Taylor Guitars 410 K

1996 Taylor 410 K. Mine is a custom order with a Koa top also.
Taylor made a handfull of custom orders for the 410 model, sometimes adding features of higher en models. Mine is like a regular 410 K but a solid Koa top was added. Wow !!! it give it killer looks.

Wow !!! What a sound !!! Sound is sweet with thunderous bass response (probably because of the Koa top). Sound is even on all harmonics, and has superb sustain.

Nice low action without any buzzing.......who could ask anything more??? Of course all Taylors have this incredible and nice low action they are renown for.

Had it for about 5 years. Taylors are not rocks and they need the special attention they deserve, but overall they keep it together throughout the years. if they are well taken care of, they age beautifully.

Dealt with them once, and had a kind and fast response.

Koa sound is one of the best i have ever heard through my 30 years of playing. A Koa top is better IMHO, than any spruce out there. it gives it a sweeter, woody sound. Like always, Taylors are on of the best guitars out there.

I recently purchased a Taylor 410k from a friend that I used to work with teaching at a Job Corps school here in Texas. I had never owned a Taylor and really didn't know much about them, except that the friends I know who own a Taylor are almost obsessive about their Taylor guitars. Also, I had never owned a koa wood guitar (although I've had a koa Flatiron mando-cello (or bouzouki) for 25 years almost and am STILL amazed at the sound it projects, its sustain, and its range. The Taylor 410k, although newer (a '96 edition) has that same sort of range and soulful timbre.) I was also very impressed with the quality of construction& material: the ebony fretboard plays like silk, and I really like the "pinless" bridge, although I understand that they don't make them that way which is a shame, its such a simple idea and makes string changing a lot easier. The three piece koa back is seamless in design. Oddly, Taylor doesn't "officially" make the 410k, but my local luthier looked at the label, saw that it was made in December, and guessed that Taylor had some extra koa lying around and wanted to use it up before the new year. Just a guess, but a reasonable one, I think. I have a Gretsch acoustic "retro Hawaiian" guitar that I've been playing for about four years but it has taken a back seat to the Taylor.

As mentioned, the sound is really superb. I didn't think it would be as "bassy" as it is but it projects evenly through out the range. It is not as deep as my old Martin D-18 was, but pretty close and it may improve with age. The Martin was a 30s "herringbone" that had had a long time to "open up" tonally. Someone else mentioned, and I agree, that it is MUCH easier to play than my Martin was, or my Gretsch. The high notes are bright with remarkable sustain. My guess is that it will just get better with age.

Action like silk. Everything bookmatched nicely. There is a weird figure in the sitka spruce, like an anomaly of the wood, but that too was bookmatched and it doesn't affect the resonance, and after awhile I've noticed that these "flaws" actually give it a unique sense of character. Who wants a guitar that looks just like everybody else's guitar? The only "flaw" now?and this has nothing to do with Taylor's craftsmanship?is the first five frets have grooves from my friend's daily playing. But it doesn't buzz and I realize that someday I'll have to have it refretted. But that's just upkeep.

Haven't had it long enough to tell. But I don't foresee any problems with durability or dependability. . .just judging from the other musicians I know that use their Taylors regularly, if not solely, on stage.

Haven't need to contact the company yet so I have no opinion. Their web site looks fairly customer oriented so I can't imagine them being anything but helpful.

I've been playing 40 years, but stopped playing professionally in the mid-90s.
I'm impressed with Taylor's workmanship but I've been around too long to become rabidly attached to any one instrument. I've probably owned a hundred or more guitars in the last 40 years (some, admittedly, purchased simply to trade or sell) and some I wish I still had. . .like the Martin herringbone. But I don't lose any sleep over my possessions. . .life is short, and getting shorter, for an old galoot like me to get attached to musical stuff.

Made in California, USA in 1996. Has a solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany neck, ebony fretboard and bridge, and beautiful solid koa back and sides. The back is two piece, and beautifully bookmatched, with the grain repeated on each side. The finish is satin, which took a little getting used to for me, since I have had only gloss finished guitars until now. The neck is very slim, with a modified C shape- extremely easy to play. It came with the standard SKB style Taylor HS case. Since I use this guitar on stage, the case has gotten a bit worn, but still protects perfectly. I had a Fishman Matrix pickup installed, and had a frustrating 6 months with the setup until the pickup was replaced by the music store where I got the pickup. The volume would drop out, and then, when I turned it up to maintain the sound level needed, the pickup would return to full volume, creating all kinds of sonic havoc. Since the replacement, I have experienced no problems with it.

I play a single act, with computerized backup, covering a wide range of styles. This guitar has been the best overall accoustic I have used onstage, in an amplified situation. Because I usually play at fairly low volumes, feedback is rarely an issue, other than as noted above. Amplified, the guitar is a bit bright, but tweaking the tone controls (full up bass, and the treble rolled off to about half) on both the guitar and amp (a Roland JC120) produces a very full, rich sound. Accoustically, the Taylor is not in the same league as my 1939 Martin D18, but few guitars are. Its sound is crisp with a round, solid bass. It doesn't have the complexity in its "bloom" that the MArtin does, but the sound is a bit more "modern."

I have no real complaints about the 410 K, other than that when I got it, it had a bit of back-bow in the neck that caused several buzzes in the 10-14th fret range on the high E and B strings. A trip to my tech solved that problem, and I have had no other issues with the guitar. The action has always been amazingly low (especially with that back-bow). I use very light strings on it, close to the same guages I use on my electrics, so I get about the same feel with it as I do my Heritage H-550.

Taylor builds a quality instrument, and this one has stood up to being played, on average, 4 nights a week onstage, with no appreciable wear. While I use both my electric and the Taylor onstage, I feel I could play just the Taylor as long as I had a spare set of strings with me.

I've not had to have the guitar repaired, but the Taylor company has been very responsive to questions asked concerning the Fishman pickup and the back-bow in the neck

I have been playing professionally for more than 35 years, and have a prewar Martin D18, a '65 Gibson ES125TDC, the Taylor 410K, and a Heritage H-550. My main stage rig is a late 90's JC 120, and I also use a Fender Deluxe Reverb and/or a Fender Blues Junior. Were it stolen, I would definately look for another, because I really love the look and sound of the koa back and sides. My favorite feature of this guitar is its ease of playing- it does not tire my hands out like the MArtin does after several hours of playing. I think it holds its own against any other dreadnaught in its price range, but accoustically, it does not compare in volume or sound with my D18. Maybe it will after it ages for over 60 years. I bought my son a Guild D4 for Christmas last year, and I think the Taylor is a bit superior to the Guild in sound and looks, but the playability of the two is about even. From all accounts, I wish that this guitar couls be retrofitted with Taylor's new ES pickup system.

Made late 1996 in El Cajon, CA. Standard size dreadnought. Stika spruce two piece book matched top (nice work, it's very difficult to see the joint line). Differs from standard 410 model with it's Koa back and sides (a Hawaiian native wood, very pretty, slighly lighter in color than mahogany, beautiful grain and color that seems to change based on the angle you view it from- a treat for the eyes!). Mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, mother of pearl fret markers and Grover tunders. Standard Taylor X-bracing inside. Bridge is ebony with strings inserted through back of ebony saddle, and then over the bridge itself, rather than using pegs. Matte-like finish on stika top. Some ornamentation, but nothing like the more expensive model. Solid workmanship.

Very, very nice tonal balance. Slightly bright tone (probably due to Koa back and sides? but bass rings out loud and clear- balance throughout register. Beautiful sustain- follow Taylor recommentation and use med-gaudge strings...really brings out the tone (I followed manufactures recommendation and have med Elixer's--Taylor doesn't skimp on strings- I guess so you'll get the best tone in the store and want to buy it. Equally versitile with strumming, fingerpicking and playing treble cleft. I've owned Gibsons in the past, but this is better. Very strong projection. Only real competition is a vintage Martin D series.

Well set up: perfectly straight neck, good action, no buzzes across the register. Bookmatched top is unbleievable! Best I've ever seen (I had it for a week before I realized it was bookmatched rather than one piece). Same goes for three-piece Koa back. Beautiful workmanship!!! Frets are nice, neck is thin (a minus for me since I'm the rare player who prefers a thicker neck). Wood choice and quality are phenononal. Not much intricate inlay work-- Taylor saves that for the 800 series. No better built guitar for the price

I haven't had it long enough to comment with any expertise. Taylor case is perfect fit and sure to protect the guitar.

Haven't had to ask for anything-- guitar is fine. Suggest Taylor's web page www.taylorguitars.com A good general resource on caring for any acoustic and some good taylor specific info. No info on
410-K...I guess it's been discontinued. Next closest is K-10 with same woods and components, but much more expensive inlay work.

Been playing for about 25 years. Have owned 1969 Gibson acoustic and Alvarez-Yari DY-85 plus many electrics and basses. Alvarez had great looks but medicore tone, Gibson was opposite, but this Tayore beats them both. If I lost my 410-K I'd only replace it with another unless I got a great deal on a 1960-1972 Martin D-series, and even then it would be a close call. Probably best value in a premium acoustic.

Made in El Cajon California in 1996. All solid wood. Sitka spruce soundboard and beautiful bookmatched koa back. No inlay in back. Koa sides. Thin mahogany neck. Peghead has roseword overlay and chrome butterbean shaped Grover tuners. Front binding is black, white, black white, black. Back binding is black. Unbound ebony fretboard with MOP dot inlays. Dreadnaught body shape with satin finish. The visual effect of the Koa is quite striking, it changes colors as the light refractions change. Taylor HSC with red lining.

Bright sound that is somewhat darker than my maple J-200 Gibson (that was the tone that I was looking for), and not quite the sustain. The Gibson is older though so maybe the Taylor will loosen up and be more comparable. I like the tone more than the many mahogany and rosewood dreads I played during my quest (within the price range). However, I played one that was my favorite, a rosewood Martin D-35, but it was just too expensive for a second guitar.

I believe the soundboard is one piece, if it is bookmatched I can't see the joint. Workmanship is perfect. Frets are perfect. Does not play as smoothly as my Gibson, but I have only had it one day. Maybe it is the thinner neck.

Time will tell.

I have heard good things, never used.

Playing off and on for 35 years. I shopped for this guitar (also off and on) for almost two years. My favorite feature is the tone, second is the small size and light weight. If It were lost I guess I would just have to start over and find another jewel, they're out there you know!