The small GT style is promoted as a "fun" guitar. In that respect the GT Urban Ash fits better as a less expensive guitar that is less "precious" and ideal for social playing. The Urban Ash sounded a bit louder to me. The 811e probably suits folk that need a smaller guitar but are playing more at home or in the studio. I disagree with those saying they are "tinny" sounding: First these are parlour size guitars (be fair); Second they both have very wide responses, typical of Taylor. You can always take off a bit of the brightness by using your fingers rather than strumming with a thumb pick like Quinton. As Quinton demonstrates you can also play further from the bridge. They should warm up with age too. Plugged in you obviously can tweak the EQ to get you whatever response you like with the fantastic ES2 pickup. This make for a more versatile guitar than one wiht a more dull sounding high end.
I played the Urban Ash at Andertons last week - it sounded full and beautiful and was a pleasure to play. I felt it was actually too nice to be a chuck-in-the-car guitar so ended up going for a Yamaha, but the Urban Ash was a real beauty. I have a GS Mini and there’s no comparison, the Urban Ash sounds like a much bigger guitar.
Ouch! This is like speaking to the salesman at a car dealership and saying you ike the car but you'll be getting it from somewhere else. 'Bad form ol' chap' as we used to say over here. 😋
Ash has never been on my radar as a tone wood, but to my ears it sounds similar to mahogany. I prefer it compared to the rosewood back and sides, but over the years I have migrated away from rosewood and to mahogany. FWIW, I think the Urban Ash model will make their owners happy.
Urban ash is different from swamp ash used in electric guitars. Urban ash is a tropical species planted in urban areas of California for its looks. Some have reached its lifetime and is being replaced by other trees. Select trees are being used for guitars instead of firewood and mulch. Very mahogany like in tone.
Both sound soooo bright..... I’ve owned several Taylors and have settled pretty happily on the 512ce, with a spruce top option, which does not seem to be nearly as bright. But, the 5-series does not get much attention in reviews. I’d be interested in seeing a comparison of 5-series to the big-selling 800’s and 300’s. Go mahogany!
The 811e sounds like it’s held by a little angel who has never suffered, the urban ash on the other hand sounds like Oliver Twist-a broken child labor who works in a metal factory😢
I've played the GT Urban Ash at Guitar Center and I must say, it's super comfortable to play. However, I find it just a bit too tinny. I hope they eventually come out with a model that has mahogany as a top wood.
Before the Covid levels went sky high, I played the GT Urban Ash at GC. Very easy to play & comfortable. At least on the instrument I played the quality was not the same as some nicer Taylor’s. But it was a lot cheaper and possible that the one I looked at was shop worn. I like the sustainability of urban ash and sounds good. Not as nice as mahogany but good.
Thanks for the great info and play through. If I may give a bit of constructive feedback after watching a few of your videos... the personal dynamics between the two of you clash somehow - you end up talking over each other, cutting each other off, it all comes across kind of awkward. I'd spend some time working out an understanding of who speaks when so the flow is more natural and one of you isn't talking over the other, or playing over the other talking, etc.
@@martinkleinman2522 I was thinking along those lines, BUT those are chords that acoustic players can readily use to judge tonal quality. I like Quinton over Tony a whole lot. While I understood that playing exactly the same thing is very helpful when Quinton and Tony play for comparison videos, I burned out on Tony's repetition overall for every video. Quinton's use of different chords and songs on different instrument videos make the videos much more enjoyable. Tony's repetition quickly drove me to distraction making it difficult to appreciate the instrument.
I find myself in agreement with your statement about the tonal palette. They sounded better when Quinton was alone but the bass was not as prominent as I prefer and the high E string sounded "tinny" to me on both instruments in general (I listened to them 3 times). I thought these two guitars would be a pleasant surprise given Taylor's recent, impressive offerings, but they both left me wanting a much different tonal palette (by the way, great choice of words to describe the sound). I would wager that, like almost every Taylor, they play very nicely. I'm partial to the 618 and 818 series of Taylor guitars (yes, loud, boomy, full-sounding instruments). To be clear, any player finding either of these two instruments to their liking and who purchases one or the other will have an excellent guitar; Taylor's build quality is consistently top-notch.
The small GT style is promoted as a "fun" guitar. In that respect the GT Urban Ash fits better as a less expensive guitar that is less "precious" and ideal for social playing. The Urban Ash sounded a bit louder to me. The 811e probably suits folk that need a smaller guitar but are playing more at home or in the studio. I disagree with those saying they are "tinny" sounding: First these are parlour size guitars (be fair); Second they both have very wide responses, typical of Taylor. You can always take off a bit of the brightness by using your fingers rather than strumming with a thumb pick like Quinton. As Quinton demonstrates you can also play further from the bridge. They should warm up with age too. Plugged in you obviously can tweak the EQ to get you whatever response you like with the fantastic ES2 pickup. This make for a more versatile guitar than one wiht a more dull sounding high end.
The urban ash is more in my price range. The 811 is beautiful but I am sure I will get the urban ash.
I played the Urban Ash at Andertons last week - it sounded full and beautiful and was a pleasure to play. I felt it was actually too nice to be a chuck-in-the-car guitar so ended up going for a Yamaha, but the Urban Ash was a real beauty. I have a GS Mini and there’s no comparison, the Urban Ash sounds like a much bigger guitar.
These guitars have a larger sound difference in person. They are fun to play. Having played both, I prefer the 811e for its rounder bass.
I own a GTe Urban Ash and it's worth every penny. Is it better than my GS Mini Koa Plus? Probably not, but I like the size of the GTe better.
I like the overall dynamics of the Taylor GT. I will be buying one later this month when it gets in stock at GC.
Ouch! This is like speaking to the salesman at a car dealership and saying you ike the car but you'll be getting it from somewhere else. 'Bad form ol' chap' as we used to say over here. 😋
Buy it from these guys. They know how to ship it. GC is bankrupt.
Ash has never been on my radar as a tone wood, but to my ears it sounds similar to mahogany. I prefer it compared to the rosewood back and sides, but over the years I have migrated away from rosewood and to mahogany. FWIW, I think the Urban Ash model will make their owners happy.
Urban ash is different from swamp ash used in electric guitars. Urban ash is a tropical species planted in urban areas of California for its looks. Some have reached its lifetime and is being replaced by other trees. Select trees are being used for guitars instead of firewood and mulch. Very mahogany like in tone.
Both sound soooo bright..... I’ve owned several Taylors and have settled pretty happily on the 512ce, with a spruce top option, which does not seem to be nearly as bright. But, the 5-series does not get much attention in reviews. I’d be interested in seeing a comparison of 5-series to the big-selling 800’s and 300’s. Go mahogany!
I have the 512ce cedar top and it is pretty bright. I would go for the 12 fret, im returning my 14 fret for one. 12 is warmer
The 811e sounds like it’s held by a little angel who has never suffered, the urban ash on the other hand sounds like Oliver Twist-a broken child labor who works in a metal factory😢
Urban Ash sounds beautiful!
I've played the GT Urban Ash at Guitar Center and I must say, it's super comfortable to play. However, I find it just a bit too tinny. I hope they eventually come out with a model that has mahogany as a top wood.
It’s the ash. Taylor tries to say it’s like Honduran Mahogany but that’s just a romantic sales tactic.
@@toomuchtime5505 Exactly, and there are constant comparisons with Sapele and various forms of actual mahogany, and they're just as bogus.
It’s the bling y wood period…i blur it with my voice tone…btw I love rosewood duh hog
Before the Covid levels went sky high, I played the GT Urban Ash at GC. Very easy to play & comfortable. At least on the instrument I played the quality was not the same as some nicer Taylor’s. But it was a lot cheaper and possible that the one I looked at was shop worn. I like the sustainability of urban ash and sounds good. Not as nice as mahogany but good.
Taylor guitars are always tops in playability.... but I'd have to hear these in person to make a judgement on the sound.
Thanks for the great info and play through. If I may give a bit of constructive feedback after watching a few of your videos... the personal dynamics between the two of you clash somehow - you end up talking over each other, cutting each other off, it all comes across kind of awkward. I'd spend some time working out an understanding of who speaks when so the flow is more natural and one of you isn't talking over the other, or playing over the other talking, etc.
Any chance of a shootout between a GT Urban Ash vs a Martin JR-10 or DJR-10?
I was going to ask the same question! I was about to order a Martin DJr-10 when I saw the new Taylor....
@@m.a.berube BIG cost difference (JR's are less expensive) plus Martin uses a plek machine on their fretboards.
Yes I noticed! If I'm not mistaken, the DJr is made in Mexico while the Taylor is US made. That must have an effect on the price....
So, anyone here has a favorite?
I really love the 811e but at my playing level I’m leaning toward the GTe.
You only live once…. Go for the 811e! You’ll have it forever and it will inspire you to get better
Ever thought of having a lit cigarette while playing ?
I used to love Taylor Guitars until the store manager said they sound too 'treble -y". Now I am always comparing it to a Martin.
Ixnay, not for me. Not liking that particular tone palette. Nasal.
and, am I hallucinating, or does Q now play the old Tony Policastro series of chords and his little scalar lick when he does the side by sides?
@@martinkleinman2522 I was thinking along those lines, BUT those are chords that acoustic players can readily use to judge tonal quality. I like Quinton over Tony a whole lot. While I understood that playing exactly the same thing is very helpful when Quinton and Tony play for comparison videos, I burned out on Tony's repetition overall for every video. Quinton's use of different chords and songs on different instrument videos make the videos much more enjoyable. Tony's repetition quickly drove me to distraction making it difficult to appreciate the instrument.
I find myself in agreement with your statement about the tonal palette. They sounded better when Quinton was alone but the bass was not as prominent as I prefer and the high E string sounded "tinny" to me on both instruments in general (I listened to them 3 times). I thought these two guitars would be a pleasant surprise given Taylor's recent, impressive offerings, but they both left me wanting a much different tonal palette (by the way, great choice of words to describe the sound).
I would wager that, like almost every Taylor, they play very nicely. I'm partial to the 618 and 818 series of Taylor guitars (yes, loud, boomy, full-sounding instruments).
To be clear, any player finding either of these two instruments to their liking and who purchases one or the other will have an excellent guitar; Taylor's build quality is consistently top-notch.