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. And the sound .. . the what I wanted. Seeing the guitar at [email protected] only “techie” to service their prized to include our Grand Auditorium Expression System just did it for me. the Road Show allowed me to find properties. When I leave his New shape in late 2002, the GA nylons Direct through the PA, it still sound- exactly what I was looking for. Had 3

Volume 61 Fall 2009

On the Cover 12 The 35th Anniversary Collection Designed, revealed, delivered, they’re yours. From contoured armrests to a modern day parlor guitar, we bring you a sumptuous BobSpeak spread of anniversary LTDs. Features A Season of Surprises 6 Tunes for Tots I’m inspired. In a year when the economic news has been bleak, we’re having perhaps more creative satis- What attracts a songwriter to children’s music, and what’s the secret of faction than I can remember, and that’s not to say we’ve gone a long time without being creative. When I look connecting with kids and their parents? We asked a few of the genre’s at the past five years, it blows my mind to consider the things that have been created here: the Expression standouts. System, T5, T3, SolidBody, the GS, R. Taylor Guitars ....The list goes on, and it’s been so much fun to see it all come to life. In the guitar world, it seems that nearly everyone wants to pick a moment in time, say 1959 or 17 Taylor Swift’s Signature Baby the 1930s, and decide that those years need to be copied to death. Of course, we don’t have a 1959 in our Taylor Swift’s songs have inspired a generation of young fans. Her new history, so we only look toward the future. signature Baby Taylor will inspire them to write their own. There are so many things I could write about in this issue. I want to focus on guitars rather than business, but let me say that we’re surviving well here in El Cajon and Tecate. Sure, the current financial situation has diminished the number and scale of buyers, but we’re selling anyway and have been able to work with our 18 Playing Well With Others Knowing the building blocks of song structure and melody will go a long employees to find creative ways to keep it all healthy, so as a business we are staying fit. Our production levels way toward setting up fun jam sessions with friends. Shawn Persinger are rising back to normal levels. We’ve found out we have very loyal customers who remain interested in what shares a few tips. we offer. I’m glad that making guitars was the destiny for my life. On to guitars. You’re going to see some cool stuff coming out this fall, both in our Fall LTDs and in the 35th anniversary models. It’s the anniversary stuff that has me especially excited. That’s because, due to the slower 20 The 2009 Fall Limiteds year, we thought, why not take this year and make tooling in order to offer some of the many guitars our players We know why you look forward to fall. This year’s crop features quilted have been asking us for all these years? I don’t think there’s a week that goes by that someone doesn’t write maple, cocobolo and Indian rosewood, crafted to perfection and topped and ask when we’re going to make this or that, and we print a lot of those questions in our “Ask Bob” sec- with spruce. Enjoy. tion. You’re also going to read the story of the baritone 8-string guitar in this issue. Now, nobody asked for an 8-string, but they did ask for a baritone. We did that, which is a big job to create all the tooling for the longer 22 The 8-String Baritone neck a baritone requires. And people also asked for a 9-string, which was easy. But the two separate ideas It sounds weird — until you play one. Bob Taylor’s a big believer, and you sparked the thought of making a baritone model with a couple octave strings. HELLO! Now that’s a cool guitar. should be, too. Part 6-string, part 12-string, part bass, this guitar’s range We had dealers visit the factory this summer for training, and they have all played this guitar. They totally get it. stretches far and wide. I’m excited for you to be able to play one. Then there are the guitars with built-in armrests. Don’t try this at home, because the woodworking is too complicated, but we thought we’d offer players a chance to get a guitar with the coolest, most complex bind- 26 The Song Heard ’Round the Web An airline broke Dave Carroll’s guitar. YouTube broke his career. ing treatment you can get on an acoustic. The first time I ever saw such a thing on a guitar was from Canadian In between, he made a funny, catchy music video. Maybe you’re one luthier Grit Laskin. If you don’t know his work, Google him, and you’ll be blown away. If you want to get on his of the millions who saw it. five-year waiting list, I recommend it; you won’t be sorry. I consider him to be the inventor of this built-in arm- rest, and I asked for his blessing to put it on our guitars, which he seemed happy to grant. Check them out. He’s inspired us to do some good work of our own. Up until yesterday, the 8-string baritone was the surprise of the season for me. Then I played the 12-fret Grand Concert. You’ve probably heard me say that sometimes you can’t anticipate what will happen when you engage yourself in creative activity. Our customers have asked us to make a parlor guitar for years, and this Departments is the year. Larry Breedlove went to work and designed a body that is gorgeous. A parlor guitar has a 12-fret neck, and to take advantage of the tooling effort we decided to make a Grand Concert with that same neck, 2 Letters 10 Ask Bob 29 Taylor Notes which makes sense. Larry’s parlor guitar is awesome, just what it’s supposed to be. But none of us had any idea how good the GC would sound with a neck that joins the body at the 12th fret. 3 BobSpeak 16 Mixed Media 30 Events

continued on page 5 4 Kurt’s Corner 24 Soundings 31 Calendar 5 On the Web 28 WorldView 32 TaylorWare Editor’s Note 4 www.taylorguitars.com

Volume 61 Fall 2009

Publisher / Taylor-Listug, Inc. Produced by the Taylor Guitars Marketing Department Vice President of Sales & Marketing / Brian Swerdfeger Director of Brand Marketing / Jonathan Forstot Editor / Jim Kirlin Senior Art Director / Cory Sheehan Art Director / Rita Funk-Hoffman

Contributors Bob Borbonus / Jonathan Forstot / David Hosler / David Kaye / Kurt Listug Shawn Persinger / Shane Roeschlein / Bob Taylor / Corey Witt / Glen Wolff Chalise Zolezzi

Technical Advisors Ed Granero / David Hosler / Gerry Kowalski / Tim Luranc / Rob Magargal Mike Mosley / Brian Swerdfeger / Bob Taylor / Chris Wellons / Glen Wolff

Photographers Rita Funk-Hoffman / David Kaye / Steve Parr / Tim Whitehouse Kurt’s Corner Circulation Printing & Distribution Katrina Horstman Woods Lithographics - Phoenix

©2009 Taylor Guitars. 300 SERIES, 400 SERIES, 500 SERIES, 600 SERIES, 700 SERIES, 800 SERIES, Living the Dream, Past, 900 SERIES, Baby Taylor, Big Baby, Bridge Design, Doyle Dykes Signature Model, Dynamic Body Sensor, Expression System, GALLERY Series, K4, Liberty Tree, Peghead Design, Pickguard Design, PRESENTATION Present and Future Series, Quality Taylor Guitars, Guitars and Cases & Design, T5, T5 (Stylized), Taylor, Taylor (Stylized), Taylor Taylor Guitars was founded on course, and that there’s a normalcy and it feels great to do so. You then ES, Taylor Expression System, TAYLOR GUITARS Taylor Guitars K4, Taylor K4, TAYLOR QUALITY GUITARS October 15, 1974, when Bob and somewhere in between. wonder how you put it off so long. and Design, TAYLORWARE, and WOOD&STEEL are registered trademarks of the company. Balanced Breakout, Dynamic String Sensor, ES Blue, Grand Symphony, GS, GS SERIES, T5 Thinline Fiveway, Taylor I and Steve Schemmer bought the From a business perspective, That’s been the case this year, and Acoustic Electronics, ES-T, Thinline (T5) Fiveway, T3, T3/B, and T-Lock are trademarks of the company. American Dream, the guitar shop some of our early key decisions were that’s why it’s been a very rewarding Patents pending. where we all worked in Lemon to create a strong brand, stay out of year. Grove, California. Considering how debt, and reinvest our profits. These After 35 years, Bob and I each young we were (19, 21 and 24, are all paying huge dividends now. still really enjoy our work, and enjoy 2009 Taylor Factory Tours & Vacation Dates If you plan to tour the Taylor Guitars factory in 2009, please note that we’ve respectively), and how long the Our brand equity has us leading the the people we work with, whether revised our tour schedule. A free, guided tour is given every Monday through odds were, I think it’s pretty remark- market in acoustic guitar sales. Our employees, customers or vendors. Thursday at 1 p.m. (excluding holidays). No advance reservations are neces- able that we survived, and even low funded debt level gives us plenty The guitar business is part of a great sary. Simply check-in at our reception desk in the lobby of our main building by more amazing how we’ve grown to of flexibility and breathing room, even music community, united by the love 1 p.m. We ask that large groups (more than 10) and school-supervised groups become a market leader and influ- in a recession. Also, our huge equity of music. We have a great team of schedule special tours in advance by calling (619) 258-1207 and asking for the enced the guitar market the way we Factory Tour Manager. We kindly request at least two weeks’ notice for all group have. tours. Our success, in all modesty, We’ve learned that nothing stays While not physically demanding, the tour does include a fair amount of walk- comes from our people, and that the same forever, that both the good ing. Due to the technical nature, the tour may not be suitable for small children. starts with Bob and me. Interestingly, The tour lasts approximately one hour and 15 minutes and departs from the main our partnership wasn’t by design. times and bad times will run their building at 1980 Gillespie Way in El Cajon, California. We barely knew each other. But we course, and that there’s a normalcy Please take note of the weekday exceptions below. For more information, includ- had the same goals and purposes ing directions to the factory, please visit taylorguitars.com/contact/factorytour. with regard to the company; we had somewhere in between. We look forward to seeing you! similar ethics and morals; and we had talents and interests that com- position and reserves buy us time to people here at Taylor Guitars, and Holiday closures: plemented each other. Steve was focus on the right strategic initiatives, we’ve built a great team of execu- bought out in early 1983. rather than short-term emergencies. tives who care for the company. This Friday, October 16 Over the years we’ve experienced This has been a fun and reward- enables Bob and me to spend more (Taylor anniversary) both easy times, when demand was ing year. In a good economy, you of our time on personal interests Thursday-Friday, November 26-27 so strong we could barely keep can be so busy with growth that you outside the company, yet still remain (Thanksgiving holiday) up with it, and tough times, when don’t have time to focus on all the engaged as owners. demand waned due to changing issues. You can easily overlook areas The past has been great, and Monday, December 21 through trends or economic or political that need improvement because the future is bright. With 35 years of Friday, January 1 duress overweighing the guitar mar- you lack the attention and resources success under our belts, we’re well (Christmas, company vacation) ket. We’ve learned that nothing stays needed to fix them. In a slower econ- prepared for the future. Bring it on. the same forever, that both the good omy, you have time to, and in some times and bad times will run their cases are forced to, deal with them, ­ — Kurt Listug, CEO 5

Find us on Facebook. Add us on MySpace. Subscribe on YouTube. Editor’s Note On the Web Follow us on Twitter: What’s new at taylorguitars.com twitter.com/taylorguitarspr Where the Limiteds Live Crafting History We’ve had a busy summer building an online addition for all the new models we’re rolling out this fall. The new It was 1974, the year of Neil Young’s On the Beach and Joni Limiteds wing of the website debuted with the launch of the Serj Tankian T5, and now our 35th anniversary models have Mitchell’s Court and Spark. Stevie Wonder won five Grammys for an official home there, as well. For each anniversary series, you’ll have access to specifications, a gallery of images, and Innervisions. Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles opened. Garrison Keillor’s a list of dealers who ordered that particular model. The same goes for our Fall LTDs and the Taylor Swift Signature Baby. “A Prairie Home Companion” made its debut, while “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” came to an end. The Ramones played their first show Electrical Outlet at CBGB. Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s home run record, and Ali/ Frazier’s historic “Rumble in the Jungle” fight took place in Zaire. Our electric site is freshly stocked with photos of our vibrant new SolidBody colors, such as Lava Red, Purple Flake, Apparently the bikini thong was also invented. Viper Blue and Bubblegum Pink. You’ll also find photos of the SolidBody tremolo, now available at our premier electric More specifically, it was October 15, 1974 when Bob Taylor and dealers. And don’t miss our demo of the semi-hollowbody T3, in which Andy Lund shows off its incredible range of tones. Kurt Listug first flipped on the lights in their guitar shop, the Westland Music Company, only to find the floor covered in a few inches of water as a result of a storm drain next door that had overflowed. It was an inauspicious start of what has turned out to be a resounding- ly successful enterprise, but on that day the two young partners must have wondered what exactly they were getting themselves into. Despite the company’s growth and success in the decades that have followed, both Bob and Kurt tend to be modest about their own accomplishments, and on the occasion of key anniversaries, usually avoid big celebratory hoopla. But when that anniversary is seen as an occasion — perhaps a challenge — to make an extra special collection of guitars, then it becomes an opportunity to not just celebrate Taylor history, but to make some more. As Bob enthusiastically details in his column, it was a busy, creative summer, which you’ll see by the number of beautiful 35th anniversary guitars we showcase in this issue. Not only did our devel- opment team embrace the formidable goal of designing nearly 10 dif- ferent commemorative series — including first-time models like a par- lor guitar, 12-fret, 9-string and a baritone — but along the way, their BobSpeak continued from page 3 experimentation led to another model entirely, an 8-string baritone. It’s inspiring to know that after 35 years in business, Bob and When you move the neck up into the body a couple frets, the bridge naturally has to move back the same distance. Kurt are still passionately engaged here at the factory, and that Bob This, in turn, requires a modification of the bracing, and even with that, the bridge still sits in a different spot in relation still gets excited by guitar discoveries like the 8-string and the 12-fret to the X brace. It also sits more in the middle of the lower bout. On this particular guitar it’s really magic. We can’t put GC. What’s impressive at the 35-year mark is the level of sophistica- it down. It’s probably the warmest Taylor guitar I’ve ever heard. The mid-tones are just so beautiful, I’ve never heard this tion the company has reached as a manufacturer, without sacrific- voice from a Taylor, and it’s also loud. Volume isn’t tone, really, but in a way it is because people perceive it as tone. This ing any passion or vision or creativity. Sometimes after companies guitar has volume. The whole experience of playing it is mesmerizing. I love, love, love it! grow to a certain point, it seems like they look to maintain rather There’s more, including some things we’re introducing later that I’m not ready to talk about now, but I will always than move forward. The hard work of Bob, Kurt and others here has remember this summer as a very creative time. And I have to smile knowing it was accompanied by Dave Carroll’s hit laid a strong foundation for us to continue to develop new ideas in song, “United Breaks Guitars,” which was brilliant and will go down as one of the most fun moments in our history, even dynamic ways. For so many of us here, it’s gratifying to be a part of though we had nothing to do with it. Thanks, Dave! a company culture that has the talent, tools, and creative passion to ­­ — Bob Taylor, President transform ideas into such a tangible, enjoyable form and share them with the world. These days, the possibilities around here seem endless. So, the Get in tune with the next time you write in to ask Bob if he plans to make an archtop or a ukulele or a mandolin, don’t be surprised if he says yes. coming holiday season. — Jim Kirlin

Taylor clothing, gear, parts and Correction: In last issue’s “Signature Sounds” article, we neglected accessories make great gifts. to credit Harry Reese for his photo of Zach Myers. Starts on page 32. Online ® Read this and other back issues of Wood&Steel at TaylorWare taylorguitars.com under “Resources.” photo by Todd Owyoungphoto by Todd

Child’s Play From “kindie” rock to cable TV, If you, like me, are a parent who has endured hours upon hours of listening to your young child’s favorite new song or movie, you know the experience can be comparable to a short stay in the Gulag. The lyrics become painfully etched in your mind, and you find yourself sharing your personal angst with the mailman, the children’s music market has the grocery store clerk, and just about anyone who will listen. I plead guilty to having occasionally dangled bribes of treats, toys or new CDs to my daughter in the desperate hope of bringing something new and pal- come of age. Thanks to a slew of atable to the mix. Thankfully, as the market (and marketing) of children’s music has blossomed in recent years, so have the creative artists, there are more listening and viewing options that both children and parents can enjoy. With the advent of cable outlets like PBS’s Sprout, Nickelodeon’s Noggin, and Discovery’s Kids, the musical nursery rhymes of yesteryear have choices than ever for kids — and given way to a plethora of alternative options that range from “kindie” rock and cowboy hymns to punk rock- inspired tunes. While Nielsen SoundScan does not track sales of children’s music, a trip to any music outlet will reveal the rich array of musical choices now available. parents — to get their groove on. More than a few of the genre’s standout talents, I’m happy to report, wield Taylors as tools of their trade, so I decided to check in with several of them to find out how they got where they are, how they approach By Chalise Zolezzi their craft, and how they manage to keep kids happy and parents sane. 7

to ska and conga. One of the tunes, musical styles. She recently recorded it, I realized I was finally respecting Looking for toe-tapping, rootin’- “Going on a Hunt,” a song Berkner “Future Man, Future Lady” with reg- myself as a musician by owning and tootin’ hoedown fun? Called the made up with her daughter Lucy, gae’s royal son, Ziggy Marley, on his playing a fabulous instrument. It’s “next Roy Rogers” by XM/Sirius was recorded in five different musical kid-friendly album Family Time, and about 20 years old now, with cracks Radio, Buck Howdy found his voice styles. has covered “Happy Trails” with cow- and chunks of wood missing, and in the realm of children’s music. “I thought playing [a song] in a lot boy crooner Buck Howdy. I still use it for all of my recording Howdy, whose album Chickens was of different ways gives kids a model With all of her success, Berkner because it sounds so good. In the nominated for a 2008 Grammy in the to take a song and play it any way has never forgotten the impact of meantime, I have newer Taylors to category of Best Musical Album for you want,” she explains. “It makes you buying her first Taylor. choose from when I play live!” Children, describes his musical style feel differently to hear it in different “The first great guitar I ever saved Laurieberkner.com as “part cowboy, part folk, but all- ways and allows you to be creative.” up my money to buy was a Taylor American original.” Rocketship Run isn’t the only Grand Concert,” she reflects. “It was Buck Howdy place Berkner has explored eclectic my dream guitar, and when I bought (PS15, T5S1 custom, 615 Custom) continued next page Laurie Berkner (712, 714ce, 914ce, 612ce, 614ce, Baby Taylor) Most parents or grandparents of a preschooler know that Victor Vito and Freddy Vasco ate a burrito with Tabasco thanks to the Laurie Berkner Band. Berkner, who was crowned “the queen of children’s music” by People magazine, never intended to record songs for children, but that’s exactly where she found herself. Before her days as a children’s artist, songwriter and author, Berkner spent the early ’90s performing at night with her all-female cover band, Lois Lane, and by day at birthday parties for $125 a pop. She says she picked up on a difference between the two audiences. “I was thinking how fun it was to play music for kids who are so responsive immediately,” Berkner recalls. She never looked back. In 1997, Berkner released her first children’s album, Whaddaya Think of That?, followed a year later by Buzz Buzz on her own label, Two Tomatoes Records. By 1999, when she released Victor Vito, her profile as an inventive, playful singer-songwriter with creative lyrics had risen enough to help secure national distribution and a coveted spot on Nickelodeon’s Noggin network as part of “Jack’s Big Music Show.” The Laurie Berkner Band soon took to the stage (and TV screens), shaping a genre that has been dubbed progressive “kindie” rock: a less saccharine and more rockin’ style of music for the pre- school set. “Kids really love the music, and the parents go from thinking, ‘Please be something I can tolerate’ to being moved by it themselves,” she says. In addition to her expansive dis- cography, a DVD and two book-with- CD sets, Berkner recently released her fifth album, Rocketship Run. The tracks run the gamut of musical styles, from Irish jigs, blues and jazz 8 www.taylorguitars.com

Born “wearing a cowboy hat and Zak Morgan thinking things through and not giv- boots” and raised on his family’s (812ce, 614ce, Baby Taylor, DDSM) ing up.” Oregon cattle ranch, Howdy’s bio “Many of my songs are about my reads like a legend of the great fron- own childhood, whether it was losing tier. Taking cues from the great cow- my thunder to a new sibling, getting boy personas of the past, his songs teased for being skinny, or my dad evoke images of campfires, livestock stealing my Halloween candy while I and hayrides for the littlest buckaroos, slept,” Morgan says. “My songs are and for adults, nostalgia for simpler heartfelt; I think that’s why children times. connect with my music. I write and Like Berkner, Howdy didn’t set out perform for kids because I genuinely to be a children’s artist, but in 2002, love them and they can tell.” he sensed a void in the genre. In his live performances, Morgan “It was an epiphany realizing that plays his ruby red 614ce. there wasn’t that much out there for “The kids love it,” he says. “When kids and families,” he says. “I grew up photo by Michael Wilson a child tells me her name is Taylor, I listening to the likes of Burl Ives and Filled with an exuberant creativ- say, ‘That’s my guitar’s name!’ They Roy Rogers and, meaning no disre- ity, Zak Morgan can be described as love that.” spect to other artists, I just felt like part standup comic, part performer, While Morgan is inspired by the something new was needed.” and quite possibly the coolest sound of his Taylor, what he values Howdy writes the majority of his teacher a child ever had. Morgan even more in the context of perfor- songs, including the grammar-school- writes and performs whimsical, uplift- mance is that it stays in tune. age favorite, “Baked Beans,” a tale ing songs brimming with wordplay “That’s critical when you’re of the hazards of eating too many and positive messages designed to performing for children, because legumes. encourage children to read, imagine they have short attention spans,” he “When I write a song, I’m writing and believe in themselves. emphasizes. “I spent years fighting for me first, because I’m really just a “I’ve always loved playing with to keep guitars in tune before I got kid in a grown-up body,” he admits, language, and I’m influenced by writ- my first Taylor.” noting that the key to connecting ers like Shel Silverstein and Roald Along with performing hundreds with kids through music is not to Dahl,” Morgan says. “I remember of concerts each year, Morgan is underestimate them. “I think there’s loving them when I was a child and currently working on a host of new a fair number of artists out there who appreciating that I wasn’t being projects, songs and a possible TV dumb down their music for kids and patronized.” show. Asked why he decided to underestimate their sophistication and Morgan’s debut album, Bloom, pursue children’s music as a full-time sense of humor,” he says. “I write stuff was released in 1999 to rave occupation, Morgan, like his fellow that I like and kids happen to like it, reviews, and his second CD, When performers, says he considers him- photo by Jim Newberry too!” Bullfrogs Croak, was nominated self a child at heart. On one of his first albums, for a 2004 Grammy, a rare feat for “I love working with children,” Skidaddle! (2003), Howdy put this an independent release. His DVD he reflects. “They are genuine and Ralph Covert in 2001 to industry and parental theory to the test, recording the cow- Zakland, released in 2008, was have a wide-eyed enthusiasm and (514ce, 614ce) raves. Touching genres including surf, boy chestnut “Ghost Riders in the described by the Los Angeles Times innocence, and incredible imagina- Singer-songwriter/guitarist Ralph jazz, rockabilly and swing, and paired Sky,” even though he initially was hesi- as “uplifting, kid-honoring [and] filled tions. We all had that once, and if we Covert, creator of Ralph’s World, is with sophisticated, creative lyrics, the tant to include it. with healthy ‘I Can Do It’ messages listen, they remind us what’s really no stranger to the music business. record prompted Billboard magazine “I honestly didn’t think kids would about the power of imagination, important.” Zakmorgan.com After earning critical acclaim for his to call it “one of the finest kids’ audio connect with it at all,” he explains. “But Midwest-based rock ’n’ roll band, releases of this or any year.” when I played it for my kids and did The Bad Examples, and scoring sev- “One of the exciting things I found live shows with it, kids were enthralled eral European chart hits, Ralph’s life out early on about children’s music with the imagery and the moral lesson changed when he became a father. is that the creative possibilities are in all of it.” Gone were the endless tour dates, as limitless as a child’s imagination,” Howdy has gone on to build a long nights and “bad example” liv- Covert says. national following and has added ing. At the time, Covert was teaching His third album, Happy Lemons, three more albums to his credit, “Wiggleworms” classes for children was followed a few years and albums including a 2009 Grammy-nominated aged three months to six years at later by the 2006 Grammy-nominated release in the category of Best the Old Town School of Folk Music Green Gorilla, Monster & Me. From Spoken Word Album for Children. in Chicago, where he was already a its Phish-on-steroids harmonies on He’s also won a half-dozen Emmys for songwriting teacher. the track “Dance Around” to the his videos, which appear on Noggin. “Every day of teaching was an Ramones-inspired “I Don’t Wanna,” Currently, Howdy is in the planning ‘ah-ha’ moment,” he shares. “Children it’s no wonder adults were tuning stages of two new records. You can are so immediately responsive, and in, Disney Sound came calling, and also hear him along with the likes of I knew, based on the songs I was his videos are regularly featured on Dan Zanes, Trout Fishing in America, singing, that I wanted to elevate the Playhouse Disney. The band’s 100- Justin Roberts and Lisa Loeb on Cow craft of children’s music and make plus shows per year are regularly sold Pie Radio, a syndicated show that music that was interesting to me out well in advance and usually take airs weekly on stations across the without sacrificing musical qualities.” place in some very cool — and adult — nation and three times a week on At the suggestion of a friend in venues, such as the Fillmore East and XM/Sirius Satellite Radio. the music industry, Covert’s debut the Lollapalooza festival. Buckhowdy.com photo by Scott Preston album, Ralph’s World, was released “I consider my Taylors one of my 9 secret advantages,” Covert says with ducer, Liam Davis (who now plays which are fun to sing along to.” swirling grand slam of creativity and to find dads in the back of a theater pride. “When I’m gearing up for a rhythm guitar with the band), Roberts In 2003, Roberts released fun for adults and kids. Featuring mouthing all the words to songs.” show, it’s a great feeling to pull out recorded the songs professionally for his second album, Not Naptime, songs that encourage children to In between their 150 to 200-plus my guitar and know I’ll sound better what became his first album, Great with his band, the Not Ready for explore the world in unruly hair, tour dates per year, Roberts and the than most of the other performers.” Big Sun. Naptime Players. It won a Parents’ yellow reflectors and backyard Not Ready for Naptime Players are The latest release from Ralph’s In a musical style with the peppi- Choice Gold Award (he now has superhero antics, the album has heading back to the studio to finish World, The Rhyming Circus, is an ness and melodies of Elvis Costello five) and was called one of the “25 been called the “Sgt. Pepper’s of recording their ninth album. Parents endlessly entertaining album. As meets the Fountains of Wayne, Best Children’s CDs for the Past children’s albums.” From the Beatles- and children everywhere can antici- Time magazine noted, “Ralph’s Roberts has taken his folksy lyrics 25 Years” by the Parents’ Choice vibed “Giant-Sized Butterflies” to the pate more grooviness in 2010. World runs through genres like a kid and sunny pop into the realm of chil- Foundation. His third CD, Way Out, surfer tune “Kickboard, Baby Yeah,” Justinroberts.com hitting every ride at an amusement dren’s music. released in 2004, ranked as one of Roberts’ lyrics and melodies are park.” Whether it’s the Beatlesque “I can’t say I know exactly what Amazon.com’s top 10 children’s CDs catchy, memorable and fun. Chalise Zolezzi is the Public bounce of “Edward the Tap Dancing kids will respond to, but I think of the year and received the National “The really cool thing is that when Relations Manager at Taylor Elephant,” the Brian Setzer-like somewhere in there, kids and I share Parenting Publications Gold award I’m writing a song, I have to write it Guitars and mom to 8-year-old Ava guitar swing of “Bad Bug Ball,” or an affinity for really simple but great for Children’s Recordings. for me because just as much as any- Antoinette. You can reach her at the channeling of Johnny Cash in punk rock and folk music,” he reflects. Roberts now has eight albums one else, I want a good melody stuck [email protected] “Folsom Daycare Blues,” there’s an “Both styles of music typically have to his credit. In true form, his most in my head, or lyrics with some emo- abundance of melodies and moods melody that’s memorable and lyrics recent album, Pop Fly, is a genre- tional resonance. It’s not uncommon that parents can not only easily relate to but enjoy. With eight Ralph’s World albums to his credit, Covert’s creativity also has found outlets in many other areas. He’s an award-winning play- wright, a composer for both theater and stage, as well as a published author. To this day, he still takes time out to join his fellow Bad Examples for adult rock ’n’ roll fun, but it won’t slow him down from pursuing his passion for sophisticated children’s music. “Any time a child or parent comes up to tell us how much our music means to them, it’s moving,” he says. “We’ve never measured suc- cess by [the sale of] records. I’ve always measured it by if it’s the type of album people play when they’re doing their dishes — if it’s part of their day-to-day lives, that’s what matters.” Ralphsworld.com Justin Roberts (514, 410) Almost by accident, Justin Roberts made the transition from indie rocker to Montessori teacher to children’s artist. The late ’90s found Roberts introducing music into his classroom, and sending his students home with CDs of his all-original songs. “At the time, I was performing in a band [Pimentos for Gus],” he remembers. “We’d written this song, a fable about a giraffe and a nightin- gale. We’d played this song in bars for adults, but with the kids, the first time I played it for them, they asked me to play it again. I was shocked — it was four verses with no chorus. From there, I thought, children’s music could be so cool, given their sophistication and responsiveness to great melodies and lyrics.” At the encouragement of a friend and pro- photo by Todd Rosenberg 10 www.taylorguitars.com

imposing their own interpretation on you. We know many professional musicians who travel all over the world with their old Brazilian rose- Ask Bob wood guitars, and they employ this strategy. It keeps everyone happy. Bass protos, a Brazilian blur, sponge logic and finish myths Last issue, you responded to a In Volume 60 of Wood&Steel That’s been done a zillion times. question regarding humidification [Summer 2009], there is a picture Swapping that mahogany top for a by suggesting that one should not of Ed Granero (page 16) holding koa top would probably just darken it re-wet a humidifier while it is still a 9-string prototype. Behind him a bit. It might be great for slack key, wet. Can you please explain the is what appears to be a black T5 and certainly the right look! Bind it in reasoning? We live in an area that bass. Another prototype? rosewood to tie it all together. is extremely cold and dry in win- John Wilson (555 owner) ter, and keep our guitars in cases with soundhole humidifiers damp John, I guess Ed needs to work at all times. We have also been harder on grabbing the center of My 1978 Taylor is made with advised by a local guitar techni- attention! Our shop is filled with Brazilian rosewood. I have been cian that leaving a dry, sponge- prototypes. That bass, in particular, told that if I try to bring a Brazilian type humidifier in a guitar actually is yet another iteration of our bass rosewood guitar into the country (I can cause additional drying by ideas. As you might recall from past live in the U.S.) it will be confiscat- virtue of the sponge absorbing discussion, the T5 guitar was actu- ed and destroyed, even if I could humidity/moisture from the gui- ally born out of prototyping some show ownership before leaving tar. bass ideas. By the way, the one the country. That doesn’t sound Andy Spindler you saw is a little more like the T3 right to me. Do you know anything Calgary, AB than the T5. I can’t say when a bass about the Brazilian rosewood might get to market, but we’re chip- issue? I was told it was an import You bet I can explain. A dry sponge ping away at it. issue by a friend with a ’52 Martin indicates that the guitar has taken D-28, also in Brazilian rosewood. all the water and wants more. A wet We were talking about Europe, sponge indicates the guitar is still recalling a trip we had made in absorbing water. If you re-wet when I live in Hawaii, play slack key, and 1978, so I guess we would won- it is already wet, you may just raise was curious what you think a gui- der about [traveling to] Europe. the relative humidity higher than is tar with a koa top and a more tra- Ivan Mann good for the guitar and begin to ditional body wood like rosewood force feed it too much water. The or mahogany would sound like (as Ivan, you touch on a subject with no simple cycle of letting the sponge opposed to all koa). Right now I clear answer. That’s because the go dry will always tell you that have a Taylor cedar/rosewood GA laws are vague, yet at the same time you’re not giving it too much. If the I am primarily a rhythm guitar player with a and a Martin Sitka spruce/mahog- more people are becoming aware sponge goes dry often, simply keep heavy hand. I grew up with the Beatles and the any D. I don’t think I’ve ever seen of them. There was a time when a re-wetting it. A supple sponge that a guitar with the combination of customs agent or passport control isn’t really wet but also isn’t really songs of the late ’60s to early ’70s. I am in the woods I asked about. Just curious wouldn’t even know the law existed. dry indicates nearly the perfect rela- process of putting together my dream BTO Taylor. if that’s even a possibility. Now we have a lot of knowledge tive humidity, so don’t re-wet that I can’t decide whether to buy a Jumbo or Grand Zack Onaga of the existence of the law, but sponge until it’s dry. And remember, Symphony, and for my woods, master grade koa people don’t know how to interpret this whole exercise should take Yes, it is a possibility, and a person it. Therefore, some zealous agents place inside a closed guitar case. or custom grafted walnut. I chose premium Sitka could do that through the BTO will rake you over the coals, while spruce for the soundboard. Any suggestions? program. Cosmetically, matching others will just let you pass. It’s risky Jack Cardinale the koa top to rosewood might be a because you are subject to what the challenge. It could look good sitting agent feels they want to do. That Are you guys going to stick to the Mentor, OH on mahogany, though. Sound-wise, said, if you just travel with your gui- single cutaway body shape as I’d say the koa top will make a big- tar as personal property and don’t the Taylor SolidBody shape, or do Jack, I’m a bigger fan of the GS than the Jumbo. ger difference in tone than the type bother “claiming” anything about it, you plan to do other shapes in It’s our latest development, and it has sugary-sweet of body wood you attach it to. In there’s a 99.9 percent chance you’ll the future, like a double cutaway tone, yet still is very bold. I’ll say again that I’m other words, the top itself is a big just move through every border. design? departure from spruce, and chang- Agents are certainly not experts in Jay Smith a fan of Indian rosewood and Sitka spruce. I’m a ing the back and sides from koa to wood identification. If you are forced Nashville, TN rhythm player too, but with a medium hand. If I mahogany would season it a bit. I to talk about it, just say, “It’s my were to leap from rosewood back and sides to another think mahogany would be the best guitar,” and don’t start talking about Jay, we don’t know if we will ever choice to implement your idea. The Brazilian rosewood. You are not make a double cutaway. Currently wood for your or my application, I would choose the softer mahogany would ring out breaking any law by traveling with we don’t have it as a plan, but I’ll koa over the walnut. I think it’s a bit more solid- against the harder koa, which is less your guitar. Staying quiet about it wager that eventually we do make sounding and would perform more to your liking. brilliant than spruce. Imagine the doesn’t cause you to break a law; one. Kinda seems inevitable, doesn’t sound of an all-mahogany guitar. it just helps prevent an agent from it? At least to me. 11

Can you elaborate on why some selected? (I know there are other years. This offers the best protec- wood also, and it all opens up with sides with veneers, we don’t really woods do not make good tone- differences like tuning machines, tion, and you won’t experience time and playing. Your old LKSM is improve the guitar’s humidity stability. wood? I live in Oak Forest, which is fretboard inlays, binding, nut/ buildup. It’s better than bore oils or probably proof enough, and there surrounded by oaks. (Surprised?) saddle that can affect pricing.) mineral oils that don’t actually add a are plenty of old Taylors around that Why doesn’t oak make a good Jim Mabe finish that stays in the pores. offer more proof. But what would I have been playing guitar since tonewood? Is its grain too tight, Fullerton, CA our guitar hobby be without myths the mid-1980s and am consider- or not tight enough? If a wood is and legends? ing purchasing another guitar. not well-suited for tops, could its Jim, if tone is your only criteria, buy I currently play a 1959 Ramirez reflective properties make it suit- the 810ce and save some money. I have a 512, an 814c, and just flamenco guitar, which I obtained able for backs or sides? The 910ce has more select wood, purchased my third [Taylor], a third-hand. I prefer the light Also, what is the main reason fancier inlays, etc. Truthfully, although GA7 with the Expression System, Recently I’ve seen advertised weight and tone of this instru- for book-matching a top or back? the wood on a 910 is a higher grade, six weeks ago and have played an armrest for acoustic guitars ment when compared to several Does the use of two (or three) it’s splitting hairs if tone is the main it every day. It has the sweetest that is supposed to increase vol- high-end classical guitars I’ve pieces glued together add struc- goal. Players like to upgrade all com- sound when played fingerstyle. I ume compared to having an arm tested. I have begun testing steel- tural strength, or is the method ponents of their guitars sometimes, can’t stop playing it, and already draped across the front of the string acoustics for fingerpicking done for aesthetics? Perhaps it is thus the 900 Series, which also car- it has made me a better player. guitar. Has Taylor tested these? and would welcome your recom- too difficult to find suitable pieces ries higher-quality, more expensive Question: The GA7 has the NT Theoretically, it seems to make mendations on what to look for. I to make backs or tops of just one tuning gear. They both are legitimate neck, and to me it feels like the some sense. Whether there is use a drop-D tuning at times, and piece? choices, and I won’t try to fool you back of the neck is a bit beefier enough difference to be notice- may also experiment with open Bob Sullivan into thinking the 910 will sound bet- than my other Taylors. Is that the able is another issue. I’d appreci- tunings as used for Hawaiian Oak Forest, IL ter, but we do reserve the best mate- case, or am I just imagining this? ate your thoughts on this. slack key guitar. I was wondering rials for it. Gary J. Iovine Skip Berquam how the various tonewoods com- Bob, to tell you the truth, oak would Spokane, WA pare with Spanish cypress. make a fine guitar. In fact, most Gary, if your 512 and 814c are Grayson Motomura woods will make a fine guitar. Our pre-NT (prior to 2001), then you’re Skip, the theory is correct, in that if Hilo, HI famous “pallet” guitar sounds incred- I’m a younger player who picked probably not imagining it. They both you dampen the body with your arm, ible, and it’s made from an oak pallet up the guitar after graduating use the exact same digital carving you’re going to lose some volume. I Grayson, I think you might prefer and an econo-stud 2x4 from Home college in 2007. After landing my programs. However, before the NT wish I could tell you that the differ- a mahogany guitar, which has the Depot, glued together six pieces first job, I celebrated by buying neck there was a lot more tolerance in ence with the armrest is undeniable, lightest weight of the woods we wide for the top. But the guitar mar- a 210e from Jim at Guitar Rodeo the process, meaning that very slightly but I can’t. You may or may not per- use. Certainly you won’t find a steel- ket is used to certain woods and a and never looked back. I’ve since mismatched parts required a bit of ceive a noticeable difference, but if string that is in the weight category certain aesthetic look. We usually been working hard, staying home hand work after CNC carving in order you do, don’t let anyone tell you that of your Ramirez, but by choosing think of nice guitar woods as having on the weekends, and saving up to to smooth all the pieces together. This you don’t. I think this is something mahogany, the leap will not be as focused, tight, closed-pore grain. So, fund my beloved Taylor collection. procedure yielded necks that varied you’ll just have to try for yourself. By much. Cypress is a great wood for yes, an oak guitar would be good; In less than one year I’m now the slightly in shape, and the only way the way, my parents and sisters live flamenco guitars since it lends itself it just would have low overall sales proud owner of a DN4e, GA6 and to smooth things out is to remove in Spokane. to the percussive style of playing. appeal. a 414-LTD. I’m currently gunning wood. So, in the end, your NT neck I think you’d like a mahogany with Tops and backs are made of two for an 814ce, and hopefully with a is the proper design, executed more a cedar top, and probably a GA bookmatched pieces, which accom- little more luck and hard work I’ll accurately, and the other two are a bit or GS body. Each of those guitars plishes many things. One, the wood be able to own the quintessential smaller due to hand detailing of the I recently purchased a 114ce as a will give you the lighter weight, the can be narrower since there aren’t Taylor guitar. CNC part. backup to my Taylor collection. I open, breathy tone, and will work really trees that can supply one-piece I take very good care of my enjoy it very much and was won- well with drop tunings. Give one a tops. Two, the grain pattern visually Taylors, but one thing that has dering if the sound will open up go and see what you think. is symmetrical, which is beautiful. always stumped me is [proper] over time with its sapele laminate And three, the flexibility of the wood conditioning of the fingerboard. I have a 1992 LKSM that I love. back and sides, or if the laminate becomes symmetrical, which helps I’ve heard of using lemon oil, bore I was looking at some Taylor doesn’t allow this. Also, does the the builder regulate the sound. It’s oil and other fancy brand-named 6-strings at a [store] in Portland laminate give the guitar a little just a good idea to use bookmatched stuff on the market. At the sugges- Oregon, where I live. One of the more resistance toward humidity pieces, not that you couldn’t make a tion of a friend, I recently started salesmen said that Taylors won’t changes? I watch the humid- guitar with one piece or ten pieces. using boiled linseed oil but have age well because they don’t use a ity with my other Taylors like a Got a since read mixed things about it. breathable varnish like nitrocellu- hawk and was wondering if the question for Mainly that over time it will pro- lose. I think the guy was full of it. laminate makes the guitar a little duce buildup and gunk as the I said, “Well, I might buy that line more road-tough. Bob Taylor? While trying to decide on a guitar, I ebony “sweats” it out, leaving an of thinking if they varnished the Joe Nicola had narrowed it down to the 810ce oily board. Is this true? And if so, inside of the guitar as well, but Minneapolis, MN Shoot him an e-mail: and the 910ce. It’s probably dif- which oil(s) does Taylor recom- they don’t.” Maybe you can clear [email protected]. ficult to tell the difference in tone mend? up this finish myth for me. My gui- Yes, Joe, the guitar will open up. under the best circumstances. I Joe tar sounds as good as or better Maybe less than an all-solid-wood If you have a specific have never seen both in stock at Berkeley, CA than it did 17 years ago. guitar, but certainly the top will age repair or service the same time at any music stores Mark Harris and open. Since the top is solid, concern, please call in our area. Even if I had, the differ- Gosh, Joe, leave some guitars for you also have to watch the humid- our Customer Service ence in string age and other vari- someone else! What a collection Yep, your intuition is correct. ity. Unfortunately, the top and the department at ables could confuse my untrained you’re amassing. Here’s what I like Nitrocellulose isn’t more “breath- fretboard are the two main reasons (800) 943-6782, ear. Could you explain the main on fretboards: linseed oil. But only able” than the finish we use. And we give our guitars humidity care, and we’ll take difference (in woods) between do it once or twice and then forget I’m not sure how breathability plays because they move more than the care of you. these guitars? Is there a tonal and/ about it for a couple years. Then do into aging anyway. The whole guitar neck itself or the hardwood back or visual difference in the woods it again and forget about it for ten ages, not just the finish, but the and sides. By making backs and 35 YEARS bold From rare woods to new designs, we celebrate Taylor’s 35th anniversary with an exquisite collection of limited editions.

By Jim Kirlin

The XXXV-GS-C Cocobolo / Sitka / Ebony Armrest ast issue we Lteased you with a behind-the- scenes preview of our 35th anniversary guitars, many of which were still in the incuba- tion phase of development. This time around, we proudly unveil the finished products (most of them, anyway). With this com- memorative collection, we reveal a wildly eclectic array of models that respond to the requests of customers from over the years. Despite the breadth of designs 35 represented, each embodies sig- nature Taylor attributes: creative thinking, aesthetic beauty and refined craftsmanship. Some guitars are first-time offer- ings, including a deep-toned baritone GS, an intimate par- lor guitar, a “modern vintage” 12-fret GC, a 9-string GS, and an exotic assortment of GS models crafted with a beveled armrest. Our electric line delivers some showstoppers of its own, includ- ing T3 and SolidBody models featuring premium-grade woods like feathered koa, quilted maple, and cocobolo. Alas, we can’t show you our grand finale quite yet. At press time, Bob Taylor was still working on the design nuances for an ultra-rare series of Brazilian rosewood guitars that promise to be spec- The XXXV-SB-K tacular. Each of the 35 made Feathered Koa Top will be unique, and the series will include a variety of differ- ent body styles. Look for the full showcasing a different wood for maple body will have a sunset For our 35th anniversary, we story on the Taylor website in The Armrest Series the back and sides, with a match- honeyburst top, Indian rosewood chose to make several batches late October. XXXV-GS-C ing backstrap: cocobolo, AA-grade armrest and Venetian cutaway, of T3 and SolidBody models that, Our 35th anniversary mod- XXXV-GS-M Macassar ebony, feathered walnut while the other models will each due to our ultra-limited produc- els feature a commemorative XXXV-GS-W and quilted maple. Each wood have an ebony armrest and tion run, enabled us to choose “35” fretboard inlay, come with XXXV-GS-MP was available in extremely limited Florentine cutaway. premium grades of exotic tops, a custom label, and most will quantities. such as feathered koa, quilted be crafted in select batches, in An edge bevel on the bass “Rather than wait to match The Electrics maple, and bold-hued cocobolo. some cases as few as 35. Each side of a guitar’s lower bout these unique wood sets one-by- XXXV-T3B-C The T3s are available in either koa model will include a certificate blends a practical design func- one with a Build to Order custom- XXXV-T3B-K or cocobolo, with a choice of a of authenticity personally signed tion — a comfortable armrest for er, we’re going to include them XXXV-T3-C Bigsby vibrato or a stop tailpiece. by Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug. one’s picking arm — with elegant in this special series,” Bob Taylor XXXV-T3-K The SolidBody limiteds showcase Some series have already contouring that offers unique aes- explains. XXXV-SB-QM two series: one featuring tops of shipped to Taylor dealers, with thetic appeal. Inspired in part by All feature Sitka spruce tops XXXV-SB-K awe-inspiring feathered koa, the more scheduled to arrive in the work of renowned luthier Grit with our tone-enhancing CV brac- other with tops of quilted maple mid-October. For specs, photos, Laskin, our armrest is crafted of ing, ebony binding, an abalone From the beginning, the aes- and a tobacco sunburst finish. quantities and a current list of either ebony or Indian rosewood rosette, Gotoh tuners, a bone nut thetic identity of Taylor’s electric dealers carrying these models, and will be featured on four differ- and saddle, and the Expression guitar line has drawn deeply from visit taylorguitars.com. ent anniversary GS models, each System® pickup. The quilted our passion for beautiful woods. continued next page The Parlor XXXV-P

Though parlor-style guitars are sometimes defined by certain size specifications, the term is often simply used to describe a small or “sub-compact” body (usu- ally smaller than a concert-size). Boasting a historical lineage that threads through the 19th and early 20th centuries, a parlor gui- tar was designed to be comfort- able to hold and was traditionally played in people’s homes, hence the lack of need for a big-bodied instrument to project in larger per- formance halls (the dreadnought shape would later fulfill this role). Taylor’s first-ever parlor gui- tar debuts a shape created by Larry Breedlove and is based on some parlor designs he worked out some years ago with long- time Taylor design engineer Mike Mosley from our product develop- ment group. Mosley has actually built five personal parlor guitars on his own over the past decade, each one with different wood pair- ings. He shared a few observa- tions that speak to the identity of The Parlor The Baritone the parlor-style design. “My friend performs with one and likes it because it’s small, so The 9-String The T3B Cocobolo when she’s on a crowded stage she’s less apt to bump into things,” Mosley says. “Plus, it has a nice high ‘jangle,’ which cuts nicely though a mix.” Having worked with differ- ent woods on his parlor models, Mosley found that due to the com- pact body size, the materials tend to have a greater impact on the overall tone. He’s also found parlor guitars to produce tones that won- derfully complement other guitars. “I normally play with a guy who has a GA and a Dreadnought, and when I use the parlor guitar they sound so good together,” he says. “It’s almost like having a different instrument.” Taylor training manager Rob Magargal strung up and played the first of the 35th anniversary parlor models and was impressed with the tonal output. “I wasn’t expecting something so light to have so much sound,” Magargal says. “It’s a very comfort- able guitar for me to play, from the sleek body to the neck being joined at the 12th fret. I can see this being a great recording guitar or just a nice addition to anyone’s arsenal.” Taylor’s 35th anniversary par- length (in our case, 27 inches com- years, Nashville session cats have modern-vintage tonal flavor. lor model features Madagascar pared to our standard 25.5 or short- relied on high-strung guitars — gui- The 12-Fret “I’ve never heard a Taylor sound rosewood back/sides (milled thin- scale 24 7/8) allows one to play in tars strung with the octave strings XXXV-TF like this,” Bob Taylor raved after ner than Indian rosewood due to a lower register, yet maintain nor- from a 12-string set — to add extra playing a prototype. “It’s warm like Madagascar’s denser properties), mal string tension. Baritones have jangle to a mix. Sometimes they For those unfamiliar with a a vintage Martin. It’s a tone that a Sitka spruce top with Adirondack been used by artists from Dave would just take some of the funda- 12-fret guitar, the “12” doesn’t refer differs from our regular GC with its CV bracing, a slotted peghead, ivor- Matthews to Duane Eddy to Ani mental strings off a 12-string guitar. to the total number of frets; it’s the distinctive snap and brilliance. It’s oid binding, abalone rosette, a bone DiFranco. A baritone will appeal to The 9-string is a hybrid of sorts number of frets from the nut to the soft, easy, warm, folky, bassy and nut and saddle, and the ES pickup. anyone looking for a deeper guitar between a 6 and a 12, with the tre- edge of the guitar body. The design loud. Call Joan Baez so she can The Sitka selected for the top is a tone, including singer-songwriters ble-side strung as a double course. traces back to the period that pre- sing us a folk song.” special wide-grain selection, which who find the upper register of (The D and G string pairs are an ceded steel-string acoustics. As adds warmth to the tone. The certain songs to be a stretch for octave apart, while the unwound B steel-string players craved access bridge design evolved from Taylor’s their vocals. Our 35th anniversary strings are in unison.) The design to higher notes on the fretboard, nylon-string bridge. The ends were baritone is tuned to B (B E A D F# gives players a lush voice with the 12-fret design gave way to the shortened to better suit the smaller B). To help achieve a low, robust richly ringing treble notes, without 14-fret, although classical guitars proportions of the parlor shape, sound, we chose the GS shape and the whole 12-string experience. have in many cases carried on the and feature scalloped contouring a wood pairing of Indian rosewood, “The 9-string is for the player 12-fret tradition (our nylon-string over a cylindrical profile — essen- known for its strong bass response, who wants some of the 12-string Grand Concerts feature a 12-fret tially a more refined version of a and Sitka spruce. Strummers who sound but for whom a full 12 is too design). The vintage 12-fret design Koa traditional “pyramid” style bridge favor a potent, girthy sound and much,” says Taylor’s David Hosler. also enjoyed a renaissance among backstrap used on other parlor guitars. The like to detune will love them. The “The way we designed ours fills steel-string players as acoustic bridge was designed to have extra baritone also features a tobacco everything out. It’s great for add- fingerstyle enjoyed a resurgence in flexibility, says Larry Breedlove, sunburst top, Indian rosewood ing another part, another flavor to the 1980s. Our 35th anniversary 12-fret fea- which serves to enhance top move- binding, abalone rosette, Taylor a song, and it’s a great guitar to Although our 12-fret model tures beautiful AA-grade Hawaiian ment and tone. gold tuners, Venetian cutaway and sing to.” incorporates a Grand Concert body koa for the back and sides, an the ES pickup. Our 35th Anniversary 9-string and standard GC bracing, it sounds Engelmann spruce top, a slotted The Baritone is a GS with a Tropical mahogany dramatically different from our GC. peghead with a koa backstrap, a XXXV-B The 9-String back and sides, a Sitka spruce top, One reason is the reorientation of green heart abalone rosette and XXXV-9 Indian rosewood binding, abalone the neck, body and bridge in rela- trim on the top and back, a bone rosette, bone nut and saddle, Taylor tion to each other (the bridge, for nut and saddle, and the ES pickup. The beauty of a baritone guitar A 9-string guitar is one of gold tuners, Venetian cutaway and one, is shifted farther back on the compared to simply tuning down those requests we’ve occasionally the ES pickup. lower bout). The change in body To see more photos of our 35th anni- is that a baritone’s longer scale received from Nashville players. For geometry translates into a unique, versary models, visit taylorguitars.com.

The 12-Fret (koa back and sides) The 12-Fret 16

and Acoustic Guitarist (France), as well as U.S.-based Guitar Player The T3’s Luxe Life and Guitar World magazines spent Robb Report Mixed Media time touring the factory with Bob August 2009 Taylor to learn our inner workings What do you get the millionaire for a “Taylorized” education in guitar who has or could have everything? traditional semi-hollow and solidbody building. Might we suggest a T3? In May, T3/B: Future Classic guitars.” While plenty of semi-hollow During their three-day stay, the Robb Report associate editor Bailey Guitar World models are on the market, he says, journalists had the opportunity to Barnard jetted from his office in September 2009 “the T3 distinguishes itself from the experience Taylor’s Build to Order Malibu, California to spend the The T3 lovefest continues pack with a unique personality and process firsthand by spec’ing out day at the Taylor factory with Bob. in Guitar World’s September a semi-hollow voice that’s likely to their own BTO models for a pro- From a tour and the chance to Soundcheck feature, in which writer appeal to a wide variety of players ....” motion with their respective pub- pick up and plug in a T3, Barnard Chris Gill praises the semi-hollow- The guitar was also given a Guitar lications. With Bob at the helm of could clearly declare that the guitar body T3/B as one Taylor that is “des- World Platinum Award for Quality & the wood selection process, BTO offered “shocking amplification.” tined to be a classic in its own right.” Design. program directors Joe Bina and While sticking with the basic facts in Quick to admire Taylor’s expert Look for the complete review Chris Wellons walked each writer his article, we hear that behind the craftsmanship, Gill notes that the online at guitarworld.com. of woods, construction and electronic through the vast array of options scenes, the T3 has quickly become the “immaculate construction and near- features, and of course great looks available. From the neck profile and favorite axe of several players in the perfect attention to detail is as and outstanding tone. For instruments scale length down to the purfling Robb Report offices. robbreport.com evident on the T3/B as it is on the 814ce: Balanced, in this class, it may often seem like a and binding, each writer was visually company’s esteemed acoustic mod- slight knock to be called ‘all around’ and audibly in awe of the variety of els. The neck has Taylor’s signature All-Around Great great, but in this case, it’s the highest options and combinations available. comfortable C-shaped profile ...and Premier Guitar compliment I can think to pay.” As of press time, our produc- Taylor Atwitter the fretwork is simply as good as it July 2009 You can read the full review online tion floor was busy fulfilling each For the latest happenings at gets. The T3/B’s thin body and light In his July review, Premier Guitar at premierguitar.com. detail and appointment, so we Taylor, be sure to check out our weight actually make it ...comfortable magazine editor Chris Burgess shares can’t tempt you with any pictures Twitter posts. This micro-blog site to play.” his appreciation for the 814ce and just yet. However, readers of these will keep you updated on Taylor While visually dazzled by the quilt its superbly crafted balancing act. He Journo BTO magazines, take note: Once the news, thoughts and, well, just about maple and chrome appointments, writes that the “design and construc- The Taylor Factory custom guitars are completed, each anything you want to talk about. Gill found the versatile tonal qualities tion balances past and present, with Summer 2009 magazine will be reviewing and Be sure to check our posts, often even more impressive. “The bridge a combination of new technology and It was a great week at the Taylor then rewarding one lucky winner several per day, and drop us a line if humbucker produces a nice percus- old-fashioned craftsmanship.” Guitars factory this summer when with their BTO guitar. (As one edi- you feel so inclined. Just remember sive snap, and the neck pickup deliv- Impressed with the visual aes- an international group of guitar tor noted, “I don’t know how I’ll be to keep it to 140 characters or less. ers shimmering, chimey jangle, which thetics of the Indian rosewood/Sitka magazine reporters invaded the able to give this guitar away. It’s like twitter.com/taylorguitarspr is emphasized when the coils are spruce pairing of this Taylor classic, factory floor, soaking up every drop giving away my first born!”) Be sure split,” he writes. “As a result the T3/B Burgess found even more to admire of Taylor knowledge they could. to check the coming issues of each is a surprisingly versatile instrument once he began playing. “If the selec- Writers from Guitarist (UK), Guitar magazine for your chance to win one Bob Taylor with guitar magazine that’s able to go from chicken-pickin’ tion of wood achieves a great look, (Germany), MusikkPraksis (Norway), of these uniquely beautiful creations. writers at the Taylor factory country to fat jazz-box tones in an it also gives the guitar a perfectly instant.” even and wonderfully full voice,” he On the Bigsby’s performance, observes. “Right from the first strum, Gill tells readers to set their past it captured me with its balance. The concerns aside. “If you’ve previously lows display a striking depth and clar- avoided Bigsby-equipped guitars ity; the attack is clear, full and deep because of their tendency to make with no boominess or muddiness. The the strings go out of tune, your wor- midrange is warm and round with no ries are over. The T3/B’s roller bridge discernable scoop. The bright, crisp does an excellent job of maintaining highs ring out without dominating. tuning, and unlike other roller designs The overall effect is a full-bodied, it provides enhanced sustain and resonant sustain with a clear, vibrant makes height and intonation adjust- ‘zing’ across its tonal range.” ments easy.” After making his way through Gill concludes that the T3/B each aspect of the guitar, Burgess offers guitarists a “bold new voice” declared the 814ce an “all around and produces “a broad palette of great” guitar. “What I didn’t expect tones that bridge the gap between to become so obvious as I played and got to know this guitar was how much awareness and consideration had been put into creating a balanced whole,” he writes. “Every aspect of the 814ce is meant to exist in precise harmony with every other — from Taylor’s production method, which balances art and tradition with sci- ence and innovation, to their choice Taylor Swift’s Fearless Baby The country-pop princess unveils a signature guitar that’s perfect for the tunesmiths of tomorrow

The past year has been a whirlwind for country-pop superstar Taylor Swift (PSGA, GS8, 615ce, PS-LTD, T5-S, K65ce, SolidBody Classic). The 19-year-old singer-songwriter, who has shared a close relationship with Taylor Guitars since she was just a precocious, aspiring preteen with very big dreams, has blossomed into one of music’s most successful acts. Her sophomore album Fearless (whose release Swift celebrated at the Taylor Guitars factory last November) debuted on the Billboard Hot 200 at the top spot and has since gone on to sell over 4 million copies. Recently, she surpassed the 10 million mark for total

albums sold and over 20 million paid downloads — more than any artist in country music history. Her headline tour this year included a recent sold-out show at New York’s Madison Square Garden, where each song was accompanied by legions of singing and screaming fans, who at one point gave Swift a four-minute standing ovation. These days, it’s hard to turn on the TV, pick up a magazine, or surf the web without encountering Swift’s blond tresses as she continues to add to her repertoire as a singer, songwriter, actress and now, a guitar designer, with her very own signature model, the Taylor Swift Baby Taylor (TSBT). At three-quarters the size of our standard Dreadnought, and with a slim 1 11/16-inch neck and a comfortable, 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. Like the original Baby Taylor, the TSBT is crafted from sapele laminate back and sides and a solid Sitka spruce top. The custom design is all Swift’s, featuring her well-known expression “Love, Love, Love” among delicate vines that encircle the soundhole. To commemorate the songwriting spirit of her album, the guitar features the word “Fearless” along with Swift’s signature inscribed above the bridge. “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. 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. I love the sound, and I love those memories.” The Taylor Swift Baby Taylor will be available in late fall. Scales and chords are key building Playing Well blocks for guitar players, but under- standing song structure offers an even sweeter payoff — the ability to With Others jamjam withwith friends.friends. By Shawn Persinger

All too often I encounter guitar- While it might seem obvious to Consider the bass part (Ex. 2), the Pop Music Whichever topic you choose, you can ists who don’t know any songs. This most listeners that the song is of horn section (Ex. 3), and keyboard Pop music can be difficult to use the basic premise as a jump-off is true for both students and fellow highest importance, I find that play- chord comping (Ex. 4). Spreading define, except to say that is derived point for conveying your personal performers, though in the case of the ers often make the worst listeners! these parts among four guitarists from the word “popular.” The Beatles opinion on the subject — through latter, they do know their own original The importance of song structure gets you an orchestrated song that are pop music, but so is Patsy Cline. your own solo, improvisation or other material, but nothing else. Many gui- and a defining melody cannot be is far more interesting than Example Coldplay, Frank Sinatra, the Rolling interpretation of the original song. tarists tend to focus their attention on overstated. Let’s talk about songs 1 and a solo. If traditional blues isn’t Stones, Beyonce: all pop. Depending scales and chords, sequences and and their invaluable use to us as your thing, you can always try a jazzi- on your point of view, it can be very Learn Parts patterns, soloing and more soloing, guitarists. er version (Ex. 5), with similar parts. easy to dislike pop music, but as As I suggested in the Blues sec- but not enough on songcraft. One final note regarding the Irving Berlin said, “Never hate a song tion, learning several parts to a tune Solos, patterns, technique, etc. are The Blues blues: Please, please, please learn that has sold half a million copies.” will help add color to an otherwise important, but more often than not, my The most common jam for any the words to a couple of blues tunes. So, learn a pop song. straight-ahead idiom. Almost every favorite solos exist within the structure group of guitarists is usually the They are usually not that difficult to If you think of music as a lan- style of music lends itself to this of a vocal tune or an instrumental tune blues, and I highly recommend it as a remember, and the verses are often guage (and you should), having a sort of orchestration, yet not all of with a “lyrical” melody. For example, place to start, but calling out “Blues interchangeable. A 12-bar blues diverse selection of pop songs in them are obvious, especially if you’re Jimi Hendrix gives us no fewer than six in E” and playing with a pentatonic is just that, twelve bars of “blues,” your repertoire provides you with dealing with a room full of guitars. solos in his version of “All Along the solo (Ex. 1) can get old quickly. Try but the lyrics turn the 12 bars into specific conversation topics you Examples 6a and 6b show the basic Watchtower,” but they reside between learning as many variations and/or a song. Of course, when it comes can explore with other musicians. “A” section of the bluegrass stan- three vocal verses. And all bluegrass parts of the blues as possible. This to actually belting out the lyrics, we Perhaps you’ll discuss international dard “Sally Goodin.” This is pretty flatpicking solos and improvisations is very helpful when you have four can’t all sound like B.B. King, but politics (“Sunday Bloody Sunday”), good and it gets the job done, but are based around the short, catchy or more guitarists, as each player give singing the blues it a shot. It’s fashion (“Blue Suede Shoes”) or here are a few more ideas you might melody that distinguishes the tune. can emulate a different instrument. fun to try. space travel (“Fly Me to the Moon”). try. Example 7 emulates the rhythm 19

chops of a mandolin. Example 8 everyone invited is on the same page. Playing Well With Others demonstrates a walking bass line. Keep at least 50 percent of the rep- The examples below demonstrate ways to add melodic texture to songs, Example 9 provides a harmony to ertoire easy. I’ve been to a lot of jazz making jam sessions with other players more fun. the original melody, something fiddle jams, and no one plays Coltrane’s players often do. All of these minor “Giant Steps” — it’s too hard and too additions to the basic structure add a fast for most people. I’m not saying Ex.1 Ex. 2 little more punch and provide consid- dumb it down to the lowest com- erable texture to any musical style. mon denominator, but a balance of easy and more challenging tunes is Start a Jam preferable at any jam. If you plan to This last subject has recently play a song with a plethora of chords become a bit of a mission for me. I or challenge your local flatpickers to strongly urge you to start your own the fastest banjo tunes in the canon, then make the next song a simple, local jam wherever you are. I want to Ex. 3 Ex. 4 stress that this is specifically a jam melodic folk tune or a three-chord at someone’s home and not a public rock song. performance with all the trappings that can entail. Just play music for Make a song list. There is nothing music’s sake. Whether you meet worse than getting together to jam once a week or can only manage and hearing, “What do you want to once a month, a regular jam session play?” “I don’t know? How about will give you a reason to practice new you?” “Uh, I don’t know.” Make a list. Ex. 5 material, give you an outlet for your Six to 12 songs should keep you material, and, well, it’s just fun! busy for a little while, and encourage Keep in mind that while a jam guests to bring their own lists. session can be inspiring, it can also be quite humbling, and I’ve found Invite some different instrumen- both emotions equally beneficial. talists. Though it seems like every- In fact, I leave every session feel- one plays the guitar nowadays, there ing one way or another; they both are other instruments. Don’t be afraid encourage me to practice more. Ego to invite your local accordionist — he aside, I’m a good player, and I can might turn out to be the next Astor play many different styles, but if you Piazzolla! put me in a room full of Irish fiddle players, I become “adequate.” I can Have some music stands and hang comfortably as an accompanist, charts ready. Not everybody can but eventually I’m going to run out read charts, but if you don’t have of Celtic melodies, and my acoustic them you certainly can’t read them, guitar volume is no match for a violin. and if you don’t need them just set I go to Irish jams to learn something them aside. Ex. 6a Ex. 6b

By Shawn Persinger new, something I won’t find at home, on my iPod, or on television. If the Share the floor. You’ve invited your experience pushes me out of my musical guests because you like the comfort zone, I try to remember that way they play, not because you want sometimes it’s good to be humbled, to show off. Make sure everyone especially if you think you know it all. gets a turn, either picking the tune, Here are a few guidelines that will taking a solo, or singing the lead. A help you start your own jam and keep jam with a leader is great; a jam with Ex. 7 Ex. 8 it fun and vital. a dictator is no fun.

Start with people you know per- So, learn a variety of songs, prac- sonally. Then let your friends bring tice improvising on familiar tunes, friends. Eventually, if you feel comfort- invite some friends over, and play, able with the idea, invite players who play, play. Once upon a time, before have posted ads at the local music the Internet, before TV, before radio, store, craigslist, etc. to your jam. The jamming is what musicians did all the jam should be no pressure, since time, whether amateur or profession- your intention is to play music, not to al. It’s time this tradition is rekindled Ex. 9 start a new band and conquer the and expanded upon. world. Shawn Persinger, a.k.a. Prester John, Know your idiom. If you want to is a self-proclaimed “Modern/Primitive” start a blues jam, don’t expect guests guitarist who owns Taylor 410s and to show up and play jazz standards 310s. PersingerMusic.com or heavy metal. That said, if you crave a jam that includes all of those styles, by all means proceed; just make sure The 2009 Fall Limited Editions Power Trio Quilted maple, cocobolo and Indian rosewood, plus some turbo-charged tops, color this year’s fall collection

The 2009 Fall LTD models

Cocobolo GAce-LTD-C / GSce-LTD-C

Quilted Maple GAce-LTD-M / GSce-LTD-M

indian Rosewood 410ce-LTD-R / 412ce-LTD-R 414ce-LTD-R / 416ce-LTD-R

Even with this year’s 35th anniversary guitar bonanza, there’s no way we’d forgo Taylor’s annual tradition of Fall Limiteds. For 2009, we’re tapping our reserves of quilted maple and cocobolo, and we’re releasing a special run of all-gloss Indian rosewood 400 Series guitars. Our quilted maple and cocobolo models are available in our popular GA and GS body shapes, and feature beautiful three-piece backs with a re-proportioned center wedge to complement the elegant GA and GS contours. We also gave the Sitka spruce tops for these a tonal upgrade by coupling Adirondack spruce braces (which generate more elasticity) with our new CV bracing pattern. Together they enhance the top movement to produce a fuller, richer and louder tone with increased dynamic range. The cocobolo LTDs are bound in contrasting curly maple with a matching maple heel cap, and are adorned with a glossy cocobolo backstrap. The quilted maple models feature a glossy figured koa backstrap and shimmering koa binding with a matching heel cap. Additional premium appointments include Gotoh tuners and a bone nut and saddle. Inlay-free fretboards support an aesthetic of clean lines that underscore the natural beauty of the woods and binding treatments. Each comes with an abalone rosette, Venetian cutaway and the Taylor Expression System® pickup. Our all-gloss Indian rosewood/Sitka spruce 400s honor one of the world’s most popular tonewoods at a special price point. This selection of rosewood sports rich chocolate-and-caramel variegation, and the four available Taylor body styles — GA, GS, GC and Dreadnought — are each highlighted with crisp white binding. Additional appointments include pearl dot fretboard inlays and a 3-ring rosette. A Venetian cutaway and the Taylor ES® pickup are also featured. Our Fall Limiteds began shipping in early October. Quantities are limited, so be sure to check with your local dealer for availability. For more photos and full specifications, visit taylorguitars.com.

L-R: GSce-LTD-M, 414ce-LTD-R, GSce-LTD-C

Range Rover Get ready — an amazing new 8-string baritone is about to broaden your tonal horizons

By Jim Kirlin

Bob Taylor has a new favorite guitar. He doesn’t come right out and say this, but you can tell by the way he’s talking about it — not as a guitar maker but as a freshly inspired player. It’s personal. One can sense that he’s discovered something genuinely new and different; something that’s allowed him to express himself in a way other guitars can’t. This shouldn’t be surprising, given that Bob and his development group have been immersed in one of the most creative spurts of guitar design in the company’s history, in celebration of the company’s 35th year. A parade of beautiful anniversary limiteds is on the way, including breakthrough models like a 12-fret, a parlor, a baritone, a 9-string, and an offering of sublime Brazilian rosewood models. So, which one is it? Actually, none of the above. But it is a spin-off — an acoustic love child, if you will — that blends elements from two anniversary models. It’s a new 8-string baritone GS, and it’s inspiring enough that Bob fast-tracked its development to offer it as a dedicated model in the Taylor line this fall. Intrigued? You should be.

A Whole New Ballgame However one cares to depict this guitar’s development — another chocolate-meets-peanut-butter stroke of serendipity, perhaps — what mat- ters is that this 8-string baritone delivers another truly unique acoustic voice because our design team knows better than to get boxed in by the rules. The creative juices were already flowing earlier this summer as the team was cooking up prototype designs for the 35th anniversary mod- els. A baritone GS (tuned from B to B) was developed to offer players a lower, deeper tonal range at normal string tension. Meanwhile, another GS, a 9-string, had been designed to embellish the sound of a six-string by giving it some of the upper-octave flavor of a 12-string without going all the way there. The two guitars weren’t developed in tandem, yet as it turned out, each seemed to uniquely complement the other, especially in terms of the expanded tonal range they covered together. “We loved the baritone but missed having some of that upper regis- ter,” Bob recalls. “We thought, what if we turned it into a 9-string? 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.” The lower tonal range of the 6-string baritone anniversary model already had won over Bob. “There are a lot of songs that I’ve played over the years but couldn’t sing because I could barely reach those notes,” he explains. “Then, as you get older and your voice gets lower, you end up taking those songs out of your repertoire altogether because it doesn’t sound right to sing them with different chords. You can’t really change the key on them; the chord spelling really needs to be that original key. But with the baritone you can drop down, and the guitar part sounds right; it just sounds low. It’s fun to sing again.” 23

Adding the two octave strings, deep, throaty sound. But the best visit and loved it. Evan Carmen, a sales staffer Bob says, transformed the baritone. way to go low is to make a longer “It’s different from any other guitar from Morgan Music, a Taylor dealer Another Lowdown Option: “It’s a whole new ballgame. It’s string, not to just tune down.” (The that anybody’s ever made that I’ve in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, had a The 6-String Baritone really, really cool, because you can baritone has a 27-inch scale length seen,” he says. “It’s 12-string-ish, but chance to play a prototype during a The 8-string isn’t the only either accentuate those octaves or compared to our standard 25.5.) without the [extra] notes on the 5th dealer event at the factory in July. A GS baritone to be adopted into stay away from them. The beauty Bob says he feels like this is the and 6th strings to get in your way. singer-songwriter who’s a big fan of the standard Taylor line this fall. of this guitar is that it goes low and right time for this kind of guitar in “You can play your regular bottom the acoustic playing style of the late A 6-string version, which was those two strings brighten it up, but part because it introduces something Elliott Smith, Carmen picked up on first designed as a 35th anniver- they don’t sound too ‘octave-y.’ It legitimately new to the guitar commu- its potential for melodic embellish- sary model and eventually led to doesn’t give you that 12-string effect nity, which is always good for spark- ments and walking basslines. the 8-string, is itself a uniquely as much as it really just extends the ing fresh musical sounds. “Anyone who’s ever wanted voiced instrument that Bob felt range because, as a baritone, the “I think about the way music has something more from an acous- would appeal to many types octaves aren’t really high; they’re not progressed since I started playing tic guitar on the low end will be of players. Like the 8-string, out of the range of a normal sound. guitar when I was a kid,” he says. impressed with how easy it is to the 6-string model also has a So it just fills the guitar out; it gives it “Back then, there weren’t a lot of gui- innovate and be creative with the 27-inch scale length and comes a nicer spread.” tar players around, and if you were bassier ranges the baritone 8-string with Elixir baritone strings (.016 - Taylor’s David Hosler, part of the playing with people, there were a lot has to offer,” he said afterward in an .070) tuned from B to B. product development team, likens the of horn players. Now everybody and e-mail. “Not only does it give you a From a purely instrumental sound of the 8-string baritone to a their brother plays guitar. A group completely different sound to explore, point of view, the nature of the blend of three guitars. may get together a lot, they’re play- it does so without a ridiculous learn- baritone allows a player to cre- “It makes me feel like I’m hear- ing their stuff and writing some new ing curve. In fact, after only 15 min- ate a different sonic texture ing a 6-string, a bass, and a bit of a songs, but it’s all guitar-centric, and utes with it, I was already thinking of that blends well with, yet adds 12-string all in one guitar,” he says. “It it’s getting to where you need some- what it could do for a couple of my a different acoustic flavor to, also feels like standard and alternate thing a little bit new. You could write originals. other instruments. Together they tunings at the same time.” original music, even vocal music with “It would make a wonderful addi- have the ability to create a rich Both agree that it’s a guitar with this 8-string as the main instrument, tion to any string player’s collection, ensemble sound. a sound that’s hard to describe, and with piano, bass, regular guitars, be it guitarist, bassist, or otherwise,” “On a standard-tuned acous- that it really needs to be played to electric guitars being sprinkled he added. “There is a practical appli- tic guitar capoed at the second fully appreciate it. They also insist around it, and it would be awesome. cation for this instrument in nearly fret, playing an A chord will be that this isn’t some specialty instru- It’s bold enough to be the main driv- every style and genre I can think in tune with the first position E ment just because it’s not a regular ing instrument in a song. It’s not too of. It’s only a matter of time before chord of the 6-string baritone,” member of the guitar family. It’s a low; you get too low on a regular gui- it starts changing music forever. I explains Taylor’s Andy Lund, an guitar they feel will appeal to all tar and sometimes it gets quiet and can’t wait to see how people react in-house product specialist. “The types of players, from cowboy chord there’s not enough power. This guitar to it right out of the gate. No doubt result is a giant, wide chord. The strummers to fleet fingerpickers. It has power down there. we’ll be hearing it used frequently two instruments playing those does have a different sound, Hosler “If you were playing this with a after people catch wind of what it’s chords together cover two and a says, and there is a slight learning regularly tuned guitar and someone capable of. I can’t wait to have one to half octaves — it’s like a tall and curve involved as one acclimates to else had a ukulele in there, it would call my own!” lush sonic cocktail!” the sound and the feel of the string be like an orchestra,” Bob says. “It Other dealers visiting the factory A cool stringing option that gauges. But that learning curve, he would be like the low of a piano all for a training event had a chance to gives the baritone an alternative assures people, will likely last all of the way to high with these instru- test-drive it, and it was a unanimous timbre is to use medium gauge about five minutes. ments.” winner. Some saw it as an incredible acoustic strings (.013 - .056) “I tell people to start by just play- songwriting guitar. Many commented and tune from D to D (D G C ing simple C, D and G chords to get Outside Reaction: on the rich, full sound of open chords. F A D) instead of B to B. This Baritone 8-string used to the sound because the voic- “I Want One!” One dealer said it would really suit concept actually traces back to ing is almost alternate-tuning type The early response among play- Body experimenting with partial capos. a special long neck version of Shape: GS voicing,” he says. “A lot of people try ers who’ve gotten their hands on the Singer-songwriter Dave Carroll, of the Taylor Dan Crary Signature Woods: Indian rosewood to pick something up and equate it guitar has been instant infatuation. “United Breaks Guitars” fame (p. 26), Model (DCSM) that was made back/sides, to something else, but if they can just One of the first prototypes floating Sitka spruce top also happened to be visiting the fac- years ago for Dan. The guitar’s let go for a second and go through around the Taylor sales department tory while a prototype was making the longer neck had two additional Scale this experience, they’ll probably be quickly hooked people. length: 27 inches rounds and had a chance to play it. frets at the headstock end of inspired to start writing original music “It enhances your favorite chords Number We pretty much had to pry it out of the neck, allowing the guitar to almost right away. I know I have.” and riffs and makes you approach of Frets: 19 his hands before he left. be tuned a full note lower than Bob says that players who nor- the fretboard from a different per- Tuning: B E A D F# B We have a feeling this guitar won’t standard, yet maintain normal mally play a drop D tuning to get that spective,” says Taylor district sales (additional octave just be Bob Taylor’s favorite. string tension. Placing a capo lower note will love this guitar. manager JR Robison. “This guitar strings on the A & D) The 8-string baritone — along at the second fret brings the “This is getting lower than that, has a completely unique voice. After Strings: Elixir Baritone with a 6-string version — are cur- strings to standard tuning. The and it’s got way more oomph,” he just a few minutes of playing it, I had Acoustic, .016 - .070, rently in production and will be arriv- baritone’s D tuning allows play- says. “And the chord spellings are several new ideas stemming from available through ing at Taylor dealerships starting in ers who don’t need to tune all TaylorWare just really nice. You capo down and familiar chord positioning on the late October. We encourage you to the way down to B to still have the whole guitar sounds cool. So, neck. The octave strings complement check them out for yourself, and we’ll a lower starting point and play just for singing, it’s wonderful. I also the fat low B, which allows you to end and then have that 12-string also be bringing them to Taylor Road songs in a lower register. From think that if you were to compose run bass and melody lines simultane- sound coming out of it. I wouldn’t Shows this fall. For full specifications, there, using a capo gives them original music with that, it would be ously, with bass that you can really have thought of making just those visit taylorguitars.com. the flexibility to work their way awesome. And if you’re a Kottke feel. I want one!” two strings 12-string pairs, so the incrementally up. fan, you know Leo always plays his Fingerstylist Pat Kirtley had a fact that it even crossed anyone’s 12-strings tuned way low to get that chance to sample it during a factory mind is amazing.” 24 www.taylorguitars.com

spotlighting his guitar collection (he and Keith Urban, the duo (along with started by actor Gary Sinese to owns about 25). bandmates Danny Reuland on drums, provide kids with school supplies and “I’d love to do a segment in my Don Ian on lead guitar, and Jeff other items. McAdoo performed a home studio and tell the story behind LeGore on bass) released their first series of shows for the troops there Soundings each of my Taylors,” he says. “Where CD, Somewhere in America, earlier and says he wouldn’t have missed it they’ve been and where they’re going.” this year. Their songs cover everything for the world. backstageandbackroads.com from broken hearts to, yes, a broken Chairman of the Board down Cadillac, and the tracks have Acoustic groovesmith Jason Breakthrough act the Zac Brown been called “energetic, instantly Taylorspotting Mraz (714ce, 612ce, NS52ce, Band (NS74ce, 910, 614ce, 612ce, Discovering How We likable” by Country Weekly magazine. NS72ce) made Billboard history the Baby Taylor, SolidBody Classic, We’ll second that in a big way. Damon Albarn, frontman of the third week in August when his hit SolidBody Custom, T3) scooped up Make Our Stuff English and Dunham also lent their hallowed Britpop band Blur and single, “I’m Yours,” set a new record four nominations: Best New Artist In late July, a camera man and field voices and songwriting chops to two the virtual group the Gorillaz, was by notching its 70th consecutive and Vocal Group, as well as Single producer from the Discovery Channel tracks and a cameo appearance in seen performing with his well-worn week on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, of the Year and Song of the Year for show How Stuff’s Made (formerly the 2009 Disney remake of Race to Baby Taylor on stage during Blur’s passing previous record holder their country radio hit “Chicken Fried” called How It’s Made) visited the Witch Mountain. recent reunion concerts this summer, LeAnn Rimes and her breakout hit from their album The Foundation. Taylor factory for a full day of filming. brokedowncadillac.com including the Glastonbury festival ... “How Do I Live.” Mraz’s chill, Island- Rascal Flatts (GSMS, 614ce, The team went through the entire Gregg Allman has been playing his vibed tune was the first single from 810, GSRS, 615ce, 810ce, 714ce, factory, documenting each process of blonde DDSM on tour this year with his third studio album, We Sing. NS74ce, 855) are also contenders guitar construction and asking many his band. He’s also been performing We Dance. We Steal Things. (It for Best Vocal Group. technical questions about machinery, The Atkins Diet with the Allman Brothers, who are also earned a Grammy nomination The CMA Awards show is set temperatures and materials along the Versatile fingerpicker Mike celebrating their 40th anniversary in 2009 for Song of the Year.) Mraz to air Wednesday, November 11 at way. After a full 12 hours of examining McAdoo (314ce, NS34ce, Baby this year ...Richard Marx (custom has actually been playing the tune 8:00 p.m. on ABC from the Sommet and videotaping the factory’s Taylor) touched base in August from K65ce, T5C2, Brazilian 814ce) has live for several years, which he says Center in Nashville. processes, the camera man had Branson, Missouri, where he’s been been checking out our SolidBody allowed him and his band to “own it” captured more than 10 hours of film, performing a mix of new and old models, incorporating them into his when they went into the studio. The all for a five- to six-minute segment. country tunes as part of the “County shows, where he’s been debuting song debuted on the Hot 100 charts The episode of How Stuff’s Made is Tonite” show at the Oak Ridge Boys material from his new record, on May 3, 2008 and as of our press The Strummin’ Sportsman expected to air this winter. Theater. Emotional Remains. Marx e-mailed deadline was still in the Top 40. You Country artist Daniel Lee Martin “Right now we’re finishing up a Taylor artist relations dude Bob can see a clip of Mraz playing his (710ce, 716ce, SB-C2) never five-week run with T.G. Sheppard,” he Borbonus after a gig outside Seattle hit tune, accompanying himself on a thought he’d be able to combine says. “We’ll do a total of 11 weeks this summer: “The old koa ...and Liberty Tree T5, at taylorguitars.com. his two passions, music and the Upshifting this year with TG and 10 weeks with the new electric ...all add up to fun. outdoors, into a fulltime pursuit. A L.A.-based modern country act Collin Raye.” The electric kicked ass ...” Jack successful advertising executive by BrokeDown Cadillac has been McAdoo has played professionally Blades has been on tour with Night trade, Martin dropped everything revving their engine for national since 1977, has taught for years, Ranger and playing one of his trusty And the Nominees Are ... in 1997 and moved to Nashville to success. Fronted by Corri English and has performed more than 4,000 Taylors, an 814ce, on stage during The nominees for the 43rd pursue his love of singing and playing and Randy Dunham (814ce, 612ce, shows in Branson, where he’s been the show’s acoustic tunes ...Blues Country Music Academy Awards guitar. He now has two albums to T5), the two met by chance in 2006 voted Best Lead Guitarist at the Traveler guitarist Chan Kinchla were announced on September 9, his credit, All That I Am (2004) and in Burbank, California when Dunham Branson Music Awards three times. (815ce, NS72ce) has been rocking and Several Taylor artists earned On My Way to You (reviewed in our was performing at an open mic night His studio fretwork has graced more his Florentine-cutaway 815ce with the multiple nods. Leading the pack is summer 2007 issue). Named one of and English joined him on stage for than 130 albums for artists from band on their recent tour dates ... songwriting dynamo Taylor Swift the most talked about independent an impromptu performance. the Osmonds to Johnny Lee to Jim Singer-songwriter Kelly Joe Phelps (PSGA, GS8, 615ce, PS-LTD, T5-S, artists in 2004 (Country Music Today Each comes to the band with an Stafford. A talented exponent of Chet was interviewed in a recent Japanese K65ce, SolidBody Classic), who is magazine), Martin saw an opportunity accomplished background. English Atkins-style picking, McAdoo recalls edition of Acoustic Guitar magazine up for awards in four categories: to take his entertaining skills to grew up in Atlanta and spent much of taking lessons years ago from an and talked about his 10-year-old Female Vocalist of the Year, Album another level: a TV show. her life on the road (her father was a 18-year-old longhair named Doyle LKSM6, which he’s been playing a of the Year (Fearless), Music Video Now in its fourth season, gigging musician, and she often sang Dykes. lot lately. Phelps says he likes the of the Year (“Love Story”), and “Backstage & Backroads” airs four in his band). After graduating with “Doyle was playing guitar at the tonal range and balanced sound Entertainer of the Year. At age 19, times a week on the Sportsman honors with a degree in journalism time for the Stamps Quartet,” McAdoo of the mahogany ...Bass/guitar Swift is the youngest nominee ever Channel, and follows Martin as he from the University of Georgia, she says. “He had a yellow Big Chief player Johnny Colt, a founding for Entertainer of the Year — widely and his wife Kristina travel the globe did regular voiceover work and landed tablet and a #2 pencil and wrote out and longtime member of the Black considered country music’s most hunting, fishing and performing his guest-starring roles on shows such two different patterns showing the Crowes who also played with the prestigious award — and this year’s songs. Martin takes viewers (and as Dawson’s Creek and One Tree alternating muted bass notes and how band Train, had a Baby Taylor in lone female contender in that a Taylor or two) on a variety of Hill. She studied with famed vocal to add the treble strings in to produce tow for the premiere episode of category. It also marks the first time sportsman fantasies, from hunting producer Jan Smith and co-wrote a melody. The very first fingerstyle his new show, “Johnny Colt: At Full in nine years that a solo female artist New Zealand red stag to fishing off “Fly Away” for Sugarland’s triple- song he showed me was ‘I’ll Fly Volume,” which airs on the Travel has vied for the award. the Florida Keys or musky fishing platinum album Twice the Speed Away,’ a gospel song.” Channel. The first episode took him Legendary country crooner in Ontario, but always makes time of Life. Dunham was an academic McAdoo plays his 314ce in the to Thailand, and after jamming with George Strait (cocobolo 910) also to share a song or two. When we stud at UCLA who studied pre-med “Country Tonight” show, and also has some local villagers, he left the guitar has his hat in the ring for Entertainer caught up with Martin, he had just and screenwriting before graduating an NS34ce, which he used a lot on with them ...Metallica guitarist of the Year, along with Male Vocalist returned from a bonefishing trip off summa cum laude, and is an his most recent CD, A Tribute to Chet Kirk Hammett reportedly has been of the Year and Music Video of the the coast of Ambergris Caye, Belize. accomplished screenplay writer, an Atkins. enjoying his 12-string 855ce and Year (“Troubadour”). Strait’s duet Season 5 of “Backstage & award-winning novelist, and a prolific Earlier this year, McAdoo had an keeps it accessible for poolside with Lee Ann Womack, “Everything Backroads” will begin airing in 2010. songwriter. opportunity to travel to Baghdad, Iraq jamming at his home in Hawaii. But Quits,” is in the running for In addition to more hunting and With an upbeat sound that in conjunction with Operation Iraqi Musical Event of the Year. fishing, Martin says he’s thinking of conjures a blend of Miranda Lambert Children, a humanitarian program Clockwise from top left: Night Ranger’s Jack Blades on stage in Atlanta; Daniel Lee Martin; Gregg Allman at the Ventura Theater in Ventura, California in July (photo by Marty Temme); Mike McAdoo; Richard Marx rocks a Classic; (L-R) BrokeDown Cadillac’s Randy Dunham and Corri English (photo by Inda Reid) 26 www.taylorguitars.com Dave Carroll’s Songwriting

Frustrated after an airline broke Revenge his guitar and wouldn’t compensate him, Dave Carroll responded with a YouTube ditty that became a viral smash and recharged his career. Chalk one up for the little guy.

By Jim Kirlin

Call it what you like. A fluke success. A stroke of brilliance. An underdog victory. One thing’s for sure: Dave Carroll scored his 15 minutes of fame and then some. In case you missed it, the story is the viral sensation caused in July by a music video posted on YouTube.com by Carroll, a seasoned, award-winning singer-songwriter from Halifax, Nova Scotia. The video chronicled the unfortunate plight of Carroll’s main stage guitar, his 10-year-old 710ce, which was seriously damaged by United Airlines baggage handlers. Part of the video’s mass appeal was the clever, melodic and funny nature of his rebuke to the airline for failing to resolve the problem. The incident occurred in the spring of 2008, as Carroll and his bandmates from the Sons of Maxwell were flying from Halifax to Nebraska for a gig. They had checked their instruments, including Carroll’s Taylor (which he had successfully checked on many other occasions without any problems). The flight had landed for a connection at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport when Carroll was alerted by fellow passengers that the baggage handlers were tossing guitar cases around outside. Carroll’s heart sank. His immediate complaints to the flight attendants proved futile, and upon his arrival in Nebraska, Carroll’s worst fears were confirmed: His Taylor had been severely damaged, particularly at the bottom of the lower bout. “It was smashed along the base, where you plug it in, so the pin was actually pushed into the guitar and the whole face was lifted off,” Carroll says. Carroll pursued the matter with United over a period of nine months, but the airline would offer no compensation. Along the way, Carroll spent $1,200 to get the guitar repaired in Canada, but despite the repair tech’s best efforts, the guitar never sounded the same. “Cosmetically it looks good, but some of the sparkle is gone,” he says. “Fingerpicking it still sounds pretty good, but [for] strumming, it’s not resonating the same.” 27

Frustrated that the airline had frenzy continued to fuel the video’s “There’s more interest in the band’s career under my belt with a solid fan it, there was no tasteful use of the denied his claim and offered nothing popularity. When United realized theater show. There are really cool base that I’d been building, but by no whammy bar. Every song was getting in return — not even travel vouchers — they had a major PR fire on their opportunities for my stuff as a solo means any big market penetration. some. I was having a great time. It Carroll vowed to use his songwriting hands, they reached out to Carroll. singer-songwriter, and for a duo, trio, This whole thing happened by got to the point where the audience chops to address the corporate But by that point, he says, he wasn’t and full band stuff.” chance, and it’s because I tried for was having a great time, too, because smackdown. He informed the airline interested in compensation. Instead, The exposure has also led to other over 19 years another way. If I’d have I would start the song with a power that he would write three songs in he instructed them to take any unexpected gigs for Carroll, like the given up in the first year, this wouldn’t chord and hit the whammy bar a protest, including music videos that settlement money they were willing to lecture circuit. have happened. couple of times.” he would post on the Web, with the offer and use it to take care of some “I’ve taken bookings where I’m “Your breaks come in the weirdest As for the prospect of any airline ambitious goal of getting a million other musician the next time United asked to come in and talk about places,” he adds. “Some of my best policy changes as a result of his views. Little did he know that his first damaged an instrument. He also social networking and customer gigs have come playing in a pub circumstances, Carroll was planning video, for the catchy, country-flavored politely informed them that he was still service,” he says. “My scenario is where hardly anyone has been. It’s to tell his story in Washington in the tune “United Breaks Guitars,” would planning to make two more videos, as one of the first of its kind, I guess, just about being in the right place hope of encouraging legislation that go viral literally overnight and become originally promised. and depending on who you talk at the right time, doing your best, will protect other musicians who fly a YouTube hit that in two days would As of mid-September, Carroll’s first to, it’s been called one of the most appreciating your fans, and taking with instruments. On September prompt coverage from major media video had been viewed more than 5.5 successful ‘pissed-off customer care of your relationships, like any 22, he was scheduled to meet with outlets around the world, including million times. songs’ of all time.” other business.” sympathetic House representatives CNN, NPR and the BBC. Carroll posted the video for his Carroll has been intrigued by the Carroll admits that he’s gained and other passenger rights advocates Carroll says the video’s campy second song in late August. Once way the corporate and academic a new appreciation for the power at a stakeholder hearing. Carroll was antics, which feature quirky mariachi again, he employs lighthearted humor sectors have responded, seizing his of social networking through his invited by Kate Hanni, a musician and characters, were visually inspired in as he serenades the female United experience as an important case experience. former real estate agent who founded part by his memories of Marty Robbins customer service agent who stymied study on the impact of viral marketing “I definitely value e-mail addresses the Coalition for Airline Passengers and the Elvis Presley movie Fun in his appeals, singing that the two could and social networking activity on now way more than I did before,” he Bill of Rights and who serves as the Acapulco. Thanks to the volunteers have been pals if only things had businesses. He says at least a dozen says. “They’re a great communication executive director of flyersrights.org. Carroll enlisted, the whole video was been handled differently. This time university professors from around the tool, and I now have about 10,000 Input from the hearing will be used to made for $150. around, the video shoot was even world have asked to include his story people signed up to my newsletter, consider new legislation to protect “It would’ve been cheaper, but the more ambitious, incorporating nearly in their lectures. so anytime I have anything interesting airline passengers. The American fake mustaches cost more than we 100 friends and family as extras, “I think it’s going to be in three to say, that’s a direct link.” Federation of Musicians (AFM) has were expecting,” Carroll laughs. including Carroll’s father, his 88-year- or four text books as a case study,” For the record, we knew of Carroll also been in touch with Carroll and Carroll says he had no idea the old grandmother, his wife Jill and their Carroll elaborates. “Dozens of grad video would catch on the way it did, four-month-old son Flynn. students have also asked to use it in but, luck aside, thinks he understands Having been incorrectly labeled references. My name has become a “If I’d have written about a broken the basic elements of its appeal. a “country” artist by the media after brand for customer service. I received toaster, no one would’ve cared, “Good musicians played on it, and his first video, Carroll was intent on e-mails from people who were at a the quality of the video was really high, recording the second in a different GM meeting in Europe, and others but everyone’s been burned by so I think people didn’t mind telling style. With the instruments used — with Cisco Systems, and apparently the airlines.” their friends to check it out because including a tuba and a clarinet — the my name came up in their meetings, it wasn’t crap,” Carroll says. “Also, tune has a bouncy, old-timey, Dixieland where they basically said the same — Dave Carroll the humor was key. To not get bitter jazz feel to it. thing: ‘OK, social networking is and sound like [I’m] carrying a grudge “I thought, this’ll be the one song something we have to take seriously; and the Sons of Maxwell well before is promoting a new provision for on the world. People will always be I’ll write in my life that you could do how do we avoid another Dave YouTube introduced him to the rest of transporting musical instruments, drawn to laughter. And, of course, jazz hands to if you were dancing, and Carroll situation from happening to the world. (We reviewed the band’s as part of the Federal Aviation the topic. If I’d have written about have a tuba in it at the same time,” us?’” record Sunday Morning back in the Administration’s Air Transportation a broken toaster, no one would’ve Carroll says. Carroll even heard about a fall 2006 issue of Wood&Steel). Modernization and Safety Act. We’ll cared, but everyone’s been burned by The tuba inspired the visual passenger who had encountered After hearing about the fate of his let you know if there are any new the airlines.” idea of a German Oompah band, problems on an airline after trying to 710ce and seeing the video, we developments. The corporate David-versus-Goliath so the mariachis of the first video carry on a guitar, and who reportedly reached out, and in mid-July, he and Meanwhile, Carroll still owes the subtext clearly resonated with the were replaced by lederhosen-clad said, “Don’t make me go Dave Carroll Sons of Maxwell drummer Julian world a third song and video. He public. Within five days of the video’s musicians in a canoe who make on you!” Marentette made the trip to the Taylor hadn’t yet written the tune when we posting on July 6, it had already periodic cameos as they float by in Amid the cloud of media attention factory. While in Southern California, spoke with him last, so he had no surpassed one million views and was the background while Carroll sings and booking opportunities, Carroll Carroll was interviewed by Weekend plot teasers to share, but by the time climbing strong. to the United agent — who plays the comes across as humble, thoughtful Today (NBC), MSNBC, local San you’re reading this, the video may “I got 4,000 e-mails in one week, tuba throughout the song. The video and remarkably well grounded. He Diego Fox and CBS affiliates, CNN well be finished. and I’d say 3,500 were saying thanks culminates with a festive outdoor appears genuinely fascinated by Entertainment, AOL Music, and “To be fair, I told United that if and congratulations, and that they singalong featuring Carroll and the the chain of events he set in motion, numerous print publications. The I had anything good to say about couldn’t wait for song 2,” Carroll says. entire cast. and appreciative of the benefits to duo also had the chance to tour the changes they were making, I would The band’s CD sales and iTunes While the second video hasn’t had his career. He seems like someone complex and meet many of our staff. mention it in the third song,” Carroll downloads also enjoyed a healthy nearly the impact of the first — as of who’s shrewdly trying to make the Carroll left with a new 810ce and a says. “The third song has to talk spike as the wave of mainstream mid-September it’s been viewed about most of his improbable break, yet T3/B, both of which he confessed about how this has changed my life exposure spread. “People were saying 380,000 times — Carroll says he without compromising his integrity. In to being “equally in love with.” The a little bit. I’ve already thought about things like, ‘I didn’t know your music didn’t expect it to. Besides, exposure the end, his tone is philosophical as 810ce has become his main stage angles like, not only did United break before, but I love it and I’m buying from the initial video has already he ponders the flukiness of it all and guitar, and the T3/B (featured in the my guitar, but they broke my career.” everything,’ or ‘I’m not a country fan, garnered plenty of interest in Carroll’s reflects on what he’s learned. second video) offers an alternative to You can watch Dave but I’m buying the record because I music, even beyond the spike in CD “I understand that I don’t the T5 he’s being playing for several Carroll’s videos at his website, support [what you’ve done].’” sales. understand how everything works, years. davecarrollmusic.com. As the major media outlets “We’re getting a lot more offers and that it’s all about continuing to “I find the T3 to be really versatile,” picked up the story, the feeding for corporate work,” Carroll says. try,” he says. “I had a 20-year music he says. “The first gig I played with 28 www.taylorguitars.com

Orlando Pirez makes guitars and of the Soviet Union. Unable to buy drawings, so that helped. But repairs all manner of “sick” stringed metal strings, he cobbled together I also became a student of the instruments in a cluttered workshop the machine using small motors and characteristics of wood types and how WorldView in his walk-up apartment on narrow a coil of copper wire and now sells that affects guitar resonance. And I Calle Acosta near the train station in them daily to other Havana musicians took many guitars apart and even put Old Havana, Cuba. At 78 and retired, who buzz his door from the street. a light bulb inside so I could study that The Guitar Healer of Havana he is famous from touring nationally To a younger Cuban generation that construction. By William Gerald Hamby and from his weekly appearances listens to Reggaeton, Orlando may on Cuban television in the ’70s and be old news, but to the guitarists of Is there anyone you look up to ’80s with his band, Los Montunos. the countless groups that perform in with regard to guitar making? In a country that demands resourcefulness, Cuban luthier Orlando These days, the Matanzas native no the bars, clubs, restaurants and the Delfonso Acosta is a magnificent Pirez keeps Havana’s guitarists wired for sound, helping to preserve longer performs música campesina streets of Havana, Orlando is a go-to, classical player and guitar maker. the music of his culture. His new Baby Taylor is in good hands. (country music) professionally, priceless asset. but instead works hard to get by, This past spring, with Americans You seem to have such a hard scrapping for the basics needed for and Cubans alike anticipating time finding materials to do your his craft. Most days he can be found a relaxation in travel restrictions job. Ideally, what wood would you in his front room workshop, which between the countries, I sat with prefer to make a guitar? is strewn with homemade tools and Orlando, a few friends and family, and I would prefer Canadian pine for the guitars in various stages of repair and an American music professor friend top, cypress for the body, cedar for disrepair and whose general state is of mine at Orlando’s kitchen table, set the back and black ebony for the neck. the same as the apartment: solid and modestly with a bottle of rum, strong But I can rarely, if ever, get that. full of character but much in need of coffee and fresh fried sweet potato. I reconditioning and renovation. It’s was eager to learn a little more about Where do you get your materials a description that captures most of him, his life as a musician and his then? today’s Havana. work as a master craftsman. As a gift, I have to use recycled material from On a work table dominating the I had brought from Virginia a never- old guitars, and I also find very dry, old middle of the room is a double bass played Baby Taylor that belonged to a beams and boards in the buildings in that’s devoid of strings, sanded down, beloved late son, Patrick, given to him Havana that are being torn down that and ready for a finish. Two different by his godfather and uncle, my brother I use. pairs of glasses are strung around Larry, then and now a record executive Orlando’s neck to combat glaucoma who did the A&R for three music Everyone here seems to be and a cataract surgery gone bad. projects with Taylor in the ’90s, better hoping the U.S. and the Cuban Wearing a frayed sailor’s hat, T-shirt, known as The Sounds of Wood&Steel government will agree to relax baggy shorts and running shoes, (Vol. 1-3). Orlando apologizes for the travel restrictions soon. What do he orbits the shop, occasionally stiffness in his fingers as he unpacks you think? glancing from his small, open the guitar, pauses, then plays and I’m optimistic about Obama, and I balcony down Calle Acosta, where sings for 20 minutes, accompanied think he has good intentions. Most on this hot afternoon three boys are by an inefficient plastic table fan Cubans are hopeful, but we know shooting marbles, while a few doors moving cigar smoke around, finishing the history of our government and we down a noisy game of dominoes is with “Dulce Embeleso” by Santiago know Obama cannot wave a wand in progress. Across a short alley, musician Miguel Matamoras. Through and change everything overnight. It someone is singing along with the a translator, his cheek against the would be good for us all. Good for the radio, but one can still hear the domino guitar, Orlando smiles sweetly and music. tiles being banged and the shouts says, “This guitar will have a good over the music. home here.” Let’s say one day the President With the same resourcefulness With our translator, Peter Loman, asked you to play at the White and ingenuity that many Cubans have a Finn, Cuban resident, renowned House. What song would you relied upon to maintain their ’50s-era jazz trumpet player and protégé of play? Orlando’s, we drank café carajillo Play at the White House? Two (coffee with rum) together and talked. songs: “Cuba que Linda es Cuba” Top: The view from Pirez’s and “Guantanamera.” And the guitar, balcony, down Calle Acosta WGH: Why did you decide to make by the way, I feel, is the mother Left: Pirez singing and guitars? instrument of Cuba. playing his Baby in his OP: In the early ’60s I bought a bad apartment guitar with a bad sound, so I went to a Here’s a loaded question. What guitar maker in Matanzas with lots of guitar would you play those songs knowledge and listened to his guitars. on? They were too expensive for me to (Smiling broadly) This Taylor. American automobiles, Orlando has buy, but I could tell the difference, and My baby. continued to contribute to Havana’s I wanted to know how to create that music scene, not just with repair work, sound. William Gerald Hamby is a writer but notably a table contraption to and public relations consultant from wind guitar strings. Its creation was What was your process? Richmond, Virginia. He is heading necessitated by what he describes I had worked for a time in a paper back to Cuba soon for more as “the Russian recession” of the factory in Cardenas in 1959 and music and stories. Contact him at early ’90s, following the collapse had a basic knowledge of machine [email protected] 29

to maintain a pre-determined per- We support the new version of edition 35th anniversary models, plus centage of relative humidity (originally the Humidipak, and are now offering our new design center. 45 percent). In other words, the it through TaylorWare. To read more “No matter how often I visit the Taylor Notes packets can either release or absorb about the product and its redevelop- factory, I always learn something moisture to maintain the 45 percent ment, we recommend visiting plan- new,” he said during his visit, in RH. The full Humidipak kit includes etwaves.com/PWHumidipakFAQs. between playing an ovangkol-top New Factory Service Center Now Servicing All Brands three packets and two pouches. A Page. T5 spring LTD that he found himself soundhole pouch houses two pack- enamored with. ets and is draped over the strings, Pat has always had a healthy saddlebag style, allowing both com- Taylor Concierge, appreciation for the different flavors partments to drop into the soundhole of the Taylor line. A longtime 514 to maintain the RH within the guitar At Your Service player, he also embraced our Nylon body. The headstock pouch, which Are you pining for a long-gone Series; he used an NS72 to explore holds the third packet, is intended to limited edition Taylor? How about a samba and bossa nova rhythms and be placed beneath the headstock to production model your local dealer melodies on his album Brazilian accomplish what other humidification doesn’t have in stock? Or maybe a Guitar, and over the last several products have had a tougher time lefty, or perhaps some other one-off years has heartily embraced the T5. controlling: the moisture content of beauty from a Road Show that you “It’s become my favorite guitar,” the neck and fretboard. regrettably didn’t bring home? If he says. “Even when I’m at home sit- The Humidipak’s brilliance lay in you want it but can’t find it, give our ting on the couch playing, more often its ease of use for owners: All that’s Inside Sales & Customer Relations than not, that’s what I like to play.” required is to check it periodically to representative Ben Benavente a call. Pat had the pleasure of showing determine when the packets need to Since January, Ben has been working off what his T5 can do plugged-in be replaced. There is no manual refill- as our equivalent of a one-man guitar on a recent instructional double- ing, like other sponge-based humidi- concierge, helping customers locate DVD Pickin’ Like Chet: Chet Atkins’ fiers, and the units are self-regulating elusive Taylor models and answering Vintage Classics, in which he decon- For several months now, our cus- fruitful relationship with their guitars. as long as there is moisture in the questions that help people hone in on structs Atkins’ picking techniques, tomer service and repair team has Among the ideas is a workshop packets. the right Taylor for their needs. Ben phrases and arrangements from his been working together in expanded series, open to the public, which The product’s flaw, discovered also works closely with our dealers “golden era,” including such tunes as digs that comprise our new Factory would cover topics like basic guitar only sporadically after becoming and is able to track their inventories, “Mystery Train,” “You’d Be So Nice Service Center here on the Taylor set-ups and maintenance. established in the market, was that, so he’ll be happy to direct you to a to Come Home To,” “Down Home,” campus in El Cajon. As part of our Open Monday through Friday in some cases, the PH factor of store that carries the Taylor you’re and “Somebody’s Knockin’.”A split expansion, this summer we broad- from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the the saline solution used, coupled looking for. He’s also been helping screen presentation allows viewers ened the scope of our services Factory Service Center is located at with certain production processes, customers design the Build to Order to study both the left and right hands to include repairs of all brands of 1900 Gillespie Way, two buildings caused deterioration of the film used guitar of their dreams. Whatever in detail. acoustic and electric guitars. away from the factory building that in the vapor release liner over time, information you need, Ben is here to The DVDs are available through “Our repair techs have a lot of houses our Visitor Center. Guests according to the Planet Waves web- help, without any sales pressure. Just Stefan Grossman’s Guitar Workshop experience not just with Taylors but will be personally greeted in a store- site. As a result, some of the packets call 1-888-2TAYLOR. (guitarvideos.com). with other brands,” says Customer front that stocks a variety of Taylor were compromised and leaked the Service Manager Glen Wolff. “Our guitar parts and accessories, includ- salt solution, which, in some cases, service support team includes build- ing our “plug and play” pickups for led to spotting on the insides of Pat Kirtley Joins the ers and repairmen who have worked the SolidBody Classic electric guitar, guitars. (If you still own any of these Road Show Crew Elixir Strings Now Available for other manufacturers and have run Elixir strings, and other gear. For ser- packets, we recommend that you their own repair shops servicing all vice inquiries or to schedule service, discard them.) Through TaylorWare varieties of stringed instruments. The please call us at 1-800-943-6782. Humidipak engineers spent Taylor owners now have the wealth of knowledge here is unparal- roughly 18 months developing a new option of purchasing Elixir® Strings leled in the industry, and it’s great formula and testing it extensively in through TaylorWare. We’ve been to be able to offer our services to all extreme conditions to ensure that the installing Elixirs on our guitars for guitar owners.” The Humidipak Is Back problem would never occur again. years because great tone is part of Wolff reports that Taylor’s repair It may as well be laser-etched This time around, the gum base used our livelihood, and because we love techs have already serviced a fair onto our guitars that we are major in the solution thickens the consis- the way Elixir’s coated strings pre- amount of other brands of electric proponents of humidity control for tency, ensuring that the contents vent string corrosion from finger oils, and acoustic guitars — and even a guitars. So, we’re pleased to report won’t leak out. The new formula perspiration and other residue that few mandolins. that the Planet Waves Humidipak® maintains an RH level of 48 percent. can deaden string tone. Used on our Among the services offered for is back on the market after correct- “With new packets, you will steel-string acoustics and electrics, any guitar brand is an Expression ing a leakage issue. The problem notice that you can still move the Elixirs help maintain a lively tone System® installation ($500). Our was detected after the initial product contents of the packet around with and extend the life of your strings four comprehensive guitar mainte- launch in 2007, prompting a recall of your fingers,” Planet Waves explains Award-winning fingerstylist and well beyond the lifespan of ordi- nance packages — Refresh, Revive, their moisture-filled packets, which on its website. “This indicates that former Taylor clinician Pat Kirtley is nary strings. All Elixir sets available Renew and Rejuvenate — also can be were designed to regulate the rela- moisture is present. When the pack- officially back in the fold as one of through TaylorWare feature Elixir’s applied to other brands of guitars to tive humidity of a guitar within its ets are dispensed, they will become Taylor’s product specialists for some ultra-thin NANOWEB™ coating. restore them to optimum health. case. solid, and you will no longer be able of our fall Road Shows. Pat was out Among the sets we’re selling are the Wolff says the service depart- To recap, the Humidipak employs to do this. At this time, you will need at the Taylor factory this July to get hard-to-find LKSM 12-string sets, as ment is poised to evolve forward and packets that have a breathable mem- to purchase replacement packets to the lowdown on our latest develop- well as baritone acoustic sets for our has a lot of ideas on the board to brane, allowing for two-way humidity maintain the humidity of your instru- ments, and arrived just in time to see new 8-string and 6-string baritone help Taylor owners enjoy a long and control. The packets are engineered ment.” the new 8-string baritone, some early models (see page 22). 30

took to the stage with Cindy Bullens By the time Parr, Lund, Thompson trict, which is famous for shopping, and Deborah Holland as the popular and CKUA radio personality Tom dining and entertainment. Boasting acoustic trio the Refugees. Waldman Coxworth took to the stage to award six floors of every musical instru- had her trusty 910, while Holland the guitar on Monday evening, the ment imaginable, each floor offers Events was armed with her 914ce, and the rain was coming down in sheets, an amazing consumer experience, harmonies flowed freely. Several yet the crowd was undeterred. The and one can tell that every detail other performers sampled our wares lucky winner, a rain-soaked Steve has been obsessed over. From the Canmore Folk Music Festival the festival. A steady stream of visi- at the booth and ended up asking Reichenbacher from Calgary, was on beautiful fixtures and displays to the August 1-3, 2009 tors packed the Taylor booth, which the Taylor team to borrow a guitar for hand to claim the guitar as his name wood flooring, everything about the Canmore, Alberta, Canada was filled with guitars courtesy of their sets. was drawn. Reichenbacher almost presentation conveys that this is one Tom Thompson, owner of Harvest On the third day the rains came, didn’t attend the event. He’d spent of the top music stores in the world. Take a small town in the pictur- Moon Acoustics, the local Taylor and they came with a vengeance. part of the day rock climbing with a Their acoustic guitar floor showcases esque Canadian Rockies, add a mix dealer in Canmore. A number of cus- Up in the mountains, though, people friend and was physically spent, but a vast array of Taylors and R. Taylors. of sunshine and driving rain, then stir tom Build to Order guitars brought come prepared, and ponchos and the friend rallied him to go, despite After touring the store, Onozuka took in 10,000 music fans, and you get by Taylor helped sweeten the show- tarps were the order of the day, as the ominous forecast. His fortitude us to visit several more music shops the Canmore Folk Music Festival. case. As an added bonus, perform- die-hard music fans had no intention clearly paid off. that carry Taylors in the area. A big This year’s event played host not only ers and festival attendees with gui- of leaving because of a little rain. “I couldn’t wait to play the thing,” Taylor “arigato” goes out to everyone to folk musicians, but blues, country, tars were treated to complimentary Taylor had donated a 2009 Spring Reichenbacher relayed shortly after at Yamano for all their hard work and rock, reggae and soul artists, as well. restringing at the booth. Limited 716ce to the event, which the event. “When I did, I wished to Mark Kasulen for his translating Taylor staffers Steve Parr and Plenty of musicians had Taylors was raffled off to raise money for I hadn’t! My hands were gnarled help on the trip. Andy Lund were on hand, as Taylor in their hands, including longtime the festival. More than 600 tickets from climbing and the cold, and Guitars was a first-time sponsor of Taylor player Wendy Waldman, who were sold, raising more than $5,000. there were a number of people who had mentioned with searing envy Hawaiian Slack Key Festival that I had better be a guitar player! I choked out a pathetic D major “Oahu Style” [chord] and put the Taylor away Honolulu, Hawaii before I got killed. When I did finally August 16, 2009 recover that night, I did get to play — This marked Taylor’s fifth year and play, and play! My fingerpicking as a proud sponsor of the Hawaiian has never sounded this good ... Slack Key Festival series. Throughout ever!” the year, organizer Milton Lau pres- ents festivals that take place on each of the four major islands. For Tokyo Guitar Show the Oahu event, our friends at Island Tokyo, Japan Guitars, Neil Shimabukuro and Kenny June 27-28, 2009 Ashburn, brought guitars from their store, and Taylor sales rep Steve By David Kaye Bernstein and I helped man the Trade Show Manager booth. It’s immensely rewarding for At the Tokyo Guitar Show, the us at Taylor to be a part of traditional Taylor exhibition “wing” provided Hawaiian music, as more than half of plenty of space, and we needed it the dozen featured performers used with over 70 guitars on display. It’s their Taylors on stage. no secret that the Japanese love In the days before the festival, guitars, and to satisfy their lust we Steve and I presented Taylor Road displayed some mind-blowing BTOs Shows on three different islands. At Clockwise from top: Lawn chair listeners in Canmore (photo by Steve Parr); (L-R) Kenny Ashburn and Neil and R. Taylors, and 50-plus guitars Maui’s Bounty Music, store owner Shimabukuro from Island Guitars, with Taylor’s Steve Bernstein; a Tokyo Guitar Show attendee samples our wares that represent the diversity of our Paul Weinstein sold a T3/B to a cus- (photos by David Kaye) lineup. To say that our exhibition area tomer within two minutes of the start was busy wouldn’t do it justice. We of the event. Next it was off to the also had a small stage area, where Big Island and Hilo Guitars. A couple several Japanese artists played their of years ago, owner Ken Cameron Taylors to an appreciative audience. moved the store to a new location, Taylor Vice President of Sales and which features an amazing layout, Marketing Brian Swerdfeger also pre- beautiful displays, and Taylor enthu- sented several product demonstra- siasm galore. A lucky customer took tions on the stage, and the audience home a T5-LTD that night. Our third was extremely interested to hear Road Show was at Island Guitars, him explain our methods and guitar- which drew over 80 people. We sold building philosophy. a 12-string 354 that night, and Neil Prior to the show, Brian and I Shimabukuro called us a couple of met Kazuhiko Onozuka, who works days later to report that one attendee for our distributor, Yamano Music, had returned and bought all three of and manages the Taylor account. the stunning BTOs we had brought Onozuka walked us over to Yamano’s over specifically for the event. flagship retail store, located in the — David Kaye middle of Tokyo’s upscale Ginza dis- 31

For the latest event listings, including Road Shows, Doyle Dykes workshops, festivals and other Taylor events, Calendar visit the Taylor online calendar at taylorguitars.com/calendar.

TAYLOR ROAD SHOWS Aurora, Missouri Rochester, New York Aurora Music House of Guitars We’re excited to be back out on Wednesday, November 4, 6 p.m. Monday, November 16, 6 p.m. the road in the U.S. this fall for a (417) 678-5447 (585) 544-3500 fresh season of Road Shows. As usual, our teams will bring you the Jefferson City, Missouri Clifton Park, New York latest and greatest from the Taylor Will West Music & Sound Parkway Music factory, from our acoustics to our Thursday, November 5, 6 p.m. Tuesday, November 17, 6 p.m. electrics, with plenty of spectacular (573) 635-7777 (518) 383-0300 one-offs and other custom beauties on-hand to play. Be sure to check Ellisville, Missouri Lexington, Massachusetts taylorguitars.com/roadshow for the Fazio’s Frets & Friends The Music Emporium latest dates. If we haven’t scheduled Friday, November 6, 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 18, 7 p.m. a Road Show for your area, you can (636) 227-3573 (781) 860-0049 “demand” a Road Show for your town and encourage your friends and Bentonville, Arkansas Dover, New Hampshire fellow Taylor owners to do the same Ben Jack’s Arkansas Music Ear Craft Music at eventful.com/taylorguitars. Monday, November 9, 7 p.m. Thursday, November 19, 6:30 p.m. (479) 464-4847 (603) 749-3138

Houston, Texas Conway, Arkansas DOYLE DYKES WORKSHOPS Southpaw Guitars Jack’s Music Tuesday, October 13, 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 10, 7 p.m. Kokomo, Indiana (713) 667-5791 (501) 327-8129 Sound of Music Wednesday, October 14, 7 p.m. Hawkins, Texas Greenwood, South Carolina (765) 457-8821 Action Sound Newell’s Music Wednesday, October 14, 6 p.m. Tuesday, November 10, 7:30 p.m. Lynchburg, Virginia (903) 769-5262 (864) 223-5757 Lynchburg Music Center Friday, November 6, 7 p.m. Irving, Texas Fredericksburg, Virginia (434) 237-0073 Murphy’s Music Picker’s Supply Thursday, October 15, 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 10, 6 p.m. Weatherford, Texas (972) 554-6030 (540) 371-4669 Craig’s Music Saturday, November 28, 7 p.m. Weatherford, Texas Galesburg, Illinois Tracy, California Charleston, South Carolina (817) 599-8021 Craig’s Music Music Makers Main Street Music Ye Olde Music Shop Friday, October 16, 7 p.m. Thursday, October 22, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 28, 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 11, 7 p.m. (817) 599-8021 (309) 342-0176 (209) 835-1125 (843) 747-0014 FESTIVALS/TRADE SHOWS

Evansville, Indiana Santa Fe, New Mexico Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Potomac Falls, Virginia Music China Opus 1 Music The Candyman Empire Music Melodee Music Shanghai, China Tuesday, October 20, 7 p.m. Thursday, October 22, 7 p.m. Thursday, October 29, 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 11, 8 p.m. October 17-20, 2009 (812) 479-6787 (505) 983-5906 (412) 343-5299 (703) 450-4667 musicchina-expo.com

Albuquerque, New Mexico Roanoke, Virginia Clovis, California Westminster, Maryland Musical Instruments Fair Japan Grandma’s Music & Sound Fret Mill Music Co. Gottschalk Music Center Coffey Music Yokohama, Japan Tuesday, October 20, 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 27, 6 p.m. Thursday, October 29, 7 p.m. Thursday, November 12, 7 p.m. November 5-8, 2009 (505) 292-0341 (540) 982-6686 (559) 298-4400 (410) 876-1045 musicfair.jp/foroversea.php

Durango, Colorado Sacramento, California Fairview, Pennsylvania Jonesboro, Arkansas Winter NAMM Canyon Music Woodworks Skip’s Music Lynch Music Back Beat Music Anaheim, California Wednesday, October 21, 6 p.m. Tuesday, October 27, 6 p.m. Friday, October 30, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, November 12, 7 p.m. January 14-17, 2010 (970) 259-1622 (916) 484-7575 (814) 474-2970 (870) 932-7529 namm.org

Greenwood, Indiana Barboursville, West Virginia Lees Summit, Missouri Memphis, Tennessee Guitarworks Route 60 Music Legacy Music Martin Music Wednesday, October 21, 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 28, 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 3, 6 p.m. Friday, November 13, 5:30 p.m. (317) 885-1510 (304) 736-7466 (816) 554-7350 (901) 729-2466 ® Gift Guide ’09 The holiday season is fast approaching. We’ve got you covered with plenty of TaylorWare great gift items for that special guitar CLOTHING / GEAR / PARTS / GIFTS lover in your life.

New Elixir® Strings We’ve been factory-installing Elixir® Strings on Taylor guitars for years. We love the way Elixir’s coated strings prevent string corrosion from finger oils, perspiration and other residue that can deaden string tone. All Elixir sets available through TaylorWare feature Elixir’s ultra-thin NANOWEB™ coating.

Suede Taylor Guitar Straps Acoustic Custom Light 6-String (.011-.052) #89600 $14.00 (Black Suede #62001, Honey Suede #62000, Chocolate Acoustic Light 6-String (.012-.053) #89601 $14.00 Suede #62003, $35.00) Acoustic Medium 6-String (.013-.056) #89602 $14.00 Acoustic Light 12-String (.010-.047) #89603 $23.00 Acoustic Heavy 12-String (.013-.056) #89604 $23.00

Electric Super Light 6-String (.009-.042) #89700 $11.00 Electric Light 6-String (.010-.046) #89701 $11.00 Electric Medium 6-String (.011-.049) #89702 $11.00 Electric Light 12-String (.010-.046, .010-.026) #89703 $20.00

Makes A Great Gift!

Special Bundle Price — Save $14 Loaded Musician’s Gear Bag. Solidly constructed, with over 25 internal pockets, nine removable section dividers, three large side pockets, and outside access to those deep interior compartments. Also stocked with four key accessories: our new digital tuner, a Taylor Chocolate web guitar strap, our ultra-soft microfiber polishing cloth, and New a 10-pack of medium picks in assorted solid colors (no substitutions). Our vintage Throwback T commemorates Taylor’s 35th anniversary by Bag measures 14” high x 17” wide x 11” deep and features reinforced going old school, showing off the company’s original logo in yellow with backpack straps and a strong luggage handle. (#61166, $120.00) a distressed treatment on dark brown. The soft, 100% preshrunk cotton, featuring double needle stitching, blends vintage comfort with durability. (Bag sold separately, #61160, $70; all items sold separately, $134.00) (#1459, M-XL, $20.00, XXL, $22.00)

New Guitar Stand. Beautifully crafted in Sapele/Mahogany, Our Ladies Long Sleeve Floral Guitar V-Neck T is incredibly this stand features a laser- soft and stylish, thanks to lightweight 100% Pima cotton and a etched Taylor logo, a rich satin floral guitar print on chocolate brown that flares down one side. finish, and rubber pads to protect Extra length makes for a contemporary fit. (#4530, S-L, $28.00) your guitar’s finish. (Sapele/ Andrea from our finish department runs Buffy, our robotic Mahogany #70100, $70.00; buffing unit. Our Floral Guitar V-Neck T polishes her look assembly required) with a playful burst of guitar fun. 32 New Colors The Taylor Neck Ballpoint Pen is back, this time with two additional The children’s Let’s Play T celebrates the little groovers and shakers of New color options, gray and burgundy, in addition to black. The retractable the world with a Taylor-strumming boy on baby blue and a girl on pink. On our Ladies Black Signature T, a cursive Taylor Guitars inscription twist pen features a pocket clip fashioned as a Taylor neck, and comes 100% cotton jersey knit with ribbed neck, double stitching on the hem is emblazoned across the front in a choice of pink or light blue.100% in a matte finish with a silver etched “Taylor Guitars” script. Whether and sleeves. Available in Infant and Toddler sizes. preshrunk cotton with a generous, relaxed fit that’s comfortable for all you’re jotting down song lyrics or grocery lists, the sleek design will (Infant Pink #1404, Infant Blue #1406; Sizes: 6, 12, 18 months; body types. (Pink script #4270, Blue script #4280, S-XL, $20.00) look and feel great. (Black #71040, Gray #71041, Burgundy #71042, Toddler Pink #1407, Toddler Blue #1408; Sizes: 2T, 3T, 4T; $15.00) $15.00)

New Color Antique Logo T-shirt Taylor Pub Glasses Pre-washed, super-soft 100% cotton, featuring our distressed logo Hoist your favorite beverage for a toast with a touch of Taylor style. Four and cut as a Slim Fit. Sizes S-XXL. (Short Sleeve; Green/Tan #1438, different designs, in black and gold, put a unique stamp on each 20-oz Brown/Tan #1439 (new), Navy/Gold #1437, S-XL $20.00; glass in this set of four. (#70011; $25.00) XXL $22.00)

New The Men’s Gothic Vine Long-Sleeve T was inspired by one of our popular custom fretboard inlays. The gothic vine motif, in red on black or gray on white, runs down the left sleeve and across the chest, framing the Taylor Guitars text treat- ment. Fashion fit, 100% preshrunk, ringspun cotton, sideseamed and double needle-stitched for comfort and durability. (Black #2094, White #2095, S-XL, $25.00, XXL, $27.00)

Our Vintage Electric T rocks out with a winged SolidBody Steve is a longtime Taylor staffer and our district sales manager design in gray on lightly marbled black. 100% cotton, mineral for California and Hawaii. (Someone has to do it.) He’s ready to washed and distressed for a soft, worn-in feel. (Vintage Black rock in our Gothic Vine T. #1453, M-XL $25.00; XXL $27.00) 33 Order online: taylorguitars.com/taylorware | Order by phone: 800.494.9600

Our Weathered Peghead T has a lived-in look and feel that you’ll New love. Distressed treatment of the iconic Taylor peghead and lettering Taylor Guitars Digital Headstock Tuner applies a vintage touch to the soft, pigment dyed, ringspun cotton. Clip-on chromatic guitar tuner picks up vibration and Taylor Bar Stool 100% preshrunk, generously cut for comfort, with double needle comes with a built-in mic. Back-lit LCD changes color 30” high, black matte, vinyl finish. Easy assembly. (#70200, $99.00. stitching for extra durability. (Mocha #1440, M-XL $20; XXL, $22.00) to show correct tuning. Swivel design for easy viewing. Additional $5.00 shipping charge for each bar stool ordered.) Automatic power-off after 5 minutes. Quadra flat tuning for tuning with capo on. “A” calibration: 433-447 Hz with 1 Hz steps. Accuracy: ± 0.5 Cent. One coin cell battery included. (#80920, $29.00)

The Black Flex Fit Cap features a red Quality Guitars logo on comfortable six-panel brushed twill with a matching red guitar embroidered on the back. One size fits all. (#00370, $20.00)

Our Navy Garment Washed Flex Fit Cap features the Taylor Our Taylor Surf Club T, inspired by Southern California beach culture, logo in silver. One size fits all. crosses two different types of ’boards that each make for major fun in the (#00380, $24.00) sun. Distressed graphic treatment on soft-washed, pigment-dyed fabric. Preshrunk 100% ringspun cotton with a generous fit. Ribbed collar with double needle stitching on the neckline, sleeves and bottom hem. Includes the Taylor logo on the sleeve. (Brick #1446, Denim #1447, M-XL, $20.00; XXL, $22.00)

Our SolidBody Trucker Cap New sports the Taylor SolidBody logo patch on orange, featuring side Our black Guitar Hoody Sweatshirt features a partial guitar and back panels of tan trucker in cool gray and white across a Taylor Guitars horizon. The comfy mesh to keep your head well 50/50 cotton/polyester blend boasts a double lined drawstring hood vented, with Taylor Guitars ’74 and a front pouch pocket to keep those guitar-playing hands warm. screen printed on the left side. (#2898, S-XL, $39.00, XXL, $42.00) An adjustable polysnap closure ensures a comfortable fit. Christian, a 14-year veteran and production supervisor in our (#00160, $20.00) finish department, knows the value of a quality outer layer.

34 Order online: taylorguitars.com/taylorware | Order by phone: 800.494.9600

New Colors Taylor Guitar Picks. Our K4 Preamp and Equalizer lets you control the tone of your Marble: copper, blue, brown, purple, Taylor acoustic/electric guitar whenever you’re recording or plugged abalone. Solid: turquoise, red, green, into a PA system. Designed for the specific frequencies of the acoustic yellow, black; Ten picks per pack by guitar, the K4 EQ uses pure analog tone shaping for isolating and gauge; two of each color per pack. adjusting individual notes and tones. It features transformer-coupled Available in thin, medium or heavy input and output, and can even run on two C batteries, in case you gauge. ($5.00) forget your power supply. (#80845, $498.00)

Taylor Loaded Pickguards let you swap out the pickup/pickguard unit for your SolidBody Classic in minutes, without the need for soldering. Choose from seven different pickup configurations, including HD and HG mini and full-size humbuckers, single coils, or a mix of both. Available in four different pickguard colors. Each loaded pickguard gives you a unique pickup personality, allowing you to dial-in your preferred tone with incredible ease. For a complete Our Universal A/B/Both Box lets you run your Taylor T5,® list of ordering options, go to taylorguitars.com/taylorware. Taylor acoustic, or any brand of electric guitar, acoustic guitar, Special introductory price: $195* (reg. $248) or bass to two separate outputs. It’s perfect for running a T5 into *Single HG Humbucker: $148 (reg. $198) an electric amp and an acoustic amp. And, the A or B indicator stays lit when BOTH is activated, which means you’ll always know where your signal is. Want to connect a tuner between you and the PA and maintain your Expression System’s® balanced signal? Taylor Logo T Plug into the Balanced Breakout, connect your tuner, and you’ll Sizes: S-XXXL. (Short Sleeve; White #1435, Blue Dusk #1434; stay balanced into the rig. Thanks to its high-quality transformer, S-XL $15.00, XXL-XXXL $17.00) your signal always stays pure. (Universal A/B/Both Box, #80820, $89.00; ES Balanced Breakout,™ #80821, $89.00)

Visit our website for more information about the TaylorWare Gift Card.

New SolidBody Pickups The Planet Waves Humidipak® makes it easy to maintain proper Our HG (high-gain) humbucker gives SolidBody players a simple-to- humidification for your guitar in its case. Using patented technology, install pickup option. Slightly darker-sounding than our original HD the Humidipak’s disposable, moisture-filled packets have a breathable (high-definition) humbucker, the HG unleashes more front-end membrane that provides two-way humidity control, allowing it to either drive for a crunchier tone with extra rawness. The modular design release or absorb moisture to consistently maintain a predetermined allows anyone to swap them out at home with ease. The pickups are relative humidity (RH) level of 48 percent. The complete kit includes connected with a Molex (pin-and-socket) connector, so all you’ll need three packets and two pouches. The soundhole pouch houses two are a Phillips head screwdriver and a few minutes for a simple “plug packets and maintains the RH of the guitar body. The headstock and play” experience. Available as Style 1 (Classic, Custom) and Style pouch/packet is placed beneath the headstock in the case to maintain 2 (Standard), and offered in two versions, neck and bridge, with each the neck and fretboard. The packets are designed to be tear- and voiced and output-balanced for their respective string positions. puncture-resistant and completely resistant to leakage. Depending on Available exclusively through TaylorWare. (Chrome, $79.00) climate conditions, they should last from two to six months, after which Special introductory price: $59 (for a limited time) Guitar Parts. Choose from an assortment of replacement parts like they can simply be disposed of. #83706 Style 1 HD Neck #83708 Style 2 HD Neck chrome or gold tuners, nuts and saddles, guitar cables, pickguards Humidipak Complete Kit #83707 Style 1 HD Bridge #83709 Style 2 HD Bridge and bridge pins­ — with or without abalone dots. (includes 2 pouches & 3 packets) #80350, $40.00 #83726 Style 1 HG Neck #83728 Style 2 HG Neck Visit taylorguitars.com/taylorware to see the full line. Humidipak Replacement Packet (1) #80351, $10.00 #83727 Style 1 HG Bridge #83729 Style 2 HG Bridge

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Ebony Envy This ebony/Sitka spruce masterpiece is part of Taylor’s 35th anniversary armrest series. The GS body features a back and sides of AA-grade striped Macassar ebony that boasts dramatic variegation. A sleek, smoothly polished beveled ebony armrest wraps around the left side of the lower bout. The body is bound in matching ebony with a thin, intricate purfling line that elegantly accents the armrest.