Product: Taylor Guitars 816c
Price Paid: USD 2,000
Submitted
01/08/2009
at
01:29am
by
Huey
Email: hueynova2 at yahoo<dot>com
Features
:
10
Grand Auditorium cutaway model. Solid Sitka spruce top, solid rosewood back and sides (not sure at this time where exactly the rosewood is from). Purchased this guitar new back in 1996. This model DID NOT come with electrics (though in hindsight, I should have spent the extra dough). Gorgeous to look at, though not terribly fancy, inlay at the 3rd, 5th 7th and 12th frets-kinda basic back to back arrows. I really like the white binging on the neck, which accentuates the nice ebony fretboard. Fit and finish are dang near perfect; I cant pick on any thing enough to knock it down even one point. Binding on front and back body basic, but simply flawless.
Sound
:
10
This is where this guitar shines. Loud. Clear. Deep and rich, the tone just goes on forever. The harder you hit it, the more it just gives you, no questions asked. I play medium weight strings, and they give it up like no other. I play rock and blues, and have been playing for a long time (and still suck) and I just never get over how fantastic an instrument this is. It keeps me interested in music, just by its incredible tone alone. I play a lot of Neil Young and Led Zep, both of whom use odd tunings; you will probably have a hard time finding anything that will ring with all of them; breadth of tone is so good, even my friends, who know NOTHING about guitars, say gee, that sounds reallllllly good! I also let a friend at work check it out, and he tells me before he picks it up that he doent's like Taylors...well, let me tell you, he was SHOCKED. Kept asking me, where did you buy this? How much? lol it was pretty funny, and this guy has been around the block (remembers the summer of love etc lol!!! ) Anyways, you will NOT be disapointed. I would like to point out though, that, from what Ive heard and played in stores, the older models are much better for some reason. Don't know if thats qualitiy control or simply aging....
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Top notch. Ive had this guitar for 12 years, and I still cant take my eyes off the beauty of the cutaway curve, or how the neck meets the body, or the grain of the top, or the perfect binding on the neck...
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Hard to say about durability. I baby this thing. Never gigged it. It has some dings, but very tiny itty bitty things only I see. I had a luthier set it up (finally, after owning it for 12 years!) and had him put on a bone nut and saddle, and adjust the action. Not that the action needed much. I told him he wouldnt be able to put it down after I dropped it off...he laughed, and said he gets plenty of great guitars thru his shop...when I went to pick it up, what was he playing??? was very funny!
Customer Support
:
5
was disappointed to learn that Taylor only works on guitars under warranty. After that, you are on your own. No biggie though, they dont need much, and a decent luthier should be able to hook you up. Bolt on neck makes it easier for them, should you need that much help. Ive been playing this guitar for 12 years, and still dont need a re-fret.
Overall Rating
:
10
This is my fave guitar in the whole world. Ive never found its equal. If stolen, I'd try to hunt down the thief and make his life miserable, then go look for the exact year and model to replace it with the insurance money ($30/year rider on my renters unsurance-good idea if you like your instruments!) I hunted for months to find it, playing every guitar in New York City (and thats alot of guitars!) Almost bought a Guild Jumbo, but am happy I got this instead. My first guitar was a Yamaha FG-410, which was fine for learning, but this one is the real deal, and I feel I have a true professional instrument. I have some electrics, but not worth mentioning here in an acoustic review.
