Dn series

[tammuz7000]

I played a DN3, DN4 and a DN5 today and liked them all alot..the DN5 was a bit pricey..of the Dn3 and dn4 which ones do you prefer? any advice on which one.
 
I am a martin dread guy so this is different for me...and not such an easy choice..

I also played a 314ce that was awesome...and was surprised how nice the DN was after i played them..

-Tom

[flaggerphil]

Personally, if I was going to buy a DN, I'd go with the DN5 or the DN3.  I really like mahogany and sapele.

[S MS Picker]

Personally, I really love the way ovankol sounds. I have a 1999 414 that is the best in the shop acoustically ,second is a 2006 410 ce short scale.
Based on that ,I'd opt for the DN4.
Steve

[Steely Glen]

Another vote for the DN4.  I find that the extra overtones of ovangkol help to fill out and even darken the Taylor sound...in a good way.  The DN4 is a great dread.  Whatever you do, please put a pickguard on it.  A dread without a pickguard is just wrong   

[michaelw]

hi tammuz,
good to see you here
WELCOME !if i were looking, i'd try to see if i could make the DN5 'fly' -
if not, i'd search for a late 06 310 african mahogany (khaya) as it
would have the Standard II forward-shifted bracing & relief rout also

i see that you're a martin guy & i was wondering if you
are more accustomed to the body shape, tone, or both -
pre 97 Taylor dreadnoughts had more squared-off shoulders,
a good bit like a hummingbird & the earlier 510 (pre 97) &
410s (91-96) were sitka/mahogany (tropical on the 510s) -
i had a 91 410 that perked up the ears & eyebrows of some 'grassers

the DN3's i've played are closer in tone to the DN5, with a
bit more brilliance & 'snap' & i'm guessing that you're looking
for tone that's closer to mahogany as there was no mention
of the DN8, which is the same $ as the DN5 & it has CV bracing

the DN4 has a bit more bottom end & sounds a bit 'thicker' to me, ovangkol
takes a bit from rosewood & mahogany without sounding like either -
i have a 98 414 that i prefer over the 2011 416ce that i have tried,
but the 2012 316ce & 356ce were absolutely stellar (in my book) ...
i just wish the 316/356ce didn't have a pickguard already on them, but
i can readily correct that situation & use a clear, static removable one

imho, it really depends on what sounds best to you & what is within your budget

hope you enjoy the please & please make yourself comfortable

[revster]

several months ago I bought a DN8. I chose it over a Gibson J45, and local store owner dropped the price significatingly because no one wanted a non-pickup guitar. my benefit.  I later played the DN4 and really liked the tone. for dreads I think they will make you happy no matter what the choice.

[sachi]

Welcome, tammuz. I also love the sound of Martins. If you want to try a Taylor you're not really going to find one that has the typical Martin sound. Taylors have a sound all their own. Just try as many as you can, and decide which one sounds best to your ears.

I would add only that Taylors come from the factory with Elixir 80-20 strings, which are not for everyone. IMO they sound kind of shrill. I replaced them on my GC-5 with a set of D'Addario PBs, and they took the edge off the sound. Now the guitar has a lovely rich chime that is a splendid counterpoint to my Martins.

[Strumming Fool]

I may be partial, but I'm loving my ovangkol BTO, so I'd go with the DN 4 - it's a great value!

[tammuz7000]

I am mostly looking at the martin tone comparison..and like that tone..although I do like the 314ce and the DN3 and Dn4. I just dont want a realy bright taylor..I love how they play. I was almost settled on a 314 but dont want the expression system and was very impressed with the DN3 and DN4. The DN5 was way out of line for what I would pay for a Taylor.

Each time I play a taylor I gravitate to the Mohogany versions. Although I did pick up a Martin D16GTE after and would have a hard time choosing..

The price of the DN3 is very appealing and I love how it plays and sounds. It has a zing to it..

[ctkarslake]

You could search for a pre-'97 (I think) 410 which would be made of mahogany, not ovangkol.  I love the one I've got (it's a '92) and you could save a ton of $ in the process by buying used.

[egkor]

I played a DN3, DN4 and a DN5 today and liked them all alot..the DN5 was a bit pricey..of the Dn3 and dn4 which ones do you prefer? any advice on which one.
-Tom

You should play them both side-by-side if possible, and decide which one (if either) "speaks" to you.

I always thought I was an Ovangkol/Rosewood kind of guy. My previous acoustics (non-Taylor) were Rosewood/Spruce.

Although initially I had my eyes on the 414ce as a "the one", I found a clearance DN4e and snapped it up. This DN4e was my first Taylor.  Played it steadily for approx 1 year.

Then the 314ce and 315ce came along into my stable, and wow, to my surprise, I find the "3" series my "goto" guitars.  I find them both (314ce/315ce) more inspiring to play than the DN4e.  I find I'm reaching for the 315ce most often.

The best I can describe the difference is where the midrange tones occur. The DN4e seems more even and balanced tone-wise. The "3"s midrange is more pronounced, and with the 315ce (being a jumbo) I still get a very satisfying low thump.  The 314ce has less thump than a jumbo or a dread, but man its a tone monster otherwise, clean and clear and inspiring in its own right (the GA shape and tone is just "right" IMHO).

So to directly answer your question, if it were me, I would A/B compare a DN3 and a DN4, and from my past experience I predict I would prefer the DN3.

When auditioning the guitars, listen to what sounds good to you and what inspires you. If you don't want to put the guitar down, that's a good sign!  My "3" series do that for me, I just want to keep playing them.

Right now I'm looking at the new 316ce (GS shape), I got to test-drive one recently and am smitten by it.  I  will probably eventually sell/trade the DN4e to help finance the 316ce.  That's how much I like the "3" series.

-Gary K

[gdeleo]

I had a Dn3 that sounded remarkable.  Only problem that I had with it was that it was just a little to big for my liking.  Also it didn't have a cut out.

[ataylor]

I think the DN3 is the best bang for buck in the Taylor lineup. If I didn't already have my 210 (which is essentially the same guitar, and the former bang for buck champ prior to Taylor changing the 200 series to laminate), I'd snatch one up in a heartbeat.

I also agree it (and pretty much any dreadnought) looks best with a pickguard.