Taylor Guitars 315-CE

This review is for the 315c, with no electronics. Bought it used. I believe the body is sapele, nice grain. Nice ebony fb and bridge, good tuners, nice case. Tremendous build quality as is usual with Taylor. Got rid of a Gibson for failing miserably on this issue.

I like the Taylor sound. The bass is a little light, but it is clear and not the least bit boomy. Wonderful midrange and treble. Came with Elixir strings, which I dont like. When you coat a string you lose definition, I dont care whether the coating is dirt or some kind of magic protectant, it hurts the sound. Put on a set of Martin SP 80/20 pospher-bronze and it sounded like a blanket had been taken off the guitar. Much clearer and more dynamic.

The best. Plays like my electric.

I will not waste everyone's time on this since it is already stated in many reviews above. To me the best feature is the fact that it is a Taylor. I spent quite a bit of time researching several companies on their manufacturing methods, quality, and support. I have experienced many of the other major players and Taylor wins hands down.

The sound of my 315 is really rich. I play several styles from fingerpicking,flat picking, and strumming. This guitar fits it all. The sound is full and as loud as I need for small groups. I play through a sound system most of the time. I played more than a hundred guitars looking for a certain sound. When I bought the guitar I could have paid several hundred more, but this one had the sound I was looking for.

The guitar was setup perfect from the factory. It really is perfect for all the styles that I play. For electronics, I looked at the ES system but I liked the Fishman system better. I did check with Taylor and they will have the ability in the near future to upgrade the Fishman systems to the ES if we want to. I do not plan on it, put it is nice to have the option. The frets are all finished perfect. The finger board is wood, nice wood, not the stuff some other folks are using. The hardware is very nice and the finish is remarkable. Before you select your company get a mirror on a stick and look inside the guitar inside. The part that you do not usually see will really show where the poor workmanship is. You would be suprised what some of the major companies look like. Taylor is first rate here.

I play live through a sound system about 5 hours a week. I will mention the name of my past guitar but I would not play it on stage without a backup plugged in and ready. It was not a Taylor. Now I leave my backup home. It is dependable.

I have dealt with customer support from three of the major companies. Taylor's customer support wins hands down. Very helpful, very curdious and friendly. They went beyond the call when I was firing many questions and they even did some very nice things that I did not ask for and would have expected to pay for free. It's a Taylor thing and you have to own one to understand. I'm sorry the rating only goes to 10, this category, I would give them a 15.

I have been playing for 28 years, wow did not realize it had been that long. I should be better... Anyway, I own Fender, Martin, Gibson, Epiphone, Yamaha, Applause and Taylor. If stolen would I buy again? Yep, the 315CE would be the first I would look at. But, not every model of the same guitar sounds the same. I would have to play it. I would never order an acoustic guitar from a catalog. I love the tone of this instrument. I love the action. I love the finish. If I had my wish I would have some abalone around the sound hole and that is the only thing that keeps this from being perfect. But for the price I love what I have. And no, I don't work for Taylor. But if I could I would. They are a great company with a great product and a fair price. Every company will at some time or another have a problem they will have to address. Taylor's customer support ensures that their customers are looked after. It really is a Taylor thing.

This jumbo acoustic/electric with a soft venetian cutaway is a Oct 2002 model made in El Cajon. Solid Sitka spruce top and solid Sapele back and sides, and mahogany neck. Top is gloss finish, while the back and sides are satin. Also has an Indian Rosewood headstock overlay. Binding is black fiber. Comes equipped with Fishman Prefix Plus preamp w/ Acoustic Matrix under saddle pickup. The newly designed NT neck has an Ebony fretboard. The bridge is also ebony, with tusq saddle. Tuners are chrome Grovers. 20 frets. 1-3/4" nut. Taylor HSC. Adjustable truss rod. Scalloped bracing. Not much on the fancy trim work, but it is still a really beautiful guitar. You get a GREAT guitar for the $$. Compare it to Gibsons and Martins twice it's price.

I play mainly rhythm in worship bands so the loudness of this jumbo cuts right thru the mix. I also play unplugged once a week for some high school kids in Young Life, and don't really need an amp for it until there are about 50 kids in the room. Normally I am just running thru the house PA, but when amp'ed I use a Epiphone AR30 and it does the job. This guitar is the best bang for the buck out there. It has a big full and rich tone. And it is loud. Deep deep bass and that trademark Taylor shimmer on the high end. And a nice smooth midrange. And it is LOUD! It responds great to heavy strumming, you cannot overdrive this big sitka top. And it also does a great job with flatpicking. It handles fingerpicking good, but if that is you preferred playing style you might look a x12 or x14 model of Taylor. And did I mention that it is LOUD!!!

Like butter. The new NT neck feels great in your hand and the action comes nearly perfect from the manufacturer. I had my dealer lower it just a bit before I left the store, took all of 5 minutes. Most high end guitars are shipped that way nowdays.

I would play it at any gig. I have played it around a campfire on a chilly night. It is a hoss all the way around.

Haven't had to use them yet, but I hear from many people they have the best CS of any company. I have called them to get my registration taken care of, ordered a free video on the NT neck, asked for sound hole drink coasters, and a new pickguard. Everyone has bent over backwards to get what I asked for, and have not asked for a single penny.

Been playing for 12 years. Best guitar I have owned. It replaced my Martin DR. My son will inherit this guitar from me. He was born in '02. I can't wait to buy one the higher series Taylor's, like a 600 series maple.

Taylor never ceases to impress, even with this low end model. The Fishman Prefix Plus system boasts huge headroom and massive EQ parameters. The Grover tuners are exceptional as allways. The top is gloss finished with satin back and sides. There are no inlays but its a $1000 guitar folks. The case that came with the guitar is simply the best case I have ever owned. It fits the guitar like a glove and absorbs shock very well with dense addaptive foam.

I love playing folk music and this guitar represents close to the best sound available for my style. It is not as vocal as a Tacoma Jumbo or even a Gibson Jumbo but produces all the tone you could hope for. The Leo Kottke model Taylor would be the best for very loud folk music if not for the price. The 315ce is the perfect compromise. Very well rounded tonal responce, not the biggest but still big resonance. Pronounced base tones are among the best I have ever heard unpluged. Plugged in, the Fishman Prefix Plus presents more gain tha most processors or sound boards are capable of. You must watch the gain closley. As the guitar is so large and resonate, it can quickly launch low-mid range feedbacks that wont stop without killing the channel completely. Use a sound hole plug if you are into big stage volumes.

The guitar I have is structurally flawless. The back is almost seemless, in fact I had to look closley to see if it was not one sheet! The action is a little heavy for me but that is due to the fact that I have played ultra lights for most of my life. This guitar is definatly better suited for medium guage strings for maximum tonal response.

I do not know if this guitar will stand the test of time. Anybody I know that has a Taylor of similar construction from the 300 series of guitars has had great luck traveling and playing live for years with theirs. The 315ce I have is built like a tank. It is very similar in weight and bracing to a Gulid which is known for its road worthiness. I dread the day when it falls off a stand but it has not happened yet. Taylor strongly recomends keeping your Taylor guitar humidified and that will be a problem for me as I live in one of the driest climates in the country.

I have not dealt with the company on any level.

I have been playing for 20 years and believe this to be the best guitar I have ever owned. I own and have owned Guilds, and Ovations primarily for playing live and plugged in. I wish I could have found and afforded a Leo Kottke Signature Model from Taylor but the price is a bit high and the availability for a six string model is next to none. Add that to the fact that LKSM is not made available with electronics.

I would not compare this guitar to many others that I have played as it is in a class of its own. The 315ce is the most mellow yet tonaly projective guitar that I have ever heard. If you love tone but dont particularly care for obscene volume, this guitar is perfect.

The only unagreeable thing about this guitar is its weight. Look for a very comfortable guitar strap the day you purchase your 315ce.

This guitar is not an Olson or a Gibson Jumbo but it is simply the best Jumbo you can buy for around $1000.

This is a basic model so you don't get fancy inlays and that suits me fine. The spec is as follows:
Jumbos are known for their extra-deep resonance and volume, and this six-string version is certainly no exception. This new addition to the 300 Series lineup features a soft, Venetian cutaway and Fishman? Prefix Plus? onboard electronics.

Type/Size of guitar 6-String Jumbo
Strings Elixir? Acoustic
Medium Gauge Bronze
Neck Width at Nut 1 3/4 Inches
Bracing Scalloped, X-Brace
Cutaway Venetian
Electronics Fishman Prefix Plus
Body Width 17 Inches
Body Length 21 Inches
Body Depth 4 5/8 Inches
Overall Length 42 Inches

300 SERIES STANDARD FEATURES
Back / Sides Sapele Mahogany
Top Sitka Spruce
Soundhole Rosette Wood Fibre
Neck Tropical American Mahogany
Fretboard Ebony
Fretboard Inlay Large Pearl Dots
Headstock Overlay Indian Rosewood
Binding Black Fibre
Bridge Ebony
Nut & Saddle Tusq
Tuning Machines Chrome-Plated Grovers
Scale Length 25 1/2 Inches
Truss Rod Adjustable
Number of Frets 20
Finish Satin with Gloss Top
Case Taylor Hardshell

Very full, rich, resonant sound either picking or rythmn work. Loud unplugged which comes in handy and the Fishman electronics is quite faithful - I'd be interested in hearing a Taylor with the blender system.

You really can tell the difference that solid wood construction makes. There is far more sustain and a richer tone without being boomy or muddy. My Son (age 13) said it sounds like there is an echo and I guess he was hearing the bell like harmonics ringing away.

Generally speaking the guitar is awesome and in a league of its own.
For my style of playing the action could come down a tad but I'm going to wait and see if I get used to it before doing anything.

The Sitka Spuce top has "bear claw" figuring which are lines going against the grain. Mine has one or two large bear claw marks which looked a bit odd at first but I've grown used to them now.

I think the construction is so good I can not forsee any problems.
The joinery and hardware are first class.

I had some questions and managed to get through to the UK Taylor sales manager with a single phone call.

Don't think there will be a problem here.

I tried several makes before buying. I'd not considered a Taylor until someone in a shop told me to try one.

I've owned Ovation, Washburn, Yamaha and they've all been great but for fullness of sound and playability this is in another class.

Works well with chorus, phaser, delay and tremelo but you can't beat the natural sound unplugged or through the PA.

I understand you can't retro fit the Fishman Blender system which is a shame. Its only fitted on the high end models at 2 to 3 times the price !

Its true what Taylor reviews say about the cases - awesome.

Received my left-handed 315ce Jumbo about a month ago. Promised it in 40 days from order; got it in 40 days. The Jumbo 6-string is new in 2001. Was going to buy a 314ce but then saw the jumbo on the web page. Not disappointed at all. Sitka spruce top, Sapele sides and back. Beautifully playable thin neck. Superb finish, construction and set up. Case is better than anything I've ever seen. Fishman Prefix amp, though I haven't plugged in yet. Even though I bought at the low end of the Taylor line, it is better than I ever imagined.

Primarily I am a fingerpicker. The sound is crisp in lows, mids and highs - virtually no buzz. Great range in tone when strumming from the bridge to the high neck. I've found that aggressive strumming is extremely bold - drowns out my voice in my small practice room (why do I need a pickup?)

Perfect set up for me at factory - and beautifully built. No flaws. Stays in tune forever.

Nirvana. I've owned 6 and 12 strings from Aria and Guild for the past 35 years, but the 315ce will last for the rest of my life. The playability is so good now, I can't wait until it really starts to ripen over the next few years.

Apart from receiving the video on the new neck design, and the fact that it arrived right on the money since it was custom built, I suspect Taylor support is all it's cracked up to be.

I honestly believe this guitar makes me a better player. I hear tunes and chords coming out of this that I've never thought of before. I fiddle a lot with alternate tunings, and this baby just shows me the way. EVERYTHING sounds good on this guitar. I need to quickly add it to my insurance policy - so I could replace it if anything bad happened. For the money, I just can't imagine a better, more complete guitar (except maybe for a higher end Taylor :-)) but I'm good with this one....