New 2014 Taylor 816CE or 2012 or 2013 816CE ???????

[samccord]

I'm doing research to purchase my first Taylor guitar, and I would really appreciate it if a "Taylor expert" (with a good ear) would tell me which guitar they prefer......the new 2014 (at a much higher and hard to negotiate price) or the previous 816CE made in early 2013.  Has anyone had a chance to A/B these two?  Or maybe even the 818E that "may" sound a little more substantial???  Also who out there discounts these things.....I don't mind paying a fair price, but I understand that I should pay approx XX% off the MSRP and everyone wins. 
Thanks a million!
Scott in Clermont

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[mgap]

The only way for you to know for sure which one is the best is to try them and let your ears tell you which is the best.  The tone is highly subjective, and I don't think one is better than the other, but they are different.  So my advise for you is to go try them, and have fun

[BathTimeStrummer]

I don't think you're going to get off that easy, Scott. Like mgap suggested, every player is different and every guitar (even highly consistent Taylor models) are different. To me, forgetting about tone, the difference to think about is ES2 versus legacy ES electronics. If you plug in much, and especially in group settings, I think you'll prefer the ES2. Otherwise, the 2014 is basically the same box, same medium strings, with a prettier pickguard (my opinion). I say, same box, but there are some differences, right? The glue has changed, the finish thickness, the bracing is different... some people will "hear" those differences, others not.

You're going to find good deals on the 2013s because the 2014 800 series is the "it girl" right now. If you want to be in that "club," you'll have to pay to play and there's not a lot of price variation out there yet. My local GC got an 816ce and an 814ce on the same day last week, both were gone by the weekend. My FLGS got an 814ce two days ago and it's already on hold for somebody.

My bottom line advice: if you're playing acoustically mostly for/by yourself, and you can't hear big differences between the two, don't pay more for the new one. If you're playing amped/in a group, and you can't hear big differences, I might opt for the 2014. I'm no expert, by any means, but that's how I'd make that decision if it were me...

Good luck!

[MB]

Hi Sam and welcome to the forum.
You will find a ton of experience with Taylor guitars here. Your question(s) as I read them are about price and the difference between the 2 guitars you mentioned.
Regarding price...as bathtimestrummer said, you will most likely not find a discounted price on the 2014 models unless you find a fresh barely used one on the evil bay.
The 2013s on the other hand are being discounted so you will probably find a good deal on one of those.
As both mgap and bathime said, the best thing to do is play them yourself. If you cannot play them yourself, you will find some YouTube videos that will give you an idea of what they sound like but you still won't know how they feel or play.

One of the biggest differences you will find between the two are the electronics. The newer ES2 sounds much better to me. You might be able to find a 2013 model that was produced late in the year that has the ES2 in it. Not sure on that but it seems like the change happened late in 2013. My 2013 Fall Limited has the newer ES2 in it so look around and see what you can find.

Perhaps the electronics are not important to you? But if they are, I would opt for one with the ES2 system.
Otherwise the two guitars are going to be very similar with the exceptions that bathtime pointed out.

Good Luck!!

[Strumming Fool]

My gut tells me that you'd be very happy with the 2012 or 2013. The 2014 800s appeal to the "already converted" Taylor afficianados, who will appreciate the subtle differences between the two. The 816ce was already a fantastic guitar before Taylor made the changes, and you should be able to land a good deal with all the demand for the newer version.

[samccord]

Hey Taylor People!  Thanks for all the well thought out responses. Taylor has an event or two coming to Central Florida in the near future, so I will attend and "hear" for myself.  I'm a keyboard player and quite the novice on the guitar, but I know the damage a sub-par piano can do to a beginner pianist, so I assume the same holds true for the "baby" guitarist. 

I went to see Pat Metheny recently and couldn't help but think I may have been playing the wrong instrument for the last 40+ years!  The acoustic set at the end was amazing!  If I could learn to play just a line or two from "Last Train Home" I would die with a smile on my face! (40+ years from now!)

Thanks again Taylor People!  I am quite impressed with all of you!

Scott in Clermont Florida

[groberts]

I prefer the ES2 over ES1 ...by a mile. I also find the new 2014 800 Series to be resounding better balanced, with richer highs that are not as thin as many older Taylors I've played. I've had a wonderful 2002 514ce for many years. It is superb. But a lot of other Taylors have had very thin sounding B and E Strings to my ears. the new 2014's do not exhibit that.

I also think the 2014 800 series will be the new standard by which 800 series Taylors are judged going forward.