Taylor backs (specifically 512's)...2 piece?

[TaylorGirl]

Sorry if this post is trivial.....it's an observation that leaves me .  Anyone else own a Taylor with a two-piece back that looks like a one-piece back?

Last month, I got my wonderful new 512ce. In every picture I've seen of 512 backs, there's been a very thin black line separating the two book-matched back pieces.  I do not have that on mine.  It actually looks like a one-piece back.  I think Taylor always does two-piece back's, right (or three, if there's a wedge)?  I actually love the look....it's very clean and looks nice.  Taylor did a great job on this back, if they were trying to hide that seam.  Believe me, I have studied the back and just can't see the seam.  Here's as good of a pic as I could get of it. 

I pulled out my 414.  No thin black line, but it is apparent where the two book-matched back pieces are joined.  My GS Mini has a one-piece back.  I'm wondering if Taylor does that thin line when they can't get a clean butt joint.  I'm no luthier, that's for sure.

[jjrpilot-admin]

To me that doesn't look "book-matched." I'm sure it is, but it doesn't look that way.  I always look the symmetry of the grain on each side...yours doesn't look that way, but once again I'm sure it probably is...course what do I know...hahaha

[Cindy]

What does the back look like from the inside?

[TaylorGirl]

What does the back look like from the inside?

2 piece

[S MS Picker]

Sometimes they're really hard to see. It's bookmatched allright. I can see corresponding stripes on the sides. The shading changes w/the angle

[mgap]

The picture you are showing us, to me, looks like one piece, I am sure it is not. 
I also really like mahogany, and yours looks very nice.

[Strumming Fool]

That's a beautiful back to be sure, but I understand what you mean. Below is a picture of my 2001 514e, where the evidence of a two-piece back is quite obvious:

[TaylorGirl]

Yes, SF, that's exactly what I'm getting at. Thanks for sharing that pic. Just wondering when/why the different backs. It's merely curiousity on my part.

[Strumming Fool]

Yes, SF, that's exactly what I'm getting at. Thanks for sharing that pic. Just wondering when/why the different backs. It's merely curiousity on my part.

Mine appears to have an actual back strip- maybe rosewood or wood fiber, and perhaps Taylor has gone in a different direction, more like Larrivee, who uses no back strip on most of its models. Either way, I love the coppery mahogany finish on both of these - not a fan of the vintage red finish...

[Jurrasicway]

Hi, here's my 12 fret back.

It does have a line down the back of it but does not seem to be exactly symmetrical. However the wood is such a nice piece I'll let it go.  If it did not have the line it would look a little unmatched so really happy to have it. 

I was expecting mine to look similar to yours though Taylorgirl. Not sure if they use a different grade wood on 12 Frets?..

Jway.

[TaylorGirl]

Not sure if they use a different grade wood on 12 Frets?..

I'm guessing not, since they are both 512's. But, what do I know. Yes, you have some darker stripes in your back wood and it looks good. It's cool  how different these woods look. I think mine and SF's also look nice.....like SF said, the coppery color on these 5xx's is rich looking. But, see how 2 of these have the back strip, but not the other.

[Edward]

That's a very nice mahogany back!  Truly looks like a one-piece back and very uniformly grained!

Off the top of my head (and aging memory), I recall a grand majority of Taylors (3-series on up that I have seen, anyway) have a strip of wood or purfling as the center seam.  When the wood is highly figured, lots of times the halves are simply bookmatched without this adornment ...probably an aesthetic decision on the factory's part to showcase the figuring.  But with mahogany, matching it such that it looks like a one-piece back is more "do-able" with its grain being "tighter" and more uniform than practically every other wood we know (except its cousin sapele, with which you can plainly see its familial similarity).  Bask in the look: it's a beautiful set of mahogany.  Heck, in the LesPaul world, a real 1-pc back gives you braggin rights

FWIW, here is my gone 410ltd sans seam.

Edward

[TaylorGirl]

Thanks Edward.....your post makes good sense.  Awesome 410ltd back...has some nice quilting going on!  My 414 is similar.....nice book-match and grain w/o the center strip.  I think your thoughts must be the way Taylor does it.....each back is decided based on aesthetics.

[Strumming Fool]

Never really noticed, but my ovangkol BTO doesn't have a back strip either...



As you said, I guess it depends on Taylor's aesthetic vision, and in this case, "the angels are in the details"!