2013 Fall Ltd 514e - Pics Added

[mikeguywest]

Congratz, Glen, on a fine looking, and no doubt fine sounding ax. I'm not sure about those allen heads in the bridge, it kind of takes away from the clean wood look. Hopefully it won't have to be adjusted when changing types/gauges of strings. If it makes it sound better that's a good thing. I'm pretty satisfied with my current (2012) ES system though. I really like the rosette (Koa?), much more than abalone. Enjoy!

[coldshot]

I'm not too sure it is an updated ES, from my understanding the ES is a magnetic pick up and therefore it doesn't have anything to do with the saddle. My guess is a prototype Piezio under saddle pick up with adjustment.

[Glen]

Very nice looking GA, the mahogany is a very  nice color , I like the non cutaway The whole package works , I cant remember what the top wood is? Did they use Itialian alpine spruce?

Doe's it sound crystal clear?  I can only emagine,  Nice  Congrats 

Clear yet warm with some nice nuance and sparkle. Crisp and no loss of sonic splendor with a capo which I have only experienced with one guitar. Taylor 914.  I have never really cared for Sitka or Adi on a Taylor hog. This has the most even tone across the tonal spectrum of any Taylor hog I have played. I know it sounds (pun intended) crazy, but for some reason it has some nice overtones and balance including some rich but perfectly balanced bass.  Truly the best of all worlds.  Think if a 914 and 514 had a baby Taylor and half the top was Cedar and half was Engelmann.   Maybe it is the non-cutaway, adi bracing and quality of mahogany. All I know, is this is the most unique mahogany Taylor I have ever played let alone own.  Now throw in a new and GREATLY improved ES and we are talking my favorite Ltd in a few years.

[Glen]

I'm not too sure it is an updated ES, from my understanding the ES is a magnetic pick up and therefore it doesn't have anything to do with the saddle. My guess is a prototype Piezio under saddle pick up with adjustment.

The owners pamphlet for ES says "NEW EXPRESSION SYSTEM" which shows detail for adjustment screws, ect ect. Honestly, did not yet take time to read what exactly is new.   All I can say is I A/B'd with my Fall LTD Koa which had the most current version before this and there was no contest sonically.  Even if someone did not have an ear for an acoustic guitar you can easily hear a dramatic difference.  This appears to be the Patent Applied For ES system that I have seen on a link in either this or the AGF forum.

[flaggerphil]

Beautiful looking guitar!

[coldshot]

I'm not too sure it is an updated ES, from my understanding the ES is a magnetic pick up and therefore it doesn't have anything to do with the saddle. My guess is a prototype Piezio under saddle pick up with adjustment.

The owners pamphlet for ES says "NEW EXPRESSION SYSTEM" which shows detail for adjustment screws, ect ect. Honestly, did not yet take time to read what exactly is new.   All I can say is I A/B'd with my Fall LTD Koa which had the most current version before this and there was no contest sonically.  Even if someone did not have an ear for an acoustic guitar you can easily hear a dramatic difference.  This appears to be the Patent Applied For ES system that I have seen on a link in either this or the AGF forum.

Very happy for you that the LTD sounds great, I like the tone of the latest version of the ES, but if something is an easy retrofit and sounds a lot better I'd go for it.

[CodeBlueEMT]

 Glen, congrats on the new keeper. She's a beauty. 

[Clay]

I just bought my 2013 514e-FLTD yesterday and I have to agree with everything that Glen said about this guitar.  I asked the dealer to hold it for me when they received it and I got the call yesterday.  I took my 516ce (cedar top) and 614ce-L7 in for comparison.  To be honest, I wasn't expecting it to sound different enough from the 516ce to justify the purchase.  I was wrong.  It has a unique sound and clarity that amazes me.  Each string seems to stand out on its own and bass response is much better than I would have expected from a Grand Auditorium.  I've always thought that the 516ce is a great sounding guitar and it is the one I tend to grab first when playing.  Compared to the 514e-FLTD, the 516ce sounds kind of muddy (which is not how I would normally describe the 516ce sound).  I suspect that the Adirondack bracing and European spruce top contribute significantly to it's sound.  The non-cutaway body is probably also a factor.  I should mention that the guitar has a very large dynamic range.  It handles really light fingerpicking to very aggressive strumming.  I still can't believe it, but it is louder than the 516ce when strumming forcefully.

The new expression system sounds incredible.  I don't know how to describe it in words but, based on what I've heard so far, I'll be surprised if Taylor doesn't start offering this in all of their guitars in the near future.  I've compared it to my other guitars, and there just is no comparison.  The new Expression System is much, much better sounding than the previous design.

BTW, I'm new to the group, but have been reading posts for the last year or so.  If anyone is interested, I'll post pictures of the 514e-FLTD later tonight or tomorrow.

[jjrpilot-admin]

I just bought my 2013 514e-FLTD yesterday and I have to agree with everything that Glen said about this guitar.  I asked the dealer to hold it for me when they received it and I got the call yesterday.  I took my 516ce (cedar top) and 614ce-L7 in for comparison.  To be honest, I wasn't expecting it to sound different enough from the 516ce to justify the purchase.  I was wrong.  It has a unique sound and clarity that amazes me.  Each string seems to stand out on its own and bass response is much better than I would have expected from a Grand Auditorium.  I've always thought that the 516ce is a great sounding guitar and it is the one I tend to grab first when playing.  Compared to the 514e-FLTD, the 516ce sounds kind of muddy (which is not how I would normally describe the 516ce sound).  I suspect that the Adirondack bracing and European spruce top contribute significantly to it's sound.  The non-cutaway body is probably also a factor.  I should mention that the guitar has a very large dynamic range.  It handles really light fingerpicking to very aggressive strumming.  I still can't believe it, but it is louder than the 516ce when strumming forcefully.

The new expression system sounds incredible.  I don't know how to describe it in words but, based on what I've heard so far, I'll be surprised if Taylor doesn't start offering this in all of their guitars in the near future.  I've compared it to my other guitars, and there just is no comparison.  The new Expression System is much, much better sounding than the previous design.

BTW, I'm new to the group, but have been reading posts for the last year or so.  If anyone is interested, I'll post pictures of the 514e-FLTD later tonight or tomorrow.

Thanks for the review Clay and Welcome!     Pics?  We'd love some! 

[stepchildusmc]

pics? you're asking alcoholics if they'd like a free liter of Vodka !

[CodeBlueEMT]

 Hi Clay. Welcome to the UTGF. Congrats on the new 514e-FLTD. Honestly, I think the new ES is going to steal the show this season. You've got to post pictures. That's the penalty for lurking longer than 90 days. I hope you'll consider sharing more of your experience around here. Stop lurking and join the fun. 

[Clay]

My wife and I went to the State Fair today and I have a family gathering out of town tomorrow, so I may not get photos posted until Sunday.  However, on the way home I get to stop at Dusty Strings in Seattle to check out a K28e that they have listed on their website.  I'm anxious to hear what Koa sounds like on a Grand Orchestra body. 

[cigarfan]

Thanks for your review. Sounds wonderful. Congrats on your new baby. And maybe a K28 huh, wow!

Glad you decided to chime in. Welcome!

[El Diablo]

It's a nice guitar, but I wonder why they didn't come up with a new inlay instead of using what is, essentially, the old 600 Series inlay.

[Strumming Fool]

Similar, but not the same:

600 series features solid shapes in MOP inlay
2013 FLTD features an outline of the shape in boxwood inlay

Also there's spacing between the three shape elements on the old 600 while there's really no space between the three elements on the FLTD.

(Does anal-retentive have a hyphen?)