My Taylor 414CE just "opened up"

[dangrunloh]

I wish to share the news that my Taylor 414ce just "opened up" and it did so in a manner to leave little doubt that this was a significant change and not simply my imagination or wishful thinking.  Basically the low bass notes especially the low E string has become quite a bit louder and the change took place over barely a one month period.

I have owned and played it for 6 months mostly strumming with a pick so I think I have probably put over 200 hours on it.  I play every day and began to notice the change in early April. I'm not the only one that can hear it, but you can also feel it as more vibration in the sides and back.

The guitar initially had a somewhat weak and muted low E string.  It may have been rejected by more experienced shoppers but I fell in love with the middle tones and bought it anyway.  I hoped and believed the bottom end would probably open up and get louder but I never expected this much change.  It's now a booming strong bass, the guitar has more power and feels more dynamic to me.

Also quite unexpected was an improvement at the very high end.  I've heard of such things but never experienced it before this.  The two solid strings above 12-14 frets were playable but always sounded cold and neutral. I describe them as "nothing to brag about" but now suddenly they sound sweet, even creamy all the way up to the 20th fret.  It's amazing.

A caveat: I have not compared this to other 414's and I suspect some of them sound this good right out of the factory.  Mine did not. It apparently needed time to settle in or perhaps internal stress in the wood had to normalize or maybe there was a stiff braced or wood joint that had to loosen up. I don't know but somebody in there is a lot happier now and working much better.

The change happen to take place in April during a period of high humidity and the changes were so startling and sudden I though at first it was caused by the humidity and posted to that effect on April 12th.  I have since changed the strings and brought it back down from 55-58% to the normal 45-47% and it still sounds wonderful, maybe even better.

But here is the kicker.  The guitar is only 18 months old, which is why I didn't even think of it opening up yet. I didn't expect any changes for another couple of years.  So my advice is for anyone out there with a young Taylor guitar with a weak bottom end.  Don't sell or trade it just yet.  Keep playing a little longer.  You might be amazed what you have there when it "wakes up".

Incidentally my 6 months quest for just the right pick that will boost the bottom end but make the high strings more mellow has just ended.  Most of the picks in my collection sound pretty good now and wait for it........ It sounds better plugged in too!

I'm a a very happy 414ce owner.

[pottski]

That's great to hear, dangrunloh! I have an Addie/ovangkol BTO that should be here in a couple of weeks and I was expecting to have to play it a while to get the top to open up, but was wondering if the back and sides would need some time too. From what you say, they may or may not, depending on the ovangkol. I recently a/b'd a bunch of Taylors at a local shop and the DN4 and 416ce had the best tone (to my ears) of the bunch, including a pretty nice 814ce. Way to be patient with your 414ce, and I hope you have many years of enjoyment with it.

[jjrpilot-admin]

Dangrunloh that's great to hear! The playing time no doubt has really helped your 414 along. 

I'd venture to say that you won't be getting rid of your 414 any time soon. 

My GS8 is opening up slowly.  I'm not in any rush though...I'm thoroughly enjoying the process.

[dangrunloh]

Dangrunloh that's great to hear! The playing time no doubt has really helped your 414 along. 

I'd venture to say that you won't be getting rid of your 414 any time soon. 

It was a gift from Diana, my wife of 40 years and I put her name on the TRC.  I plan to keep them both.

The custom script inlay by Bill Nichols was done in white colorcore to match the Taylor name on the headstock.

My GS8 is opening up slowly.  I'm not in any rush though...I'm thoroughly enjoying the process.

[oatordeal]

i'm curious though. is it safe to assume then, that the more you play your guitar, the faster it will open up? is it directly related?

[egkor]

There are no guarantees that anything will change.

But, playing the guitar is key!  It won't "break in" just sitting in the case.

Its an inexact science.  But I believe in it, I play my guitars to keep 'em loose.

-Gary K

[dangrunloh]

There are no guarantees that anything will change.

But, playing the guitar is key!  It won't "break in" just sitting in the case.

Its an inexact science.  But I believe in it, I play my guitars to keep 'em loose.

-Gary K

Some guitars are so perfect they couldn't get any better.   Presumably any guitar could "age" in the case and change it's tone but that takes decades. I wouldn't except much change in a guitar rarely played and kept always at a perfect 70 degrees and 47%RH.

The other two factors, playing and environmental conditions are harder to separate as most guitars that are used "outside the home" may experience wider fluctuations in temperature and humidity.

My 1978 Fender acoustic also changed and got a better tone after several years of beating on it and wearing grooves in the frets but it also lived in the garage where I played it so no one would hear.

Gary's expression "to keep 'em loose" is not the first time I've seen it suggested that the process can revert (through lack of playing), that the wood or top becomes less responsive over time if not used.  That's a slightly radical suggestion I've not contemplated.  I play mine until they are junk, broken, or worn out so I can't say.

[oatordeal]

does it also apply on b/s laminate-type of guitars?

[RGtheMusicGuy]

does it also apply on b/s laminate-type of guitars?

I've found solid top lam side guitars will open up a to a point but they don't seem to have that "A-Ha" moment.  Of course on the flip side, if you find a great sounding lam back/sides guitar, the sound won't change as much due to weather and what not either.

[ggj]

I've always found this concept of "opening up" to be very subjective and somewhat spiritual in nature.  I have my doubts that a guitar opens up over the course of a month. Of course it's your experience with the guitar that counts.  Having said that and if you're really into this concept,  my guess is you have a killer guitar on your hands and you will experience a continual maturing of its sound over the next several years.