Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: USD 500
Submitted 03/16/2008
at 01:03pm
by Matt kestler
Features
:7
A simple, no frills guitar.?? There should be a picture of this model in the dictionary next to the definition of "guitar."?? It gets a 7 because of this, but its not a bad thing!
Sound
:10
The sound is wonderful! Ive been playing about 7 years, mostly acoustic. Ive owned a Takamine, Yamaha, Ovation, and Tacoma, and this Taylor sounds better than all of them.?? When I went to the Guitar Center, I went in with an open mind, and no preference.?? I didnt NEED a new guitar, but, you know how that goes.?? I am of the mind set that the guitar pcik you, not the other way around.?? This was the case. I played guitars in EVERY price range and just about every brand they had.?? For this Price range, I couldnt believe the sound quality. Very full, Resonates well, Plays loud, but can sing a lullaby too!
Action, Fit, & Finish
:8
No Flaws at all, Ive never had to have it adjusted since I left the store with it. Finish is okay, nothing fancy, but...Still looks the same today s it did in 2005 when I bought it. I play it quote a bit, so that says something.
Reliability/Durability
:9
I tend to baby my guitars and keep this in my hard shell case when Im not playing, so I cant say too much about its toughness. It has gone down hard once or twice in the case with no issues. I do remember my daughter knocking it over once when I put it down for a second, and it held up well. I wouldnt be afraid to have it knocked around a bit, I bet she would hold up just fine, It is a TAYLOR!
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Never had to
Overall Rating
:10
Great Value for the price, wouldnt trade her in for a higher end model if it was offered!
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: CAD$ 640
Submitted 08/28/2007
at 07:39pm
by Ashish Sarkar
Features
:8
As mentioned before, this is a simple guitar. A solid spruce top dread with sapele laminate back and sides, nice satin finish. Zero frills, plain inlay fret identifier dots, a Taylor logo on the headstock, and unnamed chrome tuners -- put all that together, and you get an absolutely stunning guitar. Really nice to look at, and can stand out from the crowd.
I'll give it an 8 in features, as it does not have an electronic pickup (which you can get if you shell out an additional $100 for the 110E)
Sound
:10
I mostly play fingerstyle, and this guitar is great for that. Very clear notes, and a lot of sustain. The curved back compensates for its shorter than normal (by about 0.5cm I guess) depth, and bass notes ring out well. Like any Taylor, it is on the bright side, but not as bright as the Big Baby.
While looking for a guitar, I was set on a Seagull Maritime GT, but it just took a few notes on this one to win my heart over! Absolutely no buzzing, and very articulate. I wouldnt go as far as saying that this is the best guitar out there, but within its price range....pretty much so.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:9
The set-up on the guitar was one of the things that I liked a lot. The action was not too high, and neither too low as to buzz... being a fingerstyle player, I tend to stick to the lower frets anyways, so this is great!
All around, the build quality was flawless, nothing out of place.
Reliability/Durability
:7
The 110 does not have truss supports for the back, which makes it a very light guitar, and it looks nice through the soundhole as well. It feels quite sturdy, but with lesser support, I am pretty sure that it is not as strong as some of the other guitars out there.
The satin finish will wear out on constant contact, but that doesnt seem like something to fret about.. (no pun intended)
Customer Support
:9
Havent dealth with the company, but it has lifetime warranty, so it gets high marks here!
Overall Rating
:10
I have been playing for around 6 years now, and own two other guitars - one a Squier Fat Strat, and the other an acoustic laminate top made in India. While looking for an upgrade on my guitar, I was looking primarily at Canadian made guitars - Seagulls, S&P, Normans.. I have played extensively on Seagulls, and quite liked their sound/tone and playability. My search for the guitar went on for almost a month, where I visited almost all the music stores in Toronto, and tried out a LOT of guitars. The ones that came closest were: a Seagull Maritime GT, an Epiphone Masterbuilt all solid spruce top, and an S&P spruce top. On playing the Taylor 110, though, I was completely blown away. It clearly was superior to the Seagull and the S&P, and quite close to the Epiphone. Its great looks were the deciding factor.
I am really pleased with the guitar, and will buy it again without any question.
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: USD 600
Submitted 09/30/2006
at 06:04pm
by Arverni
Features
:9
Made in Oct, 2005. Satin Finish, Natural Color. Ebony Fretboard and bridge. Tusk nut and Tusk bridge. Solid spruce top, chrome tuners. Came with a very attractive tan colored Taylor logo gigbag. I give this a "9" because the features are pretty much everything I wanted. It's not often that you find a guitar with the ebony and tusk at this price so I believe the 9 rating is warranted.
Sound
:9
I flatpick chords, both open and barred and also do single-note blues riffs on this Taylor. I also finger pick travis style. For finger picking, it would be hard to beat this guitar ... it sounds superb. Heavy strumming is fine but it's a bit "trebly" ... completely what you'd expect from a Taylor but there are just some times that this sound won't be exactly what you want. Can't beat this guitar for string to string balance ... it's almost perfect. This guitar sounds like a $600 Taylor acoustic ... which is what it is. It doesn't sound better than a $2,000 Taylor or Martin model but it does sound better than anything I've found in the $600 price range. I'm giving it a "9" in this category because that's how I'd grade the sound of the 110 as compared to other guitars in this price range. I don't give "10" to any guitar because that grade in my mind is perfection and no guitar is perfect. This isn't perfection, but if you like the Taylor sound, it's very close for a guitar in this price range.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:9
Action ... a little high, not bad though and who really cares? That's one thing you always adjust yourself or have a tech do anyway. Came with Elxir strings and that is a big plus. The ebony fretboard has some blemishes (small spots that aren't quite as black as the rest of the fretboard) ... but honestly, I was hoping for that anyway as it gives the guitar some individuality and character. The fretboard is, however, smooth as silk and the frets are ... perfect pretty much. The spruce top is well bookmatched and has a satin finish. Since I do a lot of blues picking, there is a little spot behind the bridge where my palm rests that has has worn smooth and shiney. Kind of weird but I like this as it gives the guitar some character. The guitar has a semi-arched back ... very cool and I like this. Apparently this design negates the need for back-bracing. This makes the guitar a bit lighter and I love the way it feels when I'm holding it.
Reliability/Durability
:9
Yes, you can gig with this guitar ... it's sturdy and I can vouch for that. This is my "beater" guitar and I haul it around everywhere. Some may think this is not a very tough guitar, but I believe they're allowing the very light weight of this thing to fool them. It's built tough and you don't have to handle this thing with kid gloves.
Customer Support
:10
Lifetime warranty, so I'll give it a ten there.
Overall Rating
:9
Overall, I give this guitar big ratings. Hey, it sounds great for the money, you wont'be disappointed. It's built like a Taylor. In order to make this budget-priced unit, Taylor, in my opinion did exactly the right things to bring down manufacturing price without sacrificing too much in tone and playability. You have an ebony fretboard still ... though it's not the highest quality ebony fretboard as far as uniformity of color goes (but that's not even really noticeable unless you're looking hard). You have the arched back ... which negates the need for backbracing which also pulls manufacturing costs down without sacrificing too much in tone. You have the satin finish ... another cost saver which doesn't affect the guitar's tone. I work in manufacturing and this guitar is pure genious for what it produces compared to it's costs. I'm hooked on it. One day I will buy a more expensive Taylor ... that sounds better. But for right now this is all I could want.
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: #530 (GBP)
Submitted 03/19/2006
at 09:44am
by Anonymous
Features
:5
Don't be put-off by my "5" rating as there is a good reason for this. This guitar is simple. It has no electronics, no pointless pretty bits and no 9crt gold lining. But thats why I LOVE it. It is exactly what you want from a acoustic guitar. A good, solid simple guitar.
Sound
:10
Insane sound! I went to the biggest music store in my area, and literally tried every acoustic guitar up to #650 and I can definately say that this was by far the nicest sound produced by any of the countless guitars I tried. I had the money there and then to purchase a black, #650 takamine guitar, but after trying out the Taylor 110, I realised that it sound was superior to any other guitar in its price range.
It has a very clean, articulate sound. Every note is well defined and the sustain is endless. I couldn't agree more with the other reviews saying the string-to-string balance is brilliant, because....well....IT IS! Although a loud guitar, it produces bright soft tones when you play gently and then has that typical taylor attack when strummed hard. Best strings for this are the Elixir's in my opinion.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:8
Finish is flawless and natural - very nice curved back and smooth body. The neck is very natural with little lamination but feels great. Very basic, but flawless.
The action was exactly how I like it. The strings are quite taught and the shop-set-up action was very good.
Reliability/Durability
:9
Very solid guitar - can't see any weak spots and has that typical Taylor durability
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Presume Taylor would be good, but haven't delt with them yet.
Overall Rating
:9
Overall an incredible guitar for the money. If your looking for an acoustic below #650 then this gets my vote. It is a simple, solid, flawless acoustic that has an amazing sound. EASILY the best sounding acoustic I have ever played on. I hate it when people say this, but I have to agree with this particular model, it does look, sound and feel A LOT more expensive - when I first played it, I thought it was a #1k Taylor.
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: US $430
Submitted 02/08/2006
at 10:34am
by squareone
Features
:8
no frills, very plain, eveything you need, nothing you don't. (except on board electronics)
Sound
:9
This guitar has the taylor sound you're looking for, bright and articulate. it really shines if you're into arpeggiating and embelishing chords
Action, Fit, & Finish
:6
this guitar has a fairly high action compared to other taylors, but nothing unacceptable. it could easily be fixed at your local guitar shop. because of the soft satin finish, the guitar will show normal wear more prominently than a guitar with a full fledged laminate. don't let this deter you from buying this guitar
Reliability/Durability
:7
this guitar seems delicate, but because of the soft finish, i wouldn't call it a tank. it is crafted very well, and it will last, as long as you don't abuse it.
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Overall Rating
:9
i could not be happier with this guitar. i bought this guitar in 2003, and it has allowed me to grow as a musician. if you're a begginer, intermediate, or expert guitar player, the 110 has something that will please you. i believe this is the best guitar in its price range, and owning this guitar will makeyou a taylor fan for life
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: US $400
Submitted 12/27/2005
at 03:11am
by unabowler
Features
:8
This is a US-made solid top, standard dread. As one of the earlier reviewers said, no frills really. The ebony fretboard feels nice, and I like the tusq nut. Came with Elixir strings on it which saved me the cost of a set of Elixirs.
Sound
:10
The sound is what I bought this guitar for. Has the trademark Taylor sound and it is very full. It is loud, resonates well, and projects well. Sounds good no matter what you play on it.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:5
I bought this used and the action was really high when I got it. Almost every Taylor I've every played in a shop had great action, this may have been altered by the previous owner. When I took it in to have it adjusted, my luthier found other problems he had to fix. After I paid him I was money ahead over buying one new.
Reliability/Durability
:10
I think this guitar will withstand line playing, although I don't play it hard. The hardware seems solid.
Customer Support
:No Opinion
I bought this used, and even though I have the registration card, I would go to my local shop for any problems.
Overall Rating
:10
I find this to be a fantastic guitar and I absolutely love it. I have been playing for a year and a half after a long layoff. Since I started playing again, I have bought several guitars trying to find one I would settle on, and this is it. After I got to the point where I was comfortable spending more money than the starter guitars cost, I was comparing the Taylors and Martins in this price range. I have a Baby Taylor which I also enjoy (the mahogony is much better than the spruce top) and it prompted me to buy another Taylor. The Big Baby really doesn't have the fullness of sound that this does, although I like the smaller body. I have played some of the higher-end Taylors and they are better, but only incrementally.
If this were lost or stolen I would buy another Taylor for sure, if I were feeling prosperous maybe I would go higher up in their line, but I would probably buy another 110. My brother, who is a much better player than me, swears by his Martins, but I really like the bright sound of the Taylors.
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: N/A
Submitted 09/16/2005
at 01:56am
by Chris S
Features
:8
The feature list in many ways is meagre - compared to other guitars at the price point. A Taylor gig bag, some tools, and that's about it. On the other hand, everything is top notch in quality, including the Tusq nut and bridge. This is a no-frills guitar, but who wants a frilly guitar?
Sound
:10
There has been some debate about this. First impressions (ie at the store): if it were any brighter, it would have been back on the shelf. As it is, no guitar I tried had the combination of string-to-string balance and tone that this guitar possessed. The sound will only mellow over time, the sustain and string separation won't.
Impressions after 1 month: the sound has mellowed somewhat and now exhibits a beautiful sustain and expression that I have experienced on very few guitars. The string balance is still excellent. The sound is very like that of the acoustic guitar on 'Never going back again' by Fleetwood Mac; if you're looking for something with a darker tone, look elsewhere.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:9
The action from the get-go was superb, this hasn't changed after a month (although see caveat below). This guitar beats many electrics I have tried for playability, although of course it is less forgiving of poor technique. Taylor have built their reputation on fusing the best of handmade workmanship and computer controlled manufacturing; this is best exemplified in their newer guitars such as this, the baby taylors and the t5.
Reliability/Durability
:6
OK, here's the admission - this guitar has already been repaired. I believe it fell over whilst in the hard case, and suffered a case of whiplash - a break down the headstock joint. Probably this was my fault; still, if you are used to playing a sturdy guitar, this model needs a degree more respect.
On a side note, I can heartily endorse the work of Vancouver guitar tech Barry Ewart, who has repaired this problem with the skill of a true craftsman. The previous (3-inch) crack is now invisible.
Customer Support
:No Opinion
n/a
Overall Rating
:10
Been playing 14 years as an amateur. I would buy this guitar again in a heartbeat. I tried it as an A/B looking for a cheaper guitar, worked my way up through a selection of about 120 guitars, and only found a tonal match at the top end of the shop's selection - at four times the price. Maybe I got lucky, hopefully you will too.
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: US $550 by negotiating w/ dealer.
Submitted 05/15/2005
at 05:40pm
by Orchid
Features
:10
Solid Sitka spruce top
Sapele back and sides
Mahogany neck
Ebony fretboard and bridge
Enclosed die-cast chromeplated tuners
25-1/2" scale
1-11/16" nut width
Tusq nut
Nothing too special, but good solid features.
Sound
:9
I like to play like a European folk type music (think a lot of Opeth). I compared this guitar with some Seagulls and Martins at the same price, and this fit my needs the most. The Martins are nice in their deep-bassy low end, but you can't hear the mids as much and so the sound is a bit muddy for my tastes. I chose this because it sounded brighter and the mids were more expressed, so the chords and the fingerpicking that I played was more clear. I'm giving it a 9 because it's one of the best that I played out of the others that I compared it to.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:8
I bought it brand new, still in the box at Guitar Center. I guess the action on it is about the standard for most acoustics. I would prefer it to be a bit lower, since I'm so much more used to an electric guitar feel. The finish is decent, there isn't really a shiny protective layer on it or anything. The striped ebony fretboard and headstock is pretty nice. I'll just give it an 8 because it is mostly standard.
Reliability/Durability
:No Opinion
I haven't had it long enough to make a decision. However, I am kind of afraid about the top of the guitar, the wood seems very thin, so if it were to take a bit of a blow, it might dent or crack.
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Haven't dealt w/ them yet.
Overall Rating
:9
This is the first acoustic I've ever owned, because I'm just getting into them. I've played electric for about 5 years and so I've been practicing all my acoustic things on that.I've tried Takamines, Martins, Seagulls, Fenders, Ovations all around the same price, and I thought that this guitar was the best. I thought the Martin D-15 or the Seagull S6 came pretty close, but the brighter sound on this guitar pleased me more.
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: 699.00 (CAN)
Submitted 04/30/2005
at 08:49pm
by uncle mark
Features
:8
I didn't look at the serial number when I bought this guitar. When I checked about it and read infos on the Taylor site, I realized it was made on my birthday. I was born in 1952 and on my 52nd birthday, some folks in California started to make a guitar I would buy a few months later, accidently. Now if this is not a sign, I don't know what is. That is for me a most startling feature. For the rest, you should know by now that this axe is a no frill instrument. As a bonus, my wife finds the gig bag good looking.
Sound
:9
This guitar is bright, clear and very responsive to dynamics. I am a pianist, not a guitarist. I play for fun and I have had a lot of fun for three months. My piano is getting jealous...
Action, Fit, & Finish
:8
I had to see my friend, a guitar doctor in Montreal. He is a luthier in a respected shop and he's been working on famous people guitars for twenty years. I guess he knows his business. He did a fine job to adjust it to my playing style. I trust him very much.
Reliability/Durability
:8
For many people, this guitar is just a toy, an extra option on an expensive rack. For me, it is my Taylor. Another way to express my soul through music. How long will it last? I'm already dreaming of a 612ce.See what I mean...
Customer Support
:10
Being part of a family is cool. People at Taylor do care about their customers. Marketing guys are real pros in this company.
Overall Rating
:10
I am not the type who regrets much. I checked a few guitars before buying. An Alvarez, a Simon & Patrick and a Yamaha. The minute I touched the guitar, I knew I could not pass. And that was before checking the serial number. I also own a Seagul folk and an old electric Vantage VS600. Did I tell you I am left-handed? I consider myself lucky to have found such an instrument. For my money? Hard to beat
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: US $559
Submitted 03/03/2005
at 08:09pm
by Jim Moulton
Features
:9
Both guitars that I played were made in 2004. You really need to look carefully, every one of these is very different, tonally they are all great, the normal Taylor bright signature sound, but some of them have beautiful finishes while others are loaded with bearclaws. The grain may vary also on the solid spruce tops. The sides and back are sapele laminate. There is an arch in the back which I was not crazy about. No electronics. Satin finish. Normal Dreadnaught size. Nice enclosed chrome tuners. Fretwork is a thing of beauty, so is neck in general. Neck is Taylor thin. Ebony fretboard with steaking, more on some than others.Gig bag included.
Sound
:10
Rich, full bright tone. Pleasing complex overtones. No matter what they look like, they sound GREAT.I have no complaints, you can't get this kind of tone with some solid wood guitars.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:9
The action on the Taylors that I tried were different, no big deal, you just get it set up to your liking. Personally I would have the action lowered to 3/32 - 2/32, it was higher than that on both that I tried. Nanoweb elixors sound great, believe they are mediums. One Taylor had a perfectly bookmatched tight grained top, the other was ugly, the ugly one sounded better, go figure.
Reliability/Durability
:10
These guitars seemed solid and heavy enough to be dependable. Strap buttons look solid.
Customer Support
:5
n/a
Overall Rating
:10
I have been playing 25 years. The best acoustic that I have owned was a Martin D16-GT, These Taylor 110's were much better, especially in the playability department.
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: US $500
Submitted 10/19/2004
at 06:28am
by David McNelis
Email: dmcnelis<at>gmail dot com
Features
:7
2004 US Made Taylor 110. Solid-top sitka spruce (I believe), no stock electronics. Came with a soft-shell case, small set of tools. Dreadnaught size. Ebony fretboard, no-dyied. Adjustable truss rod.
Sound
:9
I play a variety of styles, from folk, to rock, to some classical(as much as one can on a steel string). This guitar has a very rich and fullbodied sound. It is a very versatile instrument, and has good definition of individual notes when playing finger style, and when you really have at it, strumming hard cords, it stays with you and you don't get a muddled, washed out sound, like some of the cheaper Martins.
All in all, I love the sound of this guitar. The only reason I gave it a 9, and not 10, is it sounds great, but not quite as good as the top of the line Martin's and Taylors.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:10
The guitar was perfectly set up for me from the factory. I didn't need any of the action adjusted at all. The action is low for an acoustic, which makes it much easier to play with the medium gauge strings recommended by Taylor. The finish is clean, and there are no visible defects.
Reliability/Durability
:8
I've taken this guitar to a number of open mic nights and have a full gig coming up. It is a solid instrument that I'm comfortable playing without a backup. The finish is relatively thin, however I don't see it easily wearing off. I personally prefer a flatter finish to begin with, so it is difficult to ascertain the actual thickness of the finish.
All of the hardware is of the highest quality, and it keeps in tune exceptional well over long periods of playing and sitting, as long as there are not large shifts in temperature or humidity.
The only detractor for this guitar is its lack of stock amplification system. It would be great to have the same system from the other Taylors in this guitar, but thats not the case. This makes it a little more limited in terms of where you can play, unless you install a pickup (I went with the LR Baggs iBeam Active, which sounds very natural, albeit with a feedback problem).
Customer Support
:No Opinion
I've not dealt with customer support.
Overall Rating
:10
I've been playing for a little over a year. My other guitar is a Fender Squier Strat, which I play through a Line 6 Spider 112 amp.
I use a LR Baggs iBeam Active pickup system with an LR Baggs Feedback Master preamp, to plug this guitar into whatever system i need to.
If it were stolen I would definately buy it again, or one of the higher up Taylors, 710 or 810, if I had the oppurtunity.
Before choosing this guitar I had my heart set on the Martin DXK1 (I think), which was the Koa Laminate Martin, around the same price line. However, the Martin's sound was lacking and muddled when played hard, whereas the Taylor maintained good definition.
I really wish that it came with the same pickup system as the more expensive Taylors, but I wanted to pay for a better guitar and worry about the electronics later.
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: 1500 ($A)
Submitted 09/19/2004
at 05:40am
by David F
Features
:9
Mine is a 2004 version, made in the USA as they all are. The top is solid spruce and the back and sides are laminate. All as ususal. The unusal deal on the other hand is mine has a Fishman Prefix Stereo Blender pickup, fitted at the factory. The website doesn't even mention this as an option! Is this something they only do for Australia? Scores a nine because I wanted a cutaway, but it wasn't an option.
Sound
:10
I had a lot of criteria for selecting my next guitar, until I heard the sound of the Taylor 110. After that, everything else just looked ordinary. It is very even, honey sweet, and very resonant. It really sings and if you want to play it that way, it is incredibly loud too. Can you score 40/10?
And plugged in, that Fishman pickup is absolutely outstanding.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:10
Faultless. The plastic headstock cover will probably not be to your liking, but the price of this instrument says they had to compromise somewhere, and it wasn't build quality or sound. And who needs solid wood joinery when laminate sounds like this?
Reliability/Durability
:9
Not a battle axe guitar, but then, those don't normally have the sound you want. Definitely suitable for a live gig. Built well enough to last for ages.
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Haven't needed them, but the word is that they are great.
Overall Rating
:10
I have been playing music for 20 years but have spent the last 4 focused on guitar. This is my first GOOD acoustic guitar. Most Aussies would go for a Maton when getting their first good quality instrument, and they are really good too. But it was the sound of this Taylor that I had to have. Taylor, I'm hooked...
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: US $479
Submitted 07/28/2004
at 11:00am
by Anonymous
Features
:9
Made in the USA, 2004. 20 fret Drednought, solid Sitka Spruce top, Tropical American Mahogany neck w/ Ebony fretboard, Sapele Laminate back and sides. Came with a gig bag, what more do you need?
Sound
:9
Sound is what brought me to this guitar. Granted, it doesn't have the sound of the Taylor 300+ series, but this thing outsang the comparable Martins I tried. Nice, bright sound with a punchy (not too deep or rumbly) bass. GREAT Dave Matthews sound, which is what I was after. I'd say it's definately a brighter sound than Martin guitars.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:9
Setup was pretty decent, action on the one I got I think is really good. Small knick on the headstock (probably due to other people playing it in the store), but I didn't care because this was the best of the 3 110's they had in the store. Other than that, everything was perfect.
Reliability/Durability
:No Opinion
just got this guitar, so I don't want to comment on reliability/durability.
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Haven't dealt with them.
Overall Rating
:9
I've been playing guitar for 9 years now, I own an Oscar Schmidt OG-2M acoustic and Fender Standard Telecaster. I've also owned in the past a Yamaha acoustic/electric (not sure what model, but lower-end), and an Ibanez AEL acoustic.
If this guitar was stolen or lost I'd be pretty mad! This was the best sounding out of the 3 they had in stock.
I compared this to the Taylor Big Baby and 214, and also the Martin DM, DX1, and 000X1. I did think the Taylor 214 was the best out of the bunch, but only marginally over the 110, and the price difference wasn't worth it for me. The Martins athough good, were too low-end heavy for me, and some of them had almost no midrange (perhaps overshadowed by the bass).
I would definately recommend the Taylor 110 to anyone looking for a great guitar in the $500 range.
I rate it a 9 overall for sound, feel, and value.
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: US $459.00
Submitted 07/11/2004
at 01:11am
by Anonymous
Features
:No Opinion
Same as what everyone else said.
Sound
:9
Its hard to describe. But the best way I can put it is this way. You know when you hear those cheap boom boxes at the department store with the big canister subwoofers, bright shiney tweeters, and colorful decor??? That is a good analogy for the sound of most below 600.00$ American made guitars (*cough* *cough* Martin). So you know how shocked I was to hear that this guitar had a very crisp tone, with each individual note picked. And a very defined bass, not a muddy boomy one. I was dead shocked that this guitar sounded so good, and it had old Elixers on it to boot (the nanowebs were crusty and yucky)! Once i changed the strings out, the guitar was very warm and had an "open" sound to it. Volume was not an issue, it can play at very loud volumes w/o any loss of clarity. VERY impressive.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:7
The action is pretty high for me, but with a tall saddle, comes that famous high action blue grassy sustain and volume...so I like that feature. The finish seems like it could have used more coats of laquer, it might be easy to scratch, but I'm pretty careful. It feels VERY light, and I get nervous with that, but all in all it seems quite durable structurally, but the lack of a back brace is a bit of a minus. I also don't care too much for the black plastic overlay on the headstock. I guess they were going for the simple understated look, but unless they would've done a pearl logo on it to contrast against the straight black, the headstock looks like its doesn't belong. But this thing could be bright pink for all I care, just as long as it sounds good!
Reliability/Durability
:8
Like I said the lack of back bracing makes me nervous, as does the weight. But when you have it in your lap it feels very sturdy and durable. I would always take my trusty, and indestructable, Yamaha FG340 with me as backup on a gig...but I take that darn thing everywhere. But, heck, I would feel just fine without a back up guitar.
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Never dealt with em.
Overall Rating
:No Opinion
I've been playing for 3-4 years. Other than this Taylor I only own Yamahas (which I think makes a fine 200.00 back-up, camping instrument). I like the fact that this guitar is so AWESOME sounding, and that it doesn't cost so much that you would be scared to take it on the road with you. The truth is, I think even without presenation quality instruments on your rack, the enthusiast would find this a very suitable instrument.
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: US $350
Submitted 05/16/2004
at 07:02pm
by Wesley
Email: wstout1 at yahoo<dot>com
Features
:7
2004 Taylor 110. Solid spruce top with sapele laminate back and sides with a satin finish in a Taylor gig bag. Plain no frills good quality acoustic guitar at a very affordable price for the quality.
Sound
:8
I looked at a lot of different guitars in this price range. There are suprisingly a lot of good options out there, many with all solid woods. The sound of the 110 is very much like a more expesive Taylor its not a $2000 guitar but still good sound if you like the Taylor sound. I'm not actually a big fan of that sound but at this price to get this good of a sound it really can't be beat.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:10
You will not find a better put together guitar than these for the price. I'm not a big fan of the sound of the Taylor's in general but even with that they are still probably the best put together and set up production guitar out there. The set up on this one is no different. The action is a nice medium-low action that I've found works well for most pleyers. The intonation is also about as good as you can get on any price range guitar. I've owned some way more expensive guitars that not near as much time was taken with the set up. The finish is a satin finish. I know that's not a favorite of many but its how these guitars are so affordable. All and all the 110 compares in this category with any guitar of any price range.
Reliability/Durability
:8
I haven't used this guitar to perform with yet. I am sure it will do very well. That's one reason I wanted this guitar to use in places I don't want to take a nicer guitar. I'm also a big fan of bolt on necks. The laminate woods are very good to stand up to humidity and temp changes also. The only problem with the durability will probably be the satin finish, but again that's how these things are so cheap. Over all these should provide many years of trouble free playing. I doubt a back up would be needed.
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Never dealt with the company but hear they are outstanding.
Overall Rating
:8
I've been playing for 12-14 years. I own a 1945 Gibson J-45, 1958 Gibson Southern Jumbo, a few cheaper guitars, a mandolin, banjo, etc and a whole lot of other stuff I can't play. If the 110 were lost or stolen I would miss it for a day or two. I might get another or might try to up the ante a couple hundred bucks and got something a little different. These aren't acoustics that you will be terribly in love with but are ones you will enjoy playing. All and all a great guitar for very little change
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: US $500
Submitted 04/17/2004
at 06:21pm
by Patrick Hatt
Email: patrickhatt at yahoo<dot>com
Features
:9
This is a 2003 Taylor 110GB acoustic. It has a solid top and is a dreadnought. The top is sapele and the the sides and back are sapele. I think anyway. It is a pretty plain plain guitar. There aren't any fancy pearloid designs or glossy finishes, which is why I like it. I was sort of dissapointed it came with a gigbag instead of a case like all the other Taylors. It's a real nice gigbag though.
Sound
:10
Great! One of the best acoustics I've ever heard, and I'm not lying. I'd say the sound of this guitar compares with guitars in the $1000-2000 price range. It has a very bright, clear tone. This is definetely the reason I bought the guitar. I don't think you can get a better sounding guitar for the money.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:9
This guitars Action, Fit & Finish is quite good, but not great. The action isn't bad. Not the lowest, but certainly not high. It seems to be made quite good. No flaws or anything. The finish, like I said, is very light. Which means it's easy to scratch. Though this is the reason I love the look of the guitar. I'm not into guitars that are real glossy. This 110, along with other Taylors, is very easy to play.
Reliability/Durability
:10
This guitar is easy to scratch, and has no bracing in the back. As a matter of fact, I put a huge brown scratch on it today. However, as for the quality and durability of the wood and make, It is wonderful. I would definetely gig without a back up.
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Never Dealt with them, though I've heard they have one of the best customer support services ever.
Overall Rating
:10
I've only been playing for about a year and a half. Therefore, I haven't owned or played a ton of guitars like some of these 40 year old players. However when I went to the music shop, I played a Dean, an Ibanez and a Martin all in the same price range, and then a $1000 Martin for shits and giggles. My Taylor blew all the $500-700 guitars out of the water and sounded just as good as the thousand dollar Martin! I love the sound, the quality and appearance of the guitar. If it were stolen, or broken, I'd definetely save up for another one. This guitar is awesome, and has an excellent price.
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: US $529
Submitted 04/05/2004
at 09:20am
by Ed
Features
:8
It's a 2004 model made in CA. You know the story of the specs. Staight acoustic drednought with a satin finish. Overall, all I need in an acoustic.
Sound
:10
Unbelievable sound. Bass, mid, treb, all come out loud and clear. I I could not find one that sounded better. Forget price, I'm talking sound. I played everything there was to play to make sure. This guitar competes with the big boys. In most cases, it sounds better than guitars 3 and 4 times the cost. Unbelievable bargain.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:10
Set up was perfect out of the box. Action is low and fast, neck fits perfectly in my hand. I love the satin finish.
Reliability/Durability
:No Opinion
I just got it, so I can't really say to much here, but everything looks sturdy and durable.
Customer Support
:No Opinion
No issues to this point.
Overall Rating
:10
All I can stay is the sound is breathtaking. I can't stop gushing about the sound. If you are in the market, don't pass up the Taylor 110. It's not about the price, it's all about the sound. I would replace it immediately if anything ever happened to it. Beats any guitar in the $500 - $1000 price range and matches or beats just about anything above $1000. Overall, it's just a wonderful guitar. Finish, action, and, oh yeah, SOUND!!!!
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: US $550 for guitar with gig bag
Submitted 03/28/2004
at 07:59pm
by feru33
Features
:8
It was made in the USA, although mass produced (not hnamdade at least in california) this guitar is great. Has a solid stika spruce top, with spruce that actually smells sooo sweet. The back and sides are laminate but hey we cant get everything for 550 bux. That back is also arched. There is an inlaid rossete and die cast tuner machines. The neck is mohogany with an ebony fret board with pearloid dots. It also has an ebony bridge and a satin finish that is absoluteley flaw-less (ussually comes with a red pick-gaurd). The guitar also comes strung with a set of elixer strings giving it a much ringier sound and longer shelf life ( i believe they are medium gauge im not sure). I give tis an 8 because its got no electronics and no cutaway ARG! and all and its just a plain acoustic, but what it offers is something u should take a look at! (cough cough, sound)
Sound
:10
although its just a plain acoustic guitar the sound is breathtaking. OMG, i picked up this guitar, and wow, the tone was incredible. sooo good. I just oculdnt stop playing it. I was initially looking for an acoustic electric and owned an ovation for a few weeks and man oh man did tat thing suck (ovation CC057). I guess i wanted an aocustic electric but began leaning for an acoutic. Man o man when i returned that guitar and played this beauty i was carried off my feet. I then began running extensive tests and comparisons with other guitars. For instance I wasnt very familiar with solid tops and laminate tops, but when i compared this taylor to a lminate top Ibanez AEF30 it blew it away. Then i was like "hey wut da heck, ill compare it to higher end guitars" Then i dont know what happend, maybe the strings were old or somehing but this taylor 110 sounded way better than the ones i tried in the 300s and 400s series. I mean it was just no contest. It had this unique sort of sound to it. Everything was perfectly balanced and it provides that bassy tone u always look for an acoustic. The chords ring clear on this baby as do single notes. The guitar is also very very dynamic. Yo can go from soft picking, to raging rockus flaminco freaky man, and u would probably fill a whole concert hall. In other words this thing could get pretty loud. I bought this guitar purely on sound, and it is the only one i would recommend fer the price range. Heck i'd evne say its sound is out of its price range. Just get it ! Especially if your one of those people thinking about an acoustic electric but not sure, get this acoustic, and youll forget about electronics. If your looking for an aocustic and you got either 550, or 1000, get this beauty. LET ME ALSO TELL U ANOTHER THING. If your chosing between a low end martin and this guitar, well i played the low end martins and believe me they sound like crap and are not worth the money, comparably. So go try this thing out and youll know why i spent so much time ranting on about it!
Action, Fit, & Finish
:9
The fit is great, the acoustic isnt huge, nor is it small. IN my opinion it is perfect! The finish is flawaless and the ebony paint on the neck and bridge is well done. No stary marks what-soever. The taylor come shipped with extremely low action (considering its an acoustic.) If you get it in the mail then youll probably notice that its not gonna get setup right. Cuz i tried 3 taylor (2 of thme being stock , brand new out of the box) and the ones that were brand new needed major truss rod adjustments. After that though it sounds great. One warning though. It does tend to buzz a bit especially when u strum hard. A set of lighter elixer strings, and maybe raising the saddle woul do it for those (hard strummin) guys. But hell i dont care, it still sounds great even with a bit of buzz, but that is always fixable.
Reliability/Durability
:9
From the opinions i've read this guitar will withstand the road, and live playing. The tuners seem firm and the construction seems solid, although i must warn you that Taylor removed a few braces on this model to make it sound more outstanding. The finish is also solid. You could definitely use this guitar to gig with, and dont need no backup cuz bringing a backup would do this guitar no justice! I got one compalint though. Judging from the store display modle it appears the ebony pain on the bridge may wear out after a while of use, but i heard this is natural on all guitars, especially if u dont clean your guitar. Same thing goes for the fingerboard, but my personal has none of these problems yet. Anyway from what i've heard this guitar is great durability, however i sitll got a case fer it. Dont watn anything happening to my PRECIOUS!
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Never dealt with them, but considering they are such a high end company they probably know what they're doing. Also, if they offer a life-time warranty (whihc they do) then they have to be great!
Overall Rating
:No Opinion
This guitar is uber awesome. Go try it and youll see what i mean. It may look plain and simple, but looks can be decieving. It's all about the sound man, and Martins? Pssshhh what a joke...
hope this helps.
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: N/A
Submitted 03/13/2004
at 12:53am
by Anonymous
Features
:7
Laminated wood guitar by Taylor. There attempt to blow away the competition in this price catagory. They suceeded. Nothing fancy but all you need. Picked one up the music store and was impressed.
Sound
:10
Nuclear depth charge of clear punchy bass. Balanced sound. Kerchunks and finger picks well. As another reviewer wrote, I've often been disappointed when trying out Martins. They are great sounding guitars, but those bronze martin strings are dead as they corrode on the rack. Taylor on the other hand always puts Elixers on which lasts for months on the rack. Martin are force to market their own strings to their loss. I personally believe Martin loses lots of sales because the sheen of the Elixers (on Taylors) sound so great when compared directly with rusty Martins on their guitars. Duh?
Action, Fit, & Finish
:10
Sweet
Reliability/Durability
:10
It's a Taylor
Customer Support
:9
Heard great stuff, good past experices too.
Overall Rating
:10
Best dreadnaught on planet earth for under 500 bucks, period.
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: US $469
Submitted 12/29/2003
at 07:44pm
by Anonymous
Features
:9
Everyone else has laid down the specs, so I'll defer to them. Same as everyone else, and made in the USA!
Sound
:10
I like to play rock, from the beatles, to the rolling stones, even oasis and ben harper. I'm a fan of dave matthews band, (less and less with each passing day) and I really never understood why he played Taylors until I played this guitar. I never realized that an acoustic guitar could sound like this. I own an Ibanez PF4, which sounds like crap, and when I tried out guitars, I mostly stuck to Martins, even Epi's and Yahamas. They all sounded the same, including the Martins. I honestly believe that CF Martin & company must be keeping their good guitars in a warehouse somewhere, because every single one that I played at guitar center sounded alike, and they all sounded like just any other acoustic guitar. there was nothing extraordinary about them. Or maybe that's just the Martin sound. I played a few, including the HD-28 and the D-15, and neither one sounded like the same type of instrument as the 110. If this is what Taylor produces for their low end, I'm never buying a house, and I'll put all of that money into Taylor guitars. I've heard other people say that their guitar "sang" to them when they first played it, and it's true. This guitar sang to me like no other guitar has. It has completely changed my playing style, and I find myself wanting to play nothing but acoustic. You can play softly and still get clear sound out of it. You can also put some more muscle into it and really make the guitar ring. Plus, it's got such a great tone that I just can't imagine anyone buying anything but Taylor.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:10
I played this guitar at Guitar Center, and the setup was already perfect. I couldn't find a flaw on it. I played a few, but this was the one for me.
Reliability/Durability
:8
It's light, and it's got the satin finish, so I'll definitely be careful with it. Instead of the T-gig bag, I upgraded to a molded hardshell case, so I'll take this guitar with me wherever I play, but she should be well protected. I'll gig without a backup because my other acoustic wouldn't do this guitar justice as a backup.
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Haven't dealt with them. Heard they're good.
Overall Rating
:10
I've been playing for about five years. I play a Telecaster, as well as a Stratocaster, an Ibanez AF75 Hollowbody Electric, an Ibanez GSR100 Bass, and hopefully soon an Epi '67 Flying V. I researched and compared this guitar extensively, as well as playing a bunch of guitars, both in and above my price range. I wouldn't have bought a different guitar, even if price were no issue. I love this guitar and I'd sell whatever I had to if I had to replace it.
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: 820 (Euro)
Submitted 12/02/2003
at 11:02am
by Maarten
Email: mmf_6pac at yahoo<dot>co<dot>uk
Features
:7
See other reviews
Sound
:9
I play strumming and flatpicking with elixir 0.53/0.12 strings.
I like the sound of the 110 very much. I's warm, open and it has the taylor crisp of its more expensive brothers. I just adore the bass, when you play an open E string, it's so beautiful, very 'present' although never boomy. The balance between the strings is exceptionnal (considering it's price). I've built in a fishman natural II pickup, and the 110 sounds nice amplified.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:8
The action was very good. My 110 was equipped with 0.11 elixir strings, I've changed them to 0.12. The finish is nice considering its price. When you compare it to a Taylor 614, 714 etc, it's rather basic and sobre but it definetly has class.
Reliability/Durability
:8
It's well contructed, I'll definetly gig with it.
Customer Support
:No Opinion
No idea, Taylor has an excellent reputation so I don't think there will be any problems.
Overall Rating
:9
I've been playing guitar for 9 years now. I used to play electric, but +- a year ago I bough me a decent acoustic guitar and I love playing acoustic now. I seldom take my Fender Strat nowadays, I've become more of a purist I think. ;-)
I used to play on a Seagull S6 +EQ which was an excellent guitar for it's price. I work in a music store and we have a large acoustic guitar basement with taylor, larrivee, santa cruz, lakewood, simon & patric, takamine, seagull, norman, etc. It used to be very hard to find a guitar around 1000 euro which sounded way better than a seagull (which was my reference point). If you can spend upto 1500 euro, there are better choices than the Taylor 110. Personnaly I would go for a Larrivee D04. If your budget is around 1000 euro the taylor 110 is in my opninion the best choice. I've compared it with Larrivee OM1 & 3, Larrivee L03, Lakewood D1 and I like the taylor more. The Taylor 214 is also very good but when you amplify it you're going to lose it's superior bass cause amplify jumbo's is very hard. In the end, the 110 is an excellent buy. Don't expect the sound of (my dreamguitars...) a taylor 614CE, 712 CE or Santa Cruz TR but you'll get a really nice, warm, open and honest sounding guitar.
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: US $525.00
Submitted 11/07/2003
at 08:21am
by Tom
Features
:9
specs have already been covered by previous reviews, except I will say that the tunning pegs are metal. Spruce top is very nice, mine has some definite character to it.
Sound
:10
This is were the big difference comes in. I, like many others did alot of research including comparison with other manufacturers including Martin. I played guitars costing 3x's as much. However the first time I picked it up it sang to me with a bright, clean, loud bell like tone that was nothing short of amazing. I was originally wanting to buy a guitar that was a show piece with fret board inlays, solid wood and AAAA top but WOW this guitar sounded amazing. I ordered one after playing it because the Guitar Center were I live could not kep them in stock
Action, Fit, & Finish
:9
Fret groves were cut deeper than fret size. Action is just a bit high for my small hands but I put on light gauge strings and that helped. No fret buzz even with light strings. However, overall a plain but beautiful guitar with great construction.
Reliability/Durability
:9
This guitar stays at home so I really dont know but construction is great so I would not be worried to gig with it.
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Not sure, I hear they are a great company with excellent customer service.
Overall Rating
:10
I have been playing guitar as a pro and a hobbiest for over 25yrs. Currently I would consider my self a collecter. I Have owned dozens of guitars from cheap pieces to top of the line custom shop stuff. I truly believe unless you are looking for a show peice, a guitar does'nt have to cost in the thousands to be great. I have owned many Japanes and Korean models that are truly awsome instruments. The stuff coming out of Korea today in the $500.00 range is top of the line in most cases. Sorry for the rant but I get really tired of guitar snobs making the guitar buying public think they need to buy a 2,000 instrument to get quality, its just not true. This is the case with the Taylor Guitar except that you not only get a damn fine sounding instrument at a price that most can afford it is also made in Amarica, an added bonus.
Product: Taylor Guitars 110 Price Paid: US $429.00
Submitted 11/05/2003
at 02:20am
by Danny Morris
Email: dannymorris<at>peoplepc dot com
Features
:10
Brand new 2003 model made in USA. I won't get into ALL of the features since they have been well covered by other users.I've seen other people complain about the tuners. They seem fine to me. They keep it tuned very well. Maybe I just got lucky. I will be changing them however. But only for looks. I'm going to add gold Grovers with ebony buttons. One thing I was surprised about was the fact that the truss rod adjustment was in the headstock. I've never seen a 110 like this. Every one I've seen has been in the soundhole. No complaints though. I prefer it this way. Now I can get a nice custom cover to put on it. Taylor gig bag was included.
Sound
:10
Wow! Absolutely awesome sound! It fits my acoustic style(s)perfectly. I do a little flat picking,a little finger style, and ofcourse strumming. And it handles it all extremely well. I have absolutely no complaints about the sound, I couldn't really ask for anymore in that department. Taylor sound all the way!