Product: Taylor Guitars 412
Price Paid: #UK #830
Submitted
02/20/2000
at
02:43am
by
Jim Cobb
Features
:
9
Ovangkol back and sides, Ebony fingerboard, Mahogony neck, Spruce top
Sound
:
10
Dynamic, expressive, smooth and slick, perfect for my style of acoustic jazz. (Very similar to the Taylor used by my main influence Antonio Forcione and so I suppose it makes sense that it's right for me.)I would have bought this guitar (if I could afford it) even if the price was'nt reduced.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
9
The action was slightly high, and the strings (Elixier) were not to my personal liking but were fresh and sounded lively. After having my pickup fitted (a Fishman Rare Earth Blender) and the strings changed to Martin .012 and the action lowered, it was a pure pleasure to play. My only minor misgiving is that the bridge pins were not quite routed deep enough to accept the .054 6th string without being slightly reised from the others, and therefore overly tight (though the guitar was reduced from #1200 to #830 so this is ok with me.) The finish on the guitar was superb, the wood is beautiful, the neck smooth and I love the classy design of the scratchplate.
Reliability/Durability
:
9
I have had no problems with this guitar, and Antonio's been using a very similar model for years and it still sounds and looks immaculate.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Never dealt with them!
Overall Rating
:
10
I honestly can say that there's nothing I hate about it, only the bridge pin for the 6th strings is a minor problem, but if it were stolen I'd get another. I've never played a guitar that I preferred at any price (including other Taylors, Martins, Collings, Normans etc). I play it through a Fishman Rare Earth Blender to a Hughes and Kettner Montana amp (which i'll give a 9/10) and It's great for my style.
