Taylor Big Baby too bright?

spev11 · April 2022

I rarely use my taylor bbt as I find it very bright sounding. I replaced the elixirs with some light earthwounds ( 11-52 I think).
Short of selling it is there anything I can do simply to darken/warm the tone? I'll probably refit elixirs anyway as I find the string noise of the earthbound very annoying.
It's a shame as I do enjoy a bit of acoustic playing as an alternative but I'm just not enjoying the tone as it is ( I've been using the acoustic simulator on my waza air rather than pick up the taylor)

Mellish · April 2022

What bridge pin material are you using? If not ebony, try it with those

bertie · April 2022

I think it of a bright / zingy guitar anyway - could try some different strings (again !!) and go up a gauge

Doesnt the EB describe Earthwounds as "zingy/crisp" sounding strings?? .......... try some Thomastik Spectrums

Ive got some 12s you can have for a £7.50

Mellish · April 2022

Silk & Steel?

sev112 · April 2022

11 sounds very light for that short a scale, we have 13s on the Taylor Mini.
but I guess it is partly the consequence on its size

TheMadMick · April 2022

I really like the sound of Monel. It's not that it's less bright but I find the balance better - but it's a matter of taste.

I'd agree that heavier strings should also help if the nut doesn't bind.

spev11 · April 2022

Bridge pins are the originals but I'll get some ebony if you think that will help.
Bertie- ta for the offer, I ordered the elixir strings about 20mins before you replied but I may still.ttake you up on that.
Suppose my other option is to sell it on and get something that's fits the bill

spev11 · April 2022

sev112 said:

11 sounds very light for that short a scale, we have 13s on the Taylor Mini.
but I guess it is partly the consequence on its size

scale is 25.5", body is 14/16th size though which, on top of Talyors reputation for brightness (according to various reviews etc) is probably contributing to the zing as well.

thermionic · April 2022

My Taylor 310 was vastly improved (deeper, less bright) when I swapped the Elixirs for D’Addario EXPs. Monel is definitely worth a try - they suit some guitars better than others but you can’t really say in advance.

Tannin · April 2022

A couple of things short of selling it:

* Change your pick to a softer one

* Strings. Monel, flatwounds, silk and steel, brass played past its short extra-bright stage and into its long-lasting mellow stage.

* String gauge: lighter strings (11s) have just as much twang as standard strings (12s, called "light" by this stupid industry) but less body, so they seem brighter. Heavy strings (13s, called "medium", which they ain't) can "strangle" a small guitar, compressing the tonal range on offer and reducing volume. On a big guitar they can add volume and improve tone. It's all about matching the input energy of the string to the ability of the top to vibrate.

(PS: Earthwoods have the roughest finish of any guitar string I have ever used, but excellent tone. They are a bugger for string noise. Elixirs have the least string noise of anything outside the flatwound world but slightly odd tone that not everybody likes.)

spev11 · April 2022

Tannin said:

A couple of things short of selling it:

* Change your pick to a softer one

* Strings. Monel, flatwounds, silk and steel, brass played past its short extra-bright stage and into its long-lasting mellow stage.

* String gauge: lighter strings (11s) have just as much twang as standard strings (12s, called "light" by this stupid industry) but less body, so they seem brighter. Heavy strings (13s, called "medium", which they ain't) can "strangle" a small guitar, compressing the tonal range on offer and reducing volume. On a big guitar they can add volume and improve tone. It's all about matching the input energy of the string to the ability of the top to vibrate.

(PS: Earthwoods have the roughest finish of any guitar string I have ever used, but excellent tone. They are a bugger for string noise. Elixirs have the least string noise of anything outside the flatwound world but slightly odd tone that not everybody likes.)

I didn't mind the tone of the elixirs ( as I remember) really hence me ordering another set. And yeah the earthwounds sound like my fingers are Bastard Files scraping along them. Picks, I tend to use either my fingers for an odd hybrid finger strumming (I look demented I think) or a .88 pick, I usually use a 1 or 1.38 on the electric. I'll try the elxirs first, then ebony pins and as a last resort I'll sell the bugger and see what's about for sub £400 (can't justify more than that at the moment and ideally a lot less would be good)

drofluf · April 2022

I think that’s part of the Taylor sound. When I was looking at acoustics I described the Taylor sound as “bras(“ compared to the more laid back sounds of the other guitars I was comparing.

Evan · April 2022

bertie said:

I think it of a bright / zingy guitar anyway - could try some different strings (again !!) and go up a gauge

Doesnt the EB describe Earthwounds as "zingy/crisp" sounding strings?? .......... try some Thomastik Spectrums

Ive got some 12s you can have for a £7.50

If spev11 doesn’t want them, I’ll definitely have them off you. PM me if they’re still available please bertie.

spev11 · April 2022

Evan said:

bertie said:

I think it of a bright / zingy guitar anyway - could try some different strings (again !!) and go up a gauge

Doesnt the EB describe Earthwounds as "zingy/crisp" sounding strings?? .......... try some Thomastik Spectrums

Ive got some 12s you can have for a £7.50

If spev11 doesn’t want them, I’ll definitely have them off you. PM me if they’re still available please bertie.

i'll step out seeing as i have the elixirs on the way

bertie · April 2022

spev11 said:

Evan said:

bertie said:

I think it of a bright / zingy guitar anyway - could try some different strings (again !!) and go up a gauge

Doesnt the EB describe Earthwounds as "zingy/crisp" sounding strings?? .......... try some Thomastik Spectrums

Ive got some 12s you can have for a £7.50

If spev11 doesn’t want them, I’ll definitely have them off you. PM me if they’re still available please bertie.

i'll step out seeing as i have the elixirs on the way

OK - now I best go find em..............................

Evan · April 2022

bertie said:

spev11 said:

Evan said:

bertie said:

I think it of a bright / zingy guitar anyway - could try some different strings (again !!) and go up a gauge

Doesnt the EB describe Earthwounds as "zingy/crisp" sounding strings?? .......... try some Thomastik Spectrums

Ive got some 12s you can have for a £7.50

If spev11 doesn’t want them, I’ll definitely have them off you. PM me if they’re still available please bertie.

i'll step out seeing as i have the elixirs on the way

OK - now I best go find em..............................

Righto Bertie! Toodle pip!

Mellish · April 2022

Assuming Wilf hasn't had 'em

bertie · April 2022

Mellish said:

Assuming Wilf hasn't had 'em

he uses em to cut cheese.....................................TBH, he has all the traits of being a drummer

Evan · April 2022

bertie said:

Mellish said:

Assuming Wilf hasn't had 'em

he uses em to cut cheese.....................................TBH, he has all the traits of being a drummer

Is that in the American sense or the British sense?

spev11 · April 2022

I'll see what the Elixirs sound like, I'm loathe to sell it as its a 2001 model, in decent condition and apart from the tone issues I do like it. although I've played my brothers Yamaha APX600 and that sounded and played great.

Springywheel · April 2022

I tune down to c# standard with a set of 12s to get a warmer tone on my furch

bertie · April 2022

Springywheel said:

I tune down to c# standard with a set of 12s to get a warmer tone on my furch

wow that is very loose, even 1/2 a step makes a big difference

If I did that on mine, with 12s it would rattle like hell

RickLucas · April 2022

I prefer phosphor bronze over 80/20 for less zing, if that helps.

Mellish · April 2022

If 12s are too bright, 13s and tune down a half step? You'd have the tension of 12s but warmer tone, wouldn't you? I don't know, I've always used 12s at 440. I'm happy there. But I'd stick ebony pins in to try to tame it

Mellish · April 2022

Yes, the OP hasn't said if he's using PB or 80/20.PB are warmer for sure

spev11 · April 2022

Its currently got 80/20 earthwounds on it. I've got som elixir polyweb 80/20 12/53 gauge coming which elixir advertise as "warm" . I'll try them first and then start buggering about

thecolourbox · April 2022

I have a Big Baby, I'm not very experienced with acoustic sounds, I basically just need "an acoustic" that stays in tune and isn't too big. I'm not sure I'd say it's very bright though, perhaps "lacking in depth" is more how I'd describe it.

I don't use a pick though, I play with fingers (not nails!) so maybe that might be a help.

For reference, this is how mine sounds:

Father & Son (Cat Stevens cover) by thecolourbox (soundcloud.com)

Actually on laptop speakers I guess that is a bit bright, or at least lacking low frequencies

Springywheel · April 2022

bertie said:

Springywheel said:

I tune down to c# standard with a set of 12s to get a warmer tone on my furch

wow that is very loose

Not so much on a 25.5" scale length

Actually sometimes I will switch to 11s for a looser feel

spev11 · April 2022

thecolourbox said:

I have a Big Baby, I'm not very experienced with acoustic sounds, I basically just need "an acoustic" that stays in tune and isn't too big. I'm not sure I'd say it's very bright though, perhaps "lacking in depth" is more how I'd describe it.

I don't use a pick though, I play with fingers (not nails!) so maybe that might be a help.

For reference, this is how mine sounds:

Father & Son (Cat Stevens cover) by thecolourbox (soundcloud.com)

Actually on laptop speakers I guess that is a bit bright, or at least lacking low frequencies

Sounds great to me there. I've just been strumming it, comparing different picks (.88s, 1 and 1.38) and using fingers+thumb and all the pics make it much brighter, thumb and fingers get the bass back in.
It's also largely a question of confidence and skill. I approach it thinking its gonna sound bright,thin and a bit crap so it does. Need to knuckle down and work at it a bit harder maybe. Will see what the string change does (i'll give it a good clean same time)

bertie · April 2022

Springywheel said:

bertie said:

Springywheel said:

I tune down to c# standard with a set of 12s to get a warmer tone on my furch

wow that is very loose

Not so much on a 25.5" scale length

Actually sometimes I will switch to 11s for a looser feel

mines 25.5 and its noticeably looser on 1/2 step, whole step would be dreadful - I guess your action/relief must be a lot different - and 11s are getting to the limit @ 440

spev11 · April 2022

New string have arrived and are on, will give it a couple of weeks to settle in and see how it goes. Oddly the poly webs are still quite noisy, not as bad as the earth wounds though. I can see a future of me ordering strings endlessly in a futile attempt to eliminate something that’s just going to happen regardless

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Taylor Big Baby too bright?

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