Taylor Guitars 410-CE

Mine was purchased new in 1997 or 1998 and sold in 2003 or 2004. Solid spruce top, mahogany sides (not sapele, I don't think) with the onboard Fishman prefix electronics and a cutaway. Satin finish. I give it a 7 because it's about average in features for this type of guitar.

The sound was adequate for most music styles, and the string balance and definition was adequate. I found that the high E string was a bit soft and quiet, though. Overall, the guitar did not have a rich or distinctive voice, a strong tone, or any projection compared to other acoustic guitars I've heard since I bought it. This is NOT a 'bluegrass cannon' by any standard. Standing in a circle with a Taylor 810 and two Martin dreads, my 410CE sounded like a whisper compared to their sonic booms. (It was this experience, by the way, that convinced me to sell it.) That said, the guitar had a subtle and sweet voice and recorded very well. The electronics were quiet and string balance was much better through the pickup than acoustic. I would say the guitar sounded much better amplified or recorded (through the pickup) than it did acoustic. The Fishman system is versatile and easy to use.

The action was great, and the guitar played comfortably. The cutaway and fast neck made it easy to play all over the fretboard. The fit was perfect--no flaws. The finish is the standard, run of the mill satin finish, which I think is an intolerable compromise. I don't think it protects the guitar as well as gloss, and it may also detract from the tone, so I don't really see the point other than as a cost savings. There's lots of argument as to whether the finish is a factor in tone or not, and I don't claim to know scientifically, but I can say that I have never heard a satin finish acoustic guitar that has projected well to my ears.

The guitar was well built and came with a nice case. It would probably withstand live playing for many years, and would be a good choice for a regular club musician due to it's light weight, low price, and good electronics. I am concerned that the finish would not hold up for bad weather outdoor use, and I kept the guitar in the case and humidified at all times, but neglect would probably wear poorly on this guitar.

Taylor sets a respectably high standard for customer support. I wish more companies across the spectrum were like Taylor. Their website / newsletter / clinician program is excellent. They are beyond compare vs. Martin (who seem FAR too corporate to care about the music community) or any other guitar builder, acoustic or electric. I never had any problems that warranted repair, but as I recall the warranty was fair.

If you are an electric guitar player and need an acoustic guitar that sounds good amplified, isn't too expensive, and is easy to play, consider the 410CE. If you want great acoustic tone, look elsewhere.

I have been playing for 17 years, but at the time I bought it it had only been 10 or so. I was a club musician for some of that time, and have owned many guitars. Right now I only own a Johnson resonator. I wish I had known my tastes in acoustic guitar better than I did when I bought it. It suited my needs at the time.

Frankly, cutaways, giant holes in the side of the guitar for on-board electronics, satin finished sapele, and narrow necks are not the formula for rich acoustic tone. It is not the guitar's fault that I didn't like it, really. It's great for what it is. Taylor makes a nice guitar and their customer service is the gold standard IMO.

6-string guitar, cutaway, expression system. It's a guitar? Don't know how to rate this category...

I love the sound. It's very crisp & bright when using a pick. You can get some grittiness by getting chunkier with your picking.

I mainly fingerpick/strum and this guitar is a dream to play. A wide range of tone, but overall very clear, beautiful sound.

Only reason I give it a 9 is because of the expression system - it's awesome but I get some noise when I raise the treble on it. This could be the grounding/shielding from my amp and outlet. Not sure...

Almost no feedback when using this guitar on an amp. I've got a twin reverb, marshall acoustic and barbetta monitor/amp. It sounds INCREDIBLE on each amp. Totally different sounds, but all very workable and fun to tweak with.

If you need to play loud and stay in the mix live, this pickup system is incredible.

Took me a couple weeks to get used to the wide neck, but now that I've built up the arm/hand strength it is a joy to play this guitar. The finish is pretty traditional, however the ovangkol back and sides look beautiful. I love the look of Taylors. While it's not exotic like a Yairi, it's beauty lies in its' simplicity, much like a Gibson or Larrivee. Very proportional, beautiful neck & body. The white trim, pickguard, tuners, glossy top. It's all very beautiful - statuesque. I feel like I'm playing a "real" guitar when I pick it up. Don't know if that makes sense. I guess it's just a little more solid than other guitars I've played. Bottom line, I *love* the look!

solid. I baby it, usually it's in the case, but sometimes I like to leave it out on the stand for easy access. The case it came with looks good and the guitar fits in snug.

I have to say that Taylor ROCKS with customer support. Besides the lifetime guarantee, I've called the phone number on the website and always get a person to help me with suggestions/tips/troubleshooting.

You can totally tell they love what they do.

love it, love it, love it. I played other guitars in the showroom - a jumbo, 414ce, 510, couple martins, gibson hummingbird... and I left with this guitar. I actually went in wanting to get a gibson acoustic, but decided to play this taylor and I'm so glad I did!

As always, you should buy what feels best for you, not what reviews or articles say. I hear a lot of people nitpicking about 414 vs 410 etc.. I play fingerstyle, but the 410 just felt the best.


The person who gave this guitar a 4 because he's pissed that he didn't keep his guitar in good condition.....I can't stand it when people skew reviews based on psersonal vendettas. Who in thier right mind would give this guitar a 4?? Maybe he got a lemon..

The only reason I give this a 9 is that my ES has a little bit of noise on the treble settings.

Sitka Spruce Top
Ovangkol Back and Sides, an African wood.
Fishman Stereo Blender EQ and Pickup System
Clear Coat Finish on top

Plays great plugged and unplugged. Great tone and a nice bright sound. Makes my other friends jealous.

I enjoy the wider neck, due to my blues solos. I actually find that it plays quicker then most the Martins I considered buying.

Beautiful Finish, I rarely see finger prints!

The case that comes with it fits very snug, no guitar movement!

I play live every week and so far I have had no problem with it. It takes the hot lights and the moving around beautifully. It never slips off my knee during stool sets. I think this guitar will last many years.

I haven't contacted customer support yet, NO NEED.

I picked this guitar over many others in the same price range. If you're looking for a perfect intermediate model guitar, this is the one!

1999 Taylor 410 with Fishman electronics. Satin finish and Rosewood back and sides. Great finish. Solid wood guitar. Not alot of eye candy but seemed solid and has thousands of fans nation wide.

The sound was good but this guitar was way to picky as to humidity changes. Every once and awhile, the guitar would absolutely sound lousy with changes in humidity.Please understand that I am familiar with humidity control but this guitar was more temperamental then any of my other guitars. A person shouldnt have to rush a beautiful guitar in and out of its case every time.The great sound was very inconsistant thus I sold it

Fit and finish were impeccable. Action would go out of wack after being out of case. It would then require 3 or 4 days back in its case before action would come back around and sound good.

Very unreliable!! Sounded great and horrible within short period of time. If you get one, keep it in its case at all times. The rest of the guitar was very durable and reliable

Been playing for 25 years.Currently, I own Guild, Garrison and Alvarez Yairi. Check out the Garrisons or Yairis for less temperamental and less expensive guitars. My freind owns Larrivees and he never even keeps em in their case. They dont go out of wack either.

I have fairly small hands, so I find the wide neck is not quite right for me but the rest of the guitar is perfect for me, so I deal with the wider neck.

Beautiful balance of tone and sustain. I have an old Aria acoustic from '78 and the Taylor just blows it away! Before I bought this guitar, I played several Martins and Larrivees and I liked the sound and playability of the Taylor much better.

This guitar was perfectly set up, plays fairly easily (for a wide neck) all the way up the scale. The finish is flawless, good job bookmatching the top.

It's never left my house since I no longer perform but given it's construction, I would expect this guitar to hold up well. The guitar is a bit heavier than other dreadnoughts, and that should help with durability also.

I've not had any dealings with the factory, but I've heard that Taylor is easy to deal with. That was one other selling point for me.

I've been playing guitar since the mid 60's. I currently own the Taylor 410CE, the Aria acoustic mentioned above, an Epi Dot, an Epi Les Paul Standard (Japanese) and a Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus. I play through a Fender Hot Rod DeVille 410 and a Beringer Eurodesk mixer. I don't play the Taylor through any pedals, but for the elecrics, I use a Digitech RP200 and a Zoom 505II.

For those of you that have been considering this guitar I'm sure you already know the features and specs, but anyway. Mine is a 2003. The Taylor 410-ce is an American made, acoustic dreadnought cutaway electric. It has sitka spruce top, ovangkol back and sides, mahogany neck, and ebony fret board. The onboard electronics include a Fishman Stereo Blender which consists of a (under the saddle) piezo and a condenser mic. I have not tried the Fishman yet except in the store but everyone knows that Fishman is quality. The tuners are Grovers, nickel plated. As far as the cosmetic features/options on this guitar, you are getting simplicity at its very, very best without sacrificing any quality or craftsmanship whatsoever. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I own a Larrivee L-10 Custom with ALL the extras(inlay explosion) and, to me, the Taylor is as beautiful as the Larrivee in its own way. I had never even heard of Ovangkol wood before I saw it on the Taylors. This is a truly beautiful wood from eastern Africa, very pleasing to the eye with rich, dark grain highlighted by subtle streaks of lighter brown and olive. The satin finish on the guitar really allows the wood grain to come to life. This guitar doesn't have alot of the cosmetic features available on a more expensive instrument but if you can appreciate the beauty of simplicity, you might just want to check out the Taylor 410-ce.

I have always found it hard to describe a guitars sound in words. I mean a $100 guitar with new strings can have a rich, full sound, right? I have heard the Taylor sound described as that of a bell and I really wanted to hear what that description really sounded like. Now I know, and now I own one. The low end tone on this guitar is extraordinarily responsive, crisp, deep, and loud but without the unpleasant boom you get with a less quality guitar. It is a flat pickers dream, but surprisingly well suited for fingerpicking. I do a little of both on this guitar. Overall, the bass, mids, and highs are very well balanced but the bass response was really one of the major selling points for me on this guitar. The projection and volume is just exceptional. While shopping around for guitars I played Martin D-28's, HD-28's, D-35's, etc. that sounded just flat out dead compared to the Taylor. I played six different 410-ce's and while they all had similar characteristics, each and every acoustic guitar has its own unique sound all its own, so I would suggest trying several of the same model to find that gem that you're looking for. I found mine. Thanks Taylor!

The action is just alright compared to some of the descriptions I've read on here of perfect action. The strings could be a little lower for my taste but really acceptable for a dreadnought. Don't think you're going to be playing all down the neck with unlimited ease. Some say if the action is too low that you lose some tone and volume. I don't know how true that is. As I said before, the finish is satin which, in my opinion, lets the beauty of the ovangkol escape. No finish flaws to speak of, just true quality, craftsmanship, and sound through and through. I have heard alot of people complain about the end pin jack becoming loose. Myself, I haven't had any problems with that but I also have not used a strap on this guitar yet. So far so good.

This guitar seems very sturdy and well built for the long haul. I have no experience with a satin finish but hopefully the folks at Taylor take the issue of long lasting quality into consideration on all of their guitars. I would expect nothing less.

Lifetime warranty but hopefully I will never have to use it. I have not dealt with the company.

I've been playing guitar for 22 years. Along with the Taylor 410-ce, I also own a Larrivee L-10 custom, Ibanez 12 string jumbo, Ovation Balladeer, and Fender amps. This guitar was exactly what I was looking for. Nothing bad to say about this guitar. I had considered the Taylor 414-ce which had a great tone, just not quite the bass response I was looking for. I noticed the price I paid for this guitar is less than any other recent review I've seen. I paid $1150 out the door, Taylor hardshell case included. Thses dealers will come down on price, believe me. Overall, I think I got an exceptional deal on this guitar. I am more than pleased.

US made - 2003 model. Check all the specks at http://216.120.92.69/guitars/models/models.asp?id=410ce
Fisman blender (piezo/mike) pickup - standard on all 2003 models
and definitely worth buying vs. pure piezo.
Major selling point (vs. eg Martin) was neck width - perfect compromise
between flat- and finger-picking.
Bought it with Taylor case (very nice).

Taylor 410-CE is well suited for flatpicking (folk, bluegrass) and
it works VERY well with fingerpicking (classical, country blues).
I would not try jazz on it - action may be occasionaly a problem for
fretting jazz chords in higher positions. But it is not impossible.
I do not own acoustic amp yet but I tried Marshall 50W acoustic amp,
California and Strawberry Blond and some Fenders. It sounded always
very even (not as even as 710 though) - trebles very well rounded,
and well defined. In fact the amplified sounds was major argument
for 410 vs. 310.
Sound is full with a lot of sustain. Guitar was made in 2003 so it
did not "opened" yet so sometimes I wish there was more depth to the
sound when flatpicking. For fingerpicking sound is perfect.
There does not seem to be much variety to sound though - it is like
a piano - you press the key and it sounds. With a LOT of Taylor sustain.
From that point I liked 710 better it seemed to support more tone-shaping.
Likes/dislikes - it took me a while to get used to Taylor sound -
lots of sustain and "shimmer". But ones you get to like it - there
is no going back - I played several Martins afterward and they all
sounded dead.
I first bought Martin D-17 - I really liked creamy sound of all-
mahogeny body. But the neck was to narrow for fingerpicking and it
was a bit hard to play up the neck so I exchanged it for Taylor 310CE.
After few days I started hating the action so I tried putting light
gauge strings on it. As expected there was a good playability gain
and guitar sounded nice when played with fingers and without amp.
With pick it definitely lost it punch and sounded way to "shimmery"
a bit like 12-string.
Then I checked 310CE vs. 410CE through the amp and 410 won hands down.
310 simply sounded muddy too much midrange and not much else - trebles
were drowned. Both with medium gauge and light.
The only reason I give it 8 is that I played 710-CE so I know that
guitar can actually sound even better.

Perfect action/intonation right from the start. What Taylor suppose
to be. Pickup is Fishman stereo blender (piezo/mike) - it needed to
be switch from stereo to mono mode before blending worked correctly -
but it was quite obvious from manual.

Will this guitar withstand live playing? Well if you do not try Pete
Townsend/Gart Brooks shticks then I do not see why not - it has a very
solid feel to it.
Hardware/finish seems very well made. I basically baby it (always in
case unless played) so she does not have to endure any challenges yet.
Strap buttons seems fine - I read online that strap buttons work best
with Taylor made straps and that is waht I intend to get.
When gigging I would consider backup - from what I heard solid body
guitars are sensitive to humidity. But so far I never had any such
problems with my Taylor. I got hygrometer and inside the case it
always reads 45-55% which is what this guitar needs. I ever noticed
any changes in sound/playability.

Customer support:
I have called Taylor Guitars about 4 times in the process of selecting
the Taylor model. They were always incredibly patient in listening to
all my remarks and while never tried to push any specific model on me
I still found their input valuable. Most of the time I could not get
right through to the technician but they would alway return the call
within couple of hours.
Repairs:
I did not need any so far. I may at some poit get a professional
setup but I will probably go to local luthier here ion Austin -
Bill Giebitz.

I have been playing for 20+ years. Mostly classical, some jazz,
blues,folk, bluegrass and slack-key.
I own American Standard Stratocaster, Takamine 132S and (soon)
Liberty metal body resonator LO100.
I spent several weeks selecting this guitar - Guitar Center
salesperson here in Austin (Doug Steiger) was himself a Taylor owner
(614) and he tried to get me to try Taylors early - instead of
sticking to Martins. I just wish I followed his advice earlier.
Taylor 410-CE is the best guitar I have ever owned.
If this guitar was stolen I would find the thief and cut off his
family jewels. Otherwise I would either replace it or else try to get
Taylor 710-CE (with Taylor Expression System).

I recently purchased a Taylor 410ce, which is a cut away electric/acoustic. The guitar is all solid with a spruce Top and Ovangkol sides and back. The ebony fretboard is partnered with a low action that make freting the guitar quite easy. The neck is thin, almost too thin for my large hands, but I am getting used to it.

I play mostly classic rock, pop and folk. The guitar has a well balanced sound and it is easy to hear the individual notes even when strumming hard. I went to the store planning on buying a Martin D-28, but found the Martin to have what I considered an overpowering bass. The sound of the Taylor is bright and well balanced. Some people may prefer a bit more bass, but I prefer the neutral sound that allows for more playing versatility.

The action is low, but well made so that there is not a problem with buzzing. I have not tried the pickup yet so I can't comment on it, but the playability is among the easiest that I have ever tried. I have tried hard to find a flaw, but I cannot. The guitar is solid and beautiful. I have noticed in the stores I have looked at that the 3 and 4 series tops sometimes gets wood that appears to have natural discoloration. The guitar I bought, however does not have such a problem. The wood is very attractive. The only thing that I have noticed is that the hardware for the neck strap / plug tends to loosen and needs to be screwed back on occassion.

This guitar is heavy and solid. I have watched the Taylor video which shows how these guitars are made and the features of its unique adjustable neck design. I have not had problems yet and believe that the guitar is built for a long life. The only flaw, as noted above, is the neck strap / plug in button on the bottem of the guitar which tends to loosen.

I called Taylor prior to purchasing a guitar to ask questions about the different models. Although I was not able to speak with a live person when I called, I left a message and got a call back within 24 hours. The person I spoke with gave me all of the time I wanted and answered all of my questions. I have also ordered their video on the neck design of their guitars and it arrived within a week. So far, I've been pleased

I have been playing almost two years. Although I am still learning, I really enjoy playing this guitar. I really liked the look of the 6 series with a stunning Maple back and sides, but that guitar was significantly more expensive. In a side by side comparison, I could barely tell a difference in sound. The 410ce saved me considerable money, but does not have the ornate inlay or high gloss finish on the higher models. Actually I prefer the understated look and am not big of the "fancy" appointments of some guitars. I would buy this guitar again if this guitar were stolen as it presents a good value without compromising quality. This guitar appears every bit as well built as any Taylor I have played.

easily obtainable

I compared several models: Taylor 310ce, 410ce, 414ce, Larrivee DV05e, and the DV09e. i narrowed it down to the 414ce and the two larrivees. well, the dv09e i was looking at was sold the day after i first saw it, but i played on it for atleast an hour. here's the comparison:
Taylor 414ce: i love the lighter bracing on this. the most responsive guitar, fingerpicked notes fly off (probably due to the light bracing). excellent separation of notes, balance, and clarity. the ovankol adds top end brilliance and clarity over the mahogonay of the dv05e, but the guitar was easily overdriven with medium to heavy strumming. electronics didn't include an internal mic.
410ce: the bracing on this is much heavier, which seemed to inhibit the transparency and clarity when fingerpicked. This had much better top-end sheen than the 310ce, though the 310ce already sounds wonderful, the 410ce was just more complex and well-rounded. it performed best when strummed or flatpicked, giving good separation of notes, heartier bass than the 414ce. it feels like it would take a while for this guitar to open up, but once that happens, it would sound as good as the best of them.
Larrivee dv05e: also a lightly built guitar, the bass was full and punchy- i love that. the mahogany is overall more mellow when fingerpicked. strummed, it gave less separation of notes but better overall projection and sweetness to the tone. i would have preferred a little more brilliance on the top end, while retaining that punchy bass. both were very balanced guitars, and a fine pleasure to play. a very difficult choice for me.
My ideal guitar was probably a $3k Martin D41, but it was out of my range. the other Martins in this price range really lacked clarity, i felt they were much too muddy and of poorer workmanship than either Larrivee or Taylor.
I wanted to pick up the dv09e, and am kicking myself for not. it was basically the dv05e with rosewood back and sides, had a nice thumping low end, bright and clear top end. i'm still on the lookout!
overall the 410ce is great for heavier strummers, with occasional fingerpicking. i would choose the larrivee over this, however.

The Taylors were truly wonderful- completely flawless, excellent factory set action, and the neck joint technology is state of the art. the nut scale is wider than the larrivee, good for fingerpicking but more difficult for barring and chording. the larrivee suffers from consistently high action, and the detail in workmanship is excellent but not quite at the level of taylor. taylors get a 10, larrivee gets an 8 for their action problems.

the warrantee is amazing, the case is a tank. what else could you ask for?

no idea

I play mainly fiddle, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and mandolin(in that order). The Larrivee was the best guitar for my needs in the store. I just hope that over time the top opens up, and adds a little brilliance and presence to the sound. The 410ce is better suited to acoustic rock or folk. fingerstyle players should look towards the x14 style. overall, an excellent guitar, but i just felt the larrivee has a slight edge in sound clarity. i wish they used the thinner bracing from the 414ce in the 410ce. i envied taylor's excellent warrantee and case, but Larrivee's got the bang for the buck. shop around, try every guitar you see, and snatch up a larrivee if you find one because they are pretty hard to comeby on the east coast.

Guitar made in the good ol' USA and the quality shows! Top has ample amount of gloss but not to a point of making it artificial looking. Active Fishman pickups have EQ and a few other switches that add to the brightness. The sides of the body are awesome! They glow in the Sunlight...you really have to see it to appreciate it. Cutaway style is great... a lot of people prefer dreadnoughts or the Taylor "Grand Auditorium" style... I find the CE to be extremely convenient for getting those high frets. This guitar came with a hardshell case and had Elixirs on it... Taylor went all out.

My friend just got a Gibson for about 2K and it still doesnt compare to the 410CE. The sound gets better and better iwth time. I'll strum it once and listen to it ring out for up to 20 seconds. The guitar is full, bright, rich, and features great low end... a perfect chordal guitar. however, if you're looking for something to solo on, you may want another guitar.
I use this guitar with a strange setup... one line goes to a peavey classic 30, boss ps-3, boss dd-5, and dod grunge fx-69... another goes direct to the board. So i get an electric and acoustic sound together, which works well for my solo act (though this probably isnt for everyone). The fishman works awesome to make it sound like an electric. there is no buzzing and it has great clarity. i wish i could give this more than a 10.

this is one sexy guitar... im complimented on it quite often and its hard for me not to brag to people about it. spruce top is awesome and give it a great christmas tree scent. neck looks great... the back of the body also looks awesome. one thing... on the spruce top, there is a bit of ununiformity, but this happens... personally, i think it adds personality.

two tiny things wrong with it. when i brought it home from guitar center, id thought id checked it out thoroughly... however, it was missing a ring around the output jack on the outside of the body. i brought it back within 2 weeks and guitar center gave me no problems at all...gave me a ring promptly. the other problem, and ive heard this is common, was that the output jack kept coming loose. however, taylor gave me a place to go to and they fixed it with no problem, no charge (warranty got it).

Unbelievable people! I called only once (this guitar is steadfast...no reason to call usually) and I talked to Mike regarding the aforementioned output jack thing. Mike was extremely helpful, describing the problem back to me with ease...he knew what he was talking about. furthermore, he had a personality... how about that?! (note to guitar center...personality helps!) he gave me some addresses to repair shops that honor taylor stuff and all was well... definately a pleasure to deal with taylor, and, though i hope i never have to again, i wouldnt mind it one bit. warranty is lifetime, also.... cant ask for better.

Gosh i love this guitar! Granted, this is the highest end instrument I possess (I also own a fender fretless jazz bass, squire strat, and takamine acoustic), but i am in love with it. I've been playing acoustic for about 7 years and this blows away anything ive ever even touched, including friend's instruments and other guitar stores' floor guitars. if it were ever stolen by someone... i would hunt them down so fast... this is my baby. i tried out the koa series and the 500 series and i still like the lower end 410CE more than those. I recommend trying all taylors before settling though. like i said before, its a matter of what you play... if youre a chord type player (ie dashboard confessional, elliott smith), this is as good as it gets.