Holden village mini impressions...

[Lizzy]

Received the HV mini today and I have to say it sounds pretty darn good. I'm always at a loss at how to describe tone but it sounds much bigger than it is and sounds fuller than the Sitka tops...to my ear.

It also shipped with a small dent in the neck. You should be able to see it in the pics I posted.

This mini is very hard to play. So much so that the tips of my fingers hurt after playing about 10 minutes, and they still hurt 5 hours later.  Granted I am not used to medium strings, but this guitar feels tighter coming off the nut than the rosewood model I just sold and feels tighter than the other minis I have played recently. I don't think the action is too high...I don't know what it is. I can't barre an F chord without quite a bit of effort. Although the guitar is finished beautifully I would have liked a top that looks less striped. I also think the veneer/laminate on the back and sides looks kind of like wallpaper. I don't think the Rosewood or the Mahogany models look that way.

Anyway, unsure what I will do, but first thing I need to call Taylor and tell them about the dent.

[michaelw]

congrats & thanks for sharing the pics, liz
i like the rectified compression grain on the top (stripey) & the stand is the perfect accoutrement

if the neck relief & action height seem to be ok, i would look at the action at the nut -
i think that the nut slots may require some attention, which is not a rarity for certain series it seems

the ding in the neck looks like there's wood missing to me, not just through the finish but dug into the fibers -
if for some reason a repair will not make the blemish disappear completely, i would request a
replacement neck, as you paid for a new, first-quality guitar & that is what you should receive

[Lizzy]

Just talked to Taylor. Since the guitar is damaged they will replace it, no problem, if I decide to keep it.

[BigSkyTaylorPlayer]

Congrats, I like the stripy!

I too found this guitar very hard on my fingers.  At first I chalked it up to the medium strings and that I play mostly mandolin but maybe I'll have a local luthier look (say that 5 times fast) at it.

[Lizzy]

I think Michael is right it definitely needs some attention. There is a hog model at my local dealer that plays great. I think maybe I should send this back (because I have to anyway because it's damaged) and get the hog...it's a known entity. I hate it when this happens!

[Jersey tuning]

So sorry with your disappointment.  I've been intrigued by the Holden mini but, despite the fact I acquired my last two guitars without first playing them (Alvarez and Froggy, both last fall), I would be reluctant to buy a guitar without first playing it.  Don't settle......

[michaelw]

I think Michael is right it definitely needs some attention. There is a hog model at my local dealer that plays great. I think maybe I should send this back (because I have to anyway because it's damaged) and get the hog...it's a known entity. I hate it when this happens!

if you like the way it sounds, i'd ask to see if a neck replacement is an option -
it's difficult to determine how the playability will be, but hopefully
a little more attention will be given to the nut slots on the next one

So sorry with your disappointment.  I've been intrigued by the Holden mini but, despite the fact I acquired my last two guitars without first playing them (Alvarez and Froggy, both last fall), I would be reluctant to buy a guitar without first playing it.  Don't settle......

the HV mini is not available through a dealer, so playing the guitar before purchase is not an option, but
i thought i saw somewhere that there was an approval period of some type (i could be mistaken though) -
if that last two guitars were acquired without playing them first, i'd say that still being reluctant is somewhat of an oxymoron

[Lizzy]

Michael...yes this mini sounds really nice. I think the Engelman really adds something special, but I also really like the sound of the hog minis and I like the looks of them better. This guitar looks rather anemic in person! At least IMHO.
About the neck....Taylor will exchange the damaged guitar for a new one. Do you mean I should send that guitar back and just get the neck replaced because of the nick in it and not get a whole new guitar as they have offered.  I'm sorry, I don't understand.
Yes, there is a 30 day approval period.

[michaelw]

Michael...yes this mini sounds really nice. I think the Engelman really adds something special, but I also really like the sound of the hog minis and I like the looks of them better. This guitar looks rather anemic in person! At least IMHO.
About the neck....Taylor will exchange the damaged guitar for a new one. Do you mean I should send that guitar back and just get the neck replaced because of the nick in it and not get a whole new guitar as they have offered.  I'm sorry, I don't understand.
Yes, there is a 30 day approval period.

if the guitar sounds good & damage to neck & the stiff fretting action can be corrected
with a new neck, then at least you'll have a good idea what the guitar will sound like -
it would likely be more expedient to have a replacement sent, as i would think as soon as the
guitar is received, a new one should be able to be sent, or if a call tag is being sent, once the
tracking # is active & shows the guitar is on its way back, the replacement could be on it's way

the maple veneer will get darker over time -
granted this one is 10 years old, but i don't think it'll take that long to develop a "patina"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Taylor-615ce-L7-Fall-Ltd-Acoustic-Guitar-/271442141751?pt=Guitar&hash=item3f33366237&nma=true&si=AOombJXsEhU6a7LPv9huAWKDWA4%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

but if you're hoping for a "clearer" (less stripey) top also, then i would go with the replacement, although
guitars that i've played with tops that looked similar seemed to have a bit more depth & "punch"

[Lizzy]

I appreciate all the advice. I really have some thinking to do.

[Jersey tuning]

if that last two guitars were acquired without playing them first, i'd say that still being reluctant is somewhat of an oxymoron[/font][/size][/color]

I won one in a raffle, the other was an impossible- to- find -in- a -store inexpensive baritone.  I reiterate, Under normal circumstances I WOULD NEVER BUY A GUITAR, ESPECIALLY AN EXPENSIVE ONE, WITHOUT PLAYING IT FIRST. I had two bad Ebay experiences; I recall looking for a Breedlove 12 string and having to play 3 of the same model to find one exceptional one.

 So much about how a guitar is perceived by the player depends on one's playing style.  When I first became acquainted with Froggy Bottom guitars  I played 8 different instruments. Only one blew me away -- the one it turns out that was specifically configured. for my playing style. Were the others bad? Of course not! Just not suited to my style!

[Lizzy]

Playability and damaged issues aside, I'm going to return this guitar. Although the tone is really sweet I just can't get past the way this guitar looks. Shallow...I know...but it just doesn't call out while it's sitting on the stand and say play me. And for the cost I want all elements working together. For what it's worth my husband really thinks it looks sharp...but if we all liked the same guitar, there would only need to be one.

[Earl]

Lizzy, as an experiment try tuning down a full step to D-D.  The tension of medium gauge strings at D-D is almost identical to light gauge at E-E.  My wife had me put lights on her GS Mini (mahogany top).  She likes the mahogany much better than the spruce top models, BTW - it has a warmer tone.  I have never heard or played a HV model with the Englemann top, however, so I cannot speak to how it compares to Sitka.

[HAPPYDAN]

Sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience, but from everything I've heard about Taylor, they will make it right. I have a similar playing experience with my HV Mini. I personnally like the stripey finish, as the stripes gradually appeared over several weeks. As for your comment regarding the action, I have three Tecate-made Taylors, and all initially need a truss rod tightening, and a saddle and nut shave. Otherwise, closing that barre F properly is almost impossible, especially on the fly, without getting a "buzz" or a "thup" out of the big E. After set-up on my 114ce, the problem was solved. So the Mini will go in for set-up, too. Hope all works out well for you!

[TaylorGirl]

Lizzy.....you are who matters......do what's right for Lizzy. Try the hog mini (hint hint.....going to be posting my own ngd  ).