T5 -Thanks a lot Stephen!!!!!

[reverbbb]

Taylor Guitars has created their first ever electric (hybrid) guitar. Thanks to Stephen for pointing this out, I now have some serious gas for this guitar.

I went to Taylor's web-site and read up on it. The look is fantastic! It is rare when a new innovative look will catch my eye. Parker and Schecter were such guitars. But this new T-5 looks killer!

http://www.taylorguitars.com/newsletter/2005/mar/pix/winit.jpg

http://www.taylorguitars.com/newsletter/2005/mar/pix/bob-pic.jpg

I love the blue one in the middle (of coarse). Don't you just love that binding in the sound hole?

What really impressed me is the sound bites. I know that they are highly polished studio takes. But the foundations of sounds are incredible. You can develop a very believable quasi-acoustic sound and then move directly into the path of a tasty driving guitar punch with the hints of humbuckerness. It looks to have a single Telecaster neck styled pup. But knowing the innovative mind of Bob Taylor, I would bet that it sounds nothing like nor constructed like a Fenedr pup. The bridge obviously has their pizeo styled pup (again, speculation based on the sound bites).

The controls look like they are in a good location. But the low profile of the knobs seem to lend to thumbnail rotational marks - time will tell. Apparently, this also has stereo outputs so that you can use an A/B switch into different amps that complement the character of the sound you want (acoustic or electric).

I cannot find any list price information yet. They will be hitting the stores in May of '05. My guess would be that these guitars will be list priced at $3300 or perhaps slightly more. Making the street price in the mid to upper $2K range. Only speculation on my part though.

Thanks Stephen for making my gas pains unbearable :hissyfit . But I love you any way. :innocent

[kewlpack]

That is PHAT! I love the way that looks...

Tell you what - don't buy that Toyota Hybrid - instead, buy yourself the blue one - AND ME THE RED ONE! :angel

That is a sharp looking guitar... wow.

[stephen]

Uh, sorry for the un-intended gas-attack :oops: (Gosh, you got it bad!).

[stephen]

Oh, and I dont think it is a piezo, I'll bet its there expression system. And the experiences I have with em makes me =P~ ! I think it is the best sounding acoustic amplification I have ever heard! ymmv

[seagullplayer]

:cool:

[SAguitar]

The Expression System is a sweet sounding setup. I've heard it. Someday I'll have one, but not soon...

[reverbbb]

I just called Taylor Customer Support and asked them some questions.

First, I was disappointed that they removed the .mp3 files and replaced them with .avi files from NAMM. The .mp3 files were very impressive to me.

I asked them what the prices would be. These are the"List" prices. I found that the street price is generally about 30% less than list on many guitars.

T-5 Standard - $2598
- Spruce top
- Mahagany sides/back
- Nickel hardware
- Basic natural colored top
- Dot inlays

T-5 Standard Premium - $2998
- Spruce top
- Mahagany sides/back
- Gold hardware
- Basic natural colored top
- Fancy inlays

T-5 Maple Top - $3098
- Figured maple top
- Mahagany sides/back
- Nickel hardware
- Custom colored top
- Fancy inlays

T-5 Maple Top Premium - $3498
- Figured maple top
- Mahagany sides/back
- Nickel hardware
- Custom colored top
- Fancy inlays

I may have some of the specs out of whack, but I think you can see the product placement concept.

They are going to start shipping to dealers that currently have in house orders in mid-May. They are obviously still taking orders but the new orders will ship later.

One minor point, the representative stated that a nationally known artist was scheduled to use the guitar for one song at a local venue for promotion. Instead, the artist was so impressed that they used the guitar for the entire show.

BTW, did anyone happen to notice that Switchfoot is among the artists that they got for the kick-off endorsement at NAMM?

[stephen]

Yep, saw that them young brothers were doin the kickin!

Hey Roger, did you find out if it is the Expression System loaded in them bad-boys?

[reverbbb]

:oops:

[leecow]

Played one for just a bit at GC last week and wasn't particularly impressed. I was hoping for that Taylor 'feel' (I have and dearly love a 912c and 514bz) but it didn't seem to be there. I know it's a compromise instrument (acoustic that can do a bit of electric) just like my Godin or Anderson with piezo bridges (electrics that do a bit of acoustic) but I was hoping that it didn't compromise on it's primary task. Unfortunately it seems to be just an OK acoustic and just an OK electric - not a very good value proposition at more than $2000.00.

[stephen]

Unfortunately it seems to be just an OK acoustic and just an OK electric - not a very good value proposition at more than $2000.00.

Hmmmm, the Carvin AE series is startin to sound better, especially since some weigh-in at under $800.00 bucks!

[reverbbb]

Well, I tried to like it. I found the blue one that has me all in tangles. Gorgeous guitar. The neck felt awesome. Like a Les Paul, it was a bit hard to hold while sitting. There was a slight string/fret buzz on the E & A strings in the blue one that I played. There was a distinctive peizo quality (I know, they have that new pickup system and they like to avoid calling it a peizo).

http://taylorguitars.com/guitars/t5/feature/images/models/custom_maple_blueedge_fullfront.jpg

The sound was hard to figure out. Some positions sounded really good as an acoustic. But the "bridge" (treble) sounding switch location was dead centered. It was difficult to go from acoustic smoothness to electric drive. The idea is to have an A/B switch and route to two different amps. But in the middle of a song, you would have to kick the switch and flip the selector switch. The selector switch is located on the top side of the body, so this would not be a clean sweeping motion like you get on most electrics.

As I already mentioned, the finish was outstanding. Definately an "art" guitar. But the strings are strung near the body like most acoustics. Therefore, I can easily see nail scratches on the finish since there are no pickguards. The volume and tone knobs are in a nice location. Again, there is nothing to protect the finish of the guitar after years of knob adjustments (tiny decorative knobs).

I really wanted to love this guitar. If I bought based on looks alone (which I was real tempted), then this guitar would be sitting in my studio as I type this review. But my impression was that the price was too high for the sound utility IMO. It sounded good, but not great. It took to various amps very differently. On a Mesa LoneStar, it was predictable and shapable. On a Blues Jr, it was a bit bright and a little over the edge, but not by much. On a '59 Bassman RI, it sounded really bad - ice picky bright.

http://taylorguitars.com/guitars/t5/feature/images/models/custom_maple_blueedge_bodyfront.jpg

There is a lot of potential in this guitar. But it is not as plug and play as many time tested electrics. There were times when I felt like I was playing an import guitar with peizos (think Takamine). If this guitar had a street price of $800, it would wind up in many hands. At $1200, it would be bought as a novalty - but for the same money, the Line6 Variax 700 would be a first choice for me. At the price that they wanted for this luthier masterpiece ($2395), they are going to sell a lot based on the "if it costs a lot, it has to be good" perception. There are those who can afford novalties like this and never blink an eye. But for me, I would have felt bad in the morning after waking up and realizing that I spent so much money on a complex guitar that may or may not catch on to the masses.

I also played the beautiful Koa Wood version earlier this week. I thought my impressions were skewed because I was in a hurry. But tonight's test drive supported my impressions.

FWIW, IMO, YMMV, my $0.02 worth.

http://taylorguitars.com/guitars/t5/feature/images/models/custom_koa_fullfront.jpg

[kewlpack]

Thanks for the heads up!

I love the way it looks, but I can't deal with that price tag - YEOWCH. Since it doesn't have great tone... ah well.

[SAguitar]

Havin' a great Lookgood is cool, but I don't have that kinda goof chump change layin' around. :dunno

Now if the achieveble tones were priceless, I would sell enough guitars to get one. But until then... :crazy

[DJanzen]

I gotta tell you... I recently bought the Koa T5... and I would say it's an electric guitar with better-than-you think acoustic abilities. I run it acoustically through a Schertler David acoustic amp (mostly used in church as a monitor) to the sound board... and electrically through effects into a THD Univalve tube amp (head and 2x12 cab). There is a LOT more to this guitar than its good looks! You have to spend some time with it. It is very versatile! You won't want to get rid on your 'go-to' acoustic, or electric guitar... this is not meant to replace them. With a little practice (and some appropriate gear), you truly can go from ringing acoustic tone to smooth, chimey, overdriven or flat out crunch – lead or rhythum... fingerstyle or strumming. I have a Taylor 655ce 12-string and an EC Strat, but the T5 is fast becoming my primary P&W guitar. It isn't the same electronics that are in the rest of the Taylor line (the ES – Expression System... like in my 655). There's a lot of good info on the taylor site.

No, it won't appeal to everyone. But it has opened up a whole new world of sonic possibility for me! Check it out...

DJanzen

[TheBigKevDogg]

I would love to get my hands on one of those....I'm a total Taylor freak. I just really wish that you could assign one setting on the fiveway to the tip of a cable, and another to the ring, then use a TRS switcher (like the one looper sells) to switch between the two. It seems like it would be hard to switch from electric to acoustic without missing a beat with the current setup.

[MrMike]

I gotta tell you... I recently bought the Koa T5... and I would say it's an electric guitar with better-than-you think acoustic abilities. I run it acoustically through a Schertler David acoustic amp (mostly used in church as a monitor) to the sound board... and electrically through effects into a THD Univalve tube amp (head and 2x12 cab). There is a LOT more to this guitar than its good looks! You have to spend some time with it. It is very versatile! You won't want to get rid on your 'go-to' acoustic, or electric guitar... this is not meant to replace them. With a little practice (and some appropriate gear), you truly can go from ringing acoustic tone to smooth, chimey, overdriven or flat out crunch – lead or rhythum... fingerstyle or strumming. I have a Taylor 655ce 12-string and an EC Strat, but the T5 is fast becoming my primary P&W guitar. It isn't the same electronics that are in the rest of the Taylor line (the ES – Expression System... like in my 655). There's a lot of good info on the taylor site.

No, it won't appeal to everyone. But it has opened up a whole new world of sonic possibility for me! Check it out...

DJanzen

Slightly OT, but how do you like the Expression System?? I have a 312CE with it, but to my ears it is really midrange heavy? Have you found this to be the case?

[DJanzen]

Slightly OT, but how do you like the Expression System?? I have a 312CE with it, but to my ears it is really midrange heavy? Have you found this to be the case?

I would not characterize the ES on my maple/spruce 655 as midrange-heavy... to me it's more on the bright side. A lot of upper end, on a guitar that is fairly bright to begin with. I cut the treble a bit on the giuitar ES controls, and who knows what the sound guys at the board actually do... and most times what I hear is more balanced and better than straight in and no tweaking. I also boost the bass just a bit to cut through the highs. Overall, sounds very strong and punchy.

I know a few ES players who use the Taylor K4 (yet more $$) equalizer to hone in and shape the tone with a great amount of control... but I don't own it. I wouldn't mind it. Of course there are other non-Taylor solutions to this as well... but the K4 and the ES are cut from the same technological cloth. Fantastic together.

DJanzen