NGD - who knew Maple/Sitka could sound like this!
 

Today I happened to be at Guitar Center when a guy came in with two used Taylors to trade in for a brand new Custom Taylor.

One of the guitars he brought in was a 1995 615 (maple/Sitka) in very good condition.

I'd been looking at Gibson J-200's over the last several months, but could never find one I liked (I remember the first one I ever tried years ago was very good . . should've bought it, I guess). So, I took a look at this one and played it. Wow!

I went home and got my custom GS (maple/Englemann) to do an A/B with to confirm what I thought I was hearing.

This 615 is incredibly warm and full of overtones . . . I'm still trying to find the ROSEWOOD that must be in the guitar somewhere. :D

I needed another guitar like I need a hole in my head, but I couldn't pass this one up. I passed up a similar deal a month ago . . it was a used D-42 that was incredibly warm in its tone . . . should've grabbed it, I suppose, but I just couldn't justify it at the time.

Anyway, this thing is awesome, and will make a great strummer . . . . . it's everything a Gibson J-200 SHOULD be . . . so why aren't they like this?

Maple
 

You'll see an older 612 in my signature. Great guitar, wonderful sound and my second maple. Great tone and playability.

Of course I attribute the sound to being a 90's era, Taylor's sound was different back then.

Mid nineties.....most were really good.

Who knew Maple/Sitka could sound like this?
I`m guessing a few Guild F-50 owners have a fair idea.
The 615 is a great guitar, enjoy it.

Congrats on scoring an amazing guitar! I have always like the 600 series, but I think that the 1990's ones are something really special. Their design is slightly different from the more recent ones and the woods they were able to get back then were a bit higher quality than what they get now. For example, you will notice that the neck is carved out of a single block of wood and is not three pieces glued together. Also, 1995 Taylors came with the famous pink poodle case that was actually made by Taylor at their El Cajon factory. To me, modern Taylors are great guitars, but the 1990s are becoming the golden era for Taylors.

I'm about to inherit a Maple jumbo from my brother (he owes me money that he can't pay, so I'm getting the guitar in lieu). It was made by the late Rob Ehlers. I've played this guitar a few times and it's a killer. In my many years of guitar playing and recording, I've played and heard many Maple guitars. Most of them I wouldn't want, but there have been a few that really sang. When you get a good one, they can be as satisfying as any other instrument. Congratulations on pulling the trigger on this one. Sounds like a winner!

Bill

The 615 is a great Taylor. Congrats on the score. I am a fan of the old jumbo body and I was sad when they stopped making it.

Nothing sounds like a good J200...keep looking. I definately wouldn't buy a Tayor instead of one.
If I were looking for a good J200 for a reasonable price I'd look for a 1989/90 Bozeman J200 which were Quartered English Maple & Sitka that is well played in but nice shape.
If I could afford it I would add to my search a 50's one.

The one I have sounded good when I got it, but with age & play it has become much more and is equal to my 2 (Braz/Koa)Lowdens. Very sweet & musical but an almost subsonic bass. A capo on it over 3 ft really produces special sound.

Enjoy the new guitar.The guitar was probably played a lot which can blossom a guitar(some)

90's Taylor's
 

There have been numerous threads here about the subject. My personal take on it is that it's not so much the change to the NT neck design, but a concious design choice aimed at changing Taylor's signature sound.

Plus you get to say that you have a "Pink Poodle Case" :D. It's just fun to say.....

Just my opinion, but I'm sticking to it.

So, is 1995 pre-NT? I wasn't sure, though it was obvious it was a one-piece neck.

I'm guessing the bracing HAD to be different back then . . the sound is just too different from the Taylors in the last 10 years. Of course, the new "Andy Powers" bracing (in the GO, 800-series, now 700-series, and presumably eventually all the guitars) sounds different than either one of those, too.

Guitar Center had a custom run of only fifty 516's made (with an ebony arm rest, striking bear-claw Sitka top, flamed mahogany back/sides, koa binding, streaked ebony fretboard) . . . and I strongly suspect (after hearing one . . this is what the guy bought that traded in the two Taylors, one of which I bought and is the subject of this thread) that it also had the new "Andy Powers" bracing in it . . . simply based on the sound . . . sorta like the Taylors of the last decade or so, but with a more "Gisbon-esque" bass.

Funny you should ask....I was just reading Bob Taylor's book this morning, and he specifically mentions that the NT neck was introduced in 1999. So 1995 would definitely be pre-NT.

"NGD - who knew Maple/Sitka could sound like this!"

I did.

:)

How? :D

Is there any documentation as to when the bracing was changed? Same time as going to the NT neck? Any idea of what changes were made?

In the future, I guess we'll know that the "Andy Powers" bracing changes were made in 2013/14/15 . .but probably won't know a lot of details. Just curious about what we know about bracing changes between 1995 and say 2005.

Congrats on a nice Taylor buy, I also had a Sitka/Maple NGD yesterday with a Jumbo Goodall that came in, I'm loving it!!! It kills any SJ-200 I've played which is saying a lot.