Yamaha has really become the sleeper guitar brand. So much less expensive but they're knocking it out of the park with the sounds! That Yamaha sounds SO GOOD. Yamaha are underrated and Taylor are overrated, in my opinion.
Yamaha iMO certainly offers the best bang for buck. Taylor 214CE QS is currently £1350 with I believe laminate Sapele back and sides. Yamaha APX1200II is £1250, has solid front and solid rosewood back and sides. Acoustically there's probably not much in it. Both good mids and highs. The Yamaha excels plugged in. I think it's visually much more appealing too with beautiful inlays. In the sub £2000 category Yamaha for me is by far the best option.
I have a Yamaha A3R that is my number one acoustic guitar. Solid rosewood back and sides, solid spruce top, ebony fingerboard. I love it. I played a Yamaha and Taylor back to back at the store, and even did a blindfold test (inspiration from chappers and the captain) and actually found I preferred the the Yamaha's sound and the way it played, against a Taylor that was 3 times the price.
completely agree. Hate to be so general but Yamaha imho kills Taylors and to me they're very over-rated. Many other acoustics out there that are much better. I have a Blueridge 160A that kills almost every Taylor I've played.
Same here, blindfold test too! Except I went with the FGX3. The pickup and mic mix is also unbelievably real sounding, I've tricked guitarists into thinking it was a condenser recording by boosting the highs on 50% mic, there's just a high noise floor. My favourite guitar of all time and it was $1000 compared to my $7500 k24ce. It's so good I'm looking at getting the FSX3 too, or the AC3M. Yamaha are incredibly underrated!
I agree I played every acoustic in the guitar center. The Yamaha beat the top-of-the-line Taylor in my opinion. The Taylor's were too bright and flat. The Yamaha had such a organic perfectly balanced tone. More warm than bright but each string and note rings clear.
@@TheRycooder Taylors have patents others don't you def can tell in the action and playability.... Sound is subjective... But A taylor is generally smoother to play
I've never really met a Taylor that I really liked... especially plugged in. They all tend to sound alike. I've mixed probably hundreds of them. That Yamaha is pretty cool though
The electronics aren't great. I'm fact, they're pretty bad in my experience. The unplugged sounds are generally very good, and with proper electronics, they'll compete with any brand. Where Taylors accel is that they're playability is nearly unmatched in the large brands.
I love my LL16D and LL16/12 too! I played some taylors, Matons, A Gibson when I bought the 16d, and Im convinced I walked out of the shop with the best acoustic there! I think the Epi "Inspired by" range are the only american owned guitar I'd buy these days. As far as factory produced, that is.
JP Cormier recommended the Yamaha FG5 , and I bought one. It sounds better than any Taylor I ever played. Listen to this one, it is thin and Treble heavy, no bottom or balance at all. There was a shop full of Taylors In my town , I played them all, they were all thin sounding. My FG5 is beautiful and balanced. Every type of music sounds good on the Yamaha.
Same, same. Yamaha is a dovetail neck with scullpted X-bracing. Sonic projection is full, rich, and clear. Tone is more like a Martin than a Taylor. Had many Taylor's but the FX5 Dreadnought is now my favorite. Comparable to guitars at at least twice the price. Sweet.
JP turned me onto these guitars too. Everyone who plays guitar in my family has owned a Yamaha at some stage in their musical journey, including my father who played/gigged with a late 60’s, red label, FG180 for 40 yrs before the fretboard was simply too pitted to play any longer. I still have the guitar for a keepsake. He passed away just this past Xmas, may he RIP. When I saw the new FG5 it literally brought tears to my eyes and then I got a rare opportunity to play/hear one in person last year. And that’s when I realized…I HAD to have one of these guitars. Well, it took a year of saving and to find another one available a short 3.5hrs away (lol) and I finally pulled the trigger just yesterday! I can’t frikkin wait for it to arrive
@@dionst.michael1482 Hi Dion , sorry to hear your Father passed, gone to Guitar Heaven. I know you will love your FG5. Congratulations , you made a. good choice.
They’re different creatures. I have a Taylor, Martin, and high-end Yamaha. They all have different strengths. Fit and finish, all are a horse apiece. All very meticulously made with quality woods and components. Taylor and Yamaha have Ebony fretboard, and the Martin Richlite…..all of which feel really good. All 3 have quality preamps (ES2, Fishman, Atmosfeel). They all sound great plugged in. They’re all very even, but the Taylor is a little bit thinner with a brighter, higher end. The Martin is the “chunkiest”, and the Yamaha is as close to perfectly balanced of the three. All are comfortable, extremely playable, and the neck on the Martin being the beefiest. Overall, for me to rate them: 1) Yamaha 2) Martin 3) Taylor Any of the 3 are a solid investment, but in my opinion based on overall build quality and sound, this reflects my personal opinion.
Wow. Just wow. I have been drooling over Taylor's guitars, and even in thos video, just look wise, that Taylor...phenomenal. however...when it came to the sound. That Yamaha just.....clobbers the Taylor. Am I the only one who thinks that? If I owned both of these guitars, unless I made just tons of money, I'd kick myself every time I picked up the Taylor.
I tried these both guitare today and i can tell that if i had the chance, i would buy both because they are completely different guitar. The sounds of the Taylor sound very smooth and more equilibrate between the High and Low. But from my point of view, I just fell in love with the Yamaha which provides such a rich and varied sound that I have no choice but to give my vote to the Yamaha.
I've always wanted a nice Taylor. Always heard good things about them, pricey but they sound great. This one, not so much. I like Yamaha better. More resonance.
Guitar here, guitar there ... But Luke's playing, wooop wooop. And lot of it sticks also on you Rob. Great video, really enjoying those Malta videos. Keep it up.
Yamaha guitars at that price point sound as good as those expensive brands. Unfortunately, guitar players shop for a brand not not always what sounds best. I am drawn by taylors, martins as much as the other guys, BUT anytime i go at music store and player a few guitars, I end up spending most of the time there on the Yamaha. I own lower end yamaha APX700ii which less the a thousand canadian. Quality, sound amazes me…
Of the hardwood tops, I probably like mahogany the least, but I can't deny that 326ce has a really cool tone; it has a deep growl to it. Both guitars sound great though, both are very different.
Love the video guys I will say that I think the best comparisons are where you play the same lines on both guitars so that you just really get a feel of how the sound truly compares finger style, strumming, all of the above.
A simple online search will show you that Taylor's are notorious for cracking. They sound great, but I don't want to invest money and time in something that destined to break. Yamaha's on the other hand are built to last, sound great, look great and can rival any Taylor for a fraction of the price.
I have a 414ce 25th anniversary edition with a cracked top AND back!!! Sounds incredible but I’ll NEVER purchase another Taylor guitar as long as I live! The newer ones don’t even compare any longer and they’ve gotten WAAAAAY overpriced anyhow! Just bought and ordered a Yamaha FGX5 yesterday after trying one last year! Incredible frikkin guitar. I’d love to be able to afford to get the smaller folk version as well. Every guitar player in my family has owned a Yamaha or two so I know they are great little guitars for their price points but these new FG’s they’re building in Japan these days are on an entirely different level altogether! Blow any Martin or Taylor I’ve ever owned outta the water! They’re cannons! ❤
Not sure if it was just the guitar itself, or mainly the difference in pickup positions, or both, but that Taylor sounded amazing plugged in. I've been pretty blind to the acoustic world apparently because Taylor has been making guitars with that system since 2014. That's news to me and I never knew it existed but it's really cool. If the under saddle pickup never caught on leading to the "classic" electro acoustic chime sound, the ES2 would have been the standard for sure if they were invented at the same time.
I have an AC3R, and the A5R. Both are outstanding! The A5R might be the best playing guitar I've owned, and at $1600, there's no comparison! I, like a lot of you, played a dozen or so high end Gibson's, Martin's, and Taylor's, before trying the Yamaha. The tone, voice, and electronics, at the price point of the Yamaha, was really a no brainer. So far, they have held their value too, which will be the slam dunk if it holds!
I love the early Taylors, but my take is that you get much more bang for the buck with a higher end Yamaha. And that goes double for the TA (transacoustic) models with built in chorus and reverb. These effects are not electronically amplified, although there is a battery on board, but the "electronics" simply enhance the natural vibration of the top.
It's always fun to compare guitars and you did a spectacular job! I would have loved to see a more like-with-like comparison. A mahogany-top versus a spruce-top is going to muddy the waters even with Mahogany back-and-sides for both guitars. Well done, regardless!!!
Fine playing, chaps. Maybe have a run-through to get the levels next time? 🙂 The Yamaha is a terrific acoustic box. They seem to have edged the sound just a little bit towards that Martin thing. I'm sure the plugged-in sound is better than it is on this video. The Taylor has the great ES2. That pickup gets some stick but for me it's a winner. My Taylor is a keeper and I do sometimes covet a Gibson, but you just can't go wrong with a Yamaha.
Went in a Store near Munich to buy a Taylor. Went out with a Martin D10. What a difference ... Never thought about Taylor again since that day, except about Taylor Swift.
Although I respect the quality and tones of Taylor guitars , I will never be able to afford one, and I have NEVER been disappointed by the quality or tone or costs of my various second-hand-bought Yamaha guitars. This session makes me want to give my classical guitars a bit of a rest, and pick up a steel string jumbo again. Thanks for a great presentation, guys!!!
Robb, I can't say I've ever listened to your music. I just haven't gotten around to it. But damn, I've been watching you on Andertons for god knows how long and I've been watching your channel for a while but, Jesus you play great music. And hearing this little bit on acoustic was just tasty. I gotta look into your music. I'm more Dream Theater /Orbit culture but man.
Yamaha. I traded my Taylor 214ce for my Yamaha FGX3. The build quality and sound isn't even close. For the same $1000, Yamaha blows Taylor and Martin away.
I think the full dreadnaught and D18 style of the yamaha really cuts through the mix......I love yamaha guitars...always have and own a few..I think the Taylor would accompany a vocalist really well...melo balanced tone....both beautiful guitars but that yamaha has the tone for days
I have an fgx3 and a Taylor Koa concer t cutaway that cost twice as much. They are both really good guitars. The Yamaha is warmer and louder. The Taylor is a bit brighter and less boomy.
Yamaha guitars are for playing. Taylor guitars are good, but more like living room or wall ornaments ime. I’ve had a few of each brand and actually prefer the Yamahas. In this video the Yamaha sounds better.
My first Yamaha i bought blindfolded from a wall of Guitars, about 30 from 150-3000 €. The best sound : Yamaha FG 800, 230 €. Playability was not the best, but i could optimize it quite easy.
I prefer Yamaha LL36 and I also have a 1993 Yamaha LL23 and am looking at getting a Yamaha FGX5 Red Label and won't need anything more ever. I also have a Taylor 214 CE Koa back and sides which is the most beautiful guitar Ive ever seen and sounds amazing.
In all fairness; comparing a grand symphony body to a dread is somewhat apples and oranges, but oh well. I have a higher end Yamaha AC3M and a Taylor 214 CE DLX limited edition ( quilted sapale back/sides). Those are very comparable IMO. Aesthetics and sound are close. But the Taylor (IMO) wins due to unplugged sound and playability. One thing to note about Taylor is the bolt on neck. A full reset costs about $30c compared to maybe $200 for a glue on neck. I also have a 40 year old Solid top Yamaha dread that is absolutely fantastic.
I bought 2 guitars from Olimpus music, a Taylor K28e 12 years ago and lately a Yamaha FGX5 which costs less than half the price of the Taylor, got to say that I prefer the Yamaha with regarding sound, maybe because the Koa needs years to warm up, looking forward to try the Yamaha FG9, let me know if you have one coming guys, Viva Malta!
Congratulations, that guitar will be with you for the rest of your life. I just got a 424ce and I have no doubt that this guitar will be with me the rest of my life too.
Loved my old Yamaha 12 string, loved my Tama guitar, but I appsalutely prefer the sound and ease of playing my Taylor 814ce GA I also had Martin 12 string I liked the Yamaha sound more, I love the deep sound of the Martin D28 the base end has such great sound, but my Taylor's over all sound through all strings sounds fuller over all than the Martin and resonates longer. That said, different pieces you play sound better with different guitars.
I can't say I've compared Yamaha with the tailor but I just purchased the Taylor 326 CE Grand Symphony soundhole and truly love it whether it's plugged in or not
Okay. So. I have been playing for 27 years. I own a lot of nice guitars. I am not a perfect player, but I know my stuff decently. That being said I was going to buy a Martin 000-18 or J45 as my 40th bday present to myself. Then I saw this Taylor 326. Then I played this 326. Then I bought this 326. It is now a year that I have owned it and it sounds even better with a little age. I would not trade it for any other acoustic other than a builders edition 826. Taylors are like the PRS of acoustic. They are polarizing. You either love them and want 10 or you don't. I don't like PRS, but I LOVE my Taylor. So does everyone else who hears or plays it. To each their own. Best 2400 dollars I have ever spent on a piece of musical equipment.
I prefer my higher end Yamaha acoustic. However, there are some Taylor guitars that I enjoy. The Taylor 214 ce sounds really nice to my ears, and my local guitar store got a custom 214ce with a KOA top that sounded really nice. For $1000 the 214ce is my Taylor pick.
The plugged in sound on the yamaha sounds far better. You can always add a bit of highs or mids in the eq through an amp or plugin but getting the base of the overall sound there is most of the battle and the yamaha seems to win this one easily.
I recently bought a Yamaha FG 850.. all mohagany top, back and sides. It's tone and projection are far superior to a Taylor I owned that cost 4 times as much.. I did like the Taylor pickup system. But the price to quality ratio is undeniable..
Yamaha Red label has way more projection, just sounds way better. That being said, the Taylor does sound muddy. Their two different guitars, with different build, woods.
The Yamaha sounds fantastic! The Taylor sounds like you're playing in a tiny box! If anyone thinks the Taylor is better they need to get their ears syringed!
I have a taylor gs mini with es 2, its sound in the connection seems very bad to me compared to cort gold where Fishman Flex Blend. Taylor, in my opinion, is very weak in connection. My opinion
I have a Yamaha ll-ta, Yamaha AC5M, Taylor GS mini-e koa and some lower tier Yamahas. My Yamaha ll-ta is the best sounding guitar I've heard, but the little Taylor is so comfortable and easy to play that It's the one I always reach for. Seriously thinking about checking out the Taylor AD22e and the 224ce-k to see how they sound in person.
@@MarianoPerez tried the LS TA had it for a month and it sounded great in the mids and treble. However the bass wasn’t to my expectations. So went with the LLTA and it sounded much better, but wasn’t as bright. Still prefer the LLTA despite that.
The standards and consumer expectations are set so high, I'd love to see a review that says 'nah this brand is a bit shit'. Rob and Luke, awesome as always thanks for the internetainment
Honestly there aren’t really any really shit products out there any more… or at least none I’d bother reviewing! Back when I was a kid it was very different :-)
Is there a difference of language here? Rob was calling the white part inside the saddle a “nut” when that little piece that’s sits inside the wood bridge is actually called the “saddle” - the nut is under the headstock. At least that’s what we call it here in the US. Are the parts differently named in the UK and/or elsewhere in the world? I play acoustic and am based in the US, so I am genuinely curious because I never heard someone say that before. I know sometimes things are named differently around the world - like the entire elevator/lift debate, lol.
@GOD&GUNS lol I reversed it when I wrote it. I have a brain injury and do that sometimes. But one thing’s for sure - it’s not a nut! I’m gonna go back and edit so my brain fart won’t cause confusion. 😉
I have a 1972 Yamaha FG200 that I inherited from my Dad. A FG800 and a FG3. All fantastic guitars for me. I had a Martin D15M and sold that to by the FG3. I don't regret it at all. I opted to get the FG3 and not the FGX3 because I only play at home these days and don't have or need an acoustic amp.
That's a very interesting comment, and I am inclined to agree, Every Yamaha Iv'e played ( an' Iv'e been playing for 60 years now) have All been excellent guitar's, & only need little things done to them to make them sound excellent, eg- bone nut and saddĺe ( make sure you do it right) check action and adjust, maybe add a zero fret & you've got a really great guitar in your hands 😊😊😊
I own Yamaha LL16D, quite content but now, after 5.5 years later it hursts my shoulder if I play it more or flamenco style. So, now looking at LS36II or LS56II, exceptionally hard to find in the entire country.
Atmosfeel steals the show! I like the sound of Taylor unplugged, but plugged in, that one sounds bad to my ears. I've hears and played several Taylor's plugged in and unplugged. They've all sounded good unplugged. Plugged in, I actually prefer the ES1. With the right PA system, ES2 can sound ok. But that Atmosfeel on the Yamaha, even on full piezo, sounds more natural than the Taylor to my ears.
I really think it is an unfair contest they are different size bodies on these acoustic guitars, giving them a different sound, the yamaha dreadnaught of course sound will highlight the bass and mids and the taylor grand symphony will be more articulate and cleaner in the higher registry. No contest.
Most people that say bad things about Taylor guitars is the fact they can't afford them,I own eight Taylor guitars and I have martins and have had all different kinds of guitars, Taylor ranks among the best guitars made ,That's the only reason I own so many Taylor's,Martin and Taylor you got the best of the best.
No one said Taylor is not good. The problem is, they are too overpriced , if we are talking about sound only. Not only in this video, in most other video people prefer Yamaha A3/A5 or FG3/5 to Taylor 114/214/314 most of the time. Taylor guitar do look very pretty and a high class , high fashion brand in guitar world. I guess they make sure you pay for these, too.
@@phanhuyduc2395 even they are overpriced so many people including many artists, bands get taylor, martin or gibson why they buy this instead of yamaha?? I know yamaha sounds good but i dont think they just want to flex they buy high end brand cause theres a reason and one of this is they actually sounds incomparable
High end brand also have a high end quality sounds, but if you want a value for money yah get the yamaha instead its better value for money than a taylor, but if you want to invest and you want to pursue a music to your life get a taylor
Yamaha's sounds massive but its huge so you sacrifice comfortability for tone! Taylor has to be more comfortable to play and has more mid range punch but wow i am surprised by the specs and sound yamaha's produce
The difference, I think, is that Taylor has constantly improved. I bought a relatively cheap Taylor 10 years back. Here is a playlist of my original songs with all chords and solos played on the Taylor in different styles: ua-cam.com/video/liIE_NgamgQ/v-deo.html&ab_channel=MarioAlleckna
The Yamaha sounded so much better. Had a full bodied sound and could feel the resonance of the body. Taylor feels like an electric guitar without an amp.
Yamaha has really become the sleeper guitar brand. So much less expensive but they're knocking it out of the park with the sounds! That Yamaha sounds SO GOOD. Yamaha are underrated and Taylor are overrated, in my opinion.
yahama makes a darn good line of guitars for the price from their lowest to top of the line all are pretty good
Been saying this for years! 🎯
Yamaha iMO certainly offers the best bang for buck.
Taylor 214CE QS is currently £1350 with I believe laminate Sapele back and sides. Yamaha APX1200II is £1250, has solid front and solid rosewood back and sides. Acoustically there's probably not much in it. Both good mids and highs. The Yamaha excels plugged in. I think it's visually much more appealing too with beautiful inlays.
In the sub £2000 category Yamaha for me is by far the best option.
Couldn’t agree more, I have an AC5R and it sound fantastic!!!
I'm glad that there are a lot people who buy brands and not guitars. That keeps the price for yamaha guitars moderate.
I love Yamaha's (I have 3 higher end ones)and the gentleman from Malta can really play. I enjoy watching him play... very skilled.
I have a Yamaha A3R that is my number one acoustic guitar. Solid rosewood back and sides, solid spruce top, ebony fingerboard. I love it. I played a Yamaha and Taylor back to back at the store, and even did a blindfold test (inspiration from chappers and the captain) and actually found I preferred the the Yamaha's sound and the way it played, against a Taylor that was 3 times the price.
completely agree. Hate to be so general but Yamaha imho kills Taylors and to me they're very over-rated. Many other acoustics out there that are much better. I have a Blueridge 160A that kills almost every Taylor I've played.
I have ordered A3R, waiting to receive it eagerly
Same here, blindfold test too! Except I went with the FGX3. The pickup and mic mix is also unbelievably real sounding, I've tricked guitarists into thinking it was a condenser recording by boosting the highs on 50% mic, there's just a high noise floor. My favourite guitar of all time and it was $1000 compared to my $7500 k24ce.
It's so good I'm looking at getting the FSX3 too, or the AC3M. Yamaha are incredibly underrated!
I agree I played every acoustic in the guitar center. The Yamaha beat the top-of-the-line Taylor in my opinion. The Taylor's were too bright and flat. The Yamaha had such a organic perfectly balanced tone. More warm than bright but each string and note rings clear.
@@TheRycooder Taylors have patents others don't you def can tell in the action and playability.... Sound is subjective... But A taylor is generally smoother to play
I've never really met a Taylor that I really liked... especially plugged in. They all tend to sound alike. I've mixed probably hundreds of them. That Yamaha is pretty cool though
The electronics aren't great. I'm fact, they're pretty bad in my experience. The unplugged sounds are generally very good, and with proper electronics, they'll compete with any brand. Where Taylors accel is that they're playability is nearly unmatched in the large brands.
unplugged in my experience they sound great, they just need better electronics
Sorry about that Nick, plenty of them around....
My Yamaha LL16 made me a fanboy and believer. For the money, you truly cannot beat it.
I love my LL16D and LL16/12 too! I played some taylors, Matons, A Gibson when I bought the 16d, and Im convinced I walked out of the shop with the best acoustic there! I think the Epi "Inspired by" range are the only american owned guitar I'd buy these days. As far as factory produced, that is.
I've got an LL6 that I just love. The 16s gotta be awesome 👌
JP Cormier recommended the Yamaha FG5 , and I bought one.
It sounds better than any Taylor I ever played.
Listen to this one, it is thin and Treble heavy, no bottom or balance at all.
There was a shop full of Taylors In my town , I played them all, they were all thin sounding.
My FG5 is beautiful and balanced. Every type of music sounds good on the Yamaha.
Same, same. Yamaha is a dovetail neck with scullpted X-bracing. Sonic projection is full, rich, and clear. Tone is more like a Martin than a Taylor. Had many Taylor's but the FX5 Dreadnought is now my favorite. Comparable to guitars at at least twice the price. Sweet.
JP turned me onto these guitars too. Everyone who plays guitar in my family has owned a Yamaha at some stage in their musical journey, including my father who played/gigged with a late 60’s, red label, FG180 for 40 yrs before the fretboard was simply too pitted to play any longer. I still have the guitar for a keepsake. He passed away just this past Xmas, may he RIP. When I saw the new FG5 it literally brought tears to my eyes and then I got a rare opportunity to play/hear one in person last year. And that’s when I realized…I HAD to have one of these guitars. Well, it took a year of saving and to find another one available a short 3.5hrs away (lol) and I finally pulled the trigger just yesterday! I can’t frikkin wait for it to arrive
@@dionst.michael1482
Hi Dion , sorry to hear your Father passed, gone to Guitar Heaven.
I know you will love your FG5.
Congratulations , you made a. good choice.
@@thomassawicki2065 Thank you friend. Take care
They’re different creatures. I have a Taylor, Martin, and high-end Yamaha. They all have different strengths. Fit and finish, all are a horse apiece. All very meticulously made with quality woods and components. Taylor and Yamaha have Ebony fretboard, and the Martin Richlite…..all of which feel really good. All 3 have quality preamps (ES2, Fishman, Atmosfeel). They all sound great plugged in. They’re all very even, but the Taylor is a little bit thinner with a brighter, higher end. The Martin is the “chunkiest”, and the Yamaha is as close to perfectly balanced of the three. All are comfortable, extremely playable, and the neck on the Martin being the beefiest.
Overall, for me to rate them:
1) Yamaha
2) Martin
3) Taylor
Any of the 3 are a solid investment, but in my opinion based on overall build quality and sound, this reflects my personal opinion.
Cause you have the high end yamaha, but if you buy the high end taylor is a different story
There's a special place in hell for people who eat greasy chips while playing $2500 guitars.
Right?!? 😮
That Taylor has a pick retrieval hole! That's brilliant!
Then what's the fun in it? Shaking the guitar for 5 min is part of the amusement :)
Wow. Just wow. I have been drooling over Taylor's guitars, and even in thos video, just look wise, that Taylor...phenomenal. however...when it came to the sound. That Yamaha just.....clobbers the Taylor. Am I the only one who thinks that? If I owned both of these guitars, unless I made just tons of money, I'd kick myself every time I picked up the Taylor.
Especially plugged in. To me the plugged in Taylor sound horrible.
I’ll kick ya just for the hell of it if you want? Lol
I tried these both guitare today and i can tell that if i had the chance, i would buy both because they are completely different guitar.
The sounds of the Taylor sound very smooth and more equilibrate between the High and Low.
But from my point of view, I just fell in love with the Yamaha which provides such a rich and varied sound that I have no choice but to give my vote to the Yamaha.
I've always wanted a nice Taylor. Always heard good things about them, pricey but they sound great. This one, not so much. I like Yamaha better. More resonance.
Guitar here, guitar there ... But Luke's playing, wooop wooop. And lot of it sticks also on you Rob.
Great video, really enjoying those Malta videos. Keep it up.
I own a taylor 214ce and a yamaha trans acoustic. If I had to choose, I would pick the yamaha every time
I have a yamaha transacoustic and a lumanog guitar i prefer the lumanog guitar
Yamaha guitars at that price point sound as good as those expensive brands. Unfortunately, guitar players shop for a brand not not always what sounds best. I am drawn by taylors, martins as much as the other guys, BUT anytime i go at music store and player a few guitars, I end up spending most of the time there on the Yamaha. I own lower end yamaha APX700ii which less the a thousand canadian. Quality, sound amazes me…
Of the hardwood tops, I probably like mahogany the least, but I can't deny that 326ce has a really cool tone; it has a deep growl to it. Both guitars sound great though, both are very different.
Love the video guys I will say that I think the best comparisons are where you play the same lines on both guitars so that you just really get a feel of how the sound truly compares finger style, strumming, all of the above.
A simple online search will show you that Taylor's are notorious for cracking. They sound great, but I don't want to invest money and time in something that destined to break. Yamaha's on the other hand are built to last, sound great, look great and can rival any Taylor for a fraction of the price.
Yes! Noone mentions that!
Owned 5 Taylor's for over 10 years and none have cracked on me. Probably getting mixed up with Martin.
Never heard this - I’ve had 4 Taylor’s the oldest being a 2003 714ce. None have any problems.
I have a 414ce 25th anniversary edition with a cracked top AND back!!! Sounds incredible but I’ll NEVER purchase another Taylor guitar as long as I live! The newer ones don’t even compare any longer and they’ve gotten WAAAAAY overpriced anyhow! Just bought and ordered a Yamaha FGX5 yesterday after trying one last year! Incredible frikkin guitar. I’d love to be able to afford to get the smaller folk version as well. Every guitar player in my family has owned a Yamaha or two so I know they are great little guitars for their price points but these new FG’s they’re building in Japan these days are on an entirely different level altogether! Blow any Martin or Taylor I’ve ever owned outta the water! They’re cannons! ❤
@richurro20 haha. Martin will sh!+ all over your metallic cowbell ringing overpriced guitar. Bob is delusional. Martin is #1 my friend
Not sure if it was just the guitar itself, or mainly the difference in pickup positions, or both, but that Taylor sounded amazing plugged in. I've been pretty blind to the acoustic world apparently because Taylor has been making guitars with that system since 2014. That's news to me and I never knew it existed but it's really cool. If the under saddle pickup never caught on leading to the "classic" electro acoustic chime sound, the ES2 would have been the standard for sure if they were invented at the same time.
It is an amazing pickup system, I might even slightly prefer its tone to that of the K&K Pure Mini, which would be my default choice otherwise.
I have an AC3R, and the A5R. Both are outstanding! The A5R might be the best playing guitar I've owned, and at $1600, there's no comparison! I, like a lot of you, played a dozen or so high end Gibson's, Martin's, and Taylor's, before trying the Yamaha. The tone, voice, and electronics, at the price point of the Yamaha, was really a no brainer. So far, they have held their value too, which will be the slam dunk if it holds!
I have never really liked the look of a spruce top, but after playing a few with spruce tops they are just my favorite in terms of sound and resonance
Me neither but the aged finish on the Yamaha looks good to me.
The sounds on the Yamaha was just fantastic, and considering the pricing, unbeatable imho.
The Yamaha has a 70s acoustic guitar tone to my ear. A bit of a nostalgic vibe like James Taylor era music.
I love the early Taylors, but my take is that you get much more bang for the buck with a higher end Yamaha. And that goes double for the TA (transacoustic) models with built in chorus and reverb. These effects are not electronically amplified, although there is a battery on board, but the "electronics" simply enhance the natural vibration of the top.
It's always fun to compare guitars and you did a spectacular job! I would have loved to see a more like-with-like comparison. A mahogany-top versus a spruce-top is going to muddy the waters even with Mahogany back-and-sides for both guitars. Well done, regardless!!!
Fine playing, chaps.
Maybe have a run-through to get the levels next time? 🙂
The Yamaha is a terrific acoustic box. They seem to have edged the sound just a little bit towards that Martin thing. I'm sure the plugged-in sound is better than it is on this video.
The Taylor has the great ES2. That pickup gets some stick but for me it's a winner.
My Taylor is a keeper and I do sometimes covet a Gibson, but you just can't go wrong with a Yamaha.
That Taylor just sounds really pretty 😍
Went in a Store near Munich to buy a Taylor.
Went out with a Martin D10.
What a difference ...
Never thought about Taylor again since that day, except about Taylor Swift.
Although I respect the quality and tones of Taylor guitars , I will never be able to afford one, and I have NEVER been disappointed by the quality or tone or costs of my various second-hand-bought Yamaha guitars.
This session makes me want to give my classical guitars a bit of a rest, and pick up a steel string jumbo again. Thanks for a great presentation, guys!!!
Robb, I can't say I've ever listened to your music. I just haven't gotten around to it. But damn, I've been watching you on Andertons for god knows how long and I've been watching your channel for a while but, Jesus you play great music. And hearing this little bit on acoustic was just tasty.
I gotta look into your music. I'm more Dream Theater /Orbit culture but man.
I’m not into heavier music…but loving his Clockwork Wolf stuff 👍🏻
Yamaha. I traded my Taylor 214ce for my Yamaha FGX3. The build quality and sound isn't even close. For the same $1000, Yamaha blows Taylor and Martin away.
Lifes too short i will buy taylor k24ce or gibson j-200 thats makes me feel joy
Well. I have a Taylor 312CE 14 fret and it was worth every penny.
I don't have the best hearing ability but darn that taylor sounds freaking amazing both plugged in and mic! Not taking away from the Yamaha.
I have not played that many Taylors but I love my Yamaha CPX-5 so much that I bought a CPX-1000 and that guitar is awesome...
I think the full dreadnaught and D18 style of the yamaha really cuts through the mix......I love yamaha guitars...always have and own a few..I think the Taylor would accompany a vocalist really well...melo balanced tone....both beautiful guitars but that yamaha has the tone for days
I have an fgx3 and a Taylor Koa concer t cutaway that cost twice as much. They are both really good guitars. The Yamaha is warmer and louder. The Taylor is a bit brighter and less boomy.
I own both and I prefer my yamaha
I've wanted a 900 series Taylor for a long time.
Yamaha guitars are for playing. Taylor guitars are good, but more like living room or wall ornaments ime. I’ve had a few of each brand and actually prefer the Yamahas. In this video the Yamaha sounds better.
No, Taylors are great for playability
My first Yamaha i bought blindfolded from a wall of Guitars, about 30 from 150-3000 €.
The best sound : Yamaha FG 800, 230 €.
Playability was not the best, but i could optimize it quite easy.
Nice to hear Rob play something on an acoustic for a change. 👍
Really impressed with Luke's playing. 👏👏👍
Thank you so much kind sir! 🙏
I prefer Yamaha LL36 and I also have a 1993 Yamaha LL23 and am looking at getting a Yamaha FGX5 Red Label and won't need anything more ever. I also have a Taylor 214 CE Koa back and sides which is the most beautiful guitar Ive ever seen and sounds amazing.
im 73 i would take a yamaha over taylor anytime
Cool
In all fairness; comparing a grand symphony body to a dread is somewhat apples and oranges, but oh well.
I have a higher end Yamaha AC3M and a Taylor 214 CE DLX limited edition ( quilted sapale back/sides). Those are very comparable IMO. Aesthetics and sound are close. But the Taylor (IMO) wins due to unplugged sound and playability. One thing to note about Taylor is the bolt on neck. A full reset costs about $30c compared to maybe $200 for a glue on neck. I also have a 40 year old Solid top Yamaha dread that is absolutely fantastic.
Do you still like the Taylor 214 more than the Yamaha? I have a Yamaha AC3R, and am considering switching to a Taylor 214CE.
I bought 2 guitars from Olimpus music, a Taylor K28e 12 years ago and lately a Yamaha FGX5 which costs less than half the price of the Taylor, got to say that I prefer the Yamaha with regarding sound, maybe because the Koa needs years to warm up, looking forward to try the Yamaha FG9, let me know if you have one coming guys, Viva Malta!
I was lucky enough to get a 324ce for my 40th Birthday last year and it's truly stunning.
Congratulations, that guitar will be with you for the rest of your life. I just got a 424ce and I have no doubt that this guitar will be with me the rest of my life too.
Yamaha provides good bang for the buck in my experience.
They make really solid nylon string guitars as well. The cg-171/172sf seems to be the gold standard for entry flamenco (much better than cordoba)
Loved my old Yamaha 12 string, loved my Tama guitar, but I appsalutely prefer the sound and ease of playing my Taylor 814ce GA I also had Martin 12 string I liked the Yamaha sound more, I love the deep sound of the Martin D28 the base end has such great sound, but my Taylor's over all sound through all strings sounds fuller over all than the Martin and resonates longer. That said, different pieces you play sound better with different guitars.
Why have you put the Yamaha fg3 against the expensive Taylor instead of the fg5??
That Taylor is beautiful
I can't say I've compared Yamaha with the tailor but I just purchased the Taylor 326 CE Grand Symphony soundhole and truly love it whether it's plugged in or not
Does the pick retrieval hole work?
@@danherrick5785❤
Okay. So. I have been playing for 27 years. I own a lot of nice guitars. I am not a perfect player, but I know my stuff decently. That being said I was going to buy a Martin 000-18 or J45 as my 40th bday present to myself. Then I saw this Taylor 326. Then I played this 326. Then I bought this 326. It is now a year that I have owned it and it sounds even better with a little age. I would not trade it for any other acoustic other than a builders edition 826. Taylors are like the PRS of acoustic. They are polarizing. You either love them and want 10 or you don't. I don't like PRS, but I LOVE my Taylor. So does everyone else who hears or plays it. To each their own. Best 2400 dollars I have ever spent on a piece of musical equipment.
Easy. BOTH! I own both and love both!
The Yamaha sounds so much better, to my ears at least. The Taylor sounds "ploinky" and lacks bass in the tone. Cheers 🍻
Because the Yamaha is dreadnought and the Taylor small body, it was a silly and unfair comparison
I prefer my higher end Yamaha acoustic. However, there are some Taylor guitars that I enjoy. The Taylor 214 ce sounds really nice to my ears, and my local guitar store got a custom 214ce with a KOA top that sounded really nice. For $1000 the 214ce is my Taylor pick.
Very cool, as always.
The nut or the saddle. I believe you meant to say the saddle?
I like the sound of Yamaha A5R aoe great. Taylor is good but very expressive and brighter sound
Im planning on travelling to malta in july. Very hyped but can you share the cons?? Know you love it there!
Hey man, well honestly the driving is very bad… and you can’t drink the tap water! But apart from that I love it here :-)
July? Enjoy sweating your balls off.
@@Nickbaldeagle02 Truth
Yamaha for the win. I prefer Takamine plugged in.
The plugged in sound on the yamaha sounds far better. You can always add a bit of highs or mids in the eq through an amp or plugin but getting the base of the overall sound there is most of the battle and the yamaha seems to win this one easily.
I recently bought a Yamaha FG 850.. all mohagany top, back and sides. It's tone and projection are far superior to a Taylor I owned that cost 4 times as much..
I did like the Taylor pickup system. But the price to quality ratio is undeniable..
Yamaha Red label has way more projection, just sounds way better. That being said, the Taylor
does sound muddy. Their two different guitars, with different build, woods.
Damn that's clean.
The Yamaha sounds fantastic! The Taylor sounds like you're playing in a tiny box! If anyone thinks the Taylor is better they need to get their ears syringed!
Nah, it's a matter of taste. I think both sound great, although quite different.
If you don't buy a martin then u don't matter period
The yamaha is good but the takamine is better all the way
Not a Taylor fan but the Taylor pickup sounds great.
I have a taylor gs mini with es 2, its sound in the connection seems very bad to me compared to cort gold where Fishman Flex Blend. Taylor, in my opinion, is very weak in connection. My opinion
I have a Yamaha ll-ta, Yamaha AC5M, Taylor GS mini-e koa and some lower tier Yamahas. My Yamaha ll-ta is the best sounding guitar I've heard, but the little Taylor is so comfortable and easy to play that It's the one I always reach for. Seriously thinking about checking out the Taylor AD22e and the 224ce-k to see how they sound in person.
Which do you play most I’m debating these exact two
@@gavkatz7045 He just told you.
Have you tried the Yamaha ls series? It will give you the sound signature of the ll in a comfortable smaller body.
@@MarianoPerez tried the LS TA had it for a month and it sounded great in the mids and treble. However the bass wasn’t to my expectations. So went with the LLTA and it sounded much better, but wasn’t as bright. Still prefer the LLTA despite that.
To me the best music gear scent is a new Mesa Boogie amp head. Smells like Christmas to me.
How can you compare a spruce top to a mahogany top they are so different . Compare like for like would be more helpful.
The standards and consumer expectations are set so high, I'd love to see a review that says 'nah this brand is a bit shit'. Rob and Luke, awesome as always thanks for the internetainment
Honestly there aren’t really any really shit products out there any more… or at least none I’d bother reviewing! Back when I was a kid it was very different :-)
I just love Yamaha acoustic guitars - I have 6... Best value for the money IMHO
Who is this luke ?what is his full name
Please tell me which guitar has a better sound (deeper, brighter, more melodic) Yamaha A5R or Taylor 314ce?
Taylor ofcourse not a question
@@teampangz1000
Have you tried playing on a Yamaha A5R?
@@gena171 yes why?
@@gena171 im not a fan of yamaha brother sorry, if you ever heard of takamine i like it better also than yamaha
Are you guys comparing Yamaha with a guitar twice its price? Pretty fair comparison I'd say...
Nice playing. Since my girlfriend pointed out the figure squeaks I am unable to not hear them. Work more on reducing your squeaks.
Yamaha all the way. I have a 1976 Yamaha FG 300 and a 2013 Martin HD35 and the 300 is my baby...my go to guitar.
Is there a difference of language here? Rob was calling the white part inside the saddle a “nut” when that little piece that’s sits inside the wood bridge is actually called the “saddle” - the nut is under the headstock. At least that’s what we call it here in the US. Are the parts differently named in the UK and/or elsewhere in the world? I play acoustic and am based in the US, so I am genuinely curious because I never heard someone say that before. I know sometimes things are named differently around the world - like the entire elevator/lift debate, lol.
I think he called it that because an acoustic bridge is basically a big nut, instead of string grooves it's the opposite lol
@GOD&GUNS lol I reversed it when I wrote it. I have a brain injury and do that sometimes. But one thing’s for sure - it’s not a nut! I’m gonna go back and edit so my brain fart won’t cause confusion. 😉
@@SwedeSpeeder 😂🤷🏼♀️
LL16..Best guitar on the planet for the money.
Cosmetically I just can't abide that weird partial cutaway on the Taylor.
I have a 1972 Yamaha FG200 that I inherited from my Dad. A FG800 and a FG3. All fantastic guitars for me. I had a Martin D15M and sold that to by the FG3. I don't regret it at all. I opted to get the FG3 and not the FGX3 because I only play at home these days and don't have or need an acoustic amp.
I think you meant the pickup on the Taylor is behinf the "Saddle"
Yamaha sounds better believe me don't waste your $$$ for Taylor guitar
That's a very interesting comment, and I am inclined to agree, Every Yamaha Iv'e played ( an' Iv'e been playing for 60 years now) have All been excellent guitar's, & only need little things done to them to make them sound excellent, eg- bone nut and saddĺe ( make sure you do it right) check action and adjust, maybe add a zero fret & you've got a really great guitar in your hands 😊😊😊
Dont compare a toyota to a lamborghini ofcourse toyota is better dont waste your money to a lamborghini
If you were fair in comparing a 2500 taylor to a Yamaha you'd have picked the FG5 not the 3.
Not reaĺly. The 3 blows that taylor thing away. The 5 would leave it trembling in the gutter!
@@Wobbz9413 Taylor's are shit .
My low end yamaha sounds better than that talor. I'm not joking.
Why not same guitarist, tune and genre? Like Alamo is doing?
You're wrong.
My FG 800 is 250 $ and better than this Taylor.
That sounds fresh 🤘🏼😈🤘🏼
I've had yamahas and taylors but the taylors are so much nicer to me. At least the ones ive had
Ist thete any non tropical mahagony species?
I own Yamaha LL16D, quite content but now, after 5.5 years later it hursts my shoulder if I play it more or flamenco style. So, now looking at LS36II or LS56II, exceptionally hard to find in the entire country.
Yamaha for me
I sold my Taylor 210ce and bought Yamaha A3R, no doubt, A3R is much better!
Atmosfeel steals the show! I like the sound of Taylor unplugged, but plugged in, that one sounds bad to my ears. I've hears and played several Taylor's plugged in and unplugged. They've all sounded good unplugged. Plugged in, I actually prefer the ES1. With the right PA system, ES2 can sound ok. But that Atmosfeel on the Yamaha, even on full piezo, sounds more natural than the Taylor to my ears.
Love the srt2 in the a models
Damn man, I dont touch my guitar unless my hands are impeccably clean. I guess I am missing out on that "Potato Chip Grease Mojo."
Same here
I think that’s the first guitar video that I’ve seen where someone was eating and drinking as they reviewed the guitar!!!
I heard that “chip oil” was great for keeping the fretboard from drying out…
Exaxtly! Hope they’re not being sold to the public! Pigs
I really think it is an unfair contest they are different size bodies on these acoustic guitars, giving them a different sound, the yamaha dreadnaught of course sound will highlight the bass and mids and the taylor grand symphony will be more articulate and cleaner in the higher registry. No contest.
So how do these compare to a Godin ?
Most people that say bad things about Taylor guitars is the fact they can't afford them,I own eight Taylor guitars and I have martins and have had all different kinds of guitars, Taylor ranks among the best guitars made ,That's the only reason I own so many Taylor's,Martin and Taylor you got the best of the best.
No one said Taylor is not good. The problem is, they are too overpriced , if we are talking about sound only. Not only in this video, in most other video people prefer Yamaha A3/A5 or FG3/5 to Taylor 114/214/314 most of the time.
Taylor guitar do look very pretty and a high class , high fashion brand in guitar world. I guess they make sure you pay for these, too.
Or maybe it's that they can afford them but think a Yamaha is better sounding and better value.
@@phanhuyduc2395 even they are overpriced so many people including many artists, bands get taylor, martin or gibson why they buy this instead of yamaha?? I know yamaha sounds good but i dont think they just want to flex they buy high end brand cause theres a reason and one of this is they actually sounds incomparable
High end brand also have a high end quality sounds, but if you want a value for money yah get the yamaha instead its better value for money than a taylor, but if you want to invest and you want to pursue a music to your life get a taylor
Saddle. Nut is at the top. Right?
Yamaha's sounds massive but its huge so you sacrifice comfortability for tone! Taylor has to be more comfortable to play and has more mid range punch but wow i am surprised by the specs and sound yamaha's produce
Yamaha. Hands down.
I have a yamaha too
The difference, I think, is that Taylor has constantly improved. I bought a relatively cheap Taylor 10 years back. Here is a playlist of my original songs with all chords and solos played on the Taylor in different styles: ua-cam.com/video/liIE_NgamgQ/v-deo.html&ab_channel=MarioAlleckna
The Yamaha sounded so much better. Had a full bodied sound and could feel the resonance of the body. Taylor feels like an electric guitar without an amp.
My Yamaha FG830 sounds amazing for the money