Taylor's new line - American Dream

[boneuphtoner]

Hey Guys - check it out!

https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/first-look-taylor-american-dream/

https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/pages/taylor-american-dream-series-acoustic-guitars?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Taylor+s+American+Dream&utm_campaign=Taylor+American+Dream+20200621

The sweetwater site has some obvious errors - saying the guitars have a solid ovangkol top and solid spruce back and sides

But this is very interesting!

[jdag]

Oh geez...I did not wake up today expecting to buy a guitar!

[boneuphtoner]

Oh geez...I did not wake up today expecting to buy a guitar!

Me either!

Also interesting that this is NOT on Taylor's website - I wonder what that means?

[Corbis 12]

Listed here
https://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/browse?series=12847

[boneuphtoner]

Thanks for sharing Corbis 12 - interesting that the hog topped model isn't on the series, but if you click on one of the spruce guitars, it comes up as a related guitar on the bottom - this certainly looks like a soft launch to me, or else a couple of retailers jumped the gun before Taylor was ready.

[Edward]

Interesting ...so the AD is a GP body with satin fin and V-bracing.  I’m wondering in what ways this differs from a 317 and 417?  And how the pricing against the 300s will compare, as well.

Edward   

[SDTaylorman]

Interesting ...so the AD is a GP body with satin fin and V-bracing.  I’m wondering in what ways this differs from a 317 and 417?  And how the pricing against the 300s will compare, as well.

Edward

Can't answer your other questions but pricing is shown on the direct Taylor link above.

[boneuphtoner]

Interesting ...so the AD is a GP body with satin fin and V-bracing.  I’m wondering in what ways this differs from a 317 and 417?  And how the pricing against the 300s will compare, as well.

Edward

I got the impression from the Sweetwater write up that these GPs were just the first release, because they talked about their "shapes" in plural.  Although I'm not clamoring for one of these just yet, I think this is a brilliant  move on Taylor's part.

[jjrpilot-admin]

I saw the news broke this morning. Crazy cool!

[Shutterbug]

Cool stuff!

These will be fun to check out.

 I know we can't talk pricing here, but I bet the street price on these will result in a hefty case of temptation!

[mgap]

Wow, that is a surprise.  All solid wood, and made in El Cajon.  Some big bonuses at what looks like a good price.

[sergeko]

Biggest differences with the 317:

• ovangkol body vs sapele
• aerocase vs hardshell
• tusq nut vs graphite
• chamfered edges vs binding
• matte top vs gloss
• eucalyptus fretboard vs ebony
• matte neck vs satin

Also, they seem to have D'Addario strings by default instead of Elixir. I wonder why ?

[Frettingflyer]

Many string makers are being hit by coronavirus production issues, either in their own factory’s or getting material, so it may just be the strings are available, or maybe they are less expensive to help the price point. I used D’addaio on my Taylors for many years and really enjoyed the sound, back to Elixir for long life though now.

[boneuphtoner]

Also, they seem to have D'Addario strings by default instead of Elixir. I wonder why ?

I have heard cases of shortages of strings as a result of the pandemic - perhaps that might be issue?  On the Taylor owners group on Facebook one of the larger dealers stated that this new line would be fairly limited ~1500 guitars or so - given that constraint, and given the string shortages, the choice of D'Addario might make sense if there is more availability and if this temporary switch is applied to these guitars only. 

ON the other hand, it is possible that Taylor is moving towards D'Addario in general - we should know in a few months.

[boneuphtoner]

Hey Guys - someone on the acoustic guitar forum posted about some interesting background on these American Dream guitars is at the Sweetwater site:

Whee the name comes from:
"In 1974, a young Bob Taylor cut his teeth building custom acoustics out of San Diego's American Dream guitar factory. The American Dream series pays tribute to this time in Taylor's history with its working-class, American-made pro instruments, built with the same values and American spirit that have driven the Taylor name for the past 45+ years."

Why the price range is less than other series:
"With the American Dream series of US-built acoustic guitars, Bob Taylor and Andy Powers have opened a new chapter in Taylor value and performance. Never before has it been this affordable to own an American-made Taylor guitar with class-leading features. The Grand Pacific AD17e slope-shoulder dreadnought is built from solid Taylor tonewoods (spruce, ovangkol, and mahogany), each with minor cosmetic imperfections to honor the mature sound and workhorse aesthetic these early guitars are known for. Taylor's V-Class Bracing gives the AD17e impressive sustain and a clean, pure tone that stands up to even the scrutiny of the studio. All in all, the American Dream Taylor AD17e is a professional instrument that comes in at a price that will ensure you're not afraid to take it on the road."

What I find interesting is they admit they are using some woods with cosmetic imperfections- not surprising but I admire the honesty.  Also I saw in the specs they are using eucalyptus fretboards!  I’ve always been a soundhole sniffer but never the fretboards LOL