Taylor Guitar Finish What Causes This?

[czorr1997]

Hey Everybody,

I recently acquired this 814ce in the current condition, we may send it off for re-finishing someday, doing just the back and sides since I have herd finishing the top could affect the tone some. It is a 2002 model curious if you guys have had this happen to yours and what causes this? humidity control issue ect. It is Cocobolo B/S if that has any influence with it.

Thanks.

[Jeff Scott]

I have seen other instruments like that. It could just be the sanding sealer/filler used before the final finishing of the guitar.

Do you know for a fact that the guitar did not look like that from new?

[00-28]

If it's under the finish, I would guess mineral deposits in the pores of the wood. This is common on Amazon Rosewood and I have seen it on Madagascar. If it is on the surface of the finish it is most likely polish or cleaning compound that has dried where the finish has shrunk into the wood pores.

......Mike

[Earl49]

I'm not a finish expert, but that looks like pore filler that did not take the stain to me. If you are not the original owner, getting the UV cured Taylor polyurethane finish stripped and re-done will be EXPENSIVE, and basically only the factory can do it. A refinish will likely cost more than the guitar did, assuming you bought it used.

I have two different 400-series models from 2001 with ovangkol wood (not rosewood) and neither exhibit un-stained pore filler.

Collings used this to good effect on some of their "dog hair" finishes a few years ago. Not sure if they still do that.

[Bob Womack]

I've seen many Crackabolo* guitar finishes that look like that. Cocobolo is an extremely oily, dense wood. Unless it progresses, I'd leave it and enjoy the bouncy sound.

Bob

* Bob Taylor jokingly calls cocobolo this because it is extremely difficult to dry properly without cracking it.

[czorr1997]

Originally Posted by Earl49

I'm not a finish expert, but that looks like pore filler that did not take the stain to me. If you are not the original owner, getting the UV cured Taylor polyurethane finish stripped and re-done will be EXPENSIVE, and basically only the factory can do it. A refinish will likely cost more than the guitar did, assuming you bought it used.

I have two different 400-series models from 2001 with ovangkol wood (not rosewood) and neither exhibit un-stained pore filler.

Collings used this to good effect on some of their "dog hair" finishes a few years ago. Not sure if they still do that.

Thanks for all the info, Yeah we contacted Taylor and to do both sides top/BS was the same cost $XXXX per it is fairly expensive, and like suggested for what we picked it up used for.

I have another Cocobolo acoustic that is starting to show lite spec's like this one but no where to the extreme, I am starting to wonder if the wood combo has to do with it or add to the condition.

[DenverSteve]

It's nothing I would ever be concerned about. You obviously purchased the guitar because you like it. Hopefully a lot. I would play it and enjoy the mojo - and, I assume, great sound.

[Rick Shepherd]

I had the same issue with my 914. The finish is not adhering and it is delaming. Same thing hapened to mine. I am the original owner, and Taylor refinished the back and sides for me under warranty. The prefinish sealer theory is wrong, because I have seen what that looks like on my 814. Not sure what causes it. My 914 is rosewood, 2003 model. If you are not original owner, dont worry, just play it and enjoy it as is.

[Jerry D]

If the one you purchased it from is the original owner, you should have had them get it refinished under warranty, then bought it.

Too late now, of course.