As guitars age

[fdesalvo]

Coming from the electric camp recently, I have been devouring as much factual and anecdotal material as possible concerning acoustics.  One thing I recently read struck me - some contend that, as acoustics age, their tone evolves. 

Case in point: My friend's 6 year old Taylor 414CE sounds beautiful - very rich overtones/harmonics, thick and sparkling, almost sounds like it breathes when strummed - it looks that way, as well; the finish and binding on the guitar have ambered nicely, but I don't recall how it sounded when it was new.  It would be interesting to go back in time to have a listen.   

Have you guys noticed anything similar?  My 2011 414CE has about 12 hours on it and it's tight and bright sounding.  Wondering if it will open up a bit as the years wear on.

Best,

Frank

[mescobar]

If you haven't already, you should definately read the lastest issue of Wood & Steel.
Bob Taylor has a small note about tone and aging. I believe it's page 5.
http://www.taylorguitars.com/woodandsteel/issues/ws_fall_2011.pdf

[jjrpilot-admin]

Hi Frank!  Any type of solid topped guitar will get better with age as long as its taken care of.  Your guitar will settle in a bit and the sound should start to darken slightly.  I've heard others say that the sap that stays in the wood, over the years starts to crystallize helping it sound better as well.

[fdesalvo]

Awesome info, guys!   

[michaelw]

Coming from the electric camp recently, I have been devouring as much factual and anecdotal material as possible concerning acoustics.  One thing I recently read struck me - some contend that, as acoustics age, their tone evolves. 

Case in point: My friend's 6 year old Taylor 414CE sounds beautiful - very rich overtones/harmonics, thick and sparkling, almost sounds like it breathes when strummed - it looks that way, as well; the finish and binding on the guitar have ambered nicely, but I don't recall how it sounded when it was new.  It would be interesting to go back in time to have a listen.   

Have you guys noticed anything similar?  My 2011 414CE has about 12 hours on it and it's tight and bright sounding.  Wondering if it will open up a bit as the years wear on.

Best,

Frank

hi Frank,
good to see you here
WELCOME ! i also feel that the tone of an acoustic guitar (solid top or all solid wood)
can indeed change as the guitar is played more & as time passes

my take on it is, & if i'm incorrect or completely misinformed i am certain that i will be corrected,
is that over time resins within the wood crystallize & with continued playing, the vibration that
the woods are subjected to 'break down' those resins & the woods are able to vibrate more freely -
the guitar can become more responsive dynamically (low end gets deeper, mids warm up &
get 'fuller' & so on, but how perceptible this change is, depends solely on the player & the guitar

in the short term, some feel that a guitar needs to 'warm up' after it has not been played in a while,
similar to a tube amp, & a discernable difference in tone may be noted after a relatively brief period of time

it is likely that the age & playing time your friend's 414ce has would be a contributing factor to it's tone -
darkening of the binding & the woods tells me that the guitar has seen a good bit of
UV light & perhaps it's been 'played-out' quite in a bit in various environments & settings

also, if your friend's guitar was produced around the fall of 06, it should have the Standard II
forward-shifted bracing pattern with relief rout, which would be same bracing as your 2011 -
if it is an 05 or early 06 model, it would most likely have the 'Classic' bracing pattern

here's an easy way to tell, the next time both of you are playing your guitars
the blue line is the second knuckle of my index finger when the tip is touching the 'x'
on the Standard II bracing pattern, the x-brace is closer to the soundhole
Pre-Standard II (on a 98 414)                                                          Standard II (on a 06 914ceLTD

as you put more playing time on your guitar, i believe it will gain depth & warmth ('loosen up' a bit)

please make yourself comfortable & enjoy the place
congrats on the 414ce
play on

[jjrpilot-admin]

How do you know that type of stuff???

[DMBfan41]

I cannot speak for others and their guitars but I will attest that my '04 has definitely matured in sound. 

[Jack Sparrow]

As you said, "some contend" - whether or not guitars improve in sound as they age (some call this "opening up") is a source of much drama and debate, as well as a lot of great sales pitches.

Personally, I'm skeptical, though I don't think such a thing is impossible either. All that vibrating could very well alter the guitar somehow, though for the most part I think the question is: does your guitar open up at the same rate that your playing improves over the years?

[Ted @ LA Guitar Sales]

Coming from the electric camp recently, I have been devouring as much factual and anecdotal material as possible concerning acoustics.  One thing I recently read struck me - some contend that, as acoustics age, their tone evolves. 

Case in point: My friend's 6 year old Taylor 414CE sounds beautiful - very rich overtones/harmonics, thick and sparkling, almost sounds like it breathes when strummed - it looks that way, as well; the finish and binding on the guitar have ambered nicely, but I don't recall how it sounded when it was new.  It would be interesting to go back in time to have a listen.   

Have you guys noticed anything similar?  My 2011 414CE has about 12 hours on it and it's tight and bright sounding.  Wondering if it will open up a bit as the years wear on.

Best,

Frank

Hi Frank.

New Taylors do tend to sound a little tight at first but will open up fairly quickly and keep getting better from there on. Bottom line, if you like your Taylor now you will like it even more as it starts to open up.

[DennisG]

One of the things I remember Bob Taylor saying is that a benefit of a 12-fret guitar is that it sounds like a guitar that has been opening up for years.  I was pretty skeptical of this -- right up until the moment I played one.  There's a warmth and maturity to the 12-fret sound that my 814 still hasn't attained, and may never.  And the 12-fret sounded that way from Day 1.

[michaelw]

As you said, "some contend" - whether or not guitars improve in sound as they age (some call this "opening up") is a source of much drama and debate, as well as a lot of great sales pitches.

Personally, I'm skeptical, though I don't think such a thing is impossible either. All that vibrating could very well alter the guitar somehow, though for the most part I think the question is: does your guitar open up at the same rate that your playing improves over the years?

in terms of the vibrations from the top,
i'd like to think it'd make a difference
http://tonerite.com/guitar/vmchk
as for yout last question, i hope not, as my guitars would likely be
'toneless', which they pretty much are now, resting in their cases

[fdesalvo]

Loving this thread -

Thanks, Michael and peeps!

[e8n]

Guitars all open up at their own pace.  I had a Koa that changed significantly over the course of a year and other guitars that sound very similar to the day they were purchased.  Ted is right about Taylors, they are very tight when you get them and they change significantly over the first year.  Adi topped guitars are at their worst on their first day with you (per Taylor themselves) and break in and age over a long period of time. 

The best thing is that the only way to find out is to play the heck out of your guitar.  Record it now and then record it 6 months from now and see the change. 

-Dave

[Guitar Rodeo]

Michael,

In reference to your "bracing gauge" shown in the photos above..... Is that a Metric finger, a Standard Western finger, or even an English finger gauge? Where can I get one? Is the blue line durable or glow in the dark possibly? Is there a warranty? Excellent tool. Looks like it may even have other uses you are not even mentioning....

[michaelw]

Loving this thread -

Thanks, Michael and peeps!

thenks for posting this thread, Frank
great question & i'm glad you asked it

have a
HAPPY NEW YEAR !