I also have a Taipan. Mine was made back in 1999, and has yew cores. I bought it off e-b-a-y from a pawn shop, and It was so beat up when I got it, it was just pathetic. I ended up sending it to JD and having it completely refinished, and just received it back about two weeks ago. It was so beat up, that by the time he got done refinishing it, he had to re-write the rated poundage on the bow from 53@28 to 49@28. I was not disappointed, It is an amazing bow.
My bench mark is my 48# A&H one piece, and there is nothing out there that can out perform the A&H, but that Taipan is close. My next favorite next to the A&H is my Toelke whips, I have three of them, I also have three Berry's. JD Berry's and the Toelke's are neck and neck, but that Taipan is......., all I can say is I love my Taipan, I also love my Morningstar and my Argos.
If you have never shot a JD Berry, you are missing out. Mark my words, JD Berry will become a legend.