Taylor DN3 Equivalent

[marder explorer]

Hello everybody-

 

 

Been out of the guitar game for almost 2 years now. Was playing electric rock and roll, some blues, some metal. Have some electric stuff I'm trading in/selling off to get some change in my pocket before the next school year starts, and also to simplify my collection.

 

I've got basically $1200 to spend on an acoustic. My previous experience with acoustics is this: 2+ years of Taylor Big Baby ownership. I sold it because my heavy pick usage was wearing on the (non-existent) finish and I thought I could make an upgrade to the overall tone. Had an older Epiphone maple jumbo that was way too bright/thin, so that was sold off. Late 70s Yamaha cheapo that I started to learn on, horrid action and pretty...unexciting.

 

So, I'm looking for a Taylor (I like that they are made only 10 miles from my current residence). I went to Buffalo Brother's shop yesterday to check out the current line and to see if my ears could tell a difference between the 110, 210, and the DN3. I didn't test anything higher in price than that because I'm limiting myself to this $1200 at max.

 

The DN3 had a markedly more "solid" tone, much more refined and it seemed to pronounce each note with more clarity, even while aggressively strumming dense barre chords. This, compared to my old Big Baby and the one in the shop, was worth the price of admission.

 

I played a Martin D15, and was turned off by the significant midrange/bass bias the sound had, I like a bit more treble than what I heard from that particular guitar. I tried a higher-end Martin, and it seemed to have the same overall "sound", so I decided to stick with the Taylors. The Taylors seemed to project much more readily than the Martins did, which I liked.

 

My projected usage for this guitar will be basically playing for myself (hence the lack of electronics), which is split between 60% fingerstyle, and 40% strumming or picking, similar to playing electrically.

 

My questions:

 

1-If I like the DN3 (310), would I gain any more bass if I went with a Grand Auditorium, or other line from Taylor? I like the "shimmer" that the top-end of most Taylors gives, but would like to have my thumb-picked bass notes ring out solidly as well.

 

2-I didn't get the chance to try out Larivee's line at all, where is their "tone" compared to Taylor's tendency towards brightness and Martin or Gibson's midrange bias?

 

 

Thanks in advance, I'll keep reading through the old posts to see what else I can dig up for info on this segment of the market.

[marder explorer]

Is it a bad thread title? Are my questions not clear?

 

 

[hempomatic]

Is it a bad thread title? Are my questions not clear?

 

Or maybe you're being a little impatient.

 

Any, the Taylor you're looking at is a great guitar or the money. Larrivee has a 03 series for about the same price. Can't go wrong with either.

 

You will not gain more bass with a GC, but it is a bit more refined. You pay for that however.

 

ken

[JerseyGuy]

I second your looking at a Larrivee L-03 or OM-03 model. I don't own one (yet!) but have played quite a few lately. They are not quite as bright and boomy as Taylors but certainly not as dark as Martins. To me they're very balanced and complex, excellent for fingerpicking and seem exceptionally well made. I'm leaning to the OM model for my selection. I have a very old Taylor 12 and it gets better all the time, but it is loud. You'll spend a lot less than your budget, too, enough left over to get a nice beater. Have fun and let us know what happens.

[Freeman Keller]

Is it a bad thread title? Are my questions not clear?

 

No, but first, the fact that Taylor has just revamped ther models and designations, some of us, even tho we own Taylors, aren't completely up to speed on what model is what. The DN3 is the equivalent of the 310, which is the dread model of of my 314 (GA). A dread will almost alway have bigger bass than a GA or GC, which will tend to be a little better balanced. Sapele is a mahogany like wood, which is a little more cutting and "woody" sounding than rosewood (or ovankgol, used in the 410 which I suppose is the DN4 now days).

 

The equivalent Martin would be a D-16, spruce over sapele, not a D-15, which is hog top. I don't quite understand your question about wanting more bass than the DN3, yet you were "turned off by the significant midrange/bass bias the sound had" in the Martins. In general, I would agree that a Martin dread will probably have a punchier bass - that is why the flatpickers and bluegrassers like them.

 

Many people feel that Taylors best models are their GA's - the old x14 series, which seem to do everything fairly well (except maybe hard driving flatpick rhythm). However, maybe to get the bass you are looking for you should try a jumbo (which I don't think taylor is making any more) or one of their GS, which really was designed to be a fingerstyle guitar. Or my personal favorite, the Martin OM-21. I'll also add that to my ears the Larrys sound more like the equivalent Taylor than Martin.

 

Obviously, what you need to do is continue to play as many as you can.

[marder explorer]

Sorry guys, I guess I am used to the Electric/Amp forum's frenzied pace. I also did not know that the model designation change just happened, being out of the acoustic market since I bought that Big Baby in '04.

 

I'll make it a point to try out the Larrivees.

 

As far as the "more bass with a GA or GC" question, poor word choice on my part. I believe what I was wanting clarification of, is the term "balanced' with regards to a GC over what I now understand to be a dread's bass bias. I'll have to A/B and see what I prefer.

 

The Martins that I tried seemed like they had a very muffled top-end, hence the heavy midrange and bass bias. I can't imagine that'd be very flexible, whereas with a brighter guitar, you can always hand-dampen the strings when necessary, or throw some less-bright strings on. I'll try something closer to apples-n-apples comparison when I go back.

 

Should make it back to that store or another today, so I'll post up again after I get some more playing time in with these models you have mentioned.

 

Thanks for the responses thus far, everybody!

[Freeman Keller]

Yeah, we're a pretty laid back group... sometimes we get around to changing strings, but often we just put it off a little longer and talk about it....

 

Here are a couple of things that might help - a bunch of different sound clips including Taylors in various woods and sizes (but no DN3/310)

 

http://www.thepodium.com/t-soundsamples.aspx

 

Also, here is what used to be the Taylor forum until old Bob pulled the name, lots of (favorable) opinions on everything T. You could lurk and ask about DN3's here and get lots of feedback

 

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=10

 

Last, I'll add an opinion as the owner of several different guitars from different manufacturers (including a 314). I don't happen to think Taylor makes the best dreadnaughts in the world (Keller puts on flame proof underware). If you think that is the size/shape you want, you do owe it to yourself to compare others. Remember too that Taylor (and Larrys) ships with Elixers which tend to last longer, while Martin ships with plain old SP's which frequently sound dead when old. A good shop will be changing strings on Marties fairly often, but I certainly would ask for freshies if I was at all interested in a guitar. Remember too that Martins will tend to be set up a little higher than the equivalent Taylor or Larrivee - it might play siffer, but this can be corrected.

[Mokaccino]

 

Or maybe you're being a little impatient. Any, the Taylor you're looking at is a great guitar or the money. Larrivee has a 03 series for about the same price. Can't go wrong with either. You will not gain more bass with a GC, but it is a bit more refined. You pay for that however. ken

 

 

What kind of {censored}ing comment is this? Who are you and what do you know to make loud statements like this one? {censored} me! I get so mad when I read {censored} like that. Believe me dude, it doesn't make you an expert to brag like this.

[guit30]

Love your Avatar, personally, I would say that dreads have more bass, but overall, Taylor is a bright sounding instrument, which I like, I like Martins, since I can't afford either, i play an Alvarez RD20S which has a Taylor neck and solid top, very easy to play, but you are on to something more expensive

Have fun looking

Jim

[Freeman Keller]

 

What kind of {censored}ing comment is this? Who are you and what do you know to make loud statements like this one? {censored} me! I get so mad when I read {censored} like that. Believe me dude, it doesn't make you an expert to brag like this.

 

 

close the door as you leave and please don't come back

[TXTooMuch]

 

What kind of {censored}ing comment is this? Who are you and what do you know to make loud statements like this one? {censored} me! I get so mad when I read {censored} like that. Believe me dude, it doesn't make you an expert to brag like this.

 

 

Out of curiosity what is wrong with saying good things about Taylors or Larivee's? Could be the pain pills I am on, but seriously wtf?

[Freeman Keller]

TX, if you take a quick look at his other 11 posts you'll see that it must be spring and the trolls are coming out from under their bridges.

[TXTooMuch]

Yup forgive me for feeding the trolls.

[guitarist21]

What kind of {censored}ing comment is this? Who are you and what do you know to make loud statements like this one? {censored} me! I get so mad when I read {censored} like that. Believe me dude, it doesn't make you an expert to brag like this.

 

Oh, the irony...

 

Ellen

[kwakatak]

Yeah - I'd recommend the Larrivee L-03 in a heartbeat since I love my rosewood OM-03R. That probably makes me biased though. I've only had a crack at the older ones (they switched from mahogany to sapele last year) and the tone was warm and clear with enough bass for strumming without being too overpowering for fingerstyle. In comparison, my OM-03R has strong midrange and adequate bass for fingerstyle, but for strumming it can break up easily and in general the overtones sometimes make the guitar sound muddy when the strings aren't fresh.

 

As for Taylors, I've never tried the 310 but I did try the 314 and thought it was their best "bang for the buck" guitar. Good bass response, but not quite as much as any other brand's dread I've come across yet. Now that Taylor has come out with the GS I find myself being drawn to them over the 314 - but they usually start around $1600 which is slightly above your budget.

 

Now regarding Martins, you may want to try out one of their OM or 000. I personally prefer my Larrivee's brighter tone but in general they get good reviews around here - especially the OM-21. In your price range though you might want to look at the 000-16GT.

 

Oh - and BTW, make sure that the strings on the Martins are fresh. Many stores keep the original factory strings on way too long and they get about as dull in finish as a wheat penny pretty quick. IMO Martin strings are meant to "die" in about 3 weeks and the first 2 weeks of the factory strings' lives are spent "acclimating" the guitar for tension back at the factory.

 

Good luck!

[kwakatak]

What kind of {censored}ing comment is this? Who are you and what do you know to make loud statements like this one? {censored} me! I get so mad when I read {censored} like that. Believe me dude, it doesn't make you an expert to brag like this.

 

"junior member" indeed!