Bad NGD - Taylor 614ce

[Volfan615]

You may remember my NGD post a week ago after receiving from Musicians Friend my new Taylor 614ce First Edition. It arrived with the wrong case (Not the FE Case) and a pick guard that was peeling up.

MF credited me my next day deliver shipping and shipped me out a replacement that I just received today. I was excited to finally have this all resolved....

So I was rather disappointed to open the case to see a top that I think is horrible looking. I'm really surprised that Taylor would use this wood on a First Edition model. Is this typical of Taylor? I've already called MF to say I'm returning this for credit.

[lodi_55]

Check out this thread:

http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...light=bearclaw

Some like bearclaw, some don't. I am assuming you do not.

[TBman]

Looks like it has some "bear claw"

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

[DanPanther]

I have dealt with a company, that sends photos for your approval, BEFORE they ship the Guitar. Everyone should do that. It also protects you, IF they send a different guitar.
Personally I feel if that wood pattern was an option, they should have mentioned it. I wouldn't prefer it.


Dan

[Glennwillow]

I'm sorry you're not happy with the top Taylor chose for that guitar. From my viewpoint, I would make the judgment based on how it sounds. Some people don't like bear claw in a top -- my wife doesn't, for example -- but I think it looks kind of cool, assuming that it also sounds really good. I hope this all works out to your satisfaction.

- Glenn

[dreamingtree]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

I'm sorry you're not happy with the top Taylor chose for that guitar. From my viewpoint, I would make the judgment based on how it sounds. Some people don't like bear claw in a top -- my wife doesn't, for example -- but I think it looks kind of cool, assuming that it also sounds really good. I hope this all works out to your satisfaction.

- Glenn

Same -- I think it's neat, adds an element of uniqueness, character.

[Taylorman98]

Man I dig it.. I'm one of those who really like the bear claw.. Its unique to me. However, I do understand your view.. Some just don't like it.

[Rev Roy]

Originally Posted by DanPanther

I have dealt with a company, that sends photos for your approval, BEFORE they ship the Guitar. Everyone should do that. It also protects you, IF they send a different guitar.
Personally I feel if that wood pattern was an option, they should have mentioned it. I wouldn't prefer it.


Dan

Yep. When I bought my Taylor 814 from Sweetwater they had multiple high def pics of the four different guitars they had in stock. I got to pick the one I wanted. Once you buy the guitar they email you the pics for your records. Pretty cool. Guitar won't get here until Thursday, but I already know what it looks like.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/814

[StrumFu]

I'm normally not a huge fan of bearclaw. There's not usually enough of it to look cool. A lot of times it comes off looking more like defects. It has to be a really nice piece of bearclaw for me to like it....then it's really cool. This one borders on being really cool. I think there's a face in the pattern on the right side...

[capemjs]

Looks like a very fine top to me. I wouldn't have a problem with it.

[SoAz]

I really like some bear claw too, nice looking guitar but sound is more important.

It is your guitar and you are the one that needs to be happy.

I agree with Rev Roy, it wouldn't hurt to email a pic or ask before they pack it, do you like bear claw?

Send her back, get a refund and try somewhere else.

[Volfan615]

I had never heard of the term "bear claw". I checked out the thread linked above and some of them looked kinda cool but to me this one just looks like defects.

[Guitarsan]

Yep, bearclaw. In no way a defect, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. These days many folks seek it out for its distinctiveness. I like it myself.

Check out this Custom Taylor that was specified to have a bearclaw top:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guita...itar?rNtt=516e





Now, should they have told you it had bearclaw before shipping? My opinion, it doesn't rise to that level if you didn't specify anything about the top. But, like some others, I would have not had an online dealer ship me a guitar unless I saw photos beforehand. Not sure that's even possible with your situation, but anyway, there you go.

[D35burst]

I agree its ugly. How does it sound?

[Guitarsan]

Originally Posted by SoAz

Send her back, get a refund and try somewhere else.

Not possible to go somewhere else. Only Guitar Center/MusiciansFriend (same company) is selling the 614ce-First Edition in the U.S.