electro acoustics - 'low end' taylor (200 series) or 'high end' takamine?

[Vomortis]

trying to decide between a taylor 200 series (the lower end taylors) and a takamine supernatual (tan16 or ean 16). They are both around the same price, but obviously one is at at the top end of the brands scale, the other is at the bottom. Why is this? Are they both american made?

[kwakatak]

AFAIK all Taylors are made in the USA. The high-end Takamines you name are made in Japan.

[Vomortis]

is that why the takamines are a lower price but the same spec, becuase they are made in japan?

[Cldplytkmn]

I dislike Taylor's necks and love my takamines, so I'm obviously biased when it comes to this question... you should go play them and decide for yourself... I will say, the new cooltube preamp sounds awesome if you're wanting A/E...

[kwakatak]

 

Originally posted by Vomortis is that why the takamines are a lower price but the same spec, becuase they are made in japan?

 

 

I don't know why they're cheaper, but that's not the reason. The cost of doing business has actually gotten more expensive than it used to be. That's why they have their low to mid range models made in Korea.

[geek_usa]

Is it really worth asking?

 

 

Takamine for sure.

 

 

You're getting a high-end guitar from a mid-grade manufacturer verses a low-end guitar from a high-grade manufacturer.

 

obviously you've GOTTA know that Taylor isn't going to put as much care and quality control into their lower end as Takamine is going to put into their high-end guitars.

 

You'll be much better off with the Takamine. They're great guitars, and I personally think I would rather go with a high end Tak than a low end Taylor (even though I love Taylors).

 

 

Try an EG523SC. they're great guitars, beautiful tone...comfortable feel.

[Terry Allan Hall]

Having played my daughter's Taylor 214 quite a bit, I can assure you that it's a MUCH better value than anything from Takamine...Taylor DOES take as much pride in their 200 series guitars as in the rest of their line and you'll hear that pride everytime you pick it up.

 

Buy the Taylor....years from now, you'll be more and more pleased!

[hockeygabor]

I have a high end takamine(TAN16C)with the "cool tube".....I'm not a pro musician but the amplification sounds great!.....the only negative aspect with the guitar is it's weight....seems quite heavy as compared to the Taylor models.....it stays in tune and has a thin "Martinesque" neck ,real nice !

[geng]

 

Originally posted by Cldplytkmn I dislike Taylor's necks and love my takamines, so I'm obviously biased when it comes to this question... you should go play them and decide for yourself... I will say, the new cooltube preamp sounds awesome if you're wanting A/E...

 

 

+1.

I prefer Takamine but you should play them and decide yourself.

[onetubetone]

First of all, as was said above Taylor puts alotta work into all their guitars. Takamine is certainly going to be alittle more variable in quality. You may very well find one that sounds/plays great for a great price. I think you should play as many of each as possible. Another alternative is Larrivee... even on their lower range guitars, they use excellent wood and the same construction methods as their higher priced models.

[guit30]

Personally I think that the Taylor 214s and Larrivee Lower end OM's are not as good as their higher end stuff from my playing them.

The 2005LTD Takemine looks like a great guitar for 1399

Jim

[onetubetone]

 

Originally posted by guit30 Personally I think that the Taylor 214s and Larrivee Lower end OM's are not as good as their higher end stuff from my playing them. The 2005LTD Takemine looks like a great guitar for 1399 Jim

 

 

Well, as far as the Larrivee's go, that I find is a matter of opinion. According to Larrivee, the only differenes in their series that could have affect on tone are finish (satin on 03s, gloss on others) and grade of wood choice. They say that the higher end models basically select the prettier wood samples, which don't necessarily sound better. In my experience, for example, you'd be damn hard pressed to tell a tonal difference from an L-03R, an L-05 and an L-09.

 

Taylors I don't know as much about, but I've played some of their guitars and I hear the lower line stuff is still well constructed, though with less glamour and cheaper woods than the higher end.