Taylor Guitar's New Urban Ironbark 500 Series Guitars!

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Taylor Guitar's New Urban Ironbark 500 Series Guitars!

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Күн бұрын

Taylor has a long history of introducing compelling new tonewood flavors to the world, and we’re
as excited as we’ve ever been to help them debut a stunning new entry - red ironbark - as the new featured tonewood of the reimagined 500 Series. After exploring and falling in love with its acoustic
properties, master builder Andy Powers has paired ironbark back and sides with a torrefied spruce
top and deployed a new voicing recipe - shaped by Taylor's V-Class bracing - to bring another uniquelyenticing tone profile to the Taylor line. Chris McKee and Cooper Greenberg discuss the unique aspects of this wood and what it brings to the 514ce and 512ce guitars.
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0:00 Intro
2:22 What is Urban Ironbark?
5:30 Specs
9:03 Demo
16:15 Thoughts on Tone
21:00 Conclusion
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Пікірлер: 107

@VaibhavMittalIndia Жыл бұрын

Greetings from India and thank you for your love for Indian rosewood 😀 No IR doesn’t grow in our backyard and neither it is an urban wood. It is sourced from dense forests in East & South India and 100% regulated by the Indian Government. Can’t say about urban woods used by Taylor but I genuinely love rosewoods! Thank you for sharing your guitar knowledge with us ❤️ Cheers

@angelg8445 Жыл бұрын

what a great way to call out that ridiculous comment by Chris. I get hes just making a sales pitch but indian rosewood is a beautiful special wood thats one of the reasons its so endangered, and DOESN"T grow in Indian ppls back yards lol

@yomommaahotoo264 2 ай бұрын

Surprised there isn't Indian gift card back and sides.

@gabrielobrien21 Жыл бұрын

I absolutely love Chris’s point about Indian rosewood, which was mostly grown on tea plantations as shade trees in India. They didn’t regard it with any particular value at all. It’s been over harvested and was even added to CITES after a couple hundred years of poor management.

@CarlosGonzalez-tx4cb Жыл бұрын

That’s incorrect. Ecologically speaking, East Indian Rosewood is an endangered wood and therefore it is carefully regulated and only plantation raised trees can be cut down for use as furniture or instruments. The reason no one will cut down a tree in the woods is not because it lacks value, but because it is extremely illegal. That said, people should use alternative tone woods if they work

@gabrielobrien21 Жыл бұрын

@@CarlosGonzalez-tx4cb it’s not illegal to cut down rosewood trees. It has to be permitted now. That wasn’t the case for hundreds of years, which is why it was added to CITES - it was over harvested.

@CarlosGonzalez-tx4cb Жыл бұрын

@@gabrielobrien21 you’re right. The laws changed at some point but at one point it was under such regulation

@saintless Жыл бұрын

The 514 is really something.. Joe at Empire's video really captured it, I swear it sounds like two guitars playing at once without either being compromised. I'm really impressed. I've been shopping for an older sounding woodie kind of guitar since I already have a Larrivee for my modern sound but I might have to cancel my plans and just buy a 514 now!

@kdrake777 Жыл бұрын

Red Ironbark is a premium Australian hardwood.

@malmalamie2732 Жыл бұрын

These guitars sound and look amazing, rich, full and sparkly . 🎩 off to Taylor for daring to be different. Thanks for the videos fellas, keep them coming.🎶👍🎸

@PaulGAckerman Жыл бұрын

Ironbark sounds like the name of a minor character in Game Of Thrones. Great video as always!

@treyalexanderhaislip Жыл бұрын

Really cool guitars and love the idea of the finding different tonewoods...but at $3,300 this seems like a very expensive guitar for new tonewood that we don't know how it will age/hold up over time when the traditional tonewood versions were around $2,800? I know inflation has everything high but for something sourced locally I would have thought the price wouldn't jump that much. Great video, I really dig the look. Not trying to dog ya on the price...just seems like the price is too high compared to the traditional woods that we know stand the test of time.

@thrithree Жыл бұрын

Wow that 514… it really sings. Beautifully played as well.

@jed1166 Жыл бұрын

So glad to hear that faux tortoises are not endangered! Now I feel much better about ordering a new pick guard… LOL! Great review, I like the sound! AND, using urban woods is important… keep it up Taylor!

@scoggers1628 Жыл бұрын

The faux tortoise breeding program has been doing great work. LOL

@jed1166 Жыл бұрын

@@scoggers1628 yep! Now I can put that faux tortoise pick guard on my faux wood RainSong carbon fiber Jumbo!

@timnewman1172 Жыл бұрын

It must've been when my 000-15 Martin was made... LOL!!!

@headbangerministries Жыл бұрын

The 514 sounds Fuller and the 512 sounds more mid-ranging but I wouldn't kick either one out of bed as they're both absolutely beautiful sounding. I have a 5:55 12 string that I purchased over 16 years ago and it is absolutely beautiful when mic'd compared to plug in with a jack that I had installed.

@philcottone2247 Жыл бұрын

The 514 sounds amazing and looks beautiful. Great new guitar from Taylor. BTW, Chris, all of us who subscribe to your channel are aware that you know Andy Powers, so you can stop all the name dropping.

@nellatrab Жыл бұрын

No on knows Andy really, except for Bob...but we have all met him 🙂

@denishaberley2509 Жыл бұрын

I've owned a D'oole Tenor Banjo (made in Australia) with an Ironbark neck / ebony fretboard for 35 years. It seems to be a very stable wood.

@saintless Жыл бұрын

Appreciate the insight! Is the neck a single piece or mirrored halves opposing one another? Any other reinforcement? Could just be a well constructed neck regardless of the wood used (and shorter tenor isn't quite as stressful as a 5 string, I imagine?) but still good to know that you've had 35 problem free years! Taylor may have hit gold with this, every time it gets windy in San Diego a bunch of Eucalyptus trees fall over, ready to be driven to El Cajon. lol

@T.C.. Жыл бұрын

Instead of putting out new models I wish they'd produce more of the existing models for a while. It's so hard to find a decent selection of Taylors to compare side by side anymore. It's very frustrating

@thrithree Жыл бұрын

Sadly the world is rapidly running out of rosewood and ebony. I’d advise finding a good used guitar with those rare woods while they are still available and (somewhat) affordable.

@billa6348 Жыл бұрын

I own 600 series, 500 series (mahogany), 700 series and 800 series guitars--12 and 14 fret models. The 514 Urban Ironbark I purchased from Alamo impressed me more than any of those. For a fingerpicker, the bass is absolutely phenomenal!!!! You really must play one to believe it. I know it's all subjective, but this breaks all stereotypes. My next guitar may be the 512---amazing!!!!

@jimmywhite5209 Жыл бұрын

Welp, guess I’ll plunge further in debt to snatch me up a cedar 512

@michelle-psl4441 Жыл бұрын

Lovely tone! And appreciate the use of locally-harvested woods. I've played a Eucalyptus guitar before, and it sounded great. But it was a GT and a little too small for me. Will have to find one to play in person. Never played the cedar/mahogany, so I can't compare what this is replacing.

@jackaro2 Жыл бұрын

Dang, I think it sounds great... harmonically rich.

@MrA1582000 Жыл бұрын

I really like the sound of these. Love the rounded sound of the notes. Liked 514 best.

@thrithree Жыл бұрын

Same.

@GySgt_USMC_Ret. Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video! Very informative. I used to own a 314ce and will be visiting a Taylor dealer soon. 514ce looks like a good candidate. Fair winds and following seas to all.

@clayoneill3042 Жыл бұрын

I have two Taylor Guitars and once owned the 514ce (Mahogany and cedar) - lovely warm and woody sound that set it apart from the other series although 314 was quite close in sound. I commend Taylor for sourcing sustainable materials but would have expected that something they can now get hold of close to home and would otherwise have ending up as wood chips would get the cost down - Cheaper wood, less transportation costs etc Also, Perhaps this series should have been re-named as in my book it's not really the 5 series anymore. Was going to buy a 514ce next year but will opt for an older second hand model 514 instead of these new ones

@Wistbacka Жыл бұрын

So they are still having sitka top? It's the back and sides that is urban ironbark?

@58DRMart Жыл бұрын

On the 512 the tone is tight and balanced across the spectrum with really great mid range and a kind of bell like tone. Bottom end it tight and firm but to my ear not nearly as deep as rosewood. The 514 brings the bottom end but sacrifices a little in the mids relative to the 512.

@arkadyromanov7803 Жыл бұрын

Glad I wasn't the only one who heard the extra boom of the bass which was nice. On the subject of torrified tops being more "premium"... Yamaha does it on their LS6. Just sayin it doesn't have to break the budget to get a treated top.

@nellatrab Жыл бұрын

One thing about most everyone torrifying wood these days, is some of it is not as dry as it should be before the process. It is also a kind of faux quick process. Certainly unlike natural aging and drying. Having played and compared many acoustics with baked tops vs un-baked, I'm not sure it is always actually improving the tone, but that's always subjective. It does change the appearance and sometime for the worse. It definitely isn't as toneful as natural aging.

@tisnotmy-name1180 Жыл бұрын

They made railroad sleepers out of Australian ironbark. Very strong and heavy. Old sleepers are sometimes used for retaining walls.

@texhaines9957 Жыл бұрын

Red Iron bark or Mugga Ironbark is native to Eastern Australia.

@Jasper_Yay636 Жыл бұрын

I’m getting too old to keep up with all the different Taylors. Lol! I love my 714ce, D18MD and SJ200 equally 😘

@Romamb Жыл бұрын

If you own a guitar that you love, I wouldn't even worry about keeping up ✌ Never played a Taylor (Martin owner) but that 514 sounds so, so good.

@alandenton2973 Жыл бұрын

They sound great.Love the bass sound

@jeffberdin Жыл бұрын

Hey guys, love your videos but can you please ask Taylor to address what was not mentioned in the video? If these are the go-forward 512 and 514, where does the consumer go to get the unique voicing of the cedar topped guitars that these are replacing? The cedar mahogany pairing on the previous 512/514 provided a very unique sound in Taylor's lineup and if they are no longer going to be available outside of custom shop or limited dealer runs, this is very disappointing news.

@jeffberdin Жыл бұрын

Oh ... and BTW, where is my Fretboard Confessional ??!!!! Keep refreshing and hoping for a new podcast so looking forward to hearing the next one. Thanks

@AlamoMusic Жыл бұрын

We recorded a new episode on Monday! Will be out soon :)

@Rockfish66 Жыл бұрын

I was wondering the same. I love my cedar 514ce. From the website, it seems the 512ce 12 fret is the only cedar top left in the 500 series.

@shepaluteprez Жыл бұрын

I have to agree. The cedar/mahogany is unique and attracts a selective type of player. Many claim the 500 series is best for studio recording. I’m enamored with my older version X-brace and will likely never replace it.

@guitarandpiano22 Жыл бұрын

That’s exactly what I thought. Cedar is an amazing top and it gave the previous models a unique and beautiful sound. These guitars sound a lot like a lot like other Taylors.

@anthonyb2334 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for another excellent video. It is so difficult to keep up with the major manufacturers and their “new” wood combinations. Do we really hear the difference, or do we think , “ oh, I think it sounds like rosewood ?”. I’ve tried ( and I mean purchased) Ovangkol, cocobolo, bubinga, Sapele and others. Do they approach redwood or mahogany guitars? Heck if I can tell for certain, but my opinion is…no.. Anyway. I do like Taylor guitars and I know everyone is trying to market something new. But it’s hard for me to believe they’re better than the woods we compare them to. Thank you again!

@jeffbeliew6192 Жыл бұрын

512 sounds better through the whole frequency range, nice low end and mids

@satanpuncher06 Жыл бұрын

I love the look of that top.

@CameraLaw Жыл бұрын

Eucalyptus trees are not native to California and have caused many problems for many communities. I remember years ago when the hills above Oakland went up in flames because these trees spread flames quickly and mercilessly. And nothing grows beneath them. If urban planners are getting rid of these trees and Taylor can make beautiful instruments, I’m all for it.

@saintless Жыл бұрын

Exactly. The Navy put me in San Diego for a spell and I couldn't believe how many of those trees came down every time we had a major wind storm... didn't even consider flammability of them.

@CameraLaw Жыл бұрын

@@saintless From the Wikipedia article on the Oakland Firestorm of 1991: “In 2015, a $4 million federal grant to prevent fires in the Oakland Hills ignited debate over whether to cut down trees in the region. The city and its fire department say clearing young eucalyptus trees and other non-native plants would deter another deadly firestorm like the one that whipped through the hills in 1991.”

@stephenblyskal5666 Жыл бұрын

Incredible bass response, nice overtones.

@Kranky916 Жыл бұрын

What are the four songs that Chris plays on each guitar? I really like the finger picking one (3rd song).

@juzzie Жыл бұрын

Yeah me too! need tabs or something!

@SteveMiller-yw7kv Жыл бұрын

If you like the bright jangle, then sure 👌

@mattopificius7939 Жыл бұрын

It would be really great if you guys could plug these guitars in, so the viewers can hear what the pickup sounds like. Just raw, straight into the recording, no EQ or effects, so it can be compared to others. I recently bought a 514ce Ironbark, and not impressed with the ES2 pickup.

@norcalranger Жыл бұрын

No question, I really prefer that 514ce.

@shaneroberts9466 Жыл бұрын

Sounds really good to me.

@angusdevine7045 4 ай бұрын

Im torn between the 512ce or 7 series koa?

@stephenblyskal5666 Жыл бұрын

Let Cooper play some on these videos!

@dstdenis01 Жыл бұрын

Wow, it looks like the 517 is now the only Taylor model with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides. Has mahogany become that scarce?

@dablow1976 Жыл бұрын

WCA, West Coast Arborists!

@AlamoMusic Жыл бұрын

Aaron Dablow in the HOUSE

@jimbeehag2060 Жыл бұрын

Maton and cole Clarke use it. Australian guitars.

@noahtrock Жыл бұрын

Hello? Hello? Are the mic and speakers on?? Where's the sound? All mid-range and quiet. (Listened with headphones.) A big departure for Taylor. Not the sound I like, but pretty guitars.

@the_unkowngod_2328 Жыл бұрын

Geeze so much for trying to sell the Grand Pacific man.. im so happy i got my 517 before they switched to NYC trees lol

@gabrielobrien21 Жыл бұрын

The Builder’s Edition 517 is still part of the line as is the 717

@jshu1625 Жыл бұрын

It sounds like the AD27e to me!!! Is tha tcooper or Dirk Diggler from boogie nights!!lol

@Taylor314ce Жыл бұрын

I miss when you and Cooper Greenberg would kind of make fun of each other. What happened to all of that? Thanks for the review!

@mr.bumble8400 Жыл бұрын

Eucalyptus sideroxylon???

@esimms1889 Жыл бұрын

I wouldn’t have brought carbon fiber guitars into this discussion. It definitely takes a different skill set to build a premium CF guitar and they can’t be easily produced in the quantities that a company like Taylor needs. Nonetheless, they do sound incredible, especially the ones coming out of shops like Rainsong, McPherson and Emerald. But no, these companies collectively can’t produce enough CF guitars to give Taylor or Martin any serious competition in the guitar marketplace.

@jdstan9650 Жыл бұрын

Ironbark? Sounds like a new Marvel hero 🙄... My question to Taylor is this...why do these guitars continue to escalate in price if they are not sourcing scarce, supply chain challenged, imported woods?

@AlamoMusic Жыл бұрын

I can answer that. Most of the cost in a guitar is from the manufacturing of the guitar. The wood supplies come into play but only when you get into very rare species. The costs of everything have been going up affecting everyone in a supply chain. If shipping and import, trucks, tuners, electrical components go up in price then there is additional cost to the manufacturer. If labors costs rise so do the cost of goods. That’s simple economic theory. With regard to wood, it is an interesting exercise to look at the cost shop sheets of guitar builder like Martin and Taylor and you will see that woods like rosewood, mahogany, maple often cost about the same. Ziricote, Macassar Ebony, Koa is where the costs begin the increase. - Chris

@gabrielobrien21 Жыл бұрын

It’s harder to cut a tree in a city than 100 trees in a forest.

@dartht.3736 Жыл бұрын

Lots of treble with crazy sustain. Sounds like a finger picker.

@lukasbraun4199 Жыл бұрын

From my point of view 524 all Mahogany is it… One of the most balanced guitar Taylor ever made.. Happy an proud i have one :) … The both Ironbark, to my ears, sound´s a bit dull and not that rich..

@kaushalsuvarna5156 Жыл бұрын

It's weird, airy yet boxy at the same time It doesn't sound very Taylor-like too (a good thing)

@the_unkowngod_2328 Жыл бұрын

@8:20 he said 300 series mahogony?? Since when 300 was always Sapele... super similar but way brigther??? Soo.... 500 wad mahogny

@christophermckee659 Жыл бұрын

The 300 series with hardwood tops now have mahogany top, back and sides. - Chris

@arkadyromanov7803 Жыл бұрын

@@christophermckee659 Also it was Mahogany top and Tasmanian Blackwood back/sides until recently.

@johnwashburn3793 Жыл бұрын

I have to say, I don't know what you guys do that makes these sound good. I have heard several reviews since yesterday and the guitars are either plugged in or sound really bad. I listen through great headphones and Harman Kardon speakers. I don't know what to believe now.

@guitarandpiano22 Жыл бұрын

They sound fine but not too disimilar to several Taylors. Cedar/Mahogany is a much more elegant and different sound. I understand sourcing and all of that goes into it but sonically this series has been downgraded.

@tangoblue 6 ай бұрын

Pretty mid.

@Wistbacka Жыл бұрын

Ironbark sounds like a pokemon attack name. 😂

@josegilbert3189 Жыл бұрын

The 400 series are gonna become Urban Ash back and sides

@markhill9275 Жыл бұрын

Maton have been using Australian woods for years and are better guitars!

@wvrnstng Жыл бұрын

My 110e with layered sapele had more sustain than both of theese. For 3.3k$ I am sure it's a great guitar for those sustainability fanatics :D Let them have it, while we can enjoy our mahogany and rosewood.

@redson425 Жыл бұрын

They sound thin to me.

@bammbamm1961 Жыл бұрын

Love that Taylor is being a leader in materials, but Ironwood??? Really... It's eucalyptus

@dexterpadgitt2900 Жыл бұрын

back light flicker takes away from watching just saying retired Television Lighing dir

@corporalpuller7777 Жыл бұрын

Taylor went woke

@jerryfrench2981 Жыл бұрын

Sounds dull. A bit like a hog with but without any sparkle. Looks nice though.

@muscle99sav Жыл бұрын

Not a fan of taylors ghetto woods but this sounds good

@gabrielobrien21 Жыл бұрын

🥴

@theHSPCproject Жыл бұрын

so... you do like it

@SteveMiller-yw7kv Жыл бұрын

I just got my 27ad ..please don't poo poo on my parade..

@danstevens1024 Жыл бұрын

I’m afraid Andy was criticizing his own product line with his comments on torrefaction, this 500 series in particular. Adds muffled to the description of the generic sound of this this new uninteresting urban tonewood. Sorry. Disappointing.

@markhill9275 Жыл бұрын

Ironbark is a eucalypt, indigenous only to Australia, any in Nutfornia is introduced. Maton has been using Eucalypt in their guitars for many years, so this is not a first for Taylor. Also Eucalypt takes a long time to grow, so it's not as sustainable. I would strongly suggest you look at Maton instead of Taylor. I have a 214ce, and it has been a total disappointment. It's going up for sale

@tonydoggett7627 Жыл бұрын

Australian hardwood forests are sustainable and regulated. Fire doesn’t kill the eucalyptus trees, unlike pine forests

@StringsOfCrossroads Жыл бұрын

The colour is awful! Didn’t like it when Alvarez did it and now Taylor has followed this terrible burst colour. Sounds good at least though but you buy guitars in what they look like too especially at the higher end !

@3cardmonty602 Жыл бұрын

These new guitars are brought to you by the Joe Biden Supply Chain Issues. Love the sound of them. I’ll probably buy the 514 from Alamo.

@jeffsimslmt Жыл бұрын

Meh! Two more Taylor guitars I have very little interest in.

@bruceallen57 Жыл бұрын

Unprofessional and disorganized operation! Have a meeting and teach the employees about customer service which includes product knowledge, and company policy!