Taylor 314 vs 214?

[medlinke]

I got a 214 for my b-day yesterday and was wondering if it was worth the extra money to get essentially a different neck joint since both guitars have the same dimensions (except for neck which is slightly wider and I really like the size on the 214) and the same woods used in construction.

Please advise!!!:bounce

[sacdeez]

what level of playing are you at? how important is the neck to you? that guitar is a good, solid guitar for the money and theres no reason to get the 3xx if you dont need it.

[Rob]

The neck is more of a concern if you plan on having the guitar for many years, and also what kind of money you're willing to throw at it further down the road. As long as the guitar is kept properly humidified, the truss rod is attended to, and the guitar is tuned to concert pitch, you may never have problems with the neck. If humidity is a concern, or you're planning on messing around with tunings, then the neck might become a problem well down the road. At that point, the advantage of the 3xx neck joint is in the ease and price of a reset. The 2xx neck can be reset, but at a higher cost.

However, if the 2xx is just a guitar for a couple of years on your road towards the guitar of your dreams, you'll probably never have to deal with a true neck reset.

[seekup08]

how do i get a martin dm3md dave matthews signature model guitar and how much is it?

[Rob]

eBay, and upwards of $3k. If you haven't played one, don't buy it on Dave's reputation- it has a funky neck shape that many find uncomfortable.

[YknSTONE]

how do i get a martin dm3md dave matthews signature model guitar and how much is it?


Theres one (Dm3md) that shows up alot on Ebay. (cause this man can never sell it) and I wonder why. He asks $5000.00 ethier to buy it now...or starting bid. Ethier way, I think he's still smoking crack!

[RLich8]

The DM3MD is a great guitar and all, but I don't know why most people would even want it. That's not really a guitar you would just want to sit and strum on (at least in my opinion.) Not because of the price of it, but because it's more tuned to one individuals taste, not your own. That's fine and all if you like it and everything, but it's more of a guitar that occupies a part of your wall or a case in my opinion...

Aside from that, everything about it is perfect.

Roy

[jeremycloud]

I learned to play on an Ovation Elite Standard (for about 10 years). It is easy to play and learn on like Dave's old Gibson Chet Atkins, but you get the added benefit of an acoustic guitar with the Ovation. A couple years ago I got a Taylor 314ce (the electric cut-away). I didn't try out the 2xx, but I can tell you that while more difficult to play (higher guage strings higher action than the Ovation), the Taylor's warmer, fuller and louder sound were well worth the investment. I still like both guitars for different applications, but you can's go wrong with the Taylor. As an aside, I did try Takamine, Gibson, and Dave's Martin, and I though the Taylor beat them all hands down.

[AcE25]

the Taylor 214 is the "high output" guitar, its the "everyone can own a taylor" guitar. it is an awesome guitar, i am thinking about getting one for Raised B tuning, taylor did their research and built a very quality guitar, it will last just as long as a 314. The main differences are the back & sides (different woods) the neck joint, and placement of the strap button. but for that price it will be hard to find a better guitar.

[Pipsqueak]

the Taylor 214 is the "high output" guitar, its the "everyone can own a taylor" guitar. it is an awesome guitar, i am thinking about getting one for Raised B tuning, taylor did their research and built a very quality guitar, it will last just as long as a 314. The main differences are the back & sides (different woods) the neck joint, and placement of the strap button. but for that price it will be hard to find a better guitar.


agreed.

[medlinke]

Thanks so much for your opinions fellas. I have decided to stick with my 214 and then do a major upgrade when my skills get a major upgrade.

I really enjoy the warm sounds from this guitar when fingured and have found it incredibly responsive compared to my "learning" guitar...a korean Epiphone.

I'm definitely not a player with more money than talent and your posts helped me recognize the real value in the 214.

One thing I'm particularly enjoying is the more substantial feel of the guitar as I play it. It just "feels" right, more like an instrument and less like a hunk of wood with strings that were added as an afterthought like my Epiphone.

On another note, someone said that the 314 and the 214 have different woods. Looking at the Taylor website, maybe I'm missing it, but they both have the same.

Not that exotic woods make ANY difference in the end. Taylor produced a bunch of limiteds out of pallet wood! Apparently they sound and look amazing, but are made of that crappy wood that they put on pallets. Robert did it to prove that it's in the construction of the guitar and not the woods that make the biggest difference in the way a guitar will sound.

I have been exceedingly happy over the past week with this guitar and have logged like 10 hours of playing time on it so far and absolutely love it. I'm sure it will continue to provide me with great sound as long as I own it...until I get my 814ce that is...lol

Regards http://antsmarching.org/forum/images/smilies/hug.gif

[Rob]

Wood will make a difference over the long run, as a natural wood is going to open up in resonance and mature in sound. Different woods have different resonances and different responses. This is all in character, however- construction does have much to do with it.

[AcE25]

the 214 uses sapelle, and the 314 uses african mahogany...The 314 use to have sapelle(which is a type of mahogany) so you are basically getting a 314 from a couple years ago when you buy a 214. I've been playing for going on 6 years now, i'm a fiend when it comes to buying guitars, i love them. A 214 is on my soon to own list, they are awesome guitars for the price.