Great link michaelw, thanks for that. I had the pleasure of playing both the brand new 814ce and 816ce guitars last Friday in one of Taylor's demo rooms so I got a real good long listen. I can say the redesign is not just marketing, there is clearly an audible difference. Having played many of these models in the past, I felt that they both had an improved tone over their predecessors. The first thing I noticed is that they have a lighter feel in your arms and they feel and sound as if they are more delicate instruments than past model years. Of course they still feel like quality built instruments but just slightly less robust than I remember. I am curious to see how they will hold up as the years go by. That was the only drawback I could find.
I've always liked the GA shape for comfort and playability but in the past, I'd always wished it had a bit more bass. That has changed, the new 814 has better bass response and more volume. Imagine the sound of something between last years 814 and 816 models but a tad more lively and that is how I think of the new 814. The 816 is my preference out of the two and the redesign gives the GS an even more lively of a sound. They sported the "marbled" ebony fingerboards and I've got to say that, while I'm no Taylor apologist when it comes to the "marbled/striped ebony" debate, the fingerboard that was on the 816ce made me a convert, I've got to admit, I really liked that pattern of browns on this particular fingerboard and would prefer it over a solid black board. It also got me thinking something about the new rosewood pickguard, there seems to be an aesthetic to a rosewood pickguard when combined with a "marbled" fingerboard, perhaps this was also the thinking when they went to it? I would not be surprised if that was the case.
At the risk of going off topic, I also got to play an 818e that was hands down the winner over anything else I played that day. I don't know much about it except it sounded incredible.
