Taylor Guitars 310-CE

This review might be of interest to those coming from electric, with no previous acoustic experience. Before this guitar I had never even picked up an acoustic before. I bought this without trying the competition because it had been so highly recommended.

Features: 9
You've read it all before, so I won't go into that. Suffice to say there are not many completely solid acoustics for this kind of money. Shame its so much more expensive in the UK (like everything) than it is in the states.

Sound: 9
Again, as has been said before, the tone is lovely. Again, most likely the result of the solid wood construction. Maybe not quite as wonderful as I was expecting, but then, as I say, I have never played an acoustic before.

Action, Fit, & Finish: 7

Yes 7! Don't get me wrong. I'm sure (or I assume from the reviews here) that the action is fine compared to other acoustics. But after 10 years playing an electric (currently a Les Paul) the action sucks. I find this guitar so hard to play. My fingers are aching as I type. Even with a set of 10s on the guitar (it came with 12s) the tension is mega high compared to an electric, and the action is around double that of my Les Paul. I expected a #1000 acoustic to be lower. I guess that just isn't possible, but I can't help but feel dissappointed. It's certainly not an easy guitar to play! Maybe it is easier than other cheaper acoustics, but it still isn't easy to play. A Les Paul is easy to play.

The finish? Well it's beautiful. Simple. Very Simple. But the woods used just look fantastic. Lovely rosewood on the head stock, lovely mahogany on the neck and body. Nice bit of spruce on the top, and the fingerboard is quite nice too. I'd have preferred the frets to be higher.

Setup? Well as I say I didn't like the 12s at all. The fact that they were old and tired was beside the point. Once I replace them, adjusted the truss rod, and cleand the dust off the thing, it was better, but still not easy.

Reliability/Durability: N/A

I've only had it a couple of days.

Customer Support: N/A

As I say, I've been playing electric for years. Currently through my trusty Les Paul Classic, through a Mesa Boogie Recto-Verb combo. So I'm obviously a tone freak. And the Taylor does provide great tone, good looks, lovely woods, etc. for the money. But I can't hide my dissappointment. This guitar, in electric terms (my terms), is far from easy to play. It takes a lot of effort to keep the strings from buzzing, and to fight that high action. You really have to work at it. With a good electric, you don't even have to think about it.

So there you go.

this puppy is 2000 taylor 310ce, with the fishman blender system, not the basic prefix system. 20 frets on an ebony fretboard, and ebony bridge (yummy). The blender system produces a splendid acoustic tone in both live and recording situations. I like being able to have the internal mic set all the way over when recording....every little nuance of picking is heard, and the saddle transducer is great for live situations. The guitar sounds HUGE and CLEAR, especially with an Alesis MEQ230 and Behringer Modulizer Pro going into a PA. I'm loving this guitar...i'm almost tempted to get another one just like it, but without a pickup. I've got an LR Baggs Dual Source system just waiting to be put into another fine acoustic instrument. Perhaps a 310c, not ce. SKB Hardshell included. I'll never let go of this instrument unless I can get an incredible deal on a James Olson or a 25th aniv Taylor :)

I play mostly acoustic fingerstyle and some rhythm playing with it. I run it into an Alesis MEQ230, Behringer Modulizer Pro, and sometimes a Peavey Ecoustic 112, though i'm planning on getting a Roland AC-100. Those are the Cadillac of Acoustic amps. If i wanted a Rolls Royce, i'd get the Fishman Acoustic performer-all 270 watts of it :) Rich and Full sound, clear as day.

Came to me right off the floor in near perfect condition. I had to tighten the front strap button a couple times to account for my strap not being so loose. But it's a great guitar too. Thank you Taylor for building such a fine instrument.

I play regularly with it without a backup, because I'm selling my old acoustic so i might be able to afford another Taylor as a backup, or as a differently tuned guitar (DADGAD or some such tuning).

Never dealt with Taylor before, but i imagine from all the other comments i've heard about they're pretty darn good.

playing for about 3 years now, and i'll be playing this guitar until it gets either destroyed (oh NO!) or stolen. Heck....I can't complain about this guitar. It's incredible. For the price, i can't go wrong anymore. I might order another one through the mail next time...i could've paid less for mine, but the company i deal with always gives me good prices on other stuff i can't find mail order. If it had anything more, well, i wouldn't know what to do with it. The Blender system electronics are superb, and the guitar is an impeccable player. Big and clear sounding. It screams "Come play me." And I play :)

This guitar has 19 frets and is a musician's dream. It's made of spruce and mahogany and will never let you down on looks. Some may describe it as a "sexy" guitar. This acoustic has electronic that are so clear you'd think you were in heaven. The neck is of average thickness. This guitar also has a Venetian cutaway for easy access to the high frets. In most purchases this axe comes with a Taylor SKB case. It has everything an acoustic needs.

Right now I'm playing a lot of Oasis like tunes through it. I'm temporarily using a Marshall amp, which is for electrics, and it still sounds beauitiful. It has a very crisp sound that sounds great through amps or unplugged. I personally think the guitar is very easy to play and it sounds great!

There was not a single flaw in the guitar. I only wish the whole thing was glossy, front and back.Otherwise, everything is great.Perfect construction!

The finish will last forever. I'd bring this to a gig by itself anytime! Very dependable and it won't fall off your shoulder. Though it is a hollow body of course so it is vulnerable to holes.

N/A.Never dealt with them.My uncle has and he says they are of great help.

I've been playing five years atleast.I've played over 500 guitars and this is the best acoustic I've played.I highly reccomend one.Please contact me if you have any questions.I'll respond A.S.A.P.!

This guitar is a 1999 Taylor 310-CE, custom made in El Cajon, CA with an LR Baggs RT system substituted for the Fishman Prefix (so there are no controls, and no hole cut in the side of the guitar, producing a better acoustic sound). It's an all solid wood guitar, spruce top, sapele sides, mahogany neck with an ebony fretboard. Came with the Taylor SKB case, strap pin installed, medium strings.

The sound is unbelievable. I strum a lot, leading praise for my Christian fellowship, and the guitar just shines. I play it through a PA system (a Mackie amp, some Yamaha speakers), and the LR Baggs system sounds great, some have said better than Fishman. Gotten lots of good reviews from people who have heard it. It has a very full sound, solid mid and low range, sustains tone for a very long time. If you yell into the sound hole, you hear the whole guitar resonate - it's simply an absolutely beautiful sounding guitar. I did, however, have a problem with a little fret buzz with the stock strings, I think this is either because they weren't stretched out or the action is a bit low. However, after changing strings this problem has disappeared. Also, since there's no volume control, there is a slight hum when the guitar is plugged in, but this is solved easily through the mixing board or through an outboard preamp.

The action was great, almost as easy to play as an electric, with it's low action and thin neck. The pickup works wonderfully. I would definitely suggest looking into swapping out the stock pickup for this one. The finish is great. I like that gloss top paired with a satin finish. A very well constructed guitar, looks like it'll last a long time.

This guitar's been played in a live setting a little less than once a week, and it's held up really well. No problems plugging it in, very few adjustments needed to be made. Hardware seems very durable, finish is great, strap buttons are very sturdy. I have no worries when using this guitar, except the chance that the pickup could run out of batteries (You can only change batteries when you change strings.)

Taylor is an excellent company - every dealing I've had with them has been wonderful. They responded to emails in a timely manner, answered my questions, sent me info, and were overall very courteous. Lifetime warranty - they fix anything that breaks except wearing down of frets and tuners. But any neck adjustments, wood cracks, whatever - it's all covered.

I've been playing for three years now, and this guitar will last me a long time. It's very versatile, especially for the style I play (Christian, Rock), and it's just a great guitar. I've also got a Peavey Predator and a small Peavey amp. If it was stolen or lost, I'd definitely go get another, with the same features. I love this guitar's tone, feel, look, and playability. I compared this with the Guild DCE-1, Martin DCME, Takamine FP-360SC, and the Taylor 314CE, and it seemed to fit me the best, had the best overall value, and was just a great guitar. Definitely a good purchase.

The 310CE features a glossy spruce top and satin sapele sides and back. It comes with Fishman Prefix electronics. The fretboard is ebony with 20 frets. I enjoy the cutaway greatly because I prefer to play lead guitar. It has a thin neck which is nice, yet there is plenty of room for your fingers on the fretboard. I did not get mine with the case that it is sold with. That's why I got mine so cheap. I did purchase an SKB case later though.

I tried probably about 25 different guitars before picking this one up. I always heard that some guitars will just hit you, and you'll immediately realize that this is the guitar for you. I never believed it until I picked this guitar up. I prefered this guitar over the Martins and the Takamines I was trying. I love the sound. Ever since I started playing this, I hate playing other people's acoustics because they just do not seem to compare. No other acoustic I have played resonates like mine. I even prefer the 310CE to the higher models in the Taylor line. I did have to adjust the truss rod, but I think that was for my own preferences.

The factory settings were fine, but I was adventurous and messed around with the truss rod. I don't know how much of a change I made. The body is a nice fit and seems a little thinner than other bodies. I like the finish a lot. I did not want a laminated finish because it seemed to me that it took away from the sound. The glossy face of the guitar is very nice and doesn't take away from the beautiful sound.

I love my guitar to death, so I am very, very careful in handling it. Whenever my friends handle it, I cringe at their treatment even though they don't damage it. The pickguard has a few superficial scratches, but that's just because sometimes I like to hit my strings hard. I wash the fretboard with a damp cloth and wipe down the body whenever I change the strings. This guitar is very reliable and durable.

Limited lifetime warranty for original owner of guitar

I love the 310CE. I must warn you, though. You will dislike all other acoustics if you have this guitar. I would not trade this for any other acoustic. I had to call around to try to get a lower price but I got it down to $850, which was about $100 lower than Guitar Center's "big sale" price. If someone stole it, I would swear really loud! Then I'd save up the money again. It's definitely worth the price.

The 310CE is made by Taylor Guitars in El Cajon, CA. This all wood dreadnought guitar features a glossy spruce top with satin finished sapele sides and back. The sapele is very similar to other mahoganies in tone, but it is quite different in appearance. The guitar has a single cutaway with Fishman Prefix electronics built into the guitar. The fret board and bridge are both ebony. The neck itself is fairly thin, a feature I appreciate since my hands are just average in size making it easier to play. The tuners are chrome Grovers, and the 310CE comes with a nice hardshell case (SKB).

I like the sound of this guitar. I have played on and off for several years, and my opinion is a bit colored by the fact that I have played a lot of cheaper guitars. My main interest is in fingerpicking and I find the 310CE is wonderful for that purpose. The guitar rings really clear and full in this style. I usually use light gauge strings like the Elixirs so my next comment may be colored by that fact. I find the 310CE starts to lose some of its great qualities when being used as a rhythm instrument. Maybe its just me, but when I strum harder the sound seems to breakdown just a bit. However, this may be my playing ability combined with being too close to the sound to really "hear". Remember the 310CE is meant to be played with medium gauge strings. I'm just starting to play with some medium strings and I do notice the difference in response in the guitar. It's not a Martin D-28, but I still love the sound quality. I was blown away when the guitar instructor I had plugged it into his PA system and started playing away (fingerstyle). I think he was impressed too. I went out and bought a Crate CA-60 to go with the guitar. It also sounds great through the Crate.

The action was perfect for me. It is the first guitar I've had that I felt I wasn't having to "work" so hard on the neck. I just wanted to play and play on this one. I noticed some other comments about the end pin being loose, but mine appears fine (but I don't use it that much). I found the sapele to have an appealing look to it, but I'm not sure everyone would feel the same way. To be honest, I'm impressed with whole setup and finish of the guitar.

The 310CE is constructed well enough to stand up to everyday use. I think some would be concerned about the satin finish on the sides and back of the guitar. I was bit concerned when I first looked at satin finishes, but now I don't consider that an issue. Again I can't speak for the strap pin/plug because I haven't had any problems. The case hinges seem to be bending out a bit from opening and closing over time. No problems with the electronics, the Fishman system seems to work very well.

There is a lifetime warranty on all Taylor guitars. I have had a great experience with Taylor. I've requested information from them and received prompt personal replies. I even visited the new factory for a short 30 minutes tour when I was in San Diego. Once you own a Taylor you automatically get a subscription to their publication, Wood & Steel. Nice folks

Here's my story: I took up guitar late in high school and played through college(typical I guess). I have played on and off for many years, more off than on. Somewhere here in my mid-life crisis I decided I need to play again, and so here I am now. I absolutely love this guitar. I think it is one of the best guitars for the price. I played quite a few different guitars over a year or two before I got this one. I always thought I wanted a Martin only, but this guitar changed my mind. My heart would be broken if it were stolen, but I'd find a way to get another just like it.

This was part of the new 1998 entry line Taylor introduced. It is all solid wood w/ a spruce top and sapele back and sides. Sapele looks and sounds very similar to mahogany but instead of coming from Honduras or N America, it comes from Africa. Apparently, this wood is much more affordable than regular mahogany since the 300 series are priced well below the 500 series. The neck is American mahogany and the fretboard and bridge are ebony. Its the standard cutaway dreadnought shape with the 25 1/2" scale neck, 20 fret setup. It also has a fishman pickup/active preamp system with controls for volume, bass, parametric mid and treble. It has a gloss finish for the soundboard and satin for the back and sides. The tuners are Gotoh(?) and are quite have making the neck slightly neck heavy.

The sound is incredible. I prefer solid mahogany back and sides for dreadnoughts rather than rosewood (however, I prefer Brazilian rosewood on grand concert size guitars). It give a nice full bottom sound without sacrificing the top end clarity that I don't seem to hear with rosewood dreadnoughts. Even with relatively light strings (I use .011-.052 gauge strings), the sound is huge. I tried the Martin DM and D1 series that were in the same or above price range and they didn't sound quite as good. The top end clarity is not quite as good as some guitar I have tried but those didn't sound nearly as good on the bottom end as this does. Ya can't have it all.

Action is about as good as any acoustic guitar I have tried. Finish is excellent but I don't think Taylor is consistent in this category. I tried another one of these before I settled on the one I bought, and the finish on that one had some flaws around the soundhole. The wood looks great. The sapele grain looks a bit stronger than Honduras Mahogany. It doesn't look quite as good but I still like the looks.

The bridge & saddle(?) looks like it is going to wear down quite fast. I already see signs wear on both the bridge and saddle. Since I change strings quite often and I'm kinda concerned about that. The finish seems very durable and I'm glad Taylor uses a gloss top since I think it may be a bit more duable than satin. The input jack seems to come loose too easily, though. Would I gig with it without a backup? I wouldn't gig with any guitar without a backup but I could depend on this one as much as any others I have owned.

They seem good. Sending in the warranty information, you get what seems to be a personalized letter with answers to your questions or concerns that you wrote in the comments section. They also include info on how to take care of your guitar. I still have to call them regarding the saddle and bridge.

I started playing when I as 13 and quit playing at 25. I used to be pretty good at electric guitar but was never good at acoustic. When I turned 31, I decided I wanted to play again, but this time, on acoustic since I discovered Doyle Dykes (who could give lessons to Eddie Van Halen on right hand harmonics), Adrian Legg, Andy York and many others. Six years off has really hurt me. Really didn't know much about acoustics but trying a whole bunch in $800-$1000 price range (my price range), this was the best guitar for me. It has a cutaway, electronics, great playability and it sounds great. It sounds better to me every day I play it. Now that I've been playing for 3 months again, I know much more about acoustics and I would still buy this same model again if it were stolen. In maybe a couple of years from now, when I my finger picking was reached the level where I can whip out a Doyle Dykes tune, I may trade this in and get a Grand Auditorium size guitar since the fretboard is slightly wider. But right now this is the perfect guitar for me. I also bought a Baby Taylor so I have something to play with at work or take with me on impromptu jam sessions.