new 800 series

[michaelw]

...  i'm personally not too thrilled about the near medium G & medium B & e, although it might be alright on 24 7/8" scale or 12 fret - once there's an option for a 814c 12-fret & solid headstock ... oh boy

Agreed. What bothers me is that it locks the buyer into forever purchasing the custom gauged ($$$) Elixer PBs, or else putting together custom sets of strings in order to make the guitar play as it was designed. What if I don't happen to like Elixer PBs and want Pearse PBs or something else? Very strange decision from Andy.

And dang, those are some pretty hefty prices to go with the new improvements! I love my five Taylors to death, but if I had that kind of coin to spend on a new guitar I'd be looking at boutiques or even a custom build from a smaller builder. But then again, I don't know what the prices were on the old 800 series so maybe the prices on the new models are in line.

on paper  was omitted from my quote, which changes the context quite a bit, imho -
the difference in tension i've calculated are over a 17% increase
on the e, nearly 13% on the B & just a bit less than 9% on the G

i'm not so concerned about being "locked in" to the elixir HDs, as there are other
string companies, such as DR, that will make custom string sets & i can understand
the desire to fine tune string tension in order to produce a certain response,
but the tension of the medium G, B & e is something i struggle with, even
on a super-short 23.5" scale mini when playing up the neck & i don't see a
mention of a compound radius fretboard, but i know i'm already overthinking
this too much & in a way, i wish i didn't know this before being able to play
an example of the 14 814ce because i've have rather tried it & had an idea of
how the guitar sounded & plays to see if it is going to be an "non-issue"

it's been a good 8 years since i've bought elixirs, other than guitars that
already had them on & i've settled in on my string of choice as EXP19s,
but there are always round & flex core strings, like DR Sunbeams & martin FXs -
aside from the strings, the AP bracing, the 3.5 finish, rosewood pickguard
rosewood purfling on the top & rosette, the new fretboard inlay, gloss ebony
headstock, ES2 & nickel tuners, i would have expected the upcharge to be closer
to 2.75x the difference from 13 to 14 & if i decided i liked the guitar, the tone
acoustic & amplified & the playability, i would feel that it was well worth that $

i wonder how much of an effect a sunburst finish will have, seeing that the
new finish is 40% thinner, because if the burst adds a couple of mils, i think
i'd have to go au naturel, with the pickguard nestled in the pick box as well

[Drock2k1]

I still may hunt down a used 812 burst. I love the sound of the previous models and the newer price tag isn't fun

[michaelw]

the designation for the bracing pattern is aptly named for the one responsible for the design -
advanced performance, AP ...
at 0:29, the braces appear to be tapered parabolic, rather than hybrid scalloped
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBNn8i9x6eM

nearly 80% less bracing mass
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ProtoDread

the dreadnought body was recently redesigned by larry breedlove &, to me, it
looks like the upper bout has a slightly softer curve with a more gradual taper

[Strumming Fool]

I'd like to try the new 814ce, but I'd only consider buying an 814e version with the standard "modify a model" options. Hope Taylor offers that, so if I fall in love with it, I may finally have a rosewood keeper.

[Fire]

I'd like to try the new 814ce, but I'd only consider buying an 814e version with the standard "modify a model" options. Hope Taylor offers that, so if I fall in love with it, I may finally have a rosewood keeper.

I think they do. Here's a prototype 814e   

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2013-Taylor-Prototype-Version-1-814e-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-SN-1108213168-/231136277270?pt=Guitar&hash=item35d0cbb316

[Strumming Fool]

I'd like to try the new 814ce, but I'd only consider buying an 814e version with the standard "modify a model" options. Hope Taylor offers that, so if I fall in love with it, I may finally have a rosewood keeper.

I think they do. Here's a prototype 814e   

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2013-Taylor-Prototype-Version-1-814e-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-SN-1108213168-/231136277270?pt=Guitar&hash=item35d0cbb316

Thanks- the guitar in that link is indeed a prototype with some different aesthetic appointments than the stock 2014 814ce being offered (rosette and binding to name two). While I did not see the 814e in the 800 series last time I looked, the 2014 price list does display that model as available. Well, there may be one of these in my future, as long as I can change the sitka to an edgeburst-finished cedar top. I still am leaning towards a 2014 BTO, but the test-drive will tell.

[DennisG]

I just played the new 814 at Dusty Strings in Seattle.  It's a real tone monster with more pronounced midrange than the previous iteration.  I also love the new ES2.  I'd really like to try a new 812.

[rbr49x]

I think they do. Here's a prototype 814e   

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2013-Taylor-Prototype-Version-1-814e-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-SN-1108213168-/231136277270?pt=Guitar&hash=item35d0cbb316

Poking around that link to learn more about Willcutt Guitars (they're near me) it appears that they have five different 814e prototypes for the 2014 models from four different prototype versions (1, 5, 7, and 9).  Would be fascinating for a real student of these kinds of things to compare them to see the progression of the development.  (I have nowhere near enough skill, knowledge or ear to do it justice.)

http://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_odkw=&item=231136277270&pt=Guitar&_osacat=0&hash=item35d0cbb316&_ssn=willcuttguitars&_trksid=p2046732.m570.l1313.TR1.TRC0.A0.Xtaylor+prototype&_nkw=taylor+prototype&_sacat=0&_from=R40

[jpmist]

What gave me pause when I read the website page on the new changes and watched the videos was the thinner finish. Over time the finish on all my Taylors thins out as the solvent gases out and one can see the washboard effect as the soft part of the grain shrinks in. Having a thinner finish no doubt gives a head start on the guitar opening up, but at the expense of getting a new dent or mark on the finish every time I pick it up.

The new Expression 2 pickup gives me pause as well because it looks like the saddle is resting on the pickup insert that gets wedged into the underside of the saddle. Seems like there's gonna be some transmission loss of energy there. I applaud Taylor for trying to improve it's pickup system cause I have the newest system and hate it. It seems like the  new string gauges are a way to even out the piezo response from the new system, perhaps. If I never use the pickup I hope I'll get just a good a sound with my customary custom light Elixars.

I also miss the abalone rosette and the rosewood pickguard doesn't appeal to me. I guess I'm an old dyed in the wool stick in the mud, but I'm giving this one a frowney face.  That is until I actually pick one up and play it and it changes my mind. 

[jrporter]

I'd like to try the new 814ce, but I'd only consider buying an 814e version with the standard "modify a model" options. Hope Taylor offers that, so if I fall in love with it, I may finally have a rosewood keeper.

I think they do. Here's a prototype 814e   

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2013-Taylor-Prototype-Version-1-814e-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-SN-1108213168-/231136277270?pt=Guitar&hash=item35d0cbb316

I'm not sure what makes this a prototype, but it doesn't appear to have the new bracing....

[Tarekith]

Having just gotten my 814ce a couple of months ago, I have to admit to groaning when I heard new versions were coming shortly after I got it.  One of the main reasons I wanted a really nice acoustic guitar was that it WASN'T something I needed to worry about upgrading.  At least not like I do all the electronic/software tools I use in the studio day in and day out. 

At first it was hard not to feel a little bummed, but the more I thought about it, the more I changed my view on the issue.  This is likely the last Bob Taylor designed flagship guitar for Taylor.  While I don't doubt the newer ones under Andy are every bit as awesome, it was orginally reading interviews with Bob and seeing his thoughts on sustainable wood use that really made me consider a Taylor in the first place.

Now I look at it like I have the culmination of one man's lifetime of experience making guitars, hard to beat that or feel like I should have waited when I think of it that way. 

[TaylorMate]

Now I look at it like I have the culmination of one man's lifetime of experience making guitars, hard to beat that or feel like I should have waited when I think of it that way. 

That's really a helpful and nice way to look at my 812 I bought only a few months ago. I will cherish that thought!

[Jersey tuning]

great spin

[michaelw]

great spin

no spin, imho -
Bob had mentioned that he had taken the 800 series as far as he felt he could regarding the
playability. consistency & tone, so he turned the series over to Andy to see what he could do

those changes were then implemented, as much as they could be, into the 2014 800s -
whether the new 800s are "better" or "different" is up to the individual player,
just as the 09 CV, 02-04 Standard II & the 99 - earlier preNT neck models were

i had a 97 814c that i wish i was able to keep & i would have added a 2014 814ce to it -
i'm still going to work on ordering a new one, possibly a Custom because i'd like a 12 fret X14 &
a deep body X10 to match, but there are also a couple of NOS models that will be in the mix too

to me, these are not meant to make 13-earler models "obsolete", but there are players that are relatively new,
or not-so-new, to Taylor & depending on personal preference, they may purchase a new 800 series because
they like the changes, whereas previously they were not considering an 800, they may add a model, or two,
to the guitars they already have, they may decide one of the earlier models that they may already own is more
preferable, or they may dismiss the 2014 800s altogether as being "hype" without playing one & keep moving on

i don't believe Taylor is not trying to be all guitars to all players, as it would be boring if everyone played the
same guitar, but if the changes that are being made appeal to more players, then more "powers" to them 

ymmv

[MexicoMike]

COOL, I think I'll use that same philosophy for my old iMac - the last model made on Steve Jobs' watch!  Thanks - it'll save me a bunch of money. 

Actually, of course, changes to a guitar are just that…changes.  Just because a new model sounds different than the previous model, doesn't make it better.  Depending on the listener/player, it could just as easily be inferior in sound to the previous model.