Taylor GC8 EL Review
By MNJ
| Posted in Guitar
The Taylor GC8 is the top model in a range of six GC (Grand Concert) auditorium-sized acoustic guitars that hit these shores in the spring of this year. Taylor as a guitar maker needs no introduction and the company – along with Martin – enjoys the highest profile of any acoustic guitar manufacturer in the world today.
Small guitars are nothing unusual and neither are short scale instruments, but slot-headstock, steel-string guitars are not that common. The two satin-finish guitars in the GC range, the GC3 and GC4, have flat headstocks, while all the gloss finish models, the GC5, GC6 and GC7, have slotted heads. The GC8 features a solid Sitka spruce top, Indian rosewood back and sides and an Ivoroid-bound Ebony fingerboard. I must say, the sheer quality of the tonewoods used is stunning – the rosewood is a beautiful rich colour and not too dark, while the spruce has an attractive ‘scratched’ look along the grain. The ultra-violet-cured finish – developed at Taylor – guards against what the company calls ‘cold-checking’, presumably meaning extreme changes of temperature.
Anybody specifically wanting a guitar with a Sitka spruce top as nice as this one will have to move fairly quickly, because the fact is that the timber is running out, and this is not down to just over-logging either. Sitka Spruce large enough for guitar tops can only be originated from trees which are at least 250 years old and unfortunately, they’re disappearing fast. In fact, the guitar makers only take a fraction of what’s actually logged, so to set aside an area of trees solely to supply them is uneconomical for the landowners in Alaska where the timber is sourced.
The Tropical American mahogany neck on the Taylor GC8 has a satin finish, which has become increasingly popular with players who don’t like the ‘tackiness’ of a gloss neck. Once again, the quality of the Mahogany on this example is exemplary and it’s a very comfortable size that will suit all but the very heavy-handed player. In fact, the size and shape of the GC8 make it better suited to a lighter playing touch, making it perfect for fingerpicking styles. The open-style tuners in the slot headstock are a puzzle, as they don’t have the usual crosshead screw which holds the gear and the barrel together. As it’s unlikely that Taylor would use an inferior machine head on a guitar of this quality and price, we have to trust that they’re top notch, and to prove it, the guitar tuned up perfectly with no problems. The Tusq nut and compensated saddle are cut perfectly, and the intonation is as good as it gets on this review guitar, making it an absolute pleasure to play. The Abalone fingerboard dots and tasteful soundhole rosette add the finishing touches to what is already a mightily attractive guitar. This review sample is fitted with the optional Taylor Expression System, but as the GC8 is part of Taylor’s designated acoustic range, I’m going to ignore it for the purposes of this review as I would presume that most GC8s are going to be purchased without the pickup installed.
As a purely acoustic instrument, this guitar is hard to beat – it’s the perfect size and reasonably light – but it’s the sound that’s so impressive. Immediately crisp and clean, the tone is well balanced and the guitar produces the exact sound you’d expect from an instrument like this – a lighter bass end, clear mids and a sweet treble. It’s absolutely lovely, and I don’t say that very often about a new guitar. Yes it’s expensive, represents a serious investment and there are a lot of fantastic instruments around at the same money, but if you’ve got the best part of two grand to blow on a grown-up acoustic, before you splash out on anything I would urge you to try the Taylor GC8.
Tags: taylor acoustic guitar, taylor expression system, taylor gc8el