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Taylor Guitars 310-CE

Summary
Price New Taylor Guitars 310-CE @ Musician's Friend
Manufacturer URL http://www.taylorguitars.com/
Features 8.8 (32 responses)
Sound 9.5 (34 responses)
Action, Fit, & Finish 8.8 (31 responses)
Reliability/Durability 8.5 (30 responses)
Customer Support 8.6 (17 responses)
Overall Rating 9.3 (32 responses)
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Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: SA Rand 30000
Submitted 08/09/2009 at 09:59am by Mungo

Features : 9
I went for the 310 as I wasn't overly impressed with the electronics on the ce. The 310 is the most wonderful guitar. It play beautifully, has lots of character and a strong bottom. The overtones and harmonics have blown me way.
I installed a L R Baggs iMix pickup which is fantastic. It is clear and accurate and allows to to set a contour which balances both pickups with little wheels in the sound hole for adjustment on the fly. Combined with the L R Baggs Para DI I have yet to hear a guitar that compares with it.

Sound : 10
I use it for praise and worship and when left in the lurrch by team members it more than holds it own as the only instrument for congregational singing. The resonance and sustain give it a really full sound

Action, Fit, & Finish : 7
I had a fairly serious action setup done - some of the higher frets (18th and 19th) had to be filed down a bit and it took a bit of tweaking to sort out buzzing on the 2nd and 3rd frets when using a capo. Once done the action and feel are perfect.

Reliability/Durability : 10
It looks like it will last a long time. It is ight to handle but really solidly made. I make sure I use a planetwaves guitar humidifier in the dry months.

Customer Support : No Opinion

Overall Rating : 10
I have been playing for forty years and this is the best guitar I have ever bought. My favourite prior to buying this one was a 1980 USA made Guild (also fitted with an L R Baggs pickup). It served me really well but the freshness and spark of the Taylor has given my guitar playing a new lease on life. It was a bit pricey but you get what you pay for.


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: USD 1,800
Submitted 02/12/2009 at 06:18am by alvin

Features : 9
...2003 Model
...Made in USA
...Solid Top
...Fishman Prefix Pro
...Sapele back and sides
...solid sitka spruce top
...ebony fingerboard
...dreadnought w/ cutaway
I think this particular model is limited because most of the 3 series taylors that I have seen (and any other series as well) comes with Taylors signature electronic system which is the ES.
Mine is having Fishman Prefix Pro and I just love the sound and pick-up response that its giving. Very versatile, although it does not come with a tuner.

Sound : 10
When I first played the guitar, I was not that convinced because my first choice was a Martin. I am more on the Bassy side that is why, and taylor is more of brilliance. Although everyone else around me says that the guitar sounds nice whenever I play, I still was seeking for a particular sound which is seemingly not coming out from this guitar. However, while playing consistently over time, I have noticed a dramatic change in the sound. Bass response was inceased not leaving the innate natural brilliance. Now it sounds perfect for me. And I swear, I cannot think of any guitar that can replace this my life! I can say that the sound is well balanced all through out. Brilliance and bass punch blends so well that you do not have to strike the strings hard in order to achieve your sound of desire. I am still looking forward to have a Martin though because I want to see what It has to offer to me.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
Action as for me, cannot be set or defined by anyone else than the person who is going to use the guitar. I have tried a lot of good/comfortable playing guitars but still, my hands seek for a particular smoothness and string height that suites my style of playing and kind of music. From the box, action was quite high as for me. It comes with .12 gauge Elixir strings. Thick indeed but surprisingly the playability was comfortable. Hence, I had to set the action of my desire. I find this normal and so I am giving a perfect score. Construction was perfect. No flaws, no scratches whatsoever.

Reliability/Durability : 10
I have used this on a lot of gigs already and as I can see, this can last forever as long as proper maintenance is observed. The wood finish is just enough to make the guitar to last.

Customer Support : 10
I bought this from a taylor distributor in Thailand. The owner was quite hesitant to show all his stocks because as I can see from him, he just wanted to make sure that I know how to handle such prestige guitars and that I am no bystander. That is so OK with me because from there, I felt that his stocks are well kept and maintained because no one can just go sit there and grab and play whatever axe he wants to. It gave an idea that when I leave the doors of his store I am gonna come out with a virgin guitar! Although he was kinda rude at the start, It is still fine because I know what I want and I know that we will meet somewhere someway smiling and contented. Sorry but I did not care about the warranty. "This is more becoming a blog entry"

Overall Rating : 10
Perfect for me...


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted 07/06/2007 at 01:27am by Thomas

Features : 9
Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides. Actually its Sapale a cheaper type of Mahogany. Fret board is Ebony. Grover tuners (nice tuners, these are becoming standard on higher end acoustics) a Taylor built in pickup. Cut away body style, comes with own case. I'm giving it a 9... its a simple setup with great wood choice and none of the inlays/frills that are added to expensive models.

Sound : 10
Here's where I'm hooked. I played one of these after seeing my voice teacher play one and other musicians around my area. The bass on this guitar comes out really full, I think its due to the curved back. With the elixer strings the top end has a crisp to it. I have not played it plugged in so I can't comment on that. Guitar has good volume acoustically. Probably not a lot of different tone options in an acoustic... thats why people tend to look around a lot more for the perfect one.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
I think most people would agree that Taylors have a lower finish. Good action, not to hard on the finger tips. I'm sure since its a lower level Taylor that some guitars might have finish imperfections but the one I checked out was solid and free of any flaws. Just make sure you look your guitar over, its part of the audition process.

Reliability/Durability : No Opinion

Customer Support : No Opinion

Overall Rating : 9
I've been in music for 5/6 years. I own mostly value priced instruments, I tend to go for for sound than cosmetics. If it were stolen I would look around at other Taylors. I've been looking around for a few week for a reasonibly priced higher end acoustic. I've played a 1974 vintage martin D35 that I thought would put this guitar to shame and another taylor 610 made in 1988. The Martin was really bassy, over time the age made it really mellow but it had low volume and poor mids. I was ready to buy it and was disapointed when I tried it out. The other Taylor was much nicer and I'm still considering going for it but its in fair condition and the guitar owner didn't humidify it or do much upkeep. I doubt that this (310ce) guitar will appreciate much in value or become a collector's piece, but I've started to figure out that it's not all price or reputation.To me this guitar outplays and sounds better than the dozens of other guitars I've looked at so far.


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: USD 1499.99
Submitted 03/27/2007 at 06:12pm by Mr. Pickles

Features : 10
Its gotta purdy mouth!

Sound : 10
It sounds like a Pudry song!

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
Its Tighter than my sister on prom night... well before pa's done with her!

Reliability/Durability : 10
Its as reliable and Durable as Burt Reynolds Mustache!

Customer Support : 10
Well I reckon that I wouldn't usually use it to stand on but it probably would if I did!

Overall Rating : 10
I've played this guitar for years. Taylor is Hands down the best. This guitar is Elegant the exterior isn't flashy but the craftmanship gives it a bueaty unsurpassed. The 301-CE has a sound that gets better over time I write a new song everytime I pick it up. Many guitars (i.e. Breedlove Dean some same price level Martins)tone worsen over time it is the perfect balance of highs and lows that age sweeter over time. Everytime you pick it up at home or go up on stage people know your a serious musician and "A serious Musician Requires a serious Guitar". Taylor Guitars: We have what every other guitar and guitar makes lacks.... BALZ!!!


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: USD 1114
Submitted 11/02/2006 at 01:35pm by JYN

Features : 9
Solid wood construction, Gloss spruce top, satin Sapele back & sides
Grover tuners, Fishman Prefix Plus electronics (2001 Model)
Venetian cutaway, scalloped X-bracing

Sound : 10
Beautiful full rich sound, plugged and unplugged. String balance is pretty good, not quite as good as my Gibson J-45. My number one guitar for acoustic solo work. Also owned a Taylor 514ce, but liked and used this one more.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
Here is where Taylor really shines. Top notch. The neck is perfect and it plays like a dream.

Reliability/Durability : 8
I've owned this guitar for almost 5 years and it has been solid. I did have to have the pickup replaced after 4 years. The finish has held up very well, but I do take good care of it.

Customer Support : 9
The pick-up replacement was not covered under the warranty. I did have a warranty repair from Taylor with my 514ce, and they took care of the problem fairly quickly.

Overall Rating : 10
For the money, this is and excellent guitar which has held up well after 5 years of use. It's easy to play and sounds great, and I'd have to say the feel of the neck is my favorite feature. I had been playing Martin's, which I still enjoy, but wanted to add a Taylor for the tone and playability.


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted 12/22/2005 at 01:49pm by Donnie Mills

Features : 10
I purchased a Taylor 310-CE about 3 years ago and it plays like it did when I first put it into my hands. I have had many local and Nashville based musicians play it and they always comment how great it plays and sounds. It is a botom end Taylor, but I like the action and sound on it better than the high end Taylors that I have played. Bravo Taylor, for a great instrument and TOTAL Customer Service that has been given me by the Company. I will never play another brand of guitar!
Donnie Mills

Mobile, AL

Sound : No Opinion

Action, Fit, & Finish : No Opinion

Reliability/Durability : No Opinion

Customer Support : No Opinion

Overall Rating : No Opinion


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: US $1200 used
Submitted 11/14/2005 at 06:52pm by John

Features : 9
I believe they have been detailed by other submitters. As compared to other EA guitars I would give it a 9...a built in turner would rate a 10.

Sound : 10
This is an incredible sounding guitar especially when played thru a good PA. Taylor has done it's job....

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
This is why I'm sending this review: anyone who is willing to spend a thousand plus dollars on this guitar or any guitar should really READ TAYLOR's DOCUMENTATION on humidity control. One of the previous submitter's (2001) realy slamed Taylor...if the action was not set correctly they should not have bought the guitar. Musical instruments that are made of real wood need real care. If the action is an 1/2 inch high then the guitar is "wet" and has too much humidity...and no matter how much you adjust the truss road you won't get it down. If you don't like the action of a guitar don't buy it or get the dealer to adjust it before you agree to the purchase. My guitar was and is in good shape...and I intend keep my RH around 40 like Taylor recommends.

Reliability/Durability : 10
So far it has been very durrible compare to previous guitar's I've owned.

Customer Support : No Opinion
N/A

Overall Rating : No Opinion
I've been playing for 30 years and currently play blues, folk and country. My main weapon is a 1990 Fender Strat Plus played thru an IPod into a Mesa Boogie F-30 for clean tube sound. I've started to play mellower music and so the Taylor is a perfect fit. There are more expensive guitars...buy a watch if you want a peice of jewerly. The Taylor 310 gives you more for your money as compared to Martin...don't get me wrong I really like Martin's but they the 310 compares to the D-28 vs the D-16 in the same price range.


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: US $1223
Submitted 08/01/2005 at 06:08pm by Greg Raposo

Features : No Opinion

Sound : 10
Beautiful...

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
When I bought the guitar 4 months ago it was in perfect condition..

Reliability/Durability : 5
This guitar did not withstand live playing for me.. I treat my guitar well and keep it in it's hard case as much as possible. During soundcheck this past weekend I noticed there was a crack by the head stock of my guitar. This guitar is my baby and this discovery killed me. Obviously noticable new taylors have those ridges that connect the head and the neck of the guitar. That is exactly where the guitar cracked. I don't know it happened but I'm sending it in to Taylor to see if it makes it for the warranty. My fingers are crossed but I thought I throw the info out there because I'm just not so sure about the new way they are making their guitars.

Customer Support : 9
Taylor was very helpful when I called. I had left them a message because no one answered and this morning they called me back to my surprise. They sent me an e-mail with the info I needed to send them my guitar. Hopefully they will be just as kind with the warranty.

Overall Rating : 8


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: US $1200.
Submitted 12/17/2004 at 09:15am by Mikee
Email: mpcline at alltel<dot>net

Features : No Opinion
Like the 310 ce-great sound-2003 model-quality not as good as I expected..Jack pin loose already--very hard to get to and tighten.
Sound excellent but notice when a company gets bigger quality starts to be compromised. Fishman kewl-tuners kewl-spruce top-mogh. sides
Hope Taylor can maintain quality control..Good parts need to make sure their assembled properly..Mikee

Sound : 8

Action, Fit, & Finish : No Opinion
action good--parts not assembled properly electronics (jack already loose..)

Reliability/Durability : No Opinion
REmains to be seen..

Customer Support : No Opinion

Overall Rating : 5
24 years--several electrics-acoustics-dobro-bass- etc.
Like the sound--hate the lack of durability.


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: 1200 (pounds)
Submitted 04/06/2004 at 06:18am by Con Curtis

Features : 10
2003 Taylor 310 CE US made. This is a beautiful guitar that had me in an heightened emotional state when I got it home and really played it (I can never really let go in a guitar shop!)
A single cutaway solid wood guitar, dreadnought body with a mahogany neck and ebony fretboard (with a perfect factory set action) - Fishman prefix electrics.

Sound : 10
This guitar has depth of sound when played acoustically that I do not possess the eloquence to describe it - an awesome guitar. I gig with this through a Fender 100 watt amp, they compliment each other and the Fishmans prefix gives one many options, I gig with a popular band in north England, many of our songs are acoustic based and this guitar blows the Martin and Yamahas out of the water.

Action, Fit, & Finish : No Opinion
I have not altered this action since I bought it six months ago, we headlined a local festival last summer and this guitar brought joy to 3000 people (absolutely nothing to do with my playing!!)- the factory setting was perfect, the guys at 'Academy of Sound' in Leeds had not touched it

Reliability/Durability : 10
I play a mixture of blues, rock and reggae and have really hammered this guitar - it just gets better

Customer Support : No Opinion
Living in England I have never accessed Taylor for support - saying that, so far I would not wished to have done so - this is as perfect a guitar as I have ever played. This giutar has a 2 year warranty from 'Academy of Sound'.

Overall Rating : 10
I have been playing for sixteen years, gigging for about eight. I have played Martin, Guild, Yamaha, Lowden and Fender acoustic and a whole array of electric guitars - this is easily the finest guitar I have ever played, it has a superb action producing a rich deep sound that puts hairs on the back of my neck - play 'Redemtion Song'or 'Wonderwall' on this guitar and you will get the message!!


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: US $1125
Submitted 08/25/2003 at 12:39pm by Chris Lewis
Email: caddman8<at>yahoo dot com

Features : 9
2002 model made in the good ole USA! Fishman prefix plus eq. is great on this guitar. As said before, not a lot of frills, but I think thats goos on an Acoustic. Beautiful finish on the spruce top. Medium frets on a ebony fretboard are AWSOME! I love the medium frets since I tend to grab chords kinda hard. I usually end up pinching the chord a little sharp, but with the medium frets, its no problem!

Sound : 10
Great clear sound. I play this guitar straight into the PA with only some chorus and reverb added from an alesis effects unit. Rich, full sound that can easily fill the room, even unplugged, it can definately carry the room! The taylor sound is why I bought this guitar in the first place. The Elixer nanoweb strings that came on the guitar are great. I have continued to use Elixer strings on this guitar.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
The action was a little high, so I had the action lowered by a local luthier and now its perfect.

Reliability/Durability : 9
I use this guitar at home maily as a practice guitar. I'm sure this guitar will last for years with proper care and maintenance. I would play this particular guitar without a bagkup on a gig. I don't play a lot of acoustic, but I have no fears with this guitar as my acoustic. I previously owned a takamine and I feel MUCH better with this guitar in my lineup!

Customer Support : 9
Customer support was great. I've only had one issue with this guitar. The strap button on the bottom of the guitar where the chord plugs in came loose on the guitar. Called up Taylor and the had it taken care of by the same luthier who did my work on lowering the string action for no charge!

Overall Rating : 10
I've been playing for 15 years, but this is the first REAL acoustic guitar I've ever owned. I had a Takamine before buying this guitar, and the Taylor deffinately runs rings around it! If it were stolen, I would deffinately buy this guitar again, or perhaps upgrade a step. I like this guitar because it's simplicity and great sound!


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: US $1500
Submitted 04/09/2003 at 04:19am by Anonymous

Features : 10
I am the happy owner of a 2001 310-CE, and I have nothing but wonderful feelings for it. The electronics sound fantastically clear, the fretboard is easy to play, the sound has balls like nothing else, and it just ROCKS. As for features, how many can you expect on an acoustic?

Sound : 10
This guitar has a bright sound (especially with Elixer nanoweb strings), and is suitable for pretty much any style. It is extremely loud but still plays with great dynamics, and it sounds great plugged in too. Even with a few effects, the clarity and tone still cuts through the mix.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
Nice low action, very easy to play, beautiful color, very high quality materials - the ebony fretboard is a bonus.

Reliability/Durability : 10
It's very sturdy - day after I got it, someone spilled a beer on it and I almost ripped off their privates, but it was fine. This guitar is meant to be beaten up with respect, if you know what I mean. I beat the crap out of my guitars when I play hard, and it stands up to it perfectly. All it does is get louder, which is totally awesome and sweet.

Customer Support : 10
Taylor is a great company. They've been very quick getting back to me about everything, and they have a great newsletter every month.

Overall Rating : 10
I've been playing for 7 years, and I own a Fender American Standard Strat, a Crate Vintage Club 30 (not your ordinary Crate, if you haven't heard one I suggest you check it out), and a Boss GT-3. The Taylor sounds great thru the GT-3 as well on the GT-3's acoustic settings. If you have the means, buy this guitar. You will not regret it. It will become your baby very quickly.


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: US $1260
Submitted 03/06/2003 at 09:09am by David King
Email: davidking at kclibrary<dot>org

Features : 10
THis is the 2003 model 310 CE (cutaway dreadnaught). It's got a solid sitka spruce top and solid Sapele sides and back, and an african mahogany neck. The finish is glossy on top and satin on the back and sides. For electronics, it has a fishman blender. It came with a nice, solid case, too. It's got grover tuners.

Sound : 10
The sound is truly amazing. I play primarily modern worship songs, so I hit lots of chords, and I hit them pretty hard. This guitar holds up well to that - no breaking up of the sound, even when I'm really attacking it.

I played a ton of guitars, of all brands, and was thinking of buying a Seagull Artist series. But then I played a Taylor. I even played some high-end Breedloves and Morgans - Taylors simply sound better.

All Taylors I've played have great-sounding treble, which I really like. Taylors have some extra sparkle in the upper end, and believe it or not, the 300 series Sapele Taylors have even more of that (or maybe they have less bass response). Either way, they're way cool.

And - The Fishman blender sounds great - adding just a little mic sound gets rid of the piezo thin sound.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
This guitar has a great set-up. The action is low, so playing up on the neck is just as easy as 1st position chords.

The finish looks very nice, and the wood is beautiful. Also, the grover tuners are awesome - they have bigger gears or something, so you have to turn the pegs more to tune up/down (translation - more accurate tuning).

Reliability/Durability : 10
I've owned it all of 4 days, so can't really say much. The guitar is very solid, so I have no doubts it will last as long as I do!

I have broken too many strings to not have a backup - unfortunately, my backup is an Epiphone with a cracked neck that's hard to tune :-)

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never contacted them.

Overall Rating : 10
I have played guitar for 17 years, and own the afore-mentioned Epiphone and a couple of electics, too. Yes, I'd definitely replace it if lost or stolen.

I compared this Taylor to higher-end Breedloves and higher-end Taylors, too. With both, there's really not much to compare. For Taylors, they all sound great - the price difference is more expensive woods, more inlays and abalone, gold tuners rather than silver, etc. The 300 and 400 series are basic, no frills - but that doesn't mean they sound bad!

Compared to other brands (Breedloves, Martins, etc)... my ears liked Taylors better. OTher ears might like something else. Basically, know how much money you want to spend, and test EVERYTHING is that price range.


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: US $800
Submitted 01/27/2003 at 09:10am by Bobweigh
Email: bob_weigh<at>hotmail dot com

Features : 6
My Taylor 310CE was made in 1998. It has a lot of frets and is made from wood. It is pretty awesome.

Sound : 10
When I play the guitar I feel like I am on another planet or in space or something like that. I just start smiling and I will cry sometimes, too.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
The strings are close to the frets, which is a plus. Also, if I hit the strings with my pick they make an awesome noise.

Reliability/Durability : 10
I like to punch guitars, and this one can stand up to a good punching. The other day I was in a car accident and then I used the guitar to beat the guy that hit me. The guy had to go to the hospital, but I was playing the Taylor with no problems 20 minutes later.

Customer Support : 10
I called up Taylor just to ask them a few questions and the guy that answered the phone said, "Don't call us, jerk. We hate our customers, so go eat a wang." I thought this was pretty awesome because that's what I would do if some idiot called me to ask questions.

Overall Rating : 10
I think this guitar is awesome. I will play it every day for the rest of my life and then I will probably put it into my coffin when I die, so my dead body can feel it.


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: US $1139
Submitted 11/30/2002 at 08:24am by Anonymous

Features : 8
Features are fine, meaning that nothing is missing but there are no major additions. This is good IMO because it keeps the cost reasonable. It has a Fishman Prefix Plus pick-up at the bridge. other than that its same old dreadnaught stuff.

Sound : 8
a few things.

-unplugged is really nice on the one that I purchased. I played 6-8 of these mofos and more than half sounded pretty shitty. Clearly Taylor does not take as much pride in the construction of thier lower line models. This is to be expected i guess.

-the plugged in sound is exactly what is to be expected. since it is pick-up only it gets a little "quacky" if the trebble goes unchecked. At high-volumes feedback is a prob. but when is it not?

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
The one that I purchased has very nice action, nice fretwork.....overall a very well put together insturment. I played others that were put to shame by 250$ squires. Advice to a potential buyer: Check out alot of them.

Reliability/Durability : No Opinion
so far so good....no probs yet....been 3 weeks

Customer Support : No Opinion
N/A

Overall Rating : 8
exactly what one would expect from a dreadnaught guitar for 1000+ dollars. Smooth action, very very very balanaced without the bass bomminess found in most dreadnaughts. sounds great unplugged and good pluged in. I give it an 8 cuz nothing is perfect.


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: US $999 used
Submitted 11/18/2002 at 09:36am by .andrew.

Features : 9
This is a 2001 all-wood Taylor 310ce made in the U.S.A. There are 20 frets on an Ebony fretboard with pearl dot inlays, and the entire neck is made of mahogony. Headstock is made of Indian rosewood with a set of Grover tuners. The top is gloss finished solid Sitka spruce top and the sides are made of Sapele, which is very similar to mahogony. The pickup system is a Fishman Prefix Plus, and has volume control, notch filter, phase switch, bass, mid, treble, and "brilliance" (i.e. enhanced treble is what I refer to it as) sliders, and a tone shaping slider at the bottom that allows you to shape the overall sound produced through the pickup. Body is a dreadnaught with a venetian cutaway. Bridge is made of ebony, the nut and saddle are made of tusq, and the binding is black. The neck feels a little wider than most (i like that a lot), but not extremely thick. Comes with a very nice Taylor hardshell case.

It is a working man's guitar. There are no big frills with this guitar, and that's fine. It's built to be played, not look extra-pretty. Frills, such as soundhole inlays, different binding, and all that stuff doesn't make the guitar sound better....it just makes it more expensive :). If you consider extra appearance enhancing things 'features' (i don't) then this would get an 8. However, I'm giving it a 9 because the materials used overall on the instrument are top-notch.




Sound : 9
Since I was a bass player before I started playing guitar, my style revolves around a lot of rhythmic playing and open chord structure. I play in alternate tunings, producing a lower, richer overall tone.

This guitar produces a very mellow, smooth, even tone unplugged. The bass response is not huge, but it fills out and will only continue to do so with age. In comparing it to a 410ce, which has mahogony sides, I would say that the bass response is a little better there, but not noticable unless you're really, really listening for it. Plugged in, you have the quality of the Fishman Prefix, which I am still absolutely amazed and impressed with. It captures every nuance of sound that the guitar produces. The controls are simple enough to shape your tone easily, but there are enough of them to give you a lot of options. Taylor guitars amaze me because you can go in, plug in, tweak a few settings depending on your venue, and within about 15 seconds you have an amazing tone.

I give the guitar a 9 only because I know different people have different ideas of what a good tone is. For my style, it's about as close to perfect as I could get. I would like a TINY bit more bass response, but again, that will come with age, and it's nothing that can't be fixed with some tweaking.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
I bought the guitar used (less than a year old), and it looks like it was played maybe 3 times at the most. There are no flaws in the workmanship...not even any play marks on the back of it. Obviously, the action was not adjusted...and the factory standard is not what I like. It's a little below what I would consider medium heighth, and I will most likely bring it in to have it professionally adjusted. The neck is very straight. The pickups are installed perfectly.

I'm giving it a 9 because I want the adjustment done to my liking. For someone who likes a LITTLE bit higher action, it's fine. Obviously, we also have to take into consideration that every handmade guitar is different, and therefore you are going to have variation in the setup. I'm sure had I had options, I would have found another one that was set up the way I like.

Reliability/Durability : No Opinion
Just bouth it, but keep in mind that Taylor makes some of the best guitars out there. All the hardware seeems to be fine. I would NEVER go to a gig without a backup.

Since I haven't had the guitar for more than 3 days now, I figure i'll keep my rating at no opinion...

Customer Support : No Opinion
n/a

Overall Rating : 10
I've played for 10 years now, though until about 2 years ago, I was officially a bass player rather than a guitar player. I do a solo singer/songwriter original gig, and have been doing that for about 1 1/2 years. Acoustic-wise, I own a Fender GD-47SCE grand acoustic cutaway and a Takamine EG530C cutaway. Compared to the Fender, the Fender definitely looks like a "nicer" guitar, but it's Korean-made, and the sides are mahogonay laminate. It definitely plays and sounds differently than the Taylor...I like them both for different reasons. Compared to the Takamine, there is no comparison. The Taylor blows it out of the water.

I would be EXTREMELY upset if this were stolen or lost. It's a great guitar...one of those you just feel good playing. I would buy the same thing if insurance came through.

Before I bought this guitar, I was comparing it to Martin's in the same $1000-$1300 price range, and the Taylor feels like a more 'substantial' guitar. The Martins, though very nice, felt more fragile. The sound on the Taylor was also a little more even than the Martins. The Martins were more bass responsive...almost too much so...and that ended up being the reason I went with the Taylor.



Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: $1400 (Canadian)
Submitted 09/27/2002 at 11:26am by Anonymous

Features : 8
1999 model when the 300 series first came out. Fishman Matrix pickups.

Sound : 8
Very clean sound when picking unplugged.. not the warmest guitar I've ever played, but it's warming up slowly over time (very balanced). The plugged in sound on the Fender Acoustasonic 30 is what you'd expect from a piezo only system, you can only teak it so much before it sounds a bit harsh.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
Setup is typical Taylor - right on. Very easy to do neck adjustments on your own, which I typically need to do in the winter months (it seems like a pretty lively neck). No complaints on fit and finish

Reliability/Durability : 7
The body work is quite good.. it travels well on planes in the SKB case. The top finish is quite solid, though I don't play quite as hard as I used to. The complaint I do have about it is that the frets seem to wear quite quickly.. I've only had it 3 years and it's time for at least a redress (frets 2 and 3 are quite notched).

Customer Support : No Opinion
Lifetime warranty. Quite responsive.

Overall Rating : 8
Quite similar to the Yamaha FG-470SA I played for a many years, though not as loud, I like the neck on this one a bit more (the Yamaha was a bit to skinny for me). The action is definitely smoother than the Larivee OM-3 I used to have. Definitely a good working person's guitar.


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: US $1000 + Tax
Submitted 09/23/2002 at 10:24am by Kristy Jo Haima
Email: kjo<at>ureach dot com

Features : No Opinion

Sound : No Opinion

Action, Fit, & Finish : No Opinion

Reliability/Durability : No Opinion

Customer Support : No Opinion

Overall Rating : No Opinion
I don't have a lot of experience playing guitar and I don't have a lot of knowledge in guitar equipment, let alone acoustic guitars! I did do a considerable amount of research via the internet and consulted with excellent pro players for the sole intention of purchasing a mid-ranged acoustic guitar to accompany me solo on stage. I was after a mid-line Martin until I played this particular Taylor. I found the fretboard easier to play than a Martin and fell in love with the beautiful tone that a light touch could bring. My Taylor (promptly named Rory!) listed for $1700, was on the sheld for $1100 and came home with me for $1000 plus tax, including the hardshell case.


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: US $600 plus old Big Baby
Submitted 06/05/2002 at 04:01pm by Beau
Email: rugflea516 at aol<dot>cm

Features : 10
This Guitar rocks! The whole thing is made of Solid wood, Sapele back and sides, sitka spruce top, Tropical Mahogany neck, Scalloped X-Bracing, chrome grover tuners,Satin finish with a gloss top, a venetian cutaway, and Fishman prefix plus electronics.

Sound : 10
The sound this guitar displays is unmatched. Though this is Taylors lower end guitar, dont let that full you. I played an 800 and 900 series and only a super human could tell the differnce. Heavy stumming,finger picking, this guitar handles it all. Pluged into an amp its even better, even on an electic amp it sounds like a peace of Heaven on your lap.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
As for the fit and finish,the guitar was flawless. Alot of peole who have this guitar wish the whole thing was gloss. I think the satin finish is nice because its easyer to keep clean and more durabile. The action was great, realy low and easy to play, but I started noticing a buzz in my bass stings, I could realy hear it during heavy strumming. I went to Up town Muisc in Keizer Oregon and they charged me $20 for rising the bidge, which did nothing. I tightend the truss just a little and the buzzing stoped. Now I'am kicking my self for going to Up Town.

Reliability/Durability : 9
I think this gutir is very durabile. I play it every day and it keeps getting better and better. The gloss finish is easy to dent and neck because of how thin it is. Its thin because your tone is increased the more the top vibrates. Having a then finish helps for the great sound. I have a neck from the punks at Up Town because they droped a screw driver on it and they put a thumbnail dent in it puting on my strings. Stay away from them.

Customer Support : 10
To bad I cant rate this higher then 10. Brian at guitar center was almost to helpful. I took a print off of one of these reviews that had a list price of $900 and showed him, and he lowered his price by over $300 and gave me $319 for the used Big Baby I had. When I brought my brand new 310ce into Up Town they were realy upset. Because they spent there time working there mojo's on me to get me to buy the same guitar for $300 more plus only $150 For the Big Baby I bought from them for $365. When they told me they were not going to pull out the red carpet for me because I did'nt buy the guitar from them. I felt like jumping over the table and giving him a taste of my shoe. Anyways if you go to Guitar Center ask for Brian so him my review, and be nice to him becuase he might be nice to you.

Overall Rating : 10
This is the best guitar I have ever played, The sound, looks, and price I payed can not be beat. I wanted to say thanks to Brain for giving me that great deal and service. And thanks to Rayn of the Blind Light Band, If get a chance to see them perform in the portland area do so. They rock and there going to make it big. As for Up Town they get the finger.


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: US $850.00
Submitted 05/20/2002 at 08:21am by Rick

Features : 10
My wife bought a used 310-CE for me after we searched and played a variety of guitars over the last several months. While the new ones were out of our price range, this late-1998 model was priced right at a music shop. I think it was stored in its case much more than it was played because there are no marks on it anywhere. The features for this entry level guitar are wonderful (solid wood all over, electronics, Grover tuners, etc.)

Sound : 10
This guitar sounds great. In shopping around, I played several other brands side-by-side for comparison. The 310-CE had the deepest, richest sound with lots of clarity and brightness. Throught the amp it sounds even better.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
For a used guitar, this 310-CE was in excellent shape. When my wife had this guitar cleaned and check at a local guitar shop, they confirmed the wonderful condition of this instrument. I don't know that the action had been previously adjusted, but I suspect not (and it plays very well). As I get more comfortable with this guitar, I may make some changes, but only time will tell.

Reliability/Durability : 10
Everything about this guitar leads me to believe it will hold up over many years. In fact, I chose the Taylor because of recommendations from friends about their reliability and durability.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never had to, and don't expect to, call them.

Overall Rating : 10
While I have been playing for only 4 years, I wanted to move up to a guitar that I could play more comfortably and in front of an audience. This guitar met and exceeded my expectations. It fits my fretting hand so well, and I love the sound. I can already hear my improvement in just 10 days. I would recommend this guitar to others, including beginners. Well worth the investment.


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: 1500 (singapore dollars)
Submitted 01/22/2002 at 08:40am by Les Lee
Email: acousticfreak<at>hotmail dot com

Features : 10
310ce is all solid wood constructed guitar the top is sitka spruce and side and back is awesome mahagony. The pickguard is cool, grover tuner, oh yes Fishman prefix is a must for a good acoustic guitar like Taylor.

Sound : 9
many well known guitar dont really come close this lowest series in the Taylor guitars family, Imagine you got the higher ones. The tone is well balanced and low end is just perfect, it just awesome.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
I bought it at second hand but to my surprice it's action was 100% comfortable and it fits my little asian chinese hand pretty and I just enjoy holding it. The pick up is the state of the art kind of thing, cause Fishman knows what he is doing being an acoustic player himself. The bridge is beautifully shape

Reliability/Durability : 10
BoB Taylor just know what we need when it comes to acoustic guitar some guitar maker are not very sensitive in thier approach in guitar making, in terms of durability you can trust in Taylor guitar no complaint so far those that I came to who are using Taylor for both leisure and professional. It stands in season and out of season

Customer Support : 9
no problem at all, the dealer in Singapore and Malaysia is here to help at anytime

Overall Rating : 10
if you have not play or own a Taylor you miss it all


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: US $1100 + tax
Submitted 12/17/2001 at 06:23pm by Josh
Email: guitar_fiend<at>hotmail dot com

Features : No Opinion
I just bought a Taylor 310CE and I think I'm in love. I don't know if the bass player's review is still up but like he said, they make you want to play them. Alright fine, so it's a 300 series and it's not made of rainforest wood, it's still a decent looking guitar and it sounds like a $5000 Martin.
This model comes with the Taylor Prefix Preamp, which other people have said they don't like, but I find it to be more than enough for me (even when recording direct to ProTools). It offers EQ's, countour, brilliance, notch, volume, and phase control (VERY USEFUL). If you don't know what phase is, the manual explains it as well as most recording books.
As for other features... It's got Grover tuners (which in my opinion should be on every guitar made), 20 frets (17 of which are accessible, good for an acoustic), and of course a Piezo pickup. It also came with a truss rod wrench and a beautiful case.

This form isn't letting put a rating in for features, but I'd put it at about 9.5.

Sound : 10
It's a Taylor, so of course, I bought it for the tone. It has a very full balanced tone. It's a little bright for my taste, but that is just a function of newness. It's impossible for me to fully explain it's sound, you're just going to have to go listen to one.
One piece of advice, get the dreadnought. I don't like playing the big clunky ones as much, but they sound substantially better. Don't get me wrong, any Taylor will sound great, but due to their increased size and its effect on the properties of sound in acoustic guitars, the dreadnoughts sound slightly better. (unplugged that is, if you're just gigging or recording direct, it won't matter)

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
The factory setup was very good. The truss rod was adjusted, string height was high enough to give it some of the punch necessary for a good acoustic sound, but low enough to make the guitar easily playable even up to the 17th fret. Bends can be a little tough at first, but that is going to be the case on any acoustic with enough string tension to really project.

Reliability/Durability : 9
I haven't the foggiest idea about durability, I've only had the guitar for a week. It feels very solid and I would feel comfortable gigging with just this guitar if I absolutely had to. (on no uncertain terms should you go to a show with less than two guitars unless you absolutely have to, that's just a rule)
One problem that I've had in the past has been straps slipping off buttons, no risk of that here. The strap on the butt of the guitar is huge (kind of a pain to get the damn thing on at first, this is of course by design) and the strap at the base of the neck is at such an angle that it is highly unlikely that a strap will ever come off. It's attention to small details like these that really make Taylors as fabulous as they are.

Customer Support : 9
It'll probably never be an issue, but I wouldn't be worried if it ever became one. If their customer support reps are half as nice as their guitar, it'd be a breeze to deal with them.
They also allow you to register your name with them so that in the unlikely event of theft, they can send your name and the guitar's serial number to dealers and get your guitar back. I was told this works in 50-60% of reported cases, great considering.

Overall Rating : 10
I've been playing for seven years and I finally decided it would be nice to hear an acoustic around the house. When I went to shop for this guitar I brought my friend's father who was a semi professional musician and now has his own studio (in addition to perfect pitch and a great ear). He had done some research a few months back and came to the same conlcusion that I did, Taylor.
I would also like to mention that this man still has his vintage 60's Martin and thinks the Taylor is far and away the better guitar (in sound and playability).


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: US $865.00 shipped to my door with upgrade in case and electronics
Submitted 12/16/2001 at 04:21pm by Jeff
Email: thegearboy at yahoo<dot>com

Features : 10
I own a 2000 Taylor 310ce upgraded with a Fishman Onboard Blender system (piezo and mini internal condensor microphone). I also upgraded the case from SKB-style to the Taylor hardshell, which I love. This acoustic is 100% ALL SOLID WOOD, which is why I decided on a Taylor after 3 years+ of researching which acoustic guitar was right for me. The body, neck and headstock are Sapelle "mahogany", the top is Sitka "spruce", and the fretboard and bridge are ebony.
It came with a truss rod tool and several pamphets about truss rod adjustments, moisture care, etc. Limited lifetime warranty.

Sound : 10
I play folk, rock, etc and this guitar sounds amazing. The Fishman system sounds great for recording, when both the piezo and microphone are combined. I have received nothing but praise for the sound of this instrument from musicians and listeners alike, and have loved the sound of this guitar in the studio. It sounds huge, warm, and full, like an acoustic guitar should. I would recomend this model as a first acoustic guitar to anyone serious about the instrument.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
When this guitar arrived (direct from Taylor), it was perfectly in tune. The fishman system took some time to tweak but I now know what I like and how to get "the sound" out of it. I have owned the instrumnet since early May of 2000, and it has never been in the shop. I have done a few truss rod adjustments by myself, but I am no repair guy. I have also moved from .012s to .013s, since I play in open tunings a whole lot. I feel that the instrument needs to go in the shop for a tweak and such. The action could be better in spots, but overall it was my beating the instrument on a daily basis for the past 18 months+ that has led to it falling a little from grace. I would love to purchase a 514ce and keep the 310ce in open G fulltime, having it permanantly setup for this tuning. Overall, it still plays great and stays in tune very well for an instrument that has been played for two years with no shop visits, daily tuning changes, and a string guage switch for which nothing was done to compensate.

Reliability/Durability : 10
This guitar is the bee's knees. I baby the sh*t out of it though it travels wherever I do. One small scratch barely noticable on the top, and indentations in the neck from a thumb ring. It adds to the vibe. I love this thing! I have also kept a humidifier in it for the past two years, and elixers on it. I change strings about every 3-4 months, unless I am recording. It keep it's tone and tune.

Customer Support : 10
I've dealt with Taylor many a time as a salesman and they excel at customer support. I ordered direct from them and they custom built me this instrument with the upgrade in electronics and such. It has a limited lifetime warranty which I believe covers manufacturer's defects. Whatever. They are a wonderful company. I would recomend them, and do, to everyone. Even when I called about having them custom build me a guitar with a mohogany top, they were to the point about getting me all of the info I needed. Great company.

Overall Rating : 10
I'll never sell it, and I'll definitely buy another Taylor when I can afford it. It was worth the research and the wait, and I love it more than any Martin that I have ever played (though they are also fine instruments), and WAY MORE than any Takamine what I ever played, which is what I was planning on getting several years before I purchased a my 310ce. To me, you just can't go wrong with a Taylor. I would recomend the 514ce as their finest instrument.


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: US $1200
Submitted 11/11/2001 at 09:50pm by Southpause
Email: smsanders<at>excite dot com

Features : 8
This is a single cutaway solid top, dreadnaught style accoustic guitar with a Fishman piezo pickup, with a solid spruce top. Included was a nice hardshell case and a little tool for adjusting the neck.. which I've needed more than I've wanted. More on that later.

Sound : 5
This guitar, played as an accoustic has a fairly rich sound. It's about average for a new guitar in this price range. However, when played through an amplifier, the pickup shows a distinct lack of uniformity.. for instance, both high and low E strings are barely audible, while the center strings, such as D and G are too loud.
That's unfortunate because the electronics, built into the Evanko body (that's some kind of African wood) work very nicely.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 2
Action? This is a miserable instrument. I've gotten to where I hate to play it. The action is so high it hurts my fingers.. and I've played accoustic guitars for 35 years. I asked my local dealer to do another setup.. even shaving down the saddle a bit.. but it didn't help.
I'm aware of the fact that this is Taylor's entry level guitar but there's no reason for the action to be so high. Yes, I've adjusted the neck in hopes of improving the action and I severe string buzz.
As for fit and finish, it's a beautifully finished, which makes it's playability ever the more remarkable.

Reliability/Durability : 6
While I doubt I'll own it long enough to find out, I'm sure this is a durable guitar. It looks great, sounds okay, plays like a brick.

Customer Support : No Opinion

Overall Rating : No Opinion
Everytime I play this guitar, I ask myself why I bought it. I wanted an accoustic electric and had read a slew of positive Reviews on Taylors here on this site. I also own a Martin J40 which plays like a dream, a Larrivee Parlor which is also fine, easy to play little guitar and as a few electrics. As for my gripes, I should disclose that I haven't yet contacted Taylor, or even complained to the Guitar shop where I bought it. If I can somehow make this guitar easier to play, I'll try to amend my comments... But right now, If this guitar were stolen tomorrow, I'd probably have a great laugh.


Product: Taylor Guitars 310-CE
Price Paid: US $1400.00
Submitted 09/10/2001 at 10:53am by ed
Email: ed at bluechipcomputers<dot>com

Features : 4
This is a follow up to my earlier review, after repeated calls to taylor and the guitar shop about my problem, I finally got Taylor to take this guiar back. This is list of what they did to it- Re-set the neck, adjusted the intonition, re-dressed the frets, and relaced bridge saddle, & replaced strings. So I finaly got them to admit there was something wrong with this guitar.

Now here is my beef, I now this is there bottom of the line guitar, and I'm sure I would have gotten a faster, more polite responce, instead of "that's how it's sopposed to be set up". But I did pay $1400.00 dollars for this guitar, and that's a lot of money for anybody. And I am extreamly dissapionted that Taylor sent out a guitar in this shape. And also I never recieved so much as a appoligy from taylor, for all of may incovience, and frustration.

The gutiar do play like it should, but would I buy another Taylor, probabilly not. Despite the great tone the attitude towards my proplem, (I assume becuase it is only a 310ce), and there complete lack of q.c. for such a highly reputed company as this, to send out a guitar in this condition is to say the least dissipionting, and has left a extreamly bad taste in my mouth toward taylor, & feel very uncomfortable recominding a taylor to anyone.

Sound : 10

Action, Fit, & Finish : 5

Reliability/Durability : 1

Customer Support : 1

Overall Rating : 4

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