Official Luthiers Forum!

I spent a bit of time at the local GC and played a handful of high end Martins and another handful of high end Taylors. This was the first time I've ever played a Taylor.

I was really struck by the difference in tone between the two marks. The three or four of each I played seemed consistant among it's stable mates, so the tone difference was apparently a manufacturer thing.

The question is has anyone poked around inside of both brands. I'm familiar with the inside of the Martin but not the Taylor. I'd like to know how the construction differs and how that affects the final sound.

It would be nice to be able to build and achieve a similar tone to either at will.

And BTW I was comparing Dreads.

hi ronn,

check out this link, it has a lot of different styles,

top bracing

paddy

Ronn, it would be easier, a lot easier, to write down what they have in common, rather than where they differe.

Yes, they are -that- different from each other. Only thing in common between the dread models you compared were the name, "dreadnought". And even that shape, is slightly different betweem Taylor and Martin.

Look at the details. That's where the maker's tone signature is, and no two details transfer from one maker to the next. Not in measureable forms, not in construction technique.

In the end, all the tiny details that you didn't take note of are what account for the diffeent sound qualities. Just as I've preached for years....

There used to be basic bracing outlines for the various models on the Taylor website. Not terribly useful, but added to Frank Ford's collection of photographs, a good place to start.

Me, I like Taylors. Especially the 14-series. Played a 414 once that required all my willpower to not buy right then and there, and I've never had that before or since with a guitar, to be honest.

Here is my two cents worth, and believe me, that's all it's worth.

I have to agree with these guys, all the little differences make the big difference.

There isn't much the same on the guitars. Taylor uses different box volumes, slightly different bracing, different brace profiling, different scale. I suspect that even the wider string spacing Taylor uses causes a slight difference in harmonics.

It all adds up to a more modern tonal package than the Martin in my opinion. I suspect that in fifty years the taylors of today will be treasured relics from the past, just like the guitars, you my friends, are making.

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/features/bracing/Types. aspx

That is a link to taylors site showing pictures of there top bracing. But what I think is interesting about the Taylors is they use a Relief Cut (see the link) which they have patented to "loosen up" the edges of the top. I'd be curious what others here think of this.

Joe

I did not know they were cuting the channel

Thinning the perimiter of the soundboard isn't new, and has been, and is being, done by lots of builders. Taylor simply found a way to do it with a CNC and patented the idea.

[QUOTE=Mario] Thinning the perimiter of the soundboard isn't new, and has been, and is being, done by lots of builders. Taylor simply found a way to do it with a CNC and patented the idea.[/QUOTE]

Mario, about how much should a top be thinned to gain the benefit? And how far back from the kerfing would you go? I thin my tops to about .11 when it is firm spruce.

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

No idea; ask someone who does it. I'm just saying it's not a new idea by any means.

Maybe I do it, maybe I don't. Maybe a bit, maybe not. Maybe time to head back to the shop., maybe beer time, maybe both!

Well the devil is in the details as always isn't it? I'm not aware of any Taylor blueprints that are readily available so was hoping for some first hand experience. I'm sure GC wouldn't be too pleased if I took my mirror and calipers in with me on the next trip.

Maybe one day I'll be fortunate enough to get one on the bench and really give it the once over.

Thnx to all who responded.

Actually I have done exactly that. A local guitar shop has some private
rooms to test out guitars and amps. I had a pocketful of rulers and a digital
camera. i worked great. I was looking at some of the details of the Taylor 12
strings.
Andy

_________________
Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

[QUOTE=azimmer1] Actually I have done exactly that. A local guitar shop has some private
rooms to test out guitars and amps. I had a pocketful of rulers and a digital
camera. i worked great. I was looking at some of the details of the Taylor 12
strings.
Andy[/QUOTE]

You can now reveal your true identity 007!

I just did not know that was how they were doing it