Taylor Guitars Custom 915 CE

I am actually writing this review for a guitar that I do not own, but I have played this guitar at a nearby music store, and it completely blows me away, and thus I thought worthy of a review so that hopefully someone who wants a truly phenomenal guitar can find this if they are interested. If it were not for the fact that I am ordering my own custom Taylor acoustic I would be writing the review for this guitar as an owner. The guitar is essentially a 915CE -jumbo size with 'venetian' (ie-rounded) cutaway which was apparently custom made by the Taylor people themselves for a Taylor roadshow. Front is solid Spruce - not adirondack but i am pretty sure it is Sitka. Back and sides are gorgeous whirled pattern highly figured solid cocobola. Neck is mahogany. Fretboard ebony. Peghead veneer appears to be a very dark wood and with some figuring - maybe rosewood or even ebony? I am just guessing there, but looks very nice. Tuners are the 'antiqued' appearing large key gold tuning pegs by Taylor. Back and sides have a heavy gloss appearance which really shows off that beautiful cocobola, while there is Taylor's 'thin' gloss finish on the front and peghead. Satin finish on the neck. The neck is the slimline profile but otherwise standard length and nutwidth. A particularly unique thing about this guitar (which may not be for everyone) is the incredibly well done wooden inlays in the ebony fretboard and peghead which show a motif of flying pelicans. The inlays use several different kinds of naturally oiled woods to get a really cool color contrast for the flying pelicans. I guess if you are a Buffet fan, your dream guitar just came true. Essentially all other aspects of this guitar would correlate with the acoutrements of Taylor's 900 series guitars - outstanding details right down the line. There is an onboard Taylor ES pickup system, but I have to be honest - I have played this guitar several times and never felt the need to plug in this guitar - it is that loud (see 'sound' below)- so i can't review the guitar's amplified sound. I highly suggest going to the specific Harmonycentral site which reviews the Taylor ES sound system. The guitar comes with the really nice Taylor GS case.

You have heard the old adage, and in this case it is particularly true - "You have to see it (or in this case, hear it) to believe it."
I have owned at least a dozen guitars - both electric and acoustic - and I typically only buy the highest end axes. I have NEVER heard a guitar like this - even among other high end Taylors. What is amazing is that the incredibly resonant lows (which are actually loud and not subdued) are matched only in brilliance and clarity by the, practically patented, sparkling high end notes so well known in Taylor acoustic guitars. The mids are just as clear and loud and with bell-like tones. On this particular guitar there is not a deadspot on any single fret. To make matters even more orgasmic, the neck action is very comfortable and very fast thanks to that slimline profile and the silky smooth satin finish on the mahagony. The standard acoustic nutwidth however still affords the player that 'acoustic' feel on the fretboard. This is a guitar that sends reverberations from each note right into your spine, and keeps you wanting to come back for more. Certainly the combination of the tonalities unique to the cocobola back & sides, spruce top, and mahogany neck make this guitar the spectacular sound cannon that it is, but certainly there are many more aspects of the guitar's construction that are responsible for its superior performance. I am a flatpicker / hardstrummer with an aggressive attack on strings when playing leads - this guitar could take anything I can dish out and actually starts getting warmer and louder after playing for 5 minutes or so. This isn't just an outstanding high-end Taylor guitar, this particular guitar is an individual example of superior luthier craftsmanship. This is a guitar that is going to make you want to be the best guitar player you can be. No joke - I was playing it recently in the shop (details below if Harmonycentral will allow that) and some idiot teenager about 20 feet away had taken some electric axe off the wall and hooked it up and was annoying everyone in the store with this death metal crap, and I started strumming this Taylor (UNPLUGGED) and was actually competing in volume with the death metal jerk. This guitar has that kind of presence and projection. Speaking of 'presence', I have played a Taylor Presentation recently and this custom 'pelican' 915CE would beat out the Presentation hands down.

Action as noted above sensually smooth and contributes to the joy of playing this axe. Nice satin finish on that mahogany neck is just wonderful to feel while moving up and down the neck. It has the abalone rosette as with all Taylor's 900 series and really nice ivoroid binding all around the guitar, front, back and peghead. Otherwise pretty much the standard 900 series touces. This one (fortunately) is not overdone with too much too much abalone. Other than the very unique pelican motif on the fretboard & peghead, this is just a standard looking 915CE. But believe me, it is truly one of a kind.

Can not comment on this since i dont own the guitar, but I believe this model is maybe 2 or 3 years old? See other Taylor reviews for dealing with Taylor warranty people. I have only recently gotten into Tayors and I have found the people there in the BTO program to be extremely nice. There are other reviews from people who have found the Taylor people to be "arrogant". The recent talk in the business is that the Taylor folks are trying to overcome their snobbish reputation. Read the reviews of others. I particularly recommend reading reviews on the Taylor ES inboard sound system. There are many reviews which say it is next to God, and then there are others who say the ES system is next to junk.

Ditto comments as above. I honestly am not sure about the warranty on this particular guitar. I suggest talking to the store owner about it.

Hopefully Harmonycentral will allow me to print this, because I think anyone out there who is looking for that truly outstanding guitar that is unique both in sound and appearance will want to go see and play this guitar if they can, assuming it is still for sale. The guitar is currently for sale at Woody's Music Store in Rock Hill South Carolina. Look them up on the web. If you can deal with the pelicans motif (they ARE beautiful, but i think you are going to have to like pelicans), then I truly don't believe you could ever find a better sounding guitar. The original list price for the guitar apparently was in the mid $5000 range, but I believe (not responsible for negotiations) the store owner has it currently marked way down to ~$3000 range. In my opinion that is an incredible deal for this wunderkind of an instrument. If the guitar gets sold, then at least this review should be a good reference for custom built Taylor guitars of the 900 series with cocobola solid wood construction. Again, just want to point out that the only reason I am not writing this as an owner of this guitar is that I am having my own Taylor acoustic custom made. I can only hope the one I am currently having custom built will sound this good. This is just a one of a kind guitar that I felt deserved the good review. Hopefully someone who really appreciates fine luthier crafstmanship will get this prize.

Same features and electronics as listed in the prev review. Rosewood Laminate back and sides. Electronics with 3 control knobs.

I bought this guitar becuase of the sound. It is well balanced and has an sound that I would best describe as "alive". There is a slight drop-off on the bass tones. I am rating it as a 10 in comparison to anything else in this price range.

Fit and finish are good. Good intonation. I notice a slight buzz on the d string when I am fingerpicking Mance Lipscomb style blues but I think I am hitting the string to hard with the metal thumb pick. It plays well.

No opinion since I haven't had any problems. I read the previous comments about it not having bracing but I am not too concerned about it.

I plan to fill out the Owner Registration card for the warranty but have had no contact with Taylor.

I have been playing for a long time and have done over 500 solo gigs in the past 5 years. I have 2 strats and an epiphone SG400 as well as an Acoustic that is a copy of a Gibson. The reason I bought this guitar is because it sounds and plays very well. I compared it to other Acoustics with electronics and to me it was the hands down best value. All the other guitars I checked at the same price range were not even close. I looked at the Martins but I would have had to spend more money. The breedlove was dull sounding compared to this one and the similarly priced seagull didn't have any bass tone. I liked the Guild guitars but they didn't have the electronics. Keep in mind that everybody who buys a guitar are natrually going to feel like it is the best choice so just play it your own self. It is worth checking out if you want a good guitar at a decent price.

Solid spruce top, lamintated rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, Taylor EST electronics. No onboard tuner is a bit of a bummer but the controls look so slick. It also came with a nice solid case.

This guitar booms! It has a very full sound unplugged. The Taylor pickup system also sounds great.

I love the satin finish. However, the neck is ever so slightly rough in some spots. Tuners are nice and solid just like you would expect from a Taylor. The action is decent but the stock Elixir mediums took a little getting used to. Plays very easy and has great sustain.

I have a Martin that is far superior in fit and finish but that guitar cost me three times as much as this one so it's not really a fair comparison. As much as I love the Martin, if I had to start all over and purchase a new guitar I might choose the Taylor because it's such a great guitar for the price. I had a takamine years ago that was in this price range and this Taylor just flat out buries that guitar.

Seems pretty durable and well built but the finish on the neck seems a little thin(almost none). I trust Taylor Guitars to produce a quality instrument. I have gigged with it many times with no issues as of yet. I am somewhat skeptical that a laminated guitar will stand the test of time as well as a solid one.

Great guitar for the price.

This review is for the 210 not the 210E so the features are pretty minimal for this entry level Taylor.
On the plus side, i love the neck, and the extra strap button which saved me the hassle. on the down side the tuners are basic and there is an annoying small amount of play. for a guitar of this quality, this is a disappointing cost saver by Taylor. The action was also a little high on purchase at about 3mm, but ive sorted that and now shes good to go. Also the "A" string sounds a little dull compared to the other strings. Might be the nut perhaps - not sure.Plastic bridge pins are nasty and have have been quickly replaced.
Built like a tank, not the best match of rosewood and mahogany, and save for the tuners all good.

Wow - on the plus side, this guitar sounds fantastic.i was looking for an electro acoustic grand auditorium and came away with a dreadnaught guitar - purely based on the sound - its great. i tried lots of others (Martins, Faiths etc), but to me this sounded the best. lovely deep rich bass, and great trebles - all there without having to work too hard. sounds fantastic in dropped D too.
This is not the prettiest guitar - Martin have that licked - but on sound alone, its the best for me. if not for the slightly dull "A" string i'd give it a 10.

Action was a little high (3mm), but shaving the Tusq bridge by 1/2 mm sorted that.
Fit is good and tight, woods are all good, but aesthetically they clash.

Looks good and solid apart from the tuners which have a degree of play and slightly annoying to have to look at changing them when spending this amount on a decent guitar.

Not applicable

Ive played for a long time, but could be best described as "born again" having taken it a little more seriously in the last few years. I own a Mexican Telecaster, a Hondo 335 Copy, a Crafter Dreadnaught acoustic, and Eko 12 String and just sold a Gretsch 6120 to fund the Taylor. I play a mix of blues, country, rock - the usual stuff.
i wish i had asked why the A string sounds a bit flat - but its not a biggie.
This guitar is super light and i have found it very difficult to put down since buying it. I now play more than before, and my playing has improved since buying it. It sounds fantastic, looks ok and plays very well.
I chose this guitar on sound alone. It sounded better than guitars of higher value - i was keen to buy a Martin, but it just didnt sound as nice, even though they look stunning and the Taylor looks a bit un-inspiring.
if it were lost, i think i would buy something from the 3 series, which appear to have a slightly higher spec.

I recently spent some time at my local store Norwalk Music and was very happy with the high level of knowledge and service I received. A younger gentleman was a pleasure to deal with. The pricing was right on and the Taylor 200 series he sold me is a great sounding instrument. I had spent some time at Sam Ash and felt like I wasn't being taken seriously.
The 200 series is only about 750. but I was taken care of like I was spending much more.

The guitar rings out like a bell and the case is nice too. I would suggest this guitar to anyone not looking to spend one months salary on a guitar!!

Love the matte finish!
Hate where the strap button is, but am getting used to it near the heel!
Loved the way Norwalk Music's guitar luthier set it up for me. (NC)

Clean inside....no glue, no nasty looking bracing goofs.

I have taken this guitar on several gigs and with no backup instrument.

Funny thing, the outside of the back and sides are a nice rosewood but inside the guitar I can see mahogany. Proves that sides and back are truly lamainated. No back bracing at all. It has a back belly like a baby taylor. I'm not sure if this is a good thing, but I trust Taylor guitars to sell a sturdy instrument. No kerfing just a laminated band where kerfing should go.

Booming dreadnought sound, crisp and loud. This will be great for bluegrass. This whole guitar vibrates when played, especially the back (maybe due to no bracing, possible its the reason for the big boom sound.

Surprised to find a few dings in the neck, oh well I could send back to guitar center but I won't , too much hassle.
Action is a touch high, but I can fix that by trimming the saddle. However I may leave it alone, its not that bad.

We'll see in few years

I hear these guys are great. I've owned two high dollar taylors and two big babys I've never had any issues to cause me to call them.

It seems every reputable guitar company has its low level line of guitar that highly resembles one or more of their high dollar models. I think this is a good way for the company to prove to the consumer that they are serious about making a good instrument no matter what level the guitar is aimed for.
I believe Taylor did it with this guitar, still a bit pricey, but probably worth it - YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.
Taylor guitars are the only guitars I have not had to set up out of the box. They are virtually ready to go from the factory.

New 2007 Dreadnough Model
High gloss Solid Spruce Top
satin finished Laminated Rosewood Back and Sides
Taylor ES Element Pickup with Volume, Bass, Treble
nice solid Case

all my other acoustics are complete solid.
A Japanese handcrafted Yamaha LLX400, a Cort Earth Custom Limited Edition and a ProTierra Classical Guitar.
My Yamaha LLX400 has a two way Pickup System, which is not bad, but a wanted another acoustic with pickup.
The salesman said that i should try the new Taylors and first i didn't want, because the laminated Back and Sides, but after palying 1 hour and comparing with a lot other high quality guitars, i bought the Taylor.
It sounds better like some of the all solids and the playability is perfect. Perfect balanced, resonates very well, and is louder than my other acoustics.
Maybe there are better pickups around, but the taylor system is one of the better ones. Very good substance, and playing through my yamaha magic stomp i get a very good sound. Only three decent pots, no knobs you don't need ;-))

perfect action!
low string setting - no buzz
superb intonation
plays very easy and comfortable

no gimmicks, but a great sounding guitar with comfortable action and a good Pickup.
Comes along with a nice Case and for this price its a perfect live guitar! Would buy it definitivly again!
Compared it with the 214E too, but the 210E has more "balls" and sounds more fat

All solid wood. spruce top/seaple body. 2006 model. satin finsh is ok. no volume or tone controls, but thats fine, eq it through pa system. i don't care for ugly black controls on acoustic guitars.

sound it very nice. nice lows and highs. they balance out nice. i just finished a recording prodject and it was wonderful in the studio. pickup is very natural sounding. im glad it doesn't have the pre-amp that makes 'em sound tiney. guitar is starting to open up now, and sound very good.

had to have set up buy my local martin rep. i had a little fret buzz. but overall action is very good.

i have no reason to believe this guitar will not hold up well. quality seems to be extremely nice.

no opinion...

been playing 32 years and have owned a lot of guitars. martin d-28,d-16rgt,dm. blueridge br 40,60,140. this guitar overall is probably nicer than all of them other than the d28. well pleased!

All solid spruce top and sapele back and sides 2006 model, pickup system with bass, treble plus volume controls. Medium 13 - 56 thou coated strings.

Rich/full sums it up, fantastic deep bass with the 13's, great for finger picking. I mainly play solo rock covers re-arranged for acoustic guitar, e.g. Claptons "change the world", Bon Jovi unplugged etc. at a recent gig, a guy in the audience said the guitar sound was like listening to a hifi system through headphones.

tone controls are just right, I don't like messing around with 5 bands of eq, feedback filters etc. just straight into my mackie desk with a touch of Lexicon reverb/delay.

Guitar was in a sealed box from the factory, 5000 miles to UK and it was virtually in tune !. Fit and finish perfect, action felt a little high with the 13's but I soon got used to them - may replace with 12 - 56 light mediums but might keep 13's as they sound soo good.

Good hard case supplied, guitar feels light but strong so with care should last OK.

No contact with taylor

Always wanted an all solid USA box, could not resist deal at Sound control Birmingham UK at around 30% discount. Fab guitar, can't put it down, only problem is my keyboard playing is suffering through lack of practice.

This is a dreadnought guitar with a solid Sitka Spruce top and solid Sapele back/sides. It was built in 2006. It has a satin finish, which looks a bit cheap next to the glossy finishes found on higher-end Taylors. However, the woods used are nicely figured. The neck is Tropical American Mahogany, with an ebony fretboard and "pearloid" dot markers. The frets are highly polished and smooth as butter. Also, the headstock has an ebony overlay. The 210E that I purchased has Taylor tuners, although I don't think that is standard. The nut and saddle are Tusq, which is basically a man-made ivory. There is a body binding made of black plastic. The 210E has a built-in "ES Blue" pickup. No onboard volume or EQ, so I can't give it a 10. This guitar also comes with a custom hardshell case manufactured by Taylor.

This guitar sounds amazing for an acoustic in this price range. A very balanced sound - nice round lows and a great sparkle in the high end. This guitar projects its sound extremely well. It is a great guitar for flatpicking or strumming, and performs very well in the studio. What it lacks in beauty, it makes up for in sound. In my opinion, there is no better sounding acoustic for the price.

The fit and finish on this guitar is classic Taylor - they pay attention to the details and don't let it leave the factory with any imperfections. The guitar was set-up great from the factory. No detectable buzz anywhere on the fretboard. However, I found the stock strings to be a bit heavy for my taste - I think they're 13s. The action is good, but I prefer a lower action. I am going to take it to a local shop and see if they can lower the action without inducing any buzz.

This guitar is an entry-level Taylor, but it is built very solidly and will last me a long, long time. I primarily play in the studio, so it won't have to suffer through the "rigors of the road". There's no reason this guitar would have any problems in live playing situations. The satin finish seems thin and might wear over years of heavy use, but I'm more concerned with sound than looks.

I have dealt with Taylor in the past and their customer support is second to none. Hopefully I won't need any work on this guitar, but I'm confident that if any issues arise, Taylor will take care of it.

I've been playing guitar for about 11 years now. I primarily play electric guitar - I have a Fender Stratocaster and a PRS Tremonti. I also have a Dean Razor NT bass. As far as acoustics go, I have a Tacoma DM9 that I am replacing with this Taylor 210E. If this guitar was lost or stolen, I would buy another 210 or possibly a 310 if I had the extra money.