Unofficial Taylor Guitar Forum - UTGF
Taylor Acoustic & Electric Guitars => Taylor Acoustic & Electric Guitars => Topic started by: Strumming Fool on November 15, 2014, 02:47:13 PM
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What a surprise - I took Friday off for my wife's birthday, but I also ended up with a gift when my special ordered K24e arrived one month earlier than promised! My dream of having a Taylor GA for each day of the week finally came true, and what a way to complete the dream!
As some of you may remember, I had ordered a Macassar ebony GA BTO that was not done to my specs. I then decided to order a K24e with the following specs:
- upgrade to AA grade koa for the entire body
- ES 1 (ES2 is standard) because of bone nut and saddle (also standard)
- Adirondack bracing (CV is standard)
- Gotoh antique gold tuners with black buttons
Because Taylor felt bad about the BTO, they agreed to further upgrade the top to MASTER grade koa at no additional charge. They promised a 45 day turnaround, and they came through a month early!
First, the sound: I was never an advocate of buying a hardwood-topped guitar from any maker without first hearing it, especially with koa. But lately, Taylor has been making hog-topped and koa-topped guitars that no longer sound muted or in need of opening up. Whatever they're doing is definitely working, and this one is no exception. Wonderful sparkle and zing, combined with a full, rich tonal palette, actually reminiscent of the balanced Taylors of old. She sounds different from the other six GAs, so it's a total win for me.
Here's the other sweet part of this new addition:
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa445/abpurfling/Dulcinea-fullfront_zpsc35f2bd9.jpg) (http://s1198.photobucket.com/user/abpurfling/media/Dulcinea-fullfront_zpsc35f2bd9.jpg.html)
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa445/abpurfling/Dulcinea-fullback_zps576efec8.jpg) (http://s1198.photobucket.com/user/abpurfling/media/Dulcinea-fullback_zps576efec8.jpg.html)
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa445/abpurfling/Dulcinea-threequarter_zps56ec82a7.jpg) (http://s1198.photobucket.com/user/abpurfling/media/Dulcinea-threequarter_zps56ec82a7.jpg.html)
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa445/abpurfling/Dulcinea-closeupback_zps51f0f2a5.jpg) (http://s1198.photobucket.com/user/abpurfling/media/Dulcinea-closeupback_zps51f0f2a5.jpg.html)
(http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa445/abpurfling/Dulcinea-closeupfront_zps94bf4785.jpg) (http://s1198.photobucket.com/user/abpurfling/media/Dulcinea-closeupfront_zps94bf4785.jpg.html)
Gotta go play now!
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Wow....that was fast! She's a beauty! She looks like she could be a close relative to my new K24ce. I bet in a way you are happy they screwed up the original BTO....am I right?! I'm happy your wait is over. Enjoy your new gorgeous Taylor!
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Congrats, what a beauty! I hope they screw up my order the day I decide to BTO. ;)
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Which one is your Thursday GA?
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Fanatastic! The inlays are incredible enough, but the wood is breathtaking.
Congrats!
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Wow! My K24ce is rapidly becoming the runt of the litter... Congratulations, "SF!"
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Sweet, a great ending to your story! Take my top and Susie's bottom and you're pretty close to yours!
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Sweet, a great ending to your story! Take my top and Susie's bottom and you're pretty close to yours!
Yeah, you have a good observation. That would be pretty close.
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Just beautiful! Worth the little hiccup, to be sure, and kudos to you for waiting (not to mention kudos to Taylor for, yet again, making extra good on their mistake). Big congrats to ya, SF!!
:D
Edward
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That's almost beyond words to describe. Truly a dream guitar.
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Very nice. I love the burst on the neck. Glad you are happy with it, that was a fast turn around indeed!
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Amazing! Congratulations!
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and the fact that it sounds great and is unique to the other six is awesome.....congrats, SF! You had me at the gold and black tuners!
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That is a beauty SF. I like it as a non cut away and the burst is excellent. Something I have to say every time I see a Taylor Koa is "I love the Island Vine fretboard", it is a style I like better than all other styles. The wood selection is gorgeous.
At this time I am saving my funds for a mandolin, but here in the last couple of months a few fine folks here on UTGF have been giving me such a desire to get a K24 I can hardly stand it. Yours is no exception. It is outstanding. ;D
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I love it, Beautiful wood, and the edgeburst looks so nice with it. that should be a one of the nicest. Enjoy.
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Thanks everyone for your kind comments, and for supporting me through this long saga. I cannot get over how "alive" this guitar sounds, and the sweetness of its tone continues to overwhelm me! Back to some more playing!
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Thanks everyone for your kind comments, and for supporting me through this long saga. I cannot get over how "alive" this guitar sounds, and the sweetness of its tone continues to overwhelm me! Back to some more playing!
Are you happy with the way it turned out?
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Are you happy with the way it turned out?
Most definitely! All these K24s are visually stunning, but I'm more impressed with the tone right now. Some of my acquisitions have tended to grow on me, while others represent love at first hearing - this one belongs to the latter group. Hope you're enjoying yours as much as I am mine!
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Good, glad to hear it. A happy ending. Yes, I'm really enjoying mine.....these K2x's are truly special.
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Sweet, a great ending to your story! Take my top and Susie's bottom and you're pretty close to yours!
that would make it GuitarGirl, or if it were reversed, it would be Taylorsan ;)
congrats, SF & thanks for sharing the pics -
Taylor really came through, imho, not just a month early,
but also a couple of weeks before thanksgiving 8)
another thing to be thankful for this holiday season :)
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Very nice, SF!! I like the shaded edgeburst. It does really showcase the amazing wood! Congrats on the "1 GA per day of the week" collection! 8)
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Impressive!
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Absolutely beautiful!!!.. and it sounds even better than it looks... awesome. I hope to join the Koa family one of these days . There are some K24s and K26s I have my eye on at Wildwood. I'm a strummer too, so now I'm going to go back and look at your response to Taylor Girl's question regarding GA vs. GS and get your take on that.
According to the Beatles there are eight days a week , so what's your next one going to be?
Congratulations!!!
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Did you really HAVE to post these photos? :o
;)
Wow, it is absolutely spectacular!!! In fact, everything on the guitar is perfect. ;D
Kudos to Taylor for making this one extra special, and kudos to you for being patient. It's hard enough to wait through the build process so I'm sure it was much more agonizing to go through it a second time. Enjoy, Strumming Fool. :)
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Wow. What a stunner. That's a future back page photo in Wood and Steel. :)
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SF, That's one of the best looking guitars I have seen. Enjoy it with the others!
FMB
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Beautiful guitar, SF - congrats! I love a story with a happy ending! :)
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Thanks again guys for all your good wishes...she really fits into the pack nicely. I'm truly blessed to have this array of guitars to play the music I love to play. It's been quite a year for NGDs on this forum...just happy to be a part of it all!