Music Villa video

[ksdaddy]

I just watched a video comparing a Taylor 114 (lam sides/back) to a 314 (solid). I may be getting old or maybe I've been dense all along, but I couldn't hear a bit of difference between the two.

 

http://acousticletter.com/taylor-114-vs-314-laminate-vs-solid-wood-comparison/

[MorrisrownSal]

I just watched a video comparing a Taylor 114 (lam sides/back) to a 314 (solid). I may be getting old or maybe I've been dense all along, but I couldn't hear a bit of difference between the two.

 

http://acousticlette...ood-comparison/

 

I am with you. NO DIFFERENCE. They both sounded pretty nice. I know I would go 114...

[62burst]

Go figure. Imho, the 114 recorded better, especially where you could hear the slower playing where strings could ring a bit, as heard around t = 4:09 -> 4:16. Comparo's are very hard to do, especially when it comes down to capturing nuance on a recording.

 

 

 

 

Also- Big Thumb Tony always has great recording quality/mic'ing. Even in a small, acoustic setting, a mic always "processes" the voice a bit, usually for the better.

[bobouz]

Even as cookie cutter as Taylors may appear to be,

I'm guessing a stellar example of the 314 would outpace a stellar example of the 114.

 

Regardless, these comparisons are always interesting!

[MR GIBS]

... I couldn't hear a bit of difference between the two.

Neither do I...

[GuitarLight]

.. No difference...Years ago I bought a Taylor 900 series..$3000 in price....loved it. But the following year for kicks I bought a Taylor Big Baby for about $400. I realized the difference between the two was not much...certainly not thousands in difference. Thinking it must be me...I went out and bought a 700 series and later added a 300 series.....they all sounded so ridiculously close I realized I wasted my money on all them...and sold them all off. If I ever want a Taylor again (not likely) I would buy the cheapest laminate Taylor because the sound differences are just not there, pretty woods yes, quality build, yes, sound and tone, no. The thing is they all sounded good, but they all sounded the same!

[retrorod]

I did discern a slight bit of difference in tone. Not enough to sway me in either direction(for sure)....and not enough difference than changing pick thickness may make........Taylors bore me to look at!

[Doug the Old Geezer]

I actually thought the 314 sounded quieter. Don't know if it was miked differently or not, as 62 said it sounds like it recorded differently. Or else there is a no drastic difference between laminate and solid wood.

[MissouriPicker]

Very similar in sound. At times they sounded identical. Between these two guitars I'd likely go the laminate because it's less money for what seems to be the same qualities. I readily admit that I'm not drawn to Taylors. Again, has absolutely nothing to do with their quality. They're very nice guitars, but when I see and hear Taylors I see and hear "vanilla." I don't rule out the possibility of one day finding a Taylor that speaks to me, but I've still got various Gibsons models and likely a Martin yelling my name. ........Good review. I enjoy these videos.

[BigKahune]

.

Very close. For my ears, too close to call.

 

There's been previous discussions here on laminate vs solid, especially during Gibson's so called 'Lacey Era'. For the majority of buyers out there, I always thought lam was dismissed because of the long standing meme that "lam = cheap" and not worthy, and not really based on the sound and tone of a lam instrument. I've had quite a few guitars with lam back/sides, including Gibson and Guild. I've still got a "cheap" one I acquired back in the 70s - an old Yamaha - the older it gets, the better it sounds.

 

 

.

[father_of_pearl]

To my ears (through good headphones) the 314 sounds richer, more complex and brighter...

[EuroAussie]

Taýors all sound the same,

[music4love]

The only Taylor guitars that I like are the cedar topped models, and the GS Mini.

[bobouz]

They're very nice guitars, but when I see and hear Taylors I see and hear "vanilla."

Really like that descriptor, MP. I can appreciate the build quality & playability, but I've yet to meet a Taylor that has really touched my senses tonally - they sort of have a see-through effect on me - nothing's there, nothing happens. I'm sure by now I've developed a preconceived notion that puts them partially behind the eight ball before the first note is played.

 

Regardless, I'm glad they work for a lot of folks.

[GDC]

I bought a Taylor 200series laminate a couple years ago. Sounds and plays right good. The top caught my eye first very nice wood all around.

[ChrisA83]

I thought they sounded different. Both quite bright, but the 114 "echoey" and sort of jangly. Sounded like my lam Epiphone. The 314 was softer with more depth.

[Kaiser Bill]

I heard no difference at all.

[Randmo]

If I have to lean in, squint and put on headphones to hear the difference, I'm going with the 114.

[Working Mans Blue]

Taýors all sound the same,

 

i agree with this very much actually

 

but really a youtube video is not a real way to tell how a guitar sounds, so im not going to comment on the video itself

[6stringTom]

.. No difference...Years ago I bought a Taylor 900 series..$3000 in price....loved it. But the following year for kicks I bought a Taylor Big Baby for about $400. I realized the difference between the two was not much...certainly not thousands in difference. Thinking it must be me...I went out and bought a 700 series and later added a 300 series.....they all sounded so ridiculously close I realized I wasted my money on all them...and sold them all off. If I ever want a Taylor again (not likely) I would buy the cheapest laminate Taylor because the sound differences are just not there, pretty woods yes, quality build, yes, sound and tone, no. The thing is they all sounded good, but they all sounded the same!

 

Ah, the secret to Taylor's success. Make them all sound the same and people will keep buying different models in search of a better one. Brilliant. (And, yes, I'm just kidding).