Taylor T5 Standard Acoustic-Electric Guitar with Spruce Top

Comments about Taylor T5 Standard Acoustic-Electric Guitar with Spruce Top:

I've owned this guitar for about 6 months. I agree with the other reviews - it's an incredibly comfortable guitar - and I truly love the concept. The finish is superb. On hte plus side - the active tone controls are magnificent, tuners are very smooth, and it even sounds amazing unplugged. But this guitar was designed to be amped, and there's where I was dispointed. I have tried every possible setup - AB'd acoustic and electric amps (Acoustisonic / Marshall stack), Fishman Aura Spectrum, Zoom A2.1u, straight PA'd with and without a DI .... and I have yet to find the sound I expected. While the straight humbucker switch selections are impressive, the acoustic positions are weak with regard to tone. I even suspected I had a bad selector switch, but a well respected Certified Taylor Repair Shop assured me it was working - although he did find corrosion on the 5-way switch - something he said is common with this model (check the mounting screws - they're most likely rusted). I was also disapointed in the setup - the saddle was far too low on the high G-B-e strings and caused string buzz, even after the luthier's neck setup. A new saddle remedied this, however, I'm amazed Taylor let this one go out the door like that. For the money, and with the Taylor name, I am also dispointed in the fret dressing - they're rather rough, especially at the ends, and tend to "catch" your fingertips. I hate to be negative, I am a tried and true Taylor fan, but this guitar simply doesn't reflect well on Taylor. I have gone ahead and addressed the set-up issues by replacing the saddle, dressing the fret wires and shimming the neck, however, the tone I expected isn't there. I'm curious where Taylor will go with this model in the future. I'll add that I recently test drove an Alvarez Fusion, their similar concept guitar, and was highly impressed, especially through the Fishman Aura Spectrum - a great guitar and $600 less. Before you decide on the Taylor T5 compare them.

Comments about Taylor T5 Standard Acoustic-Electric Guitar with Spruce Top:

If you are looking for the most fantastic sounding acoustic or an electric that crunches and screams, look elsewhere. If your needs are for a versatile guitar that is respectable in regards to sound and has fine quality construction look no further. I have been playing this for months in a local store. They had the spruce top. I ordered the standard with the maple top. I like the brighter sound that the maple gives. The top is gorgous and I don't need the gold hardware or the fancy inlays. Don't get me wrong, the custom is beautiful but personally, I could not justify the extra $$$. Something I have not read much about is the case. It is also a work of art. It has an alligator finish with 5 quality latches to protect this beauty. I have looked at several acoustic-electrics and this one is superior to anything else I have tried. It does not have a tremendous amount of volume but, the acoustic sound it does produce is sweet and mellow. I own a PRS for my electric needs and a Seagull for acoustic but I'd take this over any other Ax in this catagory.......Oh yeah, I did.

Comments about Taylor T5 Standard Acoustic-Electric Guitar with Spruce Top:

For a hollow body electric guitar the t-5 is by far better than any other on the market. I play a martin d-35, but when I want to plug in I grab the t-5 before any other instrument in my collection. the t-5 is capable of producing acoustic sounds like no other electric, but will also scream like a strat, or get down with a twang like the telly. It also has more bluesy sound than my artstar hollow body.

Comments about Taylor T5 Standard Acoustic-Electric Guitar with Spruce Top:

I picked this up and man I was just amazed. The sound that it produced wen it was unplugged just blew me away. Let alone wen I plugged it in the acoustic amp. Although I haven't tried the electric side of the guitar I'm pretty sure its top notch.But I think this guitar is a bit over priced. Its great and all but it could be a little cheaper.

Comments about Taylor T5 Standard Acoustic-Electric Guitar with Spruce Top:

I really wanted to love this guitar. It was beautiful and played great. However, it does not sound as good as my acoustic or any of my electrics. As an acoustic it was a bit weak and the electric sounded a lot like an acoustic guitar with an electric HB installed. Also, the acoustic-electric amplification set up required lifting the ground on one of the 2 amps. I can see that going real wrong when playing live and you switch guitars. I reluctantly returned it. A beautiful instrument but doesn't do it all.

Comments about Taylor T5 Standard Acoustic-Electric Guitar with Spruce Top:

I went to the guitar shop to pick up a Steve Vai Acoustic to add to my collection of 5 electrics and one semi-hollow body. I thought I'd play everything in the acoustic room to see what my choices where. I knew my wife would kill me for getting the Ibanez, but I didn't care...I picked up this ODD LOOKING guitar, and had no idea what it was. IT BLEW ME AWAY. the low action and the comfortable feel grabbed me. I turned on the little used Fender AcoustaSonic amp to hear what it could do and I was in awe. This one I tried was the "custom KOA" version. After 15 minutes - I told the salesmen - I'll take both of those. The guitar and the used amp I didn't care how mad my wife got - after 15 minutes with the T5 - I HAD TO HAVE IT. She handled it pretty well...and I've been having a blast ever since. I got home not even knowing what model it was. I've since learned a lot from the Taylor website and found that I made the right choice. Heck even Dave Matthews plays one. = )

Comments about Taylor T5 Standard Acoustic-Electric Guitar with Spruce Top:

I've been playing on a 30-year-old Spanish guitar, and it's sound is unrivaled. Buying an electric guitar has proved disappointing. Sound quality is very poor with most electric guitars. A good amp can remedy a sub-par electric guitar, but I like to be able to play guitars without amps when practicing alone. The sound without the amp on the T5 is superb, not quite as loud as a traditional acoustic, but the best I've heard on any electric off-amp. The strings are well spaced, and easy on the hands; you could play this thing all day. It is a light guitar, and the wood is incredible. The pickups are a bit different, but not completely alien. My original budget for an electric was $500-1000, but this guitar is worth the money, and the extra hours at work.

Comments about Taylor T5 Standard Acoustic-Electric Guitar with Spruce Top:

Pair this guitar with a amp like the Fender Cyber Twin. You can make this guitar sound like anything.This is not a copy or re-make of other guitars. It is totally new breed. Action is great!Taylor has broken new ground, and they got it right.