Which Taylor to complement my collection?

[songman]

I have this really great Larrivee dreadnought with a beautiful balanced sound and projection, so I am set in that category. However, I would like to have another guitar which, among other things, records better than a dreadnought, but nevertheless still has a nice balanced but more delicate sound. So do I go for the 812ce (Grand Concert), 814ce (Grand Auditorium) or the 816ce (Grand Symphony)? Any thoughts most welcome since I will not be able to judge one against the other (stores over here do not have that great variety to try out).

Cheers, Bob.

[Jersey tuning]

I vote for the 812.  Delicate, powerful, and balanced, especially with HD light strings

[Gutch]

The Grand Auditorium (814) is a Dread with a slightly tighter waist to control the lows a bit.  A Grand Symphony (816) is a Grand Auditorium where the waist is shifted more toward the sound hole and the lower bout is, as Taylor described it, "...a bit more pregnant".  Both styles demonstrate great dynamic response to both finger and flatpick and are versatile performers.


The Grand Concert's (812) strength is in focus of tone.  The smaller body provides a greater emphasis on the midrange, though there is plenty of balance from the low and high end of the spectrum.  This makes for a voice that shines in fingerstyle play.


IMO, if you already have the heavy hitter in the dread, i would recommend the contrast of the Grand Concert as a balance.

[Strumming Fool]

Predictably, my vote would be for a grand auditorium, but you may want to try a different wood than rosewood for recording purposes and just for more contrast in sound. I'd suggest either a 514 (mahogany) or a 614 (maple). I haven't tried the new maples yet, but I'm sure that they would still offer that characteristic stage and recording presence that maple is famous for.

[Guitarsan]

I have this really great Larrivee dreadnought with a beautiful balanced sound and projection, so I am set in that category. However, I would like to have another guitar which, among other things, records better than a dreadnought, but nevertheless still has a nice balanced but more delicate sound. So do I go for the 812ce (Grand Concert), 814ce (Grand Auditorium) or the 816ce (Grand Symphony)? Any thoughts most welcome since I will not be able to judge one against the other (stores over here do not have that great variety to try out).

Well, you'll get a lot of less than definitive answers, given the detail you've shared. And that's ok, maybe this is all the detail you have and you're "exploring" rather than deciding at this point.

By delicate, what are you looking for, exactly? Are you flatpicking or doing fingerstyle, etc? Any other detail and also any previous consideration of tone woods tops and bottom/sides and your impressions could help narrow things down also.

[songman]

"Well, you'll get a lot of less than definitive answers, given the detail you've shared. And that's ok, maybe this is all the detail you have and you're "exploring" rather than deciding at this point. "

Well, from what I have read so far you all are so much more knowledgeable than me. All I have is a basic knowledge of the different types of guitars, but I know very little of woods, which guitar is best for what, etc. Of course the dreadnought is mostly for strumming. I once played on a Larrivee OM 10 (http://www.larrivee.com/instruments/acoustics/10/OM10.php) which probably best describes the sound I am looking for as opposed to my dreadnought. Depending on the song I do both flat picking and finger style.

Cheers, Bob.

[Guitarsan]

Well, from what I have read so far you all are so much more knowledgeable than me. All I have is a basic knowledge of the different types of guitars, but I know very little of woods, which guitar is best for what, etc. Of course the dreadnought is mostly for strumming. I once played on a Larrivee OM 10 (http://www.larrivee.com/instruments/acoustics/10/OM10.php) which probably best describes the sound I am looking for as opposed to my dreadnought. Depending on the song I do both flat picking and finger style.

Cheers, Bob.

OK, I would say a Grand Concert model might be optimal and a big enough of a change from your Dreadnaught. It certainly is optimal for fingerstyle and most struming, though you can overdrive it strumming really hard. (But you could save that for your Dreadnaught)

I've got a homework assignment for you.....

You can both check out what Taylor has done with their revoiced maple guitars and read more in their Taylor's 2015 Guitar Guide in their just released Wood and Steel magazine online at the link just below. (FYI, Taylor's new maple Grand Concerts aren't out yet, that'll be next quarter.)

Then check out the various series Grand Concerts (GC) - Koa, 800, 500, etc.

Armed with that in your head, go play some and report back. 

http://www.taylorguitars.com/sites/default/files/Wood-Steel_Winter-2015_EN.pdf

[oatordeal]

My suggestion would be a 522! get an all 'hog GC size. That would surely compliment your dread with some fine single note goodness for solos and fingerpicking. i have an 814ce and my next guitar purchase would be a 522/322 (if the wife approves of course). hehehe

[jalbert]

Here's another vote for a 522. It would make a nice contrast to a dreadnought, and has (as you desire) a balanced and more delicate sound.

[Sprintbob]

+1 on the 522 especially the 12 fret, find one to try out if you can.

[Edward]

Hi Bob,

I must recommend that you find an R.Taylor Style 2, whose body size is the GC.  To balance your lovely dred's voice, a smaller body will record well (arguably better than a large bod) and offer a more "direct" voice with more pronounced fundamentals. 

That said, I have yet to play any Taylor GC that equaled the depth and richness of the RT's Style 2.  I own one, and have had my hands on a few others over the years (maybe 4 or 5), and will unequivocally say that every one of them are stellar instruments that are tonally in another strata as the otherwise good Taylor production models.  RT made approx. 200/year from 06-around 2011, and a few pop up on forums here and there.  At retail prices they are an unspeakably good guitar, on par with other boutique makers in its ilk.  But at their current used-market value, they are killer, killer values, IMHO. 

And of course, play the other low-production marques out there: lots of really good guitars whose voices differ ...let your ears decide.  But if you're decided on "Taylor," then the RT really is what you're looking for

Edward

[Strumming Fool]

Edward makes a few good points above. I especially like the idea of looking at other makers, as nothing in the Taylor offerings is identical to an OM in its sound and feel IMO. I happen to prefer Taylor GAs for my purposes, but if you're looking for a guitar that will excel in fingerstyle , while supporting light to medium strumming, perhaps the OM is the way to go. In this case, there are many great makers of OMs that you might want to consider besides Larrivee, including Bourgeois, Santa Cruz and Collings. While you'll probably see many rosewood and mahogany specimens, you may have an opportunity to try some of the more exotic woods like koa, walnut or macassar ebony.

Have fun in your search! The journey is a joy....

[terrypl]

Just to add to the variety of good answers, I'd suggest a 514ce, the mahogany/cedar GA. Although I prefer the rosewood/spruce family, I used to have a 514C that excelled at recording because of its balanced tone.

[songman]

I want to thank everyone for all the helpful advice given. Where I live (Belgium) I unfortunately do not have the luxury of many shops with a great variety of guitars. Since I do not want to buy a guitar without playing it first, I'll have to choose from what is available, but I will look around very thoroughly taking all the suggestions into account.

Cheers, Bob.

[guitarsrsoawesome]

At least your fairly close to Amsterdam, the European headquarters.  Road trip!  (Or train trip!)