Product: Taylor Guitars 355 Jumbo 12-String
Price Paid: US $1100.00
Submitted
01/04/2000
at
11:02am
by
Dave Harmet
Email: dharmet at aol<dot>com
Features
:
9
1999 Taylor entry level 12 string. Jumbo body like all Taylor 12's. All gloss finished solid spruce top with satin finished solid mahogany back and sides. Ebony fret board and bridge. Mini chrome-plated Grover tuners. Added Fishman Acoustic Matrix under saddle active piezo pick-up. Came with molded plastic hardshell case. Elixer strings.
Sound
:
9
Use mostly for strumming. This guitar sounds like an orchestra. Very loud, clear, bright sound. Jumbo body style helps punch the low-end. 12 strings are somewhat limiting since only certain songs sound good on them.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
9
Without a doubt the Taylor's have the best action of all 12 strings. Finish is beautiful with no flaws. Gloss top and black and white bindings really make this look like a high-end instrument.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
This is a heavy guitar (but not as heavy as the Guild's) which seems very solidly built. Case is kind of cheap, though. Mostly play at home and take the 6 string out so this guitar should last a lifetime.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Have not had to use their customer support group.
Overall Rating
:
9
I had a hard time spending more on a 12 string than the Martin DM six string I use more and also really like but nothing came close to the Taylor's sound and action. I tried Takamine's, Yamaha's, Martin's and Ovation's and they all sounded terrible next to the Taylor. (For $500 the Sigma 12 string is not bad though.) I still have second thoughts about spending so much on a 12 string until people say how great it sounds.
