Head to head
Gibson Songwriter Recording Artist, Left-Handed, Rosewood Burst vs Taylor T5z Custom Koa
Acoustic$4,999
No ratings yet77Overall / 100
The verdict
The Gibson Songwriter Recording Artist, Left-Handed, Rosewood Burst comes out ahead overall — 77 to 60 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Gibson Songwriter Recording Artist, Left-Handed, Rosewood Burst wins on
- Better build (96 vs 61)
- Better playability (72 vs 67)
- Better sound (68 vs 60)
- Better value (67 vs 51)
Taylor T5z Custom Koa wins on
- Lower price ($3,799 vs $4,999)
Scorecard
| Metric | Songwriter Recording Artist, Left-Handed, Rosewood Burst | T5z Custom Koa |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 77 | 60 |
| Build | 96 | 61 |
| Playability | 72 | 67 |
| Sound | 68 | 60 |
| Value | 67 | 51 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Songwriter Recording Artist, Left-Handed, Rosewood Burst | T5z Custom Koa |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Gibson | Taylor |
| Type | Acoustic | Acoustic |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | US | — |
| Body wood | Rosewood | Shamel Ash |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | Sapele |
| Fretboard | Ebony | Ebony |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 20 | — |
| Scale | 25.5" | 24.88" |
| Pickups | LR Baggs HiFi | — |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $4,999 | $3,799 |
| Back | Rosewood | — |
| Binding | Multi-ply Top and Back, Single-ply Fretboard and Headstock | — |
| Body Finish | Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer | — |
| Body shape | Songwriter | — |
| Bracing | Traditional Scalloped Wide X | — |
| Bridge | Belly-up, Ebony, with Mother-of-Pearl Arrow inlays | Ebony |
| Bridge Pins | TUSQ | Ebony |
| Case | Hardshell | — |
| Controls | Soundhole-mounted Volume and Tone | — |
| Finish | Gold | — |
| Fretboard inlay | Mother of Pearl Diamond Eye | Faux Pearl / Silver Spires |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | — |
| Fret Count | 20 | — |
| Headstock Inlay | Gibson Logo and Crown in Mother of Pearl | — |
| Joint | Compound Dovetail Neck-to-body; Hot Hide Glue | — |
| Model | MCSSSWRARBL | — |
| Nut | Bone | — |
| Nut width | 43.82mm / 1.73in | — |
| Output Jack | 1/4" Endpin | — |
| Pickguard | Custom Line, Tortoise | None |
| Preamp | LR Baggs HiFi | — |
| Profile | Round | — |
| Saddle Material | Bone | — |
| Scale length | 647.7mm / 25.5in | 24-7/8" |
| Side | Rosewood | — |
| Strap Buttons | Endpin Jack | — |
| String gauges | .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053 | — |
| Top wood | Thermally Aged Solid Sitka Spruce | Hawaiian Koa |
| Truss rod | Adjustable | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | 2-ply Black Bell | — |
| Tuner Plating | Gold | — |
| Tuners | Grover Open Back | Taylor Gold |
| Under Saddle Pickup | LR Baggs HiFi | — |
| Armrest | — | No |
| Back And Sides | — | Shamel Ash |
| Back Configuration | — | 2-piece No Wedge |
| Back Side Finish | — | Gloss |
| Body Binding | — | White |
| Fretboard Binding | — | Black |
| Neck Finish | — | Gloss |
| Nut Saddle | — | Bone |
| Orientation | — | Right Handed |
| Peghead Binding | — | None |
| Peghead Finish | — | Gloss |
| Peghead Inlay | — | None |
| Peghead Type | — | Standard T5z |
| Top Finish | — | Gloss |
More Songwriter Recording Artist, Left-Handed, Rosewood Burst comparisons
- Songwriter Recording Artist, Left-Handed, Rosewood Burst vs J-45 50s Original, Vintage Sunburst
- Songwriter Recording Artist, Left-Handed, Rosewood Burst vs SJ-200 Standard, Tri Burst
- Songwriter Recording Artist, Left-Handed, Rosewood Burst vs 1960 Hummingbird Reissue, Heavy Aged, Washed Cherry Sunburst
- Songwriter Recording Artist, Left-Handed, Rosewood Burst vs J-45 EC Studio, Vintage Sunburst