Feature:
I would prefer the pickup select switch located on the face similar to a Les Paul. The placement on the top-edge of the body seems a reach should I need a change mid-song. I will also be re-fretting the neck with smaller frets - the ones used by Taylor are on the jumbo side in my opinion and my fingers get hung up with slides. I REALLY like the active tone controls - there are an endless number of very useful variations. One thing I don't inderstand - with all the potential - why didn't Taylor put a balanced XLR jack on the guitar?

Quality:
Workmanship is exceptional - a term I don't use lightly. And the hard case is beautiful, trim, solid and will undoubtably bring wows!

Value:
For the money you can not go wrong! I own a Martin and a Yari, and a custom Tex-Mex Telecaster, yet my T5 is my main guitar.

Desirability:
After spending years with my arm around my Martin and Yari, I gotta' say - what a pleasure to play. The weight is perfect, I like the 1-11/16 nut. I have the Maple top with cler black finish and in the stage lights the beautiful wood greain shows well. I also owned a Gibson 335 for years, and this guitar is even more comfortable. Definitely lighter than my Tele.

Sound:
Have played my T5 through both PA and Electric Amp. Works best if you set it up thru an A/B box with outputs to PA on one side, Electric Guitar Amp on the other. Otherwise you lose some of the tonal potential. I also run a BBE AcoustiMax between the A/B and the PA. This allows me to shape the accoustic output. I have tried Elixir Acoustic and Electric Custom light strings, and for my needs and taste, I prefer the Acoustic ones. Then again, I lean toward the rich acoustic sound.

Ease of Use:
There's a learning curve, and you really need to have a good DI/preamp beteen the T5 and the PA. But the results will truly astound you - it's all worth it! Manual? - yea, that'd be a great idea. Motor City Guitar did the set-up so it's damn near perfect - but T5's i've played at other stores have been very good.

Support:
Have never needed support from Taylor.

Overall:
I may someday look at the Koa T5, but for the money the Maple top T5 has sold me on the T5 series. If you're looking to buy a T5, you'll want to try the different tonewoods - there are diferences. I'll keep my eye onthe T5's in the future - I'm certain Taylor has just scratched the surface here.

Feature:
I have the Red Burst "Tiger Striped" Maple top T5 with the nicer inlays and the gold hardware and it is beautiful!! This guitar, when amped up, can be made to sound like the warmest acoustic guitar with incredibly natural tone, or the crunchiest solid body electric guitar with the right pedal and an electric guitar amp! All you have to do is flip the 5 way selector on the upper body of the guitar to change your sound.....It couldn't be easier!

Quality:
It's a Taylor!!! What more can I say other than this is my 3rd T5. I still have my other 2 T5's and have never had a single problem with any of them!

Value:
This is like having 3 guitars in 1. It's a kick ass guitar to practice with or to play unplugged because you still get that beautiful full acoustic sound, but when amped up, you have both an electric/acoustic and a full sounding electric guitar as well. Play it first and then buy it!!!!!

Desirability:
If you're as into guitars as I am, once you see this thing up close and play it, you too will agree that this guitar is a true work of art and superior craftsmanship, blended with amazing new technology to make sounds like it does with such a shallow body!

Sound:
I have been playing for 6 years and there isn't another guitar out there that I have played, that can equal the T5's natural acousitc tone and sound when unplugged!! That is just the beginning because you can get both acoustic and electric sounds when amped up!!

Ease of Use:
I first learned to play guitar on a Fender Strat, which I loved, but after getting the T5, my playing got exponentially better. It was like going from a hammer and nails to a pneumatic nailgun. I was still learning chord transitions when I bought the T5 and the thinness of the neck, the electric strings, and the ultra smoothe action was incredible. I also loved practicing w/o being amped so I didn't wake anyone up at night, but I could still hear the beautiful natural acoustic tone!

Support:
I have never called them...can't rate beacuse I don't know.

Overall:
The guitar is high quality and the guitar case was the icing on the cake because it is a balck semi-gloss faux aligator skin case. The only small criticism I have is that when playing this guitar unplugged, it doesn't have the volume or bass response of a full bodied acoustic, but this guitar is really meant to be played plugged in anyway.