The Taylor T5 is one of the greatest guitars ive ever played. You may be disatisfied if playing unplugged because volume is low. I prefer it plugged in with an A/B box. Use positions 1 and 2 for acoustic and 3, 4 and 5 for electric. You can use this for anything that requires a guitar. Any T5 will serve you fine but the koa top adds warmness and doesnt look that bad either!

I had been looking for a new guitar for quite awhile. I didn't know exactly what I was looking for, but when I found the Taylor T5 with KOA top, I knew I had found it!

At first, I had thought I might like to have a sem-accoustic guitar, such as a ES-335 or some such guitar. But the Taylor was an awesome combination of that with an accoustic sound and it played great! I bought one immediately.

The only drawback is that in the 2nd pickup position from the neck, the top fret simply doesn't work. I had the salesguy call Taylor and he got the run-around saying that it was a "customer preference" that the high E wasn't as loud. When he called back a 2nd time, they indeed confirmed that the body pickup is mounted directly below the top fret to get the accoustic sound and the in effect rendered the highest fret useless.

That being said, I thought it was a good compromise. The top fret is available for the pickup settings that would need it - mainly electric sounds. The accoustic and electric sounds are great and I play that more than my PRS now. I would have to agree that if you want a 100% electric guitar, this isn't it, nor is it a high end Martin. However, it's a great guitar and I would recommed it to anyone who wants versatility and great sound.

Jason

I've owned my T5 Custom Koa for a little over 2 years. It immediately became one of my favorites. I currently own 4 Taylors, a Martin, a Strat, and an Epiphone Sheraton II. Since buying the T5, I have not had the Sheraton out of the case, and have rarely played the Strat or Martin.

The T5 comes standard with electric strings, but will accept light acoustic strings as well. (With an optional bridge it will also accept heavier acoustic strings.) I prefer the way it plays and sounds with acoustic strings. It changes the sound and feel of the instrument from thinline electric to a true acoustic-electric.

The 3 control knobs plus the pickup selector deliver an amazing range of sounds. In pure acoustic mode, it sounds like a quiet acoustic, with a dynamic range closer to a grand concert than a dreadnought. In amplified acoustic mode, adjusting the controls can make it sound like anything from a parlor guitar to a jumbo. One thing it always sounds like when played acoustically is a Taylor. In electric mode it can be set to fit just about any style. While others describe various electric settings as sounding like this or that guitar, "like" is the key word - it really has its own unique sound on all settings.

The neck, action, and build quality are all typical Taylor - as close to perfection as you can get. The guitar is very lightweight, and comfortable to play standing or seated. The wood selection on my guitar is simply stunning.

While the price may seem high, the build quality, playability, sound, and beauty of the instrument make it a relative bargain.

I've had my T5 Custom Koa since they came out a couple of years ago. It has several things going for it. The guitar is extremely versatile, extremely well made and extremely beautiful. You really fell like you're playing a work of art.

I have used this for club dates with my band, duos, weddings and jazz gigs. It works for all of them and is truly satisfying to play.

That said, if I'm playing a strictly acoustic gig then I take another guitar, usually my Takamine, which I feel sounds better plugged in than my Taylor 612ce. The T5 is an outstanding instrument but it is NOT an acoustic/electric. Think of it more as an electric/acoustic. Also, I own three Taylors and believe they represent the gold standard in American guitar craftsmanship these days. That said, why does Taylor tout this as the ultimate guitar for everything and then suggest you run it through some super expensive Taylor pre-amp to get the ultimate sound? I love you Bob Taylor but if I spend for an acoustic electric then it better sound super out of the box.

I've had the T5 Koa for two years. I also own two other taylors (914 ce and 954ce), two martins, a tele, a ricky 12, a baritone, a tacoma, and some travel guitars. The T5 is the guitar that I play the most. Simple reason: it sounds tremendous either through electric or acoustic amps, is comfortable to play, and it inspires me. This guitar was not simply a fad, or taylor's initial foray into electric guitars. It was a great idea, and the result is a beautiful, flawlessly constructed guitar that just SINGS. Buy one.