814CE vs. 814CE TB

[SkyHigh]

In the market for a nice acoustic again. Really like the 414ce but love the appointments on 814ce. Love both natural and tobacco top on 814ce. Currently only have Taylor Mini. Just wanted to get opinion of others in regards to the finish preference on 814ce.

Thanks

[Steve]

For me, I'd go with Natural.

You're talking about something that is totally personal preference. If you buy one or the other because of what people here say, you may well end up regretting it.

Get what you want, and only what you want...

[SkyHigh]

Example of Taylor Tobacco burst.

[SkyHigh]

And natural

[gdeleo]

All though the sunburst are nice, I just prefer the natural look of the Taylors.

[Scriptor]

As has already been said, these things are very personal preferences ... I like the look of both, but favor the natural ... I wouldn't turn down either if one or the other spoke to me tonally ... and if I had multiples, I'd consider a variant look as favorable ... tone & playability being my higher priorities and aesthetics secondary ..

[mgap]

I agree with scriptor, Pick the one that sounds the best to you.

[DennisG]

SkyHigh,

This is one of those threads you're going to walk away from feeling no more enlightened than when you originally posted the question.  It's not like you're asking us to compare a 412 with an 816, a comparison that can actually yield meaningful, tonal and playability differences between two guitars.  But your question asks us to compare tobacco burst vs. non-burst.  It's 100 percent subjective.  No one is right and no one is wrong.  Neither finish has any impact on the tone or the playability.  Take the suggestion of the good folks who urge you to let your ears decide.

[barefooter]

Hey SkyHigh,

I voted for the Tobacco Burst, but the reason is that your first photo shown is my guitar.  When I knew I was getting an 814, I had a hard time deciding just as you seem to be.  My daughter was looking at the various pictures on differnet web pages and she told me I needed a change from the normal top.  I went along with her suggestion and the approval of the wife and we got the Tobacco Burst finish.  I am glad I/we did.

I have a friend I jam with on Fridays most every week and he has the natural top on his 814 (both are 2010 models).  They both sound the same (if any difference we cannot hear it as it is so slight).  He set his up to play a little easier as he fingerpicks more.  His has that clean pure look to it while mine adds a deep gloss touch to the top.

As stated by others, it is a personal choice in obtaining what we like and can get.  If not for my daughter, I would have had the natural top basically just to save a few dollars.  I am so thankful I listened to her.  And almost every person who has seen my 814 in person comments about how nice it looks.

Good luck in your choice.  I know it can be difficult at times.  Either way you go, I do not think you will be disappointed.

[Ahorsewithnoname]

I am shocked at you people!  Everyone knows tobacco has a deeper richer flavor and then the burst accents the highs.  Geez, what kind of forum is this!  Don't get me started on how the color also transfers visual images to our brain which then changes the tone to match the color.

[michaelw]

And natural

perhaps, this might fall into the 'super-natural' class
http://www.wildwoodguitars.com/acoustics/taylor/800.htm
then again, a Modify-a-Model 814ce with an engelmann
or cedar top might be worth considering as well

good luck with your decision

[barefooter]

I am shocked at you people!  Everyone knows tobacco has a deeper richer flavor and then the burst accents the highs.  Geez, what kind of forum is this!  Don't get me started on how the color also transfers visual images to our brain which then changes the tone to match the color.

I love this   You stated what I wanted to say, but....  Looking forward to he next post 

[Scriptor]

Don't get me started on how the color also transfers visual images to our brain which then changes the tone to match the color.

This is called Zone Tone ... as in Twilight Zone ... 

[cjd-player]

Tough call, and as others have said, totally subjective.  For  the longest time I never liked sunbursts on acoustic guiars ...  only on electrics.  But when Taylor started doing sunbursts, they partly won me over with the look.  I don't like all of them equally well ( barefooter's has to be one of the best I have ever seen) so I would never order one sight unseen.  But given two guitars that sound the same, I would probably pick the sunburst if the burst looked good to me.

[silvereagle48]

I am shocked at you people!  Everyone knows tobacco has a deeper richer flavor and then the burst accents the highs.  Geez, what kind of forum is this!  Don't get me started on how the color also transfers visual images to our brain which then changes the tone to match the color.

Yeah, what he said..