It is all personal taste, but I have yet to find a Taylor that does not sound very bright on the top, but very poor tone on the mid and bottom end. To me it sounds flat toned and a bit muddy down there. I fingerpick and tend to play often in the middle of the neck in the area from the 5th to 10th frets and I like strong rounded tones coming from the bottom four strings. This is specifically the area that leaves me wanting more when playing Taylors. However, they are beautifully built and have had a strong influence on how boutique builders are constructing guitars with bolt on necks. It is all a matter of what you listen for in the tone.

I have not played nearly as many Alvarez guitars, although I have heard some very beautifully toned Alvarez Yairis. The model that Steve West talks about is an outstanding guitar, but you cannot find a new one. Since it was built as a near replica of the Martin D series guitars using really good wood, they sounded not surprisingly like a Martin.

Back in the mid 1970's (I think it was 1974, but I am not certain of exact date) Steven Stills got into a bidding war with a Japanese guitar company for a 1940's era Martin D45. I think it was Alvarez Yairi that he was bidding against, but I cannot remember for sure. He wound up winning the bid at an astounding price for that time and the vintage acoustic guitar market was never the same. He wanted to prevent the Japanese company from disassembling an irreplaceable instrument so that they could duplicate it's design. Of course, he realized right after that, they would buy the next one offered and he could not keep outbidding them to keep the treasures out of the hands of a Japanese company wanting to dissect a great instrument.

Last edited by Jack S.; 05/17/07 04:40 PM.
Jack
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