golftango,

There is no reason a 12 fret guitar should be easier to play than a 14 fretter, unless you have fat fingers I guess. I think it is a little harder, at least for me. There is slightly more distance between the frets, given the same scale length, on a 12 fret versus a 14 fret, and you therefore have to stretch out your fingers a little more to reach some chord positions.

Some things to consider include:

1. scale length: Of course tuned strings on a longer scale length guitar are going to be under more tension. However I do believe the scale length on the Taylors and Collings in question are all the same at 25.5 inches.

2. action height at first fret and twelfth fret: Assumming you got it right on ALL of the strings there is a possibility that the Taylors had lower than normal action adjustments (which would lead to buzzing on harder play) These adjustments are not that easy to get right, especially at the nut.

3. fretwire: The fretwire used can make a big difference. I like the feel of Collings fret wire, which has a crown of 0.43 and width of 0.78. I am not sure what Taylor uses although I have played Taylors and it felt about the same to me. If it is much different than Collings you may be noticing it. Lower crown height wire can actually be harder to play since you may have to play right up behind the fret and with more pressure, especially on barre chords, to prevent buzzing. With higher crown height you may push down more than needed causing fatigue an intonation problems to boot.

If you are having more difficulty with a simple three finger D chord you have a problem with one of the above.

4. fretboard width: This could be your problem but I seriously doubt it.

5. neck profile: This could be it and if it is your probably out of luck. Personally I have guitars with a wide variety of neck profiles and it is not much of an issue with me.

6. fretboard radius: The radius used can make a difference but it is going to be noticed on barre chords. So if you are having problems other than barre chords the radius is not the issue or at least the only issue.

7. truss rod adjustment: "i am getting ?buzzing? ?muting? when playing above the 5th fret"
Well this ain't right. Either a fret is not seated properly, or you set the bridge to low and are getting buzzin on a higher fret, or you are getting buzzing on a fret below the fret you are pressing on and in that case you need a truss rod adjustment. A problem with the neck angle requiring a neck reset would be unlikely on a 2004 guitar (but you never know).

Now you said you had a thirty year hiatus from serious guitar playing. The other guitars you played recently I am guessing you played fairly briefly whereas the Collings that you took home you have played for longer periods of time. That is one reason the Collings is getting to you. I took a long break from guitar playing myself and it took at least three months before any of my guitars did not kill my hand after a half hour or so. Now there is no problem with any of them.
You may want to give it some more time before you make any decisions on either lowering the action further beyond what is usually done (assuming a pro repair person has already set it up properly) or replacing the guitar. It could all fall into place soon.

If it does not work out and you would like to sell the guitar cheap please contact me ;-)
Rick

This message has been edited. Last edited by: rick-slo,

I have to say I find my 0002H easy to play although I have very small hands and I'm female (if this makes any diference)my husband on the other hand finds it much more uncomfortable. I think the main reason is just that I play for much longer periods of time and the muscles are there are stronger. I have a Bourgeois OMC which is slightly more difficult to play although the action is lower, I think that Bourgeois maybe build more tension into their tops which also might acount for some of your problem although maybe by now you are more used to the guitar.

I too had a couple of Taylors I sold off early this year. Got an OM1A (1 3/4) in March. Then got interested in a 0002CGV 12-fret (1 13/16). Got it last July. I've played it off and on since then and was not comfortable. It was not the 1 13/16" nut width because I play classicals which are at 2". I use Elixir Custom Lights, which start at .011. It did feel like the back of the neck on the 000 had a more pronounced V than my OM1A but I don't think it was a factor. All that being said, I have been playing the 000 almost everyday for the past month. It now feels comfortable. I made no physical adjustments to the guitar. I do find myself making sure that the body is tucked in (sitting down) and that my left wrist is dropped down, almost like a classical stance. But it's fun now and it's an awesome guitar.

I probably did not help but just wanted to share what I experienced.