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.

Made in the USA, Sitka Spruce top, African Ovankgol back and sides. Fishman Prefix Plus Preamp (a big improvement from the standard prefix offered on the 2000 edition...love the brilliance control)
Maybe a gloss finish, though more expensive, would be nice, though satin does help bring out the beautiful grain in the ovankgol

It has a full rich sound, typical of taylor dreadnoughts, and for my style (strumming and flatpicking) it works wonderfully. fingerpicking does allright, but if i was a true fingerpicker i would go with a x14 series (prob the 414) The low end is stronger than the high, but overall the balance is better than most ive played. Volume and projection are both fantastic

Factory setup was great. Always nice to play a guitar in the store with elixirs rather than grimy SPs or Daddarios. Action was great- easiest playing guitar i picked up (among about 10 stores in the LA and san diego area). I love the variation in the ovankgol finish (ranging from a mahogony-esque brown to a more olive formica look) so you can really go for one that you like and that is unique. Once again, as others have noted, im a little apprehensive about the long term performance of the satin, but for now, i couldnt be happier

I havent had it long enough to give a completely accurate review in this category, but as it seems so far, its a dependable piece with solid electronics (they are fishman, i mean...come on...honestly). Id take it without a backup, i trust good ol Bob and the other fine folks in El Cajon, CA

Ive never dealt with taylor regarding this guitar, but i took a factory tour, and have spoken with several employees about hypotheticals (what if i need the neck adjusted, what if i want to refinish it) they said i could walk it right in to the factory if i wanted to. thats good enough for me

I spent a solid month going to literally every guitar store in san diego, Los angeles, and everywhere in between, and i honestly dont think there is a better guitar in its price range. I preferred Taylors in general to all other high end manufacturers, and the 410 to me felt to be the best sounding out of the 300 and 500 series, and a much better value than the 700 series. The only other ones i enjoyed playing as much as the 410CE were the 810 and 910 CEs, but for half the price, i think the 410 holds its own. If it was stolen, id have to hope for a favorable insurance settlement, or work alot, or even search couch cushions and turn in aluminum cans to save up the 1200 to buy another one. its worth every penny.

1999-All solid wood, Ovangkol/Spruce, With a Fishman Prefix. Standard glossy top, satin back and sides.The ebony fingerboard on this example has a white steak running through it vertically and specks on the bridge, but in my opinion gives the guitar character. The spruce top has alot of bearclaw, swirls and streaks. While some don't care for this I think it lends to the tone. The ovangkol on this guitar is darker than the other six 410's the dealer had and this one stands out in the tone department.(it was stashed by an employee for 2 years) Taylor has also managed to stain the neck to perfectly to match the darker than normal body. Most 400s I have looked at have the more common olive looking Ovangkol. With lighter necks. This wood almost resembles Mahoghany in color and grain, very straight lines close together and so dark in color, but is indeed Ovangkol It also seemed to be a bit lighter in construction, than the others.

Suits my style, It is very versatile in tone....I don't play blugrass but prefer the resonance of a dreadnaught, I do flatpick a bit, but like to play meldoic fingerstyle too, with a lot of percussive snaping and strumming. It also lends itself to the voice better. And very balanced for a dreadnaught! Single string s up the neck just jump out! Ovangkol may be the perfect guitar wood...I have a Martin D-28 and it gets lost sometimes in the mix. The Martin is not as sparkly and has an over abundance of overtones(say that fast three times) And is a bit hard to record sometimes. This 410ce cuts through and definetly records better. It as they, say seems to fall between rosewood and mahogany. Records very well, with less overtones and lots of sparkle and sustain (but not too much)It sounds really nice in the muted slap style string pull technique ie: Martin Simpson! Electronics work flawlessly, but I am going to upgrade to the Fishman Prefix/Blender, to get a bit more acoustic tone? It is the same size and will bolt right in.

While the top on this guitar has alot of swirls and steaks(bearclaw). Some don't like this and prefer straight grains. I feel it adds to the tone, what is lost in looks.(and adds character).While astetically unperfect, the top seems to be fairly stiff and as I mentioned before this one seems to be built lighter, than the other 410ce's the dealer had? But who knows, I would guess Taylor keeps all woods the same thickness? It was very noticable when comparing the other 410's. The tonal colors of this guitar also stand out.
THE CRAFTMANSHIP OF THIS GUITAR WAS ABSOLUTELY FLAWLESS IN EVERY ASPECT !!!

We will see...not sure if I like the satin back and sides yet, it seems to hide some of the woods beauty

Taylor Guitars are probably one of the most customer oriented bussinesses on the planet. They have always done there best for me in the past!

I give this guitar a top score. It is a great example in every way, of what an acoustic guitar should be...I did upgrade to an Ameritage "Silver" case (black traditional covering), because I am not fond of the thermoplastic cases that come OEM. By the way the Ameritage cases are awesome!!

solid spruce top w/satin finish, ebony fret board, Fishman pickup and prefix preamp, grover tuners

When I bought the guitar I fell in love with the playability and mostly the sound.... was very happy with the bass response. the guitar is beautiful for finger picking style, solo folk and other acoustic music styles. this is not an optimal guiar for an electric band environment however.After owning the guitar for a few years and playing it in a number of performance environments, I believe the sound is a bit thin--not enough mid-range. Though Fishman is known for excellent acoustic pickups, the prefix it a pretty WEAK pickup--natural sound reproduction is only fair and the pre-amp has too little boost.

The factory set up was great. the action is great. the guitar is beautiful and gets more beautiful with time. Over the 4 years i've owned the guitar, it has gained a richer golden color. The satin finish is nice, but buffs into a shine where your strumming hand rubs. The end pin/connector jack loosens too easily and has popped out once completely.

The 410 is extremely temperamental and sensitive. Because of the light finish, it is extremely prone to dehydration, especially if you live in areas with cold winters and dry heating. I once opened my guitar case before a gig to find the bridge had unglued from the body of the guitar. Luckily for me, only the glue stops had come undone. It dings up like crazy. This means that you need to constantly care for it and monitor the humidity. I would not bring it to a gig without a backup. Actually, I use this guitar as a backup nowadays, prefering my Takamine 360 which is far more powerful and effective in a rock environment. If I ever buy another taylor, I'll buy one without the electronics. It is a great home guitar, but not meant for the rock stage.

awesome lifetime warranty and support.

I've been playing acoustic guitars for 12 years, playing out for 9. my other acoustic guitars are a '70s epiphone acoustic with a tobacco sunburst and a takamine 360-SC. The Taylor was appealing, because it is a finely crafted "real" guitar made in the USA that is priced much more modestly than Martins. I would NOT buy the same guitar again, however. I would spend the extra $500 and get a decent Martin, guitars that I find to by much richer, louder, and more balanced than the Taylors

Same features as in all the other reviews.

I played every guitar in a large shop (maybe 30 guitars, including Martins, Guilds, Larivees, Ovations, etc.). This one stood out. I actually had fallen in love with a 414CE. But when I went back to buy it, there was this right-off-the-truck 410CE still in its case on the floor. It sounded much deeper, fuller, and louder to me. I had also played several MUCH more expensive Taylors, and the only difference I could tell from the 400's is that they looked fancier. This guitar makes me happy every time I play it. It just sounds incredibly beautiful. And, oddly enough, it smells really good, too.

Plays wonderfully, but sound is what's important to me. I probably would have bought this guitar even if it didn't play like a dream. The neck is a bit wider than the Ovation I was used to, and I've grown to like it better. It seems much easier to play, but if you have really small hands it might cause a problem. The guitar was perfectly in tune and intonation and the action was perfect right out of the case. I haven't touched a thing except change the strings.

I baby it, so I wouldn't know.

I appreciate that it came with an excellent warrantee, a superb hard shell case, and (did I say this already?) that it sounds to wonderful. I wouldn't think of buying another acoustic guitar.

I'm not sure what year this was made, as it was purchased very gently used. It's a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. The guitar came equipped with a Fishman Prefix transducer and preamp. Satin finish with a soft cutaway, and came with a hardshell SKB style case. It has the pinless bridge, which I really like. Not a lot of features, it's an acoustic/electric dreadnought, what do you expect?

This is where the guitar really shines. The sound is deep, rich, and full. I play mostly with a flatpick, and it does a nice job, although it practically begs to be fingerpicked. I've played a variety of styles with this guitar, including acoustic rock, country, bluegrass, gospel, etc. It's a real workman, never complains, just outshines all the other acoustics around. I play a lot with a friend who has an Ovation with the OP24 system, and the Fishman can't quite keep up. Unplugged, this blows the Ovation away, plugged in, it's still very, very good, just not quite as awesome. Unplugged, I give the sound a 10, and plugged in an 8. If you're buying this to play in a electric environment, you might look into the blender system.

The action, setup, and playability were great when I got this guitar. The only complaint I've ever had is the end pin/connector jack. This worked it's way loose, and was a real bear to get in and tighten up. I finally used some lock nut spray on it, which seemed to work, that is, I haven't had that problem since. I haven't yet figured out how I'm going to replace the connector jack, should it ever go bad.

This guitar has withstood weekly gigging for about a year. The finish is more durable than it first appears, but like any guitar, will ding up in a live environment. The guitar should be good for a very long time, given some care.

No opinion, never dealt with them.

I've been playing about 15 years, only seriously the past two. I have a couple of nice electrics, a bass, a Tech 21 TM 60 amp, some effects. I reviewing what I've written above, I feel a little too critical. This is the only guitar I've ever had that just worked exactly right. I am not at all interested in selling it, and if something happened to it, I would have to buy another one, after a suitable mourning period. I might look at a Larivee, and the 615 Taylors are tempting, but this is the real deal. Just the most satisfying guitar I've ever had or used.

This is 1998 model 410ce made in El Cajon, California. It has a solid Sitka spruce top and Ovankgol sides and back. The Ovankgol has a density close to that of Rosewood so it produces a similar sound. It has a cool looking soft cut-a-way for those upper frets. The top is a gloss while the sides and back are a satin finish. Ebony fretboard and pin bridge and chrome plated Grover tuners. The onboard electronics are Fishman Prefix with a piezo pick-up. It has that great Taylor thin neck that is just perfect when you're starting out. Also included was a Taylor SKB hardshell case.
I started playing 6 months ago and 3 months later I knew I was hooked for life. I decided to invest (in my terms) a good amount of money into a quality guitar.
The guy who is giving me lessons plays a Martin HD-28, so my expectations for sound were high. I had the following prerequisites: solid wood througuout, factory installed pick-up, American made, grat sound. The Taylor was the obvious choice.

The guitar sounds GREAT. I mostly just strum now, but I am in the process of learning to fingerpick. The guitar seems like a perfect balance to accomodate both playing styles. It sounds great plugged or unplugged, although it may lack a little of the low end when not plugged in. Most of the compliments I get on the sound are when it's unplugged, so what do I know? The guitar sounded great the day I brought it home and I expect it to sound even better the more it ages.

The guitar came setup perfectly and the action was just right. The wood was perfect and the craftmanship made for a remarkable looking guitar.

I play once a week at my church so it has undergone being packed up, played and packed again for the last six months. It has performed flawlessly every time and I don't expect it to quit anytime soon. The finish seems to be very durable and makes it look very nice on stage, too.

I haven't had to deal with Taylor, but if they are as nice as the authorized dealer from whom I bought the guitar, that should not be a concern. Lifetime warranty is included.

If someone stole my guitar I would, after hunting them down, go to the nearest guitar store and buy another just like it. It has everything I wanted in a guitar, so that would be an easy decision.
I have only been playing six months now but in my search I played everything they had to offer from Martin to Lowden, Larivee to Collings and everything in between... twice! The Taylor had the right mix of quality craftmanship, features and a Heavenly sound that made it a no-brainer.

The guitar was made in 1998. USA made. Ovangkol wood for back and sides with a spruce top. Satin finish. Fishman prefix and preamp ( 3 EQ band with volume and frequency controls). Piezo pickup. Grover tuners. Thin neck with great action!

Many times my wife has commented, a whole story away, that the guitar is very loud...when it was unplugged. My take on the sound? It sings. I have played high end Gibson and Martin dreadnoughts passed down a couple of generations that don't sound as sweet as my new Taylor. I meet and play with quite a variety of people from all sorts of musical backgrounds, everyone goes out of their way to comment on what a good sound my guitar has.

The action could not be better. Wonderfully bookmatched with the all the subtle nuances of the wood being pronounced in the satin finish.

Very reliable thus far!

Taylor has a website. No customer support Email listed to date. I have not had to call, I honestly would be surprised if I ever had to call concerning problems with this guitar.

I am 30 years old and I have been playing for about 15 years. I have owned high end electric guitars from virtually every major manufacurer. I have even built a guitar. I did not really enjoy playing acoustic guitar until I picked up this guitar. My electrics now are wonderful dust collectors. I would not trade this guitar for anything. For my taste and my style, this guitar is ideal. In my humble opinion this is the best acoustic electric dreadnought in this price range. Play one, buy one, take it home. You won't be sorry.

I believe the guitar was made in late 1996. I'm not really sure of the exact manufacturing date.
Features: Solid Spruce top. Mahogany back and sides. Ebony fretboard and bridge. Satin finish. Fishman electronics, with a three band eq, a volume nob, and a "frequency" slider. Grover tuners. Slim neck. Came with an SKB case, with the Taylor logo emblazoned on top.
No documentation/owner's manual included.

I had been pretty set on buying a Martin D2R or DM, primarily because I do a lot of strumming. And to be honest, I feel the 410CE could benefit from just a little more low end when you're unplugged. Even so, I'm very satisfied with the way the 410CE sounds. It's a very well balanced guitar.
I don't have a very fancy setup. I run a 10' Hi-Z (1/4") cable to my direct box (I think it's a DOD direct box [?]) The XLR feeds into a Horizons snake, which feeds into a Peavey mixer. No monitors or effects (yet) I'm looking into buying a reverb or a chorus pedal.
Like I said, I play a lot of rhythm guitar...lots o' strumming. Sometimes I do some fingerpicking or soloing. It seems to do well with whatever I throw at it. Alternate tunings work pretty well, too - I sometimes get a some fret buzz if I play really had with a lower tuning, but I imagine a good setup job might fix that.

The setup was great, right out of the box. I haven't felt a pressing need to get it set up by a pro because it feels and sounds great as it is. The action is nice and low all along the fretboard.
The fit and finish are excellent. Everything is tight and clean. Almost every time I play my Taylor, I have to hold it up, turn it around, and admire its beauty. The wood on the sides, back, and neck are rich and well-textured. The top could be a little cleaner; two or three areas of the top have a grain that isn't consistent with the rest of the top. The fretboard is jet-black - no streaks or discolorations. The insides are equally well-done.
I read the other critique of the 410CE (the one by the guy from Singapore). I have never encountered any problems with the internal wiring of the 410CE. I agree with him that the setup of the wiring could be problematic, but I think the problem of the wiring coming loose could be avoided by 1) opening it as infrequently as possible and 2) opening it slowly, gently, and only as far as it needs to be opened.

I've been using the 410CE for a year now in live settings, once or twice a week. This guitar is a real performer and very sturdy; the hardware is still as good as the day I bought it.
My only gripe is that the satin finish seems to dent and chip too easily (but if you're very careful, you can avoid dings.) For example, after one gig, I noticed that a rather substantial chip of wood had come off nearby the soundhole, just about the pick guard. I don't recall going ballistic on the strumming, and I think the thin, satin finish is to blame for that ding. I had an old Yamaha for years that I strummed pretty had and never got a ding like that.
At any rate, the guitar is very durable and dependable. You just have to handle it carefully since the finish isding-prone.

I've only contacted Taylor once. The guitar didn't come with any documentation, and at the time, I somewhat inexperienced with the facts of guitar maintenance. I wanted to learn more about how to take good care of the guitar. I was worried about issues like restringing, humidity, cleaning, etc. So I wrote to them and complained about the lack of any sort of owners manual.
In reply, Taylor sent me a THICK packet of articles that they had written about guitar maintenance, and a nice letter explaining that they were working on a manual to be included with every guitar. Needless to say, I was very satisfied.
I can't honestly evaluate their service in the long run or for more complicated problems, but if this incident is any indication of the quality of their service, then I'd say it's top-notch.

"Fantastic value" is indeed the term to use. All I really can, and want, to say is that I love my guitar and have had absolutely no regrets in buying it. I think it's probably the best money I've every spent.

Made in USA, in late 1996. It's a dreadnought with 20 Frets, with a Sitka solid spruce top, mahogany sides and back (solid), satin finish with chrome Grover tuners. The pickup is a Fishman Axis with volume control, tone control and EQ. Satin finish. It came with a hard case (fiberglass).

My style is primarily light strumming and fingerpicking for Christian contemporary stuff, plus occasional heavy strumming for the fast stuff. I string the guitar with 0.10 strings.
I use it primarily plugged into the church sound system (Celestion) with a Peavey Keyboard amp as a monitor. There's usually feedback problems with the monitor speaker at higher volume settings (if the PA guys don't turn up I go through the monitor). Otherwise, the sound comes through clear, with good tonal separation. Since I use a keyboard amp I usually have to turn down the middle by two notches and the bass by one, and if so the guitar shines.
The guitar sounds best with very heavy strumming, or simple fingerpicking playing triplets to accompany a piano. It's got a bright clear tone, which tends to cut through the bass and drums if I'm playing rhythm, or supports the piano well if I'm fingerpicking.

The guitar has the trademark Taylor action (real low) and the higher registers are easily accessible. Since it was Singapore, the guitar drank a bit of humidity in the first few days, but a loosening of the truss rod fixed that. I've never had to adjust it since.
I've not had problems with the pickup, and no damage was detected to the guitar in any respect. Very well made, and survived the trip well.

This dreadnought was bought in Singapore and I've had it for 1 1/2 years and never regretted buying it.

Even though Singapore is a humid environment I've had no problems with warping (with liberal use of silica gel and protection in an airconditioned environment).
In the church environment I'm live every week, so I don't have problems with live playing. I've also used it once in a very loud and hard concert, and it came through without a scratch. My friends and I usually damage acoustic guitars because of belt buckles getting in the way, but the Taylor survived.
The strap buttons are fixed very solidly, I've had to yank off the strap once very quickly and the button didn't budge.
However, and this is the weak link in the guitar - the Fishman pickup controls are mounted so that the whole assembly revolves on an axis (hence Fishman Axis). This is good for battery access, but poor in that the wires running from the jack input to the controls extend and contract every time you open the controls to get at the battery. Believe it or not, the solder joining the wires to the EQ tore, and the pickup just died on me. I didn't even know what was wrong for a few weeks until I decided to unscrew the whole assembly and take a look. It took hours to access the controls (there are two plates which are joined with different screws), and then I saw one wire had torn loose. So I had to solder the thing back.
Still, it sounds fine again, and I don't open the controls often now.
The 6 rating reflects the problems with the pickup; otherwise it's an 8.

No comment. There's no Taylor warranty outside the USA. The shop where I bought the guitar is the sole Taylor agent, and he said that he'll do what he can to fix problems with the guitar. The after sales service from the shop is excellent, but, still, I wish Taylor would reconsider their position on this.

I also own a Takamine EG-15C, and have played a low end Maton and the Ovation Celebrity and Adamas. The Taylor outstrips them all for ease of playing and is probably rivaled only by the Adamas for sound quality.
I wish I knew about the problems with the amp before I bought it. Having said that, however, for the price I paid I don't think I would have any problems paying the same again for it.