Taylor Guitars 310-KCE

Active Fishman Prefix Plus pickup (low, high, contrast, frequency, and volume adjustment), spruce top, koa back and sides.

The woods on this thing are BEAUTIFUL. The sound the koa gives justbblows other guitars away when unplugged, even without a strong low-end. My primary stage guitar.

I'm not a big fan of the pickup. It takes a bit away from the sound, in my opinion, but I run directly through PAs most of the time. Run through your standard acoustic amp, this guitar sounds excellent, and even without it still sounds better than most guitars I've heard. It would be nice to hear an expression system in this, but alas, it was made before Taylor put the ExSys out.

I'm a 19-year-old student at a Christian college in the Hudson Valley. I'm one of several worship leaders for chapel--before going to college, I had been involved in worship teams since I was 15, and leading since I was 16. I bought this guitar two and a half years ago, and it's been almost everything I could have wanted. It's got a very bright, rich sound to it unplugged. As stated before, the pickup system leaves a bit to be desired when going through a PA or in-house system (although, that's a general rule), but I had a chance to run it through a Behringer acoustic amp (not too sure of the model) and it was *great*.

My electric guitarist hates playing acoustic guitar. He loves playing my acoustic. 'Nuff said.

Okay, if you want more; this thing is *fast*. Both my electric guitarist and I own an Ibanez SZ320 each, and this is every bit as fast, if not faster. Absolutely flawless build. Lately, with humidity fluctuating with the changing season, it's had a little trouble staying in tune, but this is not a normal occurence.

My Taylor's had it's fair share of nicks and scratches. This sucker is built to *last*, though. After two and a half years of consistent use as my primary guitar, the finish is still good as new (although the koa is unfinished), it's got a few deep gouges and scrapes, and it still sounds as good as the day I bought it. And no, I'm not a negligent guitar owner, it's just the law of entropy in effect. ;-) A very dependable guitar, by all means. The only reason I wouldn't use it without a back up is my tendancy to break strings; I buy medium gauge A's, D's, and G's in bulk now. But that's a personal problem. :-)

I've been playing for a little over four years now. I own a Yamaha CPX8-12, and an Ibanez SZ320. My Ibanez honestly doesn't get much use (I'm mainly an acoustic player), and my Yami is only a backup for my Taylor. This is, all around, an excellent guitar. I was shopping around for Larrivee's when I stumbled on this, and I'm glad I did. I just wish it had the ExSys...

no electronics...But that is not a bad thing, I prefer to choose my own pick up.
I've since installed a martin thinline pickup and I use a Fishman Pocketblinder system. It really is a great set up.
The Koas is beautiful and an attention getter without being to flashy.

The sound is what sold me on this taylor, it's not my only taylor but is my most used taylor. It doesnt' have the bottom end that my onther Taylor has but it sound increadable when I'm leading worship. and even unplugged there's no much that will rival it's sound.

The factory set up was good, but when I got the pick ups put in I got it ajusted alittle bit, to match the action I'm use to playing... other than that flawless. (by the way if you looking for someone to install pickups you need to see Mac Macormick in Columbus, GA)

I use this guitar almost everytime I play. At least 3 or 4 times a week it hit the stage with me... one word... Quality. great tool...
only thing is there is no finish of the back and sides, so watch you beltbuckel

I been leading worship for the last 4 years and I've been playing guitar for 6 years I have another taylor that I use as a back up, and I also have a Takamine 1992 LTD that I use sometimes, but mostly just at campfires or place I don't want this taylor to go

My father bought this guitar for me on my 16th birthday. Unbelievable!! I was shopping for a guitar for 3 months before I found this beautiful instrument. It is the most versitile guitar in the price range. It sounds amazing! Gotoh tuners and a hardshell case too. Same features as mentioned above.

So what can you play on this guitar? ANYTHING! The Koa absolutley sings unplugged, but plug it into the Fishman and prepare to be amazed. When I got it home, I tuned it and didn't tune it again for a few weeks. The dreadnought shape makes it ideal for any style. Very versitile. I play alot of Dave Matthews (a real lot), Neil Young, Dispatch, some Jazz and Blues. I play in my high school jazz band and brought this guitar in for a day just to see how it would sound with the rest of the band. My teacher was amazed by the sound. She wanted me to use my Taylor more than the Gibson ES-175. It can achieve any sound you want it to. I can play bluegrass stuff like Doc Watson if I want to. For 3 months I went to upstate MA, CT, NY in search for an amazing guitar. I played just about every brand and model...Martin, Gibson, Taylor, Guild, Seagull, Larrivee and Carvin. There is just enough bass response to give it that UMPH! Enough treble to let it sing and enough balance to make it the most versitile guitar. I usualy play directly through a PA but sometimes through my Peavey Classic 30 (awasome amp). This guitar also sounds awasome when playing with a capo. Some guitars sound so-so, but this guitar is out of the park. If you have the opportunity to but one of these limited edition guitars, BUY IT!

This guitar was set-up perfectly. No flaws or anything. It is as mentioned in another review, a truly awazing experience every time I pick it up and they keep getting better. Would you expect a company like Taylor let a guitar leave the factory with flaws? I don't think so.

This guitar has not had any problems in the 3 years I have owned it. The only thing I can think to put here is to keep an eye on the battery and make sure you change it. Everything on this guitar is awasome.

Haven't had to deal with them but I can bet a company like Taylor would have excellent customer support.

If this guitar was stolen, I would hunt down the @#$hole and kick his @#$. If I couldn't find him, I would buy another guitar. I am not looking to buy another acoustic for a long time. I could live the rest of my life with only this guitar and be perfectly happy.

I love this guitar, I knew I wanted a Taylor ever since I first played one. The KCE in a great value, Koa wood for only $100 more than a standard 310-ce. Given it's value it dosen't have all the cool inlays and such, but for the price you can't beat it. With this known I give it a 9.

Sounds Excellent, better than any other guitar in it's price range.

It's a truely wonderful experience every tiem I play it. It just keeps getting better.

It came with a hardshell case, so you can't beat that.

I love it, what can I say. Taylor quality with Koa Wood for under $1300. You can't beat it.

Made in 2000 at the El Cajon, California, site. <br>
Twenty (20) frets. Solid Stika Spruce top with Koa (Hawaiin) solid wood sides and back. This is a BEAUTIFUL guitar. I love how the wood looks and sounds!<br>
Sapele neck with wonderful ebony fingerboard. Ebony bridge, indian rosewood headstock overlay. Black plastic binding on front/back+white and black plastic rosette inlay.Dreadnought with cutaway at the 14th fret. Truss rod neck for perfect adjustment. <br>
This model uses THE FISHMAN? MATRIX? (Natural I or Natural II) A/E transducer pickup which is mounted under-the-saddle. The pickup has a fishman preamp (master volume, bass/semi-parametric mid/treble EQ, easy battery access) and is a thin strip that fits underneath the bridge saddle. This allows the pickup to sense the vibrations from each individual string. It has little, if any, effect on the acoustic sound of the guitar, and it provides great individual string response. <br>
What I really love about this guitar is the 1 and 3/4 wide neck (measured at the nut). This is only 1/16th of an inch wider than the Martin, but it really does make a difference. I played every Martin in my price range (up to $2000) along with the Taylor (and a few others, see below for more) and each time I came back to Taylor for the sound and the easy playability.<br>
The guitar came a nice case, and when I got it home I saw that the case was actually made by SKB. If you're not familiar with the company then get to know them. They make great cases.<br>
The guitar also comes with adjusting tools and full documentation.<br>
Back to the guitar. The Koa models have some really great extra work in them. For instance, on the back there is a neat little inlay that sets the wood off beautifully. I also really loved the overall presentation. The Spruce top compliments the reddish Koa. It's a great match.

I prefer a mellow sound, but also wanted a guitar that held its own when I really played it hard. The Taylor does both equally well. As I mentioned above, I played every model Martin, Larrivee, Tacoma, Guild, and many others in my price range. I kept coming back to the Taylor simply because the others couldn't beat the sound.<br>
I currently use the Taylor alone or with a small PA. I also have a nice Peavey amp (for electric guitar) that I use in a pinch. My plan is to buy either a nice Peavey Ecoustic or maybe a Fender Acoustisonic. I'm still open for amps. What's important, though, is that the Taylor plays nicely through just about anything. I set the amp to clean and do most of my tone work with the Fishman system on the Taylor.

This was a $1300 guitar so I expected a LOT from the action, fit and finish. The Taylor has lived up to my every expectation. The Martin's still seemed a bit "cheap" in that price range. Don't get me wrong, I still love the Martin's and hope to some day get a nice D-28 or maybe 35. But if you have a budget under $1500 I'm not sure you can find a better buy than the Taylor 310.<br>
The action was perfect from the store. I bought my at Hanson music in Salina, KS. Steve Hanson does a great job of servicing and selling these guitars. He set it up just perfect.<br>
I mentioned in the above section the inlay on this guitar. Everything is perfect. In fact, I initially impressed with the inlay on the headstock. Today's Martin looks like a sticker, and that just turned me off. The Taylor is very neat and clean. That gives the guitar a nice look.

So far everything is perfect. I can't see having too many problems in the near future. The darn thing is built so well I'm not sure I could ever have a problem. But I guess there's always something. But this guitar sure makes you proud of good ol' American workmanship (again).<br>
I don't play a lot "professionally" but I do play a lot. One of my favorite places to play is for senior citizens. I do some blues from the 40s and 50s and I just see some of their eyes light up when they hear this guitar. It's really a great guitar. <br>
As for reliability, all I can say is that I sold my Sigma and Epiphone acoustics when I got this one. I trust it so much that it's my main guitar right now. I'll likely get another one (maybe a 314) in the future just so I can have a bit more versatility on stage, but for now this is the ONLY guitar I take on a gig.

Haven't contacted Taylor about any problems, but I did do some checking before I committed. First, Taylor has a good websit. There is plenty of contact information on the site. I hate manufacturers who won't put an e-mail address on their site (take note, Martin!). Taylor has one along with lots of addresses for snail mail. I like that.<br>
Taylor also has some great information on the site. You can get lots of information about models. One of my favorite parts of the site is the "reference" page which contains lot so information on guitars. More importantly they have great information about humidity and how to maintain a fine guitar.<br>
As I mentioned earlier, I bought from an authorized Taylor dealer. Steve Hanson has been in business a LONG time, and he's a guitar player as well. I don't mean he knows a few chords and couple riffs to fool unsuspecting customers (Gawd, I hate those kind of salesmen), but an honest to goodness guitar player. He plays regularly all around the area and is a really good guitar player as well. That's important to me since he is not just a businessman but also a brother in music.<br>

I started playing 20+ year ago, but was out of music for 18 years or so. In many ways I still consider myself a beginner, but I'm finding that I am a LOT better player with this Taylor than with anything else I've played. Maybe it's because I just like this guitar so much. Maybe it's because this guitar is so fantastic that it makes even novice players like myself sound great.<br>
If lost of stolen I'd buy another without hestiation. Well, I might hesitate just a moment as I decide between the 310 and 410, but to be honest I think I'd buy the 310 again. The next one will likley be a 700 or 800 series (maybe even 900). I can assure you I'd buy the KOA model again; it's simply a beautiful wood to me.<br>

THE TAYLOR I PURCHASED WAS A 310 KCE LEGENDS OF THE FALL THE KOA SIDES AND BACK WERE IMPRESSIVE. I WANTED A GUITAR THAT I COULD PASS ON TO MY SON THAT HE WOULD BE PROUD TO SHOW AS WELL AS PLAY. THIS IS IT.EBONY NECK HAD AN INCREDIBLE FEEL. THE FISHMAN EQ WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR ME.

THE SOUND WAS INCREDIBLE. I NARROWED MY CHOICE BETWEEN A MARTIN CUTAWAY AND THE TAYLOR. WHILE THE MARTIN HAD THAT INCREDIBLE MARTIN TONE AND IT PLAYED LIKE A DREAM, THE TAYLOR PUTOUT MORE DISTINCT SOUND AT ANY RANGE. MUCH MORE VERSITAL WAS THE TAYLOR, AND FOR THE MONEY A BETTER DEAL I THINK. THIS IS COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO SAVED HIS MONEY AND COULDNT WAIT TO BUY A MARTIN. I EVEN SHELLED OUT $300 MORE BUCKS FOR THE TAYLOR.IT JUST FELT LIKE THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

THE GUITAR WAS SET UP LIKE IT WAS MADE FOR ME. NO FLAWS WHAT SO EVER.
IT WAS PERFECT IN EVERY WAY

I THINK THIS GUITAR WILL LAST A LIFE TIME. MOSTLY BECAUSE IT COST ME 1100 BUCKS AND I WILL GAURD IT WITH MY LIFE, BUT I CAN TELL THE CONTRUCTION IS VERY DETAILED AND GREAT ANNENTION WAS PAID IN QUALITY CONTROL. BEST YET IT WAS MADE IN USA.

THE ONLY DEALINGS WAS THAT I ORDERED A VIDEO AND IT WAS AT MY DOOR IN A WEEK. THE DEALER I PURCHASED MY TAYLOR FROM WAS VERY CAREFULL TO MAKE SURE I WAS HAPPY WITH MY PURCHASE. I BELEIVE HE WOULD MAKE SURE IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO THIS GUITAR HE WOULD BE ALL OVER IT IT A SECOND.

I HAVE BEEN PLAYING ABOUT 18 YEARS.SERIOUSLY ABOUT 4. I HAVE A CHERRY SUNBURST LES PAUL STANDARD, A FENDER LONESTAR AND, A CUSTOM MADE BUTTERSCOTCH BLONDE TELE BY WESLEY MUSIC. I PLAY THOUGH A MARSHALL 70'S MARSHALL 30 WATT ARTIST HEAD AND CUSTOM 4/12 CLOSED CAB BY WESLEY AMPLIFICATION. I ALSO HAVE A PEAVEY CLASSIC 30. IF SOMTHING WERE TO HAPPEN TO MY TAYLOR I WOULD BUY ANOTHER AND HURT ANYBODY RESPNSONSIBLE. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY (STUFF).

This is one of 600 guitars produced for the Legends of the Fall Limited Edition run of the 310-KCE. It features solid wood construction with beautiful Koa on the back and sides and a Spruce top. The back and sides feature a satin finish and the top is gloss finish. The guitar comes with the entry level Fishman pickup system in it which I did find a bit disappointing. On a limited edition guitar, I would have prefered the Fishman blender system.

The tuners are silver Grovers and are very precise. The body features black binding, ebony fretboard, ebony bridge pins and abalone fret marker dots. This model keeps with the 300 series philosophy of being a terrific sounding guitar without all the fancy inlays that make you paranoid to take your guitar out in public. I do really like the white symbol on the back of the guitar indicating its cutaway, limited edition status.

Overall a tremendous guitar for the money.

I gave the guitar a score of 8 because of the fact that it is a beautiful acoustic packaged in the 300 series features. A great guitar without a lot of bells and whistles which is what I wanted.

Koa is one of the most difficult tone woods to work with. An absolutely stunning piece of wood can sound cold and lifeless upon completion. Another cut of Koa will blow your socks off. You definetely have to play several Koa guitars to learn to seperate the cold sounding cuts of wood to the incredible cuts. Of the 4 Koa guitars I have played, 2 didn't do a thing for me and 2 of them did.

This guitar is one of the ones that I couldn't live without. The mids and highs just absolutely sparkle with rich overtones to the sound. The bottom end is there but in a more subtle way then most dreadnoughts. I do expect the bottom end to open up over time and am anxious to hear how the sound matures.

I play fingerstyle and also like to get out a pick for some hard blues and rock tunes. This is an incredibly versitile guitar. This is one of the best sounding guitars I have ever played rock or blues on. It definetly excels while being strummed. Open chords really ring out and the sustain is unreal.

The guitar does well fingerpicked but sounds better on some songs then others. It definetly does not do as well as my 614-C in this department but I didn't expect it to. Dreadnoughts aren't designed to excel at finger picking. On songs with lots of open, ringing chords, it can't be beat.

I live in an area that has limited music stores. We only have two Taylor dealers in town and one of them carries no inventory to speak of. That leaves me with store number two. I have purchased two guitars from them during the winter months and both guitars have been incredibly dry. I was able to re-hydrate my 614-c without incident but upon getting this guitar home, I noticed a small crack in the fretboard. Definetly a problem of severe dehydration. Taylor took care of it right away but I will defer comment on this part to the customer section below.

Taylor is known for incredible levels of precision in their guitar assembly. This one is no different. Everything was done wonderfully. The neck joint is hard to believe that it isn't a single piece the joint fits so tight. The woods are perfectly bookmatched and very nice. The Spruce top is definetly lower quality then my 614-c but I have seen few guitars that match the wood grain of that guitar.

Overall a very nice guitar set up and ready to play out of the box. I am giving a score of 9 only due to the dealers neglect in letting the guitar dry out too much.

I have grown to believe in the durability and reliability of Taylor guitars without question. They are ready to perform when you are. I use a lot alternate tunings and have never broken a string due to a rough spot on a bridge or a tuner problem. I was originally a critic of the satin finish on the 300 series but really have to say that I have changed my mind after playing this guitar. The satin really gives the Koa a 3D effect and it seems plenty durable.

I would definetly use this in a gig without worrying about a back up.

As I mentioned before, I got my new guitar home to only discover a crack in the fretboard. I called Taylor customer support right away and they said send it right in ASAP. The guitar tech gave me his name and phone number so I could contact him easily and the store got right on making the situation right. Taylor had my guitar back to me within less then 2 weeks and the fretboard is perfect. They also brought the humidity up to where it should be, did a complete set up, included a free humidifier and tossed in some new strings. The really impressive thing to me is that the tech called the store to give them an update and a return shipping date without any prompting.

I have absolutely no concerns should a repair need ever arise again. These guys are tops in the business.

I have played for over 22 years but have just come into learning and enjoying fine acoustics in the last 4. This guitar is a total pleasure to play and listen to. It records great and the smell of the Koa is unreal. Think Hawaii!

If the guitar was ever lost or stolen, I would definetly be out to buy another Koa Taylor. My only fear is that being a limited edition will make it a tough one to replace.

I had not planned on buying this guitar. After all , my account was just getting paid off. However, I always told myself that if the right Koa guitar came along, I would jump on it. I played the guitar repeatedly over about 4 days. I compared it to every guitar in the store in its price range and then even brought in my other guitar to make sure it sounded as good as I thought it did. Well, it did so up went the balance on my account and home went the guitar!