Kinda likin the Taylor GTe Urban Ash
- Thread starter schmee
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Interesting scale length.
We love our Mini GS. It's a high bar, but maybe they can do it again.
We love our Mini GS. It's a high bar, but maybe they can do it again.
I went wanting to try out the GS Mini. They seem real good, but almost like a kids guitar or large Ukelele! (mental block on my part maybe? Who cares?)
Ended up liking the GTe Urban Ash a lot. A bit bigger, but not big. A lot more expensive.
Looking inside the guitar though, the kerfed wood joiners attaching the sides to top or back aren't even real kerfing, it appears to be bent plywood. I mean if you bought a cheap Chinese guitar you might expect those kind of shortcuts , you know what I mean? But you wonder how people dont react badly as they undoubtedly would if it was imported? I wonder how many guitars Taylor uses those shortcuts on? And how do they sell it as "quality"? If it works well and saves time etc, why isn't this a $400 guitar?
Yet, they are very popular.
24-1/8 inches "according to Taylor, approximates the tension of a 25-1/2 scale length guitar with a capo on the first fret."
Huh? I dont get that. #1 I dont want the stiff scale of 25.5", #2, why would tension change when capo'd?
Greggorios
Poster Extraordinaire
It's very interesting. I've always been more of Martin/Gibson fan when it comes to acoustics but the new Taylor "American Dream" guitars have gotten a lot of very positive reaction. I've played one of those and was mightily impressed-they're a lot of guitar at a good price point. If the GTe Urban Ash is anything like them they've likely got a winner and something a little bit unique between parlor size and 000 bodies.
Is the American Dream one the one with the ply/laminated wood? I played one, compared with the others and it was dead wood, significantly different sounding.
gkterry
Tele-Afflicted
By putting a capo on any guitar, you are effectively changing the scale length. The capo becomes the nut. As the scale length of a guitar is shortened, the strings have less tension. If less tension is not needed or desired a larger string size can be used to raise string tension to a more familiar feel.
Don't believe it? Go play a Fender Mustang guitar and then a Tele. There is a noticeable difference in string tension. The strings on the smaller Mustang neck scale will feel looser or more slack if both guitars are strung with the same gauge string.
Nah. The tension is due to pulling the metal string tighter on a longer scale to get the note to pitch. It has nothing to do where you are fretting the neck. Are you saying the tension changes on every fret one plays?
ie:The scale length doesn't (on it's own) change the tension, it's just that you need to tension the long scale string tighter to bring it up to the same standard note a shorter scale is at.
Greggorios
Poster Extraordinaire
No, all solid woods, spruce, ovangkol, mahogany. As far as ply/laminated sides & back, Taylor's 200 series has had them for a long time now. Not my cup of tea but it's been a big seller for some time. With current pricing being what it is there are many guitars in the $1000 and up price range that have laminated sides and backs.
You have to realize that at least 70% of the people that buy these aren't going to be looking inside.
Truth is, these guitars fill a hole in the market. Question is, "Why do American guitars with shortcuts sound better than properly built Asian guitars?" (that includes Mexico in "American" and Indonesia but not Japan in "Asian")
BTW, have you guys heard the story about the papier mache guitar, or the Taylor Pallet guitar?
Ah ok, I remember the music store guy had me try one but wasn't sure which it was.
