Product: Taylor Guitars 354 CE L7 Blackwood
Price Paid: US $1599.00
Submitted
06/28/2006
at
09:19am
by
t60 fan
Features
:
10
2004 Fall Limited 12-string, Grand Auditorium with cutaway, Expression System electronics, solid Sitka Spruce top (gloss finish), solid Tasmanian Blackwood (aka Black Koa) back (3 pc.) and sides (both satin finish), Ebony fretboard, bridge and bridge pins, tusq nut and saddle (compensated). Came with quality Taylor hardshell case, PA cable, and a DVD for ES. Made in El Cajon, CA on 12/06/2004, first 354 CE L7 that day.
Sound
:
10
I knew I was in trouble with the first strummed open G. Rich, full, articulate, not jangley at all, I love the sound of this guitar. I tried quite a few 12-strings that day (Martin, Larrivee, other Taylors) and none did it for me like this Blackwood. That's probably not surprising, as I love my 314 Blackwood too. I bought this mostly to strum, but find it flatpicks beautifully as well. I really love it's sound.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Action was typical Taylor - great. I had no trouble with clean, clear F chords, which trips me occasionally with a 12. I have no plans to adjust setup at all. The Elixir nano's sound great, so I don't know if I'll play around with others or not. I have yet to find a flaw - great job Taylor (and Wildwood Music for keeping my girl safe for the last year and a half). The grain is different from my other Blackwood, more Koa-like, honey colored instead of molasses. I can see the "flames" in the grain even inside the guitar. The ES works flawlessly, just like my 314.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
While I would buy other six-strings besides (actually in addition to) Taylor, for a 12-string Taylor is the only way I'll go. The NT neck and their style of bolt-on attachment is the most secure way to go IMO. As I don't gig, the backup question doesn't apply to me. All hardware appears first rate.
Customer Support
:
10
Never needed support yet, but received great info when I have contacted Taylor. I called the day after I got the 354, and was told it was one of only 37 produced. She's a keeper!
Overall Rating
:
10
I've been (poorly) playing since the mid 1970's. I own a Taylor 314 CE L7, a PAF 1978 Peavey T-60, a ESP LTD EC1000, a Starfield copy of a Guild dreadnaught, and a Fender travel guitar. I couldn't imagine what I'd do if it were lost/stolen, other than to look for one of the 36 other ones. As I said, I did compare it to quite a few others, but this was the one!
