Taylor Guitars

Taylor Road Show 2010

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Fueling a guitar lover’s dream, Taylor Guitars is hitting the road again to bring the company’s well-loved and award-winning Road Show to authorized Taylor dealers across the U.S. and abroad in 2010.

Now in its fourth year, the Road Show brings enthusiasts, Taylor clinicians and experts straight from the company’s factory in El Cajon, California together for a lively in-store gathering. At each event, Taylor’s Road Show team shares insights on the company’s guitar making process and demonstrates how body shapes and woods affect tone. After the demonstration, players are invited to take part in the “Petting Zoo”: an opportunity to pick up and play a variety of different models, as well as rare and custom Build to Order models. Admission to each Road Show is free.

The 2010 Road Show tour will kick off at the end of March with multiple dates in Florida and Texas, followed by several dates on the East Coast and throughout Canada. Each Road Show attendee will receive a complimentary digital subscription to Premier Guitar magazine and while supplies last, TaylorWare gear and Elixir® strings. Attendees will have the chance to enter to win the grand prize, an opportunity to build their own custom guitar through Taylor’s Build To Order program.

In 2009, Taylor brought the Road Show to over 170 in-store events in the United States and Canada, plus another 40 events throughout Europe. The Taylor Guitars Road Show was awarded the 2008 Supplier Excellence Award from Music Inc. magazine in the category of Events for putting “the excitement of the company’s factory tours into retail dealers across the country.”

For more information on Road Show dates and locations, please visit the official Taylor Guitars Road Show calendar at www.taylorguitars.com/roadshow

Guitar Meets World: Episode 3

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Guitar Meets World

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Singer-songwriter Cindy Santini is taking a pair of Taylor Big Baby acoustics to the streets, or better yet, to the sunny beaches of the land Down Under. Cindy and the Be Love Bus girls are cruising up the east coast of Australia in a camper bus on a mission to spread love, health, awareness and their fun-loving spirit through music, yoga, surfing, art and laughter.

Follow Cindy and her friends, pro surfers Rochelle Ballard and Leah Dawson, on encounters like “Guitar Meets Boobies,” where the Big Baby learns about breast cancer awareness from friends at the Keep-A-Breast Foundation. Or “Guitar Meets Upward Dog,” where the six-string is introduced to yoga, beach-style, with Yogi Rochelle Ballard. Or “Guitar Meets Soul Surfer,” where, well, you get the picture. At the end of the tour, the Big Baby Taylors will be raffled off to help promote breast cancer awareness.

Check out Episode 1. Their first few days on the tour.

Guitar Meets World: Episode 2

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Baritone 8-String: “A Great Addition to Any Collection”

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

In the April edition of Acoustic Guitar magazine, contributing editor Doug Young asks readers, “What has eight strings, jangles like a 12-string, growls like a baritone guitar, and plays as easily as a six-string?” Easy enough for us here at Taylor; it’s our low-tuned Baritone 8-String.

Young begins his review by admiring the guitar’s design, and once he picks it up, finds that it delivers “plenty of bass with easier playability than longer-scaled instruments.” Citing “new tonal colors,” Young writes, “while the Baritone Eight-String would be a novelty in anyone’s guitar lineup, it is quite versatile, adding a new twist to existing pieces and opening up new creative possibilities, and it will undoubtedly inspire some new sounds and new ideas.”

He takes the guitar through some flatpicking and fingerstyle runs, and has high praise for the Expression System, which he calls “multidimensional”. Summing things up, Young writes, “Taylor has created a unique and unusual instrument for anyone looking for new sounds. With its extended range and unusual blend of single and double strings, the instrument should excel as a tool for studio work, provide a distinct sound in a song circle or jam, and above all, inspire new directions for anyone willing to dive in and explore its potential.”

To read the complete review and watch the video demo, please visit Acoustic Guitar.

http://www.acousticguitar.com

Baritone 8-String Earns “Premier Gear” Award

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

In the January edition of Premier Guitar magazine, acoustic editor Gayla Drake Paul found a “divine” new voice in the Baritone 8-String. Paul, a prolific guitarist and singer-songwriter, lent her considerable playing — and writing — talent to a review of the guitar. On first impression, Paul notes that the double octave (D and A) strings “work brilliantly, providing a shimmering high end that many baritones desperately lack without crossing over into the jangly 12-string territory,” and that “the addition of those two octave strings opens new possibilities….”

As an enamored songstress, Paul discovers that “every time I put my hands on it new ideas, new approaches or new grooves come flying out of the soundhole almost faster than I can play them.” She attacks the guitar as a fingerstylist, noting that “when I wanted an accent, sha-wing, I could dig in and let it shimmer…. It didn’t take long before I was completely comfortable with it.”

With a flatpick, Paul also dug in and experienced the guitar’s “lovely, warm-but-shiny sound.... It’s brilliant, but never cold sounding…and [I] never notice the difference between the doubled strings and the normal strings.”

Paul also had plenty of compliments for the Taylor Expression System®, calling it “really intuitive and easy to use,” and “terrifically ‘guitary’ and warm.” She also noted that when the bass was cranked up, she was “treated to some of the leanest warm bass I have ever heard, which is totally shocking considering I was playing a baritone guitar. It was incredibly full, but not even remotely muddy, and I had not a hint of feedback, even turned up pretty loud.”

Her “final mojo”? Paul declares the Baritone 8-String “more addictive than Facebook. Like your typical Taylor, it’s beautifully made, comfortable to hold and outstandingly playable. Add to that a remarkably reasonable price, and you have yourself the first ‘must-have’ acoustic guitar of 2010.”

The Baritone 8-String earned the magazine’s prestigious Premier Gear award and a perfect rating of a 5. You can read the complete review by visiting Premier Guitar.

Taylor Artists Rack Up Grammys

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

On Sunday, January 31, the 52nd Annual Grammy awards were held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, and the ceremony proved to be a memorable night for many Taylor Guitars artists as performers, nominees and winners.

Longtime Taylor player Taylor Swift (PSGA, GS8, 615ce, PS-LTD, T5-S, K65ce, SolidBody), who went into the weekend with eight nominations, took home awards for Album of the Year (Fearless), Best Country Song (“White Horse”), Best Country Album (Fearless), and Best Female Country Vocal Performance (“White Horse”). As part of the ceremony, Swift treated the audience to a performance of her new song, “Today was a Fairytale,” from the Valentine’s Day movie soundtrack on her all-koa PSGA and was joined by legendary songstress Stevie Nicks. The duo broke into the ’70s Fleetwood Mac hit, “Rhiannon,” which morphed into a rendition of Swift’s high school angst/crush anthem, “You Belong with Me.”

Shortly after the Zac Brown Band (NS74ce, 910, 614ce, 612ce, Baby Taylor, SolidBody, T3 ) accepted their award for Best New Artist, the band, accompanied by famed keyboardist Leon Russell, performed an Americana medley, including “America the Beautiful” and their country radio hit, “Chicken Fried.” Brown rocked hard on his NS74ce, enthralling the audience with some hot, deep-dig picking to close out the performance.

The Dave Matthews Band (914ce, 714, 410, Jumbo Custom, W65, 856ce) scored nominations for Album of the Year and Best Rock Album, and were on-hand to perform their hit “You and Me” from Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King. Dave Matthews strummed his well-worn 914ce, and the band was joined on stage by a full orchestra of promising, young musicians.

Other Taylor strummers who came away winners included Jason Mraz (JMSM, 714ce, 612ce, NS52ce, NS72ce) in the categories of Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, and children’s artist Buck Howdy (PS15, T5S1 custom, 615 Custom), who was awarded Best Spoken Word Album for Children for Aaaaah! Spooky, Scary Stories and Songs.

Additional Taylor-playing Grammy nominees included legendary country crooner George Strait (910 custom cocobolo), Katy Perry (814ce, 512ce, Baby Taylor), Daryl Hall and John Oates (555, NS74CE, SB-X, 614CE, 912C), Rascal Flatts (GSMS, 614CE, 810, GSRS, 615ce, 810CE, 714ce, NS74ce, 855), Trace Adkins (615ce, 815c, HR-LTD, GS6), Prince (T5, 612ce, 414ce), Paramore (314ce, 712, 714ce) and The Fray (310ce, T5C1, T5S1).

You can view a complete list of Grammy-nominated and winning Taylor artists below. For more information about the 52nd Grammy Awards, please visit www.grammy.com

Album of the Year
Taylor Swift, Fearless (Winner)

Dave Matthews Band, Big Whiskey and The Groogrux King

Song of the Year
Taylor Swift, “You Belong With Me”

Best New Artist
Zac Brown Band (Winner)

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Katy Perry, “Hot N Cold”
Taylor Swift, “You Belong With Me”

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Jason Mraz, “Make it Mine” (Winner)

Best Solo Rock Performance
Prince, “The Dreamer”

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
Daryl Hall and John Oates, “Sara Smile”
The Fray, “Never Say Never”

Best Pop Collaborative with Vocals
Jason Mraz w/Colbie Caillat, “Lucky” (Winner)
Taylor Swift w/Colbie Caillat, “Breathe”

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
Jars of Clay, The Long Fall Back to Earth

Best Rock Album
Dave Matthews Band, Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King

Best Female Country Performance
Taylor Swift, “White Horse” (Winner)

Best Male Country Performance
George Strait, “Living for the Night”
Trace Adkins, “All I Ask for Anymore”

Best Country Performance By A Duo or Group
Zac Brown Band, “Chicken Fried”
Rascal Flatts, “Here Comes Goodbye”

Best Country Collaboration with Vocals
George Strait w/Lee Ann Womack, “Everything But Quits”

Best Country Song
Taylor Swift, “White Horse” (Winner)

Best Country Album
Taylor Swift, Fearless (Winner)

Zac Brown Band, The Foundation
George Strait, Twang

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

Daryl Hall & John Oates, “Sara Smile”

Best Musical Album for Children
Buck Howdy, Pete Seeger Tribute – Ageless Kids Songs

Best Spoken Word Album for Children
Buck Howdy, Aaaaah! Spooky, Scary Stories and Songs (Winner)

Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
Paramore, “Decode” (from Twilight)

T3 Wins Product of the Year

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

At the annual National Association of Music Merchants trade show (NAMM) in Anaheim, California (January 14-17), the Taylor T3 was awarded the “Product of the Year” by The Music and Sound Retailer magazine.

Brian Berk, editor of the magazine, presented company co-founder Bob Taylor with the award among a group of Taylor team members. “Although a difficult time for many, 2009 was a year of great product introductions,” Berk said. “Our readers have spoken to say Taylor’s T3 is at the top of the class. The award is voted on by retailers only, not an editorial staff, making the honor even more special. We congratulate Taylor’s T3 for winning our 2009 Product of the Year.”

The semihollow T3 and its Bigsby-equipped counterpart, the T3/B, was introduced at Winter NAMM 2009 and has since gone on to receive rave reviews and accolades from both the media and public.

The T3 features an expertly crafted body of sapele, topped with quilted maple. A neck of tropical American mahogany sports heftier fret wire for a truly electric feel, while brilliant chrome hardware adorns the T3 for a ready-to-rock look that screams electric, vintage and cool.

While the T3 offers plenty for any player on its own, the designers at Taylor decided to take the new line up a notch in a variation, the T3/B. Marking a first for the company, the T3/B includes an authentic Bigsby vibrato (model B70) paired with a roller bridge for high performance, giving players the freedom to set the intonation of each string, and eliminating the “dragging string” sound so commonly found in fixed bridges. The standard T3 model comes with a stop tailpiece.

The T3 features Taylor’s high definition (HD) humbuckers, which are specially positioned to capture the T3’s fidelity and range of tones. A three-way switch covers three standard pickup configurations, and as an added twist, a coil-splitting function is activated for both humbuckers by pulling up on the volume knob, opening the door to a palette of single coil sounds.

The T3 and T3/B are offered in four colors: Natural, Ruby Red Burst, Black and Translucent Orange, with tobacco or honey sunburst options also available. Strung with Elixir light gauge electric strings with NANOWEB® coating, the T3 comes ready to gig in a Taylor hardshell case.

Taylor Guitars @ NAMM Day 3 (Video)

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The T3, Mana, Steven Curtis Chapman. Bob Taylor and Larry Breedlove discussing the Dave Matthews Signature Model.

Taylor Guitars Announces the Serj Tankian T5

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

For the versatile rocker, no guitar can speak as loudly or as delicately as the award-winning Taylor T5, the industry’s best-selling electric/acoustic hybrid guitar. Just ask Serj Tankian, the accomplished, creative frontman and songwriter for the Grammy® award-winning rock band System of a Down. Tankian, who recently released his first solo album, Elect the Dead, has played Taylor acoustic guitars for several years, and has spent the past two years touring with a Taylor T5. Now, Tankian brings his creative input, coupled with the expertise of Taylor’s design team, to his own signature model, the STSM-T5.

The STSM-T5 is based on the popular T5-C and features a sleek, thinline opaque black body, crafted from sapele and paired with a maple top. Two stylized, unbound f-holes grace the top, and the fretboard and peghead feature a red “energy wheel” inlay design that was provided by Tankian. The same vibrant red binds the body, fretboard and peghead. Says Tankian of his T5: “The way the T5 is designed, especially when playing in an arena environment, sounds like a great acoustic and is by far superior to anything else in terms of sound, clarity, depth and tone. When I’m writing music or lyrics, I’m just pouring whatever comes out of me from the universe and channeling it and structuring it into a quality record.”

The versatility of this guitar lies in Taylor’s proprietary T5 electronics and five-way switching, which together yield a wide range of guitar tones, from delicate acoustic to full-on electric crunch. Three magnetic pickups — an under-fretboard neck humbucker, a visible bridge humbucker, and an acoustic body sensor mounted to the inside surface of the top — provide a complete integration of tonal output. “I try to make music in a way that I’d be interested in listening to it myself,” Tankian says. “Using the T5 gives me the versatility of a pure acoustic sound or electric. It’s light and thin too, so you can stand in front of the mic and just rock out. For a stage environment, the T5 works great.”

The STSM-T5 is offered at a suggested retail price of $3,198 and comes in a ready-to-rock hardshell case with a certificate of authenticity signed by Tankian. The STSM is available at authorized Taylor dealers worldwide.

Taylor Guitars @ NAMM Day 2 (Video)

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor product specialist Corey Witt takes us through the Baritone 8-string. Some friends stop by the booth including Night Ranger, Damn Yankees and Jason Mraz.

Taylor Guitars @ NAMM Day 1 (Video)

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars VP of Marketing gives a guided tour of the Taylor Guitars Booth at the 2010 NAMM show. Highlights include Jason Mraz Signature Model, T3 (Product of the Year) and a few performance clips (Love and Theft, Doyle Dykes, Serj Tankian).

Taylor Guitars Introduces the Baritone 8-String Guitar

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Born from a love of tone and a passion for innovation, Taylor Guitars has expanded the possibilities of guitar voicing in its new model, the Baritone 8-String. With a
bold, fresh sound, the Baritone 8-String broadens the tonal spectrum, giving players a rich musical palette
that promises to uncork new inspiration of musical harmony.

Featuring a Grand Symphony body with a richly hued back and sides of Indian rosewood topped with Sitka spruce, the Baritone 8-String embodies the spirit of a traditional baritone guitar paired with Taylor’s quality craftsmanship and product innovation. The model features a longer-scaled 27-inch neck and Taylor designed baritone bracing. The guitar is tuned from B to B and features additional octave strings paired along with the third and fourth (D and A) strings. This feature gives players an extended range of sounds, without compromising tonal integrity or playability.

The Baritone 8-String came to be as Taylor’s product development team was deep in the throes of designing several series of 35th Anniversary guitars, including a 6-string baritone (XXXV-B) and a 9-string guitar (XXXV-9). The team decided to experiment by creating a hybrid of the two, as Bob Taylor explains: “We loved the traditional baritone, but missed having some of that upper register. We thought, what if we turned it into a 9-string baritone? So, we made one. But after deciding it was a little too jangly, we pulled off the [doubled second] string, leaving the third and fourth octave strings. It sounded awesome.”

Adding the two octave strings, Taylor says, transformed the baritone. “It’s a whole new ballgame. It’s really, really cool because you can either accentuate those octaves or stay away from them. The beauty of this guitar is that it goes low and those two strings brighten it up, but they don’t sound too ‘octave-y’. It doesn’t give you that 12-string effect as much as it really just extends the range because, as a baritone, the octaves aren’t really high. It fills the guitar out and gives it a nice (tonal) spread.”

The Baritone 8-String is tuned a fourth below standard guitar tuning, allowing the player to play songs in a
lower register. In terms of the playing experience, Taylor’s David Hosler, a member of the product development team, compares the tonal properties of the 8-string baritone to a blend of three different instruments. “When I hear it, I feel like I’m hearing a 6-string, a bass, and a bit of 12-string all in one guitar,” he says. “In giving it a good listen, it sounds like standard and alternate tuning at the same time.”

The product development team at Taylor isn’t the only group excited about the new model. Taylor strumming
dealers, from metal players to singer-songwriters, are lining up to play and share the experience with their customers. Matt Clancy, from Craig’s Music in Weatherford, Texas sampled the 8-string during a fall Taylor Road Show event. As a heavy metal musician, he was blown away with the “bigness of the tone.” In fact, he says his favorite thing about the guitar is the tonal fullness he gets from a single strum. “When you’re playing regular chords on the 8-string, there’s so much more body, especially with octave strings,” he elaborates. “It opens up the way minor chords sound, and they sound huge on it. It’s a great guitar for guys who do metal and some acoustic rock, as it’s perfect for power chords, and for some jazz too, especially if they like playing in low B. It’s a guitar that’s filled with big, tonal goodness. It adds a depth that you can’t get from any other guitar on the market right now.”

Evan Carmen, a Taylor dealer from Morgan Music in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, had the chance to play an 8-string prototype during a recent visit to the Taylor factory. As an acoustic singer-songwriter, Carmen is sure this guitar will be an addition to his collection. “There is practical application in nearly every style and genre I can think of,” he says. “It’s only a matter of time before it starts changing music forever. I can’t wait to see how people react to it right out of the gate. No doubt, we’ll be hearing it used frequently after people catch wind of what it’s capable of. I can’t wait to have one of my own.”

As enchanting as the guitar is to play and listen to, it’s equally attractive visually. The model’s appointments include a mother-of-pearl peghead inlay and delicate diamond-shaped fretboard inlays, a three-ring abalone rosette, and abalone-dotted bridge pins. Premium features include Indian rosewood binding, a bone nut and saddle, and an all-gloss finish. Amplified with the Taylor Expression System® pickup and strung with ELIXIR® Baritone strings, the model is also offered in a standard 6-string version. Available at authorized domestic and international Taylor dealers in mid-winter, the Baritone 8-String will be offered at a suggested retail price of $3,998 and the Baritone 6-String at $3,798. Players looking to keep their baritone guitar equipped with ELIXIR strings® can purchase them through TaylorWare, the company’s online store of Taylor-branded clothing, accessories and gear.

To experience the company’s new guitars, artist performances, or to learn more about Taylor Guitars,
please visit the Taylor Guitars booth on the second floor of the Anaheim Convention Center, Room 213.

Jason Mraz Signature Model

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

San Diego-based troubadour Jason Mraz has spent the past thirteen years performing everywhere from local coffee shops to stadiums with his Taylor guitars. Along the way, Mraz has released three studio albums, several EP's and live albums including the recently released Beautiful Mess - Live on Earth DVD/CD. Mraz's live shows have garnered critical acclaim around the world and his albums have earned multiple Grammy® nominations. Late last year, his hit single, "I'm Yours", set a music industry record for the most weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. In early December, Mraz visited the Taylor factory to meet with the company's design team and to complete work on his own Taylor model, the Jason Mraz Signature Model (JMSM).

The JMSM is based on Mraz’s go-to guitar, a Taylor nylon-string NS72ce, a guitar he says “nurtured a whole album’s worth of songs” and in performances, “gave me a way to communicate with the audience without a guitar standing in my way. It felt like it was part of me, it was a part of the energy that I wanted to put out there.” Crafted from a back and sides of Indian rosewood and a top of Western Red cedar, the JMSM includes key design touches provided by Mraz. The fretboard inlay, in Mexican cypress, features the phrase “Be Love” set below a design that features a triangle within a circle, which mirrors a forearm tattoo he got in July 2009. “I chose this symbol simply because I want to be whole in mind, body and soul,” he explains. “I think that’s a divine trinity there. What is ‘Be Love’ but cutting out the middle man. You don’t have to have a certain someone to be loved. You don’t have to have certain conditions to have love in your life. You can just be love. So, it’s basically a practice of unconditional love, a practice of unabashed generosity.”

Mraz’s touch can also be seen in the soundhole rosette, which features one of the artist’s passions: the zodiac. “I’m always looking into the cosmos to inspire me or to help me create my schedule, even for tours and for when I’m going to write and what I’m going to do,” Mraz shares. “So, everyone can relate to this because your zodiac sign is going to be in the rosette somewhere, in the person you love, all the relationships in your life can be related to this…the rosette is here for us to put ourselves into the universe.” The hand-inlaid rosette of the twelve signs of the zodiac is crafted from a Hawaiian koa ring, a background of bubinga, and Mexican cypress symbols.

The JMSM comes ready for both intimate venues and crowd-packed stadiums with the company’s ES-N® pickup, in a hardshell case, with a certificate of authenticity signed by Jason Mraz. The JMSM model will be available at authorized domestic and international Taylor dealers in late spring. During the NAMM show, Jason Mraz will perform in the Taylor Guitars room on Friday, January 15 at 4:30 p.m.

To experience the company's new guitars, artist performances, or to learn more about Taylor Guitars, please visit the Taylor Guitars booth on the second floor of the Anaheim Convention Center, Room 213.

Customize Your Tone

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars is inviting players to “rock it your way” with the introduction of customizable SolidBody guitars. Fans of the Classic, Standard and Custom SolidBodys can now tailor their choice of pickup configurations, colors, and have the option of a Taylor-designed tremolo, all to dial in their perfect tone and look. “By adding a variety of pickups and configurations, players have a multitude of options available, literally, at their fingertips, to reflect their personalities and tonal preferences,” shared David Hosler, vice president. “Beyond mere color choices, we wanted to offer players the opportunity to customize their SolidBody from the top down.”

For the perfect tone, the company has expanded its popular, guitar player friendly, plug and play loaded pickguards across the SolidBody models. Totally solderless and easily swapped with just a Phillips screw driver, the new pickup combos come ready to rock in 11 different combinations on a choice of four different pickguard colors, including black, tortoise, and black or white pearl. Players have the option of two mini or full-sized high gain (HG) or high definition (HD) humbuckers, two or three mini HD or HG humbuckers, three single coils, or a two single coil and one full-size HG pickup split.

Offered for the first time in the SolidBody line, players will also have the option of a Vintage Alnico (VA) loaded pickguard. The VA pickups, a familiar and welcome sound to the electric guitar enthusiast, pay homage to the tradition of classic humbuckers but impart its own unique identity in the world of electric pickups. Hosler explains: "I've always liked that big wooly tone that comes with PAF (patent applied for) humbuckers. The goal was to create a pickup that was a more modern version of that type of sound.” Custom and Standard SolidBody players will also have a choice of pickguard-free, swappable, modular pickups, including two mini or full-sized HG or HD pickups, as well as a two full-sized VAs.

Fans of the whammy bar will now have an option of adding the Taylor tremolo to their SolidBody. Sitting on top the sleek, yet comfortable Taylor-designed fulcrum vibrato bridge, the tremolo features a modern design, one that Hosler calls "inspiring"."One of the most unique things with this tremolo is that is has a very modern feel,” he explains. Traditional tremolo users will be impressed with the feel and the easy-to engage action of the bar. Hosler shares, "On top of looking cool, this trem feels good and sounds even better."

Exclusive to the SolidBody Classic model, the company has added a variety of vibrant colors to the line including Lava Red Pearl, Jewelescent Orange, Purple Flake, Blue Metallic, Viper Blue, Magenta Pearl, Sublime, Tobacco Sunburst, Sage Green Metallic and Titanium Pearl. The Classic will continue to be offered in Black, Natural, Trans Red and Trans White. Each SolidBody features a five-way pickup switch, comfortable tone and volume control knobs, Taylor's proprietary T-Lock™ single bolt neck, and comes ready to rock in a Taylor hard case. The suggested retail prices for the SolidBody Classic options start at $1,748, for the SolidBody Standard at $2,398, and for the Custom at $3,098. The models will be available at authorized domestic and international Taylor dealers in early spring. The complete line of the company’s swappable and solderless loaded pickguards and modular pickups is currently available at TaylorWare, the company’s online merchandise and electronics store.

Jason Mraz, Maná, Night Ranger, Steven Curtis Chapman and Love and Theft

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Ahead of the 2010 National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Winter convention in Anaheim, California, Taylor Guitars is announcing its all-star lineup of accomplished musicians performing over three days of the annual trade show. Beginning at 3:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, the Taylor Guitars room will come alive with brilliant sights and sounds ranging from hard rock and country to pop and inspirational music.

To kick off the show, on Thursday at 2:00 p.m., Serj Tankian, the accomplished solo artist and creative frontman and songwriter for the Grammy award-winning rock band System of a Down, will join Bob Taylor on stage to talk about his career and upcoming projects, as well as to debut his new signature model, the Serj Tankian T5. During this time, Tankian will field questions from the audience. Following the debut of the new model, Taylor's well-loved signature artist and dynamic fingerstylist Doyle Dykes (DDSM) will perform at 3:00 p.m.

Later that day at 4:30 p.m., rising country band Love and Theft will mark their first NAMM performance. Comprised of members Stephen Barker Liles (616ce), Eric Gunderson (GA5, T3/B, SB-C1,716ce) and Brian Bandas, all of whom sing lead vocals and play guitar, the band has gained attention and a lot of airplay from country radio with their catchy hit, "Runaway"; the song earned the biggest first week digital sales for any debut country act in 2009. The trio released their first album, World Wide Open, in August 2009 and their latest single, "Dancing In Circles", is currently climbing the country radio charts.

On Friday, the day starts rocking at 3:00 p.m. with '80s icons Night Ranger. With a career spanning 20 years and 16 million albums sold worldwide, longtime Taylor-playing members Jack Blades (816ce, 914ce ), Brad Gillis (814ce), Kelly Keagy (716ce) and Joel Hoekstra (614ce) will perform an acoustic set of the band's melodious, power-pop ballads. At 4:30 p.m., San Diego-based troubadour Jason Mraz (714ce, 612ce, NS52ce, NS72ce) will bring his catchy, positive acoustic stylings to the Taylor stage. The multiple Grammy nominee set a music industry record late last year with his hit single, "I'm Yours", off his 2008 platinum certified album, We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things, for the most weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Mraz has spent the past thirteen years performing everywhere from local coffee shops to stadiums of adoring fans, and along the way, has released three critically acclaimed studio albums and garnered the Hal David Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. At the show, and in collaboration with Taylor Guitars, Mraz will debut his latest project, the Jason Mraz Signature Model (JMSM) guitar.

On Saturday, revered Spanish rockers Maná and the most celebrated Christian artist of the past decade, Steven Curtis Chapman, will both perform. Known for their pop meets rock 'n' roll sound and lyrics, Maná (514ce, 710ce, 712ce, K14ce, GSRC, T5-C1, T5C1-12, T5C2, T5C1) has gained notoriety around the world throughout the course of nearly three decades. Following Maná, inspirational musician Steven Curtis Chapman (510, 512-M, 712ce, 714ce, 814c, 815c) will take the stage. Chapman, who has collected a wealth of awards, including five Grammys, an American Music Award, and more Dove Award nominations than any other artist in the history of the Gospel Music Association, has inspired fans over two decades by sharing a message of hope and love. Chapman's most recent projects include the release of his seventeenth album, Beauty Will Rise, featuring the lead single, "Heaven Is the Face", which peaked at no. 9 late last year on Billboard's Top Christian Songs.

Thursday, January 14
2:00 p.m. Serj Tankian Interview with Bob Taylor (www.SerjTankian.com)
3:00 p.m. Doyle Dykes (www.DoyleDykes.com)
4:30 p.m. Love and Theft (www.LoveandTheft.com)

Friday, January 15
3:00 p.m. Night Ranger (www.NightRanger.com)
4:30 p.m. Jason Mraz (www.JasonMraz.com)

Saturday, January 16
3:00 p.m. Steven Curtis Chapman (www.StevenCurtisChapman.com)
4:30 p.m. Mana (www.Mana.com.mx)

All artist performances and times are subject to change. For the most current lineup of performers and to experience the company's new guitars, during the NAMM show please visit the Taylor Guitars room on the second floor of the Anaheim Convention Center, room 213.

For additional Taylor Guitars news, please visit
www.taylorguitars.com/news

New @ NAMM

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Want the inside scoop on new products, performances and famous faces hanging out in the Taylor room during the 2010 NAMM Show? We’ll be Tweeting, MySpacing, Facebooking and just about everything in-between to make sure you don’t miss a beat. And for fans of our show update videos, those, too, will be back this year, giving you a direct line to all the action. Be sure to visit us here for breaking news from the show, January 14-17.

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Taylor Artists Rack Up Grammy Nominations

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to this year’s long list of Grammy-nominated Taylor artists! Leading the contenders with eight nominations is longtime Taylor strummer Taylor Swift (PSGA, GS8, 615ce, PS-LTD, T5-S, K65ce, SolidBody Classic), followed by newcomers the Zac Brown Band (NS74ce, 910, 614ce, 612ce, Baby Taylor, SolidBody Classic, SolidBody Custom, T3) and legendary country crooner George Strait (910 custom cocobolo), both of whom picked up three nominations. Singer-songwriters Dave Matthews (914ce, 714, 410, Jumbo Custom, W65, 856ce) and Jason Mraz (714ce, 612ce, NS52ce, NS72ce), along with children’s artist Buck Howdy (PS15, T5S1 custom, 615 Custom) each have two nominations, and Katy Perry (814ce, 512ce, Baby Taylor), Daryl Hall and John Oates (555, NS74CE, SB-X, 614CE, 912C), Rascal Flatts (GSMS, 614CE, 810, GSRS, 615ce, 810CE, 714ce, NS74ce, 855), Trace Adkins (615ce, 815c, HR-LTD, GS6), Prince (T5, 612ce, 414ce) and indie rockers Paramore (314ce, 712, 714ce) and The Fray (310ce, T5C1, T5S1) are each up for one.

You can view a complete list of Grammy-nominated Taylor artists below. The Grammy Awards® will air on January 31, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific Time on CBS. For more information about the 52nd Grammy Awards, please visit www.grammy.com.

Record of the Year
Taylor Swift, “You Belong With Me”

Album of the Year
Dave Matthews Band, Big Whiskey and The Groogrux King
Taylor Swift, Fearless

Song of the Year
Taylor Swift, “You Belong With Me”

Best New Artist
Zac Brown Band

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Katy Perry, “Hot N Cold”
Taylor Swift, “You Belong With Me”

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Jason Mraz, “Make it Mine”
Best Solo Pop Performance
Prince, “The Dreamer”

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
Daryl Hall and John Oates, “Sara Smile”
The Fray, “Never Say Never”

Best Pop Collaborative with Vocals
Jason Mraz w/Colbie Caillat, “Lucky”
Taylor Swift w/Colbie Caillat, “Breathe”

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
Jars of Clay, The Long Fall Back to Earth

Best Rock Album
Dave Matthews Band, Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King

Best Female Country Performance
Taylor Swift, “White Horse”

Best Male Country Performance
George Strait, “Living for the Night”
Trace Adkins, “All I Ask for Anymore”

Best Country Performance By A Duo or Group
Zac Brown Band, “Chicken Fried”

Rascal Flatts, “Here Comes Goodbye”

Best Country Collaboration with Vocals
George Strait w/Lee Ann Womack, “Everything But Quits”

Best Country Song
Taylor Swift, “White Horse”

Best Country Album
Zac Brown Band, The Foundation
George Strait, Twang
Taylor Swift, Fearless

Best Musical Album for Children
Buck Howdy, Pete Seeger Tribute – Ageless Kids Songs

Best Spoken Word Album for Children
Buck Howdy, Aaaaah! Spooky, Scary Stories and Songs

Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
Paramore, “Decode” (from Twilight)

TestDrive 2009 Grand Prize Winner: The N Result

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Earlier this year, Taylor Guitars and Elixir Strings® partnered up to give one lucky band or artist the ultimate in guitars and strings. Musicians who had registered with SonicBids.com were invited to TestDrive 2009, a “fan-favorite” contest that would award five select artists with Taylor SolidBody guitars and Elixir strings and cables. One overall winner would be awarded recording time at a marquee studio, offering a chance to show off their musical prowess with their new Taylor guitars.

Out of 2,000 entrants, 25 were voted into the semifinals, and of those 25, five finalists were chosen by the Taylor Guitars and Elixir Strings Artist Relations teams. The five finalists were: power-rockers The Better World, singer-songwriter Matt Duke, genre-crossing band The N Result, modern pop act Kenotia, and energetic rockers Facing Forward. In the end, it was the New Brunswick, New Jersey-based band The N Result that took the top prize. Comprised of members Ross Lippencott (lead vocals, guitar), Dan Bascom (guitar), Bobby Tarantino (bass), Eitan Levine (keyboard), Nate Sankary (drums) and Chase Innis (MC), the two-year-old band has amassed a strong following both on campus at Rutgers University, where most of the band are students, and along the East Coast, including New York City.

“We are so excited to record,” Lippencott exclaimed upon hearing the news that his band had won. “We have a lot of new stuff that’s going to sound really good on our Elixir-equipped Taylors.”

As part of the competition, each band was asked to make a video showing how they were using the products. Lippencott and his bandmates decided to make a full-scale, heist-themed music video featuring their song “Break it Down” off the group’s debut album, Lines.

“We wanted to portray how we felt about having premium products and what it means to an emerging band like ours to get this opportunity,” Lippencott explains. “As it’s something we value so much, we wanted to create a video that was a throwback to the great stories of thievery, like an Ocean’s Eleven or The Italian Job. We actually contacted a museum we know, and they graciously let us use their space. On the wall there were super expensive paintings, and the thought of putting the guitar in a glass case just seemed like such a cool idea.”

At the end of the video, the band added the Taylor and Elixir logos and the tagline, “Don’t be caught without them,” because as Lippencott shares, “as an artist, you don’t want to be caught without a Taylor.”

http://www.myspace.com/thenresult
video: www.youtube.com/thenresult

Congrats to CMA Winners

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The 43rd Annual Country Music Association Awards were held on Wednesday, November 11, and the list of Taylor-slinging nominees and award recipients was long.

Sweeping the night was longtime friend of Taylor and crossover superstar Taylor Swift (PSGA, GS8, 615ce, PS-LTD, T5-S, K65ce, SolidBody Classic). Swift opened the show with her hit “Forever and Always” off her CMA-nominated album Fearless and later performed amongst a sea of sign-waving fans who sang along to “Fifteen.” Swift ended the night taking home the award in each category she was nominated in, including Female Vocalist, Album of the Year (Fearless), Music Video (“Love Story”), and Entertainer of the Year. Swift, who was visibly overcome with emotion, became the youngest winner in history at age 19 to win the coveted Entertainer of the Year award, an honor considered country music’s most prestigious. She joins country music luminaries among the likes of Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, George Strait, and is only its sixth female recipient as Entertainer of the Year.

Midway through the show, legendary country crooner George Strait (custom cocobolo 910) performed the title track off his recently released album, “Twang.” Strait also had his hat in the ring for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Music Video of the Year (“Troubadour”), and was nominated with Lee Ann Womack in the category of Musical Event of the Year for their duet “Everything But Quits.”

Newcomer Zac Brown and the Zac Brown Band* (NS74ce, 910, 614ce, 612ce, Baby Taylor, SolidBody Classic, SolidBody Custom, T3) were nominated in four categories for Best New Artist and Vocal Group, as well as Single of the Year and Song of the Year for their country radio hit “Chicken Fried,” off their album The Foundation. The band had a rousing performance of the Charlie Daniels ’70s hit, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” with Zac slinging his NS74ce.

Congratulations to the all the CMA winners and nominees.

*Photo by C. Taylor Crothers

Taylor Guitars Presents the Rock Out with Taylor on Your Taylor Sweepstakes

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In cooperation with Band Hero®, Taylor Guitars is awarding one lucky winner a special prize pack featuring two of the holidays’ hottest products: a Band Hero® Wii® band kit featuring Taylor Swift and the Taylor Swift Baby Taylor guitar.

Contestants can enter to win by visiting www.taylorguitars.com before December 4. The prize package includes one Taylor Swift Baby Taylor guitar, one Band Hero Wii band kit, one Band Hero DS bundle, and one Band Hero t-shirt.

For a complete list of rules and regulations, please visit: http://www.taylorguitars.com/taylorswiftbabytaylorpromo/

Taylor European Re-Tech Tour Kicks Off in Leicester

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Two of Taylor’s finest guitar techs are crossing the pond once again. For two days during November, Taylor guitar owners are invited to have their cherished instruments serviced by the staff from the Taylor Guitars factory in El Cajon, California.

The re-tech event will take place during the ‘Acoustic Avalon’ Show the weekend of November 14 - 15 between 10:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at Leicester Racecourse Conference Centre.

This unique experience is FREE and limited to 50 guitars each day. If you would like to attend, please register by contacting Martin at Sheehans at martin@sheehans.com or call 0116 2557492.

http://www.sheehans.com/

Sheehan’s of Leicester
58a London Rd
Leicester, LE2 0QD, United Kingdom
+44 116 255 7492

Taylor Service Center France

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

To give players around the globe the complete “Taylor Experience” of expert craftsmanship and skilled repair services, Taylor Guitars has opened a new service center in France. Located in the heart of Paris and coordinated through the company’s distribution partnership with Fender Musical Instruments France, the newest Taylor service center features seasoned repair technicians with extensive hands-on experience and expert knowledge of Taylor guitars to give each tune-up, repair or modification that signature Taylor touch. The new location becomes the fifth service center operated by Taylor, joining locations in England, Sweden and Germany, as well as one domestically at the company’s headquarters in El Cajon, California.

David Hosler, Taylor’s Vice President of Customer Service and Repair, traveled to Paris to oversee the construction of the new center. As with all the Europe-based service centers, the new Paris location mirrors the machinery, tools and equipment found in the company’s U.S. factory, making each repair, modification and the overall service experience equal to those guitars that are sent to the U.S. center. “It’s truly a new experience for European players who love their Taylors to know that no matter which country they’re in, the Taylor expertise and high quality luthiery standards are never far away,.” Hosler shares.

As part of Taylor’s commitment to quality, the service centers honor all Taylor warranty services and can perform necessary repairs and modifications to keep an owner’s dream guitar in optimal playing condition.

Players looking to give their guitars “R&R” treatment in the U.S. can send their guitars to the Taylor Factory Service Center located at Taylor’s manufacturing headquarters in El Cajon, California. Open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m,.,The the El Cajon Factory Service Center accepts guitars of all makes and models, including all other acoustic and electric guitar manufacturers, for service. Players who visit the service center will be greeted in a storefront that stocks a variety of popular Taylor parts, including the solderless, “plug and play” pickups for the SolidBody Classic electric guitar, as well as accessories and apparel from TaylorWare, the company’s line of Taylor-branded items.

Country Pop Star Taylor Swift and Taylor Guitars

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Once a talented, aspiring preteen with a Taylor guitar and big musical dreams, country pop superstar Taylor Swift has made her mark on the music industry. After spending much of 2009 on her first headlining tour and celebrating the milestone success of 10 million total albums sold and over 20 million paid downloads, Swift is now adding to her repertoire as a singer, songwriter and actress with her very own signature guitar. In collaboration, Taylor Guitars and Taylor Swift announce the arrival of the Taylor Swift Baby Taylor guitar (TSBT), a model that is sure to inspire players of all skill levels with its compact size, full-voiced tone and a top that features Swift’s design touches.

Based on the best-selling Baby Taylor guitar, the TSBT is ideal for both promising players and accomplished pickers. At three-quarters the size of a standard dreadnought, with a slim 1 11/16-inch neck and a comfortably compact shape, the guitar is just right for both the littlest player’s hands and anyone who likes to pick up and play on the go. With the new model, Swift hopes to inspire others to express themselves through music. “I wanted to share my passion for playing guitar with my fans,” she says. “For a beginner, finding the right guitar can be intimidating, but this guitar, it’s the perfect size. Even if you’ve been playing for years, it’s a great size to travel with.”

The TSBT is crafted from a resilient sapele laminate body with a solid Sitka spruce top. Swift’s design, which encircles the guitar’s soundhole, features her well-known expression “Love, Love, Love” among delicate vines. The design also commemorates the songwriting spirit and success of her latest album, Fearless, whose title is inscribed above the bridge along with her signature.

Swift, who shares a close relationship with Taylor Guitars and regularly uses a variety of Taylor guitars when both performing and recording, fondly remembers her own Baby Taylor as a go-to guitar during her early days of touring. “I used to sit in the back seat of the rental car while I was on my radio tour at 16, writing songs on my Baby Taylor guitar,” she reflects. “I love the sound, and I love those memories.”

It’s not just Swift who is excited about this guitar. Taylor dealers everywhere are also eagerly anticipating its arrival, like Bryan Rankins from Fazio’s Frets and Friends in St. Louis, Missouri. “It’s not often that I get excited about another ‘signature’ guitar, but when I heard about the Taylor Swift Baby Taylor, my reaction was much different,” Rankins says. “Here you have an incredibly gifted young woman who is inspiring young people through her words and music. When I first saw a picture of the guitar, I knew right away that it would help spawn a whole new breed of young musicians and give them something positive that will stay with them for the rest of their lives."

In addition to Taylor’s global network of dealers, the Taylor Swift Baby Taylor is available now for pre-orders at Amazon.com. “We’re thrilled to work with Taylor Guitars to make the new Taylor Swift Baby Taylor available to our customers,” said Noah Herschman, director of Home Electronics and Musical Instruments for Amazon.com. “Taylor Swift is one of the hottest stars in country and pop music, and her collaboration with Taylor Guitars has resulted in a product that we think our customers will love. Now they can pre-order it and ensure they’ll get it in time for the holidays.”

Introduced in 1996, the Baby Taylor was designed to be the ultimate musical travel companion and set the standard for how good a small guitar could sound. Delivering impressive volume and tone for its compact dimensions, the Baby Taylor quickly became the favorite “road guitar” for many professional musicians, including rock legends Bono (U2) and Joe Elliott (Def Leppard), pop artist Katy Perry, and country music hit makers Clint Black and Tim McGraw.

The TSBT will be offered at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $398 and comes ready to rock in a cushioned Taylor Guitars gig bag. The Taylor Swift Baby Taylor guitar is available for purchase at authorized Taylor Guitars dealers, Amazon.com and soon, at TaylorSwift.com.

Taylor Guitars Names Barbara Wight CFO

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars co-founders Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug have announced the appointment of Barbara Wight as Chief Financial Officer. In her new role, Ms. Wight is responsible for the financial, information systems and legal interests of the company and will report to Kurt Listug, CEO.

“We are very grateful for the expertise and leadership that Barbara brings to the table,” said Listug. “Not only does she have a proven track record of growing businesses and managing capital structures, but she also has a depth of financial experience that will be invaluable in helping Taylor achieve our continued growth objectives."

Ms. Wight says she is excited to join the company. “From its humble beginnings as a two-man shop, to its present day status as a major manufacturer of one of the world’s best selling guitar brands, Taylor is at a very important stage in its evolution,” she shared. “I look forward to helping the company achieve its full market potential."

Ms. Wight joins the company from T-Systems International, Inc., a global manufacturer of irrigation solutions, where she was Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer. During her 18-year tenure, Ms. Wight was responsible for all manufacturing, global supply chain, financial, administrative and legal matters on behalf of the company. She was instrumental in developing operational strategies for product development, quality assurance, human resources and information technologies. In 2008, the company was acquired by John Deere Water Technologies. At this time, Ms. Wight joined the new company as a member of the John Deere Water Technologies Global Executive Leadership Team.

Currently, Ms. Wight represents the City of San Diego as a Director of the San Diego County Water Authority and serves on the Audit Committee, Imported Water Committee, as well as the Administrative and Finance Committee of the Board of Directors.

Ms. Wight is a Certified Public Accountant and a Graduate Fellow of the California Agricultural Leadership Program. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, magna cum laude, from San Diego State University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from San Diego State University.

12-Fret and Parlor Guitars

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

To celebrate the company’s 35th Anniversary, Taylor Guitars is honoring requests from players around the globe with the release of two very exclusive editions. Affectionately called the “you asked for it” guitars and constructed in limited quantities, the 12-fret, the XXXV-TF, and the parlor, the XXXV-P, pair vintage acoustic concepts from yesteryear with signature Taylor craftsmanship, delivering results that exquisitely expand Taylor’s palette of acoustic voices.

With a warm, vintage voice, the XXXV-TF, a guitar named so for its 12 frets from the nut to the edge of the body, features a back and sides of spectacular AA-grade koa, an Engelmann spruce top, and a slotted headstock crowned with ebony. The geometry of the neck, body and bridge design in relation to each other translates into modern yet vintage tones. Bob Taylor shares, “It’s probably the warmest Taylor guitar I’ve ever heard. The mid-tones are beautiful, and it’s also loud. The whole experience of playing it is mesmerizing.” Premium appointments include a bone nut and saddle, green heart abalone top trim, a single abalone rosette and a koa peghead backstrap. To honor the anniversary, the 18-fret mahogany neck features the “35” inlay between the 11th and 12th frets, and is amplified with the Expression System®.

Not to be outdone, is the XXXV-P, a parlor guitar that’s compact in size but rich with tone. The XXXV-P features a parlor body shape designed by Taylor’s Larry Breedlove, with a back and sides of Madagascar rosewood and a top of wide grain Sitka spruce. Like the XXXV-TF, the mahogany neck joins the body at the 12-fret, while an ebony-topped slotted peghead is complemented by a bone nut and saddle. The bridge design, which draws from the Taylor Nylon Series bridge, features shortened ends and scalloped contouring for extra flexibility to enhance top movement and tone. A three-ring green heart abalone rosette and abalone dotted ebony bridge pins highlight the beautiful details of this all-gloss, small-bodied model, while parlor bracing and Taylor’s proprietary Expression System® pickup provide clear articulation with each strum.

The XXXV-TF will be offered at a suggested retail price of $6,998 and the XXXV-P at $5,998. All 35th Anniversary models will come with a certificate of authenticity signed by Taylor co-founders Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug. To date, the company has announced 35th Anniversary models in the T3 (XXXV-T3-K, XXXV-T3-C), the T3/B (XXXV-T3/B-K, XXXV-T3/B-C), the SolidBody (XXXV-SB-MP, XXXV-SB-K), the “Armrest Series” (XXXV-GS-C XXXV-GS-M, XXXV-GS-MP, XXXV-GS-W), and has introduced a 9-string (XXXV-9) model. The 35th Anniversary guitars are expected to be available in North America in early fall and internationally in late winter.

35th Anniversary

35th Anniversary Armrest Guitars

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Designed to embody a blend of beauty, refined craftsmanship and playing comfort, Taylor Guitars is introducing a special 35th Anniversary edition guitar series that showcases a sculpted armrest, marking the first time such a feature has been included on a Taylor guitar. The XXXV-GS, simply known as the “Armrest Series”, incorporates Taylor’s popular body style, the Grand Symphony (GS), and features the magnificence of select exotic tonewoods as the perfect match to an elegant, yet practical handcrafted armrest.

The armrest, located on the bass side of the guitar’s lower bout, replaces the hard edge where a guitar’s top meets the sides with a softer contour for one’s picking arm to comfortably rest upon while playing. Beyond the ergonomic appeal, an armrest applies a premium aesthetic touch that complements the GS body shape’s sensuous curves. It also demands the highest level of guitar craftsmanship.

“With the armrest, the woodworking is complicated, but as part of our anniversary, we wanted to offer players a guitar with the coolest, most complex binding treatment you can get on an acoustic,” explains Taylor president and co-founder Bob Taylor.

To complement the armrest, Taylor’s development team scoured the company’s substantial wood reserves to find the most striking premium grades of wood, which normally would be saved for the company’s custom Build to Order program. The exotic selections include a back, sides and decorative backstrap choice of fiery cocobolo (XXXV-GS-C), AA-grade Macassar ebony (XXXV-GS-M), golden quilt maple (XXXV-GS-MP), or feathered walnut (XXXV-GS-W), All four models feature tops of Sitka spruce, voiced with Taylor’s proprietary, tone-enhancing CV bracing, and the Expression System® pickup to deliver superb amplified tone.

Additional premium appointments for the XXXV-GS models include a 900 Series abalone rosette, a bone nut and saddle, gold Gotoh tuners and an all-gloss finish. The XXXV-GS-C, -M and -W feature a Florentine cutaway and ebony armrest, binding, headstock overlay and truss rod cover, while the XXXV-MP features a Venetian cutaway and Indian rosewood armrest, binding, headstock overlay and truss rod cover. On the fretboard, a single inlay of “35” between the 11th and 12th frets pays homage to the company’s anniversary.

The XXXV-GS models will be offered at a suggested retail price of $7,498 and, as with all 35th Anniversary models, will come with a certificate of authenticity signed by Taylor co-founders Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug. To date, the company has announced 35th Anniversary models in the T3 (XXXV-T3-K, XXXV-T3-C), the T3/B (XXXV-T3/B-K, XXXV-T3/B-C), the SolidBody (XXXV-SB-MP, XXXV-SB-K), and has introduced a 9-string (XXXV-9) model. The 35th Anniversary guitars are expected to be available in North America in early fall and internationally in late winter.

35th Anniversary Models

Taylor Rocks Chicago with A Record Road Show

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The ever-popular Taylor Guitars Road Show continues to draw record crowds and generate excitement for axe lovers throughout North America and Europe. On September 22, more than 500 Taylor players and enthusiasts attended a Road Show event in Downers Grove, Illinois, held at the majestic Tivoli Theater in conjunction with Taylor dealer Tobias Music. Attendees filled the seats and lined the walls to soak up the all-out visual and musical Taylor experience.

“Between the beautiful location and the massive crowd, the energy was contagious,” shared Andy Lund, Taylor’s product communications manager. “We were expecting a couple hundred people but were happily overwhelmed with the size of the crowd. People stayed the whole night and hopefully left having learned a thing or two. We were inspired by the enthusiasm and passion the crowd has for Taylor guitars.”

Grammy® award-winning Taylor clinician Wayne Johnson dazzled the audience as he took the crowd on a four-song musical journey that had people on their feet and grooving along. The Taylor Petting Zoo, a fan-favorite, gave the crowd the opportunity to pick up and play the Taylor model of their choice based on a wide selection of acoustic models, including an assortment of custom Build to Order models, and electric guitars, featuring the much raved about semi-hollowbody T3 and T3/B, the SolidBody, and the T5.

Now in its third year, the Taylor Guitars Road Show is a guitar lover’s dream: a fun, lively gathering that brings enthusiasts together with Taylor clinicians and experts straight from the company’s factory in El Cajon, California. At each Road Show event, the Taylor team shares insights on the company’s guitar making process, including an informative demonstration of how different body shapes and woods affect tone. After the presentation, the fun Petting Zoo gives attendees the ultimate hands-on Taylor experience, followed by a question-and-answer session with the staff from the Taylor factory. Attendees have the opportunity to purchase any of the Taylor models at the event, including rare, custom and one-off models. Admission to each Road Show is free.

To view upcoming Road Show dates, please visit http://www.taylorguitars.com/roadshow/

*Photos courtesy of John Dzieken

Taylor Artists Lead CMA Nominations

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The nominees for the 43rd annual Country Music Academy Awards were announced on September 9 and were laden with Taylor artist nominations.

Leading the pack is longtime friend of Taylor and crossover superstar Taylor Swift (PSGA, GS8, 615ce, PS-LTD, T5-S, K65ce, SolidBody Classic). Swift is up for awards in four categories: Female Vocalist, Album of the Year (Fearless), Music Video (“Love Story”), and Entertainer of the Year. At age 19, Swift is the youngest nominee ever for Entertainer of the year — considered country music’s most prestigious award — and this year’s lone female contender in that category. It also marks the first time in nine years that a solo female artist has vyed for the award.

Legendary country crooner George Strait (cocobolo 910) also has his hat in the ring for Entertainer of the Year, along with Male Vocalist of the Year and Music Video of the Year (“Troubadour”). Strait is also nominated along with Lee Ann Womack in the category of Musical Event of the Year for their duet “Everything But Quits.”

Newcomer Zac Brown and the Zac Brown Band (NS74ce, 910, 614ce, 612ce, Baby Taylor, SolidBody Classic, SolidBody Custom, T3) are nominated in four categories: Best New Artist and Vocal Group, as well as Single of the Year and Song of the Year for their country radio hit “Chicken Fried,” off their album The Foundation. Taylor strummers Rascal Flatts (GSMS, 614CE, 810, GSRS, 615CE, 810CE, 714ce,, NS74ce, 855) are also contenders for Best Vocal Group.

The annual awards show is set to air Wednesday, November 11 at 8:00 p.m. on ABC from the Sommet Center in Nashville and will be hosted by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley.

9-String Bliss

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As part of the company’s 35th anniversary celebration, Taylor Guitars is readying the next set of what the company is calling “You Asked For It” models: guitars players have requested through the years that are first-of-a-kind for the company. The first to be announced is the XXXV-9: a 9-string guitar that blends the best of a 6-string and a 12-string into a richly toned hybrid model.

The XXXV-9 takes the clarity and familiar feel of a 6-string guitar and embellishes the sound with three additional strings, two of which are paired an octave higher, to add extra sparkle to the midrange tone. The 9-string will appeal to players looking for extra shimmer without compromising the fundamental focus of the bass strings. The XXXV-9 features a GS body shape with Tropical mahogany back and sides, a Sitka spruce top, and Taylor’s Standard II soundboard bracing. Other appointments include a three-ring abalone rosette, a “35” anniversary logo between the 11th and 12th frets, and the company’s Expression System® pickup, for high-fidelity plugged-in playing. Chrome mini tuners and buttons grace the rosewood peghead veneer, along with a mother-of-pearl peghead “Taylor” inlay.

The XXXV-9 comes ready to play with Elixir® strings and in a hardshell Taylor case, and includes a certificate of authenticity signed by Taylor Guitars co-founders Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug. The XXXV-9 will be produced in an initial run of only 35 guitars and offered at a suggested retail price of $4998. All 35th Anniversary models, including those yet-to-be announced, are expected to be available in North America in early fall and internationally late winter.

For additional information and photos of the 35th Anniversary models, please visit
www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/limiteds/35thAnniversary

Taylor Guitars Commemorates 35th Anniversary

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This year, Taylor Guitars is set to commemorate its 35th anniversary with its most eclectic collection of limited edition guitars to date. From new models to premium versions of existing guitars featuring exotic grades of wood, the company will be crafting small quantities of each to celebrate. The first series of anniversary guitars to be released highlights the company’s electric line, offering exotic tops in the SolidBody XXXV-SB-K (koa) and the XXXV-SB-QM (quilted maple); and in the semi-hollowbody T3 as the XXXV-T3-C (cocobolo) and XXXV-T3-K (koa).

SolidBody players will lust after the shimmering feathered koa top of the XXXV-SB-K and the buttery golden waves of quilted maple on the XXXV-SB-QM. Both SolidBody anniversary models feature a body crafted from mahogany, a sloping venetian cutaway, and a single fretboard inlay of “35” between the 11th and 12th frets. Complete with an ultra-adjustable bridge, easy-rolling control knobs and a shaded edgeburst, these guitars come ready to rock with Taylor’s Style 1 HD (high-definition) pickups for pure electric power.

The 35th Anniversary edition of the much-raved-about T3 gives players a choice of fiery-orange colored cocobolo (XXXV-T3-C) or rich, sparkling koa (XXXV-T3-K). These limited edition models feature bodies and necks crafted from sapele, ebony peghead overlays, chrome hardware and will feature the “35” anniversary inlay between the 11th and 12th frets. Introduced earlier this year, the T3 features Taylor’s Style 2 HD pickups, three-way pickup switching, and coil-splitting that gives players a spectrum of humbucker and single coil sounds in one guitar. On the T3/B, an authentic Bigsby vibrato tailpiece is paired with a roller bridge for smooth functionality and an added dimension of sound. Both XXXV-T3 anniversary models will be produced in ultra-limited quantities.

The XXXV-SB-K and XXXV-SB-QM along with the XXXV-T3-K and XXXV-T3-C will be offered at a suggested list price of $3798, and the XXXV-T3/B-K and the XXXV-T3/B-C at $3998. All 35th Anniversary models, including those yet to be announced, are expected to be available in North America in early fall and internationally in winter.

For additional information about the 35th Anniversary models, please visit
www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/limiteds/35thAnniversary/

Doyle Dykes to Perform at the Thriving Musician Summit

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Longtime Taylor artist and master fingerstylist Doyle Dykes will hold a special workshop and concert at the upcoming Thriving Musicians Summit. The conference, held on September 18 and 19 in Roseville, California (near Sacramento) will feature Dykes teaching the Master Guitar Workshop on Friday and then performing alongside Lincoln Brewster and Paul Baloche that evening.

The concert is free to registered attendees of the Summit. Tickets are available to the public at $10.00.

To learn more about the Thriving Musicians Summit, please visit: www.thrivingmusiciansummit.com or about Doyle Dykes at www.doyledykes.com

The T3/B Earns a WIHO Award

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Derek Davodowich of Music Players Inc. recently reviewed the T3/B and found it well-suited to play every style he attempted: “If you’re an accomplished player looking for one guitar that provides versatility and is able to adapt to almost any playing situation, look no further. The T3/B provides a multitude of tones that include acoustic, electric, single coil, double coil, full-bodied jazz tones, and any combination thereof. For the weekend warrior playing a variety of styles, this is one guitar that can cover just about anything, all with an exceptional tone as well. You won’t feel like you sacrificed anything by leaving your prized collection at home.”

The guitar won a WIHO (Wish I Had One) Award from the online magazine. You can read the complete review.

Congratulations Jason Mraz

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Longtime Taylor artist Jason Mraz (714ce, 612ce, NS52ce, NS72ce) has made Billboard history this week. With his hit single “I’m Yours”, Mraz has notched a record 70 weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100 list, overtaking the last record holder at 69 weeks, LeAnn Rimes with her breakout hit “How Do I Live”.

“I’m Yours” was the debut track off his third studio album, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. The song debuted on Billboard’s Hot 100 on May 3, 2008 and has remained in the Top 40 since then.

From all of your friends at Taylor Guitars, congratulations Jason.

You can learn more about Jason Mraz by visiting www.JasonMraz.com and other Taylor artists at www.TaylorGuitars.com/artists/awp

Taylor Guitars Remembers Les Paul

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars was saddened to hear the news of the passing of Les Paul, a renaissance man of the audio and guitar world whose genius and dedication to perfecting his craft will be admired for generations to come. Bob Taylor reflects, “It's amazing to think that every Monday night Les Paul played live in a club, way into his 90's. In his prime, he was a lightning fast, innovative player that stretched what could be played on guitar. Combine that with his guitar designs and advancements, and it really stacks up into a remarkable lifetime contribution. A goal I have always set for myself is to leave the guitar world better off than I found it. Clearly, Les Paul did just that and I wonder what it might be like today if he hadn't.”

Taylor artist Doyle Dykes shares, “My memories of Les Paul go back to when I was a child. ‘Bye Bye Blues’, ‘Tiger Rag’, and ‘The Tennessee Waltz’ were heard in our home on a regular basis. My Dad would play a 1952 Goldtop Les Paul while my brother Aubery and I stood on folding chairs and we'd all sing. Dad would emulate Les's style of playing as he'd kick off ‘Feeling Mighty Fine’ and ‘Goodbye World Goodbye.’ It sounded like The Les Paul and Mary Ford Show goes to church!

“Many years later, I had the chance to tell the story to Les himself. He so graciously thanked me and asked if I’d play on his next show. Of course! I had just bought a Les Paul right before the show and took it in for him to sign. He played along with me and invited me back again. I did go back a couple times and in fact, I was just looking at my schedule and planning to go again.

“I may not be a Keith Richards or a Paul Mc Cartney but Les still treated me like a rock star. That may not be the main ingredient of a legend but Les had a way of making a person feel special. His son Rusty once told me, ‘Dad wanted me to give you his address and phone number so you can come by sometime.’ I was too shy to do it but I carried that piece of paper in my wallet for years.

“Les Paul's fantastic accomplishments with inventions topple over anything any one company has ever been able to produce. He was so multi-faceted that at times, it seems he had more than one lifetime to accomplish it all. Looking back on those memories, I’m thrilled and honored I had the chance to play with him. I’ll never forget it.”

Our thoughts, condolences, and our sincerest “thank you” go out to Les Paul, his family and many friends.

Dave Carroll Releases “United Song 2”

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Dave Carroll, the Canadian singer-songwriter of “United Breaks Guitars” fame has released the second video in the trilogy, “United Breaks Guitars: Song 2”. The second video and song details Carroll’s tenuous relationship with Ms. Irlweg, the United Airlines customer service employee who thwarted Carroll’s appeals.

The first in the trilogy, “United Breaks Guitars”, relates Carroll’s story of travel trouble as his guitar (710ce) was broken at the hands of United Airlines. As he tells it: “In the spring of 2008, Sons of Maxwell were traveling to Nebraska for a one-week tour and my Taylor guitar was witnessed being thrown by United Airlines baggage handlers in Chicago. I discovered later that the $3500 guitar was severely damaged. They didn’t deny the experience occurred but for nine months the various people I communicated with put the responsibility for dealing with the damage on everyone other than themselves and finally said they would do nothing to compensate me for my loss. So I promised the last person to finally say 'no' to compensation (Ms. Irlweg) that I would write and produce three songs about my experience with United Airlines and make videos for each to be viewed online by anyone in the world.” You can read more about Dave’s story by visiting www.davecarrollmusic.com

Taylor Offers Tips to Keep Your Guitar Safe when Flying:

Based on Dave’s experience and those of many other Taylor customers over the years, Bob Taylor put together a personal message to offer some helpful tips on travelling with a guitar and to reiterate Taylor’s service commitment to our customers:

Know the pertinent policies of the airline on which you are traveling. There are links to many of them on the AFM website, so print them out and take them with you. Many flight attendants do not know their own airline’s policy regarding carry-on guitars, so if you can calmly explain that your instrument is within their mandated guidelines, and actually show them those guidelines, you will be way ahead of the game.

Know your instrument’s size in linear inches, which is the sum of your case’s dimensions. If, for example, your case measures 20 inches long by 20 inches wide by 10 inches high, it would be 50 linear inches. Almost all airline maximum size dimensions use either Length-by-Width-by-Height, or linear inches. In many cases, even though your instrument case does not fit in the “size wise” metal contraption at the gate, it might well be within the linear-inch maximum. Again, know the linear inch measurement of your case beforehand.

Carry a “fabric” tape measure with you. Even if you never use it, sewing-type tape measure takes up almost no space and weighs almost nothing. And it might just come in handy if you’re challenged about your case dimensions.

To learn more about the TSA’s policies regarding musical instruments, please visit www.tsa.gov

Links:
Air Travel Tips

Taylor Service Packages

Taylor Service & Support

Latin Rock Band Manitu Releases "Perdido"

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

New Sony Latin act Manitu recently released their video for the song “Perdido.” The band’s debut, Un Mundo Nuevo/A New World, was released in June and was produced by Kiko Cibrian and recorded in San Diego, California. The band uses a handful of Taylor guitars including: Luke Sanchez pm an 810CE, and Lex Sanchez on an 814CE.

Watch "Perdido" VIDEO.

The Ultimate Dave Matthews Band Flyaway/Giveaway

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Eric S. of New Britain, Connecticut is the lucky winner of the Ultimate Dave Matthews Band flyaway/giveaway! In cooperation with Live Nation, Music Today and Taylor Guitars, Eric and a guest will be flown to the West Coast to see the Dave Matthews Band perform live at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, California in September. After the concert, Eric will meet Dave, who will present him with a custom, autographed 914ce, the same Taylor model that Dave plays.

The Dave Matthews Band has been touring throughout the summer in support of their new studio album, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King. You can check out tour dates or order their new album by visiting www.davematthewsband.com

Taylor Guitars Announces Fall Road Show Dates

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

From the islands of Hawaii to the shores of Florida, the Taylor Guitars Road Show is once again making its way around the United States. Now in its third year, the popular Road Show is a guitar lover’s dream: a fun, lively in-store gathering that brings enthusiasts together with Taylor clinicians and experts straight from the company’s factory in El Cajon, California.

At each Road Show, the Taylor Road Show team shares insights on the company’s guitar making process, including an informative demonstration on how body shape and wood affect tone. After the demonstration, players are invited to take part in the show’s popular “Petting Zoo” segment, during which players have an opportunity to test-drive a variety of different models, including rare and one-off Taylors and custom Build to Order beauties. Admission to each Road Show is free.

To see the latest schedule of Road Show dates, please visit: www.taylorguitars.com/roadshow. New dates are added regularly, so be sure to check back often.

Singer of “United Breaks Guitars” to Visit Taylor Guitars Factory

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Dave Carroll and bandmate Julian Marentette of the smash YouTube.com hit “United Breaks Guitars” will visit the Taylor Guitars Factory on Monday, July 20.

The “United Breaks Guitars” song relates Carroll’s story of travel trouble as his guitar was broken at the hands of a major airlines. As he tells it: “In the spring of 2008, Sons of Maxwell were traveling to Nebraska for a one-week tour and my Taylor guitar was witnessed being thrown by United Airlines baggage handlers in Chicago. I discovered later that the $3500 guitar was severely damaged. They didn’t deny the experience occurred but for nine months the various people I communicated with put the responsibility for dealing with the damage on everyone other than themselves and finally said they would do nothing to compensate me for my loss. So I promised the last person to finally say 'no' to compensation (Ms. Irlweg) that I would write and produce three songs about my experience with United Airlines and make videos for each to be viewed online by anyone in the world. United: Song 1 is the first of those songs. United: Song 2 has been written and video production is underway. United: Song 3 is coming. I promise.”

Members of the media are invited to meet and interview Dave Carroll, the singer/songwriter of the song as he tours the Taylor Guitars Factory. Please contact publicrelations@taylorguitars.com for additional information.

“United Breaks Guitars” has been viewed by over 3.2 million people since its debut on Monday, July 6, has been covered in The Wall Street Journal and The Los Angeles Times, and has gained national viewership with segments on The Early Show (CBS), Fox and Friends (FOX) and The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer (CNN).

Taylor Service, Air Travel Tips, and a Message from Bob Taylor

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

There’s been a lot of attention in recent days on the perils of flying with a guitar, courtesy of the media sensation created by Taylor artist Dave Carroll’s clever YouTube video. Since many folks may be thinking of flying with their Taylors, we thought we’d share some helpful information, including airline tips, a personal message from Bob Taylor, and the latest news on our new Factory Service Center. We’ve even put together a special discounted “Travel Relief” Service Package to help your Taylor recover from its journey, wherever it may be headed.

We know the real world can take its toll on a guitar, from the effects of relative humidity extremes to normal fretwear to airline baggage handlers and other circumstances beyond an owner’s control. We’ve seen nearly every malady that can afflict a guitar, and we empathize with owners when they share their stories with us. That’s why we’re just as committed to service and repair as we are to the guitar-making process.

In June we reaffirmed our service commitment by upgrading our service and repair departments and expanding to a new building on the Taylor campus, which now serves as our new U.S. Factory Service Center. The Service Center was designed to better accommodate customer visits and to provide an enhanced environment for our service and repair experts to interact with folks, address their guitar concerns, and work on restoring guitars to their optimal condition.

In conjunction with our new service digs, we’re pleased to roll out a couple of new programs. The first is that our repair technicians are now servicing all brands of guitars, both acoustic and electric. For Taylor owners who’ve had a great service experience and also own other brands of guitars that could use some work, we’ll be happy to apply the same level of expert care to get that guitar primed to play its best. And if you have friends who don’t own Taylors but have other guitar brands in need of work, let them know that our doors are now open to them!

The second program is a special summer deal on our Refresh Service Package [PDF]. Normally $95, from now through August 31, 2009 we’re offering it to customers for $75. We’re informally calling it our “Travel Relief” special, and were inspired to offer it after following the story of Dave Carroll (710ce, T5), whose acoustic guitar received a drubbing from airline baggage handlers and who used his songwriting skills to respond in a uniquely compelling way to the airline. The story was an extreme example of what can happen to guitars in the real world, especially with gigging artists who travel with their guitars.

Based on Dave’s experience and those of many other Taylor customers over the years, Bob Taylor put together a personal message on Taylor’s service commitment to our customers. We also thought we’d revisit some helpful tips on flying with your guitar, courtesy of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the American federation of Musicians (AFM).

Whether you’re a gigging musician with a travel-worn guitar or a living room legend whose guitar is overdue for a little Taylor love, this is a great time to take advantage of the Refresh package. Think of it as a spa vacation for your guitar!

To call our Factory Service Center to schedule an appointment, please call 1-800-943-6782. For more information on caring for your guitar, visit Service & Support.

Links:
Air Travel Tips

Service Packages

Dave Carroll’s Story

Dave Carroll on Twitter

myspace.com/davecarrollmusiccom

Taylor Service & Support

Dave Carroll’s Songwriting Revenge

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We’ve been fans of award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Dave Carroll and his band, the Sons of Maxwell, for a few years now (we reviewed their CD Sunday Morning back in the fall 2006 issue of Wood&Steel, which you can find here.) Little did we know — nor did Carroll for that matter — that he would use a bad airline experience as creative fodder for a song and video that literally overnight would generate more publicity than he ever could have expected as an artist.

The airline incident, for those of you who haven’t seen the video, is one that would send a pang of nausea to the stomach of any Taylor owner. In the spring of 2008, Carroll and his bandmates were flying from their hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia to Nebraska for a gig and had checked their instruments, including Carroll’s beloved Taylor 710ce. Their flight had stopped for its connection at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, and just after landing, Carroll was alerted by a fellow passenger that the airline’s baggage handlers were tossing guitar cases around with a flagrant disregard for their contents. Carroll’s heart sank. His immediate complaints to the flight attendants were met with indifference, and upon his arrival in Nebraska, his worst fears were confirmed: His Taylor had been severely damaged.

“It was smashed along the base, where you plug it in,” Carroll said by phone. “The pin was actually pushed into the guitar and the whole face was lifted off.”

Carroll pursued the matter with the airline, United, for months in an attempt to receive some restitution for the damage to his $3,500 guitar, but to no avail. Meanwhile, he says he spent $1,200 on repairs, but he lamented that the guitar had lost some of its tonal character. “Cosmetically it looks good, but it doesn’t play exactly the same,” he explained. “Some of the sparkle is gone. Fingerpicking it still sounds pretty good, but strumming it’s not resonating the same.”

Frustrated that the airline had denied his claim and offered nothing in return — not even travel vouchers — Carroll vowed to use his songwriting chops to address the corporate stonewall. He informed the airline he would write three songs to protest their handling of the situation, including music videos that he would post on the Web, with the goal of generating a million views. Who would have guessed that his first video, for the catchy, country-flavored tune “United Breaks Guitars,” would go viral literally overnight and become a YouTube sensation that within a couple of days would pass the million-view mark and prompt coverage from major media outlets around the world. Carroll says he had no idea the video would catch on the way it did, but noted that he’s been playing the tune at gigs and getting great responses from audiences.

Besides being a well-crafted song and a hilarious skewering of the airline, Carroll’s video also struck a chord with online viewers on the strength of its David versus Goliath theme, showing the ability of an individual customer to harness the networking power of the Web to demand corporate accountability.

In the wake of the video’s popularity, United has since reached out to Carroll to attempt to make good, but regardless of the outcome, Carroll says he’s committed to posting three videos. The second tune had already been written and the video shot when United contacted him (Carroll says it’ll be posted in mid to late August). But depending on how things play out, maybe the third video will result in a happy ending for both parties.

When we caught wind of Carroll’s situation, we offered to have our repair techs at the Taylor factory examine the guitar to see if there’s any way we could restore its musical mojo. Meanwhile, Carroll still has his T5, which he plays in the video. Needless to say, he has no intention of flying with it.

Air Guitar

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In the Summer 2003 edition of Wood&Steel, globetrotting Taylor tradeshow manager David Kaye addressed the hazards commercial airlines pose to traveling with a guitar (read PDF). While the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) came to an agreement to allow guitars to be considered as carry-on luggage in 2003, thousands of musicians can relate a personal tale of instrument mistreatment at the hands of any number of airlines.

Some tips to keep your guitar safe, courtesy of the AFM:

Know the pertinent policies of the airline on which you are traveling. There are links to many of them on the AFM website, so print them out and take them with you. Many flight attendants do not know their own airline’s policy regarding carry-on guitars, so if you can calmly explain that your instrument is within their mandated guidelines, and actually show them those guidelines, you will be way ahead of the game.

Know your instrument’s size in linear inches, which is the sum of your case’s dimensions. If, for example, your case measures 20 inches long by 20 inches wide by 10 inches high, it would be 50 linear inches. Almost all airline maximum size dimensions use either Length-by-Width-by-Height, or linear inches. In many cases, even though your instrument case does not fit in the “size wise” metal contraption at the gate, it might well be within the linear-inch maximum. Again, know the linear inch measurement of your case beforehand.

Carry a “fabric” tape measure with you. Even if you never use it, sewing-type tape measure takes up almost no space and weighs almost nothing. And it might just come in handy if you’re challenged about your case dimensions.

If you are a member of the AFM and would like to download a copy of the TSA’s instrument policy and tips to keep your instrument safe, please visit: http://www.afm.org/departments/legislative-office/instruments-as-carry-on.

To learn more about the TSA’s policies regarding musical instruments, please visit: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1235.shtm

Enter to Win SolidBody Electric, Recording Time!

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars and Elixir Stings are giving emerging artists the unique opportunity to kick their careers and guitar rigs into high gear with Test Drive 2009. In cooperation with the band-promoting website Sonicbids.com, Taylor Guitars and Elixir Strings will hold a “fan-favorite” contest to award five selected artists with world-class Solidbody guitars from Taylor Guitars and the ultimate in strings and cables from Elixir. The winning artist or band will get the chance to show their musical prowess using their new Taylor guitars in a recording session at a marquee studio.

Contest submission is free and easy. Now through July 31, artists can simply log on to the Sonicbids promotion site, www.sonicbids.com/taylorelixirtestdrive, where they can upload their Sonicbids artist profile.

Sonicbids helps bands get gigs and promoters book the right bands, offering a diverse range of gigs for every kind of musician at a variety of subscription levels. Artists new to Sonicbids are eligible for a no-strings attached three-month membership and can enter the Test Drive 2009 promotion.

Submission fees for the contest, which is open to all registered Sonicbids users, are sponsored by Taylor Guitars and Elixir Strings.

Beginning in August, artist profiles submitted on Sonicbids will be posted on the Test Drive 2009 website, www.TestDrive.TaylorGuitars.com, where fans will have a chance to vote for their favorites. From these initial submissions, 50 of the top-voted artists will move up in the competition. A panel made up of the artist relations teams from Taylor Guitars and Elixir Strings will then select the top five artists from the top-voted 50. These five finalists will be outfitted with Taylor Guitars’ much-acclaimed SolidBody electric guitars, a supply of Elixir Strings, and Elixir Cables. The five artists will then produce a video giving this high-end gear a “test drive,” profiling how they are using the gear on stage and in the studio.

The five artist videos will be posted on www.TestDrive.TaylorGuitars.com and put to a second round of voting. The winning artist or band from this vote will receive time in a marquee studio to record an EP using their new Taylor guitars and Elixir strings gear.

For more information about Elixir Strings, please visit www.elixirstrings.com

To view a complete list of rules and regulations, please visit
www.sonicbids.com/taylorelixirtestdrive

Taylor Readies New Nylon-String Model

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Building upon the success of the company’s Nylon Series (NS) guitars, Taylor Guitars is set to release a new nylon-string model which embodies all that classical and steel string players alike have come to love about Taylor’s NS line. From exceptional classical tone, to Taylor’s slim and fast ultra-playable neck, the new NS24 offers players the familiar feel and sound of a Taylor NS, all at an affordable price.

The NS24 features a Grand Auditorium (GA) body shape crafted from satin-finished Indian rosewood laminate back and sides, a solid Sitka spruce top, and a mahogany neck. The slotted peghead is overlaid with Indian rosewood, with a soundhole rosette that features a hand-inlaid geometrical pattern of Mexican cyprus and Myrtle wood. The new nylon-string delivers signature Taylor playability with the company’s patented NT® neck and is appointed with stylish yet understated classical chrome tuners with cream buttons. On the inside, Taylor’s classical-style fan bracing produces a clear, bright sound, with strong treble notes and impressive sustain.

The model is offered in two styles: as a non-cutaway/electric in the NS24e, a first for the company, or as a cutaway/electric in the NS24ce. Both the NS24e and NS24ce feature Taylor’s proprietary ES-T® under-saddle, single-source pickup for a rich amplified tone. The ES-T captures the individual elements of each string, while an onboard pre-amp and the same active controls found on Taylor’s Expression System® provide clear and balanced articulation.

The NS24 joins six different nylon-string models currently offered by Taylor Guitars. Introduced in 2001 and designed with steel-stringed players in mind, the Taylor Guitars Nylon Series (NS) guitars feature either a Grand Concert (GC) or Grand Auditorium (GA) body shape and tonewood combinations of sapele/Sitka spruce (NS32ce, NS34ce), Big Leaf Maple/Engelmann spruce (NS62ce, NS64ce) and Indian rosewood/Western Red Cedar (NS72ce, NS74ce).

The NS24e will be offered at a suggested retail price of $1198 and the NS24ce at $1398. The guitars will make their retail debuts at domestic Taylor dealers in early August and internationally in September.

To learn more about Taylor’s NS Series, please visit http://www.taylorguitars.com/Guitars/Acoustic-Electric/Nylon/

Reasons To Buy Gift Card Promotion Ends

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Gift Card promotion has ended but you can still access the information you'll need to redeem your Gift Card on our taylorguitars.com/salesevent page.

Darrell Scott Summer Guitar Giveaway

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars has partnered with ASCAP songwriter of the year and award-winning instrumentalist Darrell Scott to give away a Baby Taylor guitar, which he will autograph for the winner! Enter online through September 30, 2009 at DarrellScott.com/Taylor.

Darrell Scott, a longtime Taylor K20 player, is known as a versatile studio musician and prolific singer-songwriter, having written hits including Travis Tritt's "It's A Great Day To Be Alive," Sara Evans' "Born To Fly" and The Dixie Chicks' "Long Time Gone."

For more information about Darrell Scott, please visit DarrellScott.com.

Taylor Swift/Def Leppard “Crossroads” Giveaway

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars has partnered with Country Music Television’s popular TV show, “Crossroads,” for the ultimate fan giveaway: a custom designed Taylor SolidBody guitar signed by country sensation Taylor Swift and legendary rock band, Def Leppard.

The hit show, which pairs country artists with musicians from other genres, featured Swift and Def Leppard late last year. To commemorate the performance, CMT has recently released a special DVD: CMT Crossroads: Taylor Swift & Def Leppard. Both Taylor Swift (PSGA, GS8, 615ce, PS-LTD, K65ce, T5-S, SolidBody Classic) and Def Leppard’s Vivian Campbell (GS6, GS8, 816ce, T5-C1, SolidBody Custom, SolidBody Classic) are long-time Taylor players.

Now through July 18, contestants can visit www.CMT.com and enter to win this one-of-a-kind custom SolidBody and an autographed copy of the DVD.

Enter To Win

List of rules and regulations

For additional information about CMT, please visit www.CMT.com

814ce: A Perfect Combination

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In the July edition of Premier Guitar magazine, Editor Chris Burgess shares his appreciation for the 814ce, noting that the “design and construction balances past and present, with a combination of new technology and old-fashioned craftsmanship.”

While impressed with the visual aesthetics of the Indian rosewood/Sitka spruce pairing, Burgess found even more to admire once he began playing. “If the selection of wood achieves a great look, it also gives the guitar a perfectly even and wonderfully full voice,” he writes. “Right from the first strum, it captured me with its balance. The lows display a striking depth and clarity; the attack is clear, full and deep with no boominess or muddiness. The midrange is warm and round with no discernable scoop. The bright, crisp highs ring out without dominating. The overall effect is a full-bodied, resonant sustain with a clear, vibrant ‘zing’ across its tonal range.”

You can check out Burgess’ complete review of the 814ce, a guitar he calls “all around great”, by visiting Premier Guitar magazine.

Read the REVIEW

Dave Matthews Band Ultimate Guitar Giveaway Sweepstakes

Fri, 29 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In cooperation with Live Nation and Music Today, Taylor Guitars is ready to award one lucky fan the ultimate Dave Matthews Band flyaway giveaway: a chance to meet Dave Matthews’ and have him sign your new Taylor 914ce.

Contestants can enter to win by visiting livenation.com before July 22. The prize package includes two tickets to the Dave Matthews Band concert at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, California on September 13, roundtrip airfare, hotel stay, and a meet and greet with Dave Matthews. The winner will also receive a custom Taylor 914ce, the guitar Dave Matthews plays, to have signed in person by Dave.

The band, which is set to tour throughout the summer in support of their new studio album, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, will also award two runners-up the complete Dave Matthews Band Live Trax catalog, Vol. 1-15.

Enter to win

Complete list of rules and regulations.

Bryan Adams and Jason Aldean “Crossroads” Guitar Giveaway

Thu, 28 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars has partnered with Country Music Television’s popular TV show, “Crossroads,” for the ultimate fan giveaway: a custom Taylor guitar signed by both Canadian rock ‘n’ roller, Bryan Adams and country music sensation Jason Aldean.

The hit show, which pairs country artists with musicians from other genres, will feature Adams and Aldean in an upcoming episode, premiering June 26. The two will come together to collaborate on well-known Aldean tracks such as "She's Country" and "Hicktown," as well as Adams classics "Summer of '69" and "Run to You." Now through June 30, contestants can visit www.CMT.com and enter to win the Taylor Guitars/Crossroads grand prize.

The Adams/Aldean “Crossroads” episode will air Friday, June 26 at 9:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific. For a complete list of rules and regulations, visit: www.cmt.com/community/sweepstakes/crossroads-bryan-jason/

For additional information about CMT, please visit www.CMT.com

GuitarJamDaily.com Rocks Out on the T5

Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Phil Miller of Guitar Jam Daily recently reviewed the T5 and had a hard time putting it down. You can check out his review at www.guitarjamdaily.

Taylor Guitars Now Available at Harrods of London

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars has announced a limited line presence within Harrods of London. Beginning May 1, Harrods, best known for its extensive luxury product offerings for the most discerning connoisseurs, will offer a selection of Taylor’s most popular acoustic and electric models, from the travel-friendly Baby Taylor to the SolidBody Custom electric, as part of the store’s collection of musical instruments.

Taylor fans visiting the “world’s most famous department store” will find Taylor guitars among renowned instrument manufacturers. Located in Knightsbridge area of London since 1849, the models will be offered in the store’s musical instrument section located on the third floor.

Luca Campaner and Natasha Bedingfield

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Singer/Songwriter Natasha Bedingfield performs "Unwritten" with guitarist Luca Campaner (614ce) on Walmart Soundcheck.

Natasha Bedingfield performs "Soulmate" with guitarist Luca Campaner (814ce) on Dancing with the Stars.

Guitar Player Magazine Calls T3/B “Perfect”

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In the June edition of Guitar Player magazine, reviewer Barry Cleveland lavished praises on the T3/B, extending from the guitar’s “deeply quilted maple top and the gorgeous honey hues” to its “chameleon-like pickups and switching system.” He delves deep into the pickup switching, calling the T3/B’s humbuckers “full and rich, with lots of clarity and definition. The bridge pickup had a just enough brightness and edge to cut cleanly without harshness, the neck pickup provided tight, woody mids and robust lows, and when combined they produced a well-balanced sound that would be equally at home in rock, R&B, and jazz settings.”

On the guitar’s coil-splitting capability, Cleveland notes, “Switching to split-coil mode changed the guitar’s character completely, dishing up a wonderful range of delectable tones, not surprisingly more reminiscent of a semi-hollow Rickenbacker than a solidbody Fender. With the Tone control fully clockwise, the bridge pickup produced gloriously sparkling sounds with just a touch of compression, the neck pickup yielded Gretsch-like clang, and together they produced a very satisfying combination of those two tones.”

Completely satisfied with its performance, Cleveland ends his review calling the T3/B “about as perfect as a guitar can be.” The review scored the T3/B Guitar Player’s coveted Editors’ Pick Award.

You can check out the complete review in the June edition of Guitar Player magazine.

VOTE FOR TAYLOR: Taylor Guitars Nominated for a Kelly Award

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Magazine Publishers of America (MPA) has nominated Taylor Guitars and its advertising agency, Vitrorobertson, as a Kelly Award finalist for its “All Original” advertising campaign. The 2008 ads highlighted the SolidBody’s innovation and all-original Taylor-made components with statements like, “We’ve always believed that to be great, you have to be original, even if you’re a knob,” and “The problem with pre-existing parts is that they were made for pre-existing guitars.”

Now in their 28th year, the Kelly Awards are bestowed annually to agency creative teams and advertising clients whose magazine campaigns demonstrate both creative excellence and effectiveness in meeting campaign objectives. Chosen from thousands of entries, Taylor Guitars is one of 27 finalists selected as Kelly Award nominees, which also include such iconic brands as American Express, AT&T, ESPN, Harley-Davidson and MasterCard Worldwide. Finalists are eligible to win the Grand Prize, Gold Kelly or Silver Kelly Award for excellence. Finalists are also recognized in the categories of Best Magazine Ads by Size, including “Full Page” and “Spread,” as well as for “Best Integrated” and “Best Public Service” campaigns.

The Kelly Awards committee invites members of the public to vote for their favorite ad campaigns by visiting www.mag-ads.com. Winners will be announced mid-June at the annual awards ceremony.

To learn more, please visit http://www.magazine.org/advertising/kelly_awards/index.aspx

Spring Limiteds on LaGuitare.com

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

LaGuitare.com the popular French guitar forum, stopped by the Taylor Guitars booth at MusikMesse to chat about the Spring Limiteds.

Check out Brian Swerdfeger as he walks us through the T5, 400 and 700 series limiteds.

http://www.laguitare.com/

T3/B Lands on the Cover of Guitarist UK

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The T3 and T3/B continues to draw the attention and accolades of the media. In fact, it landed its first international cover as the feature review in the May 2009 issue of the UK’s Guitarist magazine. The six-page feature spread, written by Dave Burrluck, offers a detailed tour of the guitar’s ins and outs, from its design and construction to its performance versatility. Burrluck has plenty of good things to say along the way.

“Both T3s deliver exactly what you’d expect from a large semi,” he writes. “Yet the T3 has its own character…. The tone control is a revelation, especially in its down position where, in mid-travel, it rounds the highs subtly but almost changes the character to an older Gretsch, Rickenbacher or even Tele-like style. In the upper position you can easily evoke older-style jazz sounds and, to be honest, whenever we came back to the guitar and/or changed amps and tones we heard new things.

“Above all,” Burrluck concludes, “it’s another bold move for a brand that has its eye on the electric market and is a guitar we’d suggest you audition as soon as you can.”
You can view the review and video demo by Guitarist Editor, Mick Taylor @ www.musicradar.com

San Diego's Union Tribune Tours Taylor

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bob Taylor Talks Shop with the San Diego Union Tribune

Join Bob as he takes the San Diego Union Tribune inside the Taylor factory for a look at how a guitar is made.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/entertainment/street/2009/04/post_63.html

From MusikMesse: Brian Swerdfeger on Accordo.it

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Check out Brian on Italy’s premier guitar lovers site, accordio.it as he talks about the T3, the Taylor Build to Order program and the sweet Spring Limiteds.

Taylor Spring Limiteds – Now Shipping!

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Spring is in the air at Taylor Guitars and with that, a limited series of guitars are set to be released at price points to make each strum even sweeter. Featuring exciting and inviting Madagascar rosewood, Tasmanian blackwood and ovangkol tonewoods, each series will have players musically inspired and eager for playtime.

In the 700 Series LTDs, the rich, chocolate hues of Madagascar rosewood enchant the eyes, while the zesty, articulate highs, deep lows and ample dynamic range please the ears. Available as a 710ce-LTD, 712ce-LTD, 714ce-LTD or 716ce-LTD, this Spring Limited series offers exceptional value for a myriad of premium features. Each guitar is carefully crafted from a back and sides of Madagascar rosewood, a Sitka spruce top, and rosewood binding. On the inside, the series includes Taylor’s proprietary CV bracing and patented relief rout for greater tonal resonance. Finished in a high-gloss, the series includes the premium appointments of a Madagascar rosewood backstrap trimmed with maple and ebony, an Indian rosewood peghead overlay, along with Taylor gold tuners and mother-of-pearl dot inlays on the fretboard.

Sounding just as good as they look, the 400 Series Limiteds feature a honey-colored Tasmanian blackwood back and sides and are dramatically accented with creamy maple binding and mini-wedge. With a Sitka spruce top, a sparkling abalone rosette, stylish mother-of-pearl diamond fretboard inlays and a high-gloss finish on the top, back and sides, the blackwood 400 Series Limited Edition is available as a 410ce-LTD, 412ce-LTD, 414ce-LTD or 416ce-LTD. Along with the 700 Series, the 400 Series features a sloping Venetian cutaway and Taylor’s Expression System® for high fidelity plugged-in playing.

Electric players will not be disappointed, as the world’s best-selling acoustic/electric hybrid, the T5, will be offered in a Spring Limited Edition model at an exceptionally low suggested retail price. Featuring Taylor’s propriety pickups and a five-way pickup switch, the T5 offers players plenty of versatility in its range of voices. Finished in an organic, satin top of ovangkol and a body of sapele, the guitar comes ready to play in a Taylor gig bag.

The Spring Limiteds will be released in early April and available at Taylor dealers worldwide. Suggested retail prices for the 400 Series-LTDs start at $2,698; 700 Series-LTDs, $3,498; and the T5-LTD, $1,798.

Taylor Sweetens Each Strum

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

If signature Taylor tone and unsurpassed craftsmanship aren’t enticement enough to buy a guitar, Taylor Guitars is offering customers another great incentive through its “Reasons to Buy” Sales Event. Now through June 30, customers who purchase any guitar from Taylor’s award-winning line will receive up to $200 in Taylor-branded accessories from TaylorWare, the company’s in-house store.

TaylorWare offers a myriad of Taylor-branded gear, including apparel, accessories, electronics, a full range of guitar parts and gifts to fully outfit both the player and the guitar. Perfect for any Taylor fan, TaylorWare is the place to find specialty items like the K4 acoustic preamp and equalizer, an essential tool for any musician who records or performs with an acoustic guitar. Also in TaylorWare, SolidBody players can pick up the new, solderless Loaded Pickguards, featuring a variety of humbucker and single coil options, or Taylor’s easy-to-install “plug and play” pickups, available in both HG (high gain) or HD (high definition) options for the neck and bridge. New and seasonal items are released quarterly.

Taylor guitars of every style and price qualify in the Sales Event. Players purchasing a guitar in the 500 Series and higher, Acoustic 5 Series and higher, a nylon-string NS62ce and higher or a Signature model will receive a $200 TaylorWare gift card. The electric player who has been dreaming of purchasing a SolidBody, T5 or the new, much-raved-about T3 will receive a $150 gift card. Purchasers of a Taylor in the 300 and 400 Series, Acoustic 3 and 4 Series, or an NS32ce will receive a $100 gift card, while Baby Taylor, Big Baby, 100 and 200 Series customers will receive $20 toward their next TaylorWare purchase. Comparable limited edition models are also included in the offer.

To receive the TaylorWare gift card, customers must mail a copy of their store receipt and a redemption form to Taylor Guitars before July 31. Once verified, a TaylorWare gift card will be sent and can be used to order TaylorWare items online or over the phone. This offer is valid only in the U.S. and Canada. For a complete list of rules or to download the redemption form, please visit www.taylorguitars.com/salesevent.

To view the assortment of TaylorWare merchandise, please visit www.taylorguitars.com/taylorware.

T3/B=The Perfect Package

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Our new T3/B is not only gracing the cover of the April issue of Premier Guitar, it earned PG’s highest rating (5.0) and a Premier Gear Award.

“The T3/B is not a ‘jack of all trades, master of none,’ but rather a well-thought-out instrument that plays great, sounds fantastic and looks incredible,” reviewer Steve Ouimette declares early on. He loved the “comfortable and fast-playing” neck, which he says “combined the best of all neck shapes into one, and lent itself to just about any style of playing.”

Ouimette appreciated how the fine design touches contributed to the playing experience: “…even the detail of the volume and tone knobs is brilliant…they feel better than any guitar I’ve played in my life. The taper of both knobs is smooth and controlled, and they exhibit a weight to them that feels fantastic and deliberate when rolling them up or down.”

Moving on to the pickups and tonal flavors, Ouimette liked the “clean and articulate” sound of the Style 2 HD humbuckers. “They’re incredibly versatile and worked well through every amp I played them on.” Then he discovered the “tonal magic” in the coil-splitting function. Pulling up the volume knob, he writes, “allowed me to dial in just the right amount of heft or leanness, depending on my needs.” He also loved how many different tonal flavors the tone control was capable of tapping. “This is one of those rare guitars that doesn’t necessarily have a stock setting to it, he says. “I ended up using every combination of pickup, coil tap and tone variation. It was amazing to hear one guitar shine in so many different ways.”

Ouimette calls the Bigsby setup (with the roller bridge) “by far the best of its kind that I’ve used.” He says he had no tuning problems whatsoever, and “the travel of the vibrato is ultra-smooth and controlled.”

“Taylor seems to have pulled out all the stops on the T3/B, since it effortlessly excels in musical styles ranging from rock to blues to jazz, and yet never feels out of place,” Ouimette says in his wrap. “Somehow Taylor has figured out a way to incorporate style, class and functionality into the perfect package.” You can read the full review at premierguitar.com.

816ce Honored as the Readers’ Choice

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Once a year, scores of Guitar Player readers answer the call to vote for their favorite products, artists, and the best – or worst – Guitar Player articles and covers in the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers are asked to mark their choices and return their ballots for products that, in their opinions, were the best of the year.

With votes tallied and readers comments read, the players voted the Taylor 816ce as the Best Acoustic or Acoustic-Electric Guitar, scoring a 2009 Readers’ Choice Award. Be sure to check out the full lineup of categories in the May 2009 edition of Guitar Player.

Taylor Guitars Road Show Draws Record Numbers

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Last week, Taylor Guitars’ hugely popular Road Show marked another first: a record-setting crowd. On March 5 in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, nearly 400 Taylor players and enthusiasts attended the popular event, which was held in conjunction with Firey Music at the historic Burnett Mansion. As attendees crowded the downstairs ballroom and lined the adjoining staircase, the Taylor Road Show Team moved into action, coordinating two Road Shows in order to accommodate the huge group.

“We were simply exhilarated with the enthusiasm – and size – of the crowd,” shared Andy Lund, product communications manager. “To make sure everyone got to experience the Road Show, we did two back-to-back shows. Each audience was eager to learn more about Taylor, ask questions of our staff, and play some of our newest models, especially the T3. People came to the show from several surrounding states, in some cases driving up to three hours! For others, it was their second or third time at a Taylor Road Show.”

Now in its third year, the Taylor Guitars Road Show is a guitar lover’s dream: a fun, lively gathering that brings enthusiasts together with Taylor clinicians and experts straight from the company’s factory in El Cajon, California.

At each Road Show, the Taylor Road Show team shares insights on the company’s guitar making process, including an informative demonstration on how body shape and wood affect tone. After the demonstration, players are invited to take part in the show’s most popular feature, the “Petting Zoo”: an opportunity to pick up and play a variety of different models, including the new and much raved about T3 and T3/B, the ever-popular Taylor SolidBody and the versatile, number one selling acoustic/electric semi-hollowbody, the T5. Players can also experience rare guitars, as well as custom Build to Order models. Admission to each Road Show is free.

After the hands-on experience, the Road Show offers a question and answer session with the staff from the Taylor factory, as well as the opportunity to purchase any of the Taylor models, including the rare, custom and one-off guitars.

T3/B Demo with LaGuitare.com

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

LaGuitare.com the popular French guitar forum, stopped by the Taylor Guitars booth at NAMM for a demo of the T3/B.

Check out David Hosler and Terry Meyers as they demonstrate the pickup combinations and play some cool licks: http://www.laguitare.com/guitare-materiel-namm_show_2009-taylor-t3-5688-0.html

Taylor Takes Message of Humidity to the Masses

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In the March 2009 edition of Premier Guitar magazine, Bob Taylor shares with readers his humidity tips for keeping a guitar in well-hydrated, perfect playing condition.

You can read Bob’s thoughts in “How Humidity Affects Your Guitar” by visiting Premier Guitar online.

Taylor Salutes Grammy Winners and Nominees

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The 51st Annual Grammy ceremony proved to be a memorable night for many Taylor Guitars artists as performers, nominees and winners.

Kicking off the night, Taylor 910 player George Strait won Best Country Album for his 2008 release, Troubadour. Heading into the Grammys, Strait held four nominations in the categories of Best Male Country Vocal Performance, Best Country Album and nods for his collaboration on vocals for “Shiftwork” with Kenny Chesney and “House of Cash” with Patty Loveless. The Grammy win marked a first for Strait, whose career spans 30 albums and over two decades of recording.

The Grammys also witnessed performances from two Taylor artists. Reigning county music queen Taylor Swift took the stage to perform an acoustic version of her song “Fifteen,” a new single off the double platinum album Fearless, accompanied by TV and pop star Miley Cyrus. Swift and her band performed with Taylor guitars, with Swift strumming her PSGA 12-string guitar that features AA-grade koa, a Florentine cutaway and a “Taylor” fretboard inlay. The duo dazzled the crowd with their warm, emotional vocals.

Also on stage Katy Perry, a nominee for Best Female Pop Vocal, performed her hit single, “I Kissed a Girl”. Perry, an 814ce and 514ce player, is currently headlining her first worldwide tour to promote her breakout album, One of the Boys.

Other Taylor artists nominated for Grammys included:

Jason Mraz (Song of the Year, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Best Engineered Album)
OneRepublic (Best Pop Performance By A Duo of Group With Vocals)
Maroon 5 (Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals)
Rush (Best Rock Instrumental Performance)
David Gilmour (Best Rock Instrumental Performance)
Trace Adkins (Best Male Country Vocal Performance)
Sanctos Real (Best Rock or Rap Gospel Albulm)
Steven Curtis Chapman (Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album)
Kathy Mattea (Best Traditional Folk Album)
Buck Howdy (Best Spoken World Album for Children)

Taylor Guitars Kicks Off Third Year of Popular Road Shows

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In response to requests from guitar players around the world, Taylor Guitars is poised to bring its award-winning Taylor Guitars Road Show to dealerships across the U.S. and abroad in 2009.

Now in its third year, the Taylor Guitars Road Show is a guitar lover’s dream: a fun, lively in-store gathering that brings enthusiasts together with Taylor clinicians and experts straight from the company’s factory in El Cajon, California. At each Road Show, the Taylor Road Show team shares insights on the company’s guitar making process, including an informative demonstration on how body shapes and woods affect tone. After the demonstration, players are invited to take part in the show’s most popular feature, the “Petting Zoo”: an opportunity to pick up and play a variety of different models, as well as rare and custom Build to Order models. Admission to each Road Show is free.

At select locations, a special Electric Road Show will highlight Taylor’s award-winning electric lineup, including the new and much-raved-about T3 and T3/B, the ever-popular Taylor SolidBody, as well as the versatile, number-one-selling electric/acoustic hollowbody, the T5. Attendees will also have the chance to explore Taylor’s line of acoustic guitars.

The 2009 Road Show tour will kick off in March with multiple dates in California and Oklahoma, as well as an East Coast swing with special stops in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Each Road Show attendee will receive a complimentary copy of Premier Guitar magazine (www.premierguitar.com) and while supplies last, TaylorWare gear and Elixir® strings. Attendees will have the chance to enter to win the grand prize, an opportunity to build their own custom guitar through Taylor’s Build To Order program.

In 2008, Taylor brought the Road Show to over 146 locations throughout the U.S., Germany and England. The Taylor Guitars Road Show was awarded the 2008 Supplier Excellence Award from Music Inc. magazine in the category of Events for putting “the excitement of the company’s factory tours into retail dealers across the country.”

For more information on Road Shows dates and locations, please visit the official Taylor Guitars Road Show calendar at www.taylorguitars.com/roadshows

Taylor Guitars Updates Factory Tour Schedule

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars will now offer its free, guided Factory Tour four days per week. Beginning at 1 p.m. every Monday through Thursday (excluding holidays), the Factory Tour takes guests through the steps of guitar construction. From wood selection to final assembly, guests will experience each process as a guitar evolves from raw wood into a finished instrument.

To take the tour, no appointment is necessary. Simply check-in at the receptionist desk in the lobby of our main building by 1 p.m. and register for the tour. While not physically demanding, the tour does include a fair amount of walking. Due to the technical nature, the tour may not be suitable for small children. The tour lasts approximately one hour and 15 minutes and departs from the main building at 1980 Gillespie Way in El Cajon, California.

Please note, the Taylor Guitars factory is closed to the public every Friday and for vacation 6/29-7/3/2009 and 12/21-1/1/2009.

NAMM Elects Kurt Listug to Board of Directors

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) has elected Taylor Guitars co-founder and CEO Kurt Listug to join the organization’s board of directors. The election was held at NAMM’s biannual trade show in mid-January, during its Annual Meeting of Members.

Mr. Listug joins a slate of new board members representing a vast array of companies, including Keyboard Concepts, QSC Audio Products, White House Music and Guitar Center, as well as C.F. Martin & Co. and Yamaha Corporation of America.

The appointment is a first for Mr. Listug, who along with other new board members will serve a three-year term ending in 2012.

Taylor "Build to Order" Program Launches

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Guitar enthusiasts dreaming of lustrous tone wood combinations, exquisite inlay details and custom features now have the opportunity to bring their dream guitars into sweet, musical existence through the Taylor Guitars’ Build To Order (BTO) program. BTO invites every day customers and enthusiasts alike “into the factory” to conceive and concoct a custom guitar with the perfect feel, appearance, and tone, paired with Taylor’s signature craftsmanship and unsurpassed quality.

Available at domestic and international dealers, the Build To Order menu of options spans nearly 40 different component categories, with a multitude of available choices in each. From selecting wedge materials and purfling, to body shape and wood choice, the BTO menu encourages the customer to become the craftsman with its limitless combinations for designing their ideal guitar.

“With the vast resources of our factory and the knowledge of our senior luthiers, the design of a Build To Order guitar is really only limited by the customer’s imagination,” shares Chris Wellons, vice president of production. “With so many options available and choices to be made, we know that when a BTO guitar is ordered, this player doesn’t just want any custom guitar, he wants the complete Taylor experience in his custom guitar.”

The process of building a BTO guitar takes Taylor’s unrivaled dedication to craftsmanship and quality to a new level. Once a BTO guitar is commissioned, an elite team of luthiers oversees each step in the construction process. From hand-selecting wood, to inspecting every part as it moves towards final assembly, Taylor’s luthiers are there to ensure the guitar meets its creator’s specifications and the company’s exceptional level of standards. Depending on the level of customization, the creation of a Build-To-Order guitar takes on average 12 weeks, a considerably short amount of time for a one-of-a-kind instrument.

Stop in and see your local dealer and ask them about the Taylor Guitars Build to Order program.

Taylor Introduces the T3

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Following the success of the T5 and SolidBody models, and born from a love of innovative design and classic electric tone, Taylor Guitars is expanding its electric line with the company’s first purely electric semi-hollowbody guitar, the T3.

Melding the sleek lines and shape of the T5 into a semi-hollowbody, the T3 features an expertly crafted body of sapele, topped with quilted maple. A svelte neck of tropical American mahogany sports heftier fret wire for a truly electric feel, while brilliant chrome hardware adorns the T3 for a ready-to-rock look that screams electric, vintage and cool.

While the T3 offers plenty for any player on its own, the designers at Taylor decided to take the new line up a notch in a variation, the T3B. Marking a first for the company, the T3B includes an authentic Bigsby Vibrato (model B70). The T3B incorporates a roller bridge for high performance, allowing the player the independence in setting the intonation of each string and eliminating the “dragging string” sound so commonly found in fixed bridges. The standard T3 model comes with a stop tailpiece.

“This is one rockin’ guitar that produces sounds our SolidBodys and T5s don’t have. When you do something that looks good, that’s one thing, but when cool sounds start coming out, you go, ‘Man, that’s just it.’ We knew this guitar was too good to hold back,” shares David Hosler, lead designer.

The new model includes Taylor’s Style 2 humbuckers which are specially positioned to capture the T3’s fidelity and range of tones. A three-way switch covers three standard configurations of pickup switching and as an added twist, coil splitting is available for both humbuckers by pulling up on the volume knob.

“The way I describe it is, imagine you have a guitar with two humbuckers and a three-way, and you have a guitar with two single coils and a three-way, which gives you that really cool, ‘bitey’ sound,” adds Hosler.

The control knobs, located in the traditional electric position below the bridge on the lower bout, function as push-pull pots. Pulling up on the volume knob activates a coil splitter, which turns the humbuckers into single coils. The tone knob is also a pull switch, which when pulled engages a second capacitor.

Hosler explains, “In the down position, one capacitor punches up the mid tones. Then when you pull the knob up, it adds another capacitor on top of it and uncorks a warm, fat, mellow old-school jazz tone. In between these two voices, this guitar spans the spectrum from traditional, hard rock to jazzy fusion. Even when overdriven, the air, articulation and distinction of all notes are there.”

The T3 is available in a high gloss finish to highlight the naturally lustrous color of the quilted maple or in a variety of sunburst colors. Strung with Elixir light gauge electric strings with NANOWEB® coating (www.elixirstrings.com), the T3 comes ready to gig in a hard shell Taylor case.

The T3 and T3B will be available domestically in mid-February and internationally in early spring 2009. To experience the T3 at NAMM, please visit Taylor Guitars on the second floor of the Anaheim Convention Center, booth 213.

Best Year Ever

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

With a production record of 80,000 guitars, including the introduction of the SolidBody electric and Liberty Tree T5 guitars, new product innovations and expanded international distribution, Taylor Guitars ended 2008 as a record year of growth.

“We are humbled to have experienced such a successful year,” shared Kurt Listug, co-founder and ceo. “We recognize that economic times are uncertain and people everywhere are suffering from an increase in prices on day-to-day good and services, but their loyalty and passion for guitar playing continues to fuel our desire to build the very best guitars we can.”

In 2008, Taylor set out to usher in new products and expand its global reach. The company kicked off the year at Winter NAMM with the official launch of the SolidBody, generating rave reviews from critics, the industry and players alike. The new models included the SolidBody Custom, the SolidBody Standard, and the SolidBody Classic. Later in the year, Taylor released the SolidBody Classic SC model, featuring a proprietary noiseless single coil pickup. Developed by Taylor’s leading designers, the new noiseless single coil features strong tonal character, but without the hum, redefining the single coil experience.

Mid-year saw the release of the limited edition Liberty Tree T5 model: a hybrid acoustic/electric guitar, with tops and appointments made from the last Liberty Tree in Annapolis, Maryland that fell victim to Hurricane Floyd in 1999 (video of Jason Mraz performing with Liberty Tree T5 at launch party). Experts declared it a safety hazard and order it felled, and Bob Taylor ordered the wood turned into beautiful and musically inspiring guitars. The cream and chocolate colored tulip poplar wood was initially used in a 2002 limited edition run of 400 Liberty Tree Grand Concert acoustic models and later in a limited edition run of Baby Taylor Liberty Tree models. The remaining pieces were turned into 50 Liberty Tree T5 guitar tops, adorned with stars, the constitution, and identified by state.

At Winter NAMM, Taylor announced an expansion of its international reach to Europe and the Middle East through a distribution partnership with Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. In October, a new distribution agreement was formed with Yamano Music Company in Japan.

For the past 34 years, Taylor Guitars has evolved into one of the world’s leading acoustic and electric guitar manufacturers. Upon the eve of the company’s 35th anniversary, Taylor looks to 2009 with both excitement and anticipation for new products, announcements and continuing growth of the company.

While at NAMM, visit Taylor Guitars on the second floor, booth number 213. For additional news, please visit www.taylorguitars.com/news/

SolidBody Classic SC Review

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Phil Miller of Guitar Jam Daily recently rocked out on the Solidbody Classic SC and had a hard time putting it down. You can check out his review here.

Taylor Announces NAMM Artist Lineup

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Earlier today, Taylor Guitars announced its all-star lineup of accomplished musicians and rising stars appearing and performing over three days of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) tradeshow. Beginning at 2:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, the Taylor Guitars stage will come alive with brilliant sights and sounds spanning Latin rock and post-hardcore, to country and southern gospel.

To kick off the show, renowned acoustic guitarist and legendary 12-string fingerstylist Leo Kottke will make a rare NAMM performance on Thursday, January 15th at 5:00 p.m. Kottke, a self-styled virtuoso, is known for his contemporary acoustic sound and droll wit. His celebrated 1969 release, 6- and 12-String Guitar launched his recording career, which has spawned an amalgam of harmony, rhythm, blues, pop, jazz, and lyrics, often featuring his dry humor.

On Friday, Sixwire will bring its “edgy-country” sound and strong vocals to headline the evening. In 2007, Sixwire received national acclaim as the runner-up of the FOX reality TV show, The Next Great American Band. Comprised of Andy Childs (guitar, piano, lead vocals), Steve Mandile (guitar, vocals), Robb Houston (guitar, vocals), along with bassist John Howard and drummer Chuck Tilley, Sixwire first received national attention in 2002 when they charted two singles on the Billboard country charts. This will mark the band’s third appearance at NAMM on the Taylor Guitars’ stage.

Shaw Blades, featuring the arena rock duo of Tommy Shaw (Styx) and Jack Blades (Night Ranger) from the early ‘90s supergroup, Damn Yankees, will headline on Saturday. Long time Taylor players, Shaw Blades began their collaboration in the mid-‘90s with their first album, Hallucination, which was later followed by Influence, a compilation of cover songs mostly from the1970s.

At press time, other artists scheduled to perform include Latin rock sensation, Carina Ricco, Americana and southern gospel band, The Whistlestop, as well as country musicians, Jonalee White and Dennis Agajanian. Also taking the stage, poetic rocker Elliot Murphy, along with post-hardcore band, Pierce The Veil, and two of Taylor’s well-loved signature artists: dynamic fingerstylist, Doyle Dykes and Ultimate Guitar Show host, Marc Seal.

All artist appearances and times are subject to change. For the most current lineup of events, please visit Taylor Guitars at NAMM, booth 213 on the second floor.

Thursday, January 15th
2:00 p.m. Dennis Agajanian (www.dennisagajanian.com)
3:00 p.m. The Whistlestop (www.whistlestopmusic.com)
4:00 p.m. Doyle Dykes (www.doyledykes.com)
5:00 p.m. Leo Kottke (www.leokottke.com)

Friday, January 16th
2:00 p.m. Carina Ricco (www.carinaricco.com)
3:00 p.m. Marc Seal (www.marcseal.com)
4:00 p.m. Doyle Dykes
5:00 p.m. Sixwire (www.sixwire.com)

Saturday, January 17th

2:00 p.m. Elliot Murphy (www.elliottmurphy.com)
3:00 p.m. Jonalee White (www.jonaleewhite.com)
4:00 p.m. Pierce The Veil (www.myspace.com/piercetheveil)
5:00 p.m. Shaw Blades(www.myspace.com/shawbladesinfluence)

To see live performances of Taylor Guitars artists and for show updates, please visit www.taylorguitars.com/videos as we'll be posting daily updates.

Taylor Captures Eight Players' Choice Awards

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Acoustic Guitar magazine announced the winners of its 2008 Player’s Choice Awards: a biennial vote cast by players and enthusiasts of their favorite guitars, gear, instructional resources and other products. Winning a whopping eight Players' Choice Awards, Taylor was recognized in the categories of Beginner’s Steel-Strings, Acoustic-Electric Guitars and 12-String Guitars with Gold awards and won Silver awards in the categories of Dreadnoughts, Mid-Size Flattops, Small Bodies, and Nylon Strings. A Bronze award was also given to the company in the category of Travel Guitars (BabyTaylor, BigBaby).

Acoustic Guitar started the Players’ Choice Awards in 1998 as a way for you, the players, to tell each other (and the people making the gear you use every day) what guitars, accessories, and amplification equipment pass the test day after day. Guitarists all have a favorite capo, string set, pickup, or guitar that we just couldn’t live without, and we love to tell other guitarists how much the best gear will add to their music-making experience. The Players’ Choice Awards are your chance to do just that.

Voting in the Players’ Choice Awards happens every-other-year, and over the past ten years, the readers of Acoustic Guitar have awarded over 400 Players’ Choice Awards in categories ranging from Dreadnought Guitars to Stand-Alone Recorders (see a list of all categories and past winners here.) After focusing exclusively on gear, the Players’ Choice Awards categories were expanded in recent years to get your input on the best instructional materials and workshops. And in 2008, we’ve expanded even further to include categories for Best Acoustic Guitarist in a variety of styles and genres, and Best Retail Shop. Here’s your chance to sound off about all aspects of your guitar playing experience!

To view the awards online, please visit http://www.acousticguitar.com/pca/

Taylor Announces Winner of Hotel Café Sweepstakes

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars would like to congratulate Casey W. of Orlando, Florida on winning a Taylor DN5 in the Hotel Café Tour Fall 2008 promotion.

When first learning of her win, Casey says, “I didn't believe it. I finally read the subject that said ‘Congratulations on winning a Taylor DN5’ and I freaked out. By the time I got the call confirming I had won the guitar the next day, I had already told all my friends it was a possibility. My mom told me I won, and I freaked out in the middle of lunch. I was so excited!”

Casey informed us that she has been playing guitar for a little over a year on a borrowed acoustic lent to her by her brother. She has been saving money for a Taylor guitar since her birthday and says that one of her goals is to study worship music in college.

Premier Guitar Gives SolidBody Seal of Approval

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Premier Guitar
August 2008

Taylor Solidbody Guitars Review
By Mike Broward

“The overall playability and design of these guitars are top-notch. They are premium solidbody electric guitars from a company who has redefined the acoustic world, and I have no problem getting behind that.”

You can read the complete article at www.premierguitar.com

Taylor Artists Take Awards By Storm

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Country music giant George Strait set a new record for the most awards in CMA history with the two he added to his collection at the 42nd annual CMA Awards in Nashville, bringing his career tally to 22. Strait reeled in Single of the Year (“I Saw God Today”) and Album of the Year (Troubadour). He also performed the winning tune with his band and played his custom cocobolo 910.

Another Taylor Dreadnought player and multiple award nominee, Alan Jackson, also performed with his band at the show, strumming his custom 610 (with a marlin fretboard inlay) on his rollicking title track “Good Time,” a Song of the Year nominee.

Country teen queen Taylor Swift was nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year, and sang “Love Story” from her new record, Fearless. Swift pulled out all the stops in her performance of the Romeo-and-Juliet-inspired tale, staging a lavish fairytale production on stage. Swift has been all over TV in the wake of her CD release, making the rounds on the talk show circuit (and playing her Taylors) to promote the record. So far so good — it’s one of the top albums on iTunes and the Billboard charts.

On Thursday, November 13 in Houston, the 9th annual Latin Grammys took place, and Julieta Venegas (615ce) took home a pair of awards: Best Alternative Music Album, and Best Long Form Music Video for her MTV Unplugged release.

Taylor Guitars Opens International Service Center in Germany

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars, in partnership with Fender GmbH, has opened a new international service center in Germany. Located in Düsseldorf, the workshop enlists seasoned repair technicians with hands-on experience and expert knowledge of Taylor guitars to give each guitar tune-up, repair or modification that signature Taylor touch. The service center honors warranty services and can perform necessary repairs and modifications to make the guitar the instrument of the owner’s dreams. The center also offers Taylor’s four comprehensive maintenance packages: Refresh, Revive, Renew or Rejuvenate.

Earlier this year David Hosler, vice president of customer service and repair, traveled to Düsseldorf to set-up the new facility to mirror the US-based workshop tools, machinery, and most importantly, repair techniques. “Here at Taylor, we want our owners to know that when they send their guitar to a Taylor service center, it’s like sending their guitar to the Taylor Factory. The machinery and tools are the same, and the repairmen have a wealth of experience working on Taylor Guitars,” shares Hosler.

The new location is one of three international service centers as the company currently operates one in England and another in Sweden.

Taylor GS6-12 Review

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

By Doug Young

Although Taylor Guitars is well known for its acoustic-electrics, and turned heads by building solid-body electric guitars, the company has never forsaken its purely acoustic roots. Taylor's relatively new Grand Symphony (GS) series is a bold reflection of this commitment. All GS guitars are minimally adorned, noncutaway instruments (unless special ordered otherwise) and include electronics only as an option—focusing instead on pure acoustic tone.

Given Taylor's long history as a builder of exceptional 12-strings (see "The Magnificent Seven," November 2008), it comes as little surprise that the company would add a 12-string version to the GS line (see New Gear review, June 2006). Taylor sent a maple and spruce GS6-12 for this review.

More Than Skin-Deep

The GS6-12 is an attractive and uniquely curvaceous guitar with a Sitka spruce top and beautifully figured, big leaf maple back, sides, and neck. Overall, the instrument's styling is elegant and subdued, featuring unobtrusive appointments including an Indian rosewood headstock overlay, simple abalone rosette, and small, abalone dot inlay markers on the ebony fretboard. The ebony bridge holds a compensated Tusq saddle, and the exceptionally smooth gold Taylor miniature tuning keys are complemented by a gold endpin and heel-mounted strap button. As is typical of a Taylor, construction of the guitar is flawless inside and out.

Easy on the Digits

The GS6-12's top-shelf fit and finish translates into excellent playability, which has always been one of Taylor's strong suits—and it's doubly important with the added tension of a 12-string guitar. The GS6-12 required only a little more hand strength than a six-string, a fact that's due, at least in part, to the exceptionally low action, which on our review guitar measured 5/64 inches at the 12th fret for the low E, and only 3/64 inches for the high E strings.

Guitarists who are used to six-strings may be understandably nervous about the prospect of tuning a 12-string guitar. But with the GS6-12 those fears are unfounded. Intonation is spot-on over the entire neck, and the guitar remained stable even when tuning down to a low C, which may be attributable in part to the stiff maple neck.

Stand Back

Twelve-strings are perfect for anyone seeking projection and a bigger sound, and the GS6-12 is more than up to the task. Strummed or fingerpicked, the guitar creates a stunning wall of sound. It would take a powerful singer to be heard over a GS6-12 strummed with a flatpick. And in spite of the low action and light-gauge strings, even fairly aggressive strumming produced little noticeable buzzing—just a rich and robust serving of 12-string tone. The GS6-12 is about much more than volume or ceiling, though. It also responds well to light fingerpicking, producing distinct, sustaining highs that are nicely balanced by a solid and defined low end and midrange warmth. The maple seems to lend an additional degree of clarity and separation to the notes and produces a bottom end that is tight and solid, but never boomy.

The GS6-12 is a surprisingly versatile instrument, and I found myself returning to it over and over as it sparked new ideas and revealed new colors in existing material. Played lightly, the GS6-12 brought a delicate harp-like flavor to a Celtic O'Carolan melody. With a heavier attack, a driving funky tune I've had under wraps for a long time suddenly had the power it had been missing. Resurrecting some half-forgotten Leo Kottke tunes, I found that I wasn't quite able to achieve his throaty low-end growl with the GS6-12's light-gauge strings tuned to standard pitch (Kottke uses heavy strings and tunes his guitar to C#), but the results were rewarding enough.

The GS6-12's clean and clear sound makes it an excellent recording guitar, too. In the studio, I was able to capture an accurate, full-spectrum tone very quickly, yielding a sound that was full and huge, without overwhelming the mics. The additional color that the GS6-12 provides enabled me to create a rich accompaniment behind a melody played on a six-string. But I was equally intrigued by the sound of flatpicked mandolin-like lines, using the GS6-12 as a lead instrument.

The Wrap

With an elegant body shape, understated but classy appointments, unbeatable playability, and a tone that is clear, punchy, and full of richness and warmth, the GS6-12 is an impressive addition to Taylor's 12-string line. Over the course of this review, I played at least a dozen other 12-strings, and while many were excellent in their own right, the GS6-12's smooth feel, big clean sound, and good looks set it apart. Players who need to play amplified may want to consider Taylor's 656ce (basically a GS6-12 with a cutaway and pickup system), but in a natural acoustic setting, the GS6-12 is an exceptional instrument.

See Video.

Review courtesy of Acoustic Guitar Magazine

Taylor Guitars honored for Environmental Efforts

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars, one of the world’s premier manufacturers of acoustic and electric guitars, was among 1,200 businesses recognized by the California Integrated Waste Management Board as part of its Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP). Awarded in the category of “Manufacturer – Musical”, the WRAP awards acknowledge California businesses that show considerable commitment and reduction in the amount of waste produced annually, as well as recognize innovative uses for previously discarded materials, employee education and recycled product procurement.

“These businesses are aggressively tackling waste reduction through innovative business practices,” said Board Chair Margo Reid Brown. “Having exceeded our 50 percent waste diversion mandate, California is looking for resourceful approaches to divert the remaining materials going to landfills. Businesses like these, who create opportunities for waste diversion, will be at the forefront of a more sustainable California.”

Notable achievements by Taylor Guitars in 2007 include:

• 35 tons of cardboard - 95% of the company’s total volume were recycled. The other 7 tons were reused in various ways throughout the factory.

• Over 20,000 pounds of paper were recycled in 2007. Other recycled and reused materials included plastic wrap, used printer toners, electronic equipment and grass trimmings.

• All oil and coolant products used in the factory and in manufacturing were recycled.

• Scrap wood and sawdust was converted into particleboard and mulch leading to its 100% reuse.

• Select pieces of scrap wood were donated to a local woodworking association to be transformed into toys for orphans in Tijuana, Mexico.

Annually, Taylor Guitars reviews its processes to look for ways to eliminate, reduce and reuse waste. One of the most notable and technologically advanced innovations was made in the early 1990s, when Bob Taylor, president and co-founder of Taylor Guitars, sought to eliminate harmful toxins from the process of spraying finish on guitars. After two years of research and development, a proprietary UV-curable finish was created. Shortly thereafter, a robotic arm was installed to hold the guitar as it passes through four coats of the UV-curable spray, eliminating all human contact in the spraying process. The guitar, which is negatively charged, creates an increased rate of transfer of spray to body, translating to less finish waste and a reduction in the levels of volatile organic compounds. For this innovation, Taylor Guitars was recognized by the County of San Diego for its commitment to the environment.

Outside of the factory, and in line with the company’s passion to produce the most aesthetically and musically pleasing guitars in the world, the company is equally committed to procuring wood that is responsibly harvested. In 2007, the company joined the Greenpeace MusicWood Coalition which is committed to FSC certification of Sitka spruce, an Alaskan forested wood that is becoming scarce due to heavy use in the construction industry.

Taylor Swift’s Record Premiere Party

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Triple-platinum country music sensation Taylor Swift celebrated the launch of her second album, Fearless, at an exclusive event held at the Taylor factory in El Cajon, California on Wednesday, November 5. Located inside the company’s intimate performance venue, Swift and her band thrilled an audience of nearly 200 contest winners and special guests with a heartfelt acoustic set that included several songs from the new record, which was released on Tuesday, November 11.

The event was hosted by nationally syndicated country radio personality Blair Garner (aftermidnite.com), who rallied the crowd of excited fans, each of whom had been flown in from around the country as winners of a special contest organized by Swift’s label, Big Machine Records, and Verizon Wireless. The lucky winners were also treated to a catered dinner on-site, along with special red carpet treatment that included a “meet-and-greet” and a photo-op with Swift.

Inside the Taylor Guitars venue, Garner welcomed Swift to the stage for a live, sit-down interview in which she talked about the inspiration behind the songs on Fearless, and answered questions that had been submitted by fans. The interview with Garner, along with several album tracks from Fearless, was recorded and scheduled to air on over 500 radio stations across the country.

Following the interview, Swift brought Bob Taylor on stage.

“When I’m playing guitars and you see on the end that it says Taylor, that’s not because I make the guitars,” she deadpanned. “That’s because he makes the guitars.”

Bob shared a warm hug with Swift and welcomed her back to the Taylor factory.

“We’ve been fans of yours since your dad called us six years ago and said, ‘You just have to hear my daughter sing,’” Bob told the 18-year-old star in front of the audience.

Bob has been an avuncular figure to Swift since the two met in person about five years ago. On stage, he was visibly happy to acknowledge the way Swift’s precocious songwriting talents have spawned huge career success at such a young age.

“Everything that has happened to you should have happened because you’re so talented,” Bob said. “A lot of people go into music, but not very many people write great songs.”

Bob said he could personally relate to the way her passion for songwriting inspired her to pursue her craft at a young age.

“I made my first guitar when I was 16 years old,” he told Swift. “I got about halfway through that thing, and it hit me like a ton of bricks that that was what I was going to do.”

Swift and her band finished the night with a five-song acoustic set, leading off with three new tracks. “White Horse,” which debuted on this year’s season premiere of Grey’s Anatomy, touched the crowd with emotionally raw lyrics about a not-so-fairy-tale ending to a relationship. “Love Story” recasts the tragic romance of Romeo and Juliet, only this time with a happier outcome. On the title track from Fearless, Swift accompanied herself on her sparkle-topped GS. She also treated fans to “Change,” which was released earlier this year and used as a soundtrack during coverage of Summer Olympics. Swift closed with her first number-one hit and a fan favorite, “Teardrops on My Guitar.”

The acoustic performance was video-recorded for a special Verizon V CAST program to support the release of Fearless.

Swift has emerged as a huge phenomenon in the music industry in the two years since her debut album was released. She’s already racked up several of country music’s highest awards, and her new album’s lead single, “Love Story,” peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. It also went to number one in all genres on iTunes, which is a first for her.She recently passed the 90 million mark for music streams on MySpace, where she is consistently ranked country’s number-one artist.

And she’s been all over TV lately. CMT’s Crossroads recently paired her with Def Leppard. On Monday, November 10, she appeared on both Good Morning America and The Late Show with Letterman. And on Tuesday, Nov. 11, Ellen DeGeneres featured Swift for the entire duration of her hour-long show.

Visit Taylor Swift's http://www.myspace.com/taylorswift page.

For appearances and info please visit taylorswift.com

Factory Service Packages to Fine-Tune Your Taylor

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In response to requests from Taylor owners, our Customer Service department has developed four factory service packages, each designed to return a Taylor to peak form. Whether your guitar is showing the effects of severe dryness or a steady stream of gigs has thrown your guitar out of whack, our skilled repair technicians have you covered. You can send your guitar(s) to the Taylor factory specifically for one of these packages, or add a service package to a guitar that’s sent in for other reasons, such as warranty service, ding repair, etc. We’re currently quoting a two-week turnaround time on all packages.

We’re also offering Expression System® pickup installation and upgrade packages so you can optimize your amplified tone. Guitars shipped to us will be returned in a brand new shipping carton with Taylor-engineered inserts designed to stabilize the case and cushion the ends. For the complete rundown on our service packages, click here. For additional information on package details, or to arrange to send your guitar in, contact our friendly Customer Service folks at (800) 943-6782

For a full overview of the Service Packages available you can download this PDF.

Taylor Guitars "Official" Guitar of Hotel Café Tour

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Hotel Café Tour announced that Taylor Guitars, one of the world’s premier manufacturers of high-end acoustic and electric guitars, has been named the “Official Guitar of the Tour”. Taylor Guitars, known for its blend of beautiful and musically inspiring guitars, is already the choice instrument for many of the tour’s past and current artists.

“Like the Hotel Café Tour, Taylor is committed to fostering emerging artists,” commented

Bob Borbonus, director of entertainment relations. “We’re proud to share the stage with such talented musicians and to be a sponsor of this tour.”

Named for the coffee shop-turned-venue in LA, The Hotel Café Tour is now in its fourth year.

For the first time ever, this year’s tour will feature an all female lineup of eighteen singersongwriters ranging from established musicians, Ingrid Michaelson and Rachael Yamagata, to rising stars Meiko, Thao Nguyen, Kate Havnevik, and Brooke Fraser. With so much talent, and a focus on community and camaraderie, concert goers can anticipate impromptu jam sessions and collaborations.

The Hotel Café Tour is set to kick-off on October 9 in Santa Barbara, California. The tour will stop in thirty-three North American cities as it makes its way to Europe for twenty tour stops. Visitors to Taylor’s website will have the opportunity to enter an exciting giveaway for a Taylor DN5 acoustic guitar. Later in the month, visitors to the site can also check out performances from the tour.

Tour schedules, as well as show tickets are available at http://www.thehotelcafetour.com

Taylor Guitars and Yamano Announce Distribution Agreement

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars, one of the world’s premier manufacturers of acoustic and electric guitars, announced a strategic distribution partnership with Japan’s oldest and foremost distributor of musical instruments, Yamano Music Company (http://www.yamano-music.com). The agreement will facilitate expanded distribution of Taylor guitar models and accessories in Japan, with Yamano providing an expansive distribution channel and the first line of support for Taylor’s Japan-based customers.

“As the demand for Taylor guitars continues to grow, we are confident that Yamano can best leverage its dealer network to give buyers the complete Taylor experience,” shared Kurt Listug, co-founder and CEO of Taylor Guitars. “From warehousing and distribution, to product expertise and service, Yamano has a solid history of bringing major American guitar brands into the market, with sound results. We consider the company to be the premier guitar distributor in Japan and the best partner for our brand.”

Beginning this month the full Taylor model line will be available through Yamano’s dealer network. Japan-based customers can be assured of receiving the complete “Taylor Experience”, from having questions like “which Taylor is right for me?” answered by knowledgeable dealers, to receiving the same superior guitar service and repairs that Taylor customers enjoy all over the world.

With a commitment to musical education and a premium on customer service, the Yamano Music Company has been a leader in building Japan’s music market for over 100 years. The company was founded in 1892 by Seitaro Yamano, who believed music was a tool to help people from different cultures and languages communicate. Yamano established his first music store in the Ginza district in Tokyo, the same spot where the Yamano Music flagship store stands today. Through the past 100 years, Yamano has grown to represent international leaders in the musical instrument industry while remaining a family-owned company.

Earlier this year, Taylor Guitars announced a similar sales and distribution partnership in Europe and the Middle East with Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.

MusicWood Madagascar Tour 2008

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor VP of Production Richard Berry recently traveled to the African island country of Madagascar as part of a fact-finding delegation from the Greenpeace-organized MusicWood Coalition. The organization was founded in 2007 in conjunction with several major guitar manufacturers that currently include Taylor, Martin, Fender, Gibson and Yamaha, with the overarching goal of promoting environmentally sustainable methods of harvesting tonewoods that are certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC). While the coalition’s first initiative has focused on preserving the future of Sitka spruce in Alaska, additional initiatives targeting other tonewoods are concurrently being developed in other regions of the world, including Madagascar.

The group’s mission in Madagascar was to explore the prospect of developing a source of sustainable, certified rosewood and ebony, as well as the potential use of nato as a mahogany substitute for necks. Madagascar has long been known for its many unique and rare species of flora and fauna, which are attributed to its island isolation from the African continent.

For all of its exotic beauty, however, the country is in acute need of conservation policies, as poverty conditions there have led to aggressive deforestation over the last 60 years. This in turn has threatened the country’s flora and fauna and, according to some reports, diminished the forest cover from about 25 percent of the island to less than 15 percent today. The challenge is to lessen the forest depletion while trying to develop sustainable harvesting initiatives that can provide economic support to the Malagasy people. Instrument makers offer the prospect of a high-value/low impact market.

During his 12-day trip, Richard and the MusicWood group met with governmental officials and NGOs to discuss the feasibility of FSC certification. They also visited local villages, and made two treks into rainforests to see rosewood and ebony trees firsthand.

“It really revealed the delicate nature of the conditions there and the current lack of infrastructure, Richard says. “The potential is there, but it could 3-5 years before any music wood could realistically be exported. Or maybe never. That’s always a possibility.”

Richard documented his adventure through photographs and video footage, which he edited into a travelogue that he narrates. The video offers a glimpse of Madagascar’s beauty, the friendly charm of the Malagasy people and their timeless culture, and the challenges the country faces as it works to responsibly manage its natural resources.

Watch a short video of Richard's trip to Madagascar.

SolidBody Shine

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Platinum-selling hard rockers Shinedown cranked up the riffs at their House of Blues show in San Diego in September. One of the band’s two guitarists, Zach Myers, has been touring with a SolidBody Standard electric guitar equipped with our new HG (high gain) pickups, which he says he loves. Zach played the SolidBody on several tunes during the HOB show, and the pickups sounded ferociously tasty, adding to the band’s arena-ready, distortion-fueled tunes.

“The guitar works great,” Zach said from the road before a recent show. “The tone really sticks out among everything else I play. The high gain pickups definitely help with that. They have an output level that can cut through anything else in the PA and in my rig. I love them. They sound great.”

The HG pickups are likely to appeal to other rock acts looking for a darker, edgier sound with more front-end drive. Zach also recently picked up a SolidBody Classic with the HG pickups and another Classic, an SC with single coil pickups, and said he was looking forward to exploring their tonal flavors, as well.

“Devour,” the first single from Shinedown’s chart-riding new record, The Sound of Madness, is the official theme song for the pro wrestling’s WWE “Night of Champions” for 2008, and the song “Second Chance” has been used in the promo for TV’s Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. In late September, the band was on the tail end of a tour with Buckcherry and Avenged Sevenfold, before heading to Europe in October for a string of shows with Disturbed.

check out a live performance of the band in our video section

Koa and Cocobolo Fall Limiteds

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars is celebrating Fall with an exciting array of 2008 Fall Limited Editions, which feature two of the world’s most beautiful and sought-after tonewoods, Hawaiian koa and Mexican cocobolo. Set for an October retail debut, the 2008 Fall Limiteds are offered in two distinct koa/cocobolo combinations on the Grand Symphony (GS), the Grand Auditorium (GA) and the Grand Concert (GC), while the 700 series limited includes a unique koa touch.

With a bold voice and tone, the Koa GS Limited features exquisite, shimmering Hawaiian koa back and sides, and a mini back-wedge and binding of rich, exotic cocobolo. On a Cocobolo GS Limited, the woods are reversed, with swirling red-figured cocobolo forming the back and sides, and visual accents provided by a koa mini-wedge and koa binding. Non-cutaway Koa GS Limited and Cocobolo GS Limiteds are also available.

Taylor’s popular Grand Auditorium body shape is well-represented in the 2008 Fall Limited lineup by the Koa GA Limited (pictured right) and Cocobolo GA Limited (pictured right), with premium appointments of gold Gotoh tuners, a bone nut and saddle, as well as an abalone top. The small-bodied, non-cutaway Grand Concerts, the Koa GC Limited and Cocobolo GC Limited, are topped with an elegant slotted headstock and feature a Sitka spruce top, and a cocobolo backstrap, with delicate pinstripe binding along the fretboard and peghead.

For the limited release, a new, premium, tone-enhancing feature was added to the GS, GA and GC styles: Adirondack spruce bracing. Adirondack is known for its extra elasticity that emits a sweeter, more balanced acoustic voice, a sound enhancement that company President Bob Taylor calls “magical.”

“All the notes across the spectrum become both more powerful and sweeter with Adirondack,” says Taylor. “It has a curious elasticity which is really exploited when we use it for bracing.”

To round out the Fall Limited Editions, an upgraded version of one of Taylor’s most popular deluxe models, the 714ce-LTD (pictured right), features back and sides of rich Hawaiian koa, a gently sloping Venetian cutaway, and a top of Western Red cedar, for the distinctive “airy” sound and excellent note definition that fingerstylists love. Appointments include dusky Indian rosewood body binding, sparkling abalone fretboard dots, and an abalone soundhole rosette. Gold-plated tuners complete the feature upgrade for this limited edition version of the 714ce-LTD which includes a Taylor deluxe hard-shell case. All of Taylor’s 2008 Fall Limiteds come with Taylor’s Expression System® pickup, for premium quality amplified acoustic sound.

Taylor Celebrates 8 Years of Music In Schools

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

On Wednesday Sept. 17^th , Taylor Guitars and the San Diego Music Foundation celebrated eight years of supporting music education at the 18^th Annual San Diego Music Awards Show at Viejas Concerts in the Park in San Diego County. The night began with a rocking performance by longtime Taylor player, Steve Poltz whose album, Traveling, was nominated for “Album of the Year.” Another Taylor player, Joel Rafael, had fists in the air as he sung Woodie Guthrie inspired protest songs to a packed house. Backed by his sultry voiced daughter, Jamaica Rafael, Joel performed songs from his SDMA nominated Best Americana or Country Album, Thirteen Stories High.

SDMF and Taylor Guitars have raised close to $500,000 in the past eight years for music education programs in San Diego County. In addition to monetary support, Taylor has donated nearly 1,500 Baby Taylors (3/4-scale acoustic guitars) to local elementary schools. The guitars are typically for use of students in grades 3-6.

Taylor president and CEO Bob Taylor states, “It's well known that children who study music do better in all their other studies. With guitar being the instrument most kids want to learn, there lies a problem with the fact that there are few choices of guitars that are sized for children and fit for the school environment. By partnering with SDMA we've been able to bring nearly 60 elementary schools, up to 24 guitars each to run their programs. It is wildly popular and we're very proud of our accomplishment in the schools.”

The night concluded with Taylor players and friends, Slightly Stoopid, taking home the coveted “Album of the Year,” award for their record Chronchitis. It was a fabulous night and Taylor Guitars is proud to be part of a vibrant local music community and honored to provide musical instruments for children in schools.

For a complete list of this years winners please visit http://sandiegomusicawards.com

Taylor Extends No-Interest Consumer Financing

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor has a new plan that will allow you to satisfy your innermost guitar cravings while minimizing wallet strain. Beginning in June, 2008, participating Taylor dealerships are offering special 12-month interest deferred financing on Taylor guitars (acoustic and acoustic/electric "5" Series and up, T5 and SolidBody). See your local Taylor dealer for details.

While you’re there, take a look around. Does it appear that your favorite Taylor dealer has more Taylor guitars in stock than ever before? We’ve been working with our dealers to widen their selection, so that whether you’re interested in checking out a different body style for an acoustic or you’d like to put a T5 through its electric/acoustic paces, you’re likely to find the models you need in stock.

Special financing and expanded Taylor inventory: two good reasons to visit your Taylor dealer now.

Demand and You Shall Recieve a Road Show

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

You demanded it and now we’re bringing the Taylor Guitars Road Show to your hometown!

People all over the country have been demanding a Road Show in their city for the past few months, but after only a couple of weeks, the Chicago metro area surged ahead as the leader of the pack. When the city reached 50 demands, it became pretty obvious to us that there would be a great turnout if we scheduled a show in that area. Since booking the show, demands have continued to climb to 74 – that’s almost triple the number of demands that the second place city has!

The lucky store that the Road Show will be passing through is Tobias Music in Downers Grove, Illinois. Due to the high amount of demands, the owners of the shop have rented an offsite venue to accommodate all of the people they are expecting! It will be held at Lincoln Center on September 10, 2008. We will have an all-star Taylor crew out there for the show as well: Regional Sales Manager Rick Fagan and Product Specialist Bobby Coverston.

If you’re not from the Chicago area, don’t despair. Keep demanding the Taylor Guitars Road Show for your city and who knows – your town could be the next stop on the Road Show tour!

September 10, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
Lincoln Center
935 Maple Ave.
Downer’s Grove, IL 60515

For more information, call Tobias Music at (630) 960-2455.

Greenpeace MusicWood Coalition

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor and three other prominent guitar companies — Martin, Fender and Gibson — have teamed up with the environmental organization Greenpeace to promote changes in logging practices that would secure the longterm sustainability of tonewoods.

The partnership, the Greenpeace MusicWood Coalition, launched its initiative with a focus on Sitka spruce, commonly used for guitar and piano soundboards. The main location of Sitka spruce trees is the coastal rainforest regions of Alaska and Canada, which for many decades have provided a source of old-growth trees that are coveted by instrument makers.

“In many regions we could be a short time away from the end of the Sitka spruce trees large enough to provide wood for guitar parts”, said Bob Taylor, referring to the reliance of guitar makers on trees that are more than 250 years old for their exceptional tonal properties. “That could change through different logging practices.”

Though the guitar industry is not a major consumer of Sitka spruce (American guitar companies together use about 150 spruce logs a year, Bob says), the wood has been steadily depleted by other industries. According to an extensive, several-year analysis of the region's timber market initiated by Greenpeace, over eighty percent of Southeast Alaskan timber ships to Asia, primarily for home-building, with the bulk of the remaining wood used for door and window frames in the United States.

The intent of the MusicWood Coalition is to leverage the high profile of the guitar industry to draw attention to the need to develop sustainable forest management systems. Greenpeace laid the groundwork for the coalition when it arranged an educational tour in Alaska with representatives of all four guitar companies in the summer of 2006. (Bob Taylor wrote about this trip in his BobSpeak column in the fall issue of Wood&Steel.) As Bob comments in a video on the MusicWood website (musicwood.org), it's easy to think that the region could never be overlogged as one sees a dense forest in an untouched region — until one sees firsthand a clearcut mountainside and the realization becomes starkly clear — literally — that aggressive, unmanaged logging could severely deplete the region in a relatively short time.

During their Alaska trip, the guitar group met an assortment of parties with a vested interest in the region, including local loggers, ecology experts, and board members of Sealaska, a Native American corporation and the largest private landowner in Southeast Alaska. The corporation owns 290,000 acres of surface land.

Currently the MusicWood Coalition is encouraging Sealaska to apply for certification by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which would entail adopting logging practices that would safeguard the survival of the region's remaining ancient forests while continuing to produce high quality wood.

During the 2007 NAMM music trade show in Anaheim in January, Taylor hosted a breakfast meeting involving Greenpeace, Sealaska, and representatives from the aforementioned guitar companies, along with personnel from Walden Guitars and Asian instrument companies Yamaha and Kawai. Discussions of the Sitka spruce campaign were positive, and the group also addressed other tonewoods that are in jeopardy in other regions of the world, including mahogany.

To learn more about the Greenpeace MusicWood Coalition, visit www.musicwood.org

Artie Traum - 1943 - 2008

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

We’re immensely saddened to report the passing of Artie Traum, a longtime member of Taylor’s extended family whose heartfelt music, gentle spirit and playful sense of humor touched countless people during his life. Artie had been undergoing treatment for a rare ocular melanoma for the past four years, but it spread to his liver and in its advanced state was untreatable. He died peacefully at home on Sunday, July 20, with his wife Beverly at his side. A message from the Traum family is posted on his website, www.artietraum.com. “Like everything else in his life, Artie handled his diagnosis with dignity, strength and acceptance — and even a little of his irreverent humor,” his family noted.

A man of copious musical gifts, Artie emerged from the vibrant Greenwich Village folk scene of the ’60s and would go on to distinguish himself among critics and audiences alike over a career that spanned nearly four decades. Artie adventurously explored a variety of musical idioms, from folk to blues to jazz to pop, absorbing American music’s rich heritage and then blending elements of different genres in fresh ways to brew his own signature blend of contemporary acoustic music that was at once rootsy and sophisticated.

Artie’s appetite for diverse musical ideas stretched far and wide, and his wonderful way with people invited creative collaborations with some of the world’s finest musicians along the way, bringing exotic flavors to his music. Beyond his work as a singer-songwriter, Artie donned many other musical hats during his career, among them session player, producer, bandleader, arranger, film/TV composer, video producer, teacher, radio host and writer. One might call Artie a modern day Renaissance man; of course, if Artie were around, he’d probably fire back a self-deprecating zinger without missing a beat and crack everyone up. You can read more about Artie’s career here.

In 1999, Artie joined the Taylor clinician program, which proved to be a great fit for his talents. Beyond his musical versatility, Artie was an entertaining and witty storyteller, an encouraging guitar instructor, and ever-gracious in his exchanges with people during and after a workshop. Whether sharing the secrets of DADGAD tuning or breaking down blues licks or jazz chords, Artie always left people with a warm feeling and a smile, as many of you who attended his workshops can surely attest.

For several years, our “Artie Traum and Friends” set on the Taylor stage at the Winter NAMM show was a perennial centerpiece of Taylor’s Winter NAMM show performances, packing the room and bringing down the house. Although Artie was perched center stage, performing his own material, and serving as bandleader, it was the ego-free way he allowed his all-star musical cast — including regulars Jeff Pevar on guitar, Scott Petito on bass, Neil Wilkinson on drums, and occasionally, John Sebastian on harp — to coalesce around him that made the sets memorable.

Artie’s life was rich with friendships and love, and he lived with complete integrity. For those of us fortunate enough to have known him, his spirit was an inspiring example of how fulfilling life can be when filled with great people, great conversation, great food, and great music.

Our deepest condolences go out to Artie’s wife Beverly, Artie’s brother Happy and his wife Jane, and to the rest of their family. You’ll be deeply missed by many, Artie. We hope you’re jamming with your musical heroes in the great beyond.

You’re invited to visit www.artietraum.com, where you can read or post messages in remembrance of Artie’s life. A memorial celebration of Artie’s life will be held on Thursday, July 24 at 2 p.m. at the Bearsville Theater on Rt. 212, approximately two miles west of Woodstock, New York. For directions, the theater’s website is www.bearsvilletheater.com.

You can also view a video clip of some of Artie’s Taylor performances here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JuDln63BhU.

Taylor Guitars Gives A Guitar Away Every Week in July!

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The musicians’ fight for free, legal tablature (a form of text-based music notation) has finally paid off. Today MXTabs.net officially launched as the world’s first free, legal tablature network, providing guitarists, bassists and drummers with an online community in which to freely create tablature and share their knowledge of how to play tens of thousands of songs.

The month of July is MXTabs launch month, starting with the premier of the official, and newly redesigned MXTabs.net web site on July 1^st. MXTabs has also partnered with Taylor Guitars^® to give away four guitars from the legendary company throughout the month, including two of their new electric guitars. Additional prizes, including MXTabs t-shirts, messenger bags and other branded merchandise will also be awarded.

Featuring licenses from Alfred Publishing, Sony/ATV, Universal MGB, Domino Publishing, BUG Music and several thousand additional publishers, MXTabs boasts a catalog of nearly 50,000 licensed, user-created tablatures (tabs), with more being added daily. The tabs for the songs are created and shared by the users of the site, with a focus on a free and legal distribution of knowledge and information. Publishers and songwriters are paid for their intellectual property through an advertising revenue-share model.

All songwriters, whether they are part of a large global publisher or simply an individual who has written a song can participate in MXTabs. In what is a first for user-generated arrangements of copyright-protected material, a full 50% of ad revenues is paid directly to publishers, songwriters and copyright holders, while the community receives free, unlimited access to the tablature on the site.

In addition to music tablature, MXTabs offers a fully-featured social network community, including the ability for users to find and add friends, participate in the MXTabs musician forums, post blogs and video lessons, as well as show off photos of their music gear.

“The purpose of MXTabs is to allow musicians to freely share their knowledge and to participate in a community with other musicians,” said Bill Aicher, MXTabs’ project manager. “The rebirth of MXTabs was done with the direct input of previous users of the site and what we’ve built is directly based on what musicians have been asking us for.”

To participate, publishers and administrators are encouraged to visit the site at www.mxtabs.net.

About MXTabs.net: MXTabs.net is the first legitimately licensed online social community designed to provide musicians with access to free guitar, bass and drum tablature, while also compensating music publishers and songwriters through a share of advertising revenue. Originally launched in 1999, MXTabs was one of the first, largest and most popular destinations for freely available online tabs. In 2006 the site voluntarily closed its doors due to issues of copyright, and the assets have since been acquired by Musicnotes, Inc. It officially re-launched on July 1, 2008.

Eventful and Taylor Guitars

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Eventful and Taylor Guitars today announced that music artists anywhere in the world can register for the “Fire Up The Fans” summer competition to compete for a grand prize of $5,000 and three Taylor guitars. To help showcase a 2008 line that positions Taylor as a full line acoustic and electric guitar company, Taylor is leveraging digital platforms like Eventful to get guitars not only in the hands of musicians but in front of thousands of music lovers. As musicians register for the competition, fans across the country can “Demand” which artist they want to perform in their city using Eventful’s Demand service.

This year, Taylor Guitars is giving away brand new guitars to the top five bands participating in the “Fire Up The Fans” competition. Fans and musicians can log on to: http://eventful.com/taylorguitars or http://eventful.com/fireupthefans to participate.

Launched today, July 9, the “Fire Up The Fans” Summer Demand competition will continue through 2:00 p.m. PT, September 23, on Eventful. The winning bands will be announced on September 24.

“We’re excited to see how fans and musicians get behind this competition,” said Bob Borbonus, Director of Entertainment Relations for Taylor Guitars. “Bands receive top of the line gear from Taylor and a load of cash, while fans get a live show from the winning band in their city — everyone wins. We’ve learned that fans love it when an opportunity arises for them to truly show support for their favorite bands. The element of fan participation and advocacy will only enhance the opportunity for emerging artists to showcase their talent by way of a game-changing music industry tool like Eventful Demand.”

Along with MySpace, YouTube and iTunes, Eventful is an essential part of the online marketing toolkit for performers and artists. Eventful is transforming the way that tours get routed by empowering fans to influence the tours of their favorite performers and by enabling performers to make the best decisions about where to tour.

“We love helping build stronger connections between fans and artists,” said Eventful CEO Jordan Glazier. “We’re excited to work with the Taylor Guitars to give the fans the power to shape their favorite artists’ tours.”

About Eventful, Inc.

San Diego-based Eventful, Inc., operates Eventful.com, the leading events website which enables its community of users to discover, promote, share and create events throughout the world. Eventful users select from nearly 8 million events taking place in local markets throughout the world, from concerts and sports to singles events and political rallies. Eventful’s Demand service enables users to influence where their favorite performers appear by creating viral grass-roots campaigns to “Demand” them in their town. Visit Eventful at http://www.eventful.com.

The New Noiseless Single Coil

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Single coil pickup fans take note: In late July, Taylor will release its new SolidBody Classic SC model, marking the debut of our proprietary Style 3 noiseless single coil pickup. The Classic SC captures all that’s great about the single coil sound, but leaves behind the characteristic hum.

“They’re as hum-canceling as a regular humbucking coil,” says Taylor Product Development Manager David Hosler. “The challenge isn’t in making a quiet single coil, but to do it without losing the single coil’s tonal character. Using our ‘flavor’ of design, we did that, and on top of it, we were able to maintain what we call a modern output level.”

Hosler says that for most of his life as an electric player, he preferred humbuckers to single coils. “I’ve owned probably three or four Strat-style guitars in my life — I’ve built two or three for myself — but they weren’t my main axe,” he says. “A lot of it was because I only found that sound usable for my style of playing here and there. But when we did these single coils and got them up and running, I found something I really liked. I like the power and the edge and the fidelity.

“I think your standard single coil player will find something extremely appealing that he hasn’t heard before, and I think the guy who normally plays full-shred humbuckers will find fresh inspiration.”

Taylor VP of Marketing Brian Swerdfeger underscores Hosler’s points in a video demonstration of the single coil, showing off the Classic SC’s ability to convey all the characteristic sweetness, breathiness and sparkle, without the hum. Brian plays the SC clean through a Vox AC30, then dirty through a Marshall DSL50 for a crunchier sound. Playing through the Vox, Brian works through the different pickup positions and reels off some bright, funk tones. Switching to the Marshall, he squeezes out a thicker, fatter sound. “I’m leaving the guitar wide open while I’m playing, but there’s no noise,” he notes during the demo. “You can turn the volume control down and the tone will clean up…. So, it’s a real versatile guitar without any of the traditional hum and buzz and artifacts of a regular single coil.”

Guitarist/producer Steve Mandile from the Nashville-based band Sixwire was one of the first pro players outside the factory to get his hands on a Classic SC. An early adopter of the Classic with the humbucker when it came out late in 2007 (Sixwire rocked the Taylor room at the 2008 Winter NAMM show), Mandile was also effusive about the SC’s sonics.

“I love it,” Mandile said before a gig in Nashville. “I did a session the other day where we had to replicate all these old popular songs from the ’70s, and I took both the humbucker and the single coil Classic and used them both a lot. They’re really, really versatile. The single coil sounds great, plays great.”

Mandile says he considers himself mostly a single coil guy, and liked the SC’s ability to deliver the tones he loved along with some fresh sounds, too.

“It seems a bit thicker, which is good. The single coils on my main guitar are really bright, so I kind of have that sound, but the [SC] seems a little bit thicker, and I think a little bit more usable than your typical single coil.”

Taylor Readies Release of Liberty Tree T5

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The final design touches are being applied to the Liberty Tree T5, the second offering of Taylor’s elite Builder’s Reserve Series. This electric guitar represents a continuation of Taylor’s heartfelt homage to a historic tree that became an enduring symbol of the quest for American independence.

The limited edition T5 is crowned with a solid top of cream-and-chocolate-hued tulip poplar milled from the wood of the Annapolis, Maryland Liberty Tree, the last survivor of the original Liberty Trees from the Revolutionary period. The majestic Annapolis tree lived on the grounds of what became St. John’s College for over 400 years, until severe damage from Hurricane Floyd in 1999 led experts to declare it a safety hazard and order it felled.

Company president Bob Taylor, an avid history buff, subsequently purchased about 80,000 pounds of the iconic tree’s wood, and in 2002 released a limited edition run of 400 Liberty Tree Grand Concert acoustic guitars as a musical tribute to the American colonists who struggled for freedom from English rule.

The guitars sold out quickly to professional players, guitar enthusiasts and collectors who wished to own a unique, playable piece of American history. Taylor later used smaller surplus pieces of the tulip poplar to make veneer backs and sides for a batch of roughly 400 Baby Liberty ¾-size guitars. These also sold quickly.

While some additional Liberty Tree wood remnants still were left, none were of adequate length to form acoustic sides. This appeared to close the book on the Liberty Tree guitar saga, much to the disappointment of many would-be buyers, along with Bob Taylor.

“I had no idea what would become of that precious remaining wood, but I couldn’t bring myself to throw it away,” Bob said of the unusable tulip poplar. “We locked it up and moved on to other projects.”

Little did Bob know at the time that several years later, Taylor would enter the electric guitar world with the hybrid electric/acoustic hollowbody T5. Released in 2005 to much industry acclaim, the T5 is a true hybrid; it can function as a “clean-sounding” amplified acoustic guitar, or as a full-on electric guitar, suitable for high-distortion jamming. Prince, Tommy Shaw and Serj Tankian (System of a Down) are among the rockers who have adopted the T5 into their guitar arsenals.

Bob happened to be pondering the suspended fate of the remaining Liberty Tree wood one day when it occurred to him that it could be used for T5 tops. As luck would have it, there were just enough sets to make 50 Liberty Tree T5 tops, so Bob and his development team hatched a fresh design blueprint: Each guitar would be individually identified by the name of a different state and a corresponding serial number designating the order in which the state entered the Union.

“It’s an honor to be able to use the last few pieces of this important tree to make something as totally cool as this guitar,” Bob reflected during the guitar’s development.

The Liberty Tree T5 borrows some key design elements from the original Liberty Tree acoustic guitar. A stylized, hand-inlaid Revolutionary period battle banner adorns the guitar’s shoulder, and a post-Revolution American flag is inlaid on the peghead. Eleven mother-of-pearl stars decorate the fretboard, plus two more stars in the banner, for a grand total of thirteen. Maple binding with red, white and blue trim embellishes the body, neck and headstock edges.

Liberty Tree wood is used not only for the top, but also for a decorative satin-finish backstrap and a laser-cut, inlaid Liberty Tree shape on a satin-finish maple back panel, under which the word “Liberty” is laser-burnished in a stylized script. On the back of the headstock, the name of each state and its order of entry into the Union are elegantly hand-inscribed. All hardware, including the vintage-style Gotoh tuners, exhibits an antique gold finish. Each Liberty Tree T5 also will come in a special custom case with a stencil treatment that includes the word “Liberty” and 13 stars. The Liberty Tree T5 is scheduled to arrive in stores in mid-summer.

Please visit www.taylorelectricguitars.com to view a gallery of Liberty Tree T5 images and watch a brief trailer from the award-winning DVD Taylor produced in 2002 about the Liberty Tree’s life and transformation into our Liberty Tree acoustic guitar.

SolidBody Review from Musicplayers.com

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Do you wish you had a Taylor SolidBody? So do the folks at musicplayers.com. The SolidBody scored their WIHO (Wish I Had One) Award. Read the review.

American Songwriter reviews the T5

Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

“Taylor has really created something special with the T5,” says Marshall Alexander in American Songwriter. “The true beauty of this instrument, aside from the gorgeous wood finish, is the versatility and range of its voices. There are five different pickup combinations — all controlled by a five-way switch. The array of tonal possibilities is easily recognizable, even to an amateur musician, when you begin moving positions with the 5-way switch.” (Read the full review, here.)

Vintage Guitar Reviews the Solidbody

Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Vintage Guitar writer Bob Dragich gives Taylor’s SolidBody Series all the attention he obviously feels it deserves in an in-depth review, published in the magazine’s July 2008 issue. The article, aptly titled “Worth the Wait,” starts at the very beginning of the SolidBody story.

“For years, Bob Taylor fended off the question, ‘When are you going to build a solidbody guitar?’ Well-known as a builder of top-notch acoustics, for his company, Taylor Guitars, the step seemed logical and maybe even a little overdue. And when Taylor introduced the semi-acoustic T5 three years ago, it was treated by many as a tantalizing hint. But again, ‘When?’

‘When we have something to offer…’ was Bob’s oft-repeated reply.

“Then, as part of the general process of exploration and experimentation that goes on at the company,” writes Dragich, “longtime employee David Hosler devised a new pickup. Instead of dropping it in yet another Strat or Les Paul clone, Hosler and Bob Taylor agreed the new pickup demanded a new guitar.

“What they came up with is the SolidBody series with variations dubbed Classic, Custom, and Standard. All are flat-front/single cutaway guitars with two pickups, a standard Taylor C-shaped neck (the same used on their acoustics), a 24 7/8” scale, and a nut that measures 1 11/16” wide.”

Dragich then describes the various tonewoods, aesthetic decisions, construction details, exclusive hardware and electronics that go into each SolidBody model, taking the necessary time to linger over specific details that intrigue him most.

“The basic shape of the Taylor solidbodies is captivating, and they are also extremely comfortable to hold and play. The neck has a “three bears” quality — it’s not too thick, not too thin…this one is just right. The fret ends are perfect and the action suspiciously low for a neck with almost no relief. The bevels on both sides of the cutaway encourage exploration of tones in the upper register, and the contour at the top of the back will come as a relief during long practice and recording sessions while seated.”

He gives the all-aluminum SolidBody bridge and T-Lock neck joint high marks for design ingenuity and playability: “The bridge common to all three [models] is cast aluminum with an art deco appearance designed to remain free of sharp edges. Individual bridge saddles are adjustable and can be locked down through a plate in the back of the guitar. That means the strings can be replaces without having the saddles move at all.

“The neck is attached with Taylor’s proprietary T-Lock system, where an Allen bolt goes through the body and pulls the neck into a pocket shaped like a W…The T-lock neck system is so tight that, viewed from any angle but the back, the neck appears to be glued on the body.”

Dragich works methodically through each position of the five-way switch on each model in turn, describing the sounds he gets in terms any electric player can relate to. For example, here is his SolidBody Classic tour du tone:

“Sonically, the five-way blade switch in position one on the Classic (the least expensive of the group) offers a warm, jazzy tone with just a little more treble edge than a traditional humbucker. Dialing up a mild overdrive from a tube amp, the neck pickup gives off a deep, throaty growl with a hint of that magic steel-on-glass tone of a great Stratocaster-type pickup. In position two, the Classic solves that age-old problem of adjusting for too much low-end when you go from lead to rhythm. Its open, airy sound is still distinctly electric, but won’t muddy up the mix.”

Moving to the third position: “The central position adds midrange and lower-mids, offering a deeper, more forceful rhythm sound that is still unobtrusive. … position five (both coils in the bridge pickup) dishes out a tone very reminiscent of a Telecaster, though not quite as bright or with the same edge.

“Backing up a notch to position four takes the tone of the bridge-only spot on the blade and boosts it with lower-mids and adds just a hint of cluck; in other words, a great lead tone,” Dragich notes.

In addition to the SolidBody review, this issue of Vintage Guitar also includes a sidebar interview with Bob Taylor, David Hosler, and Brian Swerdfeger, in which the team elaborates on the development of Taylor’s first-ever solidbody electric guitar. Other subjects touched upon in the three-way interview include the challenges of getting the sound you want as an electric player and the de-mystification of Taylor’s all-important culture of innovation and exploration as it pertains to guitar design.

Performing Songwriter Solidbody Reveiw

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Performing Songwriter’s Dave Jones experimented with a trio of SolidBody guitars and fell down the rabbit hole into a wonderland of tone. He begins his tale by relaying the developmental origins of Taylor’s humbuckers and noting their tonal distinctions.

“There’s plenty of power, but you can also hear the quality of the woods and their response,” Jones writes, before exploring the “wildly varied qualities” of the pickups, courtesy of the five-way switch. (To read the full review, click here)

Win a Solidbody Classic!

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Courtesy of Guitar Player magazine, you can enter now to win a Taylor SolidBody guitar signed by multi-platinum rockers Everclear, and a copy of Everclear’s new album of the band’s favorite cover tunes, The Vegas Years.

Colorful frontman and long-time Taylor player Art Alexakis is an outspoken fan of the SolidBody, and the guitar up for grabs is just like the one you’ve seen him play in the NAMM videos and photos on the Taylor website – a Classic in Trans White, with Taylor’s proprietary Style I humbuckers for unbelievably rich tonal possibilities; a svelte 24 7/8-inch neck of Hard Rock maple; contoured body of solid swamp ash; luxuriously-designed cast-aluminum bridge; sculpted tone and volume knobs, and vintage crushed pearl pickguard.

The Everclear Vegas Years Giveaway runs May 1-June 1 2008. No purchase is necessary. Contest details and entry may be found at: http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/everclear-vegas-years/may-08/35145

Everclear Live From Mandalay Bay 4-20-08

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Everclear’s April 20 concert at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas will be simulcast live on the Taylor Guitars website. Expect to see colorful bandleader and multi-platinum songwriter Art Alexakis banging out tunes on his new electric guitar of choice, a low-slung Taylor SolidBody.

“I love the pickups on it,” Alexakis raved during a recent interview. “I love everything about this guitar. I’ve been a Gibson guy my whole life. I’ve got 32 Les Pauls, and this is my main guitar now.”

Everclear will be celebrating its new Capitol CD and digital release, The Vegas Years, a collection of classic cover songs, including rare versions culled from live Everclear recordings done between 1994 and 2008. 1980s pop, ’60s rave-ups, blue-eyed soul, country, R&B and classic rock are all represented on The Vegas Years.

“I have wanted to do this record since 1997, as soon as I realized that this was the closest I was ever going to get to being Frank Sinatra!” Alexakis writes in the liner notes.

Tune in at www.taylorelectricguitars.com/events for the Everclear simulcast at 8 p.m., Pacific Standard Time, on Sunday, April 20.

For more information, visit www.everclearonline.com

Grind for Life and Taylor Guitars

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

On March 8, Taylor Guitars hung out at Krause Family Skate Park in Clairemont, California, along with a group of legendary skateboard and BMX pros and nearly 2,000 fans, for “Clash2,” a charity event sponsored by PacSun and the Mission Valley YMCA. The event’s purpose was to raise funds for Grind for Life, the San Diego-based non-profit dedicated to supporting cancer patients and their families.

Taylor and PacSun provided Baby Taylors to a select group of athletes who donated their time to demo their skills at Clash2, including Tony (“Birdman”) Hawk, Kevin Staab and Adrian Demain, who, in addition to being a skateboard pro, is also an accomplished musician, having played guitar with Stray Cats’ bassist and solo artist, Lee Rocker. Demain now heads up the electric guitar department at Buffalo Brothers Guitars, in nearby Carlsbad.

At Clash2, fans jammed all day long at “The Tonewoods” booth on the donated Baby Taylors, a T5 and a SolidBody Classic. BMX giant Matt Hoffman, a developing musician determined to take his music to the next level, was especially thrilled with his Baby Taylor. “I am leaving for Hawaii with my family and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect as I wanted to take a guitar with me on the plane and to the islands,” Hoffman enthused. “This Baby Taylor is perfect!”

$14,000 was raised for Grind for Life at Clash2, according to Grind for Life founder Mike Rogers, a lifelong skateboarder and two-time cancer survivor. There were quite a few big names in attendance including Bucky Lasek, Andy MacDonald, Pierre Luc Gagnon, Tony Magnusson, Steve Alba, Neil Hendrix, Mat Hoffman, Rick Thorne.

Taylor Guitars is lending a hand to raise money and support for Grind for Life by raffling off a Baby Taylor Guitar signed by world-famous athletes. The bidding is still open at ebay.com. Search: Maple Baby Taylor Acoustic Travel Guitar or Search: Item # 300215191196.

For more information about Grind for Life, log on to www.grindforlife.org

Clash at Clairemont II website

http://www.clash2.com

Check out the Video recap:

http://www.shredordie.com/videos/1407acf84c

SD International Airport Honors Taylor Guitars

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

On Friday, February 29, 2008, San Diego International Airport held a press conference and reception featuring Taylor Guitars co-founder and president, Bob Taylor. As part of the Airport Art Cultural Exhibits Program, Taylor Guitars was invited to curate an exhibit for the Commuter Terminal in November, and the press conference centered on the Taylor exhibit.

Before an audience comprised of music fans, guitar players, local media and airport officials, Bob reflected on his more than 35 years of guitar building in the San Diego area with a humbleness and sense of humor that stands in contrast with his record of accomplishment. Working since 1974 with his partner, co-founder and CEO Kurt Listug, Bob has grown his company from a three-man shop to the world’s leading manufacturer of high-end acoustic, acoustic/electric and electric guitars played by artists such as Prince, Dave Matthews and Taylor Swift. He is respected worldwide as an industry leader, responsible for many innovations that have enhanced the art of building guitars forever.

After his speech, Bob chatted amiably with the public and signed Taylor T-shirts for some of the younger members of the crowd.

VP of Marketing Brian Swerdfeger and Product Development Director David Hosler then demoed the groundbreaking electric/acoustic hybrid T5-12 string and Taylor’s new SolidBody electric guitar. For some in the audience, it was their first introduction to Taylor’s electric guitars, and both men answered numerous questions from excited guests.

The Taylor Guitars Airport exhibit will run through the beginning of April, 2008. The exhibit presents an informative display of the company’s past and present, with four glass cases, each wrapped with specially-created posterized graphics and showcasing several beautiful Taylor guitars and other Taylor items. Descriptive passages in each case support various aspects of the company’s history and identity: “Taylor’s Heritage of Innovation,” “Artists Who Play,” “Taylor in the Schools,” and “The Body Electric.”

To see the Taylor Guitars Airport exhibit, visit the San Diego International Airport Commuter Terminal, 3225 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA, 92101.

Come Celebrate Taylor Guitars with the San Diego Airport!

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

On Friday, February 29, 2008, San Diego International Airport will host a special free event featuring our own Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug. As part of the Airport Art Cultural Exhibits Program, Taylor Guitars was invited in November to curate an exhibit for the Commuter Terminal. We invite you to come down and see the exhibit at this time. (The Taylor exhibit will run through the second week of April, so if you’re traveling to San Diego in the next couple of months you will be still able to see it.)

At the Taylor event, Bob and Kurt will each give a short presentation, and introduce the new SolidBody electric guitar to San Diego players. Key members of Taylor’s Product Development team will perform on the SolidBody, the T5 and the new GS cutaway acoustic/electric. There will be free Taylor T-shirts, while they last, and a reception catered by the award-winning 4-star Anthology restaurant.

The Taylor exhibit presents an informative display of the company’s past and present, with four glass cases, each wrapped with specially-created posterized graphics and holding several beautiful Taylor guitars and other Taylor items. Descriptive passages in each case support various aspects of the company’s history and identity: “Taylor’s Heritage of Innovation,” “Artists Who Play,” “Taylor in the Schools,” and “The Body Electric.” According to airport personnel, the exhibit is super-popular – people are initially lured in by the guitars, and end up reading every printed word in the cases. We’ve even had folks showing up on our daily factory tour specifically because of this exhibit!

The Taylor event kicks off at the San Diego International Airport Commuter Terminal, 3225 N. Harbor Drive, on Friday, February 29, at 5:30 p.m. (Bob and Kurt will speak at 6:00.)
The Commuter Terminal is the big building with a large mural depicting Charles Lindbergh on its side. Public parking will be available directly in front of the terminal.

We hope you can join us for this one-of-a-kind Taylor Guitars event!

Music Trades February 2008 Review

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Back in November 2007, when Tommy Shaw’s enthusiastic blogging leaked the news that Taylor was making a solid body electric, Music Trades editor Brian Majeski was on the horn asking the obvious question: “Why would Bob Taylor introduce a solid body electric into a crowded, tradition-bound market?” In the subsequent interview with Bob and two of his design team specialists, Brian Swerdfeger and David Hosler, Bob himself puts forth the idea that it wasn’t something he’d actually planned on doing. His stock response to the question of when he would build a solid body electric had always been, “I’ll only do it when we come up with a really original design. We’re not going to make another Fender or Gibson copy.”

You can view the article in its entirety here.

Guitar Player / February 2008

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

“I know what you’re thinking,” writes Guitar Player magazine’s Matt Blackett. “Does the world need another electric guitar? Does Taylor really want to risk its stellar rep in the acoustic world by trespassing into the parallel universe of electric solidbodies?”

Blackett follows by pointing out that Taylor has maintained a good track record of converting skeptics over the years, from the bolt-on acoustic neck to the T5. Suspecting that Taylor’s calculated risk-taking would pay off once again, Blackett plugs the SolidBody Classic, Standard and Custom into a Fender Super Reverb, Fender Deluxe Reverb, a Savage Rohr 15, and a Hughes & Kettner zenTera, for an extensive review of each model.

Download the review here.

Music Trade News (UK) / January 2008

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Writer Gary Cooper sets up his interview with Kurt Listug by citing the critical acclaim the new SolidBody electrics have received. Cooper wonders if, given Taylor’s success with acoustics, the company’s entrance into the crowded electric guitar market isn’t a bit like starting over. Why has Taylor now decided to build a solid body electric guitar?

“Bob and his crew are always tinkering with new ideas,” Kurt says. “Some of them rise to the surface and some of them don’t. There wasn’t a plan to make a solid body electric…. We don’t want to make something unless it’s original, unless we think we’ve added value.

“I’m always skeptical about new ideas,” Kurt continues, “but I got convinced that these guitars were really special and that the positive feedback we were getting meant we should do it. Yes, the whole guitar market is very crowded now, compared with when we started in 1974. Now there are zillions of brands, but most of them are ‘me too’ products with very little innovation, in my opinion, and we think there’s always room for original ideas.”

Does Kurt see difficulty in crossing “the great conceptual divide” that exists between companies that are successful with acoustics and those that are successful with electrics?

“Absolutely! I think a brand can’t mean too broad a concept, but then look at other industries. Sony’s image is a high quality, innovative brand in consumer electronics. I think of Taylor as an innovative brand as opposed to a legacy brand, in guitar terms. Obviously people think of Taylor as acoustics. However, we’re a younger company with a more contemporary acoustic guitar, and we’ve changed the guitar industry with guitars that are easier to play — with our electronics and how easy our guitars are to service. So I think people are willing to give us a chance with our solid bodies." Check out the piece here or you can read the interview in its entirety at www.garycooper.biz.

The Birth of Builder’s Reserve

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor is excited to introduce its Builder’s Reserve program, in which Bob Taylor taps into the company’s private wood reserves to design a series of extra-special, ultra-limited guitars using wood that he has been accumulating over the course of 30-plus years.

For our inaugural Builder’s Reserve collection, Bob and his design team are celebrating the launch of our SolidBody electrics by crafting a very small quantity of exotic SolidBody Customs, which feature a neck, body and top of exquisite Bastogne walnut. (Bob wrote about the wood in his “BobSpeak” column in the summer 2007 issue of Wood&Steel and is pictured atop a section of the log.) Bob personally supervised the cutting of the log at one of our longtime wood suppliers, Pacific Rim Tonewoods.

The walnut was flatsawn, and the body was made from a single piece of the beautiful wood. The top boasts our nicest walnut burl and incorporates a gorgeous pickguard made entirely of solid, genuine pearl, which was hand-inlaid into the top by guitar designer Larry Breedlove. The fretboard inlay is a mother-of-pearl gothic vine motif.

Each SolidBody features a customized chrome back panel that is laser-engraved with our Builder’s Reserve logo and its individual number in the building sequence. The guitars come with a deluxe guitar case of walnut-colored suede with black, crushed velour interior.

Each Bastogne SolidBody will also include a specially designed collector’s book featuring glossy photos that chronicle the entire spectrum of development, from the tree’s growth to the guitar being built.

By design, each Builder’s Reserve collection will be completely unique, from the type of guitar to the quantity produced to the aesthetics to the price. This gives Bob and his team the ultimate freedom to let the wood inspire the guitar.

Rocking the Solid at NAMM

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

With a wall of new SolidBody electrics in the Taylor room at NAMM, this year’s performance lineup tilted toward the rock end of the musical spectrum. The acts included Everclear, young, upbeat bands The Material, Future of Forestry, and The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus; smokin’ country rock groups Lonestar and Sixwire; plus country-pop sensation Taylor Swift and her six-piece band. Familiar Taylor faces Marc Seal and Doyle Dykes also played, even jamming together at one point. On the more acoustic side of the spectrum were crooning tunesmith Christopher Cross, Nashville singer-songwriter Dillon Dixon, and Los Angeles-based artists Jim “Kimo” West and Jenni Alpert. Monster fingerstylist Tim Thompson delivered some amazing instrumental arrangements on his T5.

It was fun to hear the rockers plug in those SolidBodys and let them rip. Art Alexakis of Everclear looked iconic with his low-slung white SolidBody Classic and tatted arms as he and the band (with lead guitarist Davey French on a Standard) cranked through a set of crowd-pleasers, including “I Will Buy You a New Life,” “Father of Mine,” and “Santa Monica.”

“I love the pickups on it,” Alexakis said after the band’s soundcheck. “I love everything about this guitar. I’ve been a Gibson guy my whole life. I’ve got 32 Les Pauls, and this is my main guitar now.”

Both Alexakis and French were impressed with the pickups and the five-way switch.

“You can actually get a lot of different sounds, from the Gibson sound to the Strat. Anything,” French said. “And sounds that don’t even sound like either of them,” Alexakis added. “That’s what really makes them special. There’s so many unique sounds working with your volume and your tone that you get can a very unique sound going. And with these pickups here [referring to French’s Standard] you can get the big, big crunch that you like. Plus, for a guitar that’s lighter than I’m used to, they have just as much punch. You’ll see in a little bit. They want us to rock today, so we’re turning it up.”

A pair of high-energy young acts, Jacksonville, Florida’s The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and San Diego’s The Material, also cranked up their SolidBody electrics and drew some younger faces into the room, as well.

Guitarist Jon Moreaux from The Material has had a SolidBody Classic for a couple of months now and loves it. “The first time I plugged mine in and Roi [Elam], our other guitarist, plugged his in, we just started laughing hysterically [because of] how good it sounded,” Moreaux said after the band’s set. “The bridge is so perfect for your wrist or palm. The neck just feels great. The weight is awesome. Everything just really seems like it was thought out for the guitarists.” Elam was equally effusive. “You know how a lot of times when you get a new guitar, you put it on and it feels foreign? As soon as I put this guitar on it felt like I’d been playing it for like 10 years.”

Lonestar and Sixwire each left the crowds hooting after tight sets with huge vocal harmonies and sizzling fretwork. Lonestar guitarist Michael Britt (614ce, GS), said afterward that the SolidBody Standard felt great on stage.

“I’ve tried all three different models,” offered Britt. “The Standard to me just fits what I do. I think they’re all great; it’s just a matter of personal taste, which is the cool thing about the fact that y’all have three different models. You can kind of find one that fits your style and flavor.

“The body contours are great, the bridge is really comfortable — there’s no risk of stabbing your hand with a screw sticking up,” he continued. “It’s a beautiful guitar.... I have no complaints. To me, an instrument should just be a tool for you to be creative, and you do feel creative when you pick up that guitar.

“The coolest thing about that guitar also is the 5-way switch and the way the humbuckers are split,” he said. “You get some really unique tones. And when you’re doing rolling picking things like Doyle Dykes, it’s just so articulate. A lot of note separation. It’s a phenomenal sounding guitar.”

For Sixwire, it was their first live set since the Fox TV show The Next Great American Band, where they made it to the final round. Guitarist Steve Mandile, who officially debuted a white Classic on national TV on the show, confessed during their NAMM set that it had been a while since the band played more than a minute and a half of a song. Musician Sheila E, one of the judges from the Fox show, caught their set in our booth and chatted with the band afterward. The band killed with a medley they call “The Beast,” which was stuffed to the gills with familiar electric guitar riffs from so many great classic rock songs they grew up listening to, including “Layla,” “Life in the Fast Lane,” “Ramblin’ Man,” “Freebird,” and many others. The best part: both Mandile and fellow guitarist Robb Houston played them on SolidBody models, and the tones were tasty.

Mandile, who also arranges and produces the band’s songs, called the SolidBody “a blast to play.”

“When I plugged it in, [the sound] was just humongous,” he said afterward. “It was like driving a little sports car.”

Taylor Swift and her band wowed the crowd, showing how much she’s matured as a performer since first playing the Taylor booth by herself in 2004 when she was 14. For all the recent media publicity surrounding Swift (a reporter and photographer from the Los Angeles Times tagged along with her at the show), she charmed the audience and seemed genuinely appreciative of her slingshot rise to success. “I really do try to be a nice person,” she said on stage between songs, “but if you break my heart or hurt my feelings, I will write a song about you,” which elicited laughs from the crowd. Her well-constructed songs are certainly attracting fans: her self-titled debut record recently went double platinum, and at press time she was vying for a Best New Artist Grammy.

Taylor clinician Doyle Dykes performed twice, the second time with frequent bass accomplice Dave Pomeroy. Doyle covered all the Taylor bases, switching between his “Brown Sugar” DDSM, a T5 and the SolidBody. He also brought guitarist Marc Seal on stage for a tune, and the two flew without a safety net, having never played together before. Of course, a trainwreck from those two is still comically better than most of us will ever play.

Marc played his own set on Saturday, ripping through his tunes on a SolidBody, inserting a heavy rocker called “Yes,” which showed off the SolidBody’s prowess as a sonic power tool. Seal, in turn, brought out a special guest to jam with him, 11-year-old guitar wunderkind Grant Austin Taylor. A softspoken kid offstage, Taylor absolutely tore it up on a blues jam with Seal to close out the set, and the crowd went nuts.

Singer-songwriter Christopher Cross (414ce, W14ce, four GS acoustics, T5C2) definitely tapped a more acoustic vibe, performing to a full house, his voice still impossibly pristine and pitch-perfect as he delivered a parade of his ubiquitous soft rock hits, including “Sailing,” “Never Be the Same,” and “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do).”

“I’ve been a Taylor devotee for many years,” Cross said on stage, playing a GS. “They’re the only acoustic guitars that actually stay in tune, especially when you capo them.” Cross used a T5 for “Ride Like the Wind,” and showed how its versatility can serve a song as he reeled off a tasty electrified solo. It was cool to see a room full of such diverse listeners enjoying the set, from Boomers to young, tattoo-clad rockers.

For all the great music on stage, some of the coolest NAMM moments are the unscheduled jams that unfold spontaneously away from the spotlight and slowly attract a crowd. On Sunday, the show’s last day, as things typically begin to wind down, fusion guitar giant Frank Gambale (Chick Corea’s Elektric Band) stopped by and ended up weaving funky grooves with Stevie Wonder guitarist Morris O’Connor for nearly an hour. Gambale had a walnut SolidBody Custom; Morris played a koa T5.

At a show that’s so concentrated with musical products and companies vying for people’s attention, making a good impression has as much to do with creating a fun, welcoming and inspiring “destination” experience for visitors. It’s certainly something that Taylor has tried to do.

“The most rewarding moment for me is when someone comments on how beautiful and functional our NAMM room is,” reflected Taylor Trade Show Manager David Kaye after the show. “Invariably they will ask me, ‘Who designs your room for you?’ With a sense of pride, my response is, ‘We do.’”

Special acknowledgements are in order both for Stuart Liniger, who handled stage lighting, and sound engineers Gary Hedden and his assistant Joseph, whose deft ears helped every band sound superb.

Look for more NAMM performance footage and backstage interviews on taylorguitars.com and in our video section.

Add us at www.myspace.com/taylorqualityguitars

Showstopping!

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The 2008 Winter NAMM show is history, but the Taylor buzz created over the course of the four-day trade show, January 17-20, at the Anaheim Convention Center continues to ring out over the guitar world like a thunderous power chord.

This show saw the official music industry debut of the Taylor SolidBody, establishing Taylor as a full line guitar company that has bolstered its industry-leading acoustic heritage with a boffo electric guitar line as well. The buzz had already spread in the wake of our SolidBody limited pre-launch in late November. By showtime, people were clearly primed to check out these beauties firsthand, and by the end of the show, the SolidBody had already been honored with an award from NAMM’s “Best in Show” panel of judges, comprised of six industry experts, including Zach Phillips, editor of Music Inc. and UpBeat Daily magazines. Phillips selected Taylor in the “Trendsetters” category (“Acoustic Guitar Makers Go Electric”).

The entire layout of Taylor’s exhibition space was reconfigured this year to balance the presentation of our Acoustic and Electric lines. The room was effectively comprised of two wings, each featuring a long wall festooned with guitars. On one side were our acoustics, representing the 2008 Acoustic and Acoustic/Electric line — including new GS “ce” models — along with some beautiful one-off fruits of our Build to Order program for the year. On the other side was an eye-popping wall of electrics — a mix of SolidBody and T5 models — which formed a stunning gallery of cascading guitars. Also showcased was an array of custom SolidBody offerings, plus the debut entry in our new Builder’s Reserve program, featuring a small batch of all Bastogne walnut SolidBody guitars.

There was a bold statement to be made by the balanced presentation of acoustics and electrics (totaling about 170 guitars!): that Taylor is every bit as committed to making inspiring electric guitars as we are to acoustics. This was underscored by the fact that more and more guitar players play both acoustic and electric guitars, as many of our guests demonstrated firsthand, wandering from one side of the room to the other, picking and strumming both. Maybe at times it did sound a little more like your local guitar store on a Saturday afternoon than people might expect from Taylor. But they sure seemed happy to be there.

“Watching customers move so effortlessly between acoustics and electrics brought home the fact that these worlds really do converge,” said Taylor’s Brand Marketing Director Jonathan Forstot. “That’s obvious to most players, but as a manufacturer with a largely singular focus up until now, it definitely hit home.”

Spanning between the two display walls and facing the entrances to the room, the central focal point was the Taylor performance stage. Between the pro-caliber truss lighting, the sound (our sound engineer, Gary Hedden, has worked with everyone from Pink Floyd to Michael Jackson), and the 14-foot-long vertical banners that formed a warm, colorful Taylor backdrop to the stage, the whole set-up transformed the room into an intimate Taylor venue with vibe to spare and a killer sound mix that both artists and listeners loved. Virtually every spot in the room offered a good view of the performances.

Win a Taylor SolidBody

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars and Sonoma Wire Works™ have teamed up for “RiffRumble VIII,” an online song contest for RiffWorks™ recording software users. Prizes worth a total of $4,000 are being offered, including a Taylor SolidBody Standard electric guitar, a StompIO, AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix, a subscription to Recording Magazine and more.

Winners will be chosen in three categories, including “Taylor’s Choice,” where Taylor Guitars staff will pick a winning song. To enter the contest you must record an original song in RiffWorks and submit it between January 24 and February 6, 2008. There is no contest entry fee.

RiffRumble VIII celebrates the launch of RiffWorld.com™, an online community for RiffWorks users. RiffWorks software offers automatic track creation, guitar effects, loop recording, professionally recorded drum loops and much more. Product Development’s David Hosler is a RiffWorks fan. “Riffworks is the most musically inspiring recording package I have found. It makes recording feel more like painting with sound than tracking with technology. The ability to write, record, and instantly share what I've created just by pushing the Riffcast button is an amazing feature. The bottom line for me is that it’s recording software that inspires!”

For detailed contest rules & entry information visit http://www.sonomawireworks.com.

Taylor and Fender Join Forces in Europe

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars and Fender Musical Instruments Corporation announced a strategic relationship between the two companies which will now work together to raise Taylor’s brand awareness throughout Europe. Fender Europe’s new Taylor Division will be the exclusive distributor for Taylor guitars in Europe, Africa, and most of the Middle East, and is expected to commence distribution operations on July 1, 2008.

“The world has become more and more flat, with cultural, currency and trade barriers becoming less and less. With the advent of the European Union, the adoption of a common currency and the free movement of goods across borders, a huge opportunity has been created to do more commerce at a higher level,” said Kurt Listug, co-founder and CEO of Taylor Guitars. “Fender has proven the concept of an American guitar and amp company successfully exporting their business model to Europe, and achieving much higher sales and brand awareness as a result.”

Listug said he approached Fender with the idea of distributing Taylor guitars in Europe, after learning how successful Fender had been with their overseas sales model. “Bill (Mendello) shared his experiences in creating Fender Europe with me a few years ago, and invited me to see their European operations first hand. I spent a week visiting their warehouse, sales offices, and even their Düsseldorf custom shop showroom. I was blown away by their incredible success in Europe, and the huge potential of their sales model for Taylor.”

“We are extremely pleased to be working closely with Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug, two admired industry leaders who have built Taylor into a premier guitar brand,” said Bill Mendello, Chairman and CEO of Fender Musical Instruments Corp. “By providing our expertise in sales, marketing, warehousing and logistics, we look forward to enhancing their success throughout the European market.”

Taylor evaluated creating its own European distribution arm versus partnering with Fender. “We considered doing it ourselves, but distribution is expensive and requires specialized expertise. Having the opportunity to work with Fender, leveraging their resources and experience into much higher European sales for Taylor, is the best decision.”

NAMM Show Artists Announced

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars will present an incredible array of talent at NAMM this year, including teenage country music sensation, Taylor Swift, modern rock band, Everclear, smooth pop hit-crafter, Christopher Cross, and country crossover megaband, Lonestar.

Taylor Swift is a 2007 Grammy nominee for “Best New Artist” after winning the prestigious Country Music Association “Horizon Award” and becoming a double platinum selling artist (more than 2 million copies of her self-titled debut CD). Her third single, “Our Song,” reached #1 on Billboard magazine’s Country Single’s Chart in December, around the same time her MySpace page topped 30 million music streams. Earlier in the year, Swift was named “Songwriter/Artist of the Year” by her songwriting peers at the Nashville Songwriters Association International; she also won the 2007 CMT Music Award for “Breakthrough Video” and was named “Country’s Hottest Female Artist of 2007” by AOL Music.

Everclear rose to prominence from the Northwestern grunge-rock scene in the mid-nineties. The band’s hallmarks were the excellent songwriting and Gen-X-friendly lyrics of colorful frontman, Art Alexakis, which, coupled with relentless touring, landed them a deal with Capitol Records. With a string of Alternative radio hits on Capitol, Everclear became certified platinum and eventually double platinum sellers, and Alexakis himself became a major alternative media figure, reporting from political conventions for MTV, and testifying before Congress regarding child support laws, among other efforts.

Now off Capitol, Alexakis is thriving in the indie rock world once again with a revamped Everclear. In 2006, the group released Welcome to the Drama Club on Eleven Seven Music (in association with ADA/Warner Music Group). The album cracked the Billboard Top 200 and climbed to number eleven on the Top Independent Albums chart, testifying to Alexakis’ songwriting strength, charisma and ongoing musical vitality.

Christopher Cross is considered one of the most influential soft rock artists of all time, having made his debut in 1980 with the self-titled Grammy Award-winning album that contained his first three hits, “Sailing,” “Ride Like the Wind,” and “Never Be the Same.” Christopher Cross won the sophisticated pop balladeer a record-setting five Grammy’s, including “Best New Artist” and “Song of the Year.” He also received an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for “Best Song 1981” with “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do),” which he sang and co-penned with Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager and Peter Allen for the Dudley Moore comedy, Arthur. Cross has toured and recorded steadily ever since; in 2007 he released a Christmas album exclusively on iTunes, and he is currently working on a new studio album for release in 2008.

Lonestar landed squarely on the country charts in 1995 with the Top Ten hit, “Tequila Talkin’.” Since then, the band has chalked up twenty-seven singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, nine of which have traveled all the way to Number One. Lonestar’s signature song, “Amazed,” was a crossover hit, topping both the country charts and Billboard’s Hot 100 and ensuring this multiple gold- and platinum-selling band a vaunted place in music history.

At press time, other artists performing for Taylor Guitars at NAMM include Fox TV’s Next Great American Band finalists, Sixwire; dynamic fingerstylist and well-loved Taylor clinician, Doyle Dykes; T5 slinger and Ultimate Guitar Show host, Marc Seal; energetic hard rockers, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus; and two fast-rising young Southern California-based bands, post-punkers, The Material, and alternative rock group, Future of Forestry.

As always, special guest artists will make unannounced appearances at the Taylor booth throughout the show. Check the posted schedule in the booth for updated performance dates and times.

SolidBody Raves

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars’ innovative SolidBody is breathing new life into the electric guitar experience for many players. Customers have responded with an outpouring of genuine excitement and heartfelt appreciation for the cutting-edge design, great playability and fresh sounds of the SolidBody.

Joe Palmer, Miami, Florida (SolidBody Custom): “The neck was spectacular, the walnut was unbelievable, and the sound of those pickups was to die for! I’m just a straight garage/church playing rhythm guy, not Tommy Shaw by any stretch of the imagination, but I’m very picky about the sound of the guitar and the overall presentation and feel of playing. I congratulate everyone at Taylor who put [the Solidbody] together. I think it’s probably the ultimate electric guitar!”

Robert Farquhar, Markham, Ontario (SolidBody Classic): “I’m very impressed with this little ‘White Stallion!’ I’ve been using it in my home studio, and it’s just beautiful. The simplicity of the five-way switch and controls is wonderful. And the Taylor neck — what can you say about that? If you can’t play barre chords on a Taylor guitar, quit playing!”

Darin Barter, Calgary, Alberta (SolidBody Classic, T5 Custom): “In the past two months, I have been fortunate enough to purchase a Taylor T5 Custom and a Taylor SolidBody Classic. I was completely enamored with the T5, its playability, attention to detail, unique and strong sounds and high quality. With this experience in mind, I visited the local Taylor dealer [after] reading the Guitar World [SolidBody] review and admiring photos of the Classic.

“After plugging it in, I bought the Classic. The statement [in the review] about Taylor ‘reinventing the electric guitar’ was not overstated. This guitar does it all.”

Farquhar asked the dealer to call him when they receive a SolidBody Custom.

“I sense a third Taylor in the very near future.”

Midnight Madness

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars’ new SolidBody electric guitar went on sale at select dealers across the country on “Black Friday,” November 23. The father and son team of Ken and Paul Tobias of Tobias Music in Downers Grove, Illinois were among the early birds to kick off the holiday season by opening their store at midnight, allowing another father and son duo, Jerry and Joe Campbell, to be first in line to take home a Taylor SolidBody.

“[The Campbells] had seen the SolidBody at the Taylor Road Show we had in October,” Paul reported afterward. “They’d been badgering us ever since — ‘When are they coming in, when are they coming in?’ We were joking with them about the way the final Harry Potter book was released, with bookstores opening up at midnight so that kids could get it as soon as it went on sale.

“They left the store that day, but they called us a little later, asking how serious we were about opening at midnight. My dad and I looked at each other and said, ‘let’s just do it.’ So after Thanksgiving dinner and watching football, we came back up here about ten minutes to twelve. We put some Christmas music on, turned on our Christmas lights, and they met us at about five ’til. They bought the Standard model. My dad waited until 12:01 a.m. to print the invoice, and we snapped some pictures. We hope they were the first people to buy a SolidBody.”

Another Tobias Music customer reserved both the Custom and Classic. Paul invited the buyer to the store for the late-night rendezvous, but he said he lived a little too far away to make the trek.

“He asked that we save all the original packaging [for the 2007 pre-launch SolidBody guitars],” Paul said. “He wants the original boxes, because down the road they will add to their value!”

Great reports from other SolidBody dealers continue to pour in, including one of a single customer purchasing all three models. Many dealers have reported selling their initial stock in a matter of hours, hearkening back to customer response during the 2005 release of Taylor’s revolutionary and best-selling electric/acoustic hybrid T5.

The growing excitement around Taylor’s expanding Electric line will be reflected in a re-designed NAMM booth to showcase the new guitars, and the number of SolidBody dealers is expected to expand significantly once the official launch takes place in January, 2008.

L-to-R: Jerry Campbell, Paul Tobias, Joe Campbell, Ken Tobias. Photo by Chris Tobias.

Sixwire Debuts SolidBody

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Millions of TV viewers witnessed the television debut of Taylor's new SolidBody electric guitar on Fox's Next Great American Band show on Friday night, November 23, as the Nashville-based pop group Sixwire ripped through an incendiary cover of the Rolling Stones tune, "Last Time." NGAB judge John Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls frontman and a Taylor player himself) told the group, "You tore that song up.... That song is yours now!"

Guitarist Steve Mandile, who played the song's signature Keith Richards lick on a white SolidBody Classic, checked in via e-mail after the performance. "I had a ton of compliments on the look and sound of this guitar. It's simply an excellent guitar. The pickups had a classic humbucker sound, but it was nice and light with just the right amount of jangle and character. As far as the way it played, well, it's a Taylor - it plays amazing! The world needs to know about this guitar."

Sixwire lead vocalist Andy Childs strummed a Taylor acoustic, a maple/spruce GS6e, during the song.

The group's intense performance of "Last Time" kept Sixwire riding the crest of the NGAB wave for its sixth straight week.

Taylor SolidBody's Arrive

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor’s highly anticipated SolidBody electric guitar is arriving in select stores with an “on-sale” date of November 23 looming ahead, and excitement is running high.

At The Blue Guitar, in San Diego, California, owner DeForest Thornburg sounds happy, although he does have a caveat: “We’re looking forward to getting our next re-load, because we’ve only got one [SolidBody] left out of our three. [The customers] aren’t allowed to take them home yet, but one customer has already paid in full for the Custom, and will pick it up first thing on Friday morning. Another good customer is buying the Classic, just until he can get a koa one! If I had another Custom, another customer would have bought it. He said ‘Call me when you get the next one in.’”

“As soon as Taylor released information that there was going to be a solid body electric, our phones started ringing,” says Scott Smith, of Guitar Gallery, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. “We think it’s going to be the guitar of the year 2008.”

Adrian Schumacher, proprietor of Guitars Etc. (Tucson, Arizona) enthuses, “I have them! Customers are playing them! It was really loud in here this morning! I haven’t even plugged in a Custom, though, since my Customs are pre-sold. I spent two minutes with one, showing it to a customer, then I put it back in the box, because he bought it!”

Chris Leitz, of Leitz Music, Panama City, Florida, says, “I don’t think we’ve plugged
one in yet, and to tell you the truth, that’s the way I like it! I’m happy with the way it works — take [a SolidBody] out of the box, show it to the customer, and put it back in the box, because it’s sold!

“I’ll probably get around to playing one sometime next year, when the excitement has died down a little!”

Excitement for the SolidBody is being fueled by a rave review in the Holiday 2007 issue of Guitar World magazine; surprise SolidBody appearances at Taylor Guitars Road Shows; a cover story in Taylor’s quarterly, Wood&Steel; videos on www.taylorguitars.com; and the launch of an all-new, state-of-the-art website devoted entirely to the Taylor SolidBody and the award-winning T5 electric/acoustic hybrid, www.taylorelectricguitars.com.

2010 Design Leads Taylor Innovation

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The nondescript “business campus” exterior of Taylor’s newest building belies the current of guitar-building creativity that has been churning inside it over the past year. The building, known by its address, 2010, is the home of Taylor’s product design group, where an integrated team of design engineers, luthiers, machinists, and electronics tinkerers have brought a holistic approach to the craft of making guitars. Here, innovative ideas, high-tech machines and hands-on craftsmanship all harmonize together.

Assembling all of this creative talent together under the same roof has paid off in a big way, judging by the first tangible fruit of this design collective: the Taylor SolidBody electric, developed entirely from the ground up, down to component-level design that includes all-original pickups, bridge, neck joint, and body aesthetics.

Bob Taylor maintains a second office at 2010, where he can steward the flow of development ideas in real time. He and Product Development Manager Ed Granero designed the layout of the building in a way that both facilitates the development process and mirrors the refined aesthetics that characterize everything that Taylor does. Across from Bob’s office, an acoustically tuned room houses a couple of gear rigs for test-driving prototypes and for visiting artists to plug in. Around the corner from Bob’s office, a long hallway doubles as a guitar gallery; display recesses along both walls showcase experimental one-offs like an acoustic guitar with T5 f-holes and an exposed humbucker.

On one side of the hall is the office space of the industrial design group, whose workstations are situated to encourage collaboration. On the other side are an expansive machine shop and a fully functioning wood shop. At the end of the building is a guitar-building studio where prototypes and custom models are born. Filled with natural light, it manages to feel clean and spacious, yet with a lived-in look that projects the warm, intimate feel of a workshop. R Taylor, a specialty studio that dedicates fervent attention to the finest nuances of acoustic guitar craftsmanship, also calls 2010 home.

A random tour of the building would reveal the diversity of this Product Development team: design engineer Adam Forney refining a bridge design using a 3-D computer modeling program; a CNC machine milling a guitar body; an electronics room littered with parts, and in the guitar studio, builder David Judd setting up a fresh prototype for assessment.

For a glimpse into the design process that inspired the SolidBody’s development, check out the video segment with Bob Taylor, David Hosler and Brian Swerdfeger from the design group.

Guitar World Review

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

"Taylor's revolutionary SolidBody electric guitars come as close to reinventing the wheel as is conceivable using traditional materials and forms of signal generation."

Solid State of Mind
By Eric Kirkland

Several months ago, one of my industry contacts called to alert me to a top-secret project at the Taylor factory. He didn't say anything specific, yet his voice suggested a breakthrough akin to the successful reverse engineering of alien propulsion hardware at Area 51...

For the complete Guitar World Review by Eric Kirkland, download the PDF here.

Return of the Rush

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Canadian guitar slinger Frank Marino toured the factory in early October and enjoyed some hands-on time with our guitars, including the new solid bodies. Some of you may remember Marino’s blistering chops from Mahogany Rush, the Hendrix-influenced, psychedelia-soaked power trio he fronted in the ’70s, although the band’s lack of mainstream success largely relegated Marino to cult-hero status.

As a youngster living in Montreal during the ’60s, Marino immersed himself in the hippie counterculture, but the intense effects of LSD landed him in the hospital at the ripe age of 13, where, as part of his recovery, he learned to play guitar. He was a quick study. Marino was 17 when Mahogany Rush’s debut album, Maxoom, was released.

Marino has said his playing style developed as an alternative trip of sorts, and that despite being classified as a proto-metal/hard-rock player, he considers his blues-based work more of a psychedelic sound. (He’s been drug-free for nearly 40 years.) Though the Hendrix-clone mantle would dog him for years, and his penchant for extended solos and note-packed jams kept his songs off the radio, Marino has always been uncompromising in his honest expression of the music he loves — and in his distaste for the business side of it.

His fan base, though modest, has always been devoted. Marino credits the passion of his fans from the Quebec scene in his early days with helping him get a record deal, and his fans throughout the world would eventually lure him back to the stage after he took an extended hiatus from music, a period he spent building high-performance cars.

While Marino seems to understand that the guitar-hero musical form may never reclaim its center-stage glory days, he believes it will always have its place. The Web has certainly helped grassroots fans preserve and share his music, especially as YouTube clips of his performances circulate. Both our Artists Relations rep, Bob Borbonus, and Taylor supervisor, Terry Myers, were fans of Marino’s from back in the day. Myers says seeing Marino play hugely inspired him.

“Frank was influenced by so much more than Hendrix,” Terry says. “It comes through in his fluid style, speed and technical ability. It was like a cutting-edge blues/fusion/jazz-rock style, and that was what caught my ear the most about him. That and the fact that his playing had more fire and passion than I had ever heard to that point, regardless of the style. That really got me — plus how easy he made it look.”

Borbonus spent time with Marino before a gig in Los Angeles, and brought a few solid bodies with him for Marino to play during sound check.

“When I put this guitar [a Classic] on my rig, it was just strong. It really popped,” Marino said later, during his Taylor visit. “These pickups are really happening.”

Marino says he’s always been partial to the neck pickup sound on electric guitars. He typically plays Gibson SG’s with Strat pickups that he installed himself. On our Solid Body Classic, he says he favored Position 4, with the inside coils of each pickup in series. “It’s a beautiful sound,” he said. “It really is.”

Marino also loved the T5, and when he played a few Taylor acoustics, fell for their tone, as well. A self-described “high-fidelity” guy in his quest for great tone, Marino told Terry Myers that Taylors have that sound he’s always been after. He ended up leaving with a pretty sweet trifecta of tone: a Solid Body Classic, a T5 and an 814ce. It’ll be fun to hear what musical trips they inspire. www.mahoganyrush.com

Tommy Shaw Styx It to the SolidBody

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

No matter how much we love the new SolidBody, the true test comes from letting players decide for themselves. In our case, that feedback often starts with discerning musicians and guitar publications, and in August, we were able to score a serendipitous double-strike. A Taylor contingent that included Product Development cohorts David Hosler and Brian Swerdfeger visited the staff of Guitar World magazine at their home base in New York to show them what we were up to and let several staffers to play our close-to-final prototypes. These guys already had reasonably high expectations — these are Taylors, after all — but the cool thing is that, for a group of hands-on gearheads who have played pretty much every electric guitar under the sun, they loved them. As GW publisher Greg Di Benedetto spontaneously declared after a hearty jam session, the guitars were “alive.” Tech Editor Paul Riario confessed a few days later that he woke up the following day thinking about the guitars.

The Guitar World crew convinced our guys to leave the set of prototypes with them at their studio because they had guitarist Tommy Shaw from Styx coming in the following week to shoot a video segment and thought Tommy would enjoy test-driving the guitars. It turned out that Tommy dug them enough to insist on borrowing them to play on stage at a Styx show that week. The day after the gig, he raved about the SolidBody on his blog, ending with the line, “This guitar is a home run.” You can read Tommy’s blog entry here.

Shaw has continued to play the SolidBody models at other Styx shows. While the flamed maple top Standard with exposed coil humbuckers definitely screamed “rock star” in his hands, Shaw was also pleasantly surprised by the Classic, especially since he confessed that he’s not typically drawn to the aesthetic of a white guitar. But after ripping into it, he declared it “a little beast.”

Body Curves and Chamber

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

When it comes to guitar aesthetics, Bob Taylor has always pursued his own ideas. Taylor’s sophisticated manufacturing techniques have continually opened up new design possibilities, and the SolidBody electric was yet another example of Taylor’s ability to set itself apart physically and stylistically from other guitar brands.

Solid body electrics, Bob notes, usually fall into two camps: those with thick, carved tops, hard edges and binding (think Gibson), or contoured, unbound bodies (Fender). Taylor is able to blend the two aesthetics as a result of a different building technique, in which the top is inset into the body. This approach allows us to define an edge with purfling and then contour up to that edge, as we’ve done with smooth forearm and cutaway contours that lead to the purfling on our SolidBody Standard and Custom models.

Insetting the top also allows us to use thinner slices of wood, which translates into the ability to incorporate beautiful grades of exotic woods like walnut burl (used on the SolidBody Custom), which typically adorns products like high-end furniture or luxury cars. The carved top approach used by other guitar companies requires working with thicker slabs, which tend to be prohibitively expensive with exotic woods.

The design team also experimented extensively with body chambering, which is typically employed with solid body electrics primarily to lighten the overall weight. In the case of the SolidBody, they were also looking to optimize sustain and “bloom,” or resonance over time in the guitar.

“A solid body is chambered typically where the controls are, but finding those areas and chambering correctly is tricky,” explains Taylor’s Product Development Manager David Hosler. “Sustain and bloom are hard to get when everything’s locked down. But if you chamber too much, you go in the opposite direction; it blooms too soon and basically starts to resonate.”

Of the three different solid body models initially being offered, inset tops and chambering are employed on two, the curly maple top Standard and the walnut burl top Custom, while the third, the Classic, is a pure solid body.