Taylor's "Golden Era"?

[gruuv]

Greetings, all.  New here, so hopefully I won't get scorched if this has been discussed ad nauseam.  I did a brief search and turned up some random comments in various threads, but I did not see a single thread devoted to the topic.  Hopefully I've not overlooked it...

In any event, I own a 1998 612CE, with a maple neck (the only one I've ever seen - most seem to be mahogany).  I have read on AGF that many consider the 90's to be Taylor's golden era, and that newer models do not measure up.  Obviously this is tremendously subjective, but although I've not played many newer (2000-2014 models) I've read that the older models had a longer scale length, shallower/slimmer neck profile, different bracing, and different neck joint.  Obviously the Fishman "barn door" vs. the ES differ as well.

So, how many of you Taylor aficionados believe the 90's were the golden era?

[timfitz63]

Greetings, all.  New here, so hopefully I won't get scorched if this has been discussed ad nauseam.  I did a brief search and turned up some random comments in various threads, but I did not see a single thread devoted to the topic.  Hopefully I've not overlooked it...

Welcome!  Opinions are plentiful around this forum on topics like this, but folks are pretty laid-back if there's a differing viewpoint.

... In any event, I own a 1998 612CE, with a maple neck (the only one I've ever seen - most seem to be mahogany)...

Not entirely certain myself, being relatively new to the Taylor brand; but I believe all of the 600-Series guitars have a Maple neck.  It is generally unusual to find them on models outside of that series, though; as you observed, most are Mahogany.  The only other Taylor offering that I can recall as having a Maple neck was the Builder's Reserve V.  That being said, though, I did recently picked up a Custom Grand Orchestra (GO) that has a Maple neck.

... I have read on AGF that many consider the 90's to be Taylor's golden era, and that newer models do not measure up.  Obviously this is tremendously subjective, but although I've not played many newer (2000-2014 models) I've read that the older models had a longer scale length, shallower/slimmer neck profile, different bracing, and different neck joint.  Obviously the Fishman "barn door" vs. the ES differ as well.

So, how many of you Taylor aficionados believe the 90's were the golden era?

I've really only played one 90's-era Taylor:  a 810 in Brazilian Rosewood.  It was definitely one of the nicest-sounding guitars I've ever played.  But that being said, I've played recently-manufactured Taylors that sounded equally good.  One was a 510e-FLTD that I swear sounds every bit as good as that 810 Brazilian -- at half the price.  And I was able to A/B both guitars against one another, so I'm not just comparing impressions and memories...  I also recently picked up a new 812ce-LTD 12-Fret in Brazilian Rosewood that may be better-sounding than either of those other guitars...!

So I think there are good guitars all throughout Taylor's history.  Some of the woods used back in the 90's on the series guitars, as a general rule, may have had more interesting grain/figuring than today's production; but I've also seen plenty of recently-produced Taylors that have really stunning wood on them...

[Gutch]

Just my humble opinion...


I've owned and played examples from the late 80's through current designs.  While Taylors throughout the years have qualities that make them special, my personal experience would suggest that the guitars being produced today are the finest ever to come out of their doors.  They have taken Bob's design innovation developed over the years and allowed Andy to tweak and adjust the little things under the hood even more.  End result -- An acoustic guitar that has a tone with more complexity, more subtlety, more depth than anything Taylor has produced before, all the while maintaining the beauty and playability that put them on the map.

I will never sell my older Taylors.  Call me a sentimental old fool, but I just love 'em too much.  However, played side-by-side with the current designs, the voice of the new designs offers substantially more to the player and the listener.  My friends, the "Golden Age" of Taylor Guitars is today.

[terrypl]

the "Golden Age" of Taylor Guitars is today.

I would second that.

[Strumming Fool]

  My friends, the "Golden Age" of Taylor Guitars is today.

Couldn't have said it better, Gutch.  My 90s Taylors sound great and my new ones also sound great - just different. Perhaps Taylor's golden age began sometime in the 90s when the character of the guitars reached consistency, but the golden age continues to this day as the Taylor character continues to evolve.

[Edward]

The Golden age to be a guitarist/musician is today!

FWIW, I can't ever remember a time where gear can be had that is this good for cheap ...and I mean genuinely cheap in many instances.  Back "then" (yeah, I lived there ), cheap gear really was junky.  Now, not has quality across the board gone up in the lower price brackets, but variety and availability, too.  It's pretty hard to "miss" today.  Great time to be playing music, IMHO!

Edward

[gruuv]

I am eager to play one of the new 612's to compare.

Thanks for the responses, everyone. Keep 'em coming!