Gibson vs Taylor Acoustic Guitars: Which are Best for You?

Gibson and Taylor are two leading names in the acoustic guitar industry, both specialising in the highest quality models. In this article, I’ll compare the two brands in terms of their tone, playability and options, so you can decide which to go for when you purchase your next acoustic guitar.

The Quick Answer

Gibson mainly specialise in dreadnought and jumbo/ super jumbo acoustic guitars, whereas Taylor offer a broader selection of shapes. Gibson acoustic guitars usually sound a bit darker whilst Taylor guitars often sound brighter. Gibson guitars start at roughly $1500 and Taylor models at $400.

Brand Overview

Before we dive into the comparisons, I wanted to briefly run through the ranges so that all the names make more sense if you’re less familiar with how each brand organises their line-up.

Gibson

Gibson are best known for their dreadnought and jumbo/ super jumbo acoustic guitar models and their range is pretty expansive. All their models are at least in the mid-high end bracket, starting at around $1500 and some models can get very expensive (over $5000). If you’re after something more affordable, then looking at the Epiphone range is your best bet.

Here is a list of the different Gibson acoustic guitar shapes on offer:

• Hummingbird: dreadnought shape with square shoulders, usually with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides.
• The Dove: dreadnought with square shoulders, usually with a spruce top and maple back and size. Longer scale length than the Hummingbird.
• J-45: dreadnought shape with rounded shoulders, usually with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides.
• J-35: dreadnought shape with rounded shoulders, with a rounder neck than the J-45.
• J-15: dreadnought shape with rounded shoulders, usually with a spruce top and walnut back and sides.
• Songwriter: dreadnought shape with rounded shoulders, usually with a spruce top and rosewood back and sides.
• SJ-200: super jumbo shape, usually with a spruce top and either maple or rosewood back and sides.
• J-185: jumbo shape.
• L-00: parlour shape, smallest acoustic guitar available.

With each shape, you’ll find different models at different price points. The Studio series tends to be the cheapest, followed by the Original and Standard series and finally the Deluxe is the most expensive excluding the Custom shop models.

Taylor

Taylor mostly make high-end acoustic guitars, but do offer some mini and travel size versions which are more affordable. Taylor use a numbering system to distinguish between each model.

• The first digit is used to identify the series. Models in the same series have the same back and side woods.
• The second digit indicates the string number and top wood hardness. 1 = 6 string with soft top wood e.g. spruce, 2 = 6 string with hard top wood, 5 = 12 string with soft top wood, 6 = 12 string with hard top wood.
• The third digit is used to identify the body shape. 0 = dreadnought, 2 = grand concert, 4 = grand auditorium, 6 = grand symphony, 7 = grand pacific, 8 = grand orchestra.
• If a “c” comes after the name, it has a cutaway, and if an “e” comes after the name, it will be an acoustic-electric model. Some guitars will have both letters “ce”.

Here are some images (all link to Amazon) to show the different shapes.

Comparing the Tone

So now we know a bit about the Taylor and Gibson acoustic ranges, let’s dive into the first comparison. Of course, it’s hard to compare the tone of an entire guitar range with another because there are all sorts of variables such as the woods, shapes and sizes to consider. I’ll be making some generalisations and providing specific examples to help give you an idea of the differences.

Gibson guitars usually sound a bit darker than Taylor guitars which sound a bit more shimmery and bright. It is more common to find a Taylor acoustic with either maple or rosewood back and sides than Gibson which usually uses mahogany back and sides, contributing to the darker tone and flatter EQ.

• Taylor’s are best known for their pronounced treble frequencies, contributing to the sparkly and bright tone.
• Gibson acoustics usually have a flatter EQ and as a result sound a bit more balanced.

There are of course many exceptions to this, and unless you’re comparing the same shape and tone wood, it’s not really a fair comparison to make.

To put things into context, here are some videos demonstrating the same shapes back-to-back from both brands so you can listen to the differences.

Example 1: Dreadnought (Taylor 310 vs Gibson J-45)

Example 3 Jumbo (Taylor 618e vs Gibson J-200)

Example 3 (Taylor 814ce vs Gibson J-185)

Comfort and Playability

It’s really important not to ignore comfort, as a factor when choosing which acoustic guitar to buy. Tone is super important, but you won’t be able to get the more out of the guitar if you find it difficult to play.

Now I won’t go into body shapes in this section (more on this later in the article), and instead I just want to talk about similar specification guitars, to keep things even.

Taylor guitars tend to have a specific neck design which suits a low action, making it easier to hold barre chords and even individual notes when played quickly. Although you can lower the action on a Gibson, it tends to work best when higher, which some players with weaker hands may find more difficult.

In terms of the neck, the Gibson J-45 model usually has a SlimTaper neck which feels comfortable for most hand sizes, but maybe a little too slim for players with larger hands. The Hummingbird has a ’50s rounded neck which feels much thicker. Most Taylors have a C-shape neck or V-shape neck, and they tend to be on the slim side and comfortable for most players.

When it comes to comfort, the best thing is to try out the models in your price range. Of course, you can set up the guitar to your taste when you’ve purchased it, but things like neck profile can’t be changed easily.

Where are they Made?

All Gibson acoustic guitars are made in the USA. Taylor guitars are made in the USA and Mexico.

The more affordable versions (under $1500) are often made in Mexico, whilst the more expensive versions are made in the USA. However, the Gibson range starts at around $1500, so when comparing similarly priced models from both brands they’re pretty much always made in the USA.

Does it really matter?

Seen a Mexican Taylor guitar in your price range that you like, but aren’t sure if it’ll be as good as the USA-made Gibson? As always, the best advice is to try them out, and if it sounds and feels the best, then that’s the right guitar for you, no matter where it was made.

There’s a lot of people who will only buy American guitars because they see the rest of the world’s offerings as inferior, but it’s a bit too simplistic and narrow-minded in my opinion. So my advice is to get the guitar that looks, sounds and feels best to you, and that’s how to make sure you’ll be happy with your purchase.

Still not sure which brand to go for? Check out my comparison of Taylor and Martin acoustic guitars so you can weigh up your options.

The Ranges

So now we’ve been through some comparisons, I wanted to take a look at the options available in each brands’ range. I’ve collated some info about almost every model (excluding signature/ limited edition guitars) from both brands available on Guitar Center into the tables below. There’s a table for each guitar shape, and they are all ordered from te lowest to the highest price (at the time of writing).

I don’t expect you to look at every guitar in the table! Hopefully it’s helpful for you to identify the models in your price range and the key features to help you narrow down your selection and pick some to try in the store.

Both brands specialise in different areas, and I’d say that Gibson has the largest dreadnought and jumbo/ super jumbo selection, whilst Taylor offers some more interesting shapes to get the best of some different designs.

Guitar Center are always the first place I look at when I’m interested in a new acoustic guitar because have a huge range of models for sale and always have some excellent deals on. Here’s a link to take you directly to Guitar Center’s acoustic guitar range so you can see all the offers available at the moment. 

The categories are:

• Dreadnought
• Jumbo and Super Jumbo
• Smaller body/ Parlour
• Taylor Specific Shapes
• Mini and Travel (Taylor-only)

Dreadnought

Guitar	Acoustic-Electric	Origin	Top Wood	Back and Sides	Price
Taylor Big Baby	No	Mexico	Spruce	Layered Walnut	$499
Taylor Academy 10	No	Mexico	Spruce	Layered Sapele	$549
Taylor Big Baby	Yes	Mexico	Spruce	Layered Walnut	$599
Taylor 210ce	Yes	Mexico	Spruce	Layered Rosewood	$999
Taylor 210ce Plus	Yes	Mexico	Spruce	Layered Rosewood	$1199
Taylor AD27 Grand Pacific	No	USA	Mahogany	Sapele	$1399
Taylor AD17 Grand Pacific	No	USA	Spruce	Ovangkol	$1399
Gibson J-45 Studio	Yes	USA	Spruce	Walnut	$1499
Taylor AD27e Grand Pacific	Yes	USA	Mahogany	Sapele	$1599
Taylor AD17e Grand Pacific	Yes	USA	Spruce	Ovangkol	$1699
Taylor 317 Grand Pacific	No	USA	Spruce	Sapele	$1799
Gibson J-15	Yes	USA	Spruce	Walnut	$1799
Gibson Hummingbird Studio	No	USA	Spruce	Walnut	$1999
Gibson J-45 Studio	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$2149
Gibson Hummingbird Studio	Yes	USA	Spruce	Walnut	$2149
Taylor 327e Grand Pacific	Yes	USA	Mahogany	Blackwood	$2199
Gibson ‘60s J-45 Original	No	USA	Spruce	Mahogany	$2499
Gibson Songwriter Modern EC	Yes	USA	Spruce	Mahogany	$2499
Taylor Builder’s Edition 517	No	USA	Spruce	Mahogany	$2699
Gibson Songwriter Modern EC	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$2699
Gibson ‘50s J-45 Original	Yes	USA	Spruce	Mahogany	$2699
Gibson J-45 Standard	Yes	USA	Spruce	Mahogany	$2749
Gibson Hummingbird Studio	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$2799
Gibson Southern Jumbo	Yes	USA	Spruce	Mahogany	$2999
Taylor Builder’s Edition 717	No	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$2899
Gibson Songwriter Standard	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$3049
Gibson Songwriter Standard EC	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$3149
Gibson 1960’s J45 Red Spruce	No	USA	Spruce	Mahogany	$3499
Gibson J-45 Deluxe	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$3499
Gibson Hummingbird Standard	Yes	USA	Spruce	Mahogany	$3849
Gibson Hummingbird Original	No	USA	Spruce	Mahogany	$3845
Gibson Dove Original	No	USA	Spruce	Maple	$4299
Gibson Hummingbird Deluxe	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$4499
Gibson 1942 Vanner J-45	No	USA	Spruce	Mahogany	$4799
Gibson 1936 J-35	No	USA	Spruce	Mahogany	$4799
Gibson 1960 Hummingbird	No	USA	Spruce	Mahogany	$4999
Gibson Firebird Mastershop	No	USA	Spruce	Maple	$5299
Gibson Firebird	Yes	USA	Spruce	Maple	$5299
Gibson Hummingbird Custom Koa	Yes	USA	Spruce	Koa	$7499
Gibson Doves in Flight	No	USA	Spruce	Maple	$7499

Jumbo and Super Jumbo

Guitar	Acoustic-Electric	Origin	Top Wood	Back and Sides	Price
Gibson J-185 EC Modern	Yes	USA	Spruce	Walnut	$2449
Gibson J-185EC	Yes	USA	Spruce	Bhilwara/ Mahogany	$2699
Gibson J-185 EC	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$2849
Gibson SJ-200 Studio	Yes	USA	Spruce	Walnut	$3149
Taylor 818e	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$3499
Taylor 618e	Yes	USA	Spruce	Maple	$3499
Taylor 618e	Yes	USA	Spruce	Maple	$3499
Gibson SJ-200 Studio	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$3649
Gibson J-185 Original	Yes	USA	Spruce	Maple	$3649
Gibson SJ-200 Standard	Yes	USA	Spruce	Maple	$4649
Gibson SJ-200 Original	Yes	USA	Spruce	Maple	$4649
Gibson 1934 Jumbo	No	USA	Spruce	Mahogany	$4799
Gibson 1939 J-55	No	USA	Spruce	Mahogany	$4899
Gibson 1936 Advanced Jumbo	No	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$4999
Gibson 1952 J-185	No	USA	Spruce	Maple	$4999
Gibson 1942 Southern Banner	No	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$4999
Gibson 1957 SJ-200	No	USA	Spruce	Maple	$5999
Gibson SJ-200 Deluxe	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$5999
Gibson SJ-200 Western Classic	No	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$6499
Gibson Pre-War SJ-200	No	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$6499

Small Body

Guitar	Acoustic-Electric	Origin	Top Wood	Back and Sides	Price
Taylor Academy 12	No	Mexico	Spruce	Layered Sapele	$499
Taylor AD22e	Yes	USA	Mahogany	Sapele	$1599
Gibson L-00 Studio	Yea	USA	Spruce	Walnut	$1649
Taylor 312 V-Class	No	USA	Spruce	Sapele	$1799
Taylor 322 V-Class	No	USA	Mahogany	Blackwood	$1899
Taylor AD12e	Yes	USA	Spruce	Ebony	$1999
Gibson L-00 Studio	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$2149
Gibson L-00 Sustainable	Yes	USA	Spruce	Walnut	$2299
Taylor 412ce V-Class	Yes	USA	Spruce	Ovangkol	$2399
Taylor 412e-R V-Classic	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$2499
Gibson ‘50s LG-2	Yes	USA	Spruce	Mahogany	$2499
Taylor 412ce-R V-Class	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$2599
Gibson L-00	Yes	USA	Spruce	Mahogany	$2699
Taylor 712ce V-Class	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$2999
Taylor 712ce V-Class	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$2999
Taylor 612ce V-Class	Yes	USA	Spruce	Maple	$3499
Gison L-00 Deluxe	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$3499
Taylor 612e V-Class	Yes	USA	Spruce	Maple	$3549
Taylor 812ce V-Class	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$3699
Taylor 812c V-Class	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$3699
Taylor 812ce V-Class	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$3699
Taylor 812e Deluxe	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$4049
Gibson 1942 Banner	No	USA	Spruce	Mahogany	$4299
Taylor K22ce V-Class	Yes	USA	Koa	Koa	$5199
Taylor 912ce V-Class	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$5199
Taylor K22ce V-Class	Yes	USA	Koa	Koa	$5199
Taylor 912ce V-Class	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$5199
Taylor Builder’s Edition 912ce V-Class	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$5499

Other Taylor Shapes

Guitar	Shape	Acoustic-Electric	Origin	Top Wood	Back and Sides	Price
Taylor 114e	Grand Auditorium	Yes	Mexico	Spruce	Layered Walnut	$799
Taylor 214ce	Grand Auditorium	Yes	Mexico	Spruce	Layered Rosewood	$999
Taylor 214ce-K	Grand Auditorium	Yes	Mexico	Spruce	Layered Koa	$1099
Taylor 214ce Plus	Grand Auditorium	Yes	Mexico	Spruce	Layered Rosewood	$1199
Taylor GT Urban Ash	Grand Theatre	No	USA	Spruce	Ash	$1399
Taylor 214ce DLX	Grand Auditorium	Yes	Mexico	Spruce	Layered Rosewood	$1399
Taylor 214ce DLX	Grand Auditorium	Yes	Mexico	Spruce	Layered Maple	$1499
Taylor 214ce Deluxe	Grand Auditorium	Yes	Mexico	Spruce	Layered Ovangkol	$1499
Taylor GTe Urban Ash	Grand Theatre	Yes	USA	Spruce	Ash	$1599
Taylor 214ce-K DLX	Grand Auditorium	Yes	Mexico	Spruce	Layered Koa	$1599
Taylor 224ce-K DLX	Grand Auditorium	Yes	Mexico	Koa	Layered Koa	$1699
Taylor 326ce Urban Ash	Grand Symphony	Yes	USA	Mahogany	Ash	$2499
Taylor Builder’s Edition 324ce	Grand Auditorium	Yes	USA	Mahogany	Ash	$2999
Taylor 814ce V-Class	Grand Auditorium	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$3699
Taylor Builder’s Edition 614ce	Grand Auditorium	Yes	USA	Spruce	Maple	$3999
Taylor Builder’s Edition 816ce	Grand Symphony	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$3999
Taylor GT K21e	Grand Theatre	Yes	USA	Koa	Koa	$4699
Taylor Custom Sassafras	Grand Auditorium	Yes	USA	Spruce	Sassafras	$4999
Taylor Custom Euro Maple	Grand Auditorium	Yes	USA	Spruce	Maple	$4999
Taylor Custom Macassar Ebony	Grand Auditorium	Yes	USA	Redwood	Ebony	$4999
Taylor K26ce	Grand Symphony	Yes	USA	Koa	Koa	$5199
Taylor Builder’s Edition K14ce V-Class	Grand Auditorium	Yes	USA	Spruce	Koa	$5199
Taylor 914ce V-Class	Grand Auditorium	Yes	USA	Spruce	Rosewood	$5199
Taylor Builder’s Edition K24ce V-Class	Grand Auditorium	Yes	USA	Koa	Koa	$5499
Taylor Custom No.12	Grand Auditorium	Yes	USA	Blackwood	Blackwood	$5799
Taylor Custom No.20	Grand Auditorium	Yes	USA	Koa	Koa	$9999

Mini and Travel (Taylor-only)

Guitar	Acoustic-Electric	Origin	Top Wood	Back and Sides	Price
Taylor Baby Taylor	No	Mexico	Mahogany	Layered Sapele	$379
Taylor Baby Taylor	Yes	Mexico	Spruce	Layered Walnut	$479
Taylor GS Mini	No	Mexico	Mahogany	Layered Sapele	$549
Taylor GS Mini	No	Mexico	Mahogany	Layered Rosewood	$599
Taylor GS Mini-E	Yes	Mexico	Spruce	Layered Rosewood	$699
Taylor GS Mini-E Koa	Yes	Mexico	Koa	Koa	$999

Which Acoustic Guitars are the Best?

This brings us to the ultimate question, and it’s a tough one to answer. Here are the main points I think it comes down to:

• If you’re not happy with the traditional parlour, dreadnought and jumbo shapes, a Taylor will probably suit you best and give you more options.
• Gibson guitars usually sound a bit darker and have a flatter EQ compared to Taylor guitars which sound brighter and crisp.
• Taylor is a better option if you’re looking for something under $1500, or Epiphone. Gibson focus on the high-end market, leaving those on a budget with a very limited selection.
• Gibson acoustics tend to come in more bold colours compared to Taylor guitars which look quite classic.

My best advice is to use the tables above to choose a few models which appeal to you and are in your price bracket, and then go to your local guitar store and try them out, or something very similar if they don’t have the exact model. This will give you a feel for the guitars and help you decide which tone you prefer.

At the end of the day, you’re buying a guitar, not a brand’s entire selection, so try to focus on the model as much as possible, rather than what it says on the headstock.

Here are some more articles you might find useful:

• Taylor vs Martin Acoustic Guitars
• Taylor vs Takamine Acoustic Guitars
• Dreadnought vs Grand Auditorium
• Dreadnought vs Jumbo