Hi, I just bought my first Taylor on Tuesday.
I set off to Peach Guitars in Colchester intending to part exchange my 2012 Martin D28P for a Martin 000-18e Retro. The 000-18e was a pretty good guitar but it just didn't have any wow factor. It seemed a bit dead and I found the action a bit difficult despite the light gauge strings and performing artist neck. Also the much vaunted pick-up system sounded pretty ordinary piezo to me. I tried a reference 2014 000-18 standard to see if maybe all the electronics in the Retro were killing the acoustic sound but it sounded much the same.
About this point I was wondering whether it had been worth the 2 1/2 hour drive, when Al (the owner) came into the booth with a small 12 fret Taylor and said give this a try. Well I did and it just had much more zing than the 000-18s. The whole guitar pulsed when I played it. The action was much easier and plugged in it sounded like an acoustic guitar, no piezo tizz. I had been really sceptical because the back wood looked pale like maple and I was expecting it to be bright with no bass but it has to become of the most balanced guitars I ever heard. It's like mahogany and rosewood blended together: good bass, strong mids and defined powerful treble.
After much deliberation because the Taylor was £300 more than the 000-18e Retro, I decided to take the plunge. I am now the delighted owner of a 712e 12-fret fall limited edition. The back and sides are Blackheart sassafras and what an amazing tonewood it is. Bracing is something fancy off the latest 800 series and it has the expression system 2. It's a slot head, 12 fret and it is beautiful.
Shine on,
Pat
