"I love Taylors! GA4 is awesome!"
Feature:
The product includes a beautiful hardshell Taylor case. It's designed specifically for the GA series, and the buckles, handles are all in good top-notch shape. However, the case is quite heavy (about 21lbs w/ guitar). I'm a small lady, it's a huge workout for me to carrying this hardshell around.
Quality:
My GA4 have a few blemishes on the binding, but I was able to get a slight discount on the guitar because of it. The white bindings really brings out the guitar's shape, and the tuners look really nice with the engraved "Taylor" name on each tuner. The satin finish for the back/sides feels incredibly nice and the gloss top does bring out the shine on the GA4. The fretboard/bridge is ebony, and the strings are Elixirs lights gauge. Of course, this guitar is all solid wood, Ovangkol! Personally, I love the look of Ovangkol. It is lighter than Rosewood, but you can still see the amazing wood pattern. The dark lines really makes the guitar look much more intense than the Sapele tonewood.
Value:
The quality on GA4 is good, but you can obviously buy other guitars brands (Larrivee, Takamine etc.) with the same quality or better at a lower price. I've always been eyeing for a Taylor, and now I can finally afford one. I wanted to buy the 214 before, but the 214 only came with laminated Rosewood back/sides, and the GA4 came with SOLID Ovangkol back/sides.
Desirability:
I wouldn't buy it if I didn't want it. Haha. The factory setup was perfect for me.
Sound:
Taylors are known for their bright sound, and the GA4 has a bright sound. I've played an Ovation for 6 years, so I'm quite used to the brighter sound of acoustic guitars. The wood, Ovangkol, does help bring out the mid-range and slight basser tones of the guitar. In my opinion, Ovangkol would be a better choice than Sapele (which comes in the 300 series or GA3 models). At the moment, the guitar still sounds a bit bright, but I'm hoping once I start playing it more, the wood will open up and give the guitar a more even tone with the sound.
Ease of Use:
The guitar is very playable. I am a 5'1" girl, so the GA shape is much more comfortable for me to play than a dreadnought style. I prefer the GA shape since my Ovation has a similar GA shape too. The neck of the gutiar is very comfortable with the satin finish, however the width of the fretboard is a bit wider than what I'm used to, but I do have small fingers, so maybe that's why.
Overall:
Yes, I am very satisfied with the GA4. I just really wished I could have ordered a new one with the pickguard, but ordering would take about 6 months. This particular Taylor model had everything I wanted in an PURE acoustic guitar. Beautiful white binding, no cutaway, no pre-amp or excessive 'inlay' decorations and a beautiful Taylor hardshell case! Everything about the guitar is top-quality in my eyes. I hope to keep playing this guitar for many years, maybe even pass it down to my kids (if I have any) in the near future.
Submitted: 6/1/2007
Style of Music: Acoustic/Folk, P&W
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"A match made in Guitar Heaven!"
Feature:
The GA4 comes with a beautiful hard shell Taylor case with plush padding and the guitar fits like a glove. Again the Sitka Spruce top and Ovangkol sides are mesmerizing the wood is beautiful and the sound is even better.
Quality:
I am a stickler for manufacturer flaws and after thouroughly inspecting the guitar I can say there was no flaw in the design or the wood. It truly is a beautiful guitar. Also the binding on this guitar is cream not white like on the 414ce which I feel adds a little sense of style and elegance to the design. Also the small pearl inlays are gorgeous as well.
Value:
If you do not have a need for the pricey expression system from Taylor and are not a stickler for needing a cutaway you will save close to 800 dollars by getting a GA4 over a 414ce. So I say it is an awesome value.
Sound:
The sound from the GA4 is identical to a 414ce all it lacks is electronics and the venetian cutaway. It is made from the same sitka top and Ovangkol sides and back. So with that said I picked up my GA4 because I am not big on built in electronics or cutaways just a pure acoustic and I am blown away by the sound of this guitar. My playing style is about half strumming and half picking and the clarity of every string and every note is apparent in the GA4. For me this guitar and a microphone create beautiful music and a tone and sound quality unmatched. I have picked up and played all Taylors from the Big Baby all the way up to a 900 series and I love the sound from the 400 series, the 410ce, the 412ce, the 414ce, the GA4 and the DN4 all have the most incredible tone. So if you are not in need of electronics and a cutaway than this guitar is for you.
Ease of Use:
The GA4 arrived at my home in Columbia SC in the factory box and the factory setup was astonishing as I expected nothing less from Taylor, beautiful sound and incredibly low and easy to play action.
Support:
Have not had to deal with taylor yet but I can imagine it would not be a problem.
Overall:
I imagine this guitar will be the mainstay in my acoustic line up for many many yearst to come and if I ever purchase another acoustic it will most definately be a taylor.
Submitted: 2/15/2008
Style of Music: Acoustic Rock
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9 out of 10
