Seeking advice! Next guitar after GS8.

[Alpione]

Hey all - just migrated over here from the AGF and looking to hear some suggestions from fellow Taylor aficionados.

I've current got a 2010 GS8.  Great guitar.  However, I'm finding the rosewood a little muddy for my combo of energetic strumming mixed with some single note lead work.  The strumming sounds good, but the single notes tend to get lost in that wave of overtones.  And the scooped mids of the rosewood I bet also have something to do with that.  Plenty of bass, plenty of treble zing, but lacking in mid clarity (to me.)

So looking for something to remedy that.  I've considered doing a custom GS in sitka and mahogany, which would take care of the scooped mids but I worry would take out substantial bass and be too mid and treble heavy.

Any suggestions for my needs?  A good strummer with full sound but good clarity when mixing in leads. 

Thanks.

Adam

[jjrpilot-admin]

Have you tried Ovangkol? Similar to Rosewood, but has more mids. 

Great to have you here! 

[Alpione]

Not more than a little playing at a Guitar Center, but coincidentally I was looking at the BTO adi/ovangkol that came through here recently.  Pretty nice looking instrument.

I need to find a 416 to play and give that a shot.  I just hadn't thought of ovangkol because it's normally not used on the "higher end" Taylors.  I also want full gloss, so it would be a full BTO and possibly fairly pricey.  Hmmmm..

Thanks for the suggestion.

Adam

[egkor]

Why not sample the maple Taylor models.  Just a thought. 

-Gary K

[Strumming Fool]

Being a strummer as well as a singer/songwriter, I would recommend, along with others either ovangkol or mahogany rather than rosewood for the reasons you mention. Mahogany sports plenty of bass, but just drier with more of a roar than a rumble. It is not mired in the midrange like newer koa guitars. Ovangkol stands somewhere between the two. Your topwood is more important. Sitka's fine - an all-purpose spruce. Engelmann is a bit softer, warmer and more mature-sounding - sweet like cedar with a bit more zing and volume. Adi is stiffer and louder. My ovangkol/sinker redwood BTO has a wonderful "Martinesque" quality with Taylor's signature brilliance and articulation.

[mgap]

here is a post of a Adi/Ovankol you might be interested in.
http://www.unofficialtaylorguitarforum.com/index.php?topic=1784.0;topicseen

[naylor99]

Try maple. No, I am not saying just because i have one for sale. 

[Strumming Fool]

Here's an adi/ovangkol GS BTO that I had the pleasure to play. Excellent sound and great looks!

http://www.martinmusicguitar.com/products/acousticguitars/products.php?pcid=10064&pid=51008

[Alpione]

Thanks all.

Leaning towards mahogany but will have the opportunity to play a 416 later this week, so that will be a nice test.  Mahogany/spruce GS I believe is just a modify-a-model thing with reasonable cost.  Not sure how much a full BTO costs with glossed ovangkol. 

Anyone have the option list with prices, by chance?

I've been thinking of sitka vs. engelmann.  Engelmann is appealing but don't want to have it top out for strumming.  Hmm.

Adam

[pottski]

Thanks all.

Leaning towards mahogany but will have the opportunity to play a 416 later this week, so that will be a nice test.  Mahogany/spruce GS I believe is just a modify-a-model thing with reasonable cost.  Not sure how much a full BTO costs with glossed ovangkol. 

Anyone have the option list with prices, by chance?

I've been thinking of sitka vs. engelmann.  Engelmann is appealing but don't want to have it top out for strumming.  Hmm.

Adam

I sent you a PM about the cost of an Adi/ovangkol BTO. It was less than I thought it would be, and you could get the price down by quite a bit if you didn't upgrade the binding or get the mini wedge. You could also do a sitka top with adi bracing and save some money too. Have Jim send you his excel sheet with the order options. Then you can play around with different combos and see what they cost.

Matt

[Strumming Fool]

Thanks all.

Leaning towards mahogany but will have the opportunity to play a 416 later this week, so that will be a nice test.  Mahogany/spruce GS I believe is just a modify-a-model thing with reasonable cost.  Not sure how much a full BTO costs with glossed ovangkol. 

Anyone have the option list with prices, by chance?

I've been thinking of sitka vs. engelmann.  Engelmann is appealing but don't want to have it top out for strumming.  Hmm.

Adam

I have an engelmann/mahogany 514 that never lacks for headroom. Its sound is loud and sweet, with nice bass response.  Here are some pics:

[Alpione]

Thanks Matt and, ummm, Fool.   

I put in that request for the BTO sheet, so I'll see what I can cook up.  Even if I go with something more standard it will be fun to play around with the options.

Fool - that's "honeyburst," right?  Great looking guitar.  I'm also looking at a burst.  Jim and I were talking about a mahogany edgeburst for the same wood combo you have (or maybe sitka.)  Here's a pic, which I like.   Just want to make sure it won't be too red:



Decisions, decisions!

Adam

[pottski]

Thanks Matt and, ummm, Fool.   

I put in that request for the BTO sheet, so I'll see what I can cook up.  Even if I go with something more standard it will be fun to play around with the options.

Fool - that's "honeyburst," right?  Great looking guitar.  I'm also looking at a burst.  Jim and I were talking about a mahogany edgeburst for the same wood combo you have (or maybe sitka.)  Here's a pic, which I like.   Just want to make sure it won't be too red:



Decisions, decisions!

Adam

Glad you were able to talk to Jim. I have had my BTO for about week and I am already trying to figure out a way to build another BTO without selling anything that I already have. I love the versatility that this program allows you. I can't wait to see what you end up doing. The Engelmann or Sitka over Mahogany should be pretty great. I wonder what a hog top with adirondack bracing would add to that equation. That might be an interesting combo. Anyway, be sure to post a full report if/when you place the order.

Matt

[Strumming Fool]

Thanks Matt and, ummm, Fool.   

I put in that request for the BTO sheet, so I'll see what I can cook up.  Even if I go with something more standard it will be fun to play around with the options.

Fool - that's "honeyburst," right?  Great looking guitar.  I'm also looking at a burst.  Jim and I were talking about a mahogany edgeburst for the same wood combo you have (or maybe sitka.)  Here's a pic, which I like.   Just want to make sure it won't be too red:



Decisions, decisions!

Adam

Yes, mine's a honey burst. I like that hog edge burst, but I'm with you - I wouldn't want it to be too red....have fun in your quest!

[Tammany Tiger]

Stick with the mahogany. The bass should be fine but if you are worried,think about a twelve fret which moves the bridge lower onto the bass bout and deepens the bass resonse.