Taylor Guitars Big Baby 306GB

I've now owned my bib baby for about 2 years. It came with a nifty truss rod wrench and a nice padded gig bag. It's a solid sitka spruced topped 20 fret 15/16 size body. The big baby has a very nice satin top and nice rosette as well. But there are some problems folks., The tuners are TERRIBLE. I bought the big baby expecting all Taylors to come equipped w/ Grovers, but they're no name crappy tuners. If you're a strummer, have fun re-tuning every minute. The action also is way too high. No bracing on the back whatsoever-probably how they kept the price so low, and maybe why the guitar doesn't sing that well.

The baby sounds very rich.....with new strings on it, that is. The elixirs that come with it dont show what sound they actually make with normal strings (cause most of us cant afford 13 bucks a pop for elixirs). When you string on a fresh set, they'll sound great for a few days and then get very dull. The high's are great, but don't expect any bottom end. The bass is very unsatisfying, but what do you expect from such a small guitar with no bracing?

This guitar is great to look at. Very simple. The sitka spruce top dents easily, but is nice. The set up is not great at all. The action when i got it was way to high. I thought a simple truss rod turn would do the trick, but then the strings buzzed. There's no happy medium with a fast action without string buzz. The top bracing inside was not sanded cleanly. Strap buttons are very nice and strong. Not many obvious flaws out of the box. The back wood is sapele, which is pretty sweet looking.

The area where the baby shines-durability. I wouldn't have a problem taking it to the beach or throwing it in the back of a car for a gig. Its cool to have the Taylor logo on your headstock. The strap buttons are very solid. Finish is a little chippy, but looks nice.

Very helpful-just call em up and they'll help you out. Lifetiime warranty.

I've been playing for 14 years. I own a Les Paul Custom, a Clapton Fender Strat, a taylor 714ce cedar top, and an Ibanez Artwood 500. I dont regret buying this guitar b/c its fun to dink around on sometimes, but for the cash, I would have rather gotten an Artwood-that is one INCREDIBLE line of acoustics. If you dont mind retuning a lot, and dont mind an insanely high action, then this guitar is not a bad buy. Just play it carefully before buying.

basic guitar, pretty simple really. don't have anything to say that hasn't been stated already. paid $279 for it, 2001 model.

Nice sound for the price and especially when you consider the size of this guitar. It is loud and bright but overall the sound could be balanced a bit better. It also lacks the sustain of a full size.

Here's where I had the problem. I had this guitar for almost a year and the action became so terrible I could literally wedge my thumb between the fretboard and the strings. I took it to a local shop to have the action lowered and the tech told me that the neck was warped. So i sent the guitar in to Taylor and they did a neck replacement on it, now it plays fine. So for the initial setup I give it a zero and for the way it plays now a 10, which averages out to a 5.

Like another reviewer said, this guitar dents easily. I wouldn't recommend it for gigging, mainly for strumming at home or taking on trips.

Taylor gets high marks in this category. As I said I had to send the guitar in to have the neck replaced. Their staff was very friendly and helpful and the guitar was fixed in a reasonable amount of time.

This guitar is a good value for the money. However I stress that I would only recommend this guitar for beginners or
for someone who wants a decent second guitar.

I got this guitar as a beginner and have been pleased with it ever since. It was made in the USA and came with a gig bag. I paid about $300 for it with the gig bag. I have owned it for about a year now and have been pleased with the overall performance.

The sound is very good for a cheaper priced guitar. I have not played very many guitars but friends who own other more expensive guitars comment on the sound it produces. The basses are very mellow and the highs are great.

When I first purchased this guitar the action was too high. I got sore fingers everytime I played it. I also found that it was causing me to grip the neck too hard and it wasn't allowing me to have smooth motions when changing frets. I later had a shop lower the action and they shimmed the neck since it is a screw on neck which was great. It plays very good now and the neck has a truss rod which is also a plus.

I don't know how reliable this guitar will be and am not to worried about it since it was a beginner guitar for me.

I would give this guitar a 7.5. The action could have been better from the factory but overall it is a good guitar for the price.

Made in the USA. I got mine with a chrome stand, a money gig bag two sets of elixir strings, strap, a bag of picks... but all that is just chump change compared to the moniness of my new Bebe. I love the size, it fits so comfortably under my armpit... yo ! ebony !
so simple, yet divine. i guess "simply divine" would perfectly describe it for me.

I'm a song writer, I also like to woo women with my music. I gave my old guitar away and all my friends got like 3000 dollar taylors and whatnot... but lemme tell you... I just took one strum on this 240 dollar guitar and I could not get it out of my heart. It literally struck a chord w/me... people say it's missing low end, but if you tune it right, it sounds soooo great... my friend who has this Taylor 25th anniversary brazilian wood blah blah blah guitar simply couldn't get over the sound. it's great... really. i would give a higher score, but there is not an option for scores above ten. rich. full. bright. you can play soft, pick it up and down, harmonics, strum like a mother, and it responds like an obedient child. get it. promise it's good.

action packed baby! everything looks and works great.

strap buttons are soooo solid. it seems like it'll last me as long as i need it. looks dependable and i'd definitelt try solo gigs with it, i'm sure it will not fail me . :)

Taylor . period .

You can't beat this. I've been through ovations, yamahas, seaguls, other taylors, martins, etc... but... man - you go figure it out yourself and you'll see.

I think this one i got was a new 2002 model. Made in the U.S.A. like every other taylor. It has 20 frets.It has a nice simple look. Not too flashy.

Everyone says that the bass notes don't come out but on mine everything about the sound is fine and chords sound great.And it satys in tune very long.

I love this guitar. There were only 2 bb 306-gbs at guitar world.And me and a buddy both got them because we loved how easy they were to play with their thin necks and because of the portable size. My friend didn'tlike how they looked but i like the stained wood look. It's nice.

THis thing would be great for live playing and it would stay in tune well. The hardware definatley lasts. When you pick it up it kinda seems hollow like it would ding up and break easily but that is definatly not the case.

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Great guitar. it alsoicomes with a nice travel case that protects the guitar well. If you want a nice playable practice guitar for the best possible price...GET THIS MUGGATRUCKING GUITAR FOO

Pretty basic guitar-my Big Baby was made in California like most all Taylors. It features a solid top and a laser etched rossette around the sound hole. Nothing real fancy just a nice solid top.

The first time i played this guitar-it sounded sweet..hummed like a 310. I picked it up because it was super cheap..only 290 on sale with a bag. I've had it for about a year now and I wish i would have invested in a full size dreadnaught. It just doesn't sound as full as a dreadnaught-the sound is very rich (especailly w/ new elixirs) but it doesnt compare to the sustain of a full size.

The satin finish is simple but nice. The bolt on neck adds to the fret access and it feels pretty solid.

This thing dents pretty easily. I've filled in a couple already from just simple knocks. Other than that, it's a solid guitar.

Its a decent guitar for the money-but if you'll prolly want to get something nicer because the lack of sustain and fullness in the sound doesn't make you come back for more.

Everyone knows the BB's features by now - 15/16 size dreadnought, solid spruce top, laminated back/sides, ebony fretboard, Elixer strings, etc. This is a unique product that attempts to create the maximum in playability and sound for the minimum of bucks. Thus, what is sacrificed is cosmetics. What you get is exactly what you need if you are looking for a great playing and sounding guitar for couch, travel, etc.

Excellent, well-balanced, well-articulated sound that does tend toward the bright side which does not mean a lack of bass. While admittedly not a bluegrass "percussion guitar" with big bass like a full-sized Martin (I have a truly wonderful HD-28 for that purpose), it's balanced sound is very pleasing in all registers which really is a Taylor hallmark (I also have a Taylor 414ce which excels in this regard also). The BB's sound, like pretty much all Taylors, is like listening to reference-quality speakers that are true to the sound vs. artificially colored speakers like Bose, etc.

For a $300 guitar, the fit and set-up from the factory are excellent. The finish is quite simple and unassuming (they could improve a bit on the evenness of the burn on the laser-carved "rosette"). The action is simply so good that it is one of the key reasons for buying this guitar (it puts a much more expensive Gibson acoustic to shame). This quitar is very easy to play for long periods of time.

Possibly the only real question I see. Only time will tell how well it will hold up given the lack of back bracing, the arched back, etc. On the converse side, it is very light and comfortable to play. My rating is based more on uncertainty than experience.

I just went on a tour of their factory in El Cajon, CA - highly recommended. They have a true passion for guitars and their manufacture. I have had to deal with them on a couple of other occassions and was highly pleased - even on small issues like requesting a pickguard for the small Baby (arrived just a few days later absolutely free).

Overall, a really great value - probably the best out there for what this guitar aims to be. I've got too many guitars now as it is, but I just could not resist adding it to my collection given the price. I've played on and off for 30 years and now just play for my own enjoyment and relaxation. The BB just felt so right in my hands that it cried out to become the new "couch guitar" of choice. For $300, how could I resist?

Made in 2002. Solid Sitka Top. I particularly like the size, it is a bit smaller than the other acoustics I tried and easier to get my arms around. I've had it about a week now and haven't put it down much. Hasn't gone out of tune a whole lot, only minor adjustments needed. Came with a *NICE* padded gigbag with a strap, and an allen wrench.

I love the sound. This is the main reason for picking this guitar over the many other Alvarez, Washburn, and Yamaha (even some of the more expensive) models I tried. It has a very bright sound that is exactly what I was looking for. This guitar hasn't let me down in this category.

Finish looks good. No flaws were on the guitar at the time of purchase and I haven't put anything on it. No major gripes in this department either.

I think that this guitar would do great live. Strap buttons aren't a problem, they are very nice, but the strap I bought sucks (fender strap). I would play this guitar without a backup.

Never dealt with taylor, but the people at mars music were very friendly and anxious to help. I think it is a five year warranty but I'm not positive.

I have been playing guitar a little over a year. I used to own a cheapie electric but It was lost in a house fire along with my Peavey amp and other misc. gear. This is the first acoustic I have owned, so I am not an expert by any means, but this is a great guitar. I played several guitars before choosing this one, and I am 100% satisfied with my purchase. If it were stolen I would probablly cry, and if I had the money I would definatley buy it again. IF I were ever to get another guitar, I would always keep this one because I love it.

Solid top is the key to the punch of attack on each note. There is a nice puuhh on every hit. This also helps to project the sound in a tight coherent fashion.

I am a Jazz guy and needed an ax to bring on trips and throw on the couch. It sounds the way I might tweak my amp with a solid attack on each note. Not to bright and not too dull, More on the bright side.

Designed for sound, not looks. They have done what they can and it's simplicity I find kind of refreshing.

No Comment.

For what it is, it sounds good. There is some sacrifice in the "fullness range" but with the scale of this guitar and it's light weight and free gig bag it's a nice deal.

Made in the US of A, Solid Sitka Spruce top, laminated Sapele sides solid Mahogany neck, Satin finish, ebony neck and bridge, die-cast silver tuners, 15/16 size body are the basic featues of this guitar.

Rosette has "engraved" design and there are no braces on the back of this guitar. Overall looks kind of cheap but, I would worry a little if this guitar looked richer (with inlays and good tuners etc.) at this price range. It would mean they sacrificed something important, probably craftmanship.

Arched back, and extremely thin body, kind of neat, because it reminds me of when I could be so close to the sound board (before my belly came out ;))

Came with nice looking gig bag, not too protective but looks classy, after all it is a Taylor.

This is difficult. Many of my students seem to think that the louder a guitar can play the better the sound and I think this a well mistaken concept. The Big Baby has a loud clear sound and the sound is good but not excellent. Please don't be offended because sound is preference and I am just stating what I think. The Big Baby is well balanced and brings out the maximum posibility from the body shape and price. Therefore, for $300, the sound is at it's best. I think Taylor is good at this, and that's why Taylor is one of my favorites.

Action was almost perfect. I wanted the action to come down just a tiny tiny bit so I adjusted this with the truss rod though this is not the best way to do it. Though the parts (tuners, saddle, bridge pins,etc) are cheaper, Taylor sets this guitar up like it was one of their higher ends. The people (or person who set my guitar up) must love guitars.

The Finish? Well....
But again I'd rather have them cut costs on finish than the essential parts that effect sound.

I don't know. With no braces, the guitar seems a bit on the fragile side and many reviews state that the bride tends to come loose. I'll just have to wait and see.

Taylor is very professional. I've never had problems with them in the past.

My ratings are overall low (8) but I rated the Taylor 414K as a 9 so actually an 8 is excellent.

I am very spoiled in a sense that I have played for over 20 years and now practice with a Breedlove and Taylor 414K.

The buyer needs to be able to specify his needs before buying this guitar. Just to carry around, the Big Baby is full size, more fragile and in a gig bag. No benifits. For a main guitar it's not beautiful and is cosmetically cheap though the sound exceeds that of lower end Martins and Takamines.

So who would buy this guitar?

For me, since I had to do a lot of begging to my wife before I bought my Taylor 414K and Breedlove, I am reluctant to taking it on trips. I would rather leave it home, and if stolen, pick up my insurance check and get replacements. I am what you would call a guitar addict and play at least four hours a day (usually more) so there is no way I can go on a trip without a guitar. (I guess it's beter than smoking huh?)

I think you can see why the Big Baby was a logical choice for me.

It's a good guitar, I would choose it over the Martin DM, Larrivee's parlor and even Takamines Santa Fe series.