Help Deciding

[gino]

Hello All, was supposed to pick up a "new" (2007) GA8 today. I played it last weekend and it sounded great, went to go pick it up today and found some issues with the headstock, the finish had bubbled. Needless to say i did not buy thee guitar as is. The manager is going to have their luthier take a look at it monday but did say it would probably have to go back to taylor.  Stinks, i was so sad walking out of there with out it, almost went back and bought it anyway.

So my dilemma is do i wait for this guitar to go through the due process or do i haul off and buy a 3 or 414. you guys may not believe this but the price on the GA8 is less than what i could buy a new 314.

So, be hasty tomorrow and go buy one of the other guitars i liked, or pray this GA makes her way back to the east coast sounding as nice as she does?

Thanks,
Gino

[sachi]

I always let the sound be my guide. If you found a good'un, get it and work out the needed refinish later. IMO!

[zeebow]

I would buy the guitar that sounds better to you.

I'm not surprised its less than a new 314, it 5 years old with no electronics.

[roadbiker]

I would buy it with the condition that the shop to sends it back to Taylor for repair.

Jim

[michaelw]

if it is NOS & never been sold, i would suggest putting a deposit down with a credit card &
request that the guitar be sent back to Taylor to have the necessary work performed,
as finish lifting is one of the signs that the guitar may have been exposed to extreme
conditions (humidity & or temperature) at some time in the past & may have affected
other areas of the guitar as well - having the serial # & being able to speak to someone
from the repair department once the guitar has been examined would being reassuring,
as you will know if there are any other concerns that may have been found as well

[jrporter]

I've had the GA8 up for consideration for several years, and I find myself coming back around to it. I sure wish Taylor would make more acoustic series (non-cutaway/non-pickup) guitars available....

[michaelw]

I've had he GA8 up for consideration for several years, and I find myself coming back around to it. I sure wish Taylor would make more acoustic series (non-cutaway/non-pickup) guitars available....

the DN6, DN7, GS6-12, GS7-12 & GS8-12  have been added
for a total of 43 non-cutaway, non-pickup models this year -
it would be nice, imho, to have acoustic versions (no c, no e) of the
500/900s as special order (non-BTO) 'legacy' models, if desired

[Strumming Fool]

it would be nice, imho, to have acoustic versions (no c, no e) of the
500/900s as special order (non-BTO) 'legacy' models, if desired [/font][/size][/color]

Michael, you have articulated my wishes exactly. The 500-900 series are some of the most attractive guitars out there. My 2001 514 was ordered without a cutaway (and with an engelmann top), and it is one of the best guitars I've ever owned. It appears from Taylor's new website that even the Presentation series is now ce-only as well.  I'm certain that there are many others like you and me. Hopefully Taylor is listening....

[michaelw]

it would be nice, imho, to have acoustic versions (no c, no e) of the
500/900s as special order (non-BTO) 'legacy' models, if desired

Michael, you have articulated my wishes exactly. The 500-900 series are some of the most attractive guitars out there. My 2001 514 was ordered without a cutaway (and with an engelmann top), and it is one of the best guitars I've ever owned. It appears from Taylor's new website that even the Presentation series is now ce-only as well.  I'm certain that there are many others like you and me. Hopefully Taylor is listening....

it be nice to keep the acoustic non-cutaway series the way it is, because there are
top options on the 5/up, bone nut/saddle & Gotohs, the 8 series has CV bracing
(although an adi option would be cool too  ) & the $ is consistent across the range

if the 500/900 series could be special-ordered (non-cutaway, no electronics) without
having to go BTO (which would bring the $ to the acoustic electric level & then some),
i really wonder how many would be sold i.e. X10, X12, X14, X15, X16, X54, X55, X56

i'd venture to guess that there could be quite a few, as the acoustic series has gotten
popular enough to where there are now 33 e models added to the non-cutaway series

[jrporter]

Somehow my words have gotten combined with those of others. The cutaway/pickup models get lots of attention both in stores and the recent version of Wood & Steel. I'm real old school at the age of 61, and I'd love to see equal corporate support and store availability of Taylor's non-cutaway models. There, I said it...

[Steve]

I would buy it with the condition that the shop to sends it back to Taylor for repair.

Jim

If it's been subjected to humidity and/or temperature extremes, any damage from that probably won't be covered under the warranty. If it's not covered, the shop will have to pay for the repair in addition to paying for the shipping. Once they get it back, it's unlikely they'd be willing to sell it at the same price. They would have to recoup the money they paid getting it repaired...

[Steve]

Somehow my words have gotten combined with those of others. The cutaway/pickup models get lots of attention both in stores and the recent version of Wood & Steel. I'm real old school at the age of 61, and I'd love to see equal corporate support and store availability of Taylor's non-cutaway models. There, I said it...

Taylor's bread and butter are the CE models. They sell far more of those than non-CE models.

Ergo, it shouldn't be too surprising that you see more CE models in stores. Why would a store stock a GA6, for instance, instead of a 614ce? They'll likely sell ten of the latter to one of the former...

[michaelw]

Somehow my words have gotten combined with those of others. The cutaway/pickup models get lots of attention both in stores and the recent version of Wood & Steel. I'm real old school at the age of 61, and I'd love to see equal corporate support and store availability of Taylor's non-cutaway models. There, I said it...

between my quoting your post & responding to it & my post being quoted & responded to, the wording
of your quote was 'lost', but your username was attached to my quote (which was edited)

my original response

I've had he GA8 up for consideration for several years, and I find myself coming back around to it. I sure wish Taylor would make more acoustic series (non-cutaway/non-pickup) guitars available....

the DN6, DN7, GS6-12, GS7-12 & GS8-12  have been added
for a total of 43 non-cutaway, non-pickup models this year -
it would be nice, imho, to have acoustic versions (no c, no e) of the
500/900s as special order (non-BTO) 'legacy' models, if desired

strumming's post - it actually looks like strumming's words are my quote & my words are your quote

it would be nice, imho, to have acoustic versions (no c, no e) of the
500/900s as special order (non-BTO) 'legacy' models, if desired [/font][/size][/color]

Michael, you have articulated my wishes exactly. The 500-900 series are some of the most attractive guitars out there. My 2001 514 was ordered without a cutaway (and with an engelmann top), and it is one of the best guitars I've ever owned. It appears from Taylor's new website that even the Presentation series is now ce-only as well.  I'm certain that there are many others like you and me. Hopefully Taylor is listening....

regardless, this thread has gotten a little 'off-track' & left coaster has brought it back

I would buy it with the condition that the shop to sends it back to Taylor for repair.

Jim

If it's been subjected to humidity and/or temperature extremes, any damage from that probably won't be covered under the warranty. If it's not covered, the shop will have to pay for the repair in addition to paying for the shipping. Once they get it back, it's unlikely they'd be willing to sell it at the same price. They would have to recoup the money they paid getting it repaired...

the discussion of acoustic electric (CE) & non-cutaway (acoustic) models is a good one, imho -
to avoid further multi-topic & quote 'confusion' in the this thread, please feel free to start a new thread

thanks

[Cindy]

I would buy it with the condition that the shop to sends it back to Taylor for repair.

Jim

if it is NOS & never been sold, i would suggest putting a deposit down with a credit card &
request that the guitar be sent back to Taylor to have the necessary work performed,
as finish lifting is one of the signs that the guitar may have been exposed to extreme
conditions (humidity & or temperature) at some time in the past & may have affected
other areas of the guitar as well - having the serial # & being able to speak to someone
from the repair department once the guitar has been examined would being reassuring,
as you will know if there are any other concerns that may have been found as well

I agree with both of these. Back in 2010 I bought a used 2007 GA3 from a pawn shop. The top has several dings, but the SOUND...WOW! It is UNBELIEVEABLE!!! I've never heard any other 3 series come close...in fact, the sound is so unique that it's the one I use to compare all others.

If you truly liked the sound, then see if the shop will get it fixed. No two guitars sound exactly alike and you might search for years trying to find something you like as much.

[Tammany Tiger]

I would hold out for the GA8 especially if it is cheaper.

Hang on and take a clue from the McCoys:

http://www.wat.tv/video/the-mccoys-hang-on-sloopy-2lop3_2fgqp_.html