Unofficial Taylor Guitar Forum - UTGF
Taylor Acoustic & Electric Guitars => Taylor Acoustic & Electric Guitars => Topic started by: tdavis on February 02, 2021, 03:23:30 PM
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I am actively considering buying either a new 324e (I prefer symetry vs. a cutaway)...and am having a little trepidation before pulling the trigger since my experience with Mahogany topped guitars have only been with the Martin Series-15 guitars, and I wasn't really impressed. They were just too "mellow" and warm for me...so for years I've leaned toward a spruce top on a hog back/sides that gave me the punch I needed.
But...I was offered a really amazing deal on a 324e from an online dealer I've dealt with on other occasions...and he says the blackwood tone wood on the back/sides of the 324e gives the Taylor a totally different tone than the Martin, and that he believes the "bigger" sound will please me.
Can some of you that own a 324e or 324ce with the new V-class bracing jump on board here and give me some mini-reviews of your experience? If you went to this model from a spruce-topped guitar, I'd really appreciate your viewpoint as well. Are you pleased? Is it punchy enough? Does it get muddy with strumming? How is the bass response (I know...I'm coming from Martin, so humor me!)? Also...how is the satin finish? Is it the "silent satin" like on the GP models?
Anyway...thanks in advance for your help. I'd like to either order it tomorrow, or move on.
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While I did not own a V braced 324, I did own a 324 X braced model a couple of years ago. I am in agreement with the dealer. It was not too mellow. It was articulate with a pleasantly unique tone due to its pairing with blackwood. Besides, I believe that Taylor has overcome the "mellow" issue with all of its hardwood topped guitars in recent years. As the owner of two v braced GAs, I believe that the v bracing will make it that much better. Hope this helps!
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I have a 2020 324ce, V-class. I bought it by mistake thinking I was getting a 12-fret. I kept the guitar and I must say that it's a really nice guitar. It does have a very different and much bigger sound than the Martin, in my opinion. It's more clear and not muddy. While it is probably the most mellow Taylor (in my opinion) it is a great guitar that is still very clear and pleasing to hear. The trick is to have someone else play it while you step back and just listen when you go to try one out. I think it sounds very different in front of the guitar from your position holding it and that can be misleading. It plays great just like a good Taylor should so when you try it out, spend more time in front of the guitar listening to it than jus setting there playing it. The electronics are the ES-2 and fantastic, just like they are on any other Taylor. If you are not experienced with them, again, have someone else play the guitar while you make very small adjustments to the controls. I find just leaving them at the detent setting is about perfect in most cases. I'm gping to be putting mine up for sale only because I wanted the 12-fret and it's a very different animal. I would, however, tell you that the 324 in either configuration (cutaway or not) is a great guitar. Not just good but great. Even though the price point is only $2200, these are Taylors and works of pure genius in guitar design and build. You will have a slight learning curve going from Martin to Taylor but, if you give them a chance, you won't go back........I just wouldn't even consider any other brand of guitar now. Buy the 324 and start enjoying a great guitar. The V-class is truly something very unique and special!!!
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I have not owned a 324, so this is just conjecture on my part. In my opinion, tasmanian blackwood is the most dominating tonewood I have ever experienced. I used to think cocobolo was powerful until I bought a redwood/blackwood guitar; the blackwood more than balanced out the warmness of the redwood. So I would be hard pressed to believe that you would find the sound too mellow.
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I have a 2019 324ce w/V-class bracing. It is slightly different in that it's all mahogany, not mahogany top/blackwood sides and back so I can't compare it to that.
I've had this guitar a few months and absolutely love it. It has a unique sound. Hard to describe but woody with clarity and a strong bass response. It is a completely different beast than my 614ce spruce/maple, or my 29yr old 410-rw, spruce/IRW. I've been playing it more than the others by a long shot. There's something very "vibey" about it, if that makes sense? It is a pretty punchy sounding guitar with a warmer overall sound than the 614 and a much clearer sound than the 410, which is a dread and pretty boomy. I had some trepidation buying an all mahogany guitar not being familiar with them and I have no regrets at all. The satin finish looks great but does pick up finger prints, etc. pretty easily. I got some Music Nomad Guitar Detailer which took care of that.
People may have strong opinions about this but I tried a number of different strings on it and found it sounded best with Elixir PB nano Extra Lights. A lot of people huff at XL's on an acoustic but I find that less string tension lets the top vibrate much more. The difference between a set of regular lights and XL's on this guitar was very noticeable, maybe because the mahogany top is stiffer than spruce? The change is easy and just requires a slight truss rod adjustment. There's a great vid on the Taylor site about truss rod adjustments, fyi. Hope this helps!
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I own a 322e 12-fret V class, so I’m not gonna talk a lot about tone here BUT what I can say is the finish and the appointments are beautiful. Very smooth to the touch. Compared to my 414ce-r V class it is much more mellow indeed. I use the 322e for fingerstyle only, I think strumming it too hard takes away the softness of the tone.
A grand auditorium body will be useful for strumming, but I don’t expect it to be in any way comparable to a spruce topped guitar.
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I own a builder’s edition with the urban ash back and sides, so I understand it isn’t apples to oranges. I also own a early 2000’s D15 so I have a point of reference with your experience with mahogany top guitars.
I would say the 324ce BE lives in DGDGBD with the easy adjustment to DADGBD. I have always felt mahogany tops were best suited for drop tunings and this guitar is the same. The directness of mahogany makes for an ideal tonewood for the ringing of open strings.
Granted it would make an ideal blues box, but in my mind they really sing when tuned down.