Taylor Guitars article
Common Taylor Guitars Mistakes to Avoid
Nobody sets out to buy the wrong guitar. Here's the honest rundown of where it goes wrong when buying an acoustic - and how to dodge each mistake.
Nobody sets out to buy the wrong Taylor guitar. It just happens — a bit of excitement, a bit of trusting a spec sheet over your own hands, and suddenly you own a guitar that isn't quite right for how you actually play. Here's the honest rundown of where that goes wrong, and how to dodge each one.
Buying the Taylor Body Size That "Looks Right"
A big dreadnought-style body looks the part, but it isn't automatically the best choice. Plenty of Taylor buyers end up with a Grand Symphony or Grand Orchestra that's genuinely too large and heavy for their playing style, when a Grand Concert or Grand Auditorium would have suited them, and their actual music, far better. Play the body shape, not the silhouette.
Assuming Solid Wood Is Always Worth the Premium
Solid construction is genuinely nice, but chasing it before you know you'll benefit from it is a common way to overspend. A well-built solid-top model with layered back and sides can sound and perform excellently for the vast majority of players, and layered wood copes better with humidity swings into the bargain. Don't assume "more solid" automatically equals "more right for you."
Paying for Taylor Electronics You'll Never Use
A Taylor acoustic-electric model, with its onboard pickup system, costs more than an equivalent non-electric guitar. If you're not gigging or recording plugged in, that's money spent on a feature you'll never touch. Be honest about how you'll actually use the instrument before you pay the electronics premium.
Skipping the In-Store Setup
Action, intonation and neck relief make an enormous difference to how a guitar feels, and factory setup isn't always dialled in for every player straight out of the box. Skipping a proper setup check to save a few minutes, or a few pounds, is one of the most common ways a genuinely good guitar ends up feeling disappointing.
Ignoring Humidity and Storage
Acoustic guitars, tops especially, respond to their environment. Leaving one in a hot car, right next to a radiator, or in a consistently dry room without any humidity control can cause real, sometimes expensive, damage over time. A proper case and reasonably stable humidity aren't optional extras — they're basic care.
Buying the Loudest Guitar in the Shop
A guitar that sounds impressive strummed hard in a quiet shop doesn't necessarily suit how you'll actually play at home, in a band, or in a recording setting. Test an instrument the way you'll genuinely use it — fingerstyle, quiet strumming, whatever's realistic — rather than being won over by one loud demo chord.
Assuming a Higher Taylor Series Always Means "Better for You"
Taylor series numbers broadly track tonewood grade and cosmetic appointments as they climb, not universal playability. An 800 Series Taylor isn't automatically the right choice over a 300 Series one for your specific hands, style and budget — it's simply a different point on the range, aimed at different priorities.
Quick Reference
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Choosing body size by looks | Play several sizes against your actual style |
| Overpaying for solid wood you don't need yet | Consider a solid-top, layered-back model first |
| Buying unused electronics | Skip them unless you'll genuinely play plugged in |
| Skipping setup | Ask the shop to check action and intonation |
| Poor storage and humidity control | Use a proper case and stable conditions |
| Judging by one loud demo chord | Test it the way you'll actually play |
The Bottom Line
Every one of these Taylor-buying mistakes comes down to the same root cause: trusting a spec sheet, a price tag or a shop-floor first impression over how you'll actually play the instrument at home, week after week. If you want the fuller picture before you buy, our complete buyer's guide and guide to the best models for the money cover exactly this ground, and our full explainer is worth a read if any of the terms above are new to you.
Comments