Taylor Guitars 810

Rosewood back and sides Spruce top nice finnish. Nothing to fancy but i dont soppose it is sopposed to be. This is a little fancier then some Martins in the same price catagory but over all i would definately choose the Martin, see below.

This is a pretty good guitar all and all, although i do like the sound on Martin D-28's and D-35's better which is Martins equivelent to this guitar. I picked up my Martin D-28 for about 400 dollars less and it sounds every bit as good or better. For this reason I am not impressed by the Taylor tone, someone on down said that Taylor has beating Martin at there own game but it seems almost the same to me, with the Martins having a more distinctive sound that somepeople love and some hate.

The action on this taylor is one thing that i do really enjoy about this guitar, set up very very nicely from the shop, this is one catagory where this guitar is beating the Martin which comes with a high action so that you can adjust it.

This guitar seems a little more fragile then i expected, I will mainly use and play this guitar at home so as not to bang it up to bad. There are some concerns with the hardware it seems as if it will chip off, I am saying this from seeing a friends do this. There are some glue marks on the inside as well that i am not impressed with.

I have not had dealings with taylor.

I have been playing for 10 years and have played a ton of acoustics, this is a nice acoustic and I do not regret that i bought it, unlike the taylor 710 which I dreaded and hate that I own. This is a decent guitar although I have to say it is just a lamer copy of a Martin guitar. Taylor is getting better about making guitars, but for now ill stick with Martin.

This is a 1999 but I bought it in 2000. I think this may be the last year before the NT necks, but the neck is still more playable than other brands. As others have said, all solid, rosewood sides and back, ebony fingerboard and bridge, sitka top, gold plated Grovers. The case is the nice red plush one, the last year they made these. Also the '99 has a nice red pinstripe up the middle of the back seam, which I really like, it compliments the rosewood, and the next year they just used plain white. But the next year they put a strap button on the neck which this one doesn't have.

I'm a fingerstyle guitarist and the sound really jumps out, is very bright, with really good sustain. I think you get a bright bronze sound with phosphor bronze strings. The Taylor guitars seem to have a lot of mass to me (more than Martins or Larivees) which makes them ring longer. However, you need to use 13's (medium guage), absolutely, to drive the top properly. Other guitars of the same size will respond to lights but not the Taylor. Elixir's and other coated strings sound dead and not bright enough for me so like many others I put on stock D'Addario EJ17's. Only problem is the strings (particularly the G string) catch a bit in the nut, the slots need to be filed out ever so slightly if you switch to non-coated strings. I bought this at Guitar Center Denver which had the thing hanging on the wall in a too-dry room. Therefore the guitar had a buzz but I took a chance and bought it anyway, and after some good humidity therapy and action adjusting, it has been fine. The guitar is sensitive to humidity (as a fine guitar) so you have to be careful. In general I think the sound is very alive and tops Martins, Collings and most Larivees. However not all are alike, I have played a few Taylors with sound I didn't like. Try before you buy. I use a plastic thumb pick and metal fingerpicks which adds to the brightness of the sound. I don't have a problem with the bass being thin as others have said. To me the guitar has great balance without muddiness.

Lives up to the Taylor reputation of being playable really fast with great accuracy. The fingerboard is truer than any other guitar I've played and the thin neck makes it play fast. The action does tend to move with humidity (see above) so watch that carefully. I keep an eye on the action and adjusted it precisely. The truss rod adjustor seems to get too loose if you try to adjust the action up too much, the guitar is made for a low action (as others have said) so don't use light strings and keep an eye on the humidity. In my opinion high-end Martin's have a more flawless finish, the Taylor seems to have some separation for example where the binding meets the wood and where the neck meets the body.. just the slightest amount. But it is still much better than many other guitars. The plastic binding DOES look cheesy as others have mentioned but doesn't bother me too much, it still sounds great. Plus if you knock it on the edge it will probably take the abuse a bit better. The case is really super quality.. fabulous.

It is a really fine guitar so don't knock it about. I've hit it a couple of times but got no dings, the finish seems to be really well made. The tuners have a bit too much play for my taste, they tend to be loose. I think though the guitar is solid and would travel well. Be prepared for the guitar to have its action move if you go in and out of hot/cold/dry/warm.

I've tried them a few times and they got back very promptly with complete answers. I complained about the buzzing and to be honest they blew me off a bit, but I got it straightened out. In my opinion Taylor as a company is a bit too egotistical (just look at their magazine ads for crying out loud.. totally obnoxious :-) ) and snotty but I feel confident if I had a problem they'd come through.

I've played for almost 30 years and have had an Aria and an Alvarez-Yairi and this easily tops the others. I would definitely buy this guitar again if I lost it. I like the sound, looks and playability the best. I think in the price range it easily has the best action and tone of any other guitar. My only complaints would be the binding and the somewhat delicate nature of how it holds up under humidity changes.

1999 Model. No need to repeat everyone else!

Perfectly suits my needs! Light/Heavy Strumming. Flatpicking. All get a great sound.... Tone can be shaped depending on your own personal touch, which is something lower grade acoustics dont do. Just needs a tad more volume and bass respnse.

Taylors have generally low action which leads to a bit of a string buzz if i drop the low e to a flat or down to d. Tuners seem to have different resistance and torque to them. Otherwise, this thing is great.

Its reliable and druable as long as you treat it excellent!

Taylor employees are great, and taylor owners are even better!

After seraching and searching...... this thing comes as close to perfect as anyone can to makign a guitar which suits the needs of my eyes and ears.

2002 Model, you know the rest.

You know what they say about sound being a subjective thing, well I totally disagree with the last reviewer. This is my 4th Taylor, I've owned a 410, 414, 514CE and now this 810, and it is easily my favorite. Mine is brand new and barely broken in and it sounds wonderful. I guess it all boils down to what you looking for. For the most part I'm a strummer, but do a little flat picking and fingerstyle as well. The best word to describe the 810 is versatile. It performs well for any style. No it's not as loud as some guitars and doesn't have that booming bass that some like. But, what it does have is a well balanced, beautiful lush tone. This baby sustains for days and has overtones galore. Note seperation is also outstanding. The bass is there and accurate, not too much or too little, just right IMO. As far as volume goes, hey, what are people looking for? If you are playing it unplugged you can easily play it at a volume too loud for you to match with your voice. And, if not playing unplugged, then volume is not an issue and a booming bass is actaully much harder to control when amplified. To each his own, but I like the 810 better than any dread I've played or heard, with the exception of a Breedlove which was more than twice the price of the Taylor and certainly not twice as good. Taylor is actually changing the bracing to add the bass and volume that some want, this is why I hurried to get mine. I love them just as they are. BTW, I've noticed many stores using 12 or even 11's on the 810's to make them even easier to play. Problem is they just don't sound as good as the 13's which are recommended for this guitar. If you audition this guitar make sure it has the right strings. Smaller strings can indeed make it sound a bit thin and may be what some of the others have witnessed.

What can I say that hasn't already been said. Everyone knows this is Taylor's strong suite.

New, but based on Taylor's track record shouldn't be a problem. This guitar is heavy and built like a tank.

I've dealt with Taylor many times over the years and they are always very responsive and eager to help. Ask anyone who has ever had a problem with their Taylor about the support they've received. I know for a fact Taylor has some of the best customer support in the industry.

I've owned many acoustics and am always on the look out for something better. However, I seriously doubt this guitar will ever leave my house, I like it that much. Like I said earlier, people look for different things in a guitar and this one fits the bill for me. The 810 is the guitar that made Taylor famous and for good reason.

1996 Taylor 810
Stock...you know what it is, there are no features!

When I bought this, it was the be all end all of guitars for me. However after 5 years my ear has gotten better and this guitar has not. Its thin, weak and does not have much volume. The set up is the real reason for the lack of volume, the action is sooooo close that you can not get the strings to ring. There is a give and take here. All in all it just sounds ok and compaired to Taylors other lines that are less expensive your better off Trying to find and older 510 for volume or 710 for the rosewood. The market has come a long way over the past ten years. Taylor was setting the standard for a while but the industry has caught up and Taylor is not hold ground for me any more. Martin makes really great sounding guitars, as do many little builders. Taylor makes way tooooo many guitars now to have time to spend making sure they sound right. Best to stick with old taylors. 96 or younger and better pre 90 if you can find them

Very well built and much better then what I have seen latley in the stores. They again are building too many instruments to keep the quality where I would spend my money on

ITs a well made instrument...you can not knock that. They have the best cases also

Always has been good, but they are not small anymore and therefor you lose some thing with the growth

As a whole Taylor does not offer much value anymore. The best guitars for the money that they make are the 310-410 guitars...the old 510 and 710 were nice but they have changed all woods and finishes so who knows...what I do know is that new taylors sound thin and wimpy with no real punch. They are nice finger guitars but for flatpickin, forget it....

There are tooo many other guitars to look at in this price range to spend 2000.00 on a taylor. even some Seagulls sound better then a few of the high end taylors. These guitars are way overrated now...the old lemongrove have something to offer...

Made in El Cajon, USA
20 Frets i think
All solid wood (East Indian rosewood/sitka spruce), ebony bridge, fingerboard, pearl fingerboard inlays, white body,neck and headstock binding, abalone soundhole ring
Grover tuners (gold)
Gloss Finish (UV), satin neck
Dreadnought
Neck is a very fast "V" shape
Came with tech sheets, nice hardcase, wrench

I like flatpicking/hand strunmming, so of course this dreadnought is well suited to my style. Many have said that Taylors sound thin...mine certainly does not, it is not very bassy, but like between balanced and bassy...the one gripe with the sound is that at the 1st,2nd and 3rd frets the base E string is dead...open and in other positions it is full rich and deep..just not those frets. Medium strumming produces a sweet, lyrical tone, and fingerpicking also produces a smooth full tone. When you really hit it, like you would a jumbo, it can sound raw...but the best players strum in a controlled way....with elixirs the sound is a bit dead i think...i prefer d'addarios....medium guage is about right...overall, a great guitar for the player who started on an electric. The sound is great.

This is where Taylor really proves it is the best production guitar around...The action was low, but i couldnt find any buzzing, even when really going at the strings. The neck shape is a little like an older strat, and the finish on the neck is ultra smooth..not like a fender satin, which can get sticky, this is always super fast. Another Taylor benchmark is there construction techniques, and of course my guitar is no exception. The only flaw is a little filler on the 9th fret inlay if you look at it in the right light..so i dont care. Sitka is really nice, with modular rays ~(silking)~ and lots of grain per inch. Ageing to a nice honery colour as summer approaches. Rosewood is also evenly grained and a dark chocolaty colour....
no flaws....a perfect 10

not gigged (i dont think i will) as i have electro that are more expendable...grovers are solid (though im not too keen on the gold plate..other like the gold though..personal preference).
Finish is very hard, ive dinged the top, but the finish is unaffected, and it stands up to the local weather effortlessly. Comes with 2 strap buttons, both of which are solid (again, gold is not my thing). If i got a pickup fitted, i know it would be reliable, bt at the moment its home use only.

not dealt with them

i have a few other relativly cheap (especially compared to this) guitars, and none of them come close to the sound and fell of the 810. if i could raise the money, i would buy another if stolen. dislike the goldness, love the zinghy, rich tone. Only real dislikes are the cosmetic things like the gold...at the time i also liked abalone, now ive devoluted in my appreciation of decoration, and i would prefer something simpler...no complaints though. overall....i got what i wanted..a pro sounding and feeling guitar.

I bought my 1997 Taylor second-hand in December 1998 from Open Tuning Guitars here in Paris for 8000 French francs (~1200 euro). All the features are covered in other reviews. I paid another 2000 francs for an L.R.Baggs Dual Source mic/preamp, which excels at recording and is beautifully unobtrusive. I wish the tuners were not so mushy and the binding not so white, but the woods and construction are top-notch.

I am not an acoustic guitar expert. I used to have an old Gibson B15, a small-scale beginner's model made entirely of mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard. Not a great instrument, but its midrange drone was cool for slide.

I lived without an acoustic for about five years until I found the Taylor. I was shopping for a guitar that had a responsive, balanced tone that would sit in a mix well. I also wanted a guitar that didn't make me fight for my music. I tried entry to mid level Martins, some Gibsons and Guilds and a second-hand Breedlove that was really beautiful. I found the Taylor more playable than the Martins, and I liked its tone much more than the Gibsons and Guilds. The Breedlove had deep bass and shimmering highs, but was a bit too boomy when strummed. I spent about a week revisiting the different models I liked and kept coming back to the Taylor. The fact that it was practically brand-new and less than half its original price won me over.

Since then, the 810 has grown on me, turning me into a much better player and inspiring me to write different kinds of songs from all the other stuff I did before. It has become such a sweet instrument, it just begs to be played with, pluck it gently, strum it silly, it has such a versatile voice. Recorded, it always delivers, especially when double-tracked with a capo and alternate chord voicings.

Taylors are known for their effortless action, and mine is no exception. When I got it the bridge was a tad too high, but the guy at the shop filed it down. He did it very quickly and roughly and got me in a panic, but it has always had excellent intonation, so no complaints on that score. The guitar is immaculately built, but over the years I've christened it with a few slight dings here and there. I just can't seem to refrain from wandering around the apartment when I strap the thing on. The cosmetics are not overstated, the inlays precise, the abalone discreet and the gloss finish classy. The binding is too plasticky-looking.

I don't play out live. The guitar is either in my hands or hanging on a hook on the wall. It feels sturdy yet light, as if it had something close to perfect geometry. The finish has held up well despite my occasional clutziness.

Never dealt with them.

I have been playing for over twenty years. I started on electric and still love to crunch. I spend most of my energy trying to write and record my own material, mainly in the pop-rock vein. This guitar has broadened my songwriting skills and enhanced my palette of sounds. I use it as sonic glue it practically every song I record, it always bring a warm, earthy chime to a mix. It has made me give all my Jim Croce records countless re-listenings as I figure out how to emulate all that delicate fingerpicking. (If only I could sing like him!) The best part is that it just keeps getting better all the time. A great investment.

Feature: The Taylor 810 I own was made in 1994. It is a larger dreadnaught than the 810 currently being marketed. It has the customary sitka spruce top and solid rose wood back/sides with gold finished tuning pegs.

Sound: Since sound of 1994 is not exactly the sound of 2001. It has a much fuller sound and highly suitable for flat picking. I would prefer a fuller resonance in the 1st, 2nd & third string such as that offered by the Santa Cruz Tony Rice Model...however that could throw the balance of the off..and if 7 years of playing this instrument is any example that maturation will come I'm sure. The Taylor 810 has a rich full sound...it doesn't sound like a Martin or Gibson..because its a Taylor...if you want a guitar that continues of ring after you set it down..the Taylor 810 is that type of guitar..When it comes to sound, players like Steve Kaufman, a champion flat picker who could probably play any guitar on the market; chooses to play a Taylor 810 cutaway (with an engelman spruce top)...I play a bit of bluegrass and the audience might over look any picking error and simply ask what kind of guitar it that?..sound? After 7 years it just gets better but like any acoustic instrument ..it has to be played!

Action, Fit & Finish: The action is a bit low which accounts in part for its playability...fit & finish are second to none...I've never seen a guitar that displayed finer workmanship...I've been to El Cajon, California and seen them being crafted...its quite an experince!

Reliability/Durability: The Taylor 810 will withstand live playing. As a solo instrument, its nothing less than spell binding in the hands of an artist like Dan Crary...It doesn't quite have the punch of a Martin (I own a 1983 HD28)in a bluegrass band..but then again thats not its best environment..It stand up well without a microphone .

The Taylor Company is outstanding in its support and helpfulness. It had the frets dressed locally (not warranty)..You couldn't ask for a more friendly and supportive crew.

This is a new 2001 model 810 dreadnought. It has beautiful rosewood back and sides, Mahogany neck, the standard Sitka Spruce top, ebony bridge and fingerboard. The finish is glossy and it shines. The overall look of the guitar is very attractive- like a dolled up D-28. This review may turn out to be a comparison to Martin, but I'll try to stay calm.

Taylor Guitars are beautiful instruments, and all are made for different applications. This one is made to sound good at a lot of different ranges. The lows, however, are not what I was looking for. Get to the D string and you really have what this guitar was built for. I expected a little better bass response because of the rosewood and lack of gashes cut out for electronics, but you win some and you lose some I guess. I bought this guitar with Light Elixirs on it and I replaced it was D'Addario mediums. I had the action raised because I attack any guitar I play. Then my fingerstyle stuff doesn't suffer either. Anyway, in standard tuning, this guitar sounds decent. I prefer a good D-35 anyday (yes I have one too). Drop it do Eb and you have a rattler. However, if you don't get down and dirty with the low E string, you have a pretty well balanced axe. Put this guitar up to a recording mic in the studio, and you have it's best application nailed. I supposed that's what it was designed for, because it doesn't have electronics. Highlight: even tone, and it shines in open E....lowlights: lack of punch and overall brashness. It says, "listen to me if you want" rather than "you'd better listen to me, dammit!"

I think Taylors in general have their action too low. It's a guitar with a neck and action designed for people who play electrics and want a thin neck, clear mids and highs and a nice cool tone. I had the action raised after I got it. The bookmatching and overall construction of this guitar is second to none. It absolutely blows my Martin out of the water in that respect. It looks like it was given hours upon hours of attention so that it looked just perfect.

I had a 410CE a few years ago and it was about as durable as a utility infielder. It was great live and the finish was very sturdy, as was the whole guitar. This guitar seems to be no exception.

Nothing but good things from Taylor customer support-ever.

For what dealers charge for this guitar, I think you should get more for the money. AS is right now, I'm going to trade this guitar for something else- probably a 1983 Martin D-35 anniversary. I like it, but I don't love it. It's a good guitar, but just not for me. I like my D-35 a LOT better. If you play percussive rock, like a well balanced low sound with unobtrusive bass, and like to play in lower than standard tunings, get a high end Martin. If you like the sound of an acoustic and want to back up your great electric playing on your album, get this 810. It's a good guitar, but I'd rather have a Martin. I guess that's what I'm going to do. I just got this guitar because I got an unbelievable deal on it. Hell, I couldn't get a 410 for what I paid for this.

the 810 is an all solid wood beauty with an ebony fretboard[i believe the ebony delivers better sound and value {last forever!}and bob and kurt put ebony on ALL guitars in their line up!!].it has a spruce top and rosewood back and sides,gold grover tuners and tusq nut and saddle.gloss finish...i think its some special process that taylor invented....mine has the 'NT' neck...wich means the entire fingerboard is solid!and you dont have to tear the fretboard off the top of the guitar for any adjustments made to the neck down the road 20 years from now!!this is one of the reasons i got a taylor[new style]taylor offers a FREE video on thier web site showing this ,in my opinion,revolutionary design!the case is well built and has already had kids jumping on it with NO damage!!![yes,i about had a heartattack!!!...lol]the plastic binding is kinda cheesy on an axe in this price range...but then thats how you can get a guitar that feels'handmade' for under 2 large!!

sound is tony the tiger......"GGGRRRRRRREEEEAAATTTT!!!"comparable to a 28 series martin and up!i feel this box can be a very versatile instrument for finger and flat pickers alike.the beauty is the sound only gets better with age and use!!!it has a clarity of sound for a guitar that also can BOOM.and it does sound good...even with old strings[i use med. elixers ]

set up was pretty good...i had the action raised up a bit-there was a very slight buzz[but then i bang the hell out the guitar anyway..lol]intonation was exelllent...and i look at adjustments as a personal thang anyways.all the frets were super and the finish was superb...the only thing is the plastic business,but it doesnt really get in the way of a person enjoying this fine axe!!

this box will stand up to some abuse,and it stays in tune!i have heard that the gold will wear off the tuners eventually if your swaet is highly acidic,but i dont see any signs of that on mine.[i guess beer neutrilizes the acid..lol].as this is my first 2 thousand dollar guitar i do try and be carefull with it...no buttons or pins in or on my shirt etc.

support is wonderfull!!i contacted them a few times and their replies were PROMPT!!i get stuff in the mail from them all the time[wood and steel..workshop notices etc]..warranty is lifetime to the original owner...the really stand behind their product!and everyonr that i dealt with was super friendly and courteous!!!

been playin for 10 years[i still suck..lol],if it was lost or stolen i would be heartbroken and i would get another!and i would consider violence on the rat bastard that stole it!!i compared it to the martin line and some larrivees[ended up gettin a larrivee as well]but for the price and sound and adjustability[you gotta see the new neck video....those cats are geniuses]it was TAYLOR all the way!!the supplied case is heavy duty as i mentioned before and the plastic binding is the only hang up i have with it,but after you play it awhile you do get over it.