I would like to buy a new guitar but don't know which is better - Martin or Taylor?

Question

I heard Taylor guitars are really nice - like the K22 with the Koa wood. All I've owned have been Martins and I really like them. Help

Answer 1

if you're a Martin owner then you're used to the expense involved. Taylor is no different, certainly. my personal take on Taylor is that it's WAY too much money for what you get, and to my ear, they're a little shrill. check out some of the higher end Ibanez or Washburn guitars for a comparison of the quality without the ridiculous price tag. regardless of your decision, you also owe it to yourself to have the guitar set up by an accomplished tech. NONE of the guitars these days come out of the box ready to play as far as fret height adjustment and polishing, nut appearance, and neck alignment go. yeah, you can play 'em, but with the proper set up, they will all help you play them, honest.

Answer 2

Both Taylors and Martins are superb acoustic guitars. Bear in mind that each guitar has a different sound, projection, and feel. Koa wood on the Taylors are fine, but rosewood backs and sides are preferred by me.

Taylors, as the norm, have excellent fretboards for fingerpicking, but my HD-35 is excellent for that style too.

It's a tough choice to make, but test-play some Taylor models, taking your time to get the real feel and sound that they give.