Question about Taylor Model Numbers

[ebick]

Am I correct in saying that the difference between an 814ce and a GA8 is the "ce" part?  That the shape and wood are the same?  If so, why wouldn't you have:

GA8
GA8c
GA8ce

or

814
814c
814ce

instead of having the "814" and "GA8"?

This series of course, is just an example case, I believe this is true across the line.

[maritimer]

Same shape guitar; however the 814ce series, in addition to the cutaway and electronics on the CE has a higher level binding / inlays.  Maple body and fret board binding on the 814 vs plastic on the GA.  Unsure if the wood selection would be higher quality on the x14.

[Herb Hunter]

Am I correct in saying that the difference between an 814ce and a GA8 is the "ce" part?  That the shape and wood are the same?  If so, why wouldn't you have:

GA8
GA8c
GA8ce

or

814
814c
814ce

instead of having the "814" and "GA8"?

This series of course, is just an example case, I believe this is true across the line.

The letter series of guitars was introduced to reaffirm that acoustic guitars were still at the core of Taylor given the popularity of their acoustic-electric guitars. While a pickup system had become standard on the number series guitars, they would be offered only as an option on the letter series models.


Apart from the cosmetic differences which add to the cost of the number series, there is one other difference that comes to mind. The number series guitars have back and sides whose thickness is the same no matter what kind of wood is used. The thickness of the back and sides of the letter series varies depending on the type of wood.

[ebick]

Interesting info.....thanks.

[gerald germany]

Am I correct in saying that the difference between an 814ce and a GA8 is the "ce" part?  That the shape and wood are the same?  If so, why wouldn't you have:

GA8
GA8c
GA8ce

or

814
814c
814ce

instead of having the "814" and "GA8"?

This series of course, is just an example case, I believe this is true across the line.

The letter series of guitars was introduced to reaffirm that acoustic guitars were still at the core of Taylor given the popularity of their acoustic-electric guitars. While a pickup system had become standard on the number series guitars, they would be offered only as an option on the letter series models.


Apart from the cosmetic differences which add to the cost of the number series, there is one other difference that comes to mind. The number series guitars have back and sides whose thickness is the same no matter what kind of wood is used. The thickness of the back and sides of the letter series varies depending on the type of wood.

There are some other models that have some other differences, too. For instance, I have one that is a 714ce-SD. It is a GC exclusive model. The "SD" stands for Sitka top (the standard for the 7xx series is cedar) and Diamond fretboard inlay. Besides the relief routed Sitka top, and Diamond fretboard inlay, it has the scalloped bracing, and 3-ring abalone soundhole rosette. It also came with the antiqued gold Taylor machines....it now has gold contour Gotoh 510s with Madagascar Rosewood buttons.

[michaelw]

the woods, body shape & bracing are the same, with the 8 series having
ivoroid binding, gloss rosewood headstock, small ab bot fretmarkers &
3 ring ab rosette & the 800s having maple binding, satin rosewood
headstock, 800 series fretboard inlays & single ring ab rosette

other series that differ in top woods (current)
516ce, 714ce, 716ce engelmann top standard(cedar or sitka option)
GS5, GA7, GS7 cedar top standard (sitka or engelmann option)

since the XX5-8 series are all the same $, & the 8 has CV bracing
one has the option to pick a mahogany, maple or rosewood model
Standard II bracing (on the 5, 6, 7) or CV (on the 8 ) & for a little
more either a engelmann, cedar or sitka top (or mahogany on the 5)

i've seen box labels that read

314ce
GA-CE sapl/sitka

412ce
GC-CE ovkl/sitka

i imagine the current designation for the CE models
would be retained (856ce, rather than GS8-12CE)

the wood thickness varies depending on the wood used, on both the
acoustic non-cutaway & acoustic electric models, with no set 'date' &
if i were to venture a guess, it could have been phased in right around
08 or so (when the X16's came out & CV bracing was introduced) ...

by having the GA8 & 814ce, each has one option -
add ES (GA8e) or delete ES (814c - still, with the 'e' on the label)

granted it might be nice to have a legacy series for the 6, 8 & 9
(acoustic non-cutaway) as the 600 series had a pure acoustic model
configuration through 1996 (nearly all 97's were 'C's & 98-later CE) &
the 912 & 914 were standard with venetian cutaways also ...
even if the price point was the same as the CE, no E, i believe
there might possibly be enough interest, as BTO upcharges to spec
a 800/900 series non-cutaway would be a good bit more

one can BTO a GA8ce or GA8ce, but there would
be very little savings over a 814ce or 814c(no E) -
an adi CV option on the 800s & 900s, along with an adi or
redwood top option on the 900's would be nice, imho

[gerald germany]

the woods, body shape & bracing are the same, with the 8 series having
ivoroid binding, gloss rosewood headstock, small ab bot fretmarkers &
3 ring ab rosette & the 800s having maple binding, satin rosewood
headstock, 800 series fretboard inlays & single ring ab rosette

other series that differ in top woods (current)
516ce, 714ce, 716ce engelmann top standard(cedar or sitka option)
GS5, GA7, GS7 cedar top standard (sitka or engelmann option)

since the XX5-8 series are all the same $, & the 8 has CV bracing
one has the option to pick a mahogany, maple or rosewood model
Standard II bracing (on the 5, 6, 7) or CV (on the 8 ) & for a little
more either a engelmann, cedar or sitka top (or mahogany on the 5)

i've seen box labels that read

314ce
GA-CE sapl/sitka

412ce
GC-CE ovkl/sitka

i imagine the current designation for the CE models
would be retained (856ce, rather than GS8-12CE)

the wood thickness varies depending on the wood used, on both the
acoustic non-cutaway & acoustic electric models, with no set 'date' &
if i were to venture a guess, it could have been phased in right around
08 or so (when the X16's came out & CV bracing was introduced) ...

by having the GA8 & 814ce, each has one option -
add ES (GA8e) or delete ES (814c - still, with the 'e' on the label)

granted it might be nice to have a legacy series for the 6, 8 & 9
(acoustic non-cutaway) as the 600 series had a pure acoustic model
configuration through 1996 (nearly all 97's were 'C's & 98-later CE) &
the 912 & 914 were standard with venetian cutaways also ...
even if the price point was the same as the CE, no E, i believe
there might possibly be enough interest, as BTO upcharges to spec
a 800/900 series non-cutaway would be a good bit more

one can BTO a GA8ce or GA8ce, but there would
be very little savings over a 814ce or 814c(no E) -
an adi CV option on the 800s & 900s, along with an adi or
redwood top option on the 900's would be nice, imho

My head is spinning......OK. so does all of this mean I quoted something incorrectly on mine above?

[S MS Picker]

Whew!! I'm glad that's all straightened out
Steve

[Strumming Fool]

To me, the point of the question and Michael's reply is "Why does Taylor do it that way?" I've stated several times in the past that I'd prefer it the way it used to be: Taylor offered the number series only with the options of cutaway or no cutaway and electronics or no electronics. That would simplify things a bit, except for those who want rosewood, mahogany or maple at a lower price, I suppose. My 2001 514e is a great example of this.

[Herb Hunter]

Ultimately, the advantage of the acoustic (letter) series for the guitarist is more choices and the option of greater value by virtue of less expensive ornamentation.

[michaelw]

also, the DN5 has an engelmann top standard this year (it was sitka from 07 -11)
which brings it 'in-line' with the 510ce (which had engelmann standard from 98)

[Strumming Fool]

Ultimately, the advantage of the acoustic (letter) series for the guitarist is more choices and the option of greater value by virtue of less expensive ornamentation.

I hear you, Herb- but wouldn't it be better to offer both series with or without cutaways as they do with the electronics, so that those of us who like the number series, but don't like a cutaway, could have a fancier non-cutaway model without having to go the BTO route? For example, I love the looks of all the ce series, especially from the 500s up. However, pricing out those specs without a cutaway on a BTO usually gets a bit more expensive. Anyway, that's my one and only criticism of Taylor, and for that, I still consider myself to be a huge fan....

[Steve]

Bottom line?

Can please everyone.

I can tell you what a HUGE problem used to be: It was very, very common for a dealer to call up and say "Yeah, Steve, I need to get a 514 on order." Well, Great! I send him a 514. The guitar arrives, and he has to call me to tell me that he wanted a CE model. Because he'd never actually carried a non-CE model, he never thought there was a reason to make a distinction.

Beyond that, though, it also wasn't uncommon for customers to call him, order a 614, and be upset when a non-CE model shows up. "Taylor" became so synonymous with "CE" that people just started assuming that "CE" was, for whatever reason, understood.

I'm not saying that's why the numbering scheme changed, but it sure made things a little easier...

[Strumming Fool]

Taylor currently offers a "modify a model" program. How difficult would it be if no cutaway or no electronics were added to the 500 series and up? That's the way it used to be; what was so wrong with that approach?

[Steve]

Not sure what you mean. You can get electronics on anything Taylor builds. You can also have the electronics omitted from anything which normally has them.

A "CE" model will always have the cutaway, though...