Take it from me, Taylor’s are the class of all acoustic guitars. I am not someone who admits to being a virtuoso by any means, however, I have been know to spend a significant amount of my lunch hours testing out different instruments. In my humble opinion, Taylor Guitars as a brand are a step ahead of the rest of the class for all levels of guitar players.

• Just picking up the guitar (Beginners): OK…so when I started to play, just like everyone one else, the biggest hindrance to my progress was the burning sensation in the tips of my fingers. Honestly, who would have thought that finger tips could hurt that much. When you are buying your first guitar one there are a few things you want to look at…
• -  I wanted to be really good really quickly. Taylor’s are known for there low action. In non-musician lingo, that means the strings are close to the fret board (long wooden part your press with your fingers). When a guitar has low action you won’t have to press down as hard and therefore your fingers won’t feel like they are spitting flames.
•  I wanted a cool looking axe (that’s musician lingo for “guitar”). Taylor makes a variety of acoustics and acoustic/electrics in all sizes, shapes, and colors. One thing to consider, since you are just starting, you won’t need a pickup (the electronics that allow you to plug your guitar into an amplifier). If you start get good enough to the point you want to play in front of a large group of people you can by an external pickup for under $100.
• I wanted a good value. How are you supposed to know what is a good guitar looks like with out playing? You are a smart guy/girl, you know that the people in guitar stores are getting paid to sell you the most expensive rig (another nickname for a guitar) they can get you out the door with. The quality of wood is the fundamental issue when picking out a quality instrument. Now, it’s tricky, most types of woods make good guitars (except plywood). Taylor does not skimp on quality when selecting there woods. If you really want to learn to play and plan on taking is seriously, the $300ish you will spend on a low end Taylor is a worthwhile investment. Take it from me, I spent $150 on a crappy acoustic/electric for my first guitar. Less than two years later I was back buying an upgrade.

• Getting Serious (Intermediate): Congratulations, you are getting passed the point where open chords aren’t the only thing in your repertoire. It’s a good feeling isn’t it? Now that you know you will be playing music not just annoying your roommates and/or neighbors here is why I like Taylor so much…
• Yes, I can tell when a guitar is out of tune: I know this is a very subjective topic to most pickers and strummers but in my humble opinion Taylors really cover all the bases. On every piece I’ve played I’ve noticed that the lows are rich and beefy, the highs are bright and vibrant. One more nice thing about the Taylors are that, because of there high standards in wood production, there is pretty a minimal amount of difference between like models. In other words, I’ve played a couple of 612CE’s (I love maple on big bodies…huge and rich sound)…they all sound the same. 
• I’m don’t want to throw my money away: By now you know when it comes to guitars; you get what you pay for. I’m not saying that the more you spend always equals the better you will sound but once you now a little bit about sound you can tell when you hear the cheap stuff. If you could measurer sound quality in dollar amounts, I think that you get a much better quality per dollar here. Also, the resale value of Taylors is about as high as any other guitar I’ve seen.
• Image: I know, I know, I know you should be picking a guitar based solely on the wood quality, tone, action, and pickups. Let’s face it…now that you are performing you do care a lot about the look. Just like when you were a lowly beginner (sorry for those new guys who kept reading) you part of you is in this because you love the music and part of you is here because you have rock star dreams. It’s ok… I do it too. Moral of this story is that Taylors have a great breath of product. You can find anything from a ¾ baby travel guitar to a full blown 12-string they all look as good as they sound.

• Clapton has nothing on me (advanced): Alright showoff, while the rest of us are learning to pluck out “Ring Around the Rosie” you  are transcribing a Bach symphony into 7/19 time. Congratulations, you now have lost all feeling in your finger tips and your fingers are faster than a runaway train heading down hill. It is time to buy the guitar that has the same prowess as your musical ego.
• I use every fret on the planet (consistency): Not only does Taylor use top notch materials, but there setup is second to none, specifically there action setup. I have never played a brand of guitar with a smoother feel than Taylor. Unlike most new models, they Taylors’ come pre-setup right out of the cast. The action is the same distance from the fret-board on the first fret as they are on the 12th.
• The wire goes wear? (electronics): Again, as I said before, I am not guitar pro. I am just starting to learn more about the electric side of the acoustic/electric world. What I can tell you is that the Fishman electronics included in Taylors have a reputation of creating a consistent and dependably rich sound. If you want to reproduce the natural sound of your acoustic, Fishman does a good job of taking out the bells and whistles and focus on what is important. 
• Look mom I’m famous (details): If I had the funds, which I probably never will, I would go with a 912ce (spruce top and rosewood sides/back) because it is as much of a piece of art as it is a 6-string. A spectacularly dramatic sunburst that goes from a honey yellow to dark tobacco brownish color. The inlays are gorgeous with sharp corners and detailed edges. Taylor does a fantastic job of making all other there work a little better than your standard guitar. They look, feel and play great. Remember, people are watching you when you play. Even ugly people look good behind a Taylor.