Graham50

I’m probably biased but ask yourself this question, Taylor is an acoustic guitar maker with production in their own factories in the US & Mexico. Fender is an electric guitar maker who have acoustics made for them and given the Fender brand somewhere in Asia( probably China). Which is likely to be better?

This is the 4th Taylor I’ve owned (not all at the same time) and I must say that the volume and playability of the V class lives up to the hype. This has so much punch and particularly strong bass response. The sloped shoulders are reminiscent of the J45, a guitar I always thought I wanted, but this is just so responsive. I read a review which described it as Socal meets Nashville and that’s a pretty good summation.

A 5 year old Taylor Grand Pacific 517e in wild honey burst finish. Spruce and mahogany body ebony fretboard. The builders edition results in rounded edges to the body and fretboard and the back of the neck is shaped so the profile changes towards the body end which is supposed to make it easier to play higher up the neck.

I think that looks like a bit of a hybrid. The neck is Fender-seque, the logo almost looks like it says Squier. The body is the Vox teardrop of course, but the pickups look like Gretsch Filtertrons. Have you tried looking at the artists website, if she has one. There may be a list of gear there.

Comfiest is an interesting word in relation to guitars. Different shapes suit different folks. The Strat was designed because people found the square sides of the tele uncomfortable. Many players find the Les Paul uncomfortable because it’s heavy and flat backed. IMO the set up is a crucial factor, the right amount of neck relief and string height make all the difference between a guitar being comfortable to play or an absolute dog, and that’s pretty well irrespective of the price point of the instrument. you only have to look at YouTube videos like Dave’s world of fun stuff to see the difference a set up can make and how even expensive guitars need set ups. Many stores particularly on line ones don’t bother and even the factories put little effort into ensuring they are sent out at their best. I’m afraid buying is always a bit of a gamble.

Nothing

I played this on Sunday and it sounded so good, I think I will keep it.

It looks a lot older than ‘70s and also rather worryingly it seems to not have a truss rod. After 45 years in a lift the neck may need some adjustment.

Did you discover the source of your ticking, Papabron?

If get the Johnson thing, do you have to take it down to the crossroads at midnight?

Are you sure it’s not the bedroom clock. Death watch beetle is extremely rare and is NOT woodworm which is the common furniture beetle. If you have death watch your house may be about to fall down.

It does have to be one or the other. Taylor, Crafter and Fender and probably others make hybrid guitars ( to go with hybrid cars) which can be heard acoustically, but not too much, sound like either acoustic or electrics when plugged in.

Small bodied (Martin 00 & 0 or equivalent) and 12 fret guitars seem to be increasingly popular with many makers producing them. If you have one show it here. This mine made by K Yiari of Japan, largely hand made with a lovely rosewood back and sides, sounds much louder than you might expect from the size.

There’s a big revival in interest in gypsy jazz with loads of bands out there playing it. The style is very percussive and that style of guitar responds well. Yours is classed as a Grande Bouche, describing the sound hole and was favoured by the rhythm players whilst the lead guitarist used the Petit Bouche. Check out John Jorgenson on YouTube who is an excellent proponent of the style which he calls Franco-American Jazz.

I’ve no experience on the HB mandolin but have had a Tanglewood and a Washburn which were both pretty good. Like most instruments you get what you pay for. As a bassist and guitarist I found the mandolin neck really tight and therefore difficult to fret. In the end I bought an Octave Mandolin (usually known as an octave mandola in the U.K.) which is the same tuning as a mandolin only an octave lower and with a lot more fretting space.