Dude. I can’t even put into words how valuable these videos are to me. THANK YOU for shining a LOT of light on something(s) that have always been such a mystery to the average guitar player.
After you sliced the PRS P20 in half in your last video I commented that I had returned an awful P20 and purchased a Mexican-made Taylor instead. Imagine my surprise when this clip was posted - the Academy 12 is the Mexican-made Taylor that I bought instead. I bought it for all the reasons you cite in your video: playability, quality construction, durability and superior materials. I swapped out the plastic bridge pins for ebony. It plays and sounds way above it's MSRP. The big advantage of the Academy series guitars, from my point of view, is a 24 7/8" scale length as opposed to the shorter scale length of the Mini series guitars.
I own a Baby Taylor travel guitar (three-quarter-size Dreadnought) with same case. It's been everywhere, the beach several times, around the campfire, cold weather, hot weather and tons of Florida humidity. This thing is a tank ! So well constructed. Yep I've accidently slammed it into things many times, with NO damage. It's small, so the sounds is small, but is one of the best travel guitars I've heard for it's size. Thumbs up for Taylor.
This is the best review of a guitar that I've seen. In depth, relevant, and just overall incredible job. Although, your "12E" link is misleading in your description with the preamp/tuner combo. However, your review confirms that I made the right choice buying the 12e guitar in Korea a couple years ago. I can sense your passion and commitment to the music community with your exceptional work. Truly thank you for this.
As someone who has never even held a Taylor guitar, for some reason I had it in my mind that they're not all that good. I'm glad this video has corrected me on that.
Now that’s what I call a thorough review! This kind of content takes a great deal of time and effort. Thank you! I reckon you do get a kick out of literally destroying the competition!
Holy cow, this was painful to watch in the fall test! This was & is the utmost thorough testing process ever created. Absolutely stellar testing ground, keep up the great work!🤘🏼
The best revue on any guitar I've ever seen.. and I've seen alot. I bought one a few days ago off the back of your video and I'm chuffed to bits with it.. £560.. Well worth it as far as I'm concerned. Cheers guys.
My vote is for an Orangewood since they seem to be plastering TH-cam with reviews, and I even owned one for a few weeks. I’d love to have one cut open.
I had an orangewood and it was a great guitar for the money. Sometimes I wish I hadn't sold it for a Taylor. I loved the neck. I'd love to try one of their new Torrified Solid wood models.
So basically the guitar is: - affordable with costs cut at the right places - playing great like the big Taylor guitars - reasonably well crafted - sounding very nice - literally built like a tank So it absolutely nailed everything you want form an "academy" line guitar: The perfect first or second guitar for any student with ambitions. Especially when you get the version with a pickup you're even good for gigging for years. Well done, Taylor.
I've played guitar since I was five years old I'm almost 63 and I've owned martins Gibson's Guilds , Collins Yamaha Tats and Epi and I mean if you can name it I've had one ,I had martin from D-28 to D35 D45 I've had really expensive guitars I own now seven Taylor guitars and got rid of every martin except a 1980 D-28 which is the only martin I've ever loved ,my Taylor's are 2015 614ce,2018 814ce DLX V brace,2015 816ce, 2015 914ce,2019 614ce Builders edition,2019 K-24ce nd a baby Taylor ,Out of all Guitars I personally think Taylor in makes the best sound best playing guitar money can buy I bought every guitar brand new ,And I played a lot of expensive guitars but I always love Taylor ,I love Martins and Gibson's and Guilds but not near to how I absolutely love Taylor guitars.
@@trevorgwelch7412 worked hard and God almighty has blessed me with my guitars,I would have hundreds of guitars but I have a wife and she knows I'm a guitar lover and dreads Everytime I even mention a guitar store.I had a Taylor 418ce that a guy just wouldn't leave me alone because he wanted that guitar so bad and I finally sold it to him and I'm still grieving over that guitar sell.But as of now I own ten acoustic guitars.And I'm thinking about buying a new twelve string I had a Martin D-28 twelve string but it was the hardest playing guitar that I ever owned and I sold it and haven't had one in a pretty good while.
I agree I've played a lot of different guitars I've owned martins to me I don't enjoy playing them the shape of a martin just don't fit me but I can pick up any Taylor and play it it's just joy to play them feeling I get when I play my Taylor I just want to keep playing it I don't want to put it down I don't Kno what Taylor does to their guitars but man they nailed it at least for me.
Yeah but what about boutique and luthier built instruments? Taylor’s playability are basically always 10/10 but I have a Gaiero OMC-12 in black locust and sinker redwood and it not even funny how much better it is thank like. 914ce builders edition. It costs twice as much but it’s really worth it if you spend most of your free time with a guitar. Also everyone needs to know this: you don’t have to be rich to buy these guitars. You just have to work towards a single goal for an extended period of time. If you “save up” for a few months and you don’t have a few grand then reconsider HOW LONG you’re willing to work towards that goal. I was homeless at 24 years old and when I was 25, I bought a $7,000 guitar from Gruhn in Nashville. Keep playing. 🤘🏼
Thank you for the review, I am considering the nylon string sister of this one and I was thrilled to open you channel and find exactly what I was looking for! Cheers!
I own a 114 low end taylor and it has been everywhere over its life, cold, hot, dry etc. It shows play wear but is still a work horse. Other than finish and fret wear it's in perfect shape.
At least you didn't have the drop at full volume this time, which made it much easier to watch. Still painful though. I've always loved Taylor guitars, I've had a few different ones in my life from entry level to a couple more expensive models. I've always been satisfied across the board. Looking forward to the Martin episode. Keep it up guys. Amazing content.
One of the BEST comprehensive reviews of guitars on the internet today. Your scoring system is excellent and really helped me in comparing various guitars. I was down to the Taylor Academy 12, Martin 000-x2, and PRS P20. I already own several Taylor and Martin guitars, so I have a bit of prejudice. I wanted to compare the PRS, especially since they have been getting so much coverage lately. After watching your review (and then playing the three more than once at different stores), I know exactly which small guitar I will buy. What made the difference for me was your work on lifestyle features. Stores won't typically allow you to drop a small metal ball onto guitars or intentionally drop them to see how the finish holds up. Watching your test and seeing quantified results makes a big difference. I'm now a fan of the site and will return for more great reviews and insight.
Loving this series. As others have said I’m mostly an electric guitar player. This is just about the only channel that has gotten me excited about acoustics again.
Chris, when you drop the guitar, the shot doesn’t show your head but we can see your arms raise. Pretty sure you are covering your ears, but a big part of me thinks you are covering you eyes, like “I just can’t watch this, it’s too much”. Lol. Love the series, it’s very original and crazy informative. Love it guys.
I own an Academy 12 and a GS Mini , sold a Larrivee so I was able to get 2 hardshells with them . The builds are simple but clean and they are so easy to play . Love them !
Great breakdown! One of my guitars is a Big BabyTaylor and I absolutely love it!! It has a rich, resonant sound, incredible playability, and though simple, quite beautiful as well! They definitely have mastered the art of consistency and quality!!
First of all, this channel produces stellar content! I am not a builder but this series brings to light several points in acoustic guitar building that probably spark the most debate. 1) Bolt on versus dovetail for neck attachment. 2) Laminate back and sides versus solid and 3) whether or not it matters to tuck the top braces. I could add 4) the arm bevel. Discounting everything else about these 4 points, how do they effect the way the instrument sounds?
I was at my local guitar store and found this Taylor. I regret not buying it, but I loved it. If I didn’t already have a decent Yamaha and if I had more money, I’d have a Taylor in my lap right now
After seeing this video, I traded in some old equipment (keyboard and an acoustic) and got myself a Taylor Academy 12e. I couldn't be happier with it. Thanks for the review!
I'm driving from Scotland down to England tomorrow to get one of these guitars in a private sale.This video went a big way towards me pulling the trigger on this purchase. Cheers!
Just a fantastic video guys! Made me wanna pick one of these up and that little zoom recorder does a pretty darn good job. It got a little overdriven but sounded mostly great. Cheers 🍻
I knew I had a winner from the word “Go,” with this one. Went from Roadshow testing in ‘17 to getting lucky enough to buy it in a shop months later. This guitar can go toe to toe with the other Grand Concert models.
Excellent review. Very cool. I strongly recommended this guitar to my sister, happy to see I probably steered her right. I have an 812 12 fret and noticed you didn't mention the difference in the nut width. The academy have 1 11/16 compared to 1 3/4 for the higher end Taylors. I also wondered why you said the x braces should extend and attach to the sides? From what I've gathered from Taylor over the years, this is probably intentional to keep as much free movement of the top as possible.
Best review of a guitar I have ever seen. Very useful. Wasn't looking for a new guitar but played one in a store a few days ago and bought it right away. Thank you for the great info.
Can it be glued back together? 😃 Chris, did you destroy the saw by cutting though that metal rod in the neck joint (16:41)? It is really nice that you credit other guitars, not just talking about ones made by you, shows appreciation to music, to craftmanship, to real values, not just advertising your own products.
I was holding off on spending good money on an entry level guitar as a beginner. After watching this video, I’m going to order a A12e tomorrow. I gotta say, it is hard watching you cut these instruments in half but I’m grateful you do. Thanks
Fantastic review, Chris. I love the review format and coming from a respected Luthier, I felt I could trust your opinion enough to go and try a Taylor Academy guitar at the store after owning an Eko Ranger 6 for 47 years or so and never getting off the starting blocks. I was very impressed with the sound and playability of the Academy 10 and ended up buying that model. I now have the motivation again to learn more than the basic chords. I also loved your video reviews of the various manufacturer factory tours and was again impressed with that of the Taylor factory. Great to see their ability to produce consistent results. Thanks again for your very, very helpful videos.
I really like Taylor guitar tone. Usually very rich and full compared with competitive guitars. I’d love to see your breakdown of a Teton brand guitar. Relatively inexpensive Chinese made, USA designed. They have pretty nice tone and build quality for the price level. Thanks again for your great videos.
Great review. Just one thought though, some of the guitars sold in high volumes are guitars around the $200 price. Guitars like Fender cd60 v3, Yamaha F-310, Epiphone DR-100, etc. Even then it's rather hard to find review of these. With the quality I've seen here, it will be amazing if you could look into that side of things as well. Maybe if not go for individual ones, you could grab 3-4, and compare/contrast them together in one video.
I bought the A10e after randomly playing it at the store and it was just a perfect fit with the exact sound I was looking for. I use warm vintage strings and sounds great. Added bonus with the laminate wood is that it can withstand Houston heat and humidity! Nice surprise.
Your Scratch Test at 10:57 gave me the horrors ! and then the Dent Test aaaaargh!! but thanks for doing it ! This is Prob'ly the most thorough and objective test/review I have ever seen. and confirms the 'suspicions' I have always held regarding the Taylor range. Thank you
I own one of these and and I have been picking for 30 years. It has the entry level price but, as you see here it's a great little acoustic. It has an easy and pretty fast fretboard. It was cool to learn so much about it that I didn't know. Very cool breakdown!
@Akshay Garg mine is an academy 10 and there is a barely noticable raise in the lower bout across the entire guitar side to side. You have to really look otherwise you would assume its completely flat by feeling it. Same is true on a new yamaha i just got . There is no lump. Usually when it is raised as much as you describe that means there is some structural weakness in the top bracing. Some may say use lighter gauge strings but, imo if that is happening, some bracing has been compromised from incorrect storage like extreme temperture changes or or some other type damage. It can be fixed by a competent luthier but, if you bought new or "like new", you should see about a refund. You should not have to repair something as critical as this on any guitar unless you were made aware of it to begin with. If you get stuck with it, look into the Bridge Doctor kit. Have a luthier put it in for you. It's not ideal but it is better than the guitar continuing to weekend and become unusable. Good luck
@Akshay Garg what gauge strings are you using? Try using a lighter gauge. It should be able to handle mediums but, if there's a problem drop down med lights and see if that helps
Thank you for taking the time to make and post this intense hard-hitting review of this *Taylor Academy* guitar. *Taylor* sure makes an excellent guitar regardless of the price. ♪♫♪
I remember going to guitar center and picking up one of these thinking it sounded and felt amazing! I thought i was going to pull the trigger on it when i saw a used 98' 415 jumbo. I picked it up and it sounded like a dream and had to get it! Obviously very different guitars but i would definitely get the academy in the future!
If I may offer a victim … I think the over seas version of the Epiphone Frontier would be cool to breakdown. Solid maple body guitars are often misunderstood and under appreciated. It would be cool to see a master luthier put it through its paces and see how that maple holds up to the stress.
Terrific, very helpful, information not found elsewhere, clean easy to understand explanation and well prepared presentation, very useful for the usual in-the-dark guitar buyer.
Mate as soon as you start talking you just know to start listening..ive just discovered you and of course subscribed.. you have put me in a good mood i was walking out the door to buy this guitar second hand for halve the shelf price..and thought ill just you tube it.. before you.. i couldnt get a real concise answer to a simple question is it good?.. concise ..look no further.. that should be your middle name my friend and is it good? damn right it is !! Thank you my friend.. my two biggest concerns when buying a guitar are always sound first then playability.. i figure if they are all good generally the hard ware and the rest fall in line.. of course ill check but for me it is the starting point.. you are the man
I’m finding these breakdowns entertaining but also surprisingly educational. Listening to the playing I find myself analysing why it sounds the way it does: “What’s the angle of the pick? What is the difference between soft and hard playing?” As a result, I’m more aware of those nuances in my own playing. But most of all it’s just great fun.
I’d really like to see y’all do a Taylor American Dream series. I’m curious to see what the underside of the sound board looks like (glue squeeze out etc). I think the cutting of a guitar in half is a pretty incredible part of y’all’s breakdown.
If I could add another guitar suggestion for this series… Eastman guitars (particularly the E1om). I’ve always found these to be super great sounding guitars especially for the money. Higher end models have been compared to collings guitars, but I’ve found their e1 series to sound quite good especially for being $500. I’d love to know what’s going on under the hood!
I have two Taylor acoustics (GS Mini and 254CE 12 String) and have to admit their lower range guitars just pop. Amazing sounds. Having learnt about their business ethics, they have me hook, line and sinker.
Great testing although it's so painful to watch 😬. Totally agree with your points on the Taylor construction with laminate back and sides. I got my son the GS mini as his first 'quality' acoustic and for the price it's a fantastic instrument. Sounds like a much larger guitar due to the resonant back and enlarged sound hole. Would highly reccomend as an option for smaller hands or a travel instrument for the road.
These reviews are the best I have seen , most informative content and highly interesting , one has to appreciate the efforts of work and professionalism at hand here, I would love to see more of these and dissect the entire range of TAYLOR VS MARTIN (as an example) from the low end up to the top ... as far as I can tell ... the academy series hands down destroy the X series and this is valuable information to the consumer as to make an informative decision on a purchase , heck I even wish i was employed here :)
Great review and nice to see you give scores for different points of a guitar witch add up to an barely biased score ( like a scientific measurement) , in contrast to reviews that drift into very personal preferences. Well done
My only issue on the Taylor guitars is that after a couple of years of playing, that bolt on neck manages to loosen up and needs retightening. A glued-on neck is not going to need a neck reset for a much longer period of time. That neck also manages to flex a lot more than I prefer. That said, Taylor has very good quality control.
I am impressed with the drop test. Guitar quality changes overtime depending on the wear and tear due to usage. Humidity also affects sound quality....
I bought a used one 12e with mahogony neck after watching and testing Taylor Ac. 10e and 12e. The time i decided to buy one at the lokal dealer they were all stuffed with maple neck 🤨 So i left the store with a Yamaha AC3M A.R.E. Its an adult big soundmachine. I'm very glad with it. But the Taylor, with its very playable neck, stuffed with Elixir Polyweb and shorter scale is my favorit. Switching between Taylor 12e and Recording King ROS11 my dream is a guitar with Taylor neck and Martin sound 😄
Once you know how to do it, a Taylor neck 'reset' takes 10-15 minutes and requires one socket wrench and one hex wrench. You will have to buy a $50 shim kit from Taylor, which includes the full range of replacement shims and all the tools necessary to do the job. Each step in the shim sizes adjusts the 12th fret action by 1/128th".
@@DerekSmyth I unsuccessfully looked for a link for you. You might have to call them during business hours and arrange to get the kit. I think that's how I managed it four years ago.
First of all, I love this videos. And all the explanation, testing and torture. This bolted neck is driving me crazy since the day I bought my Big Baby Taylor (BBTe). Sometimes while I play, others while I take it in or out of the wall mount, I can hear a creaking noise/sound coming from where the neck join the body. And believe me is not something you wana hear from any instrument, even less while you are playing a song. Where I live is not easy to find a luthier you can trust your instrument with, and since i got it from the shop in person and not oline, I can not return it. Yes the warranty system here in Argentina sucks too. So maybe in some models the bolted neck is working pretty well, but I heard from other BBT owners that this is a common issue on this model.
Hear this... These videos are PRICELESS. The BEST I"VE EVER SEEN... It's tough to buy a guitar or any gear and not try it out first. This is the scenario with all if us living overseas... The only way to be informed is watching tonnes if TH-cam videos to get an idea and its STILL a guessing game... I cant afford a driftwood guitar but i can subscribe LOL You guys are making videos that are SO VALUABLE for us living abroad. I am looking for an Acoustic guitar and these videos are PRICELESS... What Dreadnought style acoustic guitar would you suggest to buy in the $600-$800 range? What pick up system would you suggest also?
New to the channel but I’ve been loading up on your videos especially the full review ones. Just curious if you would consider doing a review of an Eastman guitar. Maybe an E1D? Thanks for the detailed videos!
I own the Taylor 224CE-K DLX and it’s a great guitar that punches way above its price IMO. Have owned a few $1500k Martin’s before and really like the Taylor better - especially since my OO-15M Martin had a neck separation issue from just very light use.
Very interesting follow up. Both the PRS SE and the Taylor Academy 12 were on my shortlist for the last guitar I purchased. Really liked the feel of this Taylor, but the sound just was not what I was looking for. At the end of the day I ended up purchasing an Eastman PCH OM that just had a great sound and feel. Would love to see a Martin X series OM as a good comparison. Other candidates that would be interesting would be like a Yamaha FS830 and one of the Breedlove entry level guitars. Thanks, I will keep watching these as they come out.
I’m really enjoying your channel, even though I don’t own a non bass guitar; yet. Though I am in the market for one. So far the top of my list are, Yamaha AC3 , FSx3 and Taylor 212ce. Thoughts and recommendations are welcomed.
I just retired from a 30 year stint at one gig in the auto industry doing various and creative tasks for the OE's. You guys hiring? (Just kIdding) Love your work.
Amazing review!. I bought one today I love the arm chamfer and the natural finish, the case I found a bit flimsy compared to a Thomann Deluxe case which is a much thicker and firmer gigbag, but a good fit consider the guitar size is smaller than standard. Crucially missing a neck pocket which is safer for storing hard stuff like capos and strap locks that might damage the body if stored in the main pocket.
I own this guitar (The E version) and it is a great guitar. I'm really surprised he didn't mention this guitar has a maple neck, which is very durable and not common for acoustic guitars. If you are going from electric guitars to an acoustic, then I would highly recommend this guitar. It plays like butter and sounds good for a smaller body acoustic.
This is a really good video and test of a guitar. I did cringe when you cut it in half. It was a shame. Would you do this test to a Martin D45? I would guess not
Really appreciate these reviews, especially the neutral demonstration. If you could do a review of one of the Faith brand guitars (mercury) that would be fantastic. Not sure how easily available they are in the U.S.A though.
Awesome video. Technically that guitar has a Lutz spruce top. A hybrid of Sitka and White spruce. My sister bought one on my recommendation and she loves it. I'll get one...someday.
When the guitar drops in slow mo, it’s like pain x2. When a guitar falls it’s already in slow mo. Can never catch it it in time. Great video!
If guitar building ever hits a brick wall for you, guitar reviews are your next piece of gold. This was the best review I’ve ever experienced.
Dude. I can’t even put into words how valuable these videos are to me. THANK YOU for shining a LOT of light on something(s) that have always been such a mystery to the average guitar player.
After you sliced the PRS P20 in half in your last video I commented that I had returned an awful P20 and purchased a Mexican-made Taylor instead. Imagine my surprise when this clip was posted - the Academy 12 is the Mexican-made Taylor that I bought instead. I bought it for all the reasons you cite in your video: playability, quality construction, durability and superior materials. I swapped out the plastic bridge pins for ebony. It plays and sounds way above it's MSRP.
The big advantage of the Academy series guitars, from my point of view, is a 24 7/8" scale length as opposed to the shorter scale length of the Mini series guitars.
I own a Baby Taylor travel guitar (three-quarter-size Dreadnought) with same case. It's been everywhere, the beach several times, around the campfire, cold weather, hot weather and tons of Florida humidity. This thing is a tank ! So well constructed. Yep I've accidently slammed it into things many times, with NO damage. It's small, so the sounds is small, but is one of the best travel guitars I've heard for it's size. Thumbs up for Taylor.
Alvarez make a better travel guitar
This is the best review of a guitar that I've seen. In depth, relevant, and just overall incredible job. Although, your "12E" link is misleading in your description with the preamp/tuner combo. However, your review confirms that I made the right choice buying the 12e guitar in Korea a couple years ago. I can sense your passion and commitment to the music community with your exceptional work. Truly thank you for this.
Thanks so much
As someone who has never even held a Taylor guitar, for some reason I had it in my mind that they're not all that good. I'm glad this video has corrected me on that.
Never played one too. Good things heard them. Mainly easy playability.
They are amazing, and they are generally the easiest playing acoustics
They are modern designed and are probably the best bang for you buck, the early ones are especially good
Now that’s what I call a thorough review! This kind of content takes a great deal of time and effort. Thank you! I reckon you do get a kick out of literally destroying the competition!
Holy cow, this was painful to watch in the fall test! This was & is the utmost thorough testing process ever created. Absolutely stellar testing ground, keep up the great work!🤘🏼
The best revue on any guitar I've ever seen.. and I've seen alot. I bought one a few days ago off the back of your video and I'm chuffed to bits with it.. £560.. Well worth it as far as I'm concerned. Cheers guys.
My vote is for an Orangewood since they seem to be plastering TH-cam with reviews, and I even owned one for a few weeks. I’d love to have one cut open.
Yes, this.
How do you like your orangewood guitar? I've been thinking about getting one myself.
I had an orangewood and it was a great guitar for the money. Sometimes I wish I hadn't sold it for a Taylor. I loved the neck. I'd love to try one of their new Torrified Solid wood models.
I personally own the academy 12, so I really appreciate this review. I have gotten many compliments on its tone as well. Great guitar for the money!
So basically the guitar is:
- affordable with costs cut at the right places
- playing great like the big Taylor guitars
- reasonably well crafted
- sounding very nice
- literally built like a tank
So it absolutely nailed everything you want form an "academy" line guitar: The perfect first or second guitar for any student with ambitions. Especially when you get the version with a pickup you're even good for gigging for years. Well done, Taylor.
I've played guitar since I was five years old I'm almost 63 and I've owned martins Gibson's Guilds , Collins Yamaha Tats and Epi and I mean if you can name it I've had one ,I had martin from D-28 to D35 D45 I've had really expensive guitars I own now seven Taylor guitars and got rid of every martin except a 1980 D-28 which is the only martin I've ever loved ,my Taylor's are 2015 614ce,2018 814ce DLX V brace,2015 816ce, 2015 914ce,2019 614ce Builders edition,2019 K-24ce nd a baby Taylor ,Out of all Guitars I personally think Taylor in makes the best sound best playing guitar money can buy I bought every guitar brand new ,And I played a lot of expensive guitars but I always love Taylor ,I love Martins and Gibson's and Guilds but not near to how I absolutely love Taylor guitars.
ну так ты видимо глухой 😊
You must be RICH 🇺🇸💵💵💵💵💵💵💵✨🏆
@@trevorgwelch7412 worked hard and God almighty has blessed me with my guitars,I would have hundreds of guitars but I have a wife and she knows I'm a guitar lover and dreads Everytime I even mention a guitar store.I had a Taylor 418ce that a guy just wouldn't leave me alone because he wanted that guitar so bad and I finally sold it to him and I'm still grieving over that guitar sell.But as of now I own ten acoustic guitars.And I'm thinking about buying a new twelve string I had a Martin D-28 twelve string but it was the hardest playing guitar that I ever owned and I sold it and haven't had one in a pretty good while.
I agree I've played a lot of different guitars I've owned martins to me I don't enjoy playing them the shape of a martin just don't fit me but I can pick up any Taylor and play it it's just joy to play them feeling I get when I play my Taylor I just want to keep playing it I don't want to put it down I don't Kno what Taylor does to their guitars but man they nailed it at least for me.
Yeah but what about boutique and luthier built instruments? Taylor’s playability are basically always 10/10 but I have a Gaiero OMC-12 in black locust and sinker redwood and it not even funny how much better it is thank like. 914ce builders edition. It costs twice as much but it’s really worth it if you spend most of your free time with a guitar.
Also everyone needs to know this: you don’t have to be rich to buy these guitars. You just have to work towards a single goal for an extended period of time. If you “save up” for a few months and you don’t have a few grand then reconsider HOW LONG you’re willing to work towards that goal. I was homeless at 24 years old and when I was 25, I bought a $7,000 guitar from Gruhn in Nashville.
Keep playing. 🤘🏼
I watched the Gibson G45 video first and then this one - really highlights the difference in care taken to finish the instrument!
Thank you for the review, I am considering the nylon string sister of this one and I was thrilled to open you channel and find exactly what I was looking for! Cheers!
To see that this lower end Taylor has this good of build quality says a lot about the brand. Im now a fan of this channel and Taylor.
I own a 114 low end taylor and it has been everywhere over its life, cold, hot, dry etc. It shows play wear but is still a work horse. Other than finish and fret wear it's in perfect shape.
At least you didn't have the drop at full volume this time, which made it much easier to watch. Still painful though. I've always loved Taylor guitars, I've had a few different ones in my life from entry level to a couple more expensive models. I've always been satisfied across the board. Looking forward to the Martin episode. Keep it up guys. Amazing content.
One of the BEST comprehensive reviews of guitars on the internet today. Your scoring system is excellent and really helped me in comparing various guitars. I was down to the Taylor Academy 12, Martin 000-x2, and PRS P20. I already own several Taylor and Martin guitars, so I have a bit of prejudice. I wanted to compare the PRS, especially since they have been getting so much coverage lately. After watching your review (and then playing the three more than once at different stores), I know exactly which small guitar I will buy. What made the difference for me was your work on lifestyle features. Stores won't typically allow you to drop a small metal ball onto guitars or intentionally drop them to see how the finish holds up. Watching your test and seeing quantified results makes a big difference. I'm now a fan of the site and will return for more great reviews and insight.
After many years, I found myself owning more Taylor guitars than other brands. They are awesome :)
Njjh
Junk
I have a boat oar with more quality
Loving this series. As others have said I’m mostly an electric guitar player. This is just about the only channel that has gotten me excited about acoustics again.
Do GS Mini! The Taylor Mexico factory is just great. Extremely impressed with the quality of products they produce.
Ive heard a big baby is even better. What do you think
@@artkeelsme4710 I had a big baby. It was an amazing guitar. When you factor in the money, its nearly impossible to beat.
I bought a Gibson G45 studio and I couldnt be more happy. Great craftmanship, amazing rich sound, incl. case and all masive woods.
@@artkeelsme4710 his review on the guitar 🎸 was not so flauntering on the Gibson G45. May be you were lucky to get a Wednesday guitar.
Love my GS mini mahogany. I wonder how the two compare quality wise. Probably very similiar.
Chris, when you drop the guitar, the shot doesn’t show your head but we can see your arms raise. Pretty sure you are covering your ears, but a big part of me thinks you are covering you eyes, like “I just can’t watch this, it’s too much”. Lol.
Love the series, it’s very original and crazy informative. Love it guys.
Yeah I have to cover my eyes or ears when I do it. It’s painful for me for sure.
@@DriftwoodGuitars What do you cover when you cut them in half? 😁
I bought the Taylor Academy 12 based on your comments for this review as a camp guitar and couch strummer. Couldn’t be happier, thanks.
I own an Academy 12 and a GS Mini , sold a Larrivee so I was able to get 2 hardshells with them . The builds are simple but clean and they are so easy to play . Love them !
Great breakdown! One of my guitars is a Big BabyTaylor and I absolutely love it!!
It has a rich, resonant sound, incredible playability, and though simple, quite beautiful as well!
They definitely have mastered the art of consistency and quality!!
Very impressed with these reviews, I haven't seen anything like that on TH-cam. Hoping to see many more!
Do a review of the Martin Dreadnought Junior please, I love it! It's just an amazing little guitar, great video!
First of all, this channel produces stellar content! I am not a builder but this series brings to light several points in acoustic guitar building that probably spark the most debate. 1) Bolt on versus dovetail for neck attachment. 2) Laminate back and sides versus solid and 3) whether or not it matters to tuck the top braces. I could add 4) the arm bevel. Discounting everything else about these 4 points, how do they effect the way the instrument sounds?
I was at my local guitar store and found this Taylor. I regret not buying it, but I loved it. If I didn’t already have a decent Yamaha and if I had more money, I’d have a Taylor in my lap right now
I never would have given this guitar a second look, now I want one.
Great review, really informative and brilliantly executed…. Nice one👏👏
I own this guitar and now I feel awesome knowing that I made the right decision. My friend tho, has a martin road series. You should do that one!
After seeing this video, I traded in some old equipment (keyboard and an acoustic) and got myself a Taylor Academy 12e. I couldn't be happier with it. Thanks for the review!
Great to hear. Congratulations!
I'm driving from Scotland down to England tomorrow to get one of these guitars in a private sale.This video went a big way towards me pulling the trigger on this purchase. Cheers!
Just a fantastic video guys! Made me wanna pick one of these up and that little zoom recorder does a pretty darn good job. It got a little overdriven but sounded mostly great. Cheers 🍻
I just ordered a Taylor Academy 12e -- this same guitar, but with some electronics built in. Can't wait to get it!
I knew I had a winner from the word “Go,” with this one. Went from Roadshow testing in ‘17 to getting lucky enough to buy it in a shop months later. This guitar can go toe to toe with the other Grand Concert models.
Excellent review. Very cool. I strongly recommended this guitar to my sister, happy to see I probably steered her right.
I have an 812 12 fret and noticed you didn't mention the difference in the nut width. The academy have 1 11/16 compared to 1 3/4 for the higher end Taylors.
I also wondered why you said the x braces should extend and attach to the sides? From what I've gathered from Taylor over the years, this is probably intentional to keep as much free movement of the top as possible.
Best review of a guitar I have ever seen. Very useful. Wasn't looking for a new guitar but played one in a store a few days ago and bought it right away. Thank you for the great info.
Can it be glued back together? 😃
Chris, did you destroy the saw by cutting though that metal rod in the neck joint (16:41)?
It is really nice that you credit other guitars, not just talking about ones made by you, shows appreciation to music, to craftmanship, to real values, not just advertising your own products.
I’ve been wondering the same thing!
I was holding off on spending good money on an entry level guitar as a beginner. After watching this video, I’m going to order a A12e tomorrow. I gotta say, it is hard watching you cut these instruments in half but I’m grateful you do. Thanks
Fantastic review, Chris. I love the review format and coming from a respected Luthier, I felt I could trust your opinion enough to go and try a Taylor Academy guitar at the store after owning an Eko Ranger 6 for 47 years or so and never getting off the starting blocks. I was very impressed with the sound and playability of the Academy 10 and ended up buying that model. I now have the motivation again to learn more than the basic chords. I also loved your video reviews of the various manufacturer factory tours and was again impressed with that of the Taylor factory. Great to see their ability to produce consistent results. Thanks again for your very, very helpful videos.
I really like Taylor guitar tone. Usually very rich and full compared with competitive guitars. I’d love to see your breakdown of a Teton brand guitar. Relatively inexpensive Chinese made, USA designed. They have pretty nice tone and build quality for the price level. Thanks again for your great videos.
Great review.
Just one thought though, some of the guitars sold in high volumes are guitars around the $200 price. Guitars like Fender cd60 v3, Yamaha F-310, Epiphone DR-100, etc.
Even then it's rather hard to find review of these. With the quality I've seen here, it will be amazing if you could look into that side of things as well.
Maybe if not go for individual ones, you could grab 3-4, and compare/contrast them together in one video.
I bought the A10e after randomly playing it at the store and it was just a perfect fit with the exact sound I was looking for. I use warm vintage strings and sounds great. Added bonus with the laminate wood is that it can withstand Houston heat and humidity! Nice surprise.
Your Scratch Test at 10:57 gave me the horrors ! and then the Dent Test aaaaargh!! but thanks for doing it ! This is Prob'ly the most thorough and objective test/review I have ever seen. and confirms the 'suspicions' I have always held regarding the Taylor range. Thank you
I own one of these and and I have been picking for 30 years. It has the entry level price but, as you see here it's a great little acoustic. It has an easy and pretty fast fretboard. It was cool to learn so much about it that I didn't know. Very cool breakdown!
@Akshay Garg mine is an academy 10 and there is a barely noticable raise in the lower bout across the entire guitar side to side. You have to really look otherwise you would assume its completely flat by feeling it. Same is true on a new yamaha i just got .
There is no lump.
Usually when it is raised as much as you describe that means there is some structural weakness in the top bracing. Some may say use lighter gauge strings but, imo if that is happening, some bracing has been compromised from incorrect storage like extreme temperture changes or or some other type damage. It can be fixed by a competent luthier but, if you bought new or "like new", you should see about a refund. You should not have to repair something as critical as this on any guitar unless you were made aware of it to begin with. If you get stuck with it, look into the Bridge Doctor kit. Have a luthier put it in for you. It's not ideal but it is better than the guitar continuing to weekend and become unusable. Good luck
@Akshay Garg brand new this year means you need to raise some hell with the seller.
@Akshay Garg without actually measuring it it is low it's very easy to play
@Akshay Garg what gauge strings are you using? Try using a lighter gauge. It should be able to handle mediums but, if there's a problem drop down med lights and see if that helps
@Akshay Garg lower than my brand new Yamaha which is also easy to play. I do not like high action
Thank you for taking the time to make and post this intense hard-hitting review of this *Taylor Academy* guitar. *Taylor* sure makes an excellent guitar regardless of the price. ♪♫♪
You guys should do a Larrivee! I've been enjoying my D-40.
You going to sent them yours? cause they're not getting mine lol.
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I remember going to guitar center and picking up one of these thinking it sounded and felt amazing! I thought i was going to pull the trigger on it when i saw a used 98' 415 jumbo. I picked it up and it sounded like a dream and had to get it! Obviously very different guitars but i would definitely get the academy in the future!
If I may offer a victim … I think the over seas version of the Epiphone Frontier would be cool to breakdown. Solid maple body guitars are often misunderstood and under appreciated. It would be cool to see a master luthier put it through its paces and see how that maple holds up to the stress.
Terrific, very helpful, information not found elsewhere, clean easy to understand explanation and well prepared presentation, very useful for the usual in-the-dark guitar buyer.
What great tone, and accurate playing.
I love the idea of this series!
Learning Fire and Rain right now (with capo). Certainly appreciate the JT. Bought my daughter a Taylor Academy series and we really like it.
Best guitar review ever!!!! I loved it!!!! An Orangewood Guitar next please.
Mate as soon as you start talking you just know to start listening..ive just discovered you and of course subscribed.. you have put me in a good mood i was walking out the door to buy this guitar second hand for halve the shelf price..and thought ill just you tube it.. before you.. i couldnt get a real concise answer to a simple question is it good?.. concise ..look no further.. that should be your middle name my friend and is it good? damn right it is !! Thank you my friend.. my two biggest concerns when buying a guitar are always sound first then playability.. i figure if they are all good generally the hard ware and the rest fall in line.. of course ill check but for me it is the starting point.. you are the man
I really love the opening music all the logos, good shit
The most important part of any guitar channel is good music :) never forget it!
I’m finding these breakdowns entertaining but also surprisingly educational. Listening to the playing I find myself analysing why it sounds the way it does: “What’s the angle of the pick? What is the difference between soft and hard playing?” As a result, I’m more aware of those nuances in my own playing. But most of all it’s just great fun.
I’d really like to see y’all do a Taylor American Dream series. I’m curious to see what the underside of the sound board looks like (glue squeeze out etc). I think the cutting of a guitar in half is a pretty incredible part of y’all’s breakdown.
If I could add another guitar suggestion for this series… Eastman guitars (particularly the E1om). I’ve always found these to be super great sounding guitars especially for the money. Higher end models have been compared to collings guitars, but I’ve found their e1 series to sound quite good especially for being $500. I’d love to know what’s going on under the hood!
Thank you for your experience,explaining… but man you make me cry,cutting a guitar like this !
I have two Taylor acoustics (GS Mini and 254CE 12 String) and have to admit their lower range guitars just pop. Amazing sounds. Having learnt about their business ethics, they have me hook, line and sinker.
Great testing although it's so painful to watch 😬. Totally agree with your points on the Taylor construction with laminate back and sides. I got my son the GS mini as his first 'quality' acoustic and for the price it's a fantastic instrument. Sounds like a much larger guitar due to the resonant back and enlarged sound hole. Would highly reccomend as an option for smaller hands or a travel instrument for the road.
The GS mini will surprise anyone that picks one up. A lot of guitar in a small package.
These reviews are the best I have seen , most informative content and highly interesting , one has to appreciate the efforts of work and professionalism at hand here, I would love to see more of these and dissect the entire range of TAYLOR VS MARTIN (as an example) from the low end up to the top ... as far as I can tell ... the academy series hands down destroy the X series and this is valuable information to the consumer as to make an informative decision on a purchase , heck I even wish i was employed here :)
Great review and nice to see you give scores for different points of a guitar witch add up to an barely biased score ( like a scientific measurement) , in contrast to reviews that drift into very personal preferences. Well done
I wonder, do you rejoin the halves after the video, if so, how do they play? I enjoy this series but I am concerned about the cost.
I have this in the nylon version with the electronics. Been playing it for over a year. Built to last for sure
My only issue on the Taylor guitars is that after a couple of years of playing, that bolt on neck manages to loosen up and needs retightening. A glued-on neck is not going to need a neck reset for a much longer period of time. That neck also manages to flex a lot more than I prefer. That said, Taylor has very good quality control.
just binge watched your saw in half videos and this seems to be the one,
I really like these types of reviews. The cutting is a good idea.
That is one SERIOUS guitar review! Thank you!😁👌✌
I literally let out an involuntary loud moan when the guitar fell! I think a tear almost started to well up..😭
The one thing that wasn’t discussed is the effects of the lack of humidity. Any info would be appreciated
Loving this series
I am impressed with the drop test. Guitar quality changes overtime depending on the wear and tear due to usage. Humidity also affects sound quality....
I bought a used one 12e with mahogony neck after watching and testing Taylor Ac. 10e and 12e. The time i decided to buy one at the lokal dealer they were all stuffed with maple neck 🤨 So i left the store with a Yamaha AC3M A.R.E. Its an adult big soundmachine. I'm very glad with it. But the Taylor, with its very playable neck, stuffed with Elixir Polyweb and shorter scale is my favorit. Switching between Taylor 12e and Recording King ROS11 my dream is a guitar with Taylor neck and Martin sound 😄
Once you know how to do it, a Taylor neck 'reset' takes 10-15 minutes and requires one socket wrench and one hex wrench. You will have to buy a $50 shim kit from Taylor, which includes the full range of replacement shims and all the tools necessary to do the job. Each step in the shim sizes adjusts the 12th fret action by 1/128th".
Cool. I thought you couldn’t get any of their tools or shims. Have you a link?
@@DerekSmyth I unsuccessfully looked for a link for you. You might have to call them during business hours and arrange to get the kit. I think that's how I managed it four years ago.
I have the Taylor 110e ... excellent sound but the only problem is there is no gloss finish - Zonk
I have the nylon string version of this. It's a real honey. I just wish I'd gotten the model with electronics.
First of all, I love this videos. And all the explanation, testing and torture.
This bolted neck is driving me crazy since the day I bought my Big Baby Taylor (BBTe). Sometimes while I play, others while I take it in or out of the wall mount, I can hear a creaking noise/sound coming from where the neck join the body. And believe me is not something you wana hear from any instrument, even less while you are playing a song.
Where I live is not easy to find a luthier you can trust your instrument with, and since i got it from the shop in person and not oline, I can not return it. Yes the warranty system here in Argentina sucks too.
So maybe in some models the bolted neck is working pretty well, but I heard from other BBT owners that this is a common issue on this model.
Hear this... These videos are PRICELESS. The BEST I"VE EVER SEEN... It's tough to buy a guitar or any gear and not try it out first. This is the scenario with all if us living overseas... The only way to be informed is watching tonnes if TH-cam videos to get an idea and its STILL a guessing game... I cant afford a driftwood guitar but i can subscribe LOL You guys are making videos that are SO VALUABLE for us living abroad. I am looking for an Acoustic guitar and these videos are PRICELESS... What Dreadnought style acoustic guitar would you suggest to buy in the $600-$800 range? What pick up system would you suggest also?
New to the channel but I’ve been loading up on your videos especially the full review ones. Just curious if you would consider doing a review of an Eastman guitar. Maybe an E1D? Thanks for the detailed videos!
I own the Taylor 224CE-K DLX and it’s a great guitar that punches way above its price IMO. Have owned a few $1500k Martin’s before and really like the Taylor better - especially since my OO-15M Martin had a neck separation issue from just very light use.
Very interesting follow up. Both the PRS SE and the Taylor Academy 12 were on my shortlist for the last guitar I purchased. Really liked the feel of this Taylor, but the sound just was not what I was looking for. At the end of the day I ended up purchasing an Eastman PCH OM that just had a great sound and feel. Would love to see a Martin X series OM as a good comparison. Other candidates that would be interesting would be like a Yamaha FS830 and one of the Breedlove entry level guitars. Thanks, I will keep watching these as they come out.
Where can I see a full ranking of each guitar ?? In a spreadsheet or something ??
I’m really enjoying your channel, even though I don’t own a non bass guitar; yet. Though I am in the market for one.
So far the top of my list are, Yamaha AC3 , FSx3 and Taylor 212ce.
Thoughts and recommendations are welcomed.
I just retired from a 30 year stint at one gig in the auto industry doing various and creative tasks for the OE's. You guys hiring? (Just kIdding) Love your work.
best guitar review in the whole world!
Very nice sounding entry level guitar.
Amazing review!. I bought one today I love the arm chamfer and the natural finish, the case I found a bit flimsy compared to a Thomann Deluxe case which is a much thicker and firmer gigbag, but a good fit consider the guitar size is smaller than standard. Crucially missing a neck pocket which is safer for storing hard stuff like capos and strap locks that might damage the body if stored in the main pocket.
Probably the best guitar review I have ever view. Probably because the beauty of that Taylor :) but not only :)
I own this guitar (The E version) and it is a great guitar. I'm really surprised he didn't mention this guitar has a maple neck, which is very durable and not common for acoustic guitars.
If you are going from electric guitars to an acoustic, then I would highly recommend this guitar. It plays like butter and sounds good for a smaller body acoustic.
This is a really good video and test of a guitar. I did cringe when you cut it in half. It was a shame.
Would you do this test to a Martin D45? I would guess not
He's cut martins in half before lol. Don't need to guess, just look it up.
This was such a good review. Thinking about getting the 10e for my first guitar.
I managed to find a really good Taylor Academy with a Fishman in 2nd hand after watching this. The acoustic sound is really good.
Really appreciate these reviews, especially the neutral demonstration. If you could do a review of one of the Faith brand guitars (mercury) that would be fantastic. Not sure how easily available they are in the U.S.A though.
Awesome video. Technically that guitar has a Lutz spruce top. A hybrid of Sitka and White spruce. My sister bought one on my recommendation and she loves it. I'll get one...someday.