Breedlove or Taylor

wesslvm · #1 February 7th, 2007

Hi all,

Buying a new acoustic, budget ~$1000.

I seem to favor the Breedlove AD25SR+ and AC25SR+, both of which have great tone to me and I like the action, not to mention the looks.

I've yet to put my hands on the Taylor 310, but I can at least try out a 314ce this weekend. I'm interested in the fell and tone of the Taylor 300 series. I think I might like the slightly wider nut... it's all so confusing!

So, the Taylor name seems to cost me some of the features I can get in the Breedlove Atlas plus lines.

Are the two guitars comparable? I know guitars are a personal choice thing, but I'm looking for your suggestions on what other aspects of these guitars I might be missing. The cost is about the same.

Thanks!

Wes

cshude · #2 February 7th, 2007

I've played both in the stores, and have been impressed with both of them. I don't think you could go wrong really with either one of them. The Taylor will likely retain value better, but that might not even be a consideration for you. Fortunately, you've been playing long enough that you know what feels good in your hands and sounds good to your ear. And that is really what it all comes down to.

mcollett · #3 February 7th, 2007

Hello Wes,
I have an AD200. It is a very nice sounding guitar and I get a lot of positive comment on it's style and nice tone.
You make a very good point on the nut size, if it applies to you. To get the wider nut with a Breedlove you're looking at a couple grand. I contacted the company and they do not offer the atlas series with a 1 3/4 nut. The AJ model has a slightly different feel but not the same. It might work for you.

I love my Breedlove guitar but I can't seem to get comfortable with the 1 11/16 nut. (
After a year and a month).
Taylor guitars need no endorsement. You can't go wrong if you like the sound.
Be very sure with the comfort of the neck and nut width. A guitar with a wider nut feels like a glove that just fits versus a pair that is a smidge to short.
Mike

IMO (make that humble opinion): With a grand budget, I would recommend looking at the Epiphone Masterbuilt EF500**( half the price at $600), if you want the 1/34 nut. Also available with cutaway and electronics. They look and play very nice and very loud.
The upgrades I personally am looking at; the MasterbuiltEF500 RCCE, Takamine w/ electronics(I love the 2006 Limited Edition) or a Larrivee (L-O3 RE or LV-O3). Maybe a little over your budget but I plan to wait and get what I want this next time. The Larrivee feels incredible even in my untrained hands.

clearshadow · #4 February 8th, 2007

Hello Wess, Boy you sound like me. I have been on a guitar hunt for atleast 2 mths. I went to several guitar stores and played almost every guitar I couldn't afford. I played several breedlove's and noticed a few things. The 1200.00 and over with all the pretty inlays were made here while the ones under that were made in Asia. . To my surprize I liked the ones made in asia for the sound and price. hummm. Next i went martin. Didn't like the feel or the tone of the cheaper martins. 1500.00 and down lol. I was looking for a larravee but they were not to be had in my area stores. Then i played a 714ce Taylor and i was floored. But i didn't have 2700.49 or whatever it was. And to get to the point ( sorry guys for Jamming of the mouth) I went to ebay for three weeks and bought 3 guitars ( the Zeager-- sent it back---the epi chet atkin's ---sent it back and finally the used taylor 514ce KEEPER. I love it!!! I just got it today, PS Wess Take your time and just play all the guitars you can bro. and also listen to what Cshude and Mcollett hade to say. That was great advice.
This is a link to my new or used taylor You have to scroll down to bottom for pics, not fancy but what a sound. Good luck::::http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...1375&rd=1&rd=1

Chris P. · #5 February 8th, 2007

Okay, clearshadow, I'm jealous!

Chris

clearshadow · #6 February 9th, 2007

Tkx. Now if i could only play good enough for this great hunk of wood and strings. I guess you could say it's not the axe but it's how it feel's in your hand and how you yeild it. good luck Wess

wesslvm · #7 February 9th, 2007

Thanks for everyone's input so far. I'm off work today so I'm going to go to a nearby Guitar Center and try a Taylor 314CE (out of my range) to see how I like the neck. If they have any of the guitars you mention I'll check them out.

I get the impression that GC is pushing the Breedlove line. Maybe for good reasons like great quality and value, or maybe for less desirable reasons. I can be a bit suspicious, which has generally worked to my advantage over the years!

I live about an hours drive away from New Haven CT, where there is a large Sam Ash Music center. If I don't find the selection I'm looking for today I'll probably go to Sam Ash later on.

I'll update later.

Thanks again!

wesslvm · #8 February 9th, 2007

Ok,

Another day, two more guitar stores, and still no decision.

I got to play a Taylor 414, the Takaminee 2006 Limited Edition, several Martins, but none of them meet all of my needs, all of these blew out my budget anyway.

I was pretty impressed with a Guild GAD 50, Chinese made but had great projection and tone for a fairly low price. No electrics, 111/16 nut, but solid rosewood back and sides with Sitka solid top. Really nice and easy to play.

Later in the day I played a couple more of the Guilds and then tried out the Tacoma D-14. Really like this guitar, seems to meet my needs including having a 1&3/4 nut which really felt easier to play including more spacing for future finger playing.

So, I'm still looking, getting plenty of time on these guitars. I only wish I was more accomplished as a player to really put them through the paces. At both stores today their were good players hanging around so I asked them to play them so I could listen which I found helpful.

Later!

Wes

clearshadow · #9 February 10th, 2007

Hello Wess, The one thing I loved about the dreaded--(Buying a new guitar) was all the research and playing of all the different Makes. Enjoy it. Its not every day you can drive for a few and walk into a candy store and taste all the treats without buying.
Take your time and have fun and believe me when you hold that guitar in your hands and it feels just right you will know it.

wesslvm · #10 February 12th, 2007

Still having fun, not so much frustrated as I am anxious!

Over the weekend I also spent more time on the Taylors but price is an issue here as well as some concern for how fragile the instruments are.

Also got some playing time on Larivees and Tacoma guitars. Really like the sound and feel of the OM03 Larivee as well as the Tacoma 14 series.

Ah well,

Back to work!

wesslvm · #11 February 13th, 2007

Search has ended. Picked up a new Breedlove AD25SR+ tonight, think I'm going to really like it. I found that I preferred the tone generated from the Rosewood back when compared to the Mahogany.

The folks at the local Guitar Center provided me a deal I couldn't walk away from, thanks to some help from my instructor.

Now I just need to figure out how best to care for it. Will I really have a problem if I let it sit outside the case on a stand or should I really keep it in the case when I'm not playing it? I know the humidity in my house is around 35-40% this time of year (air heat with humidifier installed), which I guess is dryer than the ideal environment for the guitar.

It seems a shame to keep such a beautiful guitar in its case!

Wes

clearshadow · #12 February 14th, 2007

Congrates Wess If you scroll up and look at one of my earlier post to you I mention that i liked the asian versions of the breedlove more then the more exspensive breedlove's made in North America. Well the model I was referring to was the Breedlove AD25SR+ . I played that guitar for a good hour and went back to it several times. It's a great guitar. Good luck and can't wait to hear you play.

Stratrat · #13 February 14th, 2007

Congrats, Wes - getting a new guitar is always such a cool feeling! I just went and checked out the pics of it on the GC website, that's an absolutely beautiful guitar.

Post some pics of it over in the "Let's See Your Equipment" forum!

wesslvm · #14 February 14th, 2007

Here are some pics as requested.

.... tried to insert URL but denied for not posting enough yet.

Go to W W W.kodakgallery.com/wessling/main/guitar?

eddiez152 · #15 February 14th, 2007

Wesslvm,
Congrats on your new found friend. I know we all love our guitars, looking at them and ready to play, but keep it in that case and watch those humidity levels. Its that important. Drastic changes in humidity with definitly take the smile off your face.

eddiez152