View Full Version : Should I, shouldnt I? Taylor 914ce
Hi all, i just played a 6 months old taylor 914ce today (rosewood back/sides and spruce top). its played and sounded LOVELY! its a friends instrument, and he's looking to sell it for about 3.2k in USD. is this a good deal? guitar itself seems in good condition, as is the case.....
tone wise, love the strong/bold projection, and deep rumbly voice.
ive never spent this much before so, am a little hesitant, esp on a 2nd hand instrurment. for me to get one brand new would be alot more, and frankly not financially feasible. My original plan was to get something around the 2k mark or even less, so this is a bit of a stretch, but gives me that sound in my head.
should i bite the bullet and just get it? anything i should look out for or be concerned about?
FWIW, this friend of mine owns a guitar store, and sell a few taylors. this is his own personal guitar, he's moving it to get a ltd ed taylor.
AAARRGGHHH!!!!!
i should say i dont care about the cosmetics, in fact would prefer a more plain jane instrument without hte fancy inlay, so if you have any suggestions for a similar sounding but cheaper instrument in mind... please feel free to recommend/ list them. thanks!
Peppy
10-30-2006, 05:38 AM
For that kind of money look at other makers...why just a Taylor?
TheFlash
10-30-2006, 06:11 AM
I would play as many instruments that are in your price range ($2000) as possible and then go back an play that one. If the taylor is THE instrument for you then you'll know and the extra money will be worth it.
Check out some larrivees (the 9 series) and even the taylor GS series. I bought a taylor GS recently that sounded better to my ears than any guitar in the room including some taylor 814s and a 914 which were both over $1000 more.
thats part of the problem, the choice are fairly limited where i live (malaysia), and prices are elevated. Though i travel lots, everywhere else i go to seem to have crazy prices on guitars (with possible exception of singapore, which is allright for some brands).
THe other accessible brands locally are the usual fender, ibanez, gibson (mainly electrics), and all the other korean/chinese import lines which i will not spend this type of money on.
i was planning to something on my next trip to the US sometime next year. (and still might wait) At least there are more choices and the prices will not be inflated.
alternatively, might just go cheap for now and get a big baby they have in store. i can always leave this in open G if i decide to upgrade later...
ahh... decision decisions.
Peppy
10-30-2006, 08:04 AM
alternatively, might just go cheap for now and get a big baby they have in store. i can always leave this in open G if i decide to upgrade later...
Not a bad choice at all. Depending on my playing mood I will pull my son's Big Baby out and play it over either of my two Santa Cruz.
Wow the $1800 I paid for my 912CE for it new at SamAss seems like a steal now!
I really hate it when I sense an initial response to a Taylor guitar implying that they are not worth the money. I have two Taylor 2003 914c Fall LTDs (one in rosewood and engelman, and the other in maple and sitka). They are the finest acoustic instruments I have ever played. They both have K&Ks installed. I ordered them without the ES.
Considering your location I find the price extremely reasonable. I wouldn't sell either of mine for near that price, but in my opinion the 2003 LTDs are exceptional. You have a guitar right there that "touches your heartstrings". Buy it. If it sounds as good as you say, you won't be looking for another to replace it. You will surely look for other guitars, but a 914c Taylor easily becomes part of the family.
jackaroo
10-30-2006, 09:59 PM
For that kind of coin I'd look at older martins and gibsons that have really opened up and have a better (to me) tone.
Let it be known I'm not a fan of how Taylors sound. I think they're well made, but I think they sound kind of bright and one dimensional. They sure play easy enough though- that's why they sell like hotcakes.
As for the 9 series, that's a lot of ornamentation that you're paying for. You might think again, and chill 'till you can try a bunch of guitars that are more focused on tone than inlays etc.
But hey I'm a tradtionalist.
Boogie92801
10-31-2006, 03:32 PM
I think that is just an ok price. You can do better.
You say you like the deep rumbly voice. I have never heard a Taylor with a deep or rubly voice. You need to try a high end Martin or a huss and Dalton or a J200 gibson those are rummbly. Taylors are all shimmery and chimmy - not bad but I always feel like they lack a bottom end.
rickc007
10-31-2006, 03:45 PM
I'm not sure what Taylor does to the 914
but I notice a huge diff in tone between that and the other Taylors
I have owned many Taylors, and LTD Taylors...Cocobolo, Rosewoods.....
The 914 just has a different dynamic, and rich tone.
I too, think it's one of the best guitars I have ever played
price is "ok", not great. as a savvy shopper could get a new one for that price. Then again, the second hand ones still command close to that price
awesome guitar
hey guys, thanks for the reply. appreciate all your insights.
Ive decided to go the big baby route for now, and get a top shelf one some time next year (or later). I'll have more time/ opportunities to play more brands, so that part of the decision as well (as was the $$ commitment right now).
I should say that for any guitar here to come close to US retail price is really considered a steal (taking into account tax/shipping/ company profit etc.) I bought my EC strat in the US for about 1k around early or mid 90s, and it was selling here (at that time) for close to 3k!
Re rumbly voice comment, the 914 sounded incredibly good to me, much more overall oomph, and also low end grunt than any acoustic i remember playing. I dig.
Antz_Marchin
11-01-2006, 12:05 AM
Hey, that 914 is a great guitar and I'd highly recommend it. There's a Coco LTD on the way to my place as we speak. That being said, especially coming from a friend who should be giving you a bit of a break, I'd have to say that $3200 is pretty steep. The new LTDs are going for $4000 with ES and thats with Coco and the Cindy Inlay. New regular 914s are in the $3200-3400 area (retail, not MSRP). They are like cars in a way too, in the way that they take a depreciation hit off the bat, but not so cause then stay pretty stable. I wouldn't spend more than $2500-2600 on that guitar if it's mint and with ES (if you prefer ES). Mine was ordered without it. Good Luck
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