Jonathan Ramsey

I use my 1996 Taylor 610 for the bulk of my live shows and recordings. It's very responsive, and has a very nice tone. It can be a bit bassy/boomy through amplification, especially when I'm playing mid-range melodies, but not too much to fix or adjust for. I love the crispness of maple back and sides. The tone and volume are very nice, when I capo up to "emulate" smaller instruments. I'm also a fan of acoustic guitars without electronics inside. I prefer microphones paired, that I select myself, rather than using the ones the guitar maker decided on, which are not the type of nice, clear mics I like. That's not possible with the new off-the-shelf Taylor maple guitars.

I started playing the GS Mini Mahogany for a one-man band act I did outdoors. I have also used it in place of my Taylor 610, in larger venues. It's very pleasant to play, with a nice tone, if not as deep and loud as the 610. It's a great guitar for playing tunes.

Though it's not a true linear array, I'm surprised how it has performed in some pretty sizable venues. I use it for every solo show I perform, where something larger isn't needed, and isn't provided.

the 0.88 mm Dunlop Tortex has been my main pick for a couple decades. I love the thickness (or, rather, thinness) yet nice stiff, direct response.