Taylor Guitars 310

The only reason why i would give my favourite guitar a "9" is because Taylor Guitars made the 300 Series as a "no-frills" series, so that means there are no abalone rosettes or fancy stuff. Otherwise, everything about this guitar is PURE Taylor 100%. Mine is a Dreadnought 1999 310, which incorporates the new NT neck design and the redesigned Dreadnought body from 1997. It has a solid Sitka Spruce top, Sapele sides/back, ebony fretboard/bridge and rosewood headstock. No electronics installed??totally natural guitar! It has a nice satin finish that makes the guitar shiny. Comes also with chrome Grover tuners and so far, my guitar keeps in tune... just the whole guitar was made with love and tender case, as with any Taylor, so in my mind, it's a "10," but a "9" here because it lacks the fancy accouterments.

SOUND is one of the most premier aspects of this guitar. I used to think that you'd have to have a rosewood to get that kind of projection and clarity. When i play my Sapele 310, WOWOWOWOWOWOW... it's both LOUD and really clear... you can hear the chords and individual notes come alive. That's why i still refuse to install a Fishman Natural pickup or anything.

Again, Taylor Guitars are well-known for their really easy action and tight construction. I have not seen a Taylor that was poorly made, and my guitar is definitely one excellent piece of craftsmanship. From the first time i played mine, i noticed nothing wrong with it??tonally, structurally, aesthetically... NOTHING.

A good guitar is also defined by its ability to last long, and still play like you bought it yesterday. As long as i properly maintain my guitar and keep it under my close scrutiny(!), i am sure that my 310 will last me til the day i die!

Oh my goodness............ i HAVE NOT seen such AWESOME customer support as like Taylor Guitars. With them, you don't have to be some famous guitarist or artist. Any Joe can get the same service and quality for which they are famous for. They have ALWAYS answered my emails promptly (in a very amiable manner) and whenever i have asked for something (like every back issue of their Wood&Steel newsletters they had), i received it in due time. Incredible service!!!

Overall, this guitar of mine is a definite all-star all the way! I'd give it no less than a perfect rating. Most Taylor owners are just fanatics like me, and will go on for HOURS how great their guitar is and such. I know that i made a wise decision (as this is my first guitar ever) and i know that it will bring me years of enjoyment. If it were to be lost, stolen, broken or whatever and i had to get another one, i'd really get another 310. Gosh, since i got it, i am always playing with other Taylors (any other Taylor is more expensive than mine, since mine's the lowest model possible!) and i still turn back to mine. I've played every model out there (except for the new signatures and special editions) and i can say that i have NO envy. Taylor 310 rocks! Taylor Guitars rock!

The new series bolt neck dreadnaught, all solid woods. Ebony fingerboard and bridge. Spruce top, mahogany back sides and neck. Three peice neck.. headstock/neck/heel. Gloss finish top, satin elsewhere. Grovers. Tusq nut and saddle. Two strap buttons, padded on the neck, preventing indenting the wood, and the differently shaped plastic button at the bottom, which I like, it's very secure. SKB style Taylor case with name on it. (These aren't as soft as the Taylor hand made cases, but they fit tightly. Mine has a warped top, or improperly installed latches. It locks at the handle latch only if you mess with it a bit. I don't care.) Came with Taylors flyers on humidity, etc, and the truss rod wrench.
I'm giving this a 'ten', 'tons of features' because it has ALL the features that make a Taylor great. The solid woods, the fantastic attention to detail, the playability. Everything else is fluff, yet this guitar looks wonderful, too.

I fingerpick and flatpick. I sometimes use all nails, and sometimes I use a pick and nails, or a thumbpick and nails. I use different thickeness and types of picks. I play folk style, country, rock, blues and some stuff that I have to call pop, I guess. I like to strum pretty and smooth, and I like to do that bluegrass big bomb chording, too... and the 310 handles it all. I like to snap and pop the strings, and I like to arpeggiate or play patters pretty or singing... the 310 handles it all.
Another poster said the 310 he had was balanced between highs and lows.. I find I'm much better off with medium lows and light highs. Perhaps I prefer a stronger bass, but, any way you see it.. the 310 winds up balanced for both of us.
This guitar flatpicks in any style just fine.
Not having a 310 cutaway sans electronics is a mistake on Taylors part, I think.
I'm giving the 310 a 'ten', 'sounds great', because after two months with it, I've found that I am completely happy. I know you can get more for more money, but I'm keeping this one, and I don't expect to ever feel second best.

Two things I found 'wrong'. The wood beneath the truss rod cover is not finished worth a crap. (big deal.) The binding around the body has several small, tiny, inconsequential lumps, probably part of the manufacturing process. (I used one of those cloth type steel wool pads and they smoothed and polished the bumps. big whoop.)
On the plus side.. holy crap. detail detail detail. the inside of the sound hole is gloss finished. No glue or rough wood inside the guitar anywhere I looked. The mahogany back is a trip.. sit on a chair near a lamp, hold guitar with back facing you, tilt guitar slowly forward and back and watch the grain colors change.. it's fun!
Everything is really excellent on this guitar. Fret work.. action.. tunes great.. (the neck strap button screw was loose.. I caught that right away, of course, you can't mess around with a loose strap screw.)
I don't know how I could rate a guitar like this any way but 'ten', 'fabulous'. Perfect? Ideal? maybe not, but certainly it could be called a dream.

I baby my 310. It's not out of need, though. I've played guild, alvarez, ovation, framus, (that's right .. I PLAYED FRAMUS.. heh), Yairi, Yamaha, Washburn, Charvel and some others.
This guitar is built. Not as heavy as a guild. But strong. I'd gig outdoors with it, giving it the proper consideration.
I use the dampit case humidifier and bought a hygrometer for it.
The tuners you know are excellent.
Absolutely a guitar that simple common sense will carry to any gig you want to play. It has to be 'ten', 'rock solid'.

I don't know of anyone who would complain about Taylors service. I was lucky enough to get their free '97 catalog, along with their free 2000 catalog, and the video on the new designs.
Taylor sent me a free tusq nut, though I offered to pay for it, because there was a slight rattle at the high e string in the nut slot.
Before it arrived I managed to fix the thing.. so I apologise to Taylor for taking advantage of them.
The service deptartment answered all of my nervous new owner blatherings with dignity, courtesy and aplomb.
Taylors Steve Rapp, customer relations, emailed promptly, with good advice, a pleasant style and I felt every moment that I was dealing with a person proud and confident in his relationship with Taylor. Naturally, I give them 'ten', 'incredibly kind and helpful', with no hesitation.

I've been playing acoustic since I was about seventeen or so. Before that I gigged locally, back to when I was fourteen. I'm 51 now.
I use a Taylor 310, an Epiphone Sheraton II, loaded with gibson humbucks, a digitech RP7, a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, an ESP LTD B-50 bass, a mysterious strat copy, and some harmonicas.
If stolen/lost I'd replace this with another 310. I'd be tempted to get the cutaway with electronics, but then: I'd be tempted by every other Taylor.
What I like is that now that I'm getting the string guages/brands tried out I find it will do just about anything I ask.
This guitar makes you want to play better, it makes you want to play more, and it inspires you to act on those feelings.
There is nothing about it that I don't like.
I compared it to my experience with Guild Ovation Alvarez Yamaha Yairi Washburn and Martin.. I tried a Martin D-15 first. I thought, it has solid woods, it's made by a great company and it's less money, so I HAVE to at least try one. The electronics didn't work, and the action up the neck was crappy. I sent it back. It was a great sounding guitar.. without those particular problems, I would have kept that Martin, and I shall keep my eye on them, still.
I knew I'd keep the Taylor as soon as I played it.
I'd like one with a cutaway.. and I'd like one of them with the Fishman soundhole pickup/mic combo.
I'd like to add the following:
when you get your hands on a guitar that plays this well.. ignoring tone... you play more. If only all acoustics could have action like this.
when you hear a guitar that sounds this good... you play more.
There's no lie in any of that. Get one of these.
You'll play more. and better.
It is a fantastic value because despite a fairly hefty price tag for most players, it will last forever, it is backed up by great people, and it's got everything you'll need for that long trip.
I might take mine with me when I go.
and PS: I bought this mail order.. sight unseen.. sound unheard.
kudos to rock n rhythm on great product, great service, (thanks Mat!), and by the way... I've used them for several purchases.. so this applies to more than Taylor.. great prices.

This guitar is a dreadnought acoustic situated at the very bottom of the Taylor lineup, but that isn't to say there is anything sub-par about the features or sound of this guitar, because like all Taylors, its materials, playability and sound are all top-flight. Like all full size Taylors, this guitar is constructed of premium solid woods; sitka spruce for the top, and "sapele" for the back and sides. Sapele is an African hardwood, in the same family as African "mahogany", not a true mahogany, but a different species with an appearance similar to America mahogany. Sapele is slightly heavier and harder than true mahogany, with bigger graining and in this guitar an almost "striped" appearance. I think it's as attractive as mahogany, with some samples exhibiting a very curly figure. It's an excellent alternative wood to substitute for endangered tropical hardwoods. The neck is American mahogany and constructed with the 3-piece construction Taylor is incorporating into their new neck design. The "finger" joint attaching the headstock to neck shaft is almost invisible with mahogany. The neck shape is thin and fast. The fretboard and bridge are ebony and the guitar is bound with black similar to a Martin D-18. Tuners are chrome Grovers and inlay is a simple dot on fretboard theme. The guitar is finished with clear catalyzed gloss on top and satin varnish on the rest of the guitar.

Since sapele is similar in weight and texture to true mahogany, this guitar has a sound very similar to American mahogany. It is a dry and crisp sound with a very good balance between bass and treble. It is not as warm as a similar rosewood Taylor, but the treble is not as thin as many American mahogany dreadnoughts. I think the additional weight and density of the sapele makes for a subtle difference. I find that this guitar is exceptional for lead playing, especially fingerpicking, which can't be said for a lot of dreadnoughts. I like the clarity and separation the guitar has.

The build quality and finish of this guitar are exceptional. Like all Taylors, its built to a very high standard. This guitar was set up about perfectly, as almost all Taylors are and it features Taylor's new neck joint design, which makes for extremely quick and easy neck sets in the future. Taylor's free video on the this neck design demonstrates that this design offers a neck which is dead straight from the nut to the end of the fretboard and easily adjustable for perfect action. There sure isn't anyone out there making a neck like it! The only visible flaw on this guitar was a little chip on the finish on the peghead, likely caused by one of those stupid hangers which guitar stores hang their guitars from. You can't blame Taylor for that.

Like all Taylors, this guitar seems bomb proof. Its tops for materials, construction, and design. I wouldn't be afraid to take this guitar on a gig without any backup. I think its solid as a rock.

I've owned several Taylors over the years and I've never had a problem with any of them. Taylors answers question via the E-net quickly, I've found.

I'm a professional whose been at it a long time. I play old time, Celtic, some bluegrass, etc. I fingerpick 65% of the time. I have enjoyed almost every brand of guitars over the years. I had been playing a D-41 before this Taylor and found the Taylor to be superior for my style. I have since traded this guitar for a Taylor 410R because it was warmer sounding, and then I traded the 410R on a Bourgeois JR-A because I felt it superior to both. As we say in the south, I'm "bad to trade".
I think the Taylor would be perfectly suitable for a player of any ability. It's an affordably priced guitar with professional sound and playability, like every other full sized Taylor (you notice I don't include those runt-sized "baby Taylors".
If I wasn't so bad into my trading addiction, I would have been quite happy with the performance of the Taylor 310. Taylor's hit the nail on the head again.

1999 Taylor 310 Dreadnought. Solid Sitka Spruce top(glossy), quartersawn Solid Sapele (African Mahogany) back and sides(satin finish), Mahogany bolt-on neck with Indian Rosewood headstock overlay, Ebony(yeah!)fingerboard(pearl dot inlays)and bridge, compensated Tusq saddle chrome-plated Grover tuners,shell pickgaurd, 2 strap buttons(Nice Touch!)and finally a custom-made SKB hardshell case with etched Taylor graphics and royal-purple plush interior...damn, what a spec! this is a TON of features for your bare basic dreadnought!

Beautiful! i did a lot of shopping before getting this beauty, compared it with Martins,Larivees,Guilds and Takamines in the same price range, and this blew them all away in terms of quality, materials and sound! Martins and Takamines in this price range use laminates!
this was one of two 310's in the shop, and i took a liking to this one. the only other guitar that i 'clicked' with was a $9000 Taylor PS-10 Koa...gorgeous!
i'm an electric guitarist who plays blues,funk and alternative. i use this as my bedroom/recording acoustic. no electronics! i ain't gonna cut any extra holes in this beauty! Rich and full, sweet overtones, clear,tight and punchy bass-excellent recording guitar. i compared her to my friend's Martin D-35, and i prefer her clarity and balance to the Martin's boominess. i recorded and have performed with this guitar with a shure SM-57, sounds great in any mix! truthfully,the best sounding acoustic i've ever played.(maybe it's just me) :)

Action was great,just right! was set up for .13-gauge strings. came with Elixir strings, which were great.
the woods used in this guitar are simply top-notch. the bookmatching was almost perfect, with some 'birdseyes?' on the Sapele back,even. the neck has a beautiful grain,and is quick,comfy and smooth. my guitar has this light-brown streaking figure on the Ebony bridge, which is prety attractive.(the other 310 didn't have this) looking inside, the scalloped bracing is flawless, no visible glue-residue. Taylor makes ALL their guitars with the same bracing and workmanship regardless of series. great,huh?
Nice polished frets and good inlay work. lovely Taylor logo on the Indian-Rosewood headstock overlay, a feast for the eyes!

well i live in Singapore, where the humdity is 85% year round (sigh), so i won't be toting her at outdoor gigs,air-con only! she looks like she's been built to last, with top-notch materials,solid woods and strong bracing. nice UV-finish looks like it'll last,too. i'm gonna baby her, though. yup,the strap buttons are solid,and at the right places. i wouldn't gig with her outdoors, maybe only for recordings or air-conditioned indoor gigs with a good soundhole pickup. backup? nah...i can depend on this one.

i emailed Taylor with questions regarding humidity and setup, and Zach,the tech guy,responded within a day (Thanks Zach!) Great customer service! Lifetime Warranty in the US only...*sulk* well i don't think i'll be needing it anyway...
the local dealer has a nice showroom and friendly service too.

i'm 18,been playin' for about 5 years, i play blues,funk,alternative and Christian rock. i own a '57 RI strat,a '72 RI thinline tele and a Yamaha DW-4 electric-acoustic. this guitar is a dream come true...a great sounding American acoustic guitar of my own at last! i love the sound, it's just so good. and the woods and finish are better than many other acoustics from other major-brands. Nice case, too. Anything i wish it had? a free dehumidifier! heh...
well sorry for giving such high ratings, i just love this guitar. go try one for yourself, you won't find a better guitar at this price range.
Cheers! remove the NOSPAM! to email me.

From the serial number, it appears that this guitar was made in the final months of 1999. Taylor's factory is in California. The guitar top is made from solid sitka spruce and the back and sides are solid sapele mahogany with a beautiful, striped grain pattern. The neck is made from mahogany, with an ebony fretboard and a rosewood overlay on the headstock. It has chrome Grover tuners that are very smooth. The bridge is also of ebony. The finish on this instrument is flawless - gloss on the top and satin on the neck, back and sides. The body and neck are bound with black trim and there is a simple, ringed motif around the soundhole. The guitar came with Elixir strings and a custom SKB case.

I sing and play rhythm guitar, so I chose the dreadnought shape for strumming chords. I spent several hours at Guitar Center playing Taylor, Martin, Gibson, Guild and Larivee acoustics in the $700-$1000 range, and the Taylor absolutely blew the others away. It has a rich, deep, balanced articulate tone that just isn't present in the others (and great looks too). I'm also impressed with the Elixir strings - they don't squeak!

The guitar finish and set up are perfect. My only complaint is with the foam insert beneath the fur lining of the SKB case - it seems to be quite lumpy and somewhat ill-formed. A minor complaint to be sure.

I purchased this guitar for recording and in-home use for friends and family. I'd gig with a cheaper, tougher acoustic that I don't care so much about.

I've communicated via e-mail with tech support regarding guitar humidification, and they've been very responsive.

I've been playing for 15 years. I believe in gear simplicity. I have one bass, one electric and one acoustic. The only other acoustic I ever owned was an Ovation Celebrity that I hated. I spent almost one full year making up my mind on this purchase, because I'd rather spend more and buy less often. For me, this is THE acoustic. I'd buy another in a heartbeat. It's gorgeous and it inspires me to play because it sounds so damn good. I'll probably add a Fishman pickup system down the road, but for now I'm good to go.

Dreadnought body. Solid Sitka spruce top. Solid European mahogany back and sides. Ebony fingerboard and bridge. 25.5" scale. 20 or so frets (neck joins at 14th fret). Black plastic binding on front and back. Gloss finish on top, satin on back, sides, and neck. GREAT Grover tuners. Came with really nice hardshell case. Well-done fret work and good intonation. Came with Elixir strings - which I don't really care for. Tortoiseshell pickguard. Simple rosette. Pearl dot neck inlays. Two strap buttons pre-installed (nice!). Neck is Taylor's unique bolt-on style (sounds just as good as dovetailed). Made in California. For the price these are excellent features, but I think it could be a little better still.

Excellent dreadnought sound. Good dynamic range. A great deal of brightness is available (not too much though). This would make an excellent bluegrass/country guitar. I do mustly strumming with it and some arpeggiating. Nothing too fancy (mainly an electric player). I tried other under $1000 acoustics from Seagull, Larrivee, and Martin, and none of them sounded even close to the Taylors. I had high hopes for the Larrivee, being that it too was all solid-wood and was considerably less (around $500 on sale that day), but it was no contest. The other guitars sounded flat and dead (not just mellow), whereas the Taylor was very lively and responsive. If you want a mellower sound I suggest trying some of the other Taylor body styles.

Very well done. The quality and workmanship is excellent

It seems about as durable as a dreadnought could be. The great case will surely help protect it, and the two strap buttons are a nice touch. I would gig it without a backup but would bring extra strings (only because I'd rather spend my money on other things than another acoustic). This guitar seems very well made and like it will last a lifetime if properly taken care of (i.e. using a humidifier, not dropping it, etc.)

Have not dealt with them, but they provide a limited lifetime warranty and the card you fill out for it doesn't ask you a million personal questions like Fender and Peavey do.

An excellent quality guitar for the money. Well worth every penny. (I don't know if I could say the same about the guy who was in the store when I walked in and bought a Presentation series Taylor for $6000 - list was $13000 - and put in an order on another one that listed at $33000 - the salesman said he was going to sell it to him for only $15000 - some people have too much money to spend on fancy guitars).

It's a 1998 310 made in California. The top is glossed sitka spruce and the back and sides are satin mahogony. It's a dreadnought and the neck is 1 1/16". It came with a hard shell case and I've added a Fishman Rare Earth pickup.
The neck is thinner then most other acoustic guitars and after a little getting used to I think it's just as good if not better then the wider necks on most other guitars.

When compared to guitars that are cheaper this guitar sounds much better while when compared to guitars twice the price, it sounds just as good, especially with new strings. The only problem is that the 6th string is a bit close to the edge, so unless it is fretted perfectly, there is a little buzz. I find that most guitars are like this though.

Since I bought I have not adjusted the action at all. The guitar was near flawless condition when I bought it. The tuning pegs aren't all the same tension, but it's no big deal.

A mysterious crack developed on the back and side. I can't do much about it, but I don't think it effects the sound in anyway, it's been like that for the last 8 months. I wish the pickguard was a little bigger, there is some discoloration and scratches where my pick hits the top where there is no pickguard. This only happens when I strum really hard though. I've played a gig with this guitar without a backup and would do it again.

I brought into the place where i bought it just for checkup, that's all, and later to another place to get the pickup installed. Haven't dealt with Taylor yet.

I bought this guitar a year ago, and i've been playing a little over a year. I own a Laney amp and a shure microphone. If this guitar disappeared, I would not buy it again, just because I'd rather get a a guitar with the electronics built in with a cutway, perhaps a 310CE. But for the price it is a great deal, it compares with guitars that cost at least twice as much.