I love Koa guitars with their beauty and specific sound; own a Santa Cruz Alpine Spruce/Koa and a great Taylor K22ce, which I adore both. Listening to this demonstration, I hear an additional transparency and clarity in the sound - a speciality of Taylor anyway. But I guess this instrument also needs very clear playing and is not very forgiving when played sloppily.
Finally pulled the trigger on the Taylor K26 CE! It was a heart pounding investment but as you would expect it is the best guitar I have ever played! Plays like butter, the volume and sustain is off the charts. So easy, comfortable, and fun to play with scale length and ease. Now I am so motivated to play(and work) Thanks for the presentation and giving me the confidence to get it.
Someone was asking about a great sounding guitar at $500 price point. It brings to mind the Taylor GS Mini or the Martin Dreadnought Junior. They are both Laminated back and sides and solid spruce top. Both sound great for the price and a great starter guitar .
What do think of this guitar compared to the K24ce Builder's Edition? If you had to pick just one. Get they are different sizes so do different things a bit better and depends a lot on the sound you want. Just curious in your gut reaction. Thanks.
MoMM@home is featuring Bob Taylor on Wednesday 6/17/20 at 2:00 pm PDT on you tube . He will be talking on the history of Taylor Guitars. MoMM is associated with NAMM. A must see for all who are Taylor enthusiasts.
Chris, when will you do a review on the 326ce? I love the K26ce, but $4,999 is a bit pricey. The 326ce at half of that, sounds about right. I have seen other reviews / demos on the 326, but want to hear your take on it.
We would love that! We are currently open for curbside pickup and appointment with a sales rep. Let us know if you would like to schedule an appointment, or have any questions about our stock! (:
I got really excited for a moment when you said it was a short scale. I thought I must have misread the BE816ce & K26ce specs released at NAMM. Sadly, it also appears from your site that only the BE816ce is short scale. Could you please measure it for me & double check?
I've just bought this guitar and I'm waiting for it to come! The reasoning? 1. Love the look of Koa and who knows if we will be able to have Hawaiian koa in 10 years? 2. I hate abalone, so the binding on this is a little more elegant. 3. Bigger than the auditorium so gonna be a bit louder than my others. annnnndddd... 4. THAT Soundport is gonna help me get picks that fall into the sound hole SO much easier!
To me, my K26 is the most beautiful sounding guitar I've ever heard. I have to admit that I don't play it as much as I should because I am so protective of it though. I generally practice with something else 90% of the time and break this out for playing live at church.
Hi Chris, firstly thanks for your nice reviews. Which guitar would you recommend between the K26ce and the K24ce Builder's Edition? Thanks and best regards, Olivier
The K24 is a matte finish. The K26 obviously louder projection due the soundport & the 16 size. I love Koa but the K14 with spruce top looks like the best of the 3 to me.
What do you think is the most worth-it acoustic guitar I can get for under $500. I've been looking into the Yamaha brand with the fg830 but other than that I'm not too sure whats really good. Any opinions or suggestions would be fantastic, especially from a pro!! You've been making really helpful videos ty.
Just a 10 foot tall Koa tree produces about $60,000 worth of wood. Koa is not cheap. It is also a very hard wood so much harder to work with than spruce or mahogany which means more man-hours to build using it. It is also a protected species that only grows at a very specific elevation in a small part of Hawaii. A very rare wood. But even with that aside, look at the cost of a somewhat basic looking Martin D-42 that uses much more common tone woods. Quality costs money. Compare it to something like a Jefferson edition Huss and Dalton 00 at $25,000 and it doesn't seem so bad ( :
Here's a link! We do not have so many in stock right now, because Martin was closed, but we should be receiving our backorders soon! www.alamomusic.com/brands/Martin.html
I am keyboard player, but this guitar was in my hands. I didn’t understand why is so expensive until I heard guitar for 1700 euro and understood why is so expensive
Chris "Koa" is a name for this species that is licensed to it when the wood comes from the big island of Hawaii and must be harvested above 5000ft above sea level. Below 5000ft its not "Koa". The species however does grow in other parts of the world like Tasmania and Africa. Evolutionarily specking the species is a variation in the Mahogany family. However the species from those parts of the world can not legally be called "Koa" even though it is the same exact species. The name "Koa" is only licensed to the plantation owners where it grows in Hawaii. Sonically the species; no mater where it is grown; sounds very much the same. So much so that most people (and I mean acoustic guitar players like ourselves and I have played them side by side many different times) can not tell one from another in a blind sound test. However it can be said that the "Koa" version of the species may sonically have a touch more shimmer to it. This comes from the large amounts of volcanic ash that gets sucked up into the tree from the soil that it grows in. That volcanic ash is not present in Tasmania and Africa. If you look close enough at some raw samples you can see the ash in the wood grain of the "Koa" verity. Its the ash from the soil that may give the Hawaiian version of the species a distinctive sonic edge. Chris I know you know all of this and it may be splitting hairs but the wood special comes form many places in the world and the species verity named "Koa" only comes form Hawaii. Mostly the name "Koa" , I believe, is more a marketing strategy then a sonic difference between other guitars made from the same species from other parts of the world. None of this is in any way to down play the guitars. This species is one of my personal favorites for back and sides of an acoustic guitar. I believe the best for me anyway comes when it has a Adirondack spruce top. Then you have a dynamic sonic cannon at your finger tips. Subtle and explosive at the same time. I watch most all of your guitars reviews. You and Cooper do the best reviews anywhere.
Alamo Music Center a k series was my dream acoustic, then I played one and it didn’t impress me. It maybe was just that specific one, who knows? But for the price it needs to blow me out of the water. Ended up getting a Taylor 212ce that, to me, played and sounded better for a quarter of the price.
lovely looking guitar, love your videos but I have noticed when you play an expensive guitar or one that is a bit special You seem to try and play to perfect, just relax and play as you always do. This is just an observation. No harm intended.
I agree that sometimes the performance is a little sub standard. Consider this he plays more instruments than we will ever have the chance. Everyone is different than the ones he owns. How well would you do??
I agree with you. My personal opinion is a Martin sounds like a Martin a Taylor sounds like a Taylor. Martin was a long standing iconic instrument by the time Taylor was born. Why would he try to be better than Martin at being a Martin. Taylor arrived offering a different instrument. I hear people say " A Taylor will never be a Martin " well no shit. Its usually older men in late 60's and up in the Bluegrass Old Thyme music. Most of them novice at best guitarist. I personally don't like Martin's. At least not in my hands. Love the sound others get out of them. I like a Taylor. I prefer to play them. I do not criticize Martin, I understand the difference. You have a 1/2 ton pickup truck that serves its purpose. You have 3/4 ton pickup trucks to get other things done. One is better for a particular reason.
John Thornton Very well said. I’m in complete agreement with you. Other than the fact that I like the feel and playability of both brands. As you say they each serve a different purpose. I honestly like the majority of Taylor’s offerings however I don’t care for any of the Mexican Martins.
Selling guitars, selling cars, selling boats, it all starts to sound the same. Endless repetition of a few talking points from the marketing gurus. My helicopter has V-Bracing... Nothing against the guitar or Taylor, but my eyes start rolling to the back of my head.
Looks good, sounds good.... but only "good".... being not a real koa fun.... mahagony 326 would be more of my choice, however going to Furch finally anyway.... the most pleasing sound so far 🤗
Beautiful and stunning looking guitar but 11.5 mins of hard sell dialogue had me wary. 3 mins of playing and immediately the awful cheap sounding trebles were obvious. Noticed you avoided any volume on the trebles, sort of like your fingers were going to touch razorblades. Followed up with another 2 mins of hard sell at the end. Love your videos but this one is not good.
Chris, that was the best presentation you have done in the two years I have been watching. 👏🏻👏🏻
Glad you enjoyed it!
What a stunning looking instrument.
Right?!
I can't find exactly the words to describe how beautiful is this guitar..
Much warmer than I'd expected - sounds amazing
Thanks!
I love Koa guitars with their beauty and specific sound; own a Santa Cruz Alpine Spruce/Koa and a great Taylor K22ce, which I adore both. Listening to this demonstration, I hear an additional transparency and clarity in the sound - a speciality of Taylor anyway. But I guess this instrument also needs very clear playing and is not very forgiving when played sloppily.
Finally pulled the trigger on the Taylor K26 CE! It was a heart pounding investment but as you would expect it is the best guitar I have ever played! Plays like butter, the volume and sustain is off the charts. So easy, comfortable, and fun to play with scale length and ease. Now I am so motivated to play(and work) Thanks for the presentation and giving me the confidence to get it.
Aw man! I’ve been tempted to do this for years. Is it still awesome?
@Taylor___ Yep, it just keeps getting better. About to post my first finished video with it.
It’s certainly fantastic to look at, but that sound, that tone it has is pure heaven!
Mr. McKee, that guitar was made for you.
Someone was asking about a great sounding guitar at $500 price point. It brings to mind the Taylor GS Mini or the Martin Dreadnought Junior. They are both
Laminated back and sides and solid spruce top. Both sound great for the price and a great starter guitar .
Those are great guitars!
The Martin dreadnaught jr is solid wood back and sides
I got the 816ce model with this soundhole its amazing. So rich in tone and different than anything else on Earth.
What do think of this guitar compared to the K24ce Builder's Edition? If you had to pick just one. Get they are different sizes so do different things a bit better and depends a lot on the sound you want. Just curious in your gut reaction. Thanks.
MoMM@home is featuring Bob Taylor on Wednesday 6/17/20 at 2:00 pm PDT on you tube . He will be talking on the history of Taylor Guitars. MoMM is associated with NAMM. A must see for all who are Taylor enthusiasts.
Chris, when will you do a review on the 326ce? I love the K26ce, but $4,999 is a bit pricey. The 326ce at half of that, sounds about right. I have seen other reviews / demos on the 326, but want to hear your take on it.
Will look into it!
Amazing! I'd love to see a video comparing this to the Builder's Edition K24ce and the new 724ce.
12:20 what is the name of song?
That is a song Chris made! We get a lot of people asking about that one haha
Neat guitar. Just a suggestion: consider breaking up long periods of talking with vignettes of playing. We want to hear the guitar.
Wonder how it compares to the K24CE. Strengths adn weaknesses of each.
I hope you make a side by side comparison of the 816 and k26
I'm in Austin. I need to make a day trip to SA and come out and see you guys!
We would love that! We are currently open for curbside pickup and appointment with a sales rep. Let us know if you would like to schedule an appointment, or have any questions about our stock! (:
How does this K26ce compared to an older 2014 K26ce?
Thanks for the details explanation. That’s is very educational demo.
I am scared of tailor's top durability, does the V bracing help with durability.
Their necks are great as our the looks and playability.
I haven't heard of it being less durable than traditional bracing. However it definitely add something to the tone. (:
i've heard it actually makes it more stable over time compared to a standard x brace, due to less conflicting stresses.
Man I just wanna get it for the way it looks 😭😍
one question I would like to know if this guitar has good basses not so bright I am interested in buying one thanks
I got really excited for a moment when you said it was a short scale. I thought I must have misread the BE816ce & K26ce specs released at NAMM. Sadly, it also appears from your site that only the BE816ce is short scale. Could you please measure it for me & double check?
I think this is the best sounding Taylor I ever heard.
I just played it next to the same sequence they did on the 50's J-45 & the gibson did not even come close. Just wow
Sorry actually what is the song at 13:10 called?
I've just bought this guitar and I'm waiting for it to come! The reasoning?
1. Love the look of Koa and who knows if we will be able to have Hawaiian koa in 10 years?
2. I hate abalone, so the binding on this is a little more elegant.
3. Bigger than the auditorium so gonna be a bit louder than my others.
annnnndddd...
4. THAT Soundport is gonna help me get picks that fall into the sound hole SO much easier!
I bought one too and it is phenomenal, how is your holding up?
To me, my K26 is the most beautiful sounding guitar I've ever heard. I have to admit that I don't play it as much as I should because I am so protective of it though. I generally practice with something else 90% of the time and break this out for playing live at church.
That is a beautiful guitar! A clean rich sound!
That last song was absolutely beautiful! What is it called?
Solid KOA top...what's the rest - KOA laminate?
The sides and back are all solid Koa as well. No laminate on the K series.
Hi Chris, firstly thanks for your nice reviews. Which guitar would you recommend between the K26ce and the K24ce Builder's Edition? Thanks and best regards, Olivier
The K24 is a matte finish. The K26 obviously louder projection due the soundport & the 16 size. I love Koa but the K14 with spruce top looks like the best of the 3 to me.
@@Faraz9564 Thanks for that ;-)
Seems like it would be difficult to mic this guitar at the 12th fret without it being too boomy because of the second sound hole.
I want the Grand Auditorium version of this guitar so bad
You can get the K14 in Spruce & Koa plus beautiful Abalone
Sounds so good!
Are these still available?
Is this comfortable to play?
I bought the gs mini and it has a b string buzzz to that seems impossible to fix!
Beautiful sound and color
Thanks!
Great review.
all koa - is the neck Koa too?
Gorgeous! Great tone! Love it! ❤️
Thanks so much!
What do you think is the most worth-it acoustic guitar I can get for under $500. I've been looking into the Yamaha brand with the fg830 but other than that I'm not too sure whats really good. Any opinions or suggestions would be fantastic, especially from a pro!! You've been making really helpful videos ty.
Chris told us to tell you the Yamaha Fg Series, and Taylor Academy Series are his favorites in that price range (:
The guitar is absolutely stunning, but it’s too expensive.
Always remember -
Cool shit Aint cheap and cheap shit Aint cool..
Just a 10 foot tall Koa tree produces about $60,000 worth of wood. Koa is not cheap. It is also a very hard wood so much harder to work with than spruce or mahogany which means more man-hours to build using it. It is also a protected species that only grows at a very specific elevation in a small part of Hawaii. A very rare wood. But even with that aside, look at the cost of a somewhat basic looking Martin D-42 that uses much more common tone woods. Quality costs money. Compare it to something like a Jefferson edition Huss and Dalton 00 at $25,000 and it doesn't seem so bad ( :
Sounds pretty sweet!
No arm rest?
Sweet looking instrument... just about 8x my price range.
😂 Well if you ever want help finding a great guitar within your price range let us know! we can fix you up with someone who know their stuff 🙌
I thought you carried
Martin Guitars?
We've got both!
Alamo Music Center I went to your web page I couldn’t get any Martin guitars to show up in your inventory 🤷🏻♂️
Here's a link! We do not have so many in stock right now, because Martin was closed, but we should be receiving our backorders soon!
www.alamomusic.com/brands/Martin.html
Alamo Music Center thank you I’m a lefty
I would recommend you contact our store and get connected with one of our Sales Consultants. They can help you find a great lefty!
Got a gs mini koa...and this is probably what gave birth to it.
Love the Koa's
Thank you for the great review. I want this guitar bad, looking for a good acoustic to replace my Martin which sucks.
Well this one is an amazing guitar!
How much is it?
It's selling for $4,799 USD (:
@@AlamoMusic thanks!
Gorgeous!!
Thank you!!
How much
Usually $4,799 but right now it's on sale for $4,799.
How much.........(price)....
K26ce.....mr...???
It is usually $4,999, but right now we have it for $4799! His name is Chris btw (:
Y’all offer military discount?
Yes we do! Are you looking for anything in particular?
Alamo Music Center J45 deluxe. in rosewood
Contact our store and ask for AJ. If we have it he should be able to tell you!
I am keyboard player, but this guitar was in my hands. I didn’t understand why is so expensive until I heard guitar for 1700 euro and understood why is so expensive
if you compare my $200 fender and my $2000 taylor the difference is night and day, and that isn't even that high end.
Beautiful guitar 🎸
Many thanks!!
Beautiful
Chris "Koa" is a name for this species that is licensed to it when the wood comes from the big island of Hawaii and must be harvested above 5000ft above sea level. Below 5000ft its not "Koa". The species however does grow in other parts of the world like Tasmania and Africa. Evolutionarily specking the species is a variation in the Mahogany family. However the species from those parts of the world can not legally be called "Koa" even though it is the same exact species. The name "Koa" is only licensed to the plantation owners where it grows in Hawaii. Sonically the species; no mater where it is grown; sounds very much the same. So much so that most people (and I mean acoustic guitar players like ourselves and I have played them side by side many different times) can not tell one from another in a blind sound test. However it can be said that the "Koa" version of the species may sonically have a touch more shimmer to it. This comes from the large amounts of volcanic ash that gets sucked up into the tree from the soil that it grows in. That volcanic ash is not present in Tasmania and Africa. If you look close enough at some raw samples you can see the ash in the wood grain of the "Koa" verity. Its the ash from the soil that may give the Hawaiian version of the species a distinctive sonic edge. Chris I know you know all of this and it may be splitting hairs but the wood special comes form many places in the world and the species verity named "Koa" only comes form Hawaii. Mostly the name "Koa" , I believe, is more a marketing strategy then a sonic difference between other guitars made from the same species from other parts of the world. None of this is in any way to down play the guitars. This species is one of my personal favorites for back and sides of an acoustic guitar. I believe the best for me anyway comes when it has a Adirondack spruce top. Then you have a dynamic sonic cannon at your finger tips. Subtle and explosive at the same time. I watch most all of your guitars reviews. You and Cooper do the best reviews anywhere.
....o my God ..... no comment ..... 🤩🤩🤩🤩
That's a stunning top 😍
It really is!
I usually love your reviews Chris, but this one seemed a little too “salesy” Taylor fan boy. But, maybe the K26e is really that good.
It’s that good! I love guitars and can find swim thing i like in most quality guitars that come in but some just really hit the marks. -Chris
That is one great looking guitar!
Awesome
You look so comfortable yet stylish with that baby. Looking good! Thumbs up.
11:30 mins before he starts playing! This guitar needs a salesman to sell it, badly. It sounds like a good floorboard.
✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾
He's shy to test the electronic system...... why?
Couldn’t hear it that good like your other videos. Volume is a little low. Not a Taylor fan anyway.
Should have done a shoot out with a comparable Taylor model so we can understand the difference as its probably big $$$$$s
Taylor’s koa guitars are the most beautiful acoustics I’ve seen, but they don’t sound that great to me.
Hmmm that’s an interesting take 🧐
Alamo Music Center a k series was my dream acoustic, then I played one and it didn’t impress me. It maybe was just that specific one, who knows? But for the price it needs to blow me out of the water. Ended up getting a Taylor 212ce that, to me, played and sounded better for a quarter of the price.
lovely looking guitar, love your videos but I have noticed when you play an expensive guitar or one that is a bit special
You seem to try and play to perfect, just relax and play as you always do.
This is just an observation. No harm intended.
Thanks for the tips!
I agree that sometimes the performance is a little sub standard. Consider this he plays more instruments than we will ever have the chance. Everyone is different than the ones he owns. How well would you do??
Martin makes the best dreadnaught and Taylor makes the best GA
I agree with you. My personal opinion is a Martin sounds like a Martin a Taylor sounds like a Taylor. Martin was a long standing iconic instrument by the time Taylor was born. Why would he try to be better than Martin at being a Martin. Taylor arrived offering a different instrument. I hear people say " A Taylor will never be a Martin " well no shit. Its usually older men in late 60's and up in the Bluegrass Old Thyme music. Most of them novice at best guitarist. I personally don't like Martin's. At least not in my hands. Love the sound others get out of them. I like a Taylor. I prefer to play them. I do not criticize Martin, I understand the difference. You have a 1/2 ton pickup truck that serves its purpose. You have 3/4 ton pickup trucks to get other things done. One is better for a particular reason.
John Thornton
Very well said. I’m in complete agreement with you. Other than the fact that I like the feel and playability of both brands. As you say they each serve a different purpose. I honestly like the majority of Taylor’s offerings however I don’t care for any of the Mexican Martins.
Martin for me..had Taylors ...didn't keep'em
Personal preference.. Martin dss-17 a cannon....
That is also an amazing guitar!
My dude... are you related to Andy McKee? 😂
Selling guitars, selling cars, selling boats, it all starts to sound the same. Endless repetition of a few talking points from the marketing gurus. My helicopter has V-Bracing...
Nothing against the guitar or Taylor, but my eyes start rolling to the back of my head.
11:30 of talking. Play the thing.
Looks good, sounds good.... but only "good".... being not a real koa fun.... mahagony 326 would be more of my choice, however going to Furch finally anyway.... the most pleasing sound so far 🤗
Beautiful guitar - but 5.700 USD - Really!???
Your sales pitch is too long
Beautiful and stunning looking guitar but 11.5 mins of hard sell dialogue had me wary.
3 mins of playing and immediately the awful cheap sounding trebles were obvious. Noticed you avoided any volume on the trebles, sort of like your fingers were going to touch razorblades. Followed up with another 2 mins of hard sell at the end.
Love your videos but this one is not good.
wow, that guy just wouldn't shut up... just play the guitar... pease mr alamo music center