Taylor Guitars 710-CE Acoustic

2003 features include the Taylor ES (Expression System) which is the best, most natural sounding pickup system I have ever heard on any guitar, ever! No hyperbole. Check it out for yourself!

This 2003 model is one of the "Revoiced" model. This revoicing began in 2002, as a direct response to customer requests for more bass while keeping the Taylor sound. Bob Taylor has said that the design went through 8 versions before this one was chosen. The new bracing and design DOES make the guitar louder -- an amazing FULL 3db or 50% louder according to Bob Taylor, and my own ears! Rich, deep bass, amazing Taylor Top end and Middle presence. The best sounding Dred I have ever heard anywhere! The previous reviews of the Non-Revoiced versions of this guitar have brought the overall rating down. I wish you could hear it for yourself! I am sure you would agree with me. My wife even noticed the difference and said "Wow, that seems louder!" This woman usually responds to subtle guitar differences only if I point out to her first with the words: "uh-huh" This made me know that it wasn't just my imagination or "new gear" syndrome!

Amazing action. Taylor makes the straitest, most adjustable neck in the business. No question about it. If you disagree, play one. Then watch the free Taylor video on the New Technology (NT) neck. You will be happy you did.

The ES DOES NOT FEEDBACK AT ALL! And it sounds AMAZING! Play one and see what I mean. What you will hear from your PA or good amp is the soudn of your guitar, in all its glory, only LOUDER!

Taylor service is second to none. Always quick response to questions.

My Taylor was made in 1998. It has Indian rosewood back and sides, and a western red cedar top (which is why I chose this model) with the fishman blender pickup factory installed. It came with the deluxe Taylor case (not the SKB one). It has a gloss finish.

The 710 from 2001 and on is different in a number of ways, most notably that Engleman Spruce is the standard top (though red cedar is still available). The 700 series has kind of been transformed to a more economical version of the 900 series (which also has engleman), whereas in the past it was it's own animal altogether, with the red cedar being it's defining characteristic. In my opinion, this is kind of unfortunate, since I think the red cedar is awesome (but the new 700's are awesome in different ways).

Also, my 710 does not have the NT Neck design that more resent versions of Taylors have.

One word -- Awesome! To me, the 710's with red cedar have a more bell like tone as opposed to spruce top guitars. This may seem vague, but it seems like the the notes interact more with each other -- which I like a lot. The thing that struck me most about Taylors in general, and this one in particular, was the powerfulness of the bass notes, which I have found to be much more lively and satisfying than other brands (even though most claim Martins are better at this, I have not found Martins to be as satisfying as Taylors -- except maybe d-45's, but those are soooo expensive! Don't get me wrong, Martins are great guitars, but for me Taylor is the way to go.) And while the bass is powerfull, it doesn't drown out the treble and mids (which I have found to be true for Larivee, which are also great guitars, particularly the cheaper models, which are a great quality for the price!).

So in use, I have found the 710 ce to be completely satisfying. I don't think I can say even one negative thing about my guitar's Acoustic sound!

I haven't really used this guitar much amplified (even though I have had it almost a year). I don't do a ton of amplified acoustic playing, but got the acoustic/electric version just to have that capability.

Now, the fishman pickup seems awesome, but I have yet to really sit down and tinker with it greatly. The one time I really tried using it in a band situation, I found it difficult to "blend" in some of the mic signal without getting piercing feedback. So I had to use it completely on "pickup". But I know that this problem was more due to my lack of experience using the fishman, and that I should be able to dial it in when I take the time to read the manual and work with it. (Remember, acoustic amplification is far more complicated and difficult to do well than standard electric). Anyway, even with the blend set at all "pickup," the 710 sounded pretty darn good.

As with all Taylors, the set up is beautiful. It is so easy to play, it is unbeleivable! This is were Taylor has a distinct advantage over other makers. Sound is much more subjective but feel and playability, on the other hand, are pretty objective (not completely, though), and Taylors are top notch. Taylor obviously makes setups a top priority.

This has been great so far over the last eleven or so months. Granted, I take really good care of it (these things are expensive, you know), but in terms of something like a guitar, which is rather delicate in its nature, these seems pretty durable and well put together.

Taylor offers a lifetime warrenty on its products, so you can't beat that, and they have great customer service (more later). As long as you don't throw it around and you keep it in the deluxe case (which is quite sturdy), you're great grand children should be playing your Taylor.

I've dealt with the company a few times on the phone, and they couldn't be more cordial and helpful. No serious problems so far, so no real tests. But, as I said before, the warranty is lifetime, and Bob Taylor seems like a guy who really stands behind his products. I have called them and they have spent time answering all my questions and helping in any way they could, so they get thumbs up!

P.S. The warranty is only valid if you buy from a authorized dealer, so beware, there are some that sell taylors cheap, but without warrenty.

I've been playing more than 9 years, and I have played lots of guitars, and owned a few, but in my opinion, Taylor is the best Guitar manufacturer, Acoustic or Electric. I will probably never own any acoustic besides a Taylor (though you never know, other bands are still cool, just not the best). The Red Cedar top on this guitar really makes it stand out, so if you can find one, I suggest trying it out. If this guitar were stolen, I would become depressed, because it is so wonderful and expensive. But nevertheless, I would buy another! (Maybe two, just in case one got stolen again.)

1997 Taylor 710CE, American-made,single-cutaway, dreadnaught body, factory-electrified with the Fishman blender pickup system. All-solid wood, of course; sitka spruce top, Indian rosewood sides & back, mahogony fretboard. It's an acoustic. What else is there?
My only complaint is the SKB-built case. Solid enough, molded plastic, & has the Taylor name imprinted on the top. But I like the old-style plyboard cases.

Hey, it sounds like a Taylor. Warm deep tones, good bass & midrange, a bit shy of highs when played unamplified. Amp'ed, the Fishman blender gives a wide variety of sounds though an onboard preamp with slider controls that amount to a parametric EQ. Notch filter is fairly effective at controlling feedback. The dual pickup system mixes between the piezo under-saddle pickup and an internal microphone. I'm not crazy about the mic; sounds boxy, picks up external noise, & is very prone to feedback. The piezo pickup is strong, clear, easy to handle. I play a laid-back finger-picking style, everything from 60's folk to rockabilly to Phil Keaggy. I often play the 710 through my Trace TA-100R, and I love the combination.

Typical of Taylor, it was well set up, with low action for a light touch. String bends are easy. Intonation is perfect. Finish is nice, though not the most perfect spruce-top wood I've seen. My only real complaint is that the end-pin, which doubles as a jack for plugging in, keeps coming unscrewed from the inside. This leaves it jiggling around until the next time I change strings (& thus can get my hand inside the body).
I've had the truss rod adjusted at a local shop, & I've slightly lowered the saddle.

This is a solid guitar. It doesn't quite have the built-like-a- bowling-pin feel of some Martins, but it will withstand the rigors of gigging. Finish has withstood minor bumps with almost no visible nicks or bruises. Dependable? Yes. Play without backup? No way -- I always have my other Taylor nearby as a hedge against broken strings.

Great bunch of guys. They're easy to reach. They know their stuff, and have always been very helpful with any questions. They've mailed me technical bulletins. They also sent me a spare saddle at no charge.

I've played for 30+ years, so I fairly well know my way around high-end gear. I would buy another Taylor in a heartbeat, though I'd probably look very hard at the 614CE (maple back/sides). The 710CE gives what I expect -- great sound, low-action playability, and good overall quality at a competitive price. I, of course, looked at Larrivee, Martin, & even Breedlove. But I love this Taylor.
Other eqp: 1988 Taylor Dan Crary Signature Model, Trace TA-100R acoustic amp, 1990 Fender AmStd Strat, 1998 Fender Big Apple Strat, Fender Princeton Chorus amp, Fender Hot Rod DeVille 4x10 amp, & a big bag of peddles & stuff.