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Taylor 322e 12-Fret
Taylor GT 811e
VS
Playability
73
Sound
84
Build
85
Value
71
Score
81
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Playability
82
Sound
86
Build
87
Value
70
Score
85
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Taylor 322e 12-Fret vs GT 811e

Reasons to Get
Taylor 322e 12-Fret over GT 811e

Number of Frets
18 vs 20
Warmer neck pickup
Nut Width
1.75'' (44.5mm) vs 1.71'' (43.4mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Body Shape
Grand Concert vs Grand Theater
Slightly larger than the Concert body with a strong mid-range
Scale Length
24.9'' (632.5mm) vs 24.125'' (612.8mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Avg. Weight
4.075lbs (1.8kgs) vs 4.275lbs (1.9kgs)
Tends to be lighter
Value Score
71 vs 70
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Taylor GT 811e over 322e 12-Fret

Release Year
2020 vs 2015
From a more recent year
Number of Frets
20 vs 18
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.71'' (43.4mm) vs 1.75'' (44.5mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Body Shape
Grand Theater vs Grand Concert
Slightly smaller than a Grand Concert with a shorter scale
Scale Length
24.125'' (612.8mm) vs 24.9'' (632.5mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone

Other Key Differences
Taylor 322e 12-Fret vs GT 811e

Back Material
Mahogany vs Rosewood
Different Back Material
Sides Material
Mahogany vs Rosewood
Different Sides Material
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Spruce
Different Body Wood

Shared Features
Taylor 322e 12-Fret vs GT 811e

Saddle Material
Synthetic Bone
Same Saddle Material
Bridge Material
West African Crelicam Ebony
Same Bridge Material
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Hollowbody
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
Switch Positions
0
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
0
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
0
Same tone control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
15'' (381mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Type of Frets
Medium
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Taylor GT 811e is probably the better product overall with its final score of 85 compared to the Taylor 322e 12-Fret's 81 score, although not by a lot.

The Taylor GT 811e wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Taylor 322e 12-Fret has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Taylor GT 811e is the better choice.

The Taylor GT 811e meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Taylor 322e 12-Fret meets only 4. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Taylor 322e 12-Fret
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Taylor GT 811e
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Taylor 322e 12-Fret Overview

  • From Taylor's 2015 300 series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.9"'' scale
  • 15" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Tropical Mahogany top
  • Solid Tropical Mahogany back
  • Solid Tropical Mahogany sides
  • Tropical Mahogany neck
  • West African Crelicam Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Expression System 2 Electronics (Preamp/Active)
  • West African Crelicam Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic Taylor Standard Set neck
  • 18 Medium frets
  • Taylor Slot Head tuners
  • Weight between 4lbs (1.8kgs) and 4.15lbs (1.9kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Taylor GT 811e Overview

  • From Taylor's 2020 800 series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.125"'' scale
  • 15" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Sitka Spruce top
  • Solid Indian Rosewood back
  • Solid Indian Rosewood sides
  • Tropical Mahogany neck
  • West African Crelicam Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Expression System 2 Electronics (Preamp/Active)
  • West African Crelicam Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic Taylor Standard Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Taylor Nickel Mini tuners
  • Weight between 4.25lbs (1.9kgs) and 4.3lbs (2kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The most important thing that will determine the tone of an acoustic guitar is the wood. Let's take a look at the differences between both .

Woods Used in Both

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Woods Used in the Taylor GT 811e

Spruce wood pattern used for guitar building
Spruce
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

Spruce has a light color with tight grain patterns. It's very stiff but relatively light. It's known for producing a well-rounded tone with a broad dynamic range. Find out more about Spruce.

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Winner: Taylor GT 811e.

Electronics

Both come with electronics that allow you connect them to an amplifier or interface for recording.

Winner:Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Taylor 322e 12-Fret
Sustain 90
Versatility 75
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 84
Taylor GT 811e
Sustain 90
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 86

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Taylor 322e 12-Fret compares to the Taylor GT 811e.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in United States.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Black Tusq XL nuts. TUSQ nuts are usually the highest quality you can get. Black TUSQs are made from a special slippery material that helps the strings get back to its original position (one of the keys to tune stability).

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Taylor 322e 12-Fret's are Taylor Slot Head while the Taylor GT 811e's are Taylor Nickel Mini

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Taylor 322e 12-Fret
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Electronics
  • Synthetic Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Taylor GT 811e
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Electronics
  • Synthetic Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Taylor 322e 12-Fret
Quality of materials 86
Features 75
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 85
Taylor GT 811e
Quality of materials 86
Features 75
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 87

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Taylor 322e 12-Fret Nut Width
Taylor 322e 12-Fret Nut Width
Taylor GT 811e Nut Width
Taylor GT 811e Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Taylor 322e 12-Fret has the wider nut with 44.5mm (1.75'') vs 43.4mm (1.71''). This is a 1.1mm (0.04'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Taylor 322e 12-Fret, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Taylor 322e 12-Fret's Scale Length
Taylor 322e 12-Fret's Scale Length
Taylor GT 811e's Scale Length
Taylor GT 811e's Scale Length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

The Taylor 322e 12-Fret has the longest scale: 24.9". The Taylor GT 811e is only 24.125" long. This is a 0.775'' (19.7mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Taylor 322e 12-Fret Neck Profile
Both guitars have the same neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Taylor 322e 12-Fret and the Taylor GT 811e have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Taylor 322e 12-Fret Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

Both the Taylor 322e 12-Fret and the Taylor GT 811e have the same fretboard radius of 15". This radius y closer to the 12'' that most Les Paul guitars have, but a bit flatter. It'll make it easier to play single notes than chords, but it's still comfortable for playing chords without muting strings.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Taylor 322e 12-Fret:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Taylor GT 811e:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Taylor 322e 12-Fret and Taylor GT 811e Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium fret size

Both have a Medium fret size. If you like feeling the fretboard when you play, but also appreciate some easiness to press down the frets, this size offers a good balance for that.

Final Playability Scores

Taylor 322e 12-Fret
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73
Taylor GT 811e
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 80
Playability 82

Specs Side-by-Side

Taylor 322e 12-Fret vs GT 811e
General Taylor 322e 12-Fret GT 811e
Brand: Taylor Taylor
Year: 2015 2020
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: 300 800
Colors: Natural Natural
Left-Handed Version: Yes Yes
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Solid Tropical Mahogany Solid Sitka Spruce
Sides Material: Mahogany Rosewood
Back Material: Mahogany Rosewood
Bridge: West African Crelicam Ebony West African Crelicam Ebony
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Taylor Slot Head Taylor Nickel Mini
Fretboard: West African Crelicam Ebony West African Crelicam Ebony
Neck Material: Tropical Mahogany Tropical Mahogany
Decoration: Gemstone, Italian Acrylic Element
Scale Size: 24.9" 24.125"
Shape: Acoustic Taylor Standard Acoustic Taylor Standard
Frets: 18 Medium Nickel Silver 20 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 15" 15"
Nut: Black Tusq XL Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 44.5mm (1.75'') 43.4mm (1.71'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Expression System 2 Electronics (Preamp / Active) Expression System 2 Electronics (Preamp / Active)