huge bottom end, or at least balance it better with the mids and highs.

[timfitz63]

... I agree with the GO body and a 12 string configuration! To me it would be a perfect match!
The low end is what most 12 strings are missing in my opinion. They're all jangle and no growl.

To a large degree, I think that's why I prefer the 12-string Grand Symphonies over the 6-string versions:  to my ears, the 6-string Grand Symphonies seem to have too much bass; but the 12-string versions are balanced just right.  But then again, I prefer bright-sounding guitars, in general.  But even my Maple-bodied 656ce 'growls' and 'snarls' -- just enough (for my tastes, at least) to balance the octave strings.  But if one really wanted to have a BIG-sounding 12-string, it seems to me that the Grand Orchestra would work out very well.

[sstaylor58]

I was at a road show last week and someone asked if the GO could be made into a 12 string, the reply was no, because the bracing was too light.  The lighter bracing is what gives the big body its responsiveness...

[timfitz63]

I was at a road show last week and someone asked if the GO could be made into a 12 string, the reply was no, because the bracing was too light.  The lighter bracing is what gives the big body its responsiveness...

Curious, since the BTO program seems to offer the option...  Even the Taylor web site lists a 'standard' option under, for example, the 618e, to make a 12-string version... 

[83SanDimas]

First time I played one I thought the bass was too much.  It over powered the top of the guitar and muddied the tone.  I played one again at the road show and loved it.  I do think it had a different gauge string on it as it had more balance.  Aside from that it is big.

[deepermagic]

I was at a road show last week and someone asked if the GO could be made into a 12 string, the reply was no, because the bracing was too light.  The lighter bracing is what gives the big body its responsiveness...

I was at a Road Show last night and they said the exact opposite. No one asked, they brought it up. They said the GO makes for a great 12 string, not only because of the nice sound, but because the body is so big it makes it easier on the saddle for a 12 string.

[timfitz63]

First time I played one I thought the bass was too much.  It over powered the top of the guitar and muddied the tone.  I played one again at the road show and loved it.  I do think it had a different gauge string on it as it had more balance.  Aside from that it is big.

Which models did you play?  My impression of the Mahogany-bodied 518 was like you described the first Grand Orchestra you played:  a bit bass-heavy and 'muddy.'  I found the Maple-bodied 618 to a better-sounding (i.e., balanced) version of the Grand Orchestra.  Don't recall ever trying out the Rosewood- or Koa-bodied Grand Orchestras...

[dank]

I own a new 818e First Edition. The honeymoon phase is starting to wane, and I really love it.

Of note: I have been using Fender medium pics since the '60's. On someone's recommendation, I can't recall if it was here or over at The Acoustic Guitar Forum, I purchased some heavier picks, and I love the sound of the guitar with these picks. The sound is richer and less metallic.

All in all, it's a great guitar; better than many boutique builds I have owned in the past.

[michaelw]

I was at a road show last week and someone asked if the GO could be made into a 12 string, the reply was no, because the bracing was too light.  The lighter bracing is what gives the big body its responsiveness...

Curious, since the BTO program seems to offer the option...  Even the Taylor web site lists a 'standard' option under, for example, the 618e, to make a 12-string version... 

the standard model option page on the price list states the 12 string option is for the GS only - page 9
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

there are other models that show a 12 string as being an option,
http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/312e
but it is not available on all models, such as a GC/X12

the options on the Custom program list need to be verified through a dealer -
just because the option is shown does not mean a guitar can be built with any
options combination, such as black headstock binding with an ebony overlay