My "Lifetime" Guitar

OrovilleTim · April 19th, 2006, 01:12 PM

Well, this story may be heresy on a Tele board, but here it goes...

I was going to throw a wad of cash on a fine custom Tele and a Dr. Z amp. That was going to be my "electric purchase to end all electric purchases." Well, these plans took a back seat to my "acoustic purchase to end all acoustic purchases."

It seems I've been grooving more on acoustic lately and the electric stuff has just been getting too technical for me. Even going back to a guitar straight into an amp, I still found myself twiddling the knobs, trying to tweak this and that, etc. This led to me picking up the acoustics more when it was time to practice. But, my acoustics were all "bargains" and each has some sort of issues.

So, I've been silently shopping for acoustics. I say silently because I didn't want my opinion to be colored by what other folks said. I didn't find out who played what, who liked what, and so on. I wanted this to be a "from *my* heart" purchase as this would be the guitar I have the rest of my life.

Well, after playing dozens of acoustics in various locations I finally found "the one" and put my deposit down on it at my local dealer. The lucky winner is a beautiful Taylor K14CE. It looks as beautiful as it sounds, with agoya, faux-tortoiseshell, and ebony adorning the guitar complimenting the beauty of the koa and mahogany.

Now I just can't wait to get her home!

andy__woods · April 19th, 2006, 02:35 PM

I think I've found my lifetime acoustic also. I kind of stumbled into it actually. I have an Epiphone Masterbilt EF500RA acoustic that is a dream. I won it from one of the Epiphone contests, otherwise would've never been able to afford it. I'm telling you though, it is so sweet, fits me perfectly, both sound wise and visually. It has a nice dark burst, with a satin finish, and a teardrop pickguard. All I had to do was install an LR Baggs I-beam pickup and I was all set. It's a great feeling knowing you will never need to buy another acoustic (I still might of course, just for the heck of it).

So congrats!

nogin007 · April 19th, 2006, 08:10 PM

I'll bet that Koa is beautiful. Could you post some pictures?

OrovilleTim · April 19th, 2006, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogin007

I'll bet that Koa is beautiful. Could you post some pictures?

Yep, as soon as I get my grubby paws on it I'll get some pictures up.

saunders.jesse · April 20th, 2006, 12:26 PM

Good for you! I love the look of Koa. Finding that one guitar that speaks to you is a special thing.

I don't know if I have my "lifetime" acoustic yet, but I have a Taylor 110 that I bought to be a moderately priced workhorse guitar and absolutely love it. In looking for an acoustic I did a ton of looking & playing: all manner of Martin, Taylor, Gibson, and even a few SCGC's & Collings; and I still really dig my 110. I'll put a better pickup in it one of these days, but I don't see much need for me to browse guitar stores when I know there's that one I love at home. BTW, my wife LOVES that last point

LOTF · April 20th, 2006, 08:40 PM

Mmmmmm....koa....good choice! My own lifetime acoustics are a Taylor 712ce and a Martin D-18.

There will always be Telecasters available when you're ready to get one. Enjoy that sweet K14ce and yes, we want to see pictures!

Ben Harmless · April 23rd, 2006, 12:54 AM

I've also been really getting that itch for an acoustic that I can love and play untill either me or the guitar falls apart. I played a bunch the other day, and so far the front runner is a Taylor 414ce.

There seems to be a theme here, and it starts with "Taylo."

OrovilleTim · July 7th, 2006, 10:21 AM

Well, I got it home a few days ago (the story is in the thread Guitar Consolidation.)

Unfortunately, when I tried to take closeup pictures, either the flash drowned everything out, or it was to dark it it became blurry. Here are a couple pics though including an overall shot and an attempt as some of the detail on the Koa back.

telel6s · July 7th, 2006, 11:33 AM

That is one pretty guitar, and I bet she sounds great. While I know that some electrics feel and sound better than others for no apparent reason other than they just do, there is something much more special about finding THE acoustic for you.

When I went shopping several years ago, I judged sales people by telling them I was looking for a guitar to put in my will. Some got it with no additional explanation; the others will just have to learn on their own some day.

I ended up with a 1998 NOS Gibson CL-30. Bubinga back sides almost as nice as your Koa (trust me, your koa is prettier). But it was just the pick it up and strum it and "oh, I like that!" that sold the guitar to me.
(pics below are not my guitar but one just like it).

guitar mike · July 8th, 2006, 02:34 PM

Taylor 314ce Best unplugged and plugged sound of anything I have ever played.

Califiddler · July 8th, 2006, 03:40 PM

Congratulations, Tim! That's a beautiful guitar.

You'll know if it's really your lifetime acoustic in a few years. I've had my HD28 for almost 8 years now, and I still love the hell out of it every time I take it out of the box. If you feel that way about your Taylor a few years from now, then it's the one!

Reno Sepulveda · July 10th, 2006, 02:34 PM

Those Grand Auditorium Taylors are sweet. If they just made a 414 with a little bit beefier neck, all gloss black, black pickguard with a chrome Trucker Girl inlay... Yeah that'd be my lifetime guitar.

OrovilleTim · July 10th, 2006, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reno Sepulveda

Those Grand Auditorium Taylors are sweet. If they just made a 414 with a little bit beefier neck, all gloss black, black pickguard with a chrome Trucker Girl inlay... Yeah that'd be my lifetime guitar.

So far, the neck is my only beef, but with my fat fingers I'd still moan about how skinny a classical guitars neck is. My Alvarez has a little bit wider neck it seems, and my Blueridge has a thicker neck. I figure with time I'll get the fingers used to it.

P.S. Love the blog!

April 19th, 2006, 01:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
OrovilleTim Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Lake Oroville, CA Age: 37 Posts: 554 19 Photos	My "Lifetime" Guitar Well, this story may be heresy on a Tele board, but here it goes... I was going to throw a wad of cash on a fine custom Tele and a Dr. Z amp. That was going to be my "electric purchase to end all electric purchases." Well, these plans took a back seat to my "acoustic purchase to end all acoustic purchases." It seems I've been grooving more on acoustic lately and the electric stuff has just been getting too technical for me. Even going back to a guitar straight into an amp, I still found myself twiddling the knobs, trying to tweak this and that, etc. This led to me picking up the acoustics more when it was time to practice. But, my acoustics were all "bargains" and each has some sort of issues. So, I've been silently shopping for acoustics. I say silently because I didn't want my opinion to be colored by what other folks said. I didn't find out who played what, who liked what, and so on. I wanted this to be a "from my heart" purchase as this would be the guitar I have the rest of my life. Well, after playing dozens of acoustics in various locations I finally found "the one" and put my deposit down on it at my local dealer. The lucky winner is a beautiful Taylor K14CE. It looks as beautiful as it sounds, with agoya, faux-tortoiseshell, and ebony adorning the guitar complimenting the beauty of the koa and mahogany. Now I just can't wait to get her home!

April 19th, 2006, 02:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
andy__woods Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Michigan Age: 23 Posts: 1,164 60 Photos	I think I've found my lifetime acoustic also. I kind of stumbled into it actually. I have an Epiphone Masterbilt EF500RA acoustic that is a dream. I won it from one of the Epiphone contests, otherwise would've never been able to afford it. I'm telling you though, it is so sweet, fits me perfectly, both sound wise and visually. It has a nice dark burst, with a satin finish, and a teardrop pickguard. All I had to do was install an LR Baggs I-beam pickup and I was all set. It's a great feeling knowing you will never need to buy another acoustic (I still might of course, just for the heck of it). So congrats! __________________ -- Andy "Woods" Crowder --

April 20th, 2006, 12:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
saunders.jesse Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 101 4 Photos	Good for you! I love the look of Koa. Finding that one guitar that speaks to you is a special thing. I don't know if I have my "lifetime" acoustic yet, but I have a Taylor 110 that I bought to be a moderately priced workhorse guitar and absolutely love it. In looking for an acoustic I did a ton of looking & playing: all manner of Martin, Taylor, Gibson, and even a few SCGC's & Collings; and I still really dig my 110. I'll put a better pickup in it one of these days, but I don't see much need for me to browse guitar stores when I know there's that one I love at home. BTW, my wife LOVES that last point __________________ '72 Tele Custom RI & a Taylor 110 and I'm a happy guy!

April 20th, 2006, 08:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
LOTF Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Tempe, AZ Age: 53 Posts: 229	Mmmmmm....koa....good choice! My own lifetime acoustics are a Taylor 712ce and a Martin D-18. There will always be Telecasters available when you're ready to get one. Enjoy that sweet K14ce and yes, we want to see pictures! __________________ Regards, LOTF TELES: 2008 '52 Vintage Hot Rod 2007 '72 Thinline reissue 1985 Squier (MIJ)

April 23rd, 2006, 12:54 AM	#7 (permalink)
Ben Harmless Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany, NY US of A Posts: 3,244 6 Photos	I've also been really getting that itch for an acoustic that I can love and play untill either me or the guitar falls apart. I played a bunch the other day, and so far the front runner is a Taylor 414ce. There seems to be a theme here, and it starts with "Taylo." __________________ "I think I'll go for the life of sin, followed by the last-minute, presto-change-o, deathbed repentance." - B. Simpson

April 19th, 2006, 08:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
nogin007 Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 156	I'll bet that Koa is beautiful. Could you post some pictures?

July 7th, 2006, 10:21 AM	#8 (permalink)
OrovilleTim Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Lake Oroville, CA Age: 37 Posts: 554 19 Photos	Well, I got it home a few days ago (the story is in the thread Guitar Consolidation.) Unfortunately, when I tried to take closeup pictures, either the flash drowned everything out, or it was to dark it it became blurry. Here are a couple pics though including an overall shot and an attempt as some of the detail on the Koa back. __________________ Fender Special Edition Koa Tele / Fender Deluxe Series Powerhouse Strat Fender 65 Twin Reverb / Fender Blues Junior / Marshall DSL 50 & 1960AV Acoustic: Taylor K14CE / Fender Acoustasonic DSP Junior

July 7th, 2006, 11:33 AM	#9 (permalink)
telel6s Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,176 80 Photos	She's Purty That is one pretty guitar, and I bet she sounds great. While I know that some electrics feel and sound better than others for no apparent reason other than they just do, there is something much more special about finding THE acoustic for you. When I went shopping several years ago, I judged sales people by telling them I was looking for a guitar to put in my will. Some got it with no additional explanation; the others will just have to learn on their own some day. I ended up with a 1998 NOS Gibson CL-30. Bubinga back sides almost as nice as your Koa (trust me, your koa is prettier). But it was just the pick it up and strum it and "oh, I like that!" that sold the guitar to me. (pics below are not my guitar but one just like it). __________________ Mama always said, "A little tone is good for the soul."

July 8th, 2006, 02:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
guitar mike Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Akron, OH Age: 38 Posts: 297	Taylor 314ce Best unplugged and plugged sound of anything I have ever played. __________________ I do whatever my guitar tells me to.

July 8th, 2006, 03:40 PM	#11 (permalink)
Califiddler Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: California Posts: 947	Congratulations, Tim! That's a beautiful guitar. You'll know if it's really your lifetime acoustic in a few years. I've had my HD28 for almost 8 years now, and I still love the hell out of it every time I take it out of the box. If you feel that way about your Taylor a few years from now, then it's the one! __________________ "In the fiddler's house, all are dancers."

July 10th, 2006, 02:34 PM	#12 (permalink)
Reno Sepulveda Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Nowhere man Posts: 1,357	Those Grand Auditorium Taylors are sweet. If they just made a 414 with a little bit beefier neck, all gloss black, black pickguard with a chrome Trucker Girl inlay... Yeah that'd be my lifetime guitar. __________________ "I'm just kidding about that really."