Taylor Koa Guitar Options - Well the Decision arrived today!

[Glen]

Guys and gals, I am agonizing over this... any input would be greatly appreciated. I can't decide between both.  They are both gorgeous. I am a GA guy, but I think the GS sounds better in Koa and of course that flame is amazing along with the edge burst... This is my first post!

I was blessed and able to find a GA in the Spring Ltd.  These photo's do not show the beauty of the guitar. There is no orange in guitar, but the flash does things as most of you know.  Thank you all for your advice. It was weighted pretty heavy towards the Ltd.  One other thing of note.  This guitar does not have any of the stiffness or harshness that is often noted with a new Koa. Bravo to Taylor!

[Strumming Fool]

I'm a GA guy myself. The GS just doesn't work for me. However, the Fall Limited is just that - limited. I'd go with what you're going to be most comfortable with in your daily playing. Remember, it's just a tool that you use to make music. The music is first and foremost. Get the guitar that inspires you to make the most music!

[Gutch]

Welcome aboard, Glen!!!  Glad to have you here...

You'll probably get a lot of this, so let me be the first to pass along this advice -- Let your ears decide the guitar.  If you love the depth of the GS, go for it.  There is very little difference in actual size between the GA and GS, so playing should not be a factor.  IMHO, the GS provides a boost to all the things I love about the GA's voice and then kicks it in the pants a bit more.  Flatpick or fingerstyle, I LOVE the way the GS enhances whatever woods you go with.  I own or have owned GS models in Cocobolo, East Indian Rosewood, and Mahogany with top woods of Cedar, Engelmann and Sitka.  They all kill!  The Maple/Sitka GS6 is a bloody cannon! 

GA's are great too, but I think the GS is the best all around performing guitar Taylor is making these days...  (Of course, then there's the 12 fret GC... Hmmm...)

[Glen]

I'm a GA guy myself. The GS just doesn't work for me. However, the Fall Limited is just that - limited. I'd go with what you're going to be most comfortable with in your daily playing. Remember, it's just a tool that you use to make music. The music is first and foremost. Get the guitar that inspires you to make the most music!

  Looking through your signature, I can see you are a GA guy.  If that Ltd didn't have such an incredible Flame Koa and burst I would have the K24ce enroute.  Also, having played and not owned a Koa Taylor, the GS does sound a little more balanced across the tonal spectrum than the GA.  Also, I have read a few threads where this years "K" series are sounding a little warmer out of box.  Thanks for input SF

[Glen]

Welcome aboard, Glen!!!  Glad to have you here...

You'll probably get a lot of this, so let me be the first to pass along this advice -- Let your ears decide the guitar.  If you love the depth of the GS, go for it.  There is very little difference in actual size between the GA and GS, so playing should not be a factor.  IMHO, the GS provides a boost to all the things I love about the GA's voice and then kicks it in the pants a bit more.  Flatpick or fingerstyle, I LOVE the way the GS enhances whatever woods you go with.  I own or have owned GS models in Cocobolo, East Indian Rosewood, and Mahogany with top woods of Cedar, Engelmann and Sitka.  They all kill!  The Maple/Sitka GS6 is a bloody cannon! 

GA's are great too, but I think the GS is the best all around performing guitar Taylor is making these days...  (Of course, then there's the 12 fret GC... Hmmm...)

  Thank you for the gracious Welcome.  You are spot on in the GA vs GS.  I don't know why the GS does not get the love a GA does.  I have owned 4 or 5 GA and 3 GS. The GA sell for a little more and a little quicker in most cases within the same series.  The cover with Bob Taylor playing the K24CE just pulled me in. I love the new design.  When I started my search I ran across the Fall LTD Koa's and that's when the trouble started! LOL

[jjrpilot-admin]

Glen, glad to have you here friend!  The GA body style is great and definitely the flagship of the Taylor brand, but the GS is very versatile as well.  You've already stated that " I think the GS sounds better in Koa" then that should settle it.     Pick the one that sounds the best.

[Steve]

Personally, I prefer the Fall LTD far more than the 2012 offering. I don't really care for the new inlay on the new Koas. I get the whole "it's about the wood" thing, but the inlay looks a bit too feminine to my eyes.

Those Koa Fall LTD's are crazy nice guitars and, if I had the cash, the opportunity and the desire, I'd buy one in a New York minute...

[Satsuki]

If the GS body doesn't work for why are we voting. Buy the other guitar.

[Glen]

If the GS body doesn't work for why are we voting. Buy the other guitar.

  It isn't that the GS body does not work.  I like many, just prefer the GA.  I don't like the size of a Dread, BUT, I love the sound of a Martin Dread, and for me it must be in my stable.  I was hoping that some people would give me some prespective other than that of what I was thinking. And so far, there are a couple nuggets in this thread that is making my decision a little easier.

[Steve]

If the GS body doesn't work for why are we voting. Buy the other guitar.

Where did the OP state that the GS didn't "work" for him?

 

[Satsuki]

I apologize I mistook Strumminfools comment for part of the OP's. In the words of Gilda Radner "Never Mind",

[Glen]

I would like to thank all those who gave thier input.  My decision will be announced on NGD with a pic or two.

[Strumming Fool]

We look forward to your decision, Glen. Both are great guitars. I'm confident that you'll pick the one the works best for you in both tone and playability. That Fall Limited does feature some dramatic-looking koa and innovative inlays. Have fun!

[Cindy]

I'll be interested to see which you've decided to get. I prefer the GA body style myself. Since I have some rotator cuff issues, I've found that many dreds just aren't comfortable to hold. I've only had the chance to try a GS once, and although the sound was great, I couldn't imagine playing it for long stretches. And I think the GS comes standard with medium gauge strings but my preference is light gauge. Granted, a GS can be set up for lights, but I think the tone is then slightly affected.

Please let us know which one follows you home.

[ataylor]

I'm not a big fan of fancy inlays, but I think Andy Powers did a really nice job with the new appointments on the koa series. I like that all the inlays and rosette are wood, and that they tie into the guitar both conceptually and functionally.

Excited to see which guitar you go with.