Product: Taylor Guitars 810-E
Price Paid: US $2380
Submitted
10/14/2002
at
05:07am
by
Christopher Bullock
Features
:
9
Standard 810 with the addition of the Fishman Stereo Blender system.
Sound
:
9
I purchased the Taylor with a couple of weeks of a Martin D-28. Soundwise, the Taylor is a bit brighter and louder than the martin. However, in my opinion the Martin sounds better.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
9
Taylor has a reputaion for low action and playability, although my D-28 plays and feels better. The finish in flawless as is the Martin's. Both the 810 and the D-28 have spruce tops and rosewood sides and backs. Compairing the two though, the back and sides of the Martin seem to have the better rosewood; the grain is more even. However, the spruce top of the Taylor has more even grain and looks like a little more select spruce. Both have mahogany necks (although they don't look like the same type mahogany). The wood color, or finish color, on the Taylor neck is patchy. The Taylor is quite heavy. Most of the added weight seems to be from the neck. Also, Taylor guitars have 1 3/4" neck width at the nut, although you can order the standard 1 11/16" width if desired. The Marin has the standard 1 11/16" width, which I like much better, and if you're use to 1 11/16" nut widths the neck will feel bigger.
Reliability/Durability
:
No Opinion
Both are new, so I'll tell you in a few years.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
No contact
Overall Rating
:
9
Overall, the Taylor is a bit fancier than the Martin (more binding, gold hardware). It does play great and feels really nice. However, in my opinion the Martin is the better guitar, and it was $600 cheaper ($1800 vs. $2380). It plays better and sounds better. Also the Martin's intonation if perfect... However, Taylor realizes that acoustic guitar players perform and they really incorporate a great pickup system. Martin could really benefit by producing a line of upper-end guitars which incorporate dual source pickup systems for the performing acoustic guitar player.
