Taylor Classic Single

This came with Elixir .09s but the guitar plays like it is strung with .13s. Without a lab, it`s hard to say if this is due to the novel bridge causing high tensions, the high frets giving a false impression of heaviness or factors beyond my limited understanding of string physics. The tall, wide, house shaped frets (in profile, a triangle on top of a square) cater to neither fast nor smooth playing. The weird choice of wire adds to the finger fatigue that sets in a few minutes into playing this thing. The fret tallness also limits how low the action can be set. The wide, flat profile neck could, at a guess, have been a selling point, particularly for acoustic guitarists wanting to dip their toes in electric waters, but any potential benefits are probably lost due to the fret profiles. I like the look of natural wood, even here, where there is nothing that sets this timber apart from a good table. Unexpectedly, for a guitar coming from the stables of a pedigreed acoustic specialist, this is the least resonant of all my solid body guitars, so whether the much vaunted bridge coupling makes any difference here is impossible to say. The rotary knobs feel and look cheap, are set on their shafts at widely different heights and are not on a plane with the body (think of cars you`ve overtaken with a wobbling wheel that looks set to go south). I find pickups a bit of mystery and those who describe them remind me of wine buffs, the shared tool of the trades being an over thumbed thesaurus. Most people with a decent amp will find whatever sounds they want. With a Yamaha THR-10, I could dial in all my noises of choice. The plastic rear bridge rout cover, which is as naff as the rotary knobs (even plywood would have been an improvement here), is where Taylor have chosen to lightly stamp the serial number. My $100 Cort (with its bird`s eye maple neck, locking tuners, Gotoh trem and contoured BOP swamp ash body) and my $300 MIM Stratocaster have done a better job of permanently applying serial numbers. This is one of those small things, like paper napkins in an `exclusive` eatery, that make your purchase feel heart-sinkingly ordinary. When you`ve just parted with $1300 you hope for that feelgood glow to justify your extravagance, this gave me the opposite, all guilt and no pleasure. I bought the Classic natural model online, after reading and believing guitar magazine reviews. Simplicity is appealing, but it`s reasonable to expect, in place of money for bells and whistles, that no compromises on playability, build materials and quality will have been made; this guitar feels like it has been thoroughly re-considered at each stage of development, but only with a view to imposing cut-able corners where none were left to be had. The `Made in China` case is well fitted, as it should be given the contour free, plank style body shape, but an unmarked generic warranty card and a baggie wth some rubber rings of uncertain purpose is all you get. A final inspection certificate, something signed with the S/N on it and a guitar specific booklet should be a minimum at this price. The plethora of positive reviews that this instrument has amassed is inexplicable. If I could wax lyrical about this Taylor I would, but I can`t even play the thing lyrically. The only accessory I recommend is a `Please Steal Me` sticker, to be applied only after you sort out some insurance.