Good buy? Taylor vs Yahama vs non-existent D-hole

TokyoP0P

Hey ya'all.

So I'm on the hunt for a new acoustic guitar. I currently use a Tanglewood TSF Evolution (3.4k retail price... I think) and although it FEELS beautiful and sounds ok, it leaves something to be desired. I feel like its about time to invest in the real deal.

I visited a couple of shops this morning and the guitars that stood out were a Yahama Compass that I was told I could get for 6.5k, and at another shop I tried a Taylor 114CE that I can get for 11k. Both were great, but the Taylor left a stronger impression on me.

I was really hoping to find a Gitane or something with a d-hole or oval hole to get that manouche sound, but alas there was nothing and I can't find anything online locally either. Besides, I don't play a ton of gypsy jazz so something more well rounded seems like a better option.

Does anyone here own a Taylor 114CE or played one, and are Taylors still considered good guitars? Does it sound like a decent buy? I'm not looking for a bargain, just something worth the bucks.

There was also a nice Takamine with a pickup thats apparently out of this world, but I'd never heard of a Takamine until this morning. That was going for about 6.5k.

TokyoP0P

EDIT: Never mind. I just bought the Taylor :-[

Sebber

Congrats dude, I'm a Taylor NUT and although I've not played any of the 1 series instruments (I do have a GS Mini that came off the same production line and I LOVE it) I've heard/read great things about them and their production consistency, and I love the Taylor necks.

Anyway, enjoy your new baby, in my experience once you get bitten by the Taylor bug you never quite recover.

TokyoP0P

Sebber wrote: Congrats dude, I'm a Taylor NUT and although I've not played any of the 1 series instruments (I do have a GS Mini that came off the same production line and I LOVE it) I've heard/read great things about them and their production consistency, and I love the Taylor necks.

Anyway, enjoy your new baby, in my experience once you get bitten by the Taylor bug you never quite recover.

Thanks Seb. Its amazing the difference in tone compared to the Tanglewood I was using. The Tangle plays smooth and easy like an electric, but the tone is quite tinny and thin in comparison, something I didn't even notice until I experienced the Taylor's deeper, crisper, warmer tone, and now I can't un-hear it. And this thing is an entry level Taylor! I can't imagine what the 40k+ ones must sound and feel like! Then there are those Casimi guitars that apparently start at 100k. Ugh... money.

Now I just need to stop picking my finger nails.