TH Fall Limiteds 35 Taylor Swift’s ANNIVERSARY Signature Baby LIMITEDS 8-String The Armrest, Baritone Parlor, 9-String, Artist vs. 12-Fret & More Airline: Dave Carroll’s Big Breaks 2 www.taylorguitars.com were, in fact, initially offered either ed like a very good acoustic guitar! I wanted variations, the Road Show with or without cutaways. We only After sorting out how to tune and and BTO would have produced the offered the non-cutaway briefly, drop-D on stage with all that noise perfect combination. In my case, Letters though, before deciding to make around me (solution: the Taylor the only variation I wanted was the all NS models exclusively with a Balanced Breakout Box with my autograph of Bob Taylor on the head- Hampshire shop, I am without a cutaway in 2003. Nonetheless, our Boss TU-2 connected), it was ready stock. My dream guitar is a dream to doubt “good to go!” Pat DiBurro is oversight. Enjoy that NS74 “limited for the baptism of fire: Our band play. Thanks for my guitar, Bob. truly an asset to your organization! edition!” — Ed. had been asked to support Alabama Andrew Madden Robert Wuagneux 3 (the Sopranos theme tune) in Brampton, ON, Canada Castleton, VT Brixton, London in front of hundreds. What a night — the main band said The Art of Aging Gracefully we sounded awesome! All I can say First of all, I love Wood&Steel. is thanks for a great guitar and for Hope It’s Not Remembering John More importantly, I love my 1999 working out how to make a great His First Re-String Thanks for your remembrance of 414e. It has been a great guitar. guitar actually sound great live! I re-strung my 1986 Taylor K22 my dear friend John Cephas (Volume Last year I sent it in to your factory Peter Dommett, UK today, and I wanted you folks to 60). I am a professional blues har- to be reconditioned and to get a know that it sounds deeper, richer monica player who also plays guitar. partial re-fret. What an awesome job and woodier than ever in its 23rd Years ago, when I mentioned to John the Taylor folks did! year. While it has a few dents and in passing that I was playing some In response to Greg Goodfellow Never Be Late for a Funeral scratches, like we all do, it is still the B Keeper guitar to help with my songwriting, (letter to “Ask Bob,” Volume 60), In working for one of your major most beautiful small acoustic guitar I was very interested in the he immediately called Taylor to get please don’t wait forever [to pur- distributors, I was approached by I have ever played. You probably get article on the NT neck in the recent me a guitar at his endorsee cost (an chase a new Taylor]! My guitar a customer with a special request. a lot of endorsements from big name Wood&Steel. On page 18 there is 814ce). Besides being the extraor- sounds better than most higher- This young man had recently lost his singers and players, and complaints a picture of the neck. What is the dinary musician we all know him for, dollar guitars I have tested, and aunt, and as a provision in her will, from folks who like to complain, but I small metal insert on the neck pad- John had a very giving heart, indeed. it has the old neck design, the she set aside enough money to pur- just want you to know that you made dle? It is not centered and is farther He always took genuine interest in old Fishman electronics, and who chase any guitar on the planet. He a fine instrument in 1986, and that up the neck than the inset nut for my music and had warm encour- knows what other things Taylor has chose a custom 914ce. The plan- it has only gotten better since it left the top neck bolt. agement for me. Some of his last improved since mine was built. The ning of the build was very detailed, your hands. One million thank-yous. Byron Yoburn recordings were on my latest CD, fact is that all the new enhance- and a few setbacks should have Martin R. Collin New York Many Shades of Blue, and some of ments are important, but I think age delayed the arrival of the custom Saint James, MD these songs were composed on that outweighs them all. The tone of this instrument. The guitar showed up on Great question, Byron. Our own same guitar. With John’s passing I guitar has seemed to really improve the exact day we needed it (in time David Hosler explains: “What you’re feel that the world has lost some of over the years. I wouldn’t trade it for for the memorial service), perfect, in seeing is a magnet used to bal- its magic. Yet the generosity of the five new guitars! tune, and exceeding the customer’s Dream Guitar Matchmaker ance the B string on the Expression music and friendship he shared live Darren Keller expectations in every aspect. Thank Recently I was looking for a gui- System® pickup. One of the quirky on forever .. and both were truly Mars, PA you all for your work and commit- tar that had a “smooth and mellow” traits of a guitar is that the B string magical. ment to the musical community. sound to go along with my finger- tends to be much louder when Gary Allegretto Chris Maddy picking. I called Taylor to discuss. My amplified than the other strings. Los Angeles, CA Flower Mound, TX call was forwarded to [inside sales That magnet regulates the B string’s Sounding Great in Britain rep] Ben Benavente, who took the interaction with the pickup. Every I play acoustic guitar in a Southern time to suggest several Taylor guitars Taylor with the ES pickup has one.” Rock band (called MelonHeadMan) that would meet my need, including — Ed. Cutaway Clarification from the Deep South .. of England! Signature Model a 5 Series and a 7 Series. While The latest Wood&Steel says Being one of seven in the band, and There is no doubt that Taylor researching where I could get one, you are making non-cutaway nylon- having to compete with two very Guitars stands alone in the quality I found a 714ce-LTD with a cedar string guitars for the first time. Not loud Les Pauls, keyboards, bass and and selection of woods they offer top and koa back/sides. I called Ben, New England Pat so, unless the NS74 I purchased an energetic drummer, I needed a guitar players. Falling in love with a who said, “That’s even better....” I want to comment on the fine from Jim’s Music in Irvine [California] way to sound great, and be heard new guitar is as much about how I received the guitar, and it’s a article [on the NT neck] that appears in 2002 is a forgery, which I know by the audience. All the acoustic it looks as it is how it plays. Your guitar player’s dream. I can’t walk in the Summer 2009 Wood&Steel. it is not. I was previously informed players I’ve heard in live rock bands new BTO program not only suits the by it without playing and admiring it! You feature information from Pat that some 31 of these were made. sound incredibly tinny — the search guitarist who knows what he wants, Taylor not only makes great guitars, DiBurro, who is the only person It has 12 frets to the body rather for live tone seems to be purely but also the guitarist who does not. but employs people who are helpful to maintenance my 710ce-LTD than the usual 14 and is more like a focused on their electric guitar, For years I searched for just the and knowledgeable. Thank you, Ben! and K20c. I drive approximately classical guitar except for the usual lots of pedals and a boutique amp, right Taylor. All great guitars, but Zack Kennedy 250 miles from my home any time Taylor neck. It is the best sound- but stops when they pick up their nothing that spoke to me. Then one I need adjustments, in particular, ing of the three NS Series Taylors I acoustic. I needed something very night I attended a Taylor Road Show “neck tweaks,” and they are regular own (another “usual” NS74 and an special. at Cosmos Music in Richmond since I play many outdoor venues NS54) and is easier to play than any A trip to our local guitar store Hill, Ontario. I had the pleasure of in disparate geographical areas. classical guitar I have tried. I also found the answer. After trying the meeting Bob Taylor and being intro- Notwithstanding his guitar tech own four other Taylor guitars, but usual suspects from other compa- duced to the newest BTO guitars. I We’d like to wizardry, Pat is a truly great human this “NS74” is special. nies, I just knew the 414ce was my immediately fell in love with a [BTO] being. During my visits to his atelier, William Farone solution. It was as easy to play as with a quilted maple back and koa hear from you I have met Taylor owners from far the high-end “lawsuit” electric that trim. I would never have known Send your e-mails to: and wide who also regard Pat as the When we expanded the NS line I also own.