I first thought, "Wow, that new V-brace has *so* much more bass response! But, surprise, it was actually the old "X" braced guitar. So, I'd say I prefer the "old" Taylor to the "new" Taylor.
0:52 Quin is so honest and straightforward. “ Instantly noticed more depth and tone in the traditional X bracing “ .. that’s hilarious to look at their facial expressions👍👍👍👍
In the video i preferred the X brace for the same reason Gentlman demoing said. It had much nicer and resonant bottom end, that sounded nicer to my ears.
I did an A/B with 814ce’s x vs v. The v had great intonation. It was definitely missing its lower end like the x. The mids can fall into a singers eq range and mud it up. Almost had a nasual quality about it. Back and forth the x was way better sounding. I stood in front of the guitar and made this assessment while someone else played the same chords with the same intensity and plectrum. I think the x brace will become more valuable down the road.
Even though he hears more low end in that room on the X brace, I hear a warmer guitar from the V brace through lap top speakers. The X brace has harsher high end too
I really think it's the personality of each piece of wood on that top that makes the sound. I would think that there should be more lows with the v bracing.?
I thought Taylor had made tremendous strides over the past few years refining the bracing on all their lines. When I attended a Taylor Road Show a few months ago to introduce the V class models, I heard and understood why the V class was different in several ways . And some of those ways are , indeed, improvements. However , I played a demo custom 12 model , X braced , and I liked it better than all the V class demo models. More warmth and bass. I think they need to provide both bracing patterns as options.
So I originally bought an X brace 814 when the V first came out, and I quickly exchanged the X for a V. I immediately noticed a significant decrease in bass on the V. So now I exchanged again back to the X. I will admit the V did seem to stay in tune better, but for my taste I like the more low end
I think the V-brace will suit finger style players perfectly. Just imagine one in the hands of Gabriella Quevedo! She is already supported by Taylor so hopefully they will soon send her a custom V-brace. That will be the real test!
I heard the truth 30 seconds in, the bass on the x-brace was significantly more rich. Perhaps in a band setting a v-brace could be more suitable, but even that low end could be tamed on the 'x' with different strings and/or EQ. I highly doubt the same could be done to add bass on the v. I'm not hearing this substandard intonation previous Taylor's are supposed to have either. I think Andy may have solved a 'problem that didn't need solving', and introduced new issues in the process.
thom dushane you are a very smart dude. I agree 100%. The X is much richer in tone and all the talk about poor intonation is just inventing a problem so they can market a solution.
I picked up a demo (no major scars) model K24ce for $3000. The higher end one with shaded edge burst. The shop listed it at $4000+ and it sat a few months on reverb. The high x-bracing was my ultimate negotiation leverage😊. V-class (albeit non-demo) sells at $6300.
Listen from 0:40 to 1:00. Then shift to 2:40 when he comments about the bottom end richness. If you think about it, without a bottom end sonic base (which is the bass) a guitar's just going to sound thin. Why do you think the 814 has been Taylor's "flagship" instrument all these years? The V-class bracing seems to have castrated it. Sorry, but that's what I"m hearing and what the reviewer on the vid said, though with gentler words. Go Taylor! This "upgrade" will just make our older Taylors more valuable.
X brace hands down for me. I played the 814ce DLX x brace and v brace back to back and came home with the discontinued x brace. Way more of a broad spectrum of tone from the x brace. The v brace just didn't have the chops...
Just love how this guy starts backpedaling when he realises this is not a promotion for x bracing but for v bracing even though he knows that to him x is best
I think the x bracing is just a bit more musical. However I do find the focus of the notes and the bass response to be more present on the v bracing. Would use both in different musical settings.
@@feliceconte123 honestly I love martin. I don’t feel the same way about Taylor’s as you do. But.... to be far since you went on a rant I felt I had to point out. Isn’t what you said exactly what martin did when they invented the x brace in the first place? 😂 all Taylor is doing is trying to make new ways they’re experimenting they’re not just content with good they want it better. Which imo they failed with the v bracing intonation is about the only thing I hear that went positive. But who knows eventually someday they or Martin or anyone might figure it a new way out that actually is better. Point is though my hat is off to Taylor cause they tried something new. Didn’t work for a lot of people’s ears but they tried lol
I was thrilled to have a chance to play a Taylor with V Bracing Along side a similar model with X Bracing . Both guitars were excellent the differences are subtle. The V class shines when you play high up on the neck.
Wow, judging by the comments so far, the X-braced 814ce is the choice; curious as to whether the same result applies across the line (I'd like to see the 714ce/614ce/514ce comparos just like this one...)
Well said Robert Carhart Jr. Interesting demo and lots of reactions point to me that my ear is not skilled enough to say one is better than the other yet I can detect there is a difference. Seems like majority rules in favor of X-braced.
I wonder, if the V-bracing makes it to a 12-string, will it sound lush? This is the first side-by-side I've seen where they not only sounded different, but the V-class was outshined.
It's a small thing, but I don't like the way the V bracing looks through the sound hole. I don't much like the new style Taylor pickguards either. The old red ones were nice.
I brought my X braced 914c to a Taylor Road show and put it against a V braced 914ce. I had the same reaction as the guy on the left. My X braced 914c had WAY more low end. I play finger style and desire a nice full bottom end which I did not get from the V-class. The V class was also quite a bit brighter which I didn't think was a good thing. Taylors are already VERY bright to begin with.
Seems like I'm one of the few who prefers the V bracing. I like its evenness, the richer, more balanced mids, and actually the fact that it's less bassy. So there's never the danger of the sound becoming boomy. I really dig that it sounds a bit unusual, it's like combining old and new. It has some ladder-bracing character but with modern refinement. I'd combine it with darker sounding woods to make it sound as full-bodied as possible.
I've noticed in a recording situation that if a guitar is overly bass boomy it's a little harder to mic without it sounding WAY boomy on the recording. Also if you have a bass player with you a less bassy guitar might sit in the mix better. But if you're doing solo stuff or without a bass I think the X bracing would probably fill things out better. Thanks for the video.
This video perfectly demonstrates the problem with the new Taylor V class bracing system. Over the years I've owned many Taylor model acoustics with the classic X brace. A year ago I bought the 317e V class braced guitar. My conclusion is the X brace system is, without doubt, considerably superior. The V class brace takes away that essential 'involving' quality that inspires a player. I understand Taylor intends to eventually V brace ALL of their range of guitars - big mistake!
You hit the nail on the head - "takes away that essential 'involving' quality that inspires a player". It's a marketing stradegy, not a musical one....
I'll keep my 814ce model 2010 with X-bracing. Demo'd an 814ce dlx V-bracing and immediately noticed significant loss of bottom end. No offense to Andy Powers!
Thanks for the video, I been wondering which sounded better IMHO the X bracing sounds better to me, I prefer the robust sound on the bass end, don't often play amplified but like to have it if needed.
As others have said it sounds like the v class is better suited for those seeking accuracy over overtone warmth with the x-bracing. I have played both and prefer x-bracing.
Hi! If you play single note melodies around fret 12, you'll find the v-braced sounds with more sustain and intonation for that purpose, so i think this demo is quite uncomplete, you've only focused on bluegrass rythm low-end sound, imho that's not enough for a comparison....
Everyone who has spent $$$ on an X brace prefers their X brace. People who have neither want a V brace. It’s like when you bought that brand new 2016 Camery and then Toyota redesigns it for 2017. People who have a 16 will tell you the new one is ugly and they’re “soooo glad” they scooped one up when they did 🙄. That about covers 85% of the comments on here
I feel like the V-bracing sounds sweeter. Like the X-bracing is way better for Bluegrass, but the V-bracing is better for like a softer John Mayer style I’d say.
Perhaps Taylor should market the X-brace version as two half-size V-braces joined at the V-point. Yup, I preferred the X-brace... V-brace sounds watered down... and I just bought a used 2004 USA Taylor Big Baby, so this 814 has no advantage besides the pickup and cutaway.
I just got a guitar with V-Class bracing and I immediately recognized it in the video by how it rings. To me, the V-Class bracing sounds more controlled, refined and rather hi-fi, all things I tend to associate with Taylor guitars. The X-bracing, perhaps obviously, sounds more traditional to me. It has a certain vintage growl to it, more low mids. Both have their place. I like the V-Class bracing and it suits my playing style.
Kudos to Music Villa for putting this up.... Notice what happened? An experienced player is essentially given a blind fold test, at the beginning of the video on first strum of the X-braced model he notices he likes it better for open chording... This is my problem with Taylor; I think there are some brilliant minds at Taylor, but they are very much a company driven my marketing. For Andy Powers to be as good as he is (and is very an amazing luthier), of course he knows that there are practical trade-offs between X-braced and V-bracing. One can only be qualified as better than the other in certain context. If Andy Powers, Bob Taylor & co would have come out at Winter NAMM and said "We know some customers will prefer X bracing, but we really believe the benefits outweigh what was lost, V-bracing is Taylor's path forward", then that would be a stance I think more players could respect. That didn't happen. Instead Taylor's message from Andy Powers and all parties is in perfect line with the marketing message. Taylor is transitioning their entire lineup to V-braced and the message is "this changes everything, we're re-imagining the acoustic guitar". There's just enough snake-oil speak in there to have left me really disliking Taylor as a company. They just aren't honest with their customers. They sell more USA built acoustic guitars than any other builder, they have leverage and a responsibility to be honest, but with V-bracing they have not taking the high-road with transparency. Indeed, they are using the "V-brace is superior to everything" message to try and tarnish traditional X-braced guitar builders like Martin, Collings and Gibson.... That in my book is an unforgivable offense.... Of course in the end it won't matter because in a society like ours driven by consumerism, marketing creates reality... When we look back in history at some of the foolish design trends with guitars we wonder "how did that ever become a thing" and it's always marketing...
i agree, its marketing. i think that the v bracing is less wood and less work. this is a big factor for Taylor production scale. the v bracing is not new style. time will show if it will work. do you remember what happened with Ksaha-Gibson bracing ?
At the end of this video he's playing closer to the bridge on the X bracing model and more toward the center of the sound hole on the V bracing guitar. That completely changes the volume and brightness. The closer to the bridge the brighter the sound and vice versa. The volume will be louder when you're strumming closer to the neck. Take notice he's manipulating the sound. Just sayin'
I listened again to this recording and what I hear additionally is that lack of bass is affecting the mids, causing the entire instrument to sound rather thin. Listen to the "classic" 814 for mids and mid harmonics, then the V-class. Perhaps you'll hear what I'm hearing. I've played a few of these upper end Taylor V's and compared to the classic builds the V's are a definite fail. I hope the V-class works better on the lower end model, or Taylor is going to experience the same thing as Coca Cola did with "The New Coke". At least it will make older models more valuable.
Ron's Channel Yes it’s now available starting at the 300 series they indeed to switch all American Taylor’s to V class. They feel having there own bracing makes Taylor Unique and distinctive from other brands
I play Blues. I prefer the X bracing. I'm not looking for a tightly focused range; I'm looking for a tapestry of audio colors. Taylor should produce both types IMO because of the different genres of music, because of our different styles, and because of the different venues/situations we will be playing in. One haircut does not fit all, and I think it is a mistake to try and make one guitar *the* Holy Grail for everyone who is playing from beginners to seasoned players, from the bedroom to club venues to outdoor faires, from Bluesmen to Hillbillie/Country/Folk. I understand that guitar manufacturers want to put their equity and efforts into the products that will market perform best for them, but the reality of it is, this is what reissues are all about; different crops of musicians wanting something that isn't currently on the market but is the tone or sound they are after. But thank you very much for this video, because it cleared up some questions I had in mind and now I have a better understanding of the X versus V bracing. ***
Wow. The new V brace just kills the 814 in my opinion. I own a 414, and have lusted after the 814 for years after playing them in stores (but they are just too darn expensive for me). But the V-braced one in this video has an almost nasal sound and has given up the beautiful, smooth low end that the 814 normally has. He says "focused", "balanced" for the V-braced. I say those are euphamisms for "narrow-range". Hands-down, I'd pick the X brace based on this video. Much warmer, more balanced, with better bass.
I loved the V class, clearer and not as upfront in sound as X braced one. Yes I agree that it is a departure from the natural boomy sounds of Sitka/ rosewood acoustic as we all have come to know! Good job guys 👍
If I owned 10 x braced guitars, I would definitely be negative on V bracing claiming to be better. However, factors such as wood type, length of scale, and whether bridge has been offset back if the guitar is shorter scale such as a 12 Fret V braced 312ce may be a good example of what sound can be produced in a V braced guitar.
A couple of identifying post-its on the guitars would NOT have hurt the finish but they would have made following the two nearly identical guitars a lot easier
So I bought a 324ce v brace guitar from Taylor and I think because it has mahogany top it does have that low end nice sound. Did I get a bad guitar in your opinion? I’m no expert at all but the v class to me sounds a little more powerful but I like both bracing. I spent close to 2400 after taxes and I am just wondering if you like the sound of the 324ce?? I also fell in love with the looks but obviously sound is most crucial. Thoughts?? Thank you both!
I have the x braced 324. I love it for it's bass, bought it for each string tone, precisely because I didn't want the brightness of most other guitars. I am sure the v braced 324 sounds very similar, it gets away for the spruce. What I did to even further the bass response was to add silk and steel strings, which turbo charge the molasses and bass. When I want spruce I plug the spruce in and Jam loud. When I want sound quality, I'm un-pluged and use the 324...
Really like the review. The guy makes the case for Acoustic qualities vs Amplified. If it is plugged in you can eq what you like. That said, X bracing has been around a long time. There is a reason. The v brace has not been around long enough to know how stable it will be over time. Think I will save some $ and wait to see.
I don't even think v-bracing can make the test of time given it's sound characteristics - given that most anyone testing one, will associate the x-brace sound to that of being so much better
I think the x-brace just sounds more traditional, not better, just different and more traditional... and that's what most of us like. Love the intonation of the v-bracing, but it sounds too "different" for me, at least in a strict A/B like this.
Very noticeable difference with the X-Brace offering more bass, fuller and slightly better sustain. But then, regarding sustain, could be my speakers ;-)
The fact that this video was not simply cheerleading for the new V bracing certainly adds to its credibility. I haven't had a chance to physically play a V braced model yet (hope to yet this summer) and I wonder if similar comparisons need to be made all through the Taylor line. Given the exceptional sound quality of any Taylor guitar, it would be very difficult to come up with a new bracing formation (or any innovation at all) that would blow the previous versions out of the water. My takeaway from the video comparisons I have seen so far is that one's preferences will largely hang on personal playing style and the types of music one plays, but in any case the differences are very delicate and nuanced, not killer.
V bracing is not a new concept, it's been used for years (mostly in F style jazz acoustic guitars) but most see no benefit other than easier to make mechanically as Taylor does.
To begin with Taylor guitars are cookie cutter machined and no real specifics are realized concerning each piece of wood, same as with the Mexico builds. They are vanilla and tone is random. Consistent build wise, but extremely inconsistent tone wise period. V bracing just makes the inconsistency worse and is a gimmick to try and get people to buy more guitars. Taylors sales have fallen and they now sell direct to the public.
The V bracing doesn't sound better to me, just slightly different. I suspect the promotion of V bracing has more to do with selling guitars than much of a sonic advantage. For those that will need to have it, fine. For myself, I'm perfectly happy with the traditional X bracicing on my Martins, 312 Taylor, J15 Gibson, Seagulls.
I don't like the sound of the v brace on this Guitar. are you sure you didn't get them mixed up, I saw a side by side comparison of another series Guitar and the v brace sounded like the x brace on this video seriously.
Hi guys! I really like your videos. Thanks a lot. I’m wondering if you can do if not already done, a comparison between the Taylor 524ce X- brace and 524ce V-brace. I like to see if the warm midrange of the all mahogany is better on the V-brace. Really appreciate your work. Thanks again! All the best!
I guess I have the unpopular opinion of liking the V bracing here 😅 not that I dislike the X bracing but idk I just sorta like how the V sounds in this video.
The V brace guitars are amazing for the modern fingerstyle (andy mckee) or solo guitar stuff, the x brace is good for rhythm and singer songwriter stuff.
The V-Class has more sustain and chime. The X bracing has a richer sound with more overtones. I vote for the X bracing, but v-class is still new and has a lot of potential!
By killing valuable tonal information in the lows and mids, V-bracing effectively "reduces the size" of the guitar. This decently sized OM sounds like a much smaller guitar with X-bracing. So by claiming "advance in intonation", the V-bracing kills a lot of valuable tonal information, and is under-utilising the physical size of the instrument: you must carry a big guitar only to sound like its 3/4 sized equivalent with X-bracing.
I've sold everything i had with the v class and moved to Gibson. V Class imo is a huge fail. I had a 114Ce x bracing that blew away a 414ce with V bracing. The v brace sounded dead.
Definitely personal choice but I played a V- class guitar for about an hour at GC Nashville one day, wanting to love it so badly, but I found it really lacking. In fact this video mirrors my personal experience directly. I listened to it through a good pair of headphones and the X- braced Taylor simply has more overall depth, warmth, and richness. And frankly while I have a Big Baby Taylor which I enjoy, when I purchased my dream guitar it ended up being a different brand. Since I'm not here to promote anything I will leave it at that unless someone asks me.
I feel so lucky to have found and purchased one of the "last" 3.. ..X-braced 2017 814 ce dlx available in Minneapolis. I tried to custom order a X 814 back in Feb 2018.... Taylor said they wouldn't make it, because they were changing over their production line to the V class. Taylor and Andy Powers totally redesigned their flagship 814 back in 2014. You can't make the 814 any better than that!!!.... I've played the new 814 V class and if I wanted something with that much "mid-range"...I would have bought a ukulele...!
I have old ears and they prefer the X bracing by far. To me the sound of the V braced model is grating and higher pitched, almost to the point that it comes across as out of tune. Better intonation ? ! Might have just been a clunker of a guitar.
I have an X braced 312 and I like the sound of the X braced version BETTER than the newer V braced model. It seems more balanced. I won't be rushing out to buy a V braced version of the 312. This illustrates why it is necessary that YOUR hearing is what must be satisfied. All the hype, friends opinions, magazine reviews,etc. Don't Really Matter! Keep an open mind. Decide for yourself.😊
The V bracing "stiffens" the top all through the middle section making it a bit less vibrant in the big waist part where the bridge is, which is the first place where the vibrations are transfered, therefore producing a more balanced, les bassy tone; while the X bracing leaves the big part of the top with more free surface to move with the energy that the strings transfer through the bridge producing a bigger, richer tone. The V bracing makes a lort of sense in terms of durability over the years, you can bet that the top will never warp. It may be a matter of taste more than anything, some people still prefer the Yamaha APX and their trebbly sound, or even Ovations with their characteristic tone.
The truth is V bracing is not new or the latest greatest...it's been done way before Andy was even born. It was used on 30's-40's guitars. If any of you visit the Martin Museum you will see an old V braced top from that time period hanging above a work bench. Andy did indeed copy the pattern and it was never really deemed better sounding than X braced guitars and never will be.
Richards Guitars exactly what I was thinking. Imagine the road show where you have to pretend the intonation on X braced guitars is horrible just so you can market the V as a solution.
Make room for next years Z bracing that is an INCREDIBLY innovative and game changing attribute which makes the guitar puke golden nuggets while strumming an open A minor chord. It is actually glued with an insainly rare bit of the one and only Andy Powers custom nut sack sweat LMAO
I watched this video with headphones (the only way to get an accurate representation of the tonal qualities of musical instruments on UA-cam videos), and just like the guy playing the guitars I instantly preferred the X-braced instrument's sound better. Fuller, richer, sweeter. I disagree with him where he says the V-braced is better for large venues, blah, blah and the X-braced is better in intimate settings. The X-braced is a great all-around guitar. Next, I listened to all the other YT videos of the V-braced 814. This confused the issue. So I went and actually tried (and purchased) a V-braced 814ce DLX. Gorgeous guitar! Brought it home, then after the initial "honeymoon" I spent 4 days of constant playing and testing trying to love it. It had a mid-range howl on the open G string and third fret G on high E string when picking just above the lower end of the sound hole which is where most guitars have their best sound. It had a "mwaahhh" tone coloring. Obnoxious. Could not get rid of that irritating howl. I even tried changing strings. No improvement. The closer to the bridge you pick it the worse it gets. The only way I could attenuate this problem was to pick those strings closer to the fingerboard. Unacceptable. I also found this instrument totally lacking low end and balance. It reminds me of a citar. Ugh! Too tinny for my ear. Lots of sustain, yes, however not a good tradeoff for losing a rich, warm low end with a touch of mids for fullness. I Returned the instrument and tried the 2017 814ce DLX X-braced model. My immediate impression was "THIS IS IT!!" The bass was back, the warmth, richness and fullness of tone was back, and the sustain was wonderful. This video does nothing to highlight the nuances of the guitars when played finger-style, which is how I play. X-braced for me forever! BTW, I would characterize the tone of the upper (E, B, G) strings on the V-braced guitar as being almost banjo-like. Not sweet like the X-braced model. BTW, I also played a V-braced 916ce. 916 too boomy with those thin-sounding upper strings being over-powered by the bass strings. Might be good for Bluegrass, but then again no self-respecting-dyed-in-the-wool Bluegrasser would be caught dead with anything other than a Martin D-something! LOL!! I immediately returned to the X-braced 814 DLX. And so, in conclusion, as with what seems to be the opinion of the majority of the folks here, as well as the player on this video, I too prefer the X-braced guitar. BY FAR! I brought that beautiful 2017 814ce DLX home and can't put it down. I feel lucky to have found one of this model as it seems that Taylor is making such a huge deal out of the V-class bracing to the point where I am concerned they will discontinue making the X-braced models. BTW, it sounds fantastic when plugged-in to my Fishman Loudbox Performer amp. The best way to truly compare is to play both models of guitar - preferably side-by-side - and see which one suits your ear.
I just exchanged my 414ce X for the V. the V is ANYTHING BUT THIN. my problem was that the high end sparkle was a little duller than I wanted. Wrote a long review on another video review but the V IS louder and fuller and more projective (there is no doubt, everyone in the store, customers and staff all agreed), sustain isnt really different though, the sound is REALLY different though. It kinda doesnt have that Taylor sound, so I had a hard time if I was going to exchange, but I decided it overall sounded like a better guitar and for my weak finger picking there was no contest. It also happened to be a magnificent top and back wood that I have to admit had some influence on my decision.
Ouch...maybe not a good showing for the new V brace design. It could be these particular instruments. Maybe another pair of 814s would produce different results.
And the hd28 pulls away even further i bet martin loves v bracing maybe its like new coke they bring it out to drive the value of there older guitars up and then they will re introduce x bracing at a later date who knows
Honestly I still think V brace is a little gimmicky.... cuz only independent lab testing away from Taylor wouldn't make a better case and just marketing. Plus an only true comparison would be blindfolded
Same.... different but not better....I have a rear shifted custom shop Martin....it provides similar intonation properties as the v.....but the colorful overtones aren't there.....kinda bland to me.......just my thoughts....a regular x braced 900 series Taylor has a great balance...
Sarek Cortez Absolutely - I was just thinking about it. I will. The sustain is to die for - and I play Sitar and needed something with similar sustain specifically. Looked at Hummingbird and D18 - not even close up past mid way
Sooo..: I’m shocked that no one has mentioned this yet. But... even guitars made with the same wood, same bracing, same year, back to back in the factory will sound different. Each tree grows and develops its own unique characteristics based on each trees environment.
"Good intonation", he says as he plays up the neck. Odd comment, as I've never heard him say that before in other guitar reviews. Coincidence that intonation is also a marketed benefit of V-Bracing? I say marketed benefit, because I'm skeptical bracing has any impact on string intonation. Maybe I just don't understand the physics of intonation.
I first thought, "Wow, that new V-brace has *so* much more bass response! But, surprise, it was actually the old "X" braced guitar. So, I'd say I prefer the "old" Taylor to the "new" Taylor.
instablaster.
0:52 Quin is so honest and straightforward. “ Instantly noticed more depth and tone in the traditional X bracing “ .. that’s hilarious to look at their facial expressions👍👍👍👍
Honestly liked the warmer tone of the x-brace better... IMO
In the video i preferred the X brace for the same reason Gentlman demoing said. It had much nicer and resonant bottom end, that sounded nicer to my ears.
I did an A/B with 814ce’s x vs v. The v had great intonation. It was definitely missing its lower end like the x. The mids can fall into a singers eq range and mud it up. Almost had a nasual quality about it. Back and forth the x was way better sounding. I stood in front of the guitar and made this assessment while someone else played the same chords with the same intensity and plectrum. I think the x brace will become more valuable down the road.
I think that is exactly what the guitar player thinks but can't really say.
yea if you play bluegrass or bang out country songs all day long, but dont try it in an orchestra or picking
Even though he hears more low end in that room on the X brace, I hear a warmer guitar from the V brace through lap top speakers. The X brace has harsher high end too
I really think it's the personality of each piece of wood on that top that makes the sound. I would think that there should be more lows with the v bracing.?
I thought Taylor had made tremendous strides over the past few years refining the bracing on all their lines. When I attended a Taylor Road Show a few months ago to introduce the V class models, I heard and understood why the V class was different in several ways . And some of those ways are , indeed, improvements. However , I played a demo custom 12 model , X braced , and I liked it better than all the V class demo models. More warmth and bass. I think they need to provide both bracing patterns as options.
So I originally bought an X brace 814 when the V first came out, and I quickly exchanged the X for a V. I immediately noticed a significant decrease in bass on the V. So now I exchanged again back to the X. I will admit the V did seem to stay in tune better, but for my taste I like the more low end
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I think the V-brace will suit finger style players perfectly. Just imagine one in the hands of Gabriella Quevedo! She is already supported by Taylor so hopefully they will soon send her a custom V-brace. That will be the real test!
X marks the spot for me!
I heard the truth 30 seconds in, the bass on the x-brace was significantly more rich. Perhaps in a band setting a v-brace could be more suitable, but even that low end could be tamed on the 'x' with different strings and/or EQ. I highly doubt the same could be done to add bass on the v. I'm not hearing this substandard intonation previous Taylor's are supposed to have either. I think Andy may have solved a 'problem that didn't need solving', and introduced new issues in the process.
thom dushane you are a very smart dude. I agree 100%. The X is much richer in tone and all the talk about poor intonation is just inventing a problem so they can market a solution.
Well, this completely backfired. Everyone prefers the old X bracing.
didnt backfire at all. i think this guy wanted to do this. warmer guitars are only better for strumming, we know that.
The Taylor 326ce (mahogany top with sound port and V bracing ) sounds like the best of both worlds to me.
@@feliceconte123 He's a Martin fan. Therefore, . . .
Everyone? Where's the data???? BTW, I own two Taylor: one with X and the other with V. Apples and strawberries.
@@jackleyton5504 Totally wrong - you NEED warmer for picking than strumming - at least for me anyway...
Best thing about V-Class, is now the X-brace will go on sale 🤪
Already seeing it
In Portugal the 714ce x bracing, new condition, is about 2300 euro... I'am amazed with V Class...
I picked up a demo (no major scars) model K24ce for $3000. The higher end one with shaded edge burst. The shop listed it at $4000+ and it sat a few months on reverb. The high x-bracing was my ultimate negotiation leverage😊. V-class (albeit non-demo) sells at $6300.
I've got an X-braced 814, I like it more than the V-braced models I've tried in that model.
Michael Appollo I like the X better as well.
Listen from 0:40 to 1:00. Then shift to 2:40 when he comments about the bottom end richness. If you think about it, without a bottom end sonic base (which is the bass) a guitar's just going to sound thin. Why do you think the 814 has been Taylor's "flagship" instrument all these years? The V-class bracing seems to have castrated it. Sorry, but that's what I"m hearing and what the reviewer on the vid said, though with gentler words. Go Taylor! This "upgrade" will just make our older Taylors more valuable.
Well said...I agree 100%
X brace hands down for me. I played the 814ce DLX x brace and v brace back to back and came home with the discontinued x brace. Way more of a broad spectrum of tone from the x brace. The v brace just didn't have the chops...
Just love how this guy starts backpedaling when he realises this is not a promotion for x bracing but for v bracing even though he knows that to him x is best
But i liked the v counterpart.
"Backpedaling" is exactly the term that came to mind watching this too.
I think the x bracing is just a bit more musical. However I do find the focus of the notes and the bass response to be more present on the v bracing. Would use both in different musical settings.
So, Taylor going to replace X-bracing to V-class bracing? Honestly, I liked X-bracing better...
All grand auditorium guitars officially have v class bracing, correct me if I'm wrong
@@ShivjotRangi That’s sad. cuz I’m saving up for Taylor 814ce.
@@zzzeldaaa , it's just one guitar. On some of the V-braced models they are INCREDIBLE. It just depends on the guitar. Make sure you play them!
@@sheridanhenson2886 Thank you for the advice, I will. 😃
@@feliceconte123 honestly I love martin. I don’t feel the same way about Taylor’s as you do. But.... to be far since you went on a rant I felt I had to point out. Isn’t what you said exactly what martin did when they invented the x brace in the first place? 😂 all Taylor is doing is trying to make new ways they’re experimenting they’re not just content with good they want it better. Which imo they failed with the v bracing intonation is about the only thing I hear that went positive. But who knows eventually someday they or Martin or anyone might figure it a new way out that actually is better. Point is though my hat is off to Taylor cause they tried something new. Didn’t work for a lot of people’s ears but they tried lol
I was thrilled to have a chance to play a Taylor with V Bracing Along side a similar model with X Bracing . Both guitars were excellent the differences are subtle. The V class shines when you play high up on the neck.
Wow, judging by the comments so far, the X-braced 814ce is the choice; curious as to whether the same result applies across the line (I'd like to see the 714ce/614ce/514ce comparos just like this one...)
Well said Robert Carhart Jr. Interesting demo and lots of reactions point to me that my ear is not skilled enough to say one is better than the other yet I can detect there is a difference. Seems like majority rules in favor of X-braced.
I wonder, if the V-bracing makes it to a 12-string, will it sound lush? This is the first side-by-side I've seen where they not only sounded different, but the V-class was outshined.
Carl K
I'd love to hear one, because 12 strings produce "ghost notes" or harmonic tones when the intonation is really good on them.
So we'll see.
It's a small thing, but I don't like the way the V bracing looks through the sound hole. I don't much like the new style Taylor pickguards either. The old red ones were nice.
I brought my X braced 914c to a Taylor Road show and put it against a V braced 914ce. I had the same reaction as the guy on the left. My X braced 914c had WAY more low end. I play finger style and desire a nice full bottom end which I did not get from the V-class. The V class was also quite a bit brighter which I didn't think was a good thing. Taylors are already VERY bright to begin with.
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Seems like I'm one of the few who prefers the V bracing. I like its evenness, the richer, more balanced mids, and actually the fact that it's less bassy. So there's never the danger of the sound becoming boomy. I really dig that it sounds a bit unusual, it's like combining old and new. It has some ladder-bracing character but with modern refinement. I'd combine it with darker sounding woods to make it sound as full-bodied as possible.
I have a Collings CW Adi IRW that I think you would absolutely love.
I like the x bracing also
I've noticed in a recording situation that if a guitar is overly bass boomy it's a little harder to mic without it sounding WAY boomy on the recording.
Also if you have a bass player with you a less bassy guitar might sit in the mix better. But if you're doing solo stuff or without a bass I think the X bracing
would probably fill things out better. Thanks for the video.
I find that mahogany topped guitar are best for recording, especially with voices.
Rosewood bracing for stage.....mahogany for recording, home most times for me.
This video perfectly demonstrates the problem with the new Taylor V class bracing system. Over the years I've owned many Taylor model acoustics with the classic X brace. A year ago I bought the 317e V class braced guitar. My conclusion is the X brace system is, without doubt, considerably superior. The V class brace takes away that essential 'involving' quality that inspires a player. I understand Taylor intends to eventually V brace ALL of their range of guitars - big mistake!
You hit the nail on the head - "takes away that essential 'involving' quality that inspires a player". It's a marketing stradegy, not a musical one....
anyone noticed the promised improve in sustain?
I'm so happy i've bought the last x-braced 814ce in the shop!
I didn’t hear which was which. 🙁
I'll keep my 814ce model 2010 with X-bracing. Demo'd an 814ce dlx V-bracing and immediately noticed significant loss of bottom end. No offense to Andy Powers!
Thanks for the video, I been wondering which sounded better IMHO the X bracing sounds better to me, I prefer the robust sound on the bass end, don't often play amplified but like to have it if needed.
X is where I lean.
Good demo! Very interesting! Thanks.
As others have said it sounds like the v class is better suited for those seeking accuracy over overtone warmth with the x-bracing. I have played both and prefer x-bracing.
Hi! If you play single note melodies around fret 12, you'll find the v-braced sounds with more sustain and intonation for that purpose, so i think this demo is quite uncomplete, you've only focused on bluegrass rythm low-end sound, imho that's not enough for a comparison....
Couldn't agree more. The V-brace shines at the upper frets.
Everyone who has spent $$$ on an X brace prefers their X brace. People who have neither want a V brace. It’s like when you bought that brand new 2016 Camery and then Toyota redesigns it for 2017. People who have a 16 will tell you the new one is ugly and they’re “soooo glad” they scooped one up when they did 🙄. That about covers 85% of the comments on here
Did Andy Powers even know that the low end (bass) was gonna be reduced when he thought about making the V-bracing??
I feel like the V-bracing sounds sweeter. Like the X-bracing is way better for Bluegrass, but the V-bracing is better for like a softer John Mayer style I’d say.
Perhaps Taylor should market the X-brace version as two half-size V-braces joined at the V-point. Yup, I preferred the X-brace... V-brace sounds watered down... and I just bought a used 2004 USA Taylor Big Baby, so this 814 has no advantage besides the pickup and cutaway.
I just got a guitar with V-Class bracing and I immediately recognized it in the video by how it rings. To me, the V-Class bracing sounds more controlled, refined and rather hi-fi, all things I tend to associate with Taylor guitars. The X-bracing, perhaps obviously, sounds more traditional to me. It has a certain vintage growl to it, more low mids. Both have their place. I like the V-Class bracing and it suits my playing style.
Kudos to Music Villa for putting this up.... Notice what happened? An experienced player is essentially given a blind fold test, at the beginning of the video on first strum of the X-braced model he notices he likes it better for open chording... This is my problem with Taylor; I think there are some brilliant minds at Taylor, but they are very much a company driven my marketing. For Andy Powers to be as good as he is (and is very an amazing luthier), of course he knows that there are practical trade-offs between X-braced and V-bracing. One can only be qualified as better than the other in certain context. If Andy Powers, Bob Taylor & co would have come out at Winter NAMM and said "We know some customers will prefer X bracing, but we really believe the benefits outweigh what was lost, V-bracing is Taylor's path forward", then that would be a stance I think more players could respect.
That didn't happen.
Instead Taylor's message from Andy Powers and all parties is in perfect line with the marketing message. Taylor is transitioning their entire lineup to V-braced and the message is "this changes everything, we're re-imagining the acoustic guitar". There's just enough snake-oil speak in there to have left me really disliking Taylor as a company. They just aren't honest with their customers. They sell more USA built acoustic guitars than any other builder, they have leverage and a responsibility to be honest, but with V-bracing they have not taking the high-road with transparency. Indeed, they are using the "V-brace is superior to everything" message to try and tarnish traditional X-braced guitar builders like Martin, Collings and Gibson.... That in my book is an unforgivable offense.... Of course in the end it won't matter because in a society like ours driven by consumerism, marketing creates reality... When we look back in history at some of the foolish design trends with guitars we wonder "how did that ever become a thing" and it's always marketing...
i agree, its marketing. i think that the v bracing is less wood and less work. this is a big factor for Taylor production scale. the v bracing is not new style. time will show if it will work. do you remember what happened with Ksaha-Gibson bracing ?
Meanwhile the d28 and d18 haven’t changed much of anything the last 80 years and they’re still worlds better of an instrument.
Or the j45. 000-18. D42. J200. All of these guitars are historic and classic because the companies stuck with what works rather than do what you said.
At the end of this video he's playing closer to the bridge on the X bracing model and more toward the center of the sound hole on the V bracing guitar. That completely changes the volume and brightness. The closer to the bridge the brighter the sound and vice versa. The volume will be louder when you're strumming closer to the neck. Take notice he's manipulating the sound. Just sayin'
Wow, great observation. Thanks for that, you’re absolutely correct.
X to my liking
I listened again to this recording and what I hear additionally is that lack of bass is affecting the mids, causing the entire instrument to sound rather thin. Listen to the "classic" 814 for mids and mid harmonics, then the V-class. Perhaps you'll hear what I'm hearing. I've played a few of these upper end Taylor V's and compared to the classic builds the V's are a definite fail. I hope the V-class works better on the lower end model, or Taylor is going to experience the same thing as Coca Cola did with "The New Coke". At least it will make older models more valuable.
Wow. It's rare that comparison differences are so profound. X is the clear winner. Taylor has goofed up badly.
Is Taylor planning on make non veneer v-brace models that aren’t $5,000!
Lots of V-Class options under $5000.... www.musicvilla.com/search?SearchTerm=v-class
Ron's Channel
Yes it’s now available starting at the 300 series they indeed to switch all American Taylor’s to V class. They feel having there own bracing makes Taylor Unique and distinctive from other brands
I play Blues. I prefer the X bracing. I'm not looking for a tightly focused range; I'm looking for a tapestry of audio colors. Taylor should produce both types IMO because of the different genres of music, because of our different styles, and because of the different venues/situations we will be playing in. One haircut does not fit all, and I think it is a mistake to try and make one guitar *the* Holy Grail for everyone who is playing from beginners to seasoned players, from the bedroom to club venues to outdoor faires, from Bluesmen to Hillbillie/Country/Folk. I understand that guitar manufacturers want to put their equity and efforts into the products that will market perform best for them, but the reality of it is, this is what reissues are all about; different crops of musicians wanting something that isn't currently on the market but is the tone or sound they are after. But thank you very much for this video, because it cleared up some questions I had in mind and now I have a better understanding of the X versus V bracing. ***
The 10 people that 'Thumbs down' on this video are the 'V Bracing' owners. I prefer the X bracing for warmth and tone. The V sounds muted.
Thank you for the comparison! But I have a suspicion that V bracing was just a good marketing move.
Wow. The new V brace just kills the 814 in my opinion. I own a 414, and have lusted after the 814 for years after playing them in stores (but they are just too darn expensive for me). But the V-braced one in this video has an almost nasal sound and has given up the beautiful, smooth low end that the 814 normally has. He says "focused", "balanced" for the V-braced. I say those are euphamisms for "narrow-range". Hands-down, I'd pick the X brace based on this video. Much warmer, more balanced, with better bass.
Greater string to string separation on the v-class. Better if you're playing up the neck a lot.
V brace guitars have wonderful sustain. Fair points about bass. Still a lovely clean sound if a little different.
bounce back between 3:02 and 3:13 .. im hearing the v brace has more low end.
nvm i was hearing mids. v brace somehow has more mids and x brace is scooped
I loved the V class, clearer and not as upfront in sound as X braced one. Yes I agree that it is a departure from the natural boomy sounds of Sitka/ rosewood acoustic as we all have come to know! Good job guys 👍
If I owned 10 x braced guitars, I would definitely be negative on V bracing claiming to be better. However, factors such as wood type, length of scale, and whether bridge has been offset back if the guitar is shorter scale such as a 12 Fret V braced 312ce may be a good example of what sound can be produced in a V braced guitar.
A couple of identifying post-its on the guitars would NOT have hurt the finish but they would have made following the two nearly identical guitars a lot easier
X-bracing all the way. I would love to know what pick he’s using? It sounds like a huge heavy pick, like a 1.5 or something. Try a medium dude shit.
So I bought a 324ce v brace guitar from Taylor and I think because it has mahogany top it does have that low end nice sound. Did I get a bad guitar in your opinion? I’m no expert at all but the v class to me sounds a little more powerful but I like both bracing. I spent close to 2400 after taxes and I am just wondering if you like the sound of the 324ce?? I also fell in love with the looks but obviously sound is most crucial. Thoughts?? Thank you both!
I have the x braced 324. I love it for it's bass, bought it for each string tone, precisely because I didn't want the brightness of most other guitars. I am sure the v braced 324 sounds very similar, it gets away for the spruce. What I did to even further the bass response was to add silk and steel strings, which turbo charge the molasses and bass. When I want spruce I plug the spruce in and Jam loud. When I want sound quality, I'm un-pluged and use the 324...
I have watched several guitar master including Dana Bourgeois tune tops for their guitars, I do
not see how you could tune a V framed guitar?
Really like the review. The guy makes the case for Acoustic qualities vs Amplified. If it is plugged in you can eq what you like. That said, X bracing has been around a long time. There is a reason. The v brace has not been around long enough to know how stable it will be over time. Think I will save some $ and wait to see.
I don't even think v-bracing can make the test of time given it's sound characteristics - given that most anyone testing one, will associate the x-brace sound to that of being so much better
I think the x-brace just sounds more traditional, not better, just different and more traditional... and that's what most of us like. Love the intonation of the v-bracing, but it sounds too "different" for me, at least in a strict A/B like this.
Very noticeable difference with the X-Brace offering more bass, fuller and slightly better sustain. But then, regarding sustain, could be my speakers ;-)
The fact that this video was not simply cheerleading for the new V bracing certainly adds to its credibility. I haven't had a chance to physically play a V braced model yet (hope to yet this summer) and I wonder if similar comparisons need to be made all through the Taylor line. Given the exceptional sound quality of any Taylor guitar, it would be very difficult to come up with a new bracing formation (or any innovation at all) that would blow the previous versions out of the water. My takeaway from the video comparisons I have seen so far is that one's preferences will largely hang on personal playing style and the types of music one plays, but in any case the differences are very delicate and nuanced, not killer.
V bracing is not a new concept, it's been used for years (mostly in F style jazz acoustic guitars) but most see no benefit other than easier to make mechanically as Taylor does.
To begin with Taylor guitars are cookie cutter machined and no real specifics are realized concerning each piece of wood, same as with the Mexico builds. They are vanilla and tone is random. Consistent build wise, but extremely inconsistent tone wise period. V bracing just makes the inconsistency worse and is a gimmick to try and get people to buy more guitars. Taylors sales have fallen and they now sell direct to the public.
I think V brace might work better with Maple back and sides....
The V bracing doesn't sound better to me, just slightly different. I suspect the promotion of V bracing has more to do with selling guitars than much of a sonic advantage. For those that will need to have it, fine. For myself, I'm perfectly happy with the traditional X bracicing on my Martins, 312 Taylor, J15 Gibson, Seagulls.
OH. Wow. I like the X Bracing.
X bracing is much better, the V sounds too thin for me unless plugged in with an eq
So glad I watched this video.
I don't like the sound of the v brace on this Guitar. are you sure you didn't get them mixed up, I saw a side by side comparison of another series Guitar and the v brace sounded like the x brace on this video seriously.
It's pretty easy to know for sure.... the V-Class has a black graphite nut.
I think we all familiarize with the X bracing. I'd be happy to have either...lol
Hi guys! I really like your videos. Thanks a lot. I’m wondering if you can do if not already done, a comparison between the Taylor 524ce X- brace and 524ce V-brace. I like to see if the warm midrange of the all mahogany is better on the V-brace. Really appreciate your work. Thanks again! All the best!
I guess I have the unpopular opinion of liking the V bracing here 😅 not that I dislike the X bracing but idk I just sorta like how the V sounds in this video.
I like my 08 814....if i want added low end I bust out my D18
The V brace guitars are amazing for the modern fingerstyle (andy mckee) or solo guitar stuff, the x brace is good for rhythm and singer songwriter stuff.
xD what are you talking about? The x-brace is a huge fingerstyle guitar aswell
The V-Class has more sustain and chime. The X bracing has a richer sound with more overtones. I vote for the X bracing, but v-class is still new and has a lot of potential!
By killing valuable tonal information in the lows and mids, V-bracing effectively "reduces the size" of the guitar. This decently sized OM sounds like a much smaller guitar with X-bracing. So by claiming "advance in intonation", the V-bracing kills a lot of valuable tonal information, and is under-utilising the physical size of the instrument: you must carry a big guitar only to sound like its 3/4 sized equivalent with X-bracing.
I've sold everything i had with the v class and moved to Gibson. V Class imo is a huge fail. I had a 114Ce x bracing that blew away a 414ce with V bracing. The v brace sounded dead.
Definitely personal choice but I played a V- class guitar for about an hour at GC Nashville one day, wanting to love it so badly, but I found it really lacking.
In fact this video mirrors my personal experience directly. I listened to it through a good pair of headphones and the X- braced Taylor simply has more overall depth, warmth, and richness.
And frankly while I have a Big Baby Taylor which I enjoy, when I purchased my dream guitar it ended up being a different brand.
Since I'm not here to promote anything I will leave it at that unless someone asks me.
I feel so lucky to have found and purchased one of the "last" 3..
..X-braced 2017 814 ce dlx available in Minneapolis. I tried to custom order a X 814 back in Feb 2018.... Taylor said they wouldn't make it, because they were changing over their production line to the V class. Taylor and Andy Powers totally redesigned their flagship 814 back in 2014. You can't make the 814 any better than that!!!.... I've played the new 814 V class and if I wanted something with that much "mid-range"...I would have bought a ukulele...!
LOL
got one as well best guitar ever have a martin as well dread shape sound great together
I have old ears and they prefer the X bracing by far. To me the sound of the V braced model is grating and higher pitched, almost to the point that it comes across as out of tune. Better intonation ? ! Might have just been a clunker of a guitar.
Mark Demo I don’t think your ears are old. More accurate is more like it. X is fuller and richer.
Granted - i'm no expert - but isn't intonation a function of string length? How would V-bracing improve intonation? Sounds like marketing BS to me.
I have an X braced 312 and I like the sound of the X braced version BETTER than the newer V braced model. It seems more balanced.
I won't be rushing out to buy a V braced version of the 312.
This illustrates why it is necessary that YOUR hearing is what must be satisfied. All the hype, friends opinions, magazine reviews,etc. Don't Really Matter!
Keep an open mind. Decide for yourself.😊
The V bracing "stiffens" the top all through the middle section making it a bit less vibrant in the big waist part where the bridge is, which is the first place where the vibrations are transfered, therefore producing a more balanced, les bassy tone; while the X bracing leaves the big part of the top with more free surface to move with the energy that the strings transfer through the bridge producing a bigger, richer tone. The V bracing makes a lort of sense in terms of durability over the years, you can bet that the top will never warp. It may be a matter of taste more than anything, some people still prefer the Yamaha APX and their trebbly sound, or even Ovations with their characteristic tone.
Love the honesty of the guy who said he loves the one with traditional X bracing 😀
V-Class is fail IMO, sorry Andy Powers. X bracing is guitar and V bracing is other instrument with mostly mids and no character.
exactly
The truth is V bracing is not new or the latest greatest...it's been done way before Andy was even born. It was used on 30's-40's guitars. If any of you visit the Martin Museum you will see an old V braced top from that time period hanging above a work bench. Andy did indeed copy the pattern and it was never really deemed better sounding than X braced guitars and never will be.
The strings make different sound too.
Oh man... this is painful to watch. I feel sorry for the dealers having to fain enthusiasm for this marketing pitch
Richards Guitars exactly what I was thinking. Imagine the road show where you have to pretend the intonation on X braced guitars is horrible just so you can market the V as a solution.
oh richard go back to your cheapo models these are real guitars
in this example, the x is better
Make room for next years Z bracing that is an INCREDIBLY innovative and game changing attribute which makes the guitar puke golden nuggets while strumming an open A minor chord. It is actually glued with an insainly rare bit of the one and only Andy Powers custom nut sack sweat LMAO
I watched this video with headphones (the only way to get an accurate representation of the tonal qualities of musical instruments on UA-cam videos), and just like the guy playing the guitars I instantly preferred the X-braced instrument's sound better. Fuller, richer, sweeter. I disagree with him where he says the V-braced is better for large venues, blah, blah and the X-braced is better in intimate settings. The X-braced is a great all-around guitar.
Next, I listened to all the other YT videos of the V-braced 814. This confused the issue. So I went and actually tried (and purchased) a V-braced 814ce DLX. Gorgeous guitar! Brought it home, then after the initial "honeymoon" I spent 4 days of constant playing and testing trying to love it. It had a mid-range howl on the open G string and third fret G on high E string when picking just above the lower end of the sound hole which is where most guitars have their best sound. It had a "mwaahhh" tone coloring. Obnoxious. Could not get rid of that irritating howl. I even tried changing strings. No improvement. The closer to the bridge you pick it the worse it gets. The only way I could attenuate this problem was to pick those strings closer to the fingerboard. Unacceptable. I also found this instrument totally lacking low end and balance. It reminds me of a citar. Ugh! Too tinny for my ear. Lots of sustain, yes, however not a good tradeoff for losing a rich, warm low end with a touch of mids for fullness.
I Returned the instrument and tried the 2017 814ce DLX X-braced model. My immediate impression was "THIS IS IT!!" The bass was back, the warmth, richness and fullness of tone was back, and the sustain was wonderful. This video does nothing to highlight the nuances of the guitars when played finger-style, which is how I play. X-braced for me forever! BTW, I would characterize the tone of the upper (E, B, G) strings on the V-braced guitar as being almost banjo-like. Not sweet like the X-braced model. BTW, I also played a V-braced 916ce. 916 too boomy with those thin-sounding upper strings being over-powered by the bass strings. Might be good for Bluegrass, but then again no self-respecting-dyed-in-the-wool Bluegrasser would be caught dead with anything other than a Martin D-something! LOL!! I immediately returned to the X-braced 814 DLX.
And so, in conclusion, as with what seems to be the opinion of the majority of the folks here, as well as the player on this video, I too prefer the X-braced guitar. BY FAR! I brought that beautiful 2017 814ce DLX home and can't put it down. I feel lucky to have found one of this model as it seems that Taylor is making such a huge deal out of the V-class bracing to the point where I am concerned they will discontinue making the X-braced models. BTW, it sounds fantastic when plugged-in to my Fishman Loudbox Performer amp. The best way to truly compare is to play both models of guitar - preferably side-by-side - and see which one suits your ear.
I just exchanged my 414ce X for the V. the V is ANYTHING BUT THIN. my problem was that the high end sparkle was a little duller than I wanted. Wrote a long review on another video review but the V IS louder and fuller and more projective (there is no doubt, everyone in the store, customers and staff all agreed), sustain isnt really different though, the sound is REALLY different though. It kinda doesnt have that Taylor sound, so I had a hard time if I was going to exchange, but I decided it overall sounded like a better guitar and for my weak finger picking there was no contest. It also happened to be a magnificent top and back wood that I have to admit had some influence on my decision.
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I think the X braced Taylor is a good compromise between a Martin and Taylor sound.
Ouch...maybe not a good showing for the new V brace design. It could be these particular instruments. Maybe another pair of 814s would produce different results.
And the hd28 pulls away even further i bet martin loves v bracing maybe its like new coke they bring it out to drive the value of there older guitars up and then they will re introduce x bracing at a later date who knows
Honestly I still think V brace is a little gimmicky.... cuz only independent lab testing away from Taylor wouldn't make a better case and just marketing. Plus an only true comparison would be blindfolded
Sarek Cortez I played both v and x today. There’s a noticeable difference. It’s all personal preference.
Same.... different but not better....I have a rear shifted custom shop Martin....it provides similar intonation properties as the v.....but the colorful overtones aren't there.....kinda bland to me.......just my thoughts....a regular x braced 900 series Taylor has a great balance...
Sarek Cortez I bought a V Brace 814CE DLX yesterday- sublime
@@VyasAnand can u do a similar comparison as video
Sarek Cortez Absolutely - I was just thinking about it. I will. The sustain is to die for - and I play Sitar and needed something with similar sustain specifically. Looked at Hummingbird and D18 - not even close up past mid way
The X Brace blows the V Brace away....
Sooo..: I’m shocked that no one has mentioned this yet. But... even guitars made with the same wood, same bracing, same year, back to back in the factory will sound different. Each tree grows and develops its own unique characteristics based on each trees environment.
There's a reason x bracing has been the industry standard for decades. I expected there to be subtle differences but it's obvious.
That v brace instantly sounded disgusting to him and I both.. but I guess it probably sounds good plugged in live
the v brace has more note separation and clarity and focused punch for flatpicking. for rhythm its the x brace
"Good intonation", he says as he plays up the neck. Odd comment, as I've never heard him say that before in other guitar reviews. Coincidence that intonation is also a marketed benefit of V-Bracing? I say marketed benefit, because I'm skeptical bracing has any impact on string intonation. Maybe I just don't understand the physics of intonation.
No - you understand it perfectly...