Taylor guitars are known for their modern voicing, consistent quality, and excellent playability out of the box. Where Martins have a warm, vintage character, Taylors tend toward a brighter, more articulate tone that sits beautifully in a mix.
The Taylor lineup is organized by series number: 100 series (most affordable), 200 (solid top, laminate back/sides), 300 (all-solid sapele), 400 (all-solid ovangkol/rosewood), 500-800 (premium tonewoods). Used prices: Academy/100 series $300-$500, 214ce $500-$700, 314ce $700-$1,000, 814ce $1,500-$2,500.
Taylor's Expression System (ES) electronics are excellent — one of the few acoustic pickup systems that sounds genuinely good plugged in. If you plan to play amplified, Taylor's built-in electronics are worth paying extra for.
Taylor pioneered the Grand Auditorium body shape, which is the most versatile acoustic body style — smaller than a dreadnought but with full projection. The Grand Concert (GC) is even smaller for fingerstyle players.
