New 700 Series

[Scriptor]

Got a chance to play a new 714ce at a shop today ... I really like the changes including the look ... the tone with the Englemann is more to my liking as a fingerstylist ... still has a spruce punch but with more depth and just a smidgen of "velvet" ... I cannot take any new pets home right now so all I could do was enjoy the test drive ...

If you have a chance to try one of these, don't hesitate ...

[ataylor]

I'm a fan of the new 700 series. It's pretty darn close to what I'd build myself if I did a BTO. It's probably good for my wallet that they don't come in non-cutaway, non-ES versions.

[ataylor]

As an afterthought, I think the perfect model for the 700 series appointments would be the 12-fret GC.

[Igniten]

How is it compared to The previous 700 series with cedar?
I am mainly a fingerstylist my self. Have been told The new 700 series have a kind of vintage sound.

[Scriptor]

How is it compared to The previous 700 series with cedar?

Personally, I like it better ...

I am mainly a fingerstylist my self. Have been told The new 700 series have a kind of vintage sound.

I would agree.

[Igniten]

Anyone else who has tried or have got an opinion about The new 700 series?
Gonna try both The new 714 and The "old" one with cedar on monday.

Personally i'm not a big fan of burst, but i think The new series look great. But so does The natural with cedar.

What about Engelman wood, is This mainly for strumming?

[Scriptor]

What about Engelman wood, is This mainly for strumming?

No; Engelmann makes a great top for fingerstyle as well ... to my ears, it tends to be warmer than Sitka ...

[darylcrisp]

Anyone else who has tried or have got an opinion about The new 700 series?
Gonna try both The new 714 and The "old" one with cedar on monday.

Personally i'm not a big fan of burst, but i think The new series look great. But so does The natural with cedar.

What about Engelman wood, is This mainly for strumming?

just about any Englemann topped guitar i've played, i like.
wife owns a Martin OM that is Englemann/EIR and its just the cats meow. Handles fingerstyle and pick play easily-it brings more to the plate than the regular Martin sitka/EIR.

i really like how those 700 series look. nice to hear they have a superb voice.

d

[Redwood Tree]

I Love the 2012 Vintage burst!!  When can we request that burst on the 800.900 ?wish it was NOW

  I think the new 700 fret inlays are just soooooooo stunning! Very vintage looking with a current look. Nice job Taylor!
 The new 700s evoke a true early american guitar look , And I'll be watching these   

[michaelw]

Anyone else who has tried or have got an opinion about The new 700 series?
Gonna try both The new 714 and The "old" one with cedar on monday.

Personally i'm not a big fan of burst, but i think The new series look great. But so does The natural with cedar.

What about Engelman wood, is This mainly for strumming?

hi Igniten,

i've played the 06 714ceLTD (engelmann/rosewood), same bracing pattern as the 2012 (Standard II) & to me
it was more mellow & warmer overall than Standard II 814s i've played, but it has less 'snap' than the CV 814  -
for strumming, i prefer the CV 814 sitka, but for fingerstyle the engelmann top just has a 'smoothness' to it

to my ear, engelmann slots in-between sitka & cedar, leaning more toward cedar for fingerstyle &
sitka when strummed, but i guess i'm somewhat of an 'odd-bird' because i prefer a combo of
engelmann/maple over mahogany, rosewood, cocobolo or walnut in the GA size (pre-Standard II)

a bone nut & saddle on a CV 814  would be a great all-arounder & i think the tone would be quite close to a 914,
possibly with slight more mid-bass - an engelman top CV 814 would be a nice to try, if it were an option, imho

i compared the 06 714ceLTD to a SCCSM (cedar/rosewood GA) & to me, the cedar/rosewood had a good bit more
depth & warmth, especially under a light to medium attack (fingerstyle) & it would also take a rather aggressive strum -
i dig in more on the bass strings & ease up on a bit on the B & e, closer to the fretboard extension than the bridge

the cedar will take more strumming than it's given credit for, imho, but if i played
mostly fingerstyle i would give the nod to cedar, if i was looking at a standard model

have fun playing em

[Igniten]

The one thing i kind of dislike with The  new 700 series is The cosmetic around The soundhole. The old one looks better i think

Dont know whats it called in english.  I'm from Norway so please Take my poor english in consideration.

[michaelw]

i was used to the abalone soundhole rosette too (07-11 design), with this 3 ring rosette (no ab) was used from 77-92

93-00 had a different 3 ring design abalone rosette & in 01 thru 06, the 700s had an interlocking koa rosette -
some of figured wood rosettes i've seen lately appear to be 'straight-cut',
similiar to pieces of abalone on a rosette inlay, in which the 'flame' radiates
outward from the soundhole, which is more aesthetically more consistent,
especially when paired with figured wood binding (koa is really nice, imho)

the ivoroid gives the 700s more of a vintage look, along with the heritage diamond fretmarkers & blank 3rd fret -
tone-wise, i think it would have been really cool if adi CV bracing was used, to give them a little more 'vintage'

[Roseadi]

Ignite, I agree. I like the Abalone better than the three ring, but my overall preference is the Koa rosette:



Of course this is just subjective and tone trumps all IMO, but after reading Scriptor's comments after playing the new 700 series, I'm excited to hear them!

[michaelw]

stopped by the local GC today & happened to see a 2012 714ce cedar top -
i didn't go in specifically looking for one, as i was there to take care of something else, but
i ended up finding something else & it's just not quite ready to follow me home yet (the 'other' one)

vintage burst cedar top 3 ring ivoroid rosette

heritage diamond ivoroid fretmarkers

ivoroid bound rosewood headstock (crappy cell phone pic makes it look white)

satin burst finish headstock

satin burst finish mahogany neck (i like the contrast of the chrome tuners)

the low-end response on this one is just HUGE
it just growls & it's unlike any other cedar/rosewood GA i've played

the grain in the ivoroid binding is subtle, compared to the previous 900 &
walnut series & the coloration is more pleasing also (much 'softer') -
as a whole, the 2012 714ce cedar sounds, plays & looks great, imho 

[Doug T]

That's not a cedar top. It's engelman spruce.