Author Topic: Taylor Guitar Options....  (Read 3298 times)

jrporter

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Taylor Guitar Options....
« on: January 02, 2022, 10:56:17 AM »
Is it just me or does Taylor Guitars fall short in advertising what options can be ordered. I recently re-entered the Taylor family with a new 814 - no cutaway or electronics. I was commenting to Ted that I really appreciated being able to get an 814 without CE and he commented the following:

So glad you like it, Randy and like you I really like the basic models. Luckily they still offer no ES or cutaway as an option on all US models.

I went back to the Taylor website and found nothing to indicate that such options were possible. If you're not on a first name basis with a great dealer like LA Guitar Sales, how can you possibly know that it's possible to order a non-CE Taylor???

DennisG

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Re: Taylor Guitar Options....
« Reply #1 on: January 02, 2022, 11:16:23 AM »
This, from the Custom Guitar page, is about as detailed as they get:

"Imagine a Taylor that's uniquely yours, brought to life with Taylor's legendary craftsmanship.
 
Choose from a rich palette of options and appointments. Select your type of guitar and your Taylor body shape. Choose from an assortment of our finest tonewoods, including non-standard species and premium grades. Then we'll get to work building your Taylor guitar that's uniquely personalized to your tastes."


So, yeah, they could do a much better job of clueing us in as to what's available.
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'18 Taylor K14-BE
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Earl

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Re: Taylor Guitar Options....
« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2022, 02:27:51 PM »
Agreed.  Those of us who have been around for a long time know that most models can be ordered without either the C or the E options.  I am out of the market for Taylor guitars since all of them have ES2 now -- that pickup system is a deal-breaker for me. 

Having been burned with custom orders in the past (although not from Taylor) going custom with the "hope and pray" method is a road that I simply won't take again.  It must be played before buying.  Build quality is uniformly excellent, but wood is a highly variable material.  I have played quite a few stellar Taylor guitars, but also a few acoustic duds too.  That can happen with any factory guitar that is not individually voiced and tap-tuned during the build.
Taylors:  424-LTD (all koa) and a 114ce that lives with friends in Alaska.  Low maintenance carbon fiber guitars are my "thing" these days, but I will always keep the koa 424.  Several ukulele and bass guitars too. 
*Gone but not forgotten:  a 2001 414ce, 410, 354-LTD twelve string, 314-N, 416-LTD baritone, T5 Classic, 615ce, 2006 GS-K, 1996 (first year) Baby

TaylorGirl

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Re: Taylor Guitar Options....
« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2022, 03:12:38 PM »
Agreed.  Those of us who have been around for a long time know that most models can be ordered without either the C or the E options. 
I agree. I've ordered several Taylors. In my current group, my 914 was ordered with no C or E (LAGS). My 414 is CE-less too, but I bought that in stock at my local store back in 2002. You saw that more back then. But today, it's rare. I stay in close contact with my local store, so I ask the questions and know what can and can't be done. Many people don't have that relationship. I don't know why Taylor hasn't made it more apparent recently, but it's like they've stopped their "modify a model" campaign that they advertised some years back. Maybe they don't want to encourage it or maybe they didn't have much interest  in it. Who knows. I do know that this forum is helpful to get the word out and it helps those who may be less aware.
Susie
Taylors: 914 ● K24ce ● 414 ● GSMeK+ ● BT-K
Ponos: ABD-6C Master Series (Cedar/Acacia) ● MGBD-6 Deluxe (Mango)

Have been finger-pickin' guitar since 1973!

SDTaylorman

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Re: Taylor Guitar Options....
« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2022, 06:06:35 AM »
If I could actually afford it I'd call Taylor and speak to someone there before even thinking about ordering a custom guitar. As always going to the source is the way to go. Websites aren't dependable or detailed enough. Not just Taylor,  any custom creation.

Earl

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Re: Taylor Guitar Options....
« Reply #5 on: January 03, 2022, 11:16:32 AM »
I don't know why Taylor hasn't made it more apparent recently, but it's like they've stopped their "modify a model" campaign that they advertised some years back. Maybe they don't want to encourage it or maybe they didn't have much interest  in it. Who knows. I do know that this forum is helpful to get the word out and it helps those who may be less aware.

In these uncertain times, they simply may have their hands full keeping normal production going and don't have the resources to deal with custom orders.  Anything other than normal scheduled units "on the line" takes special care and attention.  Unlike other factories with significant back-orders, you still see a fair amount of Taylor stocked in stores.  For example, I hear that the the M-brand pre-sold their entire 2022 production quota by September of last year.  A custom model with that brand will maybe get to you by mid-2023, if ordered now.
Taylors:  424-LTD (all koa) and a 114ce that lives with friends in Alaska.  Low maintenance carbon fiber guitars are my "thing" these days, but I will always keep the koa 424.  Several ukulele and bass guitars too. 
*Gone but not forgotten:  a 2001 414ce, 410, 354-LTD twelve string, 314-N, 416-LTD baritone, T5 Classic, 615ce, 2006 GS-K, 1996 (first year) Baby

Frettingflyer

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Re: Taylor Guitar Options....
« Reply #6 on: January 03, 2022, 09:00:05 PM »
I had no problem ordering my 322e, and it could have been without the e too. My FLGS ordered it and took the chance I would like it so I could play it first. I think it was 8-10 weeks? I would have to look to be sure, but there was nothing custom about it, just no cutaway.
Dave
2014 Koa GS Mini-e FLTD (for the wife)
2004 314ce,
2014 custom GC Coco/Euro spruce
2015 Wildwood 812ce 12 fret
2016 522ce 12 fret
2019 K24ce BE
2021 322e
2017 Blackbird Lucky 13
2019 Mcpherson Sable

TaylorGirl

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Re: Taylor Guitar Options....
« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2022, 06:54:30 AM »
I think it was 8-10 weeks? I would have to look to be sure, but there was nothing custom about it, just no cutaway.
Agreed. These aren't custom, but rather, modifications. There's a difference.
I think the OP is talking modifications (no C and/or E, for example). Custom is entirely different.

FF, mine took 8 weeks too. Not sure what the current time frame is though.
Susie
Taylors: 914 ● K24ce ● 414 ● GSMeK+ ● BT-K
Ponos: ABD-6C Master Series (Cedar/Acacia) ● MGBD-6 Deluxe (Mango)

Have been finger-pickin' guitar since 1973!

SDTaylorman

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Re: Taylor Guitar Options....
« Reply #8 on: January 05, 2022, 11:15:33 AM »
I think it was 8-10 weeks? I would have to look to be sure, but there was nothing custom about it, just no cutaway.
Agreed. These aren't custom, but rather, modifications. There's a difference.
I think the OP is talking modifications (no C and/or E, for example). Custom is entirely different.

FF, mine took 8 weeks too. Not sure what the current time frame is though.

Tomato, To-mah-to as far as I'm concerned. It's a modification to the way the guitars come off the line and therefore a "custom" order for that person (usually thought of as a change in wood, nut/saddle materials, inlays, etc). Let's not get caught up in the semantics. OP was asking about a change to the standard order (no C/E) and it can definitely be done but it's (by definition) not just off the line stuff.
« Last Edit: January 05, 2022, 12:49:33 PM by SDTaylorman »

jrporter

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Re: Taylor Guitar Options....
« Reply #9 on: January 05, 2022, 12:26:06 PM »
I think it was 8-10 weeks? I would have to look to be sure, but there was nothing custom about it, just no cutaway.
Agreed. These aren't custom, but rather, modifications. There's a difference.
I think the OP is talking modifications (no C and/or E, for example). Custom is entirely different.

FF, mine took 8 weeks too. Not sure what the current time frame is though.

You're right. I just wouldn't think of a non-cutaway or no electronics as a "custom" guitar order, but SDTaylorman is also right in that it's a change to the normal production models.

Strumming Fool

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Re: Taylor Guitar Options....
« Reply #10 on: January 06, 2022, 12:55:07 PM »
In my time with Taylor guitars, I have ordered six custom guitars, one of which I still own. These were all built from the ground up (not modifying a standard model). The issue I have is that the sky used to be the limit when putting one of these together. In fact, my first custom Taylor (quilted sapele top, back and sides) was done with a total body edge burs finish that I didn't order. Taylor just felt that the guitar would look better that way (and it did). It was the first total body edge burst I had ever seen on any Taylor. In those days, Taylor seemed to have more fun with these custom jobs, but over the years, many restrictions or limitations came into play, I guess to make their lives easier. I will say that Taylor's stock models' aesthetic appointments have become more exciting since then. To the OP's point, until Taylor does a better job with clearly stating what the custom guitar build options are these days, I'm out....
My Taylor Grand Auditoriums:

1997 Cujo14 - old growth cedar/black walnut
2014 K24e - master grade koa
2018 Custom GA - bear claw sitka spruce/mahogany
2019 614 - torrified sitka spruce/flamed maple
2020 714 - lutz spruce/rosewood

mgap

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Re: Taylor Guitar Options....
« Reply #11 on: January 07, 2022, 08:17:59 AM »
If you use the Taylor website as a source for getting ideas on how to customize just go to Custom guitars - How to order custom guitars -then choose your features.  I found a dozen categories to choose from.
Shapes
Series
Body woods
Top woods
Electronics
Specialty
Finishes
Bracing
Necks
Cutaways
Armrests

Gone is the PDF that lists all the options, or at least I did not find it under Custom guitars.
Nothing that lists purfling upgrades, or soundhole rosette options, or so many other customizing options they once listed.
I wonder if that is a list you could get from an AD?
He who loses money, loses much; he who loses a friend, loses more; he who loses faith, loses all.

jrporter

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Re: Taylor Guitar Options....
« Reply #12 on: January 07, 2022, 02:31:52 PM »
Looking at OPTIONS under the Taylor 814ce, I'd think one of their more popular models, on the Taylor Guitars website, one finds the following message:No "Additional Cost" Options Available. I tried several other Grand Auditorium models, and when I clicked on the OPTIONS the word disappeared. This takes me back to my original thought that Taylor doesn't do a very good job of letting potential customers what options are available. And as I said originally, there's no substitute for having a knowledgable GO-TO Taylor dealer like Ted at LA Guitar Sales....

To mgap's post above, it's not that Taylor doesn't offer options or that it's not possible to use their website to find out what those options are.  Such an amazing company that produces such amazing guitars should make it easier, not harder, to find what options can be ordered and not turn it into a game of Where's Waldo...
« Last Edit: January 08, 2022, 02:38:00 PM by jrporter »

SDTaylorman

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Re: Taylor Guitar Options....
« Reply #13 on: January 07, 2022, 04:23:07 PM »
Looking at OPTIONS under the Taylor 814ce on the Taylor Guitars website, one finds the following message:No "Additional Cost" Options Available. This takes me back to my original thought that Taylor doesn't do a very good job of letting potential customers what options are available. And as I said originally, there's no substitute for having a knowledgable GO-TO Taylor dealer like Ted at LA Guitar Sales....

The Taylor website has long been a source of woe for shoppers. Often outdated, not showing items they have added, not taking down the stuff they no longer sell, etc. Granted this occurs (or at least I've only noticed it happening) mostly in the accessories and clothing areas vs the guitars section (which I rarely if ever browse) but it definitely reflects poorly on such a premier company.

STunick

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Re: Taylor Guitar Options....
« Reply #14 on: January 14, 2022, 10:51:43 PM »
I bought a GTe Urban Ash last April and had TaylorSense installed. TS has informed important humidity trends that I needed to  respond to. As as at-home early player with a Fender Acoustic Jr amp I’ve used little, I too wondered if the GT without electronics would have been perfectly fine. Ultimately  I’ve
decided knowing the tonewood climate has been worth the extra $200.