Can we assess this top?

[Dave Bagwill]

Thanks, makes sense.

[Dave Bagwill]

I liked playing those games called "Can you spot the difference between those two pictures"
I've been studying these two Taylor tops - the one on the right was an older asymmetrical 'R. Taylor' model 1, I think.

What significant differences can you spot between the two? One gimme - the offset x brace - interesting in itself.

[peter havriluk]

count the finger braces.

[Dave Bagwill]

Yep, that's one.

[Hans Mattes]

It's not entirely clear, but the lower ends of the "X" braces on the right hand top may not extend under the lining. And the transverse tone bars are more splayed and the bridge plate is rounded across the bottom and slanted at the top (probably the grain is parallel to the top and is slanted to minimize chances of splitting). The top on the right seems more sophisticated. Whether it will sound better (or even different) is another question.

[Dave Bagwill]

taylor.jpg (46.88 KiB) Viewed 2316 times

Reports are that it sounded both different and very good. I did not have the chance to play one, though.

From an old thread:
The picture is from the R. Taylor website.

This raises a couple of questions.
1. Other issues aside, does butting the x-brace together give as sufficient a joint as the notched x-brace we are used to?

2. Is this a marketing gimmick? The explanation from the website:
"The sonic signature leans towards tight midrange, which our ears perceive as a punchy guitar with very quick response and immediate acoustic projection. Guitars with this bracing pattern position themselves very well in an ensemble setting, with excellent clarity throughout the guitar’s entire range."

That sounds like marketing gobbledygook to me. Then again, he IS Bob Taylor.

But I'm mainly interested in the butt joint for the x-braces.
Here's a pic, I have increased the contrast and changed the hue to highlight the lap joint on the upper bout X and the butt joint on the lower bout X. Am I right about that?
And it does look to me ( in the first picture at the top) like the treble side lower bout X is scooped quite a bit, not so on the bass side.

[John Parchem]

I think one could butt the X together and get away with it. I would be surprised if one had a 100 instrument where the only difference was the tops bracing pattern if someone could sort them by listening. It looks mostly like the same bracing pattern to me done with a cubism style.