Taylor Guitars 810-CE

I bought my 1997 810-ce off a guy locally after an extremely extensive search for an acoustic that fit my needs and budget. I was more than blessed to find this one at an excellent price of $1250. It was in mint condition.

As far as details, it has the cutaway, blender pickup. You can look at other reviews for more details. My year is right before the new neck design, which I do prefer because it is unfinished.

I play pretty much 2 styles. Heavy strumming and fingerstyle. In both of the styles, this guitar really delivers.

First off, I looks for a very long time and played literally hundreds of Taylors. There were some good ones and really fair one, but most in my opinion weren't worth the price they were asking. The ones I did like were usually about $2500-$3000. Mine, is one of the ones I played which really blew me away instantly. The highs and lows are so equally balanced, probably because of the wood and dreadnought shape. I discovered early on that I didn't want a model ending in 14. The smaller shaped bodies really took away from the low end, and that's what I wanted. The Blender is crystal clear and gives a great natural sound.

Another point is that the intonation is perfect on this guitar. I had an Ovation for about 12 years before this guitar and the intonation would drive me nuts, especially at shows when I knew others were listening. I sold my ovation 5 days after buying this guitar.

Action is good. I haven't changed a thing. Everything on this guitar is crafted perfectly.

I gig often with this guitar only.

BUY A HUMIDIFIER!

haven't need any.

Overall, I LOVE it. I would have much trouble finding another Taylor that sounds and plays this good if it were stolen. I would be in tears if it were stolen. I will hunt down and mame anyone who takes my Taylor.

I compared it to many other brands and this just fit my style the best.

Don't buy a guitar on brand alone. Play tons of guitars and you will know when you find one that fits. Just like the Taylor add says, some guy knew in 20 seconds when he found the right guitar. That was about all it took for me to do the same.

Just about as perfect of an acoustic electric guitar as you can purchase today. This beauty looks sensational down to the finest detail. The case has the same first rate quality. The new electronic system in my opinion is the best I have ever used for acoustic.

It is so new that I am sure it will open up after a few weeks of playing. Currently I give it a 10 on sound and it can only get better. I play several styles and this will more than fit the bill for all of them. My neighbor is jealous.

Fast, smoot action...fit and finish are top notch. It is what I expected. This is one solid guitar and I like the medium weighted feeling.

To soon to tell, but i have a hunch it will be outstanding. My local guitar shop happens to be the best around this part and they back this brand with everything they have. Number one Taylor dealer in my area.

Ditto above.

10. I am glad I held out for the 2003 rebraced model with new electronics. It has lived up to its billing in my opinion and I am very happy.

2001 Taylor 810ce
solid wood dreadnought cutaway. sitka spruce top. Indian Rosewood back/sides. Ebony fretboard. Fishman on board stereo blender. Celtic Inlays.
The wood and finish on this guitar is beautiful. The stereo blender mounted in the side of the beautiful Rosewood is a shame

Sounds excellent when fingerpicked. Ok when flatpicked and terrible for rythmn strumming. Very little volume unplugged especially for a dread.
Very bright sounding guitar. Non existent bass response.

Guitar is beautiful to look at. Action and playability excellent.
Quality is poor. Frets were not dressed at factory and protruded out from the fingerboard. Bridge pins just about falling out. Rogue buzzes that came and went. Was told by the dealer this was from the wiring and couldnt be fixed.

Based on the poor quality construction I dont have much hope of this guitar spending more time with me thaan being mailed off to Taylor for warranty repairs.

Comes with lifetime warranty. Taylor customer support is very good. The problem is that everytime something needs to be fixed I'm out a guitar for 4-8 wks which is why I rate this guitar a 2.

The annoying brightness of the sound,lack of bass response and low volume overide the easy playability.
I'll stick with Martin dreadnoughts from now on

810-ce model from 2000 or 2001. I mail ordered it from Maple Street Guitars in Atlanta without ever playing it (I played many others). Thankfully, everything was great. No problems with them. Mine has the Fishman OnBoard Blender (pickup plus a condensor mic inside). Some of the newer models have a 1/4" and a XLR output on them, mine doesn't. The battery compartment is nice too, very easy to get to. One of my favorite things to do is open the battery compartment and talk into the condenser mic when I'm on stage :) It really confuses people who don't know I have it. It gets a 10 just for that. Natural wood top, no tobacco sunburst or color. The guitar has Sitka spruce top, rosewood back/sides, abalone around soundhole, cool diamond fret markers. It's not overly gaudy, it's the sound that matters anyway. The Fishman has worked great for me so far. Feedback is rarely a problem, it has a Notch filter and it's easy to get rid of my feedback using it and a few other tweaks.

I make up my own junk, jam with friends, and play a lot of church/praise band stuff. It sounds great all the time. I finger pick, I strum lightly, and sometimes I bang the crap out of my strings. It always stays in tune, and sounds great. I'm sure it will sound better as it gets older. It's pretty balanced, sometimes I'd like a little more low end, but overall it's good. It's brighter than other guitars I've played, so that took a little bit to get used to, but it grew on me over time and now I like it's sound better than other guitars. My dad's 198? Martin HD-28 has very boomy bass compared to my Taylor, so for serious fingerstyle folks, you might want to look into something like that instead. Depends on what you like to sound like.

Setup was great. Taylor sends you all sorts of little brochures on how to take care of your guitar as well. The action is the best thing about it. I play my dad's Martin HD-28 and a friend's Martin D1 and almost go crazy. The action on mine is a huge improvement over theirs, so they'll get carpal tunnel before me (haha, fools!)

Everything on the guitar seems as if it will last a long time. I can't foresee my strap buttons coming out or anything like that. It's a foreign concept. I don't have a backup acoustic and I seriously doubt I'll ever need one. All I need is extra strings and an extra battery. I've had it over a year and it's never failed me.

3 year warranty for original owner. I doubt I'll need it. So, no rating for the category since I've never had to contact them, but I bet they're great!

Sounds beautiful. All my friends play it and say "Man, your guitar sounds SOOO good." It's a good feeling for a while, but it gets annoying after a while. So, if you're going to buy one, be prepared for all your friends to covet it. This is my only acoustic, but I played a ton of guitars in stores when I was shopping around and I grew up listening to my dad's HD-28, which also sounds great, but different. I didn't really consider any other guitars (besides other upper-end Taylors), although I played plenty to make sure. Taylor just makes the best stuff out there these days. As long as you're willing to invest the money, Taylor is the way to go. I have no doubt that my Taylor will last forever, as long as I take care of it, therefore its the best $2000 I've ever spent (worth way more than my computer for example) and that fact is reaffirmed every time I play it. If stolen, I'd buy another one, or at least a Taylor dreadnaught of some sort, depending on my financial situation.

2000 model. Solid Sitka Spruce top, Indian Rosewood back and sides. Fishman Prefix onboard blender pick-up. The pick-up is excellent, allows you to get a variety of sounds with it. I am using an SWR Strawberry Blonde acoustic amp with it and it works great. Its not a real flashy looking guitar, but it has a traditional look to it which is what I like.

This guitar sounds great anyway you play it. I usually strum or finger pick but this thing can handle anything and with excellent sound. I have not been playing for a very long time, but I have played many different kinds of guitars which include Martin, Guild, Ovation, Fender and Gibson. This thing definitely blows any of them away. The sound is very balanced, great bass response with excellent mids and highs. It sounds fuller than anything I have ever heard.

The guitar was perfect when I bought it. The action is so low its almost like playing an electric guitar. The craftmanship on it is second to none, I have not found one flaw with it whatsoever. The neck is so thin and easy to play its ridiculous. Its absolutely a great looking guitar,like I said before, not flashy, but beautiful in its simplicity.

I do not play live anywhere, yet , but from what I can tell this guitar will hold up just fine. It is built solidly yet not heavy. I have talked to many people who have had Taylors for a long time so I am confident it will stand the test of time. You just have to make sure that you montitor the humidity level where you are storing it at, its very important. Its not difficult to do though, you can get a hygrometer at Radio Shack for $30 and keep it in your case. If you let it dry out or get to humid it will warp after time, so its not for someone who isnt going to take a little effort to take care of it.

Have not had to deal with Taylor as of yet, but I hear from everyone who has that their support is unmatchable, and I would expect nothing less from a company who puts out a product as great as they do.

I honestly can not say one bad thing about this guitar. You would have to hear it and play it to understand, but it is a thing of beauty. If it were stolen I would buy another one as soon as I slaved long enough to afford another. The sound is easily my favorite feauture of this guitar, its like hearing a studio recording when you play, clean, full and magnificent. If you have any questions feel free to email me.

2000 Model, made in USA. 21 frets. Solid Top with Gloss. Has Fishman Onboard Blender: Bass, Mid, and Treb controls. Contour and Notch controls to help eliminate feedback and volume control of course. Bridge pickup and mic pickup on inside of guitar. Slider switch allows blending of the two sounds. Body is Rosewood. Neck is Ebony. Cutaway. Grover tuners. The case is nice and very well built. It's also the heaviest case I've ever picked up. The tuners are gold(Grover). Abalone around the sound hole and on the pegs. White binding on the edge. The "Taylor" on the headstock is in abalone.

I started playing mostly in church with praise bands and its fine for that. Other than that, I like Dave Matthews, Counting Crows, Caedmon's Call, Jars of Clay, etc. It works exceptionally well for my purposes. The sound is so good. My dad has a Martin HD-28 and the sounds are comparable, I think mine's a little better, but it might be because I have Elixir strings on mine. It has great bass notes, but the sound is still really even and bright. You can get a lot of different sounds out of the guitar because of the Fishman.

It was set up very well. The action is wonderful and there was not anything wrong with the finish, saddle, top, bridge, etc. No flaws that I've found.

I think this guitar would do fine playing live. I would use it without a backup. The strap buttons are very solid. The finish will last. I assume the hardware will last. Seems like everyone says the gold on the tuners wears off eventually, but I've never seen that happen...

Warranty is 3 years. Never had to deal with the company.

I've only been playing about a year. I own a really crappy electric guitar. My dad has a Martin HD-28, and 2 old Yamahas. If I lost this guitar, I would definately buy it again. I love the sound for the most part, otherwise it just looks so nice. Guys are always like... "That sounds good" Girls are like "It's so pretty." Have the plugin on the bottom peg is kind of annoying, it makes it harder to get the strap on, but that's a minor thing.

I think this is was built in early 1999. It is a completely solid body - spruce top, rosewood back and sides. Fishman Onboard blender with a pickup and condenser mike, gold-plated grover tuners, inlaid mother-of-pearl around the sound hole, Taylor deluxe case.

I am not an experienced guitarist, but this is the best sounding guitar that I have ever played. I also have an Ovation and this Taylor sounds light-years better - amped or just acoustic. I have experienced some slight-fret buzzing, but the action is set low and I am not the worlds greatest player, so I don't think that this is a problem. I have seen some complaints about lack of bass in other reviews, but I think that it is fine.

Can't rave enough about how good it is. Very low action. Easiest guitar I have ever played. Amazing quality in everything about this guitar. The neck is superb - easier to play than Martins that I tried.

Everything about this guitar seems top quality so I expect it to be reliable. I would be a bit dubious about taking it into an environment where it might get knocked around. The solid wood construction is not as tough as laminate.

I moaned to Taylor about their policy of refusing to sell over the web, I moaned to them about the lack of range in the stores that distribute their guitars in Scandinavia. I criticised their web site for not having links to dealer web sites. To their credit they wrote back several very well mannered notes. I was at the point of deciding not to buy a Taylor guitar because I disagree with their sales policy, but their response went a long way to swaying me - that and all the satisfied reviews I read. I'll only give them a 7 because while I understand that they are trying to protect the profit margins/viability of their street front dealers, I think that their policy means I have to pay considerable more as a consumer than normal market forces would otherwise dictate. I also think that street dealers compete with mail/web dealers on other brands - why are Taylor such a big exception. Because their local dealers carry no stock they aren't adding any value - why should I pay them extra to order a guitar that I should be able to order myself.
I found out later that Taylor only ban internet sales within the US - not outside. I subsequently found that I could have bought this guitar at a reasonable price from a web site in Germany - avoiding 25% sales tax and high shipping costs. I think that their sales policies don't help consumers like me very much.

I have been playing about a year. I own a Takamine Jasmin and an Ovation Elite Standard.
If it were lost or stolen I would buy another Taylor 800 series, but I might check out the Grand Auditorium or Grand Concert versions as well to see how they compare to this deadnought.
I love that it is so easy to play, the clarity of its sound, the quality of its construction.
I bought it without playing or seeing it, after I had played one of their XXV anniversary models, reading reviews, and based on Taylors reputation and I was not disappointed.
I wish I had bought this guitar in Germany from CyberStore Thomann where I could have saved a big chunk of the 800 dollars I paid for shipping and sales tax (on top of the actual 1900 dollar purchase price). I'd recommend Europeans to check this out.
I'll only give a 9 because I paid so much money for this guitar that it is not funny. Compared to what I would have paid in the US it is hard to say that I really got a great deal pricewise. Shipping and 25% sales tax does that. Believe it or not, I still paid less for this guitar by shipping it from the US than I would if I had purchased it locally. My girlfriend thinks that the price I paid for freight and shipping is what the guitar cost - she'd lynch me it she found out that the actually price was more than 3 times that amount.

1999 Taylor 810ce. Made in California with a solid sitka spurce top and Indian rosewood back and sides. Mahogany neck, ebondy fretboard, abolone sound hole rosette and gold grover tuners. Fishman prefix onboard blender preamp lets you select between an onboard condenser mic and bridge pickup or use a mixture of both. Includes 5 ply wood Taylor custom case.

This guitar is what Taylor calls its most traditional sounding guitar. Great bass response and sparkling highs. Plugged in it sounds heavenly and suits almost any playing style from flat picking to fingerstyle.

This guitar was ordered directly from the Taylor factory and came set up perfectly and without any flaws. The workmanship is pure Taylor here.

I have only had the guitar for a few days and I'm sure it will hold up to a lot of playing. Already played live with it a few times and it has performed wonderfully. Strap buttons are very solid and don't feel like your going to loose your guitar while playing.

Havent had to deal with Taylor yet.

Been playing for 11 years now and played an Ovation before this. Compared my Taylor to Martins and some Gibsons but they didn't match up for me. The rosewood and spurce top on this guitar is beautiful. My favorite feature is the nice tonewoods in the guitar and the Fishman blender preamp. If this guitar was stolen or lost I would cry, then go buy another one. The guys at Wildwood were very friendly and good people to deal with.