Taylor Guitars 810-CE

Hard for me to rate things...anything...a TEN, but there might be a few exceptions with this guitar.

First of all, this 810-ce was manufactured in July of 2007. Most of us know "all" of the features, but the ones I love the most are USA made, solid woods, expert craftsmanship, etc. It's a Taylor, so it's "Taylor" made. Wonderful feel, look, and tone.

Beautiful to listen to, as well as to look at. Big tone! Balanced from E to E. Plugged in, or unplugged, this guitar has a nice full voice.

Impeccably set-up. Beautufully matched solid spruce top. The only reason I am giving this a poorer grade, in this catagory, is that the bracing that you see from inside the guitar's soundhole had frayed, or peeled wood from the brace.

This surprised me a bit due to the fact that this is my 5th Taylor guitar purchase, and I have never seen this before. Someone went to sleep at the finishing station. Anyway, I spent more money to have it fixed from a local luthier. I know, I could have sent it back to Taylor, and from experience, they would have taked care of it for me, but it was a time thing. Much quicker turn around here in OKC.

This guitar will outlive me. I am sure of it. I'm 54, and I hope that I can enjoy another 50 years of playing. I think that Bob Taylor and I are the same age. Maybe we can get together and pick someday. I'd sure like that.

Superior customer service. I've dealt with them before, and they have always taken care of me. Great company. Just went to the latest "Road Show" here in OKC, and that was very informative and helpful. Don't think many other companies have a "Road Show."

...Do They?

Can't give it a 10 because of the finishing problem, but a 9 is pretty good, and fair.

I've been playing guitar for about 43 years know. Should be better than I am, but I'm a work in progress. Owning Taylor's will make any of us a better guitar player.

I also own a 50th anniversary Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster (2004), an Ibanez AF105, with various amps, effects, and such along the way. I am a muscian that aspires to be better today, than I was yesterday. I like to surround myself with good music, Classic Rock, Bluegrass, Jazz, and many favorite instrumental guitarist's, like Tommy Emmanuel, Edgar Cruz (OKC player You Tube)(thanks again for taking care of Debbie on Valentine's day '08), Mark Galloway (OKC player, friend, Golf Pro, and an all around nice guy...You Tube also), Shawn Lane, Andy McKee, Tony Rice, Michael Hedges, and I could go on and on. However, as Dana Carvey said after wailing on the drums in "Waynes World," with his shy little grin he said, and I agree..."I love to play."

This 810ce was built in July of '07. It has a beautiful silky cross-grained top, gorgeous solid rosewood back and sides, ebony fretboard, figured maple binding, gloss finish, etc., etc. I really could go on and on, but most of us that read these reviews already know these features. However, mine is truly a nice piece of workmanship.

This is the very reason I chose the 810ce...for the sound. Sound is paramount in any guitar, but an acoustic guitar, even more so. This one is glorious. Nice full bass, without any mid's lost, and clean treble. Great for Bluegrass, Folk, and Fingerstyle. A very balanced sounding guitar. Excellent!

I really hope Taylor is reading this (probably not). When I bought this from Guitar Center, I asked for a brand new one from either the Taylor factory, or the GC warehouse. I received on from the GC warehouse...which was okay with me. The action was great, the fit was great, but the finish was surprisingly mediocre. Not the outside, but the inside. The problem was the bracing. Through the soundhole you could see frayed would on the braces. Like someone was whittling them, and didn't finish it. A quality control problem for sure. Well, I took care of it via a local luthier, and it is fine.

I guess that I just feel Taylor should be doing a better job of this before it leaves the factory. I am very, very detail oriented...can't believe they missed this. I really want to give them more finish props than this, but if I go higher than a "7" I would be fabricating the truth.

Reliable, durable indeed. I would use it gigging, but I have a 310 with a Fishman Rare Earth Blend system in it, and it sounds great. It's just that the 810ce is my baby. I'll eventually get it out more, but we're still honeymooning.

Taylor customer support is very good. I have had past personal experience with Terry Myers and have always been treated well by "all" at Taylor.

I can't say enough about the overall feeling of owning a beauty like this one. With the exception of the finish issue (which was fixed and is no longer an issue)...I love everything about this guitar. The only reason I give it a "9" is because of the finish problem. Otherwise it would be a "10." Besides, it's frickin'gorgeous. And the ES is amazing. Great tone, great sound, great looking. Did I say it was a great guitar...or what?

Made May 2008. Beautiful maple binding upgrade provides gorgeous views in different shades of light. Sitka spruce, indian rosewood back and sides. Gold tuners. Expression System. Solid Taylor case that fits the guitar perfectly. Initially got 2006 model in store but discovered one too many dents in the body and even on the neck to justify spending the 2700k. The store gladly ordered up new ones from the factory and I received this gem straight out the box. After tuning it up and giving it a go for about a week, it started breaking in nicely and sounds even more beautiful than it looks, and thats an impressive feat.

Very fitting for my musical style which includes strumming chords with great dynamics, finger style, plat picking for blue grass and single note solos. I mostly play this guitar unplugged as it has great dynamics, producing beautiful soft notes as well as belting out broad, harmonically rich waves of heavenly sounds. The open notes ring like a piano with the medium gauge exilir strings.

Once in a while I plug into my Peavey classic 50 (4x10). The acoustics are captured nicely with the Expression System and i imagine that it would sound even better though an amp meant for acoustics.

This guitar is so dynamic that the slight change from a heavy to medium gauge pick can change the overall sound of the guitar by grand measures. With a medium pick I can get a very gentle, hypnotizing sound from simple strummed chords. With the heavy gauge, the guitars power is shown as it can handle the heavy hitting with 5 stars.

Action at first seemed slightly high to the original guitar I played in the shop. But I checked the factory specs and sure enough it was spot on. With no fault to find, the guitar is one of the most playable guitars I've ever laid hands on.

The guitar is in perfect condition, straight out of the factory. Seems extremely solid. With proper care I hope and foresee this guitar lasting a very long time.

So far, So Perfect. For 13 years I have been playing guitar. For 20 years I have been playing music, starting with piano. This guitar has been what I've been waiting for. I've played or practiced guitar or some kind of music almost daily, consistently for many, many years. While any guitar will do, this one makes me grin every time I think about taking it out of the case.

Everything is solid. I actually played the new Taylors with the new pickup system. I like the Taylor (Fishman) system that came stock on this guitar better than their new system, but that is personal preference.

I do some fingerpicking, a little bit of lead, and mostly strumming accompanying praise and worship music. I play unplugged and plugged in. When I plug in I use my own bought-used Crate 60W amp that is pretty clapped-out. Basically nothing sounds good on it, but it gets the guitar out into the hall. However I also plug in to some very high-quality PA systems and the guitar sounds heavenly. Unplugged, it is exactly what I am looking for. The bass and mid-range have a nice, almost explosive attack and a very clean, buttery sound. I can't really explain it except that the first time I ever heard this sound on a guitar was on a 60-year-old D-28. Obviously, I can't afford one of those. This sound carries all the way up the fretboard. The high end is sweet and loud with no irritating zinginess anywhere on the fretboard.

In short, a balanced, beautiful sound. Unplugged it is a cannon, though not as strong as my D-18 which I bought new in Feb, 1968.

I bought this guitar used on eBay. It is a 1998 model and had been damaged on the butt-end. The repair was not a total success cosmetically, but structurally the guital is solid. I went on vacation for 10 days (had to leave it at home -- sniff) and when I got home I did not have to tune it. The action is just where I need it for what I do. I don't spend a lot of time on above the 14th fret, but when I do it is great. Plus I can still wail on it with my flatpick without buzziness.

Being used when I got it, it had dings on it (plus the aforementioned owie), but I can tell the quality is there. Frets are all dressed and smooth. No complaints.

What can I say. I think the guitar was dropped from about 30 feet in its case and landed flat on its butt. But after repair it is solid as a rock. All the hardware is first class.

I have been wailing away at my D-18 for 28 years. I have been playing this guitar hard for about 4 months. I really believe it will hold up well.

Not likely to need them since there is no warrany.

I would give it a 10, but maybe I would like the 910 more. I rarely rate anything a 10. So, for me, a 9 is about as good as it gets.

I have owned a D-18 since new for 38 years. It is an absolute cannon, but does not have the disciplined, tight sound of this 810. Its bass gets thumpy and loses its song as I go up the neck. If I am leading a room full of guys singing and I am not amped, I think I opt for the Martin just because of its volume. Otherwise, the Taylor is going to be my main axe.

I have played a wide variety of acoutic guitars from the really terrible to some really nice guitars. Santa Cruz. D-28s. Old Hummingbirds. A couple of Olsons. Basically, a bunch of guitars I cannot afford. I would not trade this Taylor for any of them.

2000 Taylor 810-CE dreadnaught, made in USA (of course), 20 frets

Solid Sitka Spruce top. Was pretty when I bought the guitar new, but after almost six years of constant playing, has now aged and darkened to a rich honey color. Much prettier now than when I bought it, actually.

I've played the ES system, and think it's okay, but this is pre-ES, with the Fishman Onboard Blender (the standard bridge pickup plus a condensor mic inside), and sounds excellent--particularly recorded plugged in. To me, the ES sounds nice, but the Blender is louder and gives a wider variety of tones through its EQ.

Sides and back are the deep, rich coffee-brown Indian Rosewood. I get what Brazilian Rosewood is about-the unique mottling, etc. but honestly, the Indian Rosewood is just as pretty and sounds great, without spending hundreds more dollars.
The neck is the standard Taylor mahogany neck. If you've played any Taylor, you know that this is one of the most consistent things about their line. Virtually every one of their guitars plays great, because you're getting the same neck in all of them. You just pay more for better woods, or extra fancy design details, as you move up the line. One thing I really like about the neck is that it's a smooth, satin finish, not overly gloppy or sticky. I love the Eric Clapton Martin 000-28, for instance, but the neck is a little too "candy apple" compared to the Taylor necks.

Mine came with the gold Grover tuners, which I replaced with chrome Grovers, only because I like silver better than gold. Both are great, heavy enough to feel substantial but not too heavy, and stay in tune, even if I'm banging on it pretty hard.

Neck is the medium scale and size c-shape that's consistent with all Taylors. Another thing about other brands that I've never liked is that you can go from a comfortable medium neck to a big fat neck on the same model if it's from a different year. I do wish Taylor offered the option of a soft-V shaped neck, like the 000-28EC Martin, but that's a very small complaint.

It came with a pretty, incredibly sturdy hardshell case that perfectly fits the guitar. You actually have to take a moment to fit the guitar into it like Darth Vader's mask going on in "The Empire Strikes Back." The first month I had the 810-CE, I took it to Nashville, and it got bounced around pretty good by the airline baggage handlers. The case had a couple of scratches on it, but it would take a bomb to damage the guitar in this case. My wife later bought the Taylor gig bah for me as a gift, and it's the same high quality.

I play all styles, from Lindsey Buckingham finger picking and Paul McCartney "Blackbird" style finger picking to Stephen Stills rock and blues licks on acoustic, and tend to bash away playing rhythm guitar. This guitar floats effortlessly from one style to another.

Playing live, I'll usually just plug directly into the PA, and let the guitar's natural sound speak for itself. Otherwise, I'll use a small Fender or Crate acoustic amp.
Recording, I plug directly in. This is a beautiful instrument for recording this way, if the room (like my living room home studio) is a little noisy. I've also recorded it miked, and sometimes I'll do both miked AND plugged in, ala Beatles. (This is the real secret to that "We Can Work it Out" or "I'll Be Back" chunky acoustic sound.) I've used all sorts of mics, from an inexpensive (but very nice) Groove Tubes GT55 to a $2700 Neumann U87. The 810CE just sparkles.

Part of the reason for that is that I had a custom made mammoth ivory bridge installed. The resonance and "ring" are good on the ones just off the shelf, but the new bridge made it incredible.

I grew up playing Martins (Mahogany 000-17 that I had for 20 years, D-18, and a D-28 that I played for many years), and they still make several fine guitars (the 000-28EC, the D-28 and D-35, and the D-40 series are all excellent, although the lower priced Martins don't compare to the Taylors in the same price range), but the difference in Martin vs. Taylor to me is that Martins are bottom heavy, and some are both bottom heavy and top heavy, but the mids are weak. Taylors, especially this model, tend to be more evenly spread across the dynamic range, pretty equal in bottom, mids, and highs. If you crave the Martin sound, just beef up the EQ a bit on the lower end, and you'll get really close to it, but you'll have better mids and plenty of highs, with no "tinny" sound at all.
After six years and thousands of hours of playing, this Taylor's bottom end has become very rich and satisfying. Some Martins get to where they always sound like they need new strings, sort of dead in the midrange. That never happens with a Taylor.

But Taylors are something special, and from the 300 series up, they just don't make a bad guitar, period.

The Onboard Blender really gives you a wide palate of sounds plugged directly in.

I like the Taylor a lot, more than I liked my D-28, but the Martin didn't have any electronics. It was a great guitar, though, and I did overcome it's lack of sparkle in the midrange by using light gauge strings (D-Addario J15's). The one negative is that the Taylor is a big, substantial, somewhat heavy guitar, if that bothers you.

Even though I love the Taylor, for sake of fairness to Martins, I'll rate this a 9.

All Taylors feel great, but I play lighter gauge strings than most people, so I did have the action adjusted a bit. And since I play a wide variety of styles, including heavy string-bending and heavy vibrato blues licks, I needed it set a little higher, both for that and because the lighter strings needed to sit up a bit more.

The Onboard Blender is a terrific pickup system. To my ears, I don't know that the ES system on the newer guitars is any improvement. It's less obtrusive, obviously, but since I record a lot with mine, the Blender is a better choice.

There were no flaws of any kind. Quite the opposite. Every single detail, inside and out, was perfect. The wood quality is outstanding. The bookmatched top is mirror image, and although I like rosewood fretboards, the ebony fretboard (coupled with the ebony bridge) really looks great. Although the action on ebony is a little "dryer" than on rosewood to me, and maybe not quite as warm a tone, it looks like it'll last forever.

Taylor bracing, which you can see all about on their website, is different from other brands, and one of the reasons why Taylors sound different. Taylor versus Martin or Gibson acoustics is kind of like a PRS McCarty (which I also play) versus a Gibson Les Paul (which I have owned). Each is great; it's just a matter of personal preference.

This guitar is a cannon, and will withstand a lifetime of live playing. The hardward is solid as a rock. The finish has gotten prettier over the years, and I don't do anything special to protect it, just keep it clean and polish it once in a while.
Strap buttons are very solid; you're not going to have it fall off your neck in the middle of a song.

I play live gigs with no backup guitar. With a good Martin or Taylor (or Gibson), you don't need one.

My guitar has never needed repair, although it has a lifetime warranty like all new ones. However, I have called the Taylor factory a few times for information, and they're incredible, very detailed and informative. In addition, the Taylor website is one of the best on the Internet, a real resource. You can learn more about tonewoods, bracing, finishes, sizes and shapes of guitar bodies, etc. than you ever dreamed on their site. (Martin's website is good, too, but Taylor has more stuff about guitar design and acoustics in general than Martin's site, although the Martin site is incredible in giving you details about every possible option available on their guitars.)

I've been playing for 46 years, and besides the several Martins I listed earlier, have also owned some lesser priced acoustics. Had a nice 000-18 style Sigma, a Washburn cutaway electric dreadnaught that looked beautiful and sounded okay, a top of the line Ovation that I hated (those things don't even make good firewood), and also briefly owned a Taylor 710 CE-L9, a great guitar that I decided not to keep simply because I can't take my hands off the 810CE. A couple of years ago, I bought another Taylor, the NS 32, a nylon string acoustic electric that is a joy to play (much easier to finger than traditional classical guitars), and it opened up a whole world of finger picking stuff to me (Lindsey Buckingham type stuff, mostly).

I also have owned a gaggle of electrics, starting with a Fender Duosonic when I was 12 (wish I still had that guitar), Gibson SG (bought secondhand in 1968, had P-90's on it, very nice), Gibson ES 335, Gibson Les Paul (loved it, but threw my back out one too many times lugging it around, and sold it), a multitude of Strats (including a Strat plus, which I didn't like, and several standard American Strats, one of which I played exclusively for 12 years). Loved the Texas Specials I had in my last Strat, but bought a beautiful whale blue Paul Reed Smith "McCarty" model five years ago and haven't thought about any other electric since. It's incredible.

If the Taylor 810CE got stolen or lost, I would immediately buy another. It's the best acoustic I've ever owned. The one thing some people might object to is its weight, but I usually play sitting down. My favorite feature is the evenness of tone. The only other acoustic I'd maybe like to own is the Martin 000-28EC, but they're too expensive, especially without electronics.

If you're a Martin guy, just stick to Martins and stop knocking Taylors because they sound different and have bolt-on necks. It's like tube amp and stomp pedal purists knocking the Pod xtLive, which is a GREAT guitar effects box. Get over it. The audience can't tell, and it's wonderful to record with.

There are three types of acoustics: Taylor, Martin, and Gibson. There are three types of electrics: Gibson, Fender, and Paul Reed Smith.
There are three types of amps: Fender, Marshall, and Mesa Boogie.
Nothing else needs to exist.

Well, it is a 2003 810-ce (dreadnought), ebony board, spruce top, rosewood back and sides, gloss finish, you know the deal.

I notice that the newer models have ebonoid buttons, mine are gold, and imho nicer.

It came with a lovely hard case, truss rod spanner, cable and some information leaflets.

Considering that this is an acoustic guitar, it doesn't have many features, but those that it has are of top quality, so I will give it a 10 for this.

Dreadnoughts always suit a strummy style. This guitar sounds thick from bass to midrange, and nice and sparkly at the top end. Beautifully balanced.

Acoustically it is lovely, amped up using the expression system, it retains all of the acoustic characteristics.

When I played the guitar in the shop, all was perfect. I had to ask the staff for new strings, 'cause the fitted ones were old. When I got it home, the action for my liking was a little on the high side, mainly due to the shop staff putting too heavy a guage set of strings on. I changed them back to factory spec and all was good!

I cannot fault the build at all. The finish is perfect, no flaws at all. The rosewood was beautifully grained, as was the spruce top. Ebony 'board is nicely marbled.

Top marks Taylor!

If treated well, this guitar will outlive me. The gold finish on the tuners may well rub off, so 1 point lost for this only.

It is nice to see 2 strap buttons, both of which are solid.

I would never gig without a back up, strings break you know!

Never dealt with Soundtech (the uk distributors).

When I got it home, I thought, hmm maybe it will have to go (because of the action). However, since it has been restored to factory spec, it is going NOWHERE!!!

If it got stolen, some bastard would have a damn fine guitar. I would have to kill them!

Only thing I wish it had is better upper fret access (I am used to playing electric), but this is something I knew I was getting into. No acoustic (afaik) has superb upper fret access. I can't really complain!

This is a 2005 Fall Limited Edition, 810 CE L10 model that features a Cocobolo back and sides. The guitar was made in the US (El Cajun, CA). The guitar is a dreadnaught size and has a solid spruce top, Cocobolo sides and back, a mahogany neck, and an ebony fret board, and flamed maple binding. Abalone is also found on the rosette and along the neck of the guitar. It has 20 frets and a cutaway for access to the higher frets. This guitar also has the ES system. The tuners are gold "Taylor" tuners.The neck is 1 3/4" which is really nice. The Taylor Deluxe case also came with this guitar.

Full bodied sounding, and yet bright with a nice shean in the high end. I'm really glad I didn't get a Grand Auditorium or Grand Concert body. I prefer the fuller sound of Taylor's Dreadnoughts. I can hardly wait until the soundboard opens up.

Very comfortable guitar. The venetian cutaway works great and doesn't seem to rob any tone when compared to a standard 810. Great neck and fingerboard feel. It was set up perfectly from Marc Guitar shop in Wausau Wisconsin.

There is some interesting figuring ad sap wood on the sides. There are some "knots" in the back and I think it adds character but, others may think it is of lesser quality. Why is the peghead Rosewood not Cocobolo? Cost? Also, I wonder why Taylor did not go with the Engelman top?

There is evidence of glue on the sides of the bracing on the back. It could have been a cleaner job. The maple binding isn't matched at the headstock. Albeit ther is about a .005-.007" gap, I would think the would have mitered the ends and fit it better for their "Limited" production. I did find out that only 142 of these were made in the fall of 2005.

The Tusq is good for sound but I wish Taylor would add the $100 bucks and go with a fossilized Ivory on the limited editions. Heck we're paying for looks anyway on the Limiteds.

Not to be picky but at $2600 bucks and being a limited this puppy should be top notch.

The finish seems to be good, a very light finish, which gives the wood a good look, but still protects the guitar well. The strap buttons seems great. Although the bottom one is large. I think it will be a durable guitar. Heck everything you hear about Taylors point towards that direction.

If I need them, I am certain they will be there. Taylor performs well when it comes to Customer Satisfaction. I did call to inquire about the number of limited 810 CE L10 that were produced and I received a call the next day stating 142 were manufactured. I get the sense they will be very helpful if needed.

This guitar cost $1850 more than what I paid for the Cort. This had the name, the ES system, and a super nice playing neck, so I guess its worth it. Heck I am not going to go broke or retire early on $1800 buck so I guess I bought it because I wanted it. I do wish that Taylor would take a little more time on these "special" guitars.

)playing 1 year
)other guitar: Cort NTL Custom (AAA Engelman top, Solid Indian Rosewood sides & back)w/ maple binding and gold grover imperials.

2005 model, delivered March, 2005.

I've never seen a 2 rating on an 810ce, especially one with the Expression System. There were no 810's in my metro area, so I had to order one directly from the factory (and thus did not get to play one and plug it in beforehand). Given the stellar reviews I had always seen, I assumed (hoped!) I was getting my dream guitar. Personally, the guitar sounds completely unnatural plugged in. I ran it through several different systems, changed the batteries, changed the strings, and always I got a weird, punchy, spacey, mellow electric out-of-phase sound. Not natural at all. The guitar is getting returned and I am more than disappointed. Unplugged, it sounds like a typical Taylor - bright with lots of overtones and sustain.

Perfect.

Perfect.

I sent a recording of the guitar to the factory, and the folks there were very responsive. Ultimately, they said it sounds like they want it to sound, so it's just my personal taste.

I've been playing for 26 years. I own several electric guitars, and an Ovation I bought new in 1983 (that sounds great!). I'm going to shop for a Martin.

This guitar is a 2004 Taylor dred. with cutaway and Taylors Expression System. It is Rosewood back and sides with Spruce top. Abalone Rosette and nice pearl inlays on the fret board. I like the neck on the Taylor. Very playable. The Gold Tuners stay tuned. A beautiful guitar with a nice gloss. The ES sytem sounds very nice and very natural. Three small knobs are all that you see. No "barn dood" like the previous Fishman sytem.
Guitar also came with a hard shell case, tool to adjust the truss rod and a cable.

I play mainly country music and this guitar sounds great. When I plug in I use an UltraSound Amp. This guitar sounds GREAT plugged in.REALLY GREAT is you plug in direct while playing live. The only complaint that I have ( which really is not a complaint, because I knew this before I bought it.) is sometimes a want a little more bottom end when playing un plugged. Don't get me wrong the guitar has plenty of boom but I am used to playing Martins which sometimes can be a little to boomy for me in certain instances. I tried several other high end guitars before buying this one and it sounded the best. Some of the other "top models" in the $2,000 to $3,000 dollar range just sounded plain dead compared to this one. My friend I have plays a Larrivee and says he likes the Taylor better.

The guitar was set up great from the factory. There were no type of flaws. After a few weeks of playing the "G" string was wearing a groove into the saddle. This caused my "G" string on my Elixirs to keep breaking. I filed some of the edge off of the saddle and has been fine since. In my opinion Taylor's saddle had way to sharp of an edge. Compared to the saddle on my Martin which is rounded smooth. Was a minor problem and an easy fix. May not of even had to worry about it if I used hex wound strings .

This guitar seems very solid. I see no reason why it would not be reliable. Seems to be built like a tank.

I have not had to use customer service. The dealer that I bought it from is a stocking Taylor dealer and they have been great. The Tech there is very helpful.

I have had this guitar for a few months. All I can compare it with is my other Martin and a Larrivee. If it were lost or stolen I would have to buy another one. This has got to be one of ther best Acoustic/Electric guitars on the market. I played Martin, Larrivee, Sant Cruz, Breedlove other Taylors and sseveral others before deciding on this one. The sound was great and it was a great looking guitar.

I purchased a new 810CE in April of 2003. This is the solid top Sitka with Rosewood back and sides. it has the new ES system included and seems to have been put in after all the inital problems with that system. I have the new re-voiced dread and it really sound different than other older 810's I have played. More bass and fuller overeall sound

This is the new re voiced dread from Taylor and it packs quite a punch. Different than an HD-28 but full sounding and loud! It still has the characteristic Taylor sound which if oyu have ever played one you will hear it. Balanced and full.....

It came to me in the box and set up perfectly. Taylor is known for its set up on new guitars. Since mine was new, it had no knicks or dinks on it when purchased. I really like the finish on the 810Ce . It is a high gloss. Their UV process was created to make a lasting impression on the guitar. The grade of wood used was absolutely beautiful.....

I play live once a week and have experienced no pickup or sound problems. The new ES System is one of the best sounding pickups i have ever heard. The new Es system p[roduces a totally natural sound coming form the guitar. Have never heard anything like it in my life... .I really like the Grover tuners that came on mine (Taylor make s their own now). The only negative is with the new end plug for the ES system, it is hard to get the guitar strap to stay on at times.... the new neck design Bob Taylor designed is awesome as well. It plays evenly all the way down the neck. No more problems with capos and re-tuning like with other guitars I have owned....

Ii have had no problems so far, but when I have called to ask about something, Taylor people were quick to respond with a phone call!

I have been playing for 19 years. I have owned a '72 Martin/Sigma, a Guild D1, a Taylor 410CE and a Washburn 12 string. I would definitely purchase another one (Taylor 810CE) if it were lost or stolen and would have no problem with that. Taylor is very consistent with their guitars. With other guitars I have played they change dramatically from one to another and from store to store ( and it's not just dead strings causing it)..... Martin is definitely one of the best mass produced guitars out there, but I like the innovation at Taylor- never resting on their accomplishments but always seeking to build a better mousetrap. "If you do what you've always done, you'll be where you've always been", is a great way of describing the constant desire for improvement I see at Taylor..... The only other guitar I would really like to have is an Olson....

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.