Possible GAS Remedy. Use at your own risk.

[dougboy1970]

A possible remedy for GAS is to bring your guitar (favorite, if you have more than one) with you when you try out a new guitar.  A/B the new one verses your own and when the one you already have dominates the new one, why then, your GAS is remedied.  (You're in trouble, however, if yours sounds like crud in comparison!)

This remedy helped me last week as I had been recalling the maple 614ce I once owned and was dying for another.  Went to my local guitar store (GS8e in tow), played the 614ce and thought, "Woah, where'd the bass go?" (Too used to EIR now.) Pulled out my own guitar, played a little, heard the store manager's reaction, "Man, that guitar sounds good," and realized, "This is the guitar I want.  The one I already have!"  GAS remedied, until...

[egkor]

I've noticed that, for example, if I spend some time playing my Maple/Spruce Taylor, I get used to that guitar's sound. In other words, that guitar's sound becomes "normal" to my ears.

Then if I pick up my Sapele/Spruce Taylor, it sounds mid-rangy and bass-heavy by comparison.  That is, until I get used to *that* guitar's sound.  Then that guitar's sound becomes "normal" to my ears.

I just wasn't interested in Maple for a long long time.  But I finally got over it!     Now look at it like I have 2 Taylors that cover a broad sound spectrum between the two.

Maybe that's the answer, to add a Maple guitar to current stable, rather than to replace.  I've seen used 614ce's being advertised for IMHO reasonable prices on forum classifieds.  A jumbo (615ce) might be a solution for you too since it adds some bottom-end to the Maple brightness.

-Gary K

[michaelw]

... GAS remedied, until...

this, maybe

imho, different guitars (different builders, body shapes & tonewoods) can
have their own 'slot' in one's arsenal & sometimes the new guitar replaces the
current one & other times the new guitar has contrasting & complementary tones

over time, the more one plays & the more different guitars one tries, one's tonal preferences may  change & it's nice to
have a 'bench-mark' guitar to where one can compare it to others & walk away with the feeling that it is 'still the one',
but if for some reason that guitar is damaged beyond repair, stolen, or needs to be sold for financial reasons, what next

it never hurts to walk into a shop & A/B, but rather than being prepared to find a guitar
that 'blows away' the guitar that one already owns, i would suggest trying to keep an
open mind, & ear, as there may be a guitar there that does certain things a little bit
differently & whether it's 'better' or not isn't the question, but will it inspire some
new found creativity & exploration, while being able to 'co-exist' with the other guitar(s)

just a thought

[dougboy1970]

Good points.  It is true that in a band situation I dial back a lot of the bass of my GS8 just to be able to fit in.  But that's when maple can really shine...maybe when I start playing more in that situation I'll revisit this bout of GAS, but for now, I'm free!  Yippee!!!

[mgap]

it never hurts to walk into a shop & A/B, but rather than being prepared to find a guitar
that 'blows away' the guitar that one already owns, i would suggest trying to keep an
open mind, & ear, as there may be a guitar there that does certain things a little bit
differently & whether it's 'better' or not isn't the question, but will it inspire some
new found creativity & exploration, while being able to 'co-exist' with the other guitar(s)

I agree Michael, I never really thought that one Taylor blows away another, but each one offers a different tone.  None of my guitars blow away the other, I like all of them,  but I use each of them for the different tone each provide

[egkor]

With guitars I used to ask "This or that?"

Now I say "This and that!"   

[dougboy1970]

I definitely hear you guys about being openly to differently toned guitars; I once loved the tone of the maple.  But my budget, at the moment, isn't allowing for high-end Taylor related GAS, so I was actually quite relieved to find out I could stay happy with what I had, that I'm more of an appreciator (at the moment) of the bass-y tone of Rosewood.  Celebrate with me as contentment is a beautiful place to be!

[michaelw]

it never hurts to walk into a shop & A/B, but rather than being prepared to find a guitar
that 'blows away' the guitar that one already owns, i would suggest trying to keep an
open mind, & ear, as there may be a guitar there that does certain things a little bit
differently & whether it's 'better' or not isn't the question, but will it inspire some
new found creativity & exploration, while being able to 'co-exist' with the other guitar(s)

I agree Michael, I never really thought that one Taylor blows away another, but each one offers a different tone.  None of my guitars blow away the other, I like all of them,  but I use each of them for the different tone each provide

i guess 'blows away' is not really the best choice of words
i've A/B'd a 416ce ovangkol to a 98 414 & the 414 'took it', but a 316ce
i was able to test-drive 'rolled' any/all sitka/sapele Taylors i've had/tried

comparing a redwood top 512, as nice as it is & it has a big 'voice' for a GC, a GS5 simply 'buried it'
unfair comparison sure, but i'd like to hear a GA 12 fret redwood/'hog to see where it 'slots in'

true, volume, projection & sustain isn't everything but, imho, if all other things are
'equal' & the guitar is comfortable to play & responsive, i'll go with the 'big gun'

ymmv

[davwir]

With guitars I used to ask "This or that?"

Now I say "This and that!"   

Amen, brother!

[cigarfan]

With guitars I used to ask "This or that?"

Now I say "This and that!"   

Amen, brother!

Hey Dave:

Speaking GAS and your this AND that, has it arrived yet?

[davwir]

With guitars I used to ask "This or that?"

Now I say "This and that!"   

Amen, brother!

Hey Dave:

Speaking GAS and your this AND that, has it arrived yet?

Tues is the expected arrival date.. Ill keep ya informed.. 

[Scriptor]

It is a good feeling to go to a shop, play several good acoustics and realize that what you have is really what hits the spot for you ... I suspect though, if there were shops where I could try some Cocobolo guitars, I might be in trouble based on what I read about them ... for my current purposes, my 814ce & 414ce LTD (Walnut/Sitka) have different voices that speak to me pretty well for my style of playing ...