Martin or Taylor: Who Makes the Better Guitar?

If you’re doing your own research on purchasing an acoustic guitar, it’ll be no surprise to come across two of the biggest and most iconic brands: Martin and Taylor, two of the most iconic brands in acoustic guitars known worldwide.

Both popular companies have been producing various guitar models well loved by many musicians for some time. In this article, we’ll explore more about the two competitors and make some critical comparisons.

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Popular Acoustic Guitar Models from Martin and Taylor:

Martin Guitars | C. F. Martin & Co.

C.F. Martin was founded in 1833 and is one of the oldest guitar brands in the world. It was first started by Christian Frederick Martin (hence C.F. Martin) and remains a family-owned and operated business until today.

Based in Nazareth Pennsylvania, the long-running manufacturing facility also offers free tours during weekdays so that the public can see how their guitars are made.

The brand is well known for inventing the “dreadnought” design of acoustic guitars. Since then, the dreadnought shape of the guitar has been a staple in acoustic guitar construction.

In their beginning years, they were just a small company that produced a small number of instruments.

They focused on producing quality guitars rather than producing them in great numbers. History is littered with many brand names that did not maintain an eye towards quality.

As time passed, that vision allowed the company grew into what it is today.

Taylor Guitars

In contrast to Martin Guitar’s early inception in 1833, Taylor Guitars is a more modern guitar company started in 1974 by Robert Taylor. Based in El Cajon California, they’re known for producing more professional lines for more experienced or highly discriminating guitar players, as well as excellent budget guitars for beginners.

They are also not afraid to stretch the limits of conformity and offer new designs that some manufacturers may find too daring.

Taylor Guitars, like Martin Guitar, produces high-quality instruments to make sure that they maintain their great reputation, and to ensure that guitar players are always satisfied with the product they offer.

They are the pioneers when it comes to the new technology “NT” bolt-on neck design and, again similar to Martin, patented the Grand Auditorium body design.

Aside from their fine acoustic guitars, they also produce electric guitars. Each of the guitars from their brand have the “Taylor tone,” which is described as a rich and bright sound.

Sound Comparison: How are They Different?

Martin and Taylor produce an extraordinary number of guitars. Each guitar may have different body shapes and materials used, which is why each one can produce a different tone even though it may have been manufactured from wood derived from the exact same tree.

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This compares their sounds in general, and not in detail. Many musicians describe the sound produced by Martin as the classic acoustic guitar sound – a rich overall sound with a particular bloom in the lower frequencies.

The more recent Martin DRS2 is a great example of their best value in a current instrument.

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This “classic’ sound may also be due to the fact that they’ve been around for a much longer time and a lot of famous musicians record and release their albums using one of Martin’s guitar models.

The most notable artists who have used Martin guitars include Hank Williams, The Eagles, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, Elvis, Neil Young, and many, many others.

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On the other hand, the tone that Taylor guitars produces, such as the Taylor 114CE, are described as a more modern sound. These are usually brighter, cleaner and crisp. They produce a rich sound for the upper mid tones,

in contrast to Martin’s richer lower mids. Taylor guitars have been used by many contemporary guitar players such as Mateus Asato, Taylor Swift, Chelsea Wolfe, and many more leading edge musicians.

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Both companies also produce guitars that can be plugged into an amp. They incorporate and continue to develop quality electronics to make sure the sound produced is as close to true reproduction as possible with sound shaping flexibility, not just amplified.

Taylor guitars incorporate their excellent in-house designed Expression System pickup system while Martin primarily utilizes comparable OEM Fishman pickups.

Action Comparison: How Do They Play?

Taylor guitars and Martin guitars are both brilliant playing instruments when properly setup. With a little bit of common sense skill and a few modest tools, they can easily be dialed-in to a owner’s preference.

The exact adjustments will depend on the player, and can be done by the player themselves, or by seeking the help of a well-trained professional at your local music store.

The radius of the fretboard may also affect how easy it is to play the guitar. Different guitars from both brands may have different radii but most of the guitars that Martin produces have a 16” radius while Taylor guitars have a 15” radius as a standard.

Though a minimal difference between the two, a smaller radius is easier to do barre chords on.

When properly setup and cared for, both guitars are exceptionally easy to play due to their attention to the details. They’re both constructed using the best materials and engineered with the player in mind, all at a standard that is very hard to beat.

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Build Comparison: How Do They Differ Structurally?

The two companies build their guitars quite differently. Taylor, perhaps more open to forward thinking construction, has come to love the various modern techniques available today. On the other hand, Martin guitars are more traditionally made because, after more than 170 years of experience, it works well for them.

One very forward thinking advantage with Taylor guitars is that the neck angle of the guitar is made to be more easily adjustable to compensate for natural changes over time.

A traditional neck reset with refinishing touchups can run into many hundreds of dollars, and every acoustic instrument will require this adjustment every couple of decades or so due to the forces of time and pressure.

Having said that, the neck of a Martin guitar isn’t adjustable in angle being built using traditional standards, but it produces a more resonant depth of tone compared to Taylor guitars. Thus is the nature and tradeoff of traditional set neck construction.

Taylor guitars are designed and crafted on a larger scale, but they still make sure that each guitar is of great quality. The NT necks fit in a precise pocket and use laser cut shims measured in thousandths of an inch to make sure the fretboards are well supported and straight.

On the other hand, Martin guitars are one of a kind, and each is crafted by hand. Each part of the guitar is designated by a group of people who specialize in making that certain part, and then they put all the parts together to form the guitar.

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Taylor vs Martin Value Comparison:

Martin is more traditional and offers a very classic sound to their guitars, while Taylor is more modernized and produces tones that you usually hear with contemporary music, but there are also modern artists who use Martin guitars.

One really isn’t better than the other because both produce high quality guitars. They just differ in the sound they produce and different guitar players prefer one over the other.

Popular Acoustic Guitar Models from Martin and Taylor:

Looking for a fully developed, robust bottom end and resonant authority? Choose a full-bodied Martin. Want a stronger midrange with top end transparency that can’t be beat? Choose a Taylor instrument. Either way, you’ll find your own unique voice through either of these superior brands.

Final words on Martin and Taylor guitars

Both the Martin and Taylor brands offer high-quality guitars. The debate between which produces the best guitars has been going on for a very long time; each of the brands have their own followers and devotees.

It all comes down to the player’s personal preferences. For a comparison of other exceptionally well-voiced acoustic guitars at reasonable prices, check out our comprehensive article here.

It has been said that, understanding they are both extremely fine instruments as acoustic voices, they are quite complimentary.

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The post Martin vs Taylor [Which Guitar is Right for You?] first appeared on GuitarNiche.

We certainly hope you benefit from the information we provide in this article! Just so you know, we may receive compensation if you use the links on this page. If you do, thank you so much!

Taylor 114ce Grand Auditorium Acoustic Guitar Review: Why Is It Rated 4.7/5?

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Taylor 114ce Grand Auditorium

When Taylors first went into production, the lowest price guitar was around $1000 for a straight acoustic instrument.

With the launch of the 100 and 200 series, including the Taylor 114ce Grand Auditorium Acoustic, a lower price-range expansion has allowed a lot more musicians to own one of these expertly crafted instruments.

As an avid acoustic Taylor supporter, my experience with the 100 series was an experiment in an affordable acoustic electric guitar. This instrument did not disappoint, providing the same great Taylor sound, with a dramatically reduced price tag.

Build Quality

One of my main concerns with this guitar was how the reduced price tag affected the basic construction. The solid Sitka Spruce soundboard is an impressive, expected feature. The laminate Sapele sides and back were a bit disappointing, but again, an expected tradeoff considering the price point.

That being said, the materials themselves are not necessarily a deal breaker, you should also consider how well it’s put together. In this regard, the 114CE meets all of the Taylor standards of uncompromising quality.

The finish of the 20 frets is consistent and expertly detailed. The strength, durability, and light weight of the Mahogany neck, with the classic bolt-on Taylor construction, adds a nice feel.

Inside the Sapele body is a forward-shifted bracing pattern, adding stability and strength to the instrument while shaping the full-bodied sound.

Another feature typical of Taylor’s forward-thinking is the unified jack, strap button, battery compartment at the bottom of the instrument which is cleanly incorporated into the instrument’s design.

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Taylor Playability

The 114CE is labeled such because of the grand auditorium body shape, and rounded Venetian cutaway design. The easily manageable profile, which is comfortable to play while sitting, and 55mm spacing of the bridge, give the user added precision and control.

Out of the box, the instrument needed very little in terms of a setup. A slight truss rod adjustment and minor nut re-cut did the trick.

The one thing you need to keep in mind, especially in northern regions, is that the guitar will shift a bit over seasonal changes. While this is normal, having it looked at periodically by your local guitar tech will make sure it stays in proper playing condition.

Of course, having the confidence of knowing how to set up a guitar yourself makes regular checkups much easier.

The model we examined needed some minor adjustments common to most production instruments.

The nut needed a slight recut, more due to many manufacturers logical thinking that there would be players that prefer a higher action for things like slide etc:

Plus the saddle had to be lowered a small amount to bring the string into a more comfortable action zone:

Regarding the body shape, the higher end of the guitar is easily accessed via the cutaway design. This can be an issue with dreadnought style guitars, and while the bottom of this instrument is realistically the same size as a dreadnought, the design seems more ergonomic.

Higher up on the instrument the neck is thick, but not so much so that it is awkward in the user’s hands. All in, the guitar is 21 by 43 inches in size and is extremely light at around 13 pounds.

However, for extended play a strap would still be a nice addition. That being said, the light weight adds to a crispy tone of the guitar.

What Do Taylor 114CE Users Think? >>

What Does the 114CE Sound Like?

Upon first playing the 114CE the most impressive element of the sound is the full-bodied tone of the notes, and the extended sustain. This is unique for such a small guitar, and in my experience, part of what makes it well worth the money.

At the same time, the tone is a little brighter than traditional instruments in the same class, partly due to the bracing system and the Spruce top.

The Taylor 114ce Grand Auditorium Acoustic also features the ES2 – Expression System 2 pickup system cleanly incorporated into the guitar. Though the controls are not obviously labeled, volume, tone and dynamic adjustments are easily made from a natural position located near the neck joint.

The sonic range of adjustability is broad as you’d expect from a refined system allowing the top end to shine and the midrange to shift as needed as you move through the controls.

The uniquely designed pressure adjustment screws situated just behind the bridge make dialling in an even output a breeze. But it does require a deft touch as over-torquing the small grub screws could easily become a problem without understanding their nature:

Read What Taylor 114ce Customers are Saying >>

Finally, open chords sound lofty and thick, while the lighter strings ring a little brighter as previously mentioned. Altogether, great qualities to have for a guitar under $1000.

As a comparison to more traditionally voiced instruments such as Martin acoustics, Taylor acoustic guitars have a sweet spot shifted more towards the upper mids and high end.

Features

The Taylor 114ce Grand Auditorium comes with a variety of features to meet your musical instrument needs. These features include:

• A Taylor Grand Auditorium cutaway guitar
• The wood on the top is a single layer
• The back and sides are made out of a Solid Sitka Spruce
• The bracing pattern is a layered sapele
• Right handed guitar
• Standard bracing done by all Taylor guitars
• Finished with a matte 2.0
• Standard neck shape
• Nut width measures 42.8 mm
• Fingerboard is made out of a genuine African ebony
• Neck is made out of sapele
• 20 frets

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Pros and Cons

Taylor 114ce Grand Auditorium Review

What Do Taylor 114ce Owners Think? >>

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Final Thoughts: Does the Taylor 114ce Deserve a High Rating?

The Taylor 114ce Grand Auditorium Natural is a great purchase for any newcomer to playing an instrument. It has a great sound, is easy to play, and has a really beautiful, warm tone.

Though the 100 series is on the lower price scale of the Taylor brand, the quality that has become well-known across the industry is not lost on this instrument. The expert craftsmanship and beautiful sound make this guitar a great addition to your repertoire.

The electronics, though sparse, are a great feature that are more icing on the cake than anything else. This guitar is well worth the money, and offers some of the best playability in the price range.

I recommend buying the Taylor 114ce, as it will save you money, especially if this is one of your first-time buys. It’s inexpensive, offers a great quality sound, and also has a unique look.

Even for more advanced players, this guitar will offer you a great back up in case you need it during a gig.

Although it comes with a branded case, it’s a gigbag. if you’re not moving it around so much, it should be fine but a gig bag does offer limited protection.

Dollar for dollar, I’d recommend buying a hard-shell case or a heavier padded bag in order to keep it safe, especially if your on the road.

Finally, musical instruments completely come down to personal preference. Even though I may recommend it to anyone from beginner to advanced players, it may not be the look or sound that you have in mind.

Buying a guitar also comes down to your size and shape, and you want to get one that is not too big or too small for you.

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Read the Latest Taylor Customer Reviews Here! >>

Manufacturer Info:

Website: https://www.taylorguitars.com/

About: The acoustic guitar manufacturing pioneer has inspired many through a commitment to quality, innovation and customer satisfaction

The post Taylor 114CE Acoustic Guitar [Complete Review] first appeared on GuitarNiche.