If you approach the T5 as a new type of guitar and not as an electrified acoustic or a semi-hollow bodied guitar, you will discover, as I did, that the T5 is a flawless guitar. Once I moved away from the Fender Acoustisonic amp and went straight for my preamp rack I discovered that this is a different instrument, not a hybrid or a replacement for acoustics or electrics. It's like the difference between a mandolin and a balalaika. If you approach the T5 as a different classification of guitar you will be as happy with it as I am because it will cause you to play differently, expanding your style. I recommend you try a preamp setting with modest boosts in lows and mids and cuts in the high end and try harmonic tapping with your favorite tunings. Much more controllable then an acoustic with pick-ups...IMHO

There is a volume reduction on the first string present when pick-up combinations with the neck fretboard pick-up are used. It is annoying straight from the factory. A licensed Taylor repair man put the modified pick-up taylor made to alleviate this problem, but it is only slightly better. These are the facts of life when purchasing this instrument. NOW

The sounds on this guitar are fantastic. This is a gigging persons guitar and if you are only buying to play in your room then you cannot comment on any aspect of how it does or does not sound like x or y guitar. The acoustic setting do what they say nicely and the electric settings are in league with any fine electric in the price range. The playability is amazing!

I feel this is a very honest review and I wish Taylor would fix this first string issue and produce a better neck pick-up for the T5

This is one amazing guitar. But don't expect it to do everything that a really good acoustic will do. And don't expect it to do everything that a really good electric will do. It reminds me a little of Bill Clinton's approach to politics: it offers lots to people in the middle of the spectrum, and not much to folks on the ends.

The fretboard is low action and the neck is very thin. It allows you to play fast and easy. It's easier and more versatile to play than any other guitar I've ever picked up - period. The frets are relatively low profile and I get more buzzing notes on acoustic mode than with other acoustic guitars. It components and construction are all the quality you would expect from a Taylor product. If you are in tune, your A string will give you a true A both played open and played on the 12th fret. The guitar stays in tune and does not seem to suffer from being moved between warm/cold/humid/dry environments. The electronics and the tuning pegs all have a solid, quality feel.

The acoustic sound is focused and crisp, a product of a thin body. There is not much acoustic volume. Its excellent for playing in a small room to a small audience or by yourself. (I often practice with mine after hours when the family is asleep.) If you play along with someone who uses a conventional acoustic, the T5 acoustic gets lost sometimes.

The electric sound is generally excellent. But its harder to switch on the fly from a treble-dominant lead tone to a mellower rythm tone than with conventional electrics like my Stratocaster. Relocation of the switches in future generation uits might improve things. (Are you listening, Taylor?) Also, the much-hyped five-way switch is not really that amazing. While there is some variance between settings on the five-way switch, it is rather subtle when compared to the differences in the settings on the five-way switch on my Stratocaster.

On a conventional electric, you can easily play up/near the 20th fret. Not so with the T5. Also, in electric mode, feedback can be a problem at even moderate volume.

I love my T5. Since I got it 18 months ago, it is the only guitar I play regularly out of my collection of 4 guitars. It has quickly become my favorite. With the limitations described above, I highly recommend it.

An excellent guitar for the worship leader. For me, this guitar is best suited for onstage acoustic work (leading a band or for songwriting showcases). It will 'dirty up' nicely with a tube amp (start with the detentes at '0') but has more in common with a full electric hollowbody than any solidbody.

I've spent a lot of time behind this guitar and I'm going to shoot you straight. As far as build quality goes, this guitar is top notch. It's extremely well made. But unless you're 100% sold on the T5 I would advise against it. This is definately a niche guitar. The best application for this I can think of is for the person who needs switch back and forth between mediocre acoustic and electric tones, but doesn't want or isn't able to have an acoustic guitar and an electric. Frankly, there are plenty of acoustic guitars out there that sound better than the acoustic sounds the T5 makes, and plenty of electrics out there that sound better than the T5's electric sounds. When a guitar tries to be everything to everybody, it ends up being average at everything. Consider also the number of these things available used on Ebay, and also the fact that many guitar stores are cutting back their stock and refusing to accept T5s as trade-ins. You need to play the T5 for yourself and compare it to a couple of Taylor and Martin acoustics, and then a Strat, a Les Paul, and an ES-335. If you really like the tones, go for it, but don't buy it because you're too impatient to save for a good acoustic AND an electric. It's a very nice guitar, but you really need to be honest about what you're looking for before dropping the dough for this one, that's all.