This aesthetic has been Powers' trend since he started changing things up. On model after model, he has tended (not completely, of course) to move away from the ab rosette toward simpler designs in wood; likewise many of the fb inlays have grown smaller. Like it or not, it
is what it is because
he has the baton, per Bob, himself.
One could lament the changes, but I think that's ultimately fruitless since the Taylor line has been heading this way (some would argue as visually "simpler" or "less blingy") for a few years now. Another way of looking at the changes, both aesthetic and the tonal "revoicings," is that any company
must continually reinvent itself if they are to remain in the public eye. Gibson, Martin, Fender --all have done this since their inception, and no more evidenced than by the vast range of instruments (trends?) what they offer today. Taylor, the "upstart" in relative terms, likely sees the same.
That said, I look at it somewhat differently: I now value my precious Taylors and RTs even more
now that the line has been changing. I have but one "powers" model, which I very much dig, but it is the previous-gen Ts and RTs that are my absolute keepers. I suppose a future model "could" jump out at grab me, but thus far, it hasn't happened yet
Edward
