What model(s) are you playing & what do you enjoy most about it (them) ?

[not darth]

+1, what woods in a GC size would potentially have similar volume to a larger guitar?
I love the size and playability of the GC, but from my limited time with one, I didn't feel it had the punch I wanted. 
(Probably should have given it more than a week to get used to it, but I was afraid to miss out on the GSLJ that I traded up into.)
-K

[rudals1281]

I play 614CE
I have tried many different types but it is the best for me so far because of its neck profile and the ability to play both fingerstyle and rhythmic with ease. But sometimes I like to bring out my beater (Dreadnought) and go at it.

[sthompson]

Tim was strong on the Cocobolo and EIRosewood paired with either
Redwood or Adirondack.  I also suspect the Macassar/Sinker in the
Style 2 is his brainchild.  I had a Madagascar/Sitka in the GC size that
was a quiet guitar....too quiet.  It's now on the expat list...

I think the Style 2 Addie bracing is the key to the strong, clear voice
and also translates to the same thing in the GC with CV addie bracing. 
It makes a noticeable difference in a tight volume projection, especially
with the rosewoods.  As for bass, the walnut and coco seem to offer
the deepest resonance in the OM size; notably moreso than rosewoods,
in my guitars.  I'm sure all this is dependent on the individual guitar.

With the suspension of R.Taylor production, I'm hoping many of their
techniques can be incorporated into the BTO process, if not the entire
Taylor line.  No GC is going to "punch" like a dreadnaught or Style 1, but
if you like the OM size, call Tim and ask him how to maximize the volume
and certain tones for your style.  He can tell you what might work best in
a GC BTO.
st

[not darth]

Tim was strong on the Cocobolo and EIRosewood paired with either
Redwood or Adirondack.  I also suspect the Macassar/Sinker in the
Style 2 is his brainchild.  I had a Madagascar/Sitka in the GC size that
was a quiet guitar....too quiet.  It's now on the expat list...

I think the Style 2 Addie bracing is the key to the strong, clear voice
and also translates to the same thing in the GC with CV addie bracing. 
It makes a noticeable difference in a tight volume projection, especially
with the rosewoods.  As for bass, the walnut and coco seem to offer
the deepest resonance in the OM size; notably moreso than rosewoods,
in my guitars.  I'm sure all this is dependent on the individual guitar.

With the suspension of R.Taylor production, I'm hoping many of their
techniques can be incorporated into the BTO process, if not the entire
Taylor line.  No GC is going to "punch" like a dreadnaught or Style 1, but
if you like the OM size, call Tim and ask him how to maximize the volume
and certain tones for your style.  He can tell you what might work best in
a GC BTO.
st

st, thanks for the reply.  As I mentioned the GC/OM/Style2 size feels great, so it's really interesting to me that different woods and bracing can really bring out the sound. 
I've also been reading up on 12-fret guitars, especially in that smaller size.  I guess part of the theory is that the 'focus' as it were, is centered better in the body and projects better from the soundhole.  What I'm still not 100% certain about, is whether all 12-fret guitars are still the standard scale length, or if some are shorter with less tension on the string set.

-K

[michaelw]

thanks st.

did a little bit more searching & i can see/hear how
macassar/sinker could be a very viable combination
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK4NNTrpizQ

even though he is strumming well over the soundhole &
almost over the fretboard extension, the guitar is not just
loud, but very bold & expressive as well ... impressive

there is also a video of a sinker/eirw Style 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gN9y2eE7tY

that Style 2 more than hold it's own, imho ... nice

[sthompson]

I love the Style 2.  So much, that I was in the process of translating all my
larger bodied guitar wood combinations into a comparable Style 2.  I wasn't
able to get it done in time with my GS Mac/Sinker.  That is probably my favorite
wood combo.  I'll probably get it made in a GC Custom....as soon as I sell the GS.
st

[michaelw]

surfing the web, i was able to find a couple more macassar/sinker clips

BTO GS macassar/sinker -
audio is decent, esp considering it's from a cell phone & parts of
the chord progression sounds a bit like 'you & me' by lifehouse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzY6PnVKpXI
there are quite a few more videos featuring Taylors on this page as well

RT Style 1 macassar/sinker -
i think this player has much 'brighter' hands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ2turi7iq0

st,
i was wondering if you feel that if either recording, or neither,
is a reasonable representation of your GS mac/sinker's tone &,
if not, if you might happen to have a sound clip or two to share

thanks

[cjd-player]

I play primarily solo fingerstyle and my favorite models are the Taylor Grand Concerts.  As I have become older, I noticed some stiffness in my left hand a during extended playing of my 814.  I also had a custom 812ce (redwood top), but it was a 2003 with standard scale.  I started looking at the "new" GC's with short scale and just fell in love with the playability.

So my main axe is now my BTO Grand Concert (Premium Redwood on EI rosewood) with a slim-carve neck.  Although a GC body, it has powerful bass (CV bracing) and a wonderful string-to-string balance.  The redwood top gives it a nice warmth compared to spruce.  It does not have the sustain and projection of my 814, but if I need volume, that's what amps are for.

The 814 is now my strumming guitar.

While just browsing and not actually shopping, I ended up buying a 312ce after falling in love with its voice when tuned to DADGAD.  I like DADGAD better on this guitar compared to my rosewood GC because of the dryer tone and less overtones of the spruce/sapele.

Other than my 814, I've gone exclusively short scale.  Even my Recording King "beater".  The lower string tension makes a world of difference for my left hand.  I can now play for hours again.  Taylor GC's rule!

[sthompson]

surfing the web, i was able to find a couple more macassar/sinker clips

BTO GS macassar/sinker -
audio is decent, esp considering it's from a cell phone & parts of
the chord progression sounds a bit like 'you & me' by lifehouse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzY6PnVKpXI
there are quite a few more videos featuring Taylors on this page as well

RT Style 1 macassar/sinker -
i think this player has much 'brighter' hands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ2turi7iq0

st,
i was wondering if you feel that if either recording, or neither,
is a reasonable representation of your GS mac/sinker's tone &,
if not, if you might happen to have a sound clip or two to share

thanks

Michaelw,
I'll listen to those clips later today when I get a quiet time.  I don't have any
clips of me playing my GS Mac/Sinker, but I have bright hands, myself, as does
a close friend of mine.  We both love the combination.  Maybe that has something
to do with the perceived responsiveness as compared with other woods?  I love
listening to others play that guitar that are more accomplished than I.
st

[michaelw]

thanks st,

i think that the audio on the second is affected a bit by the room acoustics & mic proximity -
i've noticed it on other videos i've seen from the same site also, whereare on the first link
the mic, er cell phone is probably relatively close to the guitar (i prefer the tone of that one)

[sthompson]

thanks st,

i think that the audio on the second is affected a bit by the room acoustics & mic proximity -
i've noticed it on other videos i've seen from the same site also, whereare on the first link
the mic, er cell phone is porobably relatively close to the guitar (i prefer the tone of that one)

Hi Michael,
Yep, what I hear out of both of those clips is a strong projected tone that is full, clear, with depth
without muddiness or boomy character.  Good, tight bass that lives more in the mid-upper bass
region.  The midrange on mac can be a bit dark, don't know a better way to explain it, as compared
with the bell-like trebles.  The Fazio's player does have bright hands, and that Style 1 sounds more
like my GS when I play it.  As I mentioned earlier, in some other, stronger hands, I hardly recognize
the guitar.  Either way, I love the wood combination. 

If I were having one built, I believe I would use CV bracing with it in any of the body styles, and
likely use addie braces, but I'd talk with Tim first.  I'd use Sinker, then old growth Redwood, Cedar
and likely Engelmann as a possible choice if I could get a good piece.  I think Sitka or Adirondack
would produce a possibly harsh upper mid and treble range, but it would be L O U D.  I'd actually
be interested to hear what Engelmann could do with Macassar.  Oh...also, I'm betting that with
another builder, the Macassar would sound completely different and the spruces might be a good
choice.
st

[michaelw]

cool 

i actually like the mids to be on 'the dark side', as long as they're full -
i have a redwood/ziricote GA pre-Standard II that exhibits that characteristic &
when i brought it over to let a friend play it, he said it the was most unTaylorlike
Taylor that he's heard, with the mids seem to have a thicker/heavier more
'vintage' vibe, while retaining those 'signature' crystalline Taylor trebles

sitka/mahogany & sitka/ovangkol are combos i enjoy also & i can't help but think
that adi could bring out more 'sweetness' with mahogany & that a good stiff
cedar top, or redwood, on ovangkol would produce a very pleasant tone as well

thanks for your thoughts

[mcookoc]

i had a gs-5 and felt it was to big for comfortable playing and required a heavier attack thank i was used to playing. i sold it to a agf member and bought a gc-5 from another member. but as you can see i do like the sound of mahogany and cedar. i really like the gc-5 which is a perfect fit for my kind of playing and yes i do play a lot of bluegrass but am not in a situation where i have to compete to be heard, i also finger pick, this guitar fits all my requirements for the perfect guitar.

[Cindy]

cool 

i actually like the mids to be on 'the dark side', as long as they're full -
i have a redwood/ziricote GA pre-Standard II that exhibits that characteristic &
when i brought it over to let a friend play it, he said it the was most unTaylorlike
Taylor that he's heard, with the mids seem to have a thicker/heavier more
'vintage' vibe, while retaining those 'signature' crystalline Taylor trebles

thanks for your thoughts

Michael, you have a ziricote Taylor?!! Do you have any pics? PLEASE! I've seen a few pics of Ziricote but not sure if they were Taylors. Would you believe when I was narrowing down choices for my BTO, I asked a Taylor rep about ziricote? They didn't have any.

[Redwood Tree]

Funny It Seems I rotate through my stock , but mainly play the newest member to the haram.  And at this time it's Cocobolo, Yes Once again  I've a 2008 Fall Ltd GAce Coco / Sitka  with the new CV Adirondack Braced top. This guitar is my 3rd GA  08 Fall Ltd and I'm Sold !  My favorite at the moment!  Its a most beauiful guitar and the sound is so sweet . Not as bassy as the DMSM , but is so even across the spectrum .