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Post by Ragtop on Oct 22, 2020 22:11:23 GMT -5
My very first guitar was a 1974 Ventura dread with maple back and sides. A total piece-o-crap. I didn't know anything about guitars back then, but I knew crap when I saw/played it. Luckily, I was able to return it.
And I've steered clear of maple ever since. Until today. Today I received a 2002 Taylor 610 Fall LTD that I took in trade. Figured I'd move it along ASAP.
Well, I unboxed it, took it out of the very nice brown Taylor case, and thought, "well, it's a pretty thing, anyway." Drop-dead gorgeous is more like it. Tuned it up, played for a while, and it played really nice. It doesn't have that skinny Taylor neck that I don't much care for.
I took off the unknown strings and put on a set of Elixirs, because I like 'em. Tuned it up and played for a while while watching those two idiots on TV. It took a while for the new strings to settle down, but then that guitar began to SING! Couldn't believe it. Fingerpicked only, played every song I could think of, and you know what- that guitar made me a better player! A good guitar will do that. You guys know what I mean.
I am completely blown away by this guitar. I don't like maple and I don't like Taylors; how can this be?
My plan was to sell/trade it and get myself a 12-fret slot head in rosewood. So much for that plan.
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MJB
Wholenote
Who's we sucka? Smith, Wesson and me.
Posts: 634
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Post by MJB on Oct 23, 2020 3:44:01 GMT -5
Years ago I played a small bodied maple Gibson. It was a great looking/sounding guitar. I sometimes kick myself for not buying it.
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Post by Lefty Rev on Oct 23, 2020 12:31:25 GMT -5
Ragtop - the 600 Series/Maple Taylors are the only ones that have ever really turned my head. Somehow, Taylor brings out the best in Maple. I have a Larrivee L-09 with Flamed Maple back and sides, which I do like - BUT - I've played a few Maple Taylors that were amazing.
Congrats on that nice guitar!
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Post by Ragtop on Oct 23, 2020 16:55:05 GMT -5
Thanks, mikey! That Big Leaf Maple is some gorgeous wood.
Amazing is the right word!
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Post by Harleyboy on Oct 24, 2020 21:22:12 GMT -5
I have a Taylor 612-CE that is simply not for sale. Really a nice sounding guitar and a fingerpickers dream.
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Post by Lefty Rev on Oct 24, 2020 22:13:15 GMT -5
I have a Taylor 612-CE that is simply not for sale. Really a nice sounding guitar and a fingerpickers dream. Had to look that one up - very nice! I like the stain Taylor uses of the back of those recent 600 series guitars. |
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Post by Ragtop on Oct 25, 2020 5:09:21 GMT -5
Harleyboy, I looked up the 612ce too. Wow, very nice!
From what I can tell, the 6-series is where Taylor shows off what they can do with uncommon woods. I'm certainly impressed.
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Post by LTB on Oct 25, 2020 19:55:40 GMT -5
A lot of guitars back then were crap. My Gretsch Hollow body Archtop bass is all maple body and sounds nice. Tones ring out clear.
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jeffscott
Wholenote
Rickenbacker Guru..............
Posts: 138
Age: GOF
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Post by jeffscott on Oct 25, 2020 20:11:57 GMT -5
I have a Taylor NS-62ce
Years ago, I had a Rickenbacker 730/12L.
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Post by Ragtop on Oct 26, 2020 5:41:07 GMT -5
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twangmeister
Wholenote
Posts: 349
Formerly Known As: Twangmeister
Age: 72 and fading fast.....
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Post by twangmeister on Oct 26, 2020 7:21:40 GMT -5
Years ago I played a small bodied maple Gibson. It was a great looking/sounding guitar. I sometimes kick myself for not buying it. I started playing guitar on a maple-backed/maple sided 1934 Gibson LC-1. The one with the MOTS-covered fretboard. That was a great sounding guitar. |
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twangmeister
Wholenote
Posts: 349
Formerly Known As: Twangmeister
Age: 72 and fading fast.....
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Post by twangmeister on Oct 26, 2020 7:21:59 GMT -5
Years ago I played a small bodied maple Gibson. It was a great looking/sounding guitar. I sometimes kick myself for not buying it. It belonged to my mother, passed through my brother's hands, then was stolen when I was in the Army. |
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Post by Larry Madsen on Oct 26, 2020 21:07:24 GMT -5
Maple back, sides and neck. J200 ... the front view is on the left there.  J200 back by Larry Madsen, on Flickr |
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Post by Ragtop on Oct 26, 2020 21:52:28 GMT -5
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Post by Harleyboy on Oct 27, 2020 21:43:01 GMT -5
Wow! That's pretty...
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Post by LTB on Oct 29, 2020 8:38:34 GMT -5
Maple back, sides and neck. J200 I love the Gibson J200 and would love to have one some day. You have a beautiful guitar sir! |
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twangmeister
Wholenote
Posts: 349
Formerly Known As: Twangmeister
Age: 72 and fading fast.....
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Post by twangmeister on Jun 20, 2021 19:23:57 GMT -5
My mother's 1934 Gibson LC-1 had maple sides and a maple back. For me that was THE sound of a parlor guitar. There was a downside to the solid maple back though. After 25 years it was stored in a barn for 10 months and developed a 1/8" wide longitudinal crack in the back. Dispite the big crack it still sounded great.
That crack put me off owning guitars with solid eood backs and sides, though.
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Post by Taildragger on Jun 21, 2021 20:08:08 GMT -5
1973 Gibson "Gospel": "arched" (pressed) maple ply back, 3-piece maple neck:  Has stout volute behind base of headstock to address the infamous "detachable Gibson headstock" syndrome. |
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jeffscott
Wholenote
Rickenbacker Guru..............
Posts: 138
Age: GOF
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Post by jeffscott on Jun 22, 2021 0:18:36 GMT -5
I have a NS-62ce that's going nowhere. It gets constant rotation along with the Martin and Yamamotos.  |
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