Unofficial Taylor Guitar Forum - UTGF
Taylor Acoustic & Electric Guitars => Taylor Acoustic & Electric Guitars => Topic started by: Veloz on March 20, 2015, 03:46:31 PM
-
Been chatting with the folks at Sweetwater, apparently they expect to get very few 612's this year.
I recently played, and liked, the 614ce quite a bit, but I prefer the GC body size. I'm trying to imagine how the 612 might sound in comparison to the 614 I played..If it's even close in sound, I'm sure I'd be hooked.
Anyoneone got their antennae up for this model, or planning on trying one?
I'm guessing it's pretty unlikely that I'll just happen to find one on the local Guitar Center shelf to evaluate.. Would probably have to order one from Sweetwater to find out. But then again that's a $200 "test", since you have to pay shipping both ways if you don't like it.
Michael
-
Read in a couple of places that they won't be out until later in the year. Bet they have one on the wall, in El Cajon. Road Trip! I know what you mean about the 614. Pretty fab guitar.
-
Actually, I am looking at getting a 612e 12-Fret vs a proper 612. Can't wait to test one out!
-
A 612 12 fret would round out my GC 12 fret family very nicely!
-
Been chatting with the folks at Sweetwater, apparently they expect to get very few 612's this year.
I recently played, and liked, the 614ce quite a bit, but I prefer the GC body size. I'm trying to imagine how the 612 might sound in comparison to the 614 I played..If it's even close in sound, I'm sure I'd be hooked.
Anyone got their antennae up for this model, or planning on trying one?
I'm guessing it's pretty unlikely that I'll just happen to find one on the local Guitar Center shelf to evaluate.. Would probably have to order one from Sweetwater to find out. But then again that's a $200 "test", since you have to pay shipping both ways if you don't like it.
Michael
So they're not available yet. Taylor says in their 2015 price list that they will be available in "Q2". (Apr-Jun)
There will be 4 models:
http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/612ce-first-edition (http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/612ce-first-edition)
http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/612ce (http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/612ce)
http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/612ce-12-fret-first-edition (http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/612ce-12-fret-first-edition)
http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/612ce-12-fret (http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/612ce-12-fret)
I suspect your first opportunity to hear them, at least online, will be next month. I'm guessing they will officially launch them at Musikmesse in Europe mid-April. If so, they'll demo them there and there will be youtube videos and tweets about them, various reports from guitar magazines, individuals, etc.
I'd be a bit surprised if Sweetwater only got a few 612s this year, maybe they meant the First Edition models? (Only 100 made of each of those) But on the other hand, Taylor sold through half the number of the new 814ce models that they anticipated selling this year in January alone, so they're quite busy keeping up.....
-
Well... A couple of post earlier, I mentioned that I was waiting for a 612ce 12-Fret.
This afternoon during my lunch hour, I went into my local guitar shop to try out 12-frets to get an idea on how they "feel" in anticipation of the eventual delivery of the 612CE 12 Fret to be available in another month or two. As it turns out, the store had just received a new 612ce-FE, and although it wasn't a 12 fret, I took it for a spin.
In short, the guitar blew me away!
It was so easy to play, balanced and the bass was there in spades, even in the smaller body. it was responsive to both finger picking and fairly aggressive strumming. Although, I didn't got "all out", I did strum it fairly hard as to what would be considered the limit in 95% of my style of playing and it held up beautifully.
I then handed it back to the store owner and commented that it was "Very impressive".
I then took both an 814e 12-fret and a 522e 12-Fret off of the wall and played them for a bit to get a feel for the size and comfort of the 12 fret. By that time, my lunch hour was over, so I headed back to work. Driving back, I started to think about the "feel" of the 14 fret vs the 12 fret and I think I actually found the 14 fret to be just a bit more comfortable to play. Although I liked the feel of the smaller sized body, my left arm and hand felt ever so slightly cramped... The standard Grand Concert body just felt more comfortable to me.
That was all it took. When I pulled into the driveway at work, I called the store and told them to hold the 612ce-FE as I am coming in to buy it. Thankfully I have an understanding boss and he gave me permission to take another 30 minute of lunch time, so I went back and put a down payment on the guitar.
As soon as I sell my 2013 814ce, I will be the proud owner of a new 612ce-FE.
The new 600 series is just simply amazing...
-
Guitar center is advertising the 2015 612e as in stock and "just arrived" but no cutaway.
-
Well... A couple of post earlier, I mentioned that I was waiting for a 612ce 12-Fret.
This afternoon during my lunch hour, I went into my local guitar shop to try out 12-frets to get an idea on how they "feel" in anticipation of the eventual delivery of the 612CE 12 Fret to be available in another month or two. As it turns out, the store had just received a new 612ce-FE, and although it wasn't a 12 fret, I took it for a spin.
In short, the guitar blew me away!
It was so easy to play, balanced and the bass was there in spades, even in the smaller body. it was responsive to both finger picking and fairly aggressive strumming. Although, I didn't got "all out", I did strum it fairly hard as to what would be considered the limit in 95% of my style of playing and it held up beautifully.
I then handed it back to the store owner and commented that it was "Very impressive".
I then took both an 814e 12-fret and a 522e 12-Fret off of the wall and played them for a bit to get a feel for the size and comfort of the 12 fret. By that time, my lunch hour was over, so I headed back to work. Driving back, I started to think about the "feel" of the 14 fret vs the 12 fret and I think I actually found the 14 fret to be just a bit more comfortable to play. Although I liked the feel of the smaller sized body, my left arm and hand felt ever so slightly cramped... The standard Grand Concert body just felt more comfortable to me.
That was all it took. When I pulled into the driveway at work, I called the store and told them to hold the 612ce-FE as I am coming in to buy it. Thankfully I have an understanding boss and he gave me permission to take another 30 minute of lunch time, so I went back and put a down payment on the guitar.
As soon as I sell my 2013 814ce, I will be the proud owner of a new 612ce-FE.
The new 600 series is just simply amazing...
Yes they are! Congrats on that, your report is what I expected of the 612! The Grand Concert is awesome, if I could only have one acoustic, my custom would be it.
The 612ce-FE is rolling out now.
http://www.laguitarsales.com/index.php/taylor-guitars-612ce-2015-1st-edition-s-n-1103035074.html (http://www.laguitarsales.com/index.php/taylor-guitars-612ce-2015-1st-edition-s-n-1103035074.html)
-
The body size on a 12 fret grand concert and a 14 fret grand concert are the same I believe... The neck/bridge are shifted down.
-
The body size on a 12 fret grand concert and a 14 fret grand concert are the same I believe... The neck/bridge are shifted down.
This is correct. I was a bit suprised to find that I found the 14 fret more comfortable than the 12 fret. And it was all in my left arm
-
Maximus, what a great lunch break! I am sure you will enjoy your new 614. Please post pics when available?
I noticed by your signature your HV mini was stolen. I missed the stolen guitar day thread if there was one. What part of the world do you live in? They aren't making anymore so if any of us see someone "acquire" a HV we could let you know.
-
Count me "trigger pulled #2".
After playing the 614ce in Nashville and salivating ever since, I happend to go to acousticletter.com a couple days ago and what do you know - there was a 612ce v2 First Edition. They hadn't even had time to do their video review.
Needlesss to say, it's on the way to my doorstep as we speak.
I haven't had the chance to play this small body 6xx yet, but I'm a lover of the GC body size, so if the sound is even close to what I remember from 614ce in Nashville, it will be a keeper!
http://acousticletter.com/shop/taylor-612ce-first-edition/
I feel like a kid three days before Christmas!
Full report coming.
-
Darn it!
I hope Tony was able to review it before sending it out as I would love to see it in the catalog of reviewed guitars.
Quite frankly, the guitar exceed my wildest expectations. I think you are going to love it once you receive it.
-
I think you are going to love it once you receive it.
You're getting me all excited! Have to wait 5 days for it to arrive, but at least will have the weekend to slobber all over it, lol.
-
Also, now I will need to sell my 2014 812ce (which is also awesome, just in a different way) AND an Altus Flute, to pay for my new toy.
-
Well, I paid off the guitar and brought it home last night (Honestly, who needs TWO kidneys?) I only had about an hour or so to play it as I had other engagements to attend to last night.
In short, it was everything I remembered. It is well balanced from high to lows, without the scoop of rosewood, and event though there is still a lot of fullness and body to the sound, there is still a chime to the tone that is always present, ALMOST like a 12 string, but not nearly as pronounced.
One of the things that I had neglected to do at the store, is to try and drop the entire guitar a half step into Eb and see how it behaves. Again, it blew me away. It lost NOTHING in the sound. Dropping it down another half-step to D was a very interesting, yet positive experience. The low bass strings started to get a bit floppy as is common on many guitars dropped a full step, however, they still rang. The slop was in the feel of the stings,but not in the sound of the strings. I found this to be quite a pleasant surprise!
I am a beginner finger-style player and found the GC shape to be very comfortable to play.
I am still putting it through its paces. I have yet to plug it in, but so far, it has lived up to my expectations and is a complete joy to play.
Count me in as an official fan of the new 600 series and GC body size!
-
Congratulations Maximus! ;D Sounds like you found a winner. I will have to give one a test drive sometime.
-
Yep, continues to surprise many who thought this would just be a better maple guitar......
-
Maximus
I'm right there beside ya! My new 612ce First Edition just arrived last night and I've about played the flesh right off my fingers comparing it to my 2014 812ce.
It is a tough comparison, as the 812 has been played daily for six months and has developed some really lovely chime and lushness.
But I agree with you that the 612 is more evenly toned - no "blurry" spot in the middle-- and the bass on the 612 really makes me smile - it remains present and deep without decaying too quickly but without being overwhelming either. One of the major reasons I've strayed from the 812 (and am looking at the 612) is that to my ears, the bass on the 812 seems to "disppear" too easily, especially when fretted (less so when played open).
The treble on the 612 is still noticeably brighter than the 812, but it is not harsh, nor nasaly, nor too zingy, just more "twinkly" if you will. To my ears this is a nice counterpart to that full and somewhat growly bass.
I was playing Malaguena (fingerstyle) back and forth between the two. On the 812 I thought it sounded mostly sweet and lovely. But then when I played it on th 612, I couldn't help but smile. That bass and the twinkling highs just added so much interest and character to the piece. I played it over and over on the 612 just to keep impressing myself, lol.
I have played both plugged in to my Fishman Loudbox Mini. Both sound really good, but they seem to amplify differently somehow. I think I would give a slight edge to the 812 in this area. Not sure why there's a difference. I had both guitars set to their mid point. I'm sure with tweaking the dials you could make either sound great, and/or better than the other. So I'd say this is a toss up and both are nice amplified.
Visually I like the looks of the 612 better, although I've always thought the 812 was really a gorgeous design. The ebony binding really makes the top and rosette pop, and I prefer the ivroid inlays on the fretboard over the mother of pearl.
In the end my decision will be mostly ...emotional, or subjective, for lack of a better word. I can't say one of the guitars is objetively better than the other - they are both awesome instruments. All I can say is that when I play the 612 I catch myself smiling more often. That says a lot!
Keep us informed how your progress goes..
Michael
-
Right on! I agree with everything you say, as it matches my experience as well.
I am comparing the 612ce-FE to my 2013 814ce, and to be honest, I was amazed at how close Andy Powers was able to get maple to sound like rosewood. Don't get me wrong, there are still subtle differences (maple lacks the "scoop" in the mid range) but the tone was much closer to that of rosewood than I ever anticipated. AP said that he designed the new 600 series to appeal to people who don't like maple guitars. I think he succeeded brilliantly (the the dismay of the "traditional" maple purists ;0)
and the bass on the 612 really makes me smile - it remains present and deep without decaying too quickly but without being overwhelming either.
YES! The bass is "present" It is Well-balanced, without being woofy and it is DELICIOUS! Still loving this guitar.
Also, for me it is my first time with a x12 Grand Concert body shape. I am quickly becoming a huge fan. :)