Wood & Steel and 700 Series

[Roseadi]

Just received my Wood & Steel and noticed the 7 series is almost unrecognizable from past 7 series models and it looks like there is no rosewood/cedar standard model in Taylor's line up. That's a loss - Taylor does that combo soooo nice.  Looks like you have to go BTO or 5 series to get a cedar top. Not a bad choice: Mahogany/Cedar = nice!

Such a big aesthetics change too. The old 7's were my favorite Taylor with their simple elegance vibe. I miss the understated rosewood binding. And it lost a fret marker on the 3rd fret (unbalanced to my eye), allbeit with new marker inlays.

Hey I was sad when Taylor changed the rosette from koa to shell! I always thought the koa rosette set the 7 series apart very nicely, especially since it was on a cedar top. Not opposed to the more traditional rosette in this new model, but always viewed Taylor as non traditional design.

Looks like my new favorite is the 500. Love the mahogany/cedar combo with tortoise binding and the white purfling line on the fretboard. SWEET!

Just hard to wrap my head around this whole thing because the change is so drastic in the 7 series line, at least from my thinking.

Glad I have my 7 series base covered! Looks like I'm headed to the 5's. Hey one of each is not a bad thing!!!!

[Steely Glen]

Agreed.  I got my 714ce for fingerstyle and light strumming to complement the 816ce I have, but it turns out that I enjoy the 714ce more than the 816ce.  It is so responsive and so warm....how could you not love it?  I guarantee that the cedar/RW combo won't be gone very long. 

[Roseadi]

I know what you mean. I originally was on a quest for an 814ce when the salesman put a 714 in my lap. Changed my thinking. In hind site it makes sense since I play almost exclusively fingerstyle, and the 714 is ideal for that! Do like the 800's too though!

[miksel]

Gentlemen,I always receive my W and S late so i am reading this with surprise.Am i reading correctly in that the 714ce i planned on ordering this week because i want the EIR back and sides paired with a Cedar top is no longer a production model? I am sure my dealer can locate a 2011 model but i had better move quickly.Thanks,Mike S.

[Roseadi]

miksel, I'm sure you can modify from the standard model, but you might want to look at the new aesthetics. They are quite different on the 7 series.

I'm sure there are plenty (now old) standard 714's out there. Hey you may like the new look.

[Cindy]

Just received my Wood & Steel and noticed the 7 series is almost unrecognizable from past 7 series models and it looks like there is no rosewood/cedar standard model in Taylor's line up.

This is what Brian had to say about some of the changes (comes from this link reply #28). If I am reading it correctly, you will be able to get a 700 series guitar with either cedar or engelmann:

I've been wanting to share all the news since we finalized everything last fall!

New Inlays
- 300,400,500,600,700

Nylons available in all 300-900 series appointments
- Grand Concert and Grand Auditorium shapes

316ce and 356ce

700 series goes Americana
- new inlay and rosette
- vintage burst is standard
- chrome hardware
- cedar and eng. tops standard (tops swaps okay)

All new K-Series
- Island vine & Plumaria inlay
- wood purflings and rosette

800, 900, PS remain unchanged from last year

Hmmm... there's more...

[miksel]

Thanks Cindy

[Roseadi]

Thanks Cindy, for clarifying. Wood and Steel does not mention the option for a cedar top, so assumed it would need to be a "modify" or BTO.

Got to admit though, the changes are a big departure from past 7 series. Not saying better or worse, just different.

[michaelw]

i'm wondering if there may still be any 'standard' cedar top on the 2012 700 series 

last year, cedar was standard on the all models on the acoustic 7 series (GC, GA, GS),
the 714ce & 716ce, with engelmann being standard on the rest of the 700 CE 6 strings

if a Google search is done '2012 Taylor 716ce guitar', 2 of them show up -
one shows to have an engelmann top & the other a cedar top, both sunburst &
neither one is noted to have a non-standard (modify-a-model) top swap

hmm ... if Brian S happens to 'swing-on-by', that'd be a good question to ask

mike, W & S hasn't arrived in my mailbox yet either
tuesday, hopefully

[Jannie]

The 714ce was the favorite of the Taylor guitars for me, I just couldn't afford it. I do like the size of my GC3 but although I see that painting over the beautiful woods has its advantages and appeals to some, I can't see myself wanting one.

At my favorite guitar store the last few visits, I noticed a lot more cedar topped guitars from it seems everyone but Martin. There were some from small shop Luthiers, Goodall, Collings and even Seagull so there are options.

I am liking the Taylor neck very much and really appreciate the style and looks of their guitars but for sound the 714ce for me is something special and Im also very curious as to what a GC with cedar over rosewood would sound like with a 12 fret neck.

But I understand the need to create new interst my making marketing changes and it usually happens when sales in one area drop below a certain percentage and this could be part of the design changes.

[ataylor]

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I really like the look of the new 700 series. That dark sunburst is really nice and it's a cool inlay too. I just wish they came in non-cutaway versions too, because it's pretty darn close to what I typically dream up whenever I flirt with the idea of saving for a BTO model.

I also miss the old 500/700 series guitars with the wood rosettes and bindings and such. That was the era when I started to get good enough at playing to even think about owning a Taylor. I always wanted a 510 or 710 back then, but there was no way I could afford one as a college student, so I "settled" for the 210 I own and love now. Maybe Taylor will do all-wood appointments on the acoustic series whenever they end up refreshing that line.

[leeasam]

from what I read the 714CE is still standard with cedar top. The 716CE now joins the 710CE with engleman as standard with cedar as an option for the 716CE.

http://www.themusiczoo.com/product/11959/Taylor-714ce-Western-Red-Cedar-AcousticElectric-Guitar-Vintage-Sunburst/

being they just got these in I doubt it was a special order.

[darylcrisp]

since acquiring the 516, i've been smitten with the thoughts of latching onto a 716(cedar top). I love the rosewood binding that taylor has put on the 516 and 7 series previously, but i tell you, i really like how this new combo is looking-particularly the burst, the whole back side, the rosette especially.

I may have to sell my Goodall...................not joking folks...........

[Edward]

Crud crud crud!  I only recently handed off my beloved GA7e ....argh!  I like the new 700s well enough, but not enough to own one.  The aesthetic changes are all wrong for me!  Sunburst should be optional, especially for cedar's naturally beautiful hue and grain.  And not chrome hw.  And a rosette that "says more."  I'm sure the tone is all there, but man this is a guitar that not only is aesthtically all wrong for me but I feel is a move in the wrong direction for such a significant guitar in their line.  Bummer, as I knew from the onset of selling mine that I'd eventually want to replace it.  I guess I'll be looking for used in the future.

Edward

[Justiceandmercy]

Crud crud crud!  I only recently handed off my beloved GA7e ....argh!  I like the new 700s well enough, but not enough to own one.  The aesthetic changes are all wrong for me!  Sunburst should be optional, especially for cedar's naturally beautiful hue and grain.  And not chrome hw.  And a rosette that "says more."  I'm sure the tone is all there, but man this is a guitar that not only is aesthtically all wrong for me but I feel is a move in the wrong direction for such a significant guitar in their line.  Bummer, as I knew from the onset of selling mine that I'd eventually want to replace it.  I guess I'll be looking for used in the future.

Edward

i believe from the W&S that only the 700 acoustic electric line has changed at all... the standard acoustic line seems unchanged so all cedar tops should still be standard on GA acoustic body size... if I understand that right...