Taylor 410 Pros and cons

[Harpo]

Hey gang, I'm going to look at a 97 or 98 410 non-cutaway w/the fishman prefix blender tomorrow and was wonder what I should look for. What are the pros and cons for this model? What are your opinions about the fishman? I was told that the top is sitka and the sides and back are rosewood-does that sound right? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

[ebick]

No it does not sound right.  Currently, the 800 series has the rosewood b&s.  The 400 series uses ovangkal.

http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/410ce

[dmccrider]

No it does not sound right.  Currently, the 800 series has the rosewood b&s.  The 400 series uses ovangkal.

http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/410ce

What ebick said, the 700 series is also in rosewood but it is not usually sitka. I've heard the Fishman Blender and I thought it sounded really good but the system is not very discreet and this particular blender may be getting long in the tooth, you want to be careful of condition or you'll have a headache on your hands. I think the biggest drawback of your instrument would be that it is probably pre-NT neck. http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/acoustic/features/nt-neck If the pick up is in good working condition you might expect to pay a bit more but if it were me, I wouldn't pay much of a premium for the pick up due to it's age. Most importantly, how does the guitar sound? If it sounds good and you pay a fair price you should be happy with it.

[Herb Hunter]

Hey gang, I'm going to look at a 97 or 98 410 non-cutaway w/the fishman prefix blender tomorrow and was wonder what I should look for. What are the pros and cons for this model? What are your opinions about the fishman? I was told that the top is sitka and the sides and back are rosewood-does that sound right? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Taylor 410s made in 1997 had mahogany back and sides not rosewood. Sometimes, Taylor will release a limited edition version of one of its standard series guitars made of different woods but I don't remember if there were any 410 LTDs in 1997 made out of rosewood. I doubt it though. Later versions were made with KIf you can find out the guitar's serial number, you can call Taylor Guitars and they will be able to tell you specific information about that guitar. Current versions of the 410 are made with ovangkol instead of mahogany.


The Fishman system was very popular among people that liked the sound of a piezoelectric, under-saddle pickup.

[rcoolz]

hi. The 410 from that era.was a mahogany guitar.,,they alksoi made some in Koa which I owned,,,,The 410 also had the pinless bridge,,,,,,Some like them some dont,,,I never had a problem with the pinless bridge,,,,also the tuners  were the OLd style. GROVER TUNERS,,,,,   The neck is a pre NT neck,,,,, 1 piece neck  ,,It is a bolt on neck,,,I really like the taylors from the 90s,,,, You'll  LIKE,,it. ,,,,RCOOLZ

[Harpo]

Thank you all for the replies!

I'm sorry to say that I decided to pass on this one as it had more issues than I wanted to deal with at that price-neck bow, finish problems, worn frets, and tired Grovers.



A quick question-the serial number was 4-3xxx which if I'm reading the Taylor site right, would equate to 1984-86 body? http://www.taylorguitars.com/blog/taylor-support/faq-when-was-my-guitar-made

[American Red]

I must have played 20 different taylors, maybe more.
I only bought one..

You will know when it is the right Guitar for you..
Try as many as you can.
Don't pick the one that is in front of you, unless it gets in front of you more often than all of the others.

Trust your ears, close your eyes.
Trust your hands, close your eyes.
Trust your heart, close your wallet.

You will know when to open your wallet.

You will have many years of enjoyment when you find your Taylor fit and finish.
You will sound better, smile better, feel better and live longer...

[michaelw]

Thank you all for the replies!

I'm sorry to say that I decided to pass on this one as it had more issues than I wanted to deal with at that price-neck bow, finish problems, worn frets, and tired Grovers.



A quick question-the serial number was 4-3xxx which if I'm reading the Taylor site right, would equate to 1984-86 body? http://www.taylorguitars.com/blog/taylor-support/faq-when-was-my-guitar-made

it would be a 92 model & from the serial #, it was likely made in el cajon (shortly after the factory moved from santee) -
square shoulder body (contour changed in 97), non-tropical (south american) mahogany, all satin finish
(top also, pre UV, possibly conversion varnish) rosewood fretboard & pinless bridge, 14:1 chrome grovers
black body binding, pre NT mahogany neck, 1 11/16" nut width, classic bracing (3/8", non-forward shifted)

the 400s went to ebony fretboards (unbound) & bridges in 94

in 97 the 410 body shape was redesigned, black fretboard binding added, there was also a 420 model (maple back & sides) &
the 410ce with the fishman prefix onboard pre-amp standard (the onboard blender was standard on the 98-00 500/800s) -
an onboard blender on a 410 would have been an upgrade option or installed afterwards, as the 97-00 410ce
had the prefix preamp standard, 01-2 prefix plus, 03 stereo blender (L4 models had ES) & 04 started with ES

standard 98 410s had ovangkol back & sides, white binding, satin finish with a gloss top & pin bridge -
99 models began to have the NT neck, 01 models standard nut width was 1 3/4", 03 began having Taylor branded tuners
04-06 unbound fretboards, late 06 standard II 5/16" forward shifted bracing with relief rout & then the  DN4 began in 07

hope this helps a little

[michaelw]

Hey gang, I'm going to look at a 97 or 98 410 non-cutaway w/the fishman prefix blender tomorrow and was wonder what I should look for. What are the pros and cons for this model? What are your opinions about the fishman? I was told that the top is sitka and the sides and back are rosewood-does that sound right? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

although the guitar ended up being a 92 model, there was a rosewood 400 series dreadnought in 97 -
420R (with white body & fretboard binding) & there were 410 RW models in 92 also

too many 'LTDs' to remember (even 20 year old+ ones)

[Harpo]

hope this helps a little

A little? You are a fountain of Taylor information and I greatly appreciate you taking the time to help a Taylor newbie with my questions.

[egkor]

@michaelw just "rocks"!   

Gary K

[cigarfan]

Affectionately known as "Michaelepedia"

He is awesome! And we are grateful.