Asking TexAgs because TexAgs knows stuff. AND, guitars are played outside sometimes.

Anyone REALLY familiar with Taylor guitars? I'm trying to compare a 2006 214 (grand auditorium) to a 2001 710 (dreadnaught).

The 214 is solid sitka top and solid sapele back and sides with a Baggs pickup installed. The seller says the condition is 9.8 out of 10. $599 shipped.

The 710 is solid sitka top and solid rosewood back and sides. Not electrified as far as I know. Seller states very good to excellent condition. $1000 plus $28 shipping.

Is the extra $400+ worth getting the 710? Would I be just paying for extra frills/looks, but not really a better guitar when it comes to sound and playability? I know rosewood and sapele are different tone woods, but how different...IDK.

I believe both guitars would sound great, but that is one of the problems. I'm not able to sit down and play them.

I'm sure more info would be helpful, but that's all I got for now. TIA

I used to have a 700 series grand auditorium. It was gorgeous and sounded amazing. I really like the shape of a Grand Auditorium over the Dreadnaught. The different woods and shapes will sound different so it is more of a personal preference to sound. The 700 series definitely uses wood that has better acoustic properties.
Wish I wouldn't have sold it. Might go to guitar center and see which one sounds better. Grand Auditorium feels better to me than a dreadnaught but the wood in the dreadnaught will likely sound better.

PFG must be rolling over in his OB grave with this thread...

Yeah, without playing them it's a crap shoot.

Sound, playability, comfort, and so on; requires having them in your hand.

That said, I'm a fan of the 700 series.

Get a Martin

/texags

I have played both. My mom used to have a 700 series dreadnought. It got messed up and she ended up getting a 200 series to replace it. There was a noticeable difference in the sound. I liked her 700 much better. But, if it's just to play around your house by yourself, get the 200 and use the extra cash to get some more gear.

bevokilla said:

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Get a Martin

/texags

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This is the right answer

OP how do you expect me to properly respond to this post. You must first state your budget so I can properly suggest something twice that budget and meets none of your criteria? What are you new?

The only guitar allowed on the OB!

Thanks for the replies. Budget? Don't really have one. If the deal is there I'd go with it probably.

The 2006 214 is now what is considered a current 314. MSRP I think is 12-1600.

The 710 has a MSRP at about 2800.

Which is the better value is the question?

Both have age on them and are in very good to excellent condition.

I actually have a very good copy of a d-28 Martin. It's a Cortley if anyone has heard of that. I believe Martin sued them at some point. It's almost fifty years old and sounds great from what I'm told and was a hand me down.

Anyhow, the 214 will be here tomorrow so I'll get a chance to play it. The 710 was just posted, which is typical. I "find" something then another potentially better deal pops up.

That 710 would be fun to play. I have a Taylor and love mine. I honestly don't think you can go wrong with either one, but I'd go with the 710 honestly.

AgEng06 said:

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PFG must be rolling over in his OB grave with this thread...

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Speaking of, did he catch another ban? Havent seen him posting lately.

Go to Austin and try out a Collings guitar.

I've got a 2006 814 LTD, a 514, and a Mini. As everyone here has said, it's sort of a crapshoot without playing them, but a dreadnought and x14 (grand auditorium, I think) shape are very different, and that makes the tone very different. Personally, I love the x14 shape (obviously), but it fits my playing style very well. I'd say to go play each of them in a store and figure out which you prefer, then go with the one that fits you best. On paper, I'd take a 7-series over a 2-series every day, but to me the shape is a much bigger factor than the series.

John Cocktolstoy said:

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Go to Austin and try out a Collings guitar.

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Definite OB post. Suggest a $4000+ guitar when he is buying one for $599

Buying a guitar is kind of like buying a pair of boots. It's a very individualistic thing.

Everyone's ears are different and respond differently to each guitar's tonal nuances just as everyone's feet are different and each person has a different feel they respond to. Also, just like a new pair of boots, no two pair feel the same or in the case of guitars...sound the same even with the same exact models. I've played two Martin HD-28's (my go to model) side-by-side and they sounded totally different. Each is made from different trees.

I've been an acoustic guitar freak my entire life and am a bit of a sound nerd. The sound that I've always responded to was a deeper, richer tone that you get from spruce/rosewood. I like to feel it in my belly when I play. And I've always been a Martin guy for that reason. Always preferred the dreadnought shape to anything else.

Sapele is a type of mahogany. Gives you a totally different tone. It's going to be brighter with more attack on the higher end and mids. A lot of flatpickers/bluegrass & lead-type players like mahogany tones for this reason. I'm more of a rhythm-type player and fingerpicker so I respond to the spruce/rosewood combo.

That being said, I'd much prefer the 700 series Taylor.
Try each of the models out at a local store and see which one speaks to your ears. In the end that's all that really matters is what you respond to. Taylor makes a very fine guitar.

Post some pics of your purchase.

Hope that helps.

A Collings would be nice (or a high end Martin as someone obligatorily suggested), but I just don't feel like spending that kind of money for what I do. I do work in Austin and will take the tour at some point. The Swiss Army guitar also looked tempting.

Anyhow, going to a store and playing one vs the other for "fitting" purposes would be nice, but I'm backwards (lefty). finding a store with those two specific guitars would be hard I'm guessing.

I think I said this before, but the 2006 214 is what is now the 314 (all solid woods). The 214 starting in '07 went to laminate back and sides - if my research is correct - and the solid wood version was bumped to the 314. So, in my mind I would be really getting a 314 in the end.

My thinking now is get them both. Try them out side by side and see what I like. Keep the one I like best, or keep both. ;-) I have a dread already, so when the GA shows up this evening I might have my decision made. I may not like the way it fits.

Thanks for the feedback.

I had no idea of price on a Collings. Just knew that they were a local Texas guitar maker who a few famous musicians used. Good buddy built them and hot rods with the owner who has passed, along with my buddy too. Just knew about them but not much else.

Buy the 710. Taylor uses better tops on their higher-end guitars. If you need a pickup, they are not that difficult or expensive to install. Also, Rosewood is a more desirable material for the back and sides.

Both is the correct answer.

The best guitars are made in my backyard.

/thisboard

aggie_wes said:

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bevokilla said:

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Get a Martin

/texags

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This is the right answer

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Damn right it is.

Having said that, the 700 is the better series guitar between the two that he's asking about...

Martin 00-15M in Dark Mahogany! Not far off from the used 700 and oh so sweet! Those open back tuners are the coolest.

I have a Taylor 910CE and love that thing to death.

For $400 more, get the 7 series, unless you really want/need electronics, then I don't know what to tell you.

That's my thinking too. I got the 214 Thursday. It's nice but doesn't sound anything like my dread. A lot more "bright" I guess is how to describe it and the action is high, but that can be adjusted I guess. Hard to get use to the sound after playing my 45+ year old guitar. I'm going to get the 710 too and compare. Sell the one I don't like I guess.

Send a PM to 'rbtexan'. He will almost certainly know!!

Sorry. I missed something. What does Texan know.

Sorry. I missed something. What does Texan know.

I have the 214 and 916ce, both are great guitars at different price points. It really depends on use, and how ready you are to grow into another guitar if you spend more money. I got my 912ce new for $1200 when they were phasing out old models. It was a little more guitar then I needed, but hard to turn away for that price.

That being said I truly love my 912ce, it is a wonderful instrument and will give many years of enjoyment, given how I play. I would get the nicest instrument that you can afford and in line with your playing style.