Figured Find Rare Curly Mahogany Inspires the Fall LTDs Rosewood/Cedar 400s Pro Performance 200s

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Alton Brown’s Savory Songs

Ed Robertson 25 Years with Barenaked Ladies

John 5’s Acoustic Tricks 2 www.taylorguitars.com 3

Letters Volume 77 Fall 2013 Find us on Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube. Follow us on Twitter: @taylorguitars now have three Taylor guitars: an 816 guitar in January, [another brand], I ever owned. I look forward to becom- I keep in standard tuning; that trusty, had no experience with music at all. ing a much better player. Thanks for a wonderful 710 that I keep tuned in I had never played an instrument of great guitar, and keep up the excellent DADGAD; and a 514 I keep in open any kind. A few weeks after I bought craftsmanship. G. Every time I pick one up, it inspires the guitar, I saw a beautiful Taylor Lane Crawford me to create. I love them all. I’m a full- custom all-mahogany 12-Fret at the time performing singer-songwriter now dealership. I was amazed with the On the Cover / 18 The 2013 and look back fondly on that first time I quality of workmanship and the beauti- Like a New Neck Even a minimal picked up a Taylor guitar. ful voice. I bought the guitar on the I’m the proud owner of two Taylor Fall Limiteds commitment to Exquisite curly mahogany meets European Gary Paul Hermus spot. Even though I cannot yet justify acoustics, a GC4 and a DCSM [Dan spruce, rosewood and cedar visit the 400 18 the purchase in terms of my playing Crary] Signature Model with beautiful practicing will Series, and our 200 Series shows off abilities, I find that just knowing that rosewood that I’ve had since 1992. spur the musical stage-friendly upgrades. More Than a Guitar it’s there waiting for me gives me the After years of playing, it began to I have never picked up, nevermind inspiration to continue. I practice with show some pretty good fret wear, growth you crave played, a guitar in my life, but I feel it occasionally, but I mostly it serves as and I knew the neck was a little out to have a look and play. As I made my compelled to write and tell you how a reminder of what will be available to of spec. I called the Taylor Customer Playing a Similar Tune By Shawn Persinger I was anxious to dig into my sec- purchase decision, the store received much one particular Taylor guitar me if I don’t quit. No amount of money Service department and talked to ond Wood&Steel [Vol. 76 / Summer an order for the other one. What an means to me. After decades of playing could replace the motivation I get from a nice guy named Mike [Tobin]. He 2013]. The first thing I read was incredible instrument you have cre- full-body guitars, my husband started that beautiful instrument! When I get informed me about the various Ser- Features “Kurt’s Corner.” My story is really simi- ated. I look forward to hearing how the complaining of arthritis in his hands discouraged because I can’t change vice Package options at Taylor in El lar to Barbara [Wight]’s. I, too, grew tone improves over the coming years. and fingers. He began to play less chords fast enough to make music, I Cajon, which were pretty impressive. up with a good friend who passionate- Dave Sluiter and less because of the pain. As a grab that guitar and strum a few notes. When I informed him that I really just ly played guitar. I got a cheap acoustic surprise, five years ago I bought him a That guitar and I will be playing finger- wanted to get the frets replaced, Mike 6 Take Five but never “got” it — no lessons nor Baby Taylor, which he had been pining style someday! offered me several local options of Committing to five minutes of practice a day might could [the guitar] stay in tune. I gave Reinspired for. He started playing again daily. It Scott Bigler Taylor factory-certified technicians. I not seem like much, but you’ll be surprised at the progress Cover photo: up the idea, but never gave up on After 30 years as a professional/ is stress relief, his meditation. He is a settled on Dick Dubois in Austin, near you can make. 514ce-FLTD music. semiprofessional musician with little to beautiful fingerpicker, so he’s beauti- where I live. He was great. He not only Now I’m 57 years old. I started a show for it but frustration, I had given ful to listen to. While I have always Pick Trick replaced the frets, but also reset the new job after 17 years of working for up on music and focused on my sec- appreciated the importance of guitar Last week I purchased a GS Mini, neck to factory specs and cleaned up a large corporation. As I was driving to ond master’s degree, this one in com- playing in his life, this past year I have my first Taylor guitar. My job entails my guitar like new. It plays great! I just 8 Backstage Pass: work, I was listening to Deep Tracks puter science. Several years passed, been in cancer treatment and am ever quite a bit of travel, and it has been a wanted to compliment you all on great Ed Robertson on Sirius radio. I’m not sure if it was and I completed the degree, at which so grateful for the Baby and the joy real blessing to have the availability of customer service. The Barenaked Ladies tunesmith riffs on using Savoy Brown or Mason Proffit, but I time my wife dragged me to Guitar and relaxation it brings him (and me!) such a small instrument with a much P. Elliott humor as a songwriting tool, his affinity for Taylor decided it was time to learn to play Center, saying, “That’s it, you need to during this very stressful time. bigger sound than it looks as though it Dreadnoughts, and a pair of cosmic creative acoustic guitar. I thought it would also get back to music.” I spent that after- By the way, our 14-year-old daugh- should have. partnerships. be good for my brain, hands and soul. noon trying different guitars (I pre- ter is now also a regular on the Baby! I had the opportunity to record Ten Years After I first found a teacher and then, with dominantly play fingerstyle sans picks). Barbara Leavitt in a studio in Columbus, Ohio, this I recently started playing guitar 8 his recommendations, started shop- Then I picked up a 710ce. The instant St. Marys, Ontario, Canada evening. The GS recorded wonder- again after a 10-year hiatus (mar- ping around for a guitar. When I heard I picked it up, my fingering hand said, fully. What an unexpected benefit from riage, kids, new business, priorities, 12 Mini Mates the GS Mini, my search was over. “Home.” The sound was delicious, and such a small package. Thank you for life in general). All were valid but poor The runaway success of the GS Mini has My repertoire is expanding, and I it played so easily that nothing else I Worldwide Woodwork the wonderful instrument with an unex- excuses to not continue to do some- spurred a limited release of premium models have mastered F major, although as tried compared to it. We looked at the I’d like to express my appreciation pected trick in its bag. Great work! thing you love. I recently started play- sporting upgraded woods and electronics. a full barre. So it appears that we’re price tag, which was much more than and sincere gratitude to Taylor Guitars Jon Renkel ing again — with a passion. I became both on the same journey! Thanks for my wife had planned to spend on a for being the trailblazer when it comes interested in Taylor guitars after play- a fantastic instrument. I’m certain there graduation present. harvesting and milling the precious ing a few at my local music store. A will be another coming! We walked away and for a week tonewoods used in your wonderful gui- Smile-inducing Sound few months later I could not resist, 14 The Wood&Steel Interview: 2 Letters Charlie Francisco, DVM tried other guitars and other stores, tars. When I speak of my Taylor guitars Yesterday I drove over an hour to and just this week purchased a new but none of them felt like that 710ce. (420, 814c, 555), I never fail to men- buy a good quality guitar. I went to 414ce. This guitar is amazing. It makes aLTon Brown 4 kurt’s Corner Television’s visionary food guru has made cooking We went back to the first store and tion how Bob Taylor and his worldwide purchase one that I had been looking me want to play even more. [It’s] truly shows more fun to digest. The Food Network star Koa Coincidence found it still on the wall. I played it team are truly dedicated to making at online for some time and that I had a work of art to look at, to hear, and to 5 BobSpeak reveals why his Taylor is a staple of his daily diet and I recently purchased one of the again, and my wife and I agreed that I sure, whatever the locale, that they been saving for. I had never played a play. Way to go, Taylor! explains the pairing of food and music on his fall tour. First Edition Koa Grand Orchestras. played cleaner and more naturally on it teach and support the people who quality guitar, so I was shocked to see Matthew Glaze Departments 10 aSk Bob I consider myself incredibly fortunate than anything else I had picked up. We work very hard to provide us musicians so many at one place. I played the one to have been in the right place at agreed to split the cost and bought it. with the finest quality woods on the I had been waiting so long to try. It 26 24 Soundings the right time. I was working from On the way home, I spotted an planet. I look forward to every article was not a Taylor, but it sounded OK. home that day when Volume 75 of abandoned gas station that inspired about this subject in Wood&Steel. With my heart set on the one that was 28 Pushing Forward 27 the craft Wood&Steel showed up in my mail- the first song I’d written in decades. Dennis Logan supposed to be the best, I reluctantly In Cameroon box. I saw the article and thought, this By the time I got home, I knew how it Round Rock, TX tried several more. Then I picked up Though rain and mud can slow the transport of 29 EVENTS is a seriously gorgeous guitar; I won- should sound. I whipped out that new the 314ce. The sound of this guitar ebony, Crelicam is poised to expand its milling der how it plays? On a whim I called 710ce and went to work. blew me away. My daughter was with operation with new tools and construction. 30 Calendar my local dealer and asked if they might I have written some 53 songs since Mahogany Motivation me, and she instantly looked at me be able to order one of these. They bringing home that Taylor. I finished I have been playing guitar for with a smile. This is by far the most I 12 32 TaylorWare said, “Even better, we have two here my first CD, Sid’s Gaseteria, in 2007 almost six months. I am 70 years have ever paid for a guitar, and this is in the store right now.” I headed over and am preparing to record another. I old, and before I purchased my first by far the best-sounding thing I have 4 www.taylorguitars.com 5

to other thoughts that we haven’t con- guitars get better, and help people play ceived of yet. In this way we can restart better music. I guess we have to rely Volume 77 the game, and push for growth and on our own resolve to approach it like Fall 2013 advancement of the guitar as we know Lakey, Alton, Francis and Elon. it. It’s fun for us and also for you. We do rely on that resolve. It’s our You might think that we should culture, and we work each day to keep simply ask our customers what they it that way, even though we’re now a Publisher Taylor-Listug, Inc. want. I read and hear this all the time. large business making and selling a Someone is interviewed, and they wear huge number of guitars. Because of Produced by the Taylor Guitars Marketing Department this answer like a badge of honor: “We that size, we could easily dilute the simply asked our customers how we company to one that is just serving the Vice President Tim O’Brien could serve them best. They told us, sales side of the business. But I prom- Editor Jim Kirlin and we listened.” ise you that we don’t, and that inside Art Director Cory Sheehan That’s a legitimate approach in our walls we keep that spirit of inven- some services and industries, but we tion and expertise alive. Graphic Designer Rita Funk-Hoffman like to listen to our customers in a dif- Graphic Designer Angie Stamos-Guerra ferent way, just by being involved in ­­ — Bob Taylor, President Photographer Tim Whitehouse their pursuit of music, and then antici- pating what might be good for them in the future. It allows us to be creative Contributors and make advancements that help David Hosler / Wayne Johnson / David Kaye Kurt Listug / Shawn Persinger / Shane Roeschlein

Bob Taylor / Glen Wolff / Chalise Zolezzi Kurt’s Corner continued

to know, but I do know that if you’re not ees and suppliers, and disappointing Technical Advisors Kurt’s Corner BobSpeak 100 percent invested in the success of customers, not to mention losing Ed Granero / David Hosler / Gerry Kowalski the company and its products, you’re shareholders’ investment. Succession Andy Lund / Rob Magargal / Mike Mosley not likely to clearly see what the real is a critical issue in a company, and Success and Succession Creative Resolve problems are and craft a strategy to Bob and I take our ownership respon- Bob Taylor / Chris Wellons / Glen Wolff I read an article recently in The in 2010. GSC’s assets, which included also has to have the courage, skill and I like surfing documentaries. Not that Alton conceived this show, and then I’m driving a Tesla electric car now, increased prosperity. sibilities very seriously. One of the best Wall Street Journal about Oreck, the ownership in Oreck, were then pur- financial wherewithal to “walk the walk.” I’m a surfer, because I’m not really an went to culinary school to become a and I can give the same props to Elon I realize that I’m opinionated here, examples of succession in the guitar company that makes vacuum cleaners. chased out of bankruptcy by Black It’s easy to make promises; it’s tougher Contributing Photographers athlete, and there’s the whole getting- chef, in order to be legit. Really? Who Musk, who has built his company to but my beliefs are based on my nearly industry is C.F. Martin & Co., who after I remember many years ago seeing the Diamond Capital Management in 2011. to deliver on them. wet part, which I’m not a fan of. But I does that? Then he wrote, produced make this car because he believes in it, 40 years of owning and managing 180 years is still family-owned. What a Rita Funk-Hoffman / David Kaye / Katrina Horstman TV commercials with David Oreck’s During this period of uncertain From the article, it sounds like love watching stories of people who and starred in the show and sold it to not because there was a demand for it. this guitar business with Bob. We’ve fabulous example, and the Martin family product demonstrations. The article ownership, Oreck struggled to com- American Securities Capital Partners surf. This weekend I watched a short the network. I knew I liked that guy. Well, guess what? There turns out to been through a lot of great times and has my utmost respect for accomplish- was about how Mr. Oreck and his fam- pete, and management decided that wasn’t a good match for Mr. Oreck’s Circulation Printing / Distribution documentary called Zero to 100 about He works at it and he had goals and be a demand for it because of how he success together, and also some very ing this. ily were trying to buy back their name- Oreck needed to transition from selling values and purposes. Of course, once Katrina Horstman Courier Graphics / CEREUS - Phoenix Lakey Peterson. She’s a 19-year-old requirements to get there. approaches it. Contrast that to some of difficult business situations. It really sake company at a bankruptcy auction. directly to consumers through their own they owned the company, it was theirs California girl who is currently ranked I feel like I felt when I learned what the electric cars that have been made pains me to read of a company like ­­ — Kurt Listug, CEO Mr. Oreck had founded the com- stores to selling through large retailers to do with as they pleased. third in North America and seventh in Francis Ford Coppola did in order to by big car companies, who arguably Oreck going bankrupt and jeopardizing pany in 1963, when he invented a like Sears and Costco. The process From my perspective, I think it’s Translation Translation Coordination the world. create films that he wanted to make, not don’t believe in them in the first place. the livelihoods of hundreds of employ- lightweight, sturdy vacuum cleaner and took longer than expected, and on May strange to want to buy a company, hold Veritas Language Solutions Angie Stamos-Guerra She was born with natural talent, just films that financiers would allow. He They just do it as if their mom is making found a market selling to hotels. He 6 of this year, company executives put it and improve it (or load it with debt which the documentary chronicles. But later began to target the residential Oreck into bankruptcy, saying that in and milk it), and then sell it for a profit what I liked about the story was that it Some of our greatest products come market and felt the best way to directly addition to a decline in sales since several years later. Maybe it’s just a ©2013 Taylor-Listug, Inc. All Rights reserved. TAYLOR, TAYLOR (Stylized); TAYLOR GUITARS, TAYLOR showed defeat after defeat as the other 2013 Taylor Factory Tours & Vacation Dates access these customers and deliver 2010, the transition in distribution took strange plan for a strong, healthy and QUALITY GUITARS and Design ; BABY TAYLOR; BIG BABY; Peghead Design; Bridge Design; more experienced and, yes, better surf- Pickguard Design; 100 SERIES; 200 SERIES; 300 SERIES; 400 SERIES; 500 SERIES; 600 SERIES; from people who do it because they A free, guided tour of the Taylor Guitars factory is given every Monday through longer than expected. Black Diamond profitable company. I can definitely see superior service was through Oreck’s 700 SERIES; 800 SERIES; 900 SERIES; PRESENTATION SERIES; GALLERY; QUALITY TAYLOR ers constantly schooled her in what it want to do it, not because someone Friday at 1 p.m. (excluding holidays). No advance reservations are necessary. own stores. said in a statement that “Oreck was that approach with a company that is GUITARS, GUITARS AND CASES and Design; WOOD&STEEL; ROBERT TAYLOR (Stylized); TAYLOR takes to win. She kept going because Simply check-in at the reception desk in our Visitor Center, located in the lobby “He assembled his products in burning cash and losing money,” and weak, struggling or lacking leadership. EXPRESSION SYSTEM; EXPRESSION SYSTEM; TAYLORWARE ; TAYLOR GUITARS K4; K4, TAYLOR she’s learned that being talented doesn’t K4; TAYLOR ES; DYNAMIC BODY SENSOR; T5; T5 (Stylized); BALANCED BREAKOUT; R. TAYLOR; wants to buy it. That’s how invention of our main building, before 1 p.m. We ask that large groups (more than 10) call America. He believed things should be they had lost “confidence in the leader- Companies need strong ownership R TAYLOR (Stylized); AMERICAN DREAM; TAYLOR SOLIDBODY; T3; GRAND SYMPHONY; WAVE make you the best. You have to earn it works, at its core. us in advance at (619) 258-1207. guaranteed to last. He shunned big-box ship of the company.” and leadership. If that can be brought COMPENSATED; GS; GS MINI; ES-GO; V-CABLE; FIND YOUR FIT; and GA are registered trademarks through hard work and experience, and While not physically demanding, the tour does include a fair amount of of Taylor-Listug, Inc. NYLON SERIES; KOA SERIES; GRAND AUDITORIUM; GRAND CONCERT, retailers. He believed the value of a For his part, David Oreck wrote to a company, and it can be improved probably being clever as well. That’s my walking. Due to the technical nature, the tour may not be suitable for small about his experiences in his recently and made healthier, then that would be TAYLOR SWIFT BABY TAYLOR; LEO KOTTKE SIGNATURE MODEL; DYNAMIC STRING SENSOR; product wasn’t determined by its price, GRAND ORCHESTRA; GO; TAYLOR ROAD SHOW; JASON MRAZ SIGNATURE MODEL; NOUVEAU; takeaway from this movie. went into the wine business, and did it them eat their peas at the dinner table children. The tour lasts approximately one hour and 15 minutes and departs but by its quality and the service behind published book, From Dust to Dia- better for everyone involved with the ISLAND VINE ; CINDY; HERITAGE DIAMONDS; TWISTED OVALS; DECO DIAMONDS; and SPIRES I’m thrilled to see the interview with well, just so he could finance his own before they can go play. from the main building at 1980 Gillespie Way in El Cajon, California. are trademarks of Taylor-Listug, Inc. it. He believed customers should be monds. It sounds really interesting company. Alton Brown in this issue. When Alton movies. Most people think that he made The idea of people driven by their Please take note of the weekday exceptions below. For more information, treated as if they held the future of the — I’m looking forward to picking up a I also think that ownership that is pioneered a new type of cooking show, money from movies and didn’t know passions always excites me, probably ELIXIR and NANOWEB are registered trademarks of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. D’ADDARIO PRO-ARTE including directions to the factory, please visit taylorguitars.com/contact. company in the palms of their hands, copy and reading his story. motivated more by money than by a is a registered trademark of J. D’Addario & Co., Inc. NUBONE is a registered trademark of David Dunwoodie. Good Eats, back in the 1990s as Food what to do with it, so he spent it on a because I think this way myself. We like We look forward to seeing you! because, well, they do,” wrote Al Lewis In the meantime, I have some opin- company’s products, people and cul- Network was just getting started, I was winery. Not so! He worked hard to make to be involved so deeply in our craft in the article (“Sucking a Business Dry,” ions based on what transpired. ture is unlikely to make the best deci- Prices, specifications and availability are subject to change without notice. hooked, and tuned in to nearly every his dreams become real. that we know what we’re talking about.

May 18, 2013). Businesses eventually need to get sions for the longevity of the company. Wood&Steel is published quarterly and is distributed to registered Taylor guitar owners and Authorized episode. He showed what was actually The common thread for me here is From from that jumping-off point we like Mr. Oreck sold his company in sold, and it’s incumbent on the seller What was the real problem behind Taylor Dealers as a complimentary service. To receive a subscription, please register your Taylor guitar happening in the physical world when that so many great things come from to invent things and, in our case, take Factory Closures 2003, at the age of 80, to a private to find a buyer who is not only a good Oreck’s weak sales, which led to the at www.taylorguitars.com/registration. To contact us about changing your mailing address or ending you cook; why one method works and people passionately wanting to do the next steps in guitar design, because your subscription, please visit www.taylorguitars.com/contact. Monday, October 14 Monday, December 23 equity firm, American Securities Capi- match for the business, but who is pas- decision to move away from company another doesn’t. It’s easy to call it sci- something. I believe that some of our we want to. Often nobody is asking (Taylor Guitars Anniversary) through Friday, January 3 tal Partners. Apparently, this firm put sionate about the company’s products stores to big-box retailers? Was it really ence, but maybe it’s more nature. The greatest products, whether real, tan- for it to be different, or better. Well, (Company Vacation) debt on the company in order to pay and industry, shares its values and ide- a distribution problem? Was it a prod- fact is, stuff happens when you cook, gible items or entertainment, come from they are asking in a way, but they don’t Thursday - Friday, themselves dividends, and through the als, will be dedicated to the employees, uct problem? I certainly don’t presume Online and he tells the story and explains it people who do it because they want to really know what that means, because process lost majority control when a customers, vendors and shareholders, well. do it, not because someone wants to they’re not sure what’s possible. It’s November 28-29 company called GSC Group bought and believes in doing good, honest, Read this and other back issues of Wood&Steel at taylorguitars.com But that’s not the truly impressive buy it. And that’s how invention works, our job to figure out what the next step (Thanksgiving Holiday) up the debt. GSC then went bankrupt ethical business. Even then, the buyer continued on page 5 part for me. What’s impressive is that at its core. might be, and that next thing can lead 7

wo years ago, my student 2. You really have to practice. That Five Minutes A Day Henry, an intermediate player, means no noodling or playing things By Shawn Persinger T was having difficulty finding you already know and can play well. enough time to practice. Henry had You have to stay focused and work on assumed (and regretfully I had con- material that challenges you. What that A Note on “Play Like You” firmed) that he needed to practice at material is doesn’t matter. It could be a Ex. 1 I’ve received great feedback least 20 minutes a day, three times a Travis-style picking arrangement (Ex. 1), from readers about last issue’s week, to make any significant progress. arpeggios through jazz standards (Ex. article, “Play Like You.” One recur- Between work, family, sleeping and eat- 2), some classical fingerpicking (Ex. 3), ring comment was prompted by ing, there never seemed to be enough or sight-reading (yes, that E# is correct!) my third point, “Write It Down and time. As a result, Henry spent six months (Ex. 4). These all count, as long as they Develop It,” in which I encourage playing only during his guitar lessons. are relatively new. Once you have mas- people to jot down the new guitar While these lessons were productive and tered any of these new ideas, they will licks they create. Several people fun, it seemed a pity that he wasn’t able be part of your musical vocabulary. Use shared that they are not good at to develop outside our weekly sessions. them when you are playing, but don’t music notation. Luckily for both of us, around month spend too much time practicing them My response: Your transcrip- seven of my lessons with Henry, I started anymore. tion doesn’t need to be perfect. If reading Kenny Werner’s fabulous book you’re not good at notation (and Effortless Mastery. Among the dozens of Finally, here are two more tips that most people aren’t), a rough sketch astonishingly helpful practice and perfor- will enhance your five-minute routine will do. Tab out your ideas in small mance techniques Werner shares, one beyond measure. phrases if you don’t know how to Ex. 2 in particular seemed unusually easy to notate rhythms, one small phrase implement: practice for just five minutes Use a Timer per measure. This is how I started. a day. Yep, five minutes a day is all you Not a watch or clock, but a real timer. For now your notations are for need. And as crazy as this idea sounds, Every cell phone has one. Use it. This “your eyes only” — they are merely Even a minimal not only does it work, but the benefits makes a huge difference. My guess is personal memory devices, so there extend far beyond that of making you a that once the timer signals the end of is no need to share them with oth- better guitar player. This five-minute prac- your first five-minute routine, you’ll do ers. If you do finally decide to share commitment to tice routine will make you a more focused what everyone does: immediately start your transcriptions, you’ll either and thoughtful musician. another five minutes. need to be OK with sharing your I personally began employing the limited notation (which you should practicing will five-minute routine immediately. Even Start a “Five-minute Club” be), or you’ll need to improve your though I am a professional musician, I, This has been the real game changer music reading. Believe me, both are too, find it challenging to get enough for me. There are currently eight mem- useful compositional tools. When spur the musical Ex. 3: from Sor’s “Study in C Major, Op. 6 No. 8 practice time in. But five minutes? I can bers of my “five-minute club,” including my students bring in even the easi- do that. And I did. And five minutes myself, Henry and six other students. On est of their original songs, I usually growth you crave turned into ten minutes. Ten into twenty. a daily basis one of us sends a group can follow along just by watching And so on, until suddenly I realized I email to the others with “Monday 5s” in them, but if I want to discuss their was practicing two hours a day on a the subject (or whatever day of the week chord progressions or riffs in-depth regular basis. And it wasn’t just me. it is). Usually the text body will say little — regarding harmonic and melodic The week after I suggested this routine more than, “Did three 5s today.” Some- analysis, development of a theme, By Shawn Persinger to Henry, he ended up practicing more times someone will add “Worked on a rhythmic variations, etc. — it helps guitar in seven days than he had in the Mississippi John Hurt song,” or “Played immeasurably for them to have past seven months! Henry discovered through the Eddie Van Halen article in already written down their music. the same secret I had: It wasn’t that Guitar Player magazine,” or “Memorized So don’t worry about your nota- he didn’t have 20 minutes to an hour a a new bluegrass tune, ‘Saint Anne’s tion being perfect, because it rarely day to practice; it was just that a longer Reel.’” Every now and then a full-fledged will be, even if you know what you period of time seemed unfeasible. It was conversation blossoms, with topics rang- are doing. (Beethoven’s handwrit- too much to tackle in one go. But all ing from right-hand strumming patterns ten symphonic scores have mis- he needed to do was get started. “Five to coping with performance anxiety. takes!) Writing music can be very minutes is all I need,” he’d tell himself, No doubt this sort of online commu- challenging, especially if you have and suddenly the music took over. nity is similar to dozens of guitar forums, no formal training or if you don’t do but the premise behind this one is much it on a regular basis. Just do your Getting Started more specific: five minutes of practice. best and do it for yourself. There are two key ideas to keep in As enlightening and stimulating as the mind as you begin your five-minute additional intellectual musical exchanges Shawn Persinger, a.k.a. Prester practice routine. They are simple but can be, they are ancillary (though one John, owns a Taylor 410, two 310s important. could argue that these underscore the and a 214ce-N. His music has value of the five minutes). been described as a myriad of 1. Some days you won’t get more So, set up your timer, log your five delightful musical paradoxes: than five minutes of practice in. This minutes, and email some guitar-playing complex but catchy; virtuosic yet is just a fact of life. We’re busy people. friends for support and encouragement. affable; smart and whimsical. His But believe me, even if you only practice If you don’t have anyone to email, drop Ex. 4 book The 50 Greatest Guitar Books five minutes a day for the next month, me a line and I’ll add you to my “Five- is being hailed as a monumental it’s better than nothing. And if you add minute club.” Better yet, I’ve set up a achievement by readers and critics. it all up, that’s two and a half hours of Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ (www.GreatestGuitarBooks.com) practice in a month. On the days you FiveMinutesOfPractice only get five minutes in — or perhaps no The more the merrier. minutes — don’t chastise yourself. Just try again tomorrow. 239 BACKSTAGE PASS looks? Is it just because it’s pret- they want is a catchy song, but they a little demo up there.” I didn’t think Pretty much everything I needed to know about tier onstage? don’t know how to express it. Chuck anyone would ever hear it. And then It’s totally for the look. The bulk of my and Bill were totally different because he became a super social-networked, live sound is primarily coming from a they’re really funny, really smart guys, incredible spokesperson for science Ed Robertson was revealed in the first 15 seconds Fishman Natural saddle pickup under and Chuck is a musician, so it was a to- and the space agency. It was just a total The Art of the bridge, so the sound across dif- tally collaborative process. It was funny, pleasure to be involved with that. of our conversation. First, details are important. ferent guitars is pretty even. It sounds actually, because I’d come off of a few identical to my spruce-topped ones on [bad] experiences being commissioned It’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime a live stage. It wouldn’t be my go-to gui- to write for film and television, and opportunities. Secondly, his razor-sharp wit is an uncontrollable tar in a recording situation, but it looks when they called, I kind of had my back Yeah, I think karma has been on our cool for TV and live shows. up. I said, “Look, I’m on holidays right side the last couple of years. Our fans reflex. Thirdly, his heart beats to the rhythm of pop now, so if you’ve asked 30 other bands have really come along with us. We put Do you mind expanding on that? to write this song, then I’m not going good energy out there, and it seems Barenaked Ladies frontman Ed Robertson I used a bunch of old Larrivées as my to waste my time on it, because I can to come back to us. I think these tours talks about the merits of humor-infused music, past, present and future. primary recording guitars for years, and give you exactly what you want, if you we’ve done in the last three to four then I got this beautiful Presentation could tell me what you want. But don’t years are a testament to that. We just music, his Dreadnoughts, and a very remote Lastly, his personality and music are It must have been a tough stretch Series Taylor with a vintage burst finish, ask me to write something, and then I focused on being as good as we can performance with an astronaut easily consumable, yet also reveal a for you, and yet you haven’t lost the and it has been my primary recording write exactly that, and then you just pick be as a band and putting on as good a depth and complexity, which probably levity and playful spirit that defines guitar for the last couple of records. the Counting Crows song, which has show as we can, and that has resulted explains the multiplatinum, award-win- Barenaked Ladies. It’s so even and strong and tight in the nothing to do with what you told me in creators of big TV shows seeing our By Corey Witt ning success of his band, Barenaked It’s intrinsic to the way we communicate bottom. Some of the larger guitar bod- you wanted” [laughs]. And there was a shows in L.A. and asking us to write Ladies. I caught up with Ed by phone with each other and with our fans. It’s ies can get a little boomy in the lower silence on the phone, and then Chuck songs, and collaborations with [Chris] before a show during the band’s “Last always been a device that I’ve used to mids and the bottoms, but this guitar is said, “Uh…we really like your band and Hadfield, and all this cool synergy we Summer on Earth” tour in late July. Our communicate through even the darkest just really balanced and really true. So we haven’t asked anyone else to write have with our bandmates. It doesn’t chat touched upon the band’s ability times in my life. I think humor breaks the it’s been my primary, go-to recording it. We really like you guys.” happen…randomly. to renew their musical identity in the tension and relieves the stress. I don’t acoustic. wake of a lineup change, his affinity for think it belittles the message; I just think And then you say, “Oh, in that case, Taylor Dreadnoughts, the pros and cons it makes it more palatable sometimes. I’d be dropping the ball if I didn’t what can I do for you?” of writing for TV, and his long-distance ask how life has changed since you Exactly! [laughs] duet with astronaut-friend Chris Had- Well said. You’re good with the wrote the theme for [the TV show] Ed’s Taylors field. words, Ed Robertson! The Big Bang Theory. So, did that give way to the Inter- W10 (2) [Laughs.] Well thank you, Corey Witt! It’s been a huge deal for us, and the national Space Station duet [“I.S.S. PS10 So you’re in Atlanta tonight, correct? best part about is that it was a total (Is Somebody Singing”] with [as- 510 Yes, indeed. Alpharetta, Georgia, to be Let’s talk about your Taylors. It pleasure to do. Those guys were great tronaut] Chris Hadfield, or would DN8e (2) more specific. “Alpharettabet Street” looks like almost everything you to work with, and they’ve been great that have happened regardless? 710 (2) was one of my favorite Prince songs. have is a Dreadnought, correct? with the band ever since. Bill Prady Yeah, that would’ve happened regard- 716ce One of his several hits featuring no Yeah, it’s my shape of choice. I gener- GS Mini bass guitar. ally don’t even like the cutaways too NS72ce much. I’m a traditionalist when it comes Really? to guitar shape. “This beautiful Presentation Series Yeah. “When Doves Cry” and “Alphabet [Dreadnought] has been my primary Street” — no bass. Where did that come from? I grew up on a lot of Country and West- recording guitar for the last couple What’s next? It sounds like you are a true stu- ern music. My dad had an old Epiphone of records. It’s so even and strong We talked a lot last year about what we dent of pop music. Dreadnought at home, which is what I would do this year because it’s the 25th Yes, indeed. I’m a student of all things, learned to play on. I’ve just always been and tight in the bottom. Some of anniversary of Barenaked Ladies. We but my line of work is pop music, so I’m comfortable on that body style. I like the the larger guitar bodies can get a thought about doing retrospectives, and particularly versed in that. deeper resonance. When I’m messing we thought about doing tours where we around in a dressing room and on the little boomy in the lower mids and focused on the back catalog. Eventually I want to hit on the band’s latest bus it’s nice to have a smaller parlor the bottoms, but this guitar is really we said, “You know what? Let’s make album, Grinning Streak, first. This guitar, but when I’m onstage or writing, new records and hit the road and do a is your second record since the it’s always on a Dreadnought. balanced and true.” bunch of great shows.” That has been departure of [founding member] the best way to celebrate the 25th Steven Page. It sounds like this The Dreadnought is such a tradi- anniversary of the band: just moving record is rehab of sorts. tional shape, yet your personality [co-creator of the show] just came out less, actually. Chris and I have been forward. This tour is wrapping up in Yeah, the last record was just about is fairly forward-thinking. I like the to our last run through L.A. and we pals for over 10 years. He reached out another week, but we are already plan- getting ourselves back on our feet and way those two marry. went to Comic-Con with them a few to the band when we were coming ning another US run and a UK run in kind of dusting ourselves off. I think this To me, that’s what Taylor does re- years ago and performed the song to through Houston ages ago, and said, the fall, and then a run through Canada record saw us firing on all cylinders. ally well, is embrace the traditional open up the Comic-Con panel. They “Hey, I’m a big fan and would love to early in the new year. Lots more touring We really hit the ground running when strengths of different body shapes and had us in the studio for their hundredth give you guys a behind-the-scenes tour to come and some other exciting col- we hit the studio; we made the record building techniques but marry [them episode taping, and we performed live of Mission Control,” which we did. We laborations in the wings as well. really fast. With the last record, just as with] the modern precision that’s pos- for the audience there. It’s been a great went in, and the guy was amazing — he everybody was second-guessing what sible through laser-cutting and technol- relationship. It was a total pleasure writ- brought his family out to the show later we were capable of, we were second- ogy to get those kinds of tolerances. ing the song because Chuck Lorre, one that night, and we just kept in touch. For the latest on the band, guessing ourselves and trying to figure It’s super exact, so it’s the best of both of the show’s creators, is a songwriter When he asked me to write that song, visit barenakedladies.com. You can watch a video of Ed Robertson on stage with out how to do it. Now we’re a couple worlds for me. himself and is a great player. He knew honestly, I thought I was doing him a Barenaked Ladies at The hundred shows later with that whole exactly what he was asking for. You huge favor. I had a lot of plates spin- Ed’s duet with astronaut Mountain Winery in Saratoga, experience under our belts. I think we The one we see you with the most know, oftentimes when you work with ning at the time, and I was like, “Oh, Chris Hadfield on YouTube.com. California, in July. had a renewed confidence and knew is a walnut-topped W10. Is that TV or movie people, they don’t really un- this’ll be fun. Chris is going up to the Photo by Jay Blakesberg who we were again. more for the sound or for the derstand the language of music. What ISS again, and Chris is going to record 10 www.taylorguitars.com 11

cocobolo be too dense and heavy a As I was thumbing through a treatment. It always has and probably the same UV filler and maybe a base fingerboard would provide virtu- wood for back and sides with the copy of the April 2013 National always will. Usually, ideas like these coat that is exactly the same material ally no benefit, as the fingerboard large GO body, and would Engel- Geographic, I saw an article titled make for good research, rather than as we use on our guitars. I believe the would continue to dry and react to Ask Bob mann be too light for a top? Would “Strings Theory,” which was about something practical. In a day when Martin is oil-based paste filler and then the environment basically as if the you do Adirondack bracing on a tree pathologist Francis Schwarze, everyone runs out their front door and lacquer. Ours is UV polyester, of our linseed oil or mineral oil was not GO? Would it change your answer if who had devised a way to improve calls a man in a space suit to remedi- design and specs. applied. Besides darkening the fin- Sourcing koa, tuning stability, and aging finish it were built as a 9-string? the sound of certain violins. The ate the mold in the corner of their I’ve answered this question in many gerboard, what does it do? Bill Wicheta, MD process involved the application of house, I’m not sure we’d be allowed to different ways. And it’s been asked in Vincent Aleo Wenatchee, WA two arboreal fungi, Physisporinus import fungi into a factory, ya know? many different ways. First, the thick- vitreus and Xylaria longipes, to If I sound sarcastic, I’m not trying ness makes the biggest difference in Vincent, you are completely right This is a tough answer, Bill, because spruce and maple, which enhanced to be, because I love this research, I’ve sound, so if the finish is thin, be it poly about everything you said. And the oil we’re talking about a guitar with words the resonance of the wood by thin- just never seen a way to actually use or nitro, it’s going to sound good. Any does serve a benefit, because there on a page, when the best approach ning the cell walls. Apparently this it. I can tell you this: Stradivari didn’t gloss-finished guitar, of either material, is a second level of moisture, or seal- Over the years I’ve noticed Taylor of cattle protection, and befriended rare species, it is one that has a huge is to listen to a guitar. Have you had also augmented the woods’ ability use it. requires more finish than a satin guitar, ing, that it can provide. This might be using and praising the beauty and the king. He ended up becoming part natural and thriving ecosystem that is the opportunity to hear cocobolo? to dampen some of the more stri- or a hand-rubbed low-gloss guitar. a bad analogy, but let’s say you put sonic properties of koa. But just of the family, and to make a long story protected very well. If so, then you know how it sounds. dent higher frequencies — some Thinner is better, all the time, every emollients on your skin. Well, they yesterday I thought, why would short, Parker Ranch became the larg- Its sound will transfer to Engelmann, natural EQ’ing, I guess. Can you single time. Ours is thin, as thin as enhance your skin’s softness and such a conscientious company go est cattle ranch in America for decades Sitka, or Adirondack. They, of course, foresee this practice having any My Taylor 814ce is the best guitar I theirs, gloss vs. gloss, satin vs. satin. pliability, but not to a fraction of the anywhere near a wood species upon decades. It no longer is. will flavor it, but the cocobolo charac- practical application to guitar- have ever owned. It lives on a stand I guess one could argue, and I’ll let effect that drinking water does, right? that only grows on a small group At the same time, koa had always My loving wife bought me a 414ce teristics will remain. Cocobolo would making? in a humidity-controlled room. As 90 that argument stand, that a nitro finish But it still does something. So, yes, of islands and has been decimated been a sacred wood to the Hawaiians, for our 20-year anniversary, and I actually work better on a large guitar Mike Tipton percent of the time I played plugged might age better than a polyester fin- a dry ebony fretboard will still crack by logging and clearing space for along with their prized sandalwood. just love it. I also have a fall 2011 like a GO than on smaller guitars Newton, NH in to a PA system, I always leave ish like ours. Maybe it does. But then, with or without linseed oil or mineral grazing cattle? I concluded that But both species were very hard to NS24ce-LTD and love the differ- because of its density. I think you can a rubber feedback buster in the I’d have to admit that only the finish oil. But it feels better and looks better you have to be sourcing your koa work, and Hawaiians traded with the ent sound of the nylon strings and get the sound you want with cocobolo Thanks, Mike. Boy, these violin scien- soundhole. Am I substantially ham- “ages” and not the rest of the guitar. with the oil on it. Just don’t think that responsibly, acquiring only dead or Chinese during all these years — their cedar top. Is there a difference in in a large body, but I’d feel better if tists are relentless. They’re all looking pering the guitar’s ability to soak up And I’d have to see a 15-year-old you can now expose it to low humid- dying trees. I hope I’m right. koa wood for fir and pine from China age between the spruce and cedar you already know you like the sound of to crack the code. And they’re all try- moisture? If so, should I keep my Taylor that hasn’t aged well, because ity. By the way, boiled linseed oil will Bill O’Grady — in order to have a timber that they trees used for tops, or does it just this wood. That’s the most important ing to make a new violin that sounds room at a higher humidity level to we’ve been using this finish for a very polymerize on the wood, leaving a Seattle, WA could actually work with and build depend upon the wood you acquire ingredient. If you make it a 9-string I like a 300-year old violin, and then compensate, or should I stop being long time. And the facts are, an older resin behind, and after only three or houses, buildings and fences. So, in from cutters? probably wouldn’t change my mind. sometimes say that this must be what lazy and take the feedback buster Taylor with our UV coatings ages beau- four years of putting it on only once Thanks for the concern, Bill, and I’m effect, koa was displaced before the David Guder Our son will be heading off to college soon in a much By the list of guitars you own, I can the boys did 300 years ago, even if out when I am done playing? tifully; just ask anyone who has one. I a year, you’re pretty much done, and happy to explain. Yes, koa, as Hawaii 1900s. Still, there was a brisk logging Newport Beach, CA dryer climate. Would it be best for him to take a see you like to double up your strings. they did it accidentally. Don’t get me Rob have many, and they sound better and shouldn’t use any more. You’ll have once knew it, was decimated by cattle. of the timber until the 1980s, when You’re a guy who knows what you like! wrong, I’m not being critical, because Blairsville, GA better all the time. So I conclude that filled the pores permanently with the Briefly told, that started in 1793 when Hawaii made it illegal to cut koa from David, I’ll answer your question two solid wood guitar from sea level to high altitude I like that. Oh, yes, I forgot to say that I love what they do, but it usually the finish we use isn’t standing in the resins left behind. Mineral oil does not British Captain George Vancouver state public lands. Because about ways because I don’t know what you (with humidification), or buy a laminate model Engelmann would be a fine choice involves one or two instruments, and, Rob, if your room is climate-controlled way of aging well. do this. It evaporates and leaves dry gifted several cattle to King Kame- 80 percent of all koa exists on public mean by age, believe it or not. If you (100/200 Series) and have a little less maintenance? for a top. Get it while we have it… well…I sound like Bill Murray on the all the time, you can leave the feed- It’s easy to say that a poly finish like wood behind, so it can be put on over hameha, who put virtual protection lands, that means that from 1985 or mean how old the tree was, that can it’s been harder to come by for some old Saturday Night Live show when back buster in and it won’t hamper Taylor uses isn’t organic like a nitro fin- and over, across the years, and needs around them as being his sacred prop- so, we commercial users have survived vary quite a bit. They are all old, for Or would there really be a difference? time now. he’d review movies that he never anything. Think about it. Even if it ish, and therefore it won’t age. People to be put on as well, because it does erty. Within years the herd had grown solely on the 20 percent of koa that sure, with the youngest of almost any David watched! And no, I haven’t seen this slowed down the process of absorbing say it all the time. I just haven’t found evaporate. to an immense size and taken exists on private land. spruce or cedar tree used for guitars article, even though I sound like I think moisture, it would also slow down the that to be true as the guitars age. over forested land for graz- Private land owners are not hav- being nearly 400 years old. But some That’s a really good question, David. Buy a new gui- I know what I’m talking about. guitar’s desire to get dry, right? But ing. John Parker arrived ing an impact on koa as a species, or could easily be 700 years old or more. Why do Taylors stay in tune so well? So, now that we set the ground why would the guitar have a desire to tar! Ha-ha, I’m kidding. Well, don’t let me stop you. on the scene in the even the decimation of forests, really. If you are asking if we “age” the wood I’ve had three Taylors, and they have rules, which are that I don’t know what get dry if the room isn’t dry? early 1800s, That’s because koa is very valuable, so longer in the factory for one species Really, it’s going to be the same, because only the always been in tune no matter how I’m talking about enough to argue or I often hear that fingerboards will after years it’s extracted carefully from their own versus the other, then the answer is back and sides are laminate, and it’s the spruce top long between playing. I have a gui- corroborate a scientist’s work, I’ll say dry out and possibly crack if not private property. So, while koa is rare that we dry and age the woods for tar that I built, and I have to tune it that for a thing like this to make its conditioned, and that some sort of and the fretboard that always suffer the most from and expensive, it is anything but endan- exactly the same amount of time. almost every day. way into guitar production like ours, I was recently at a high-end acous- finish should be applied to the fin- gered. Just remember that 80 percent If one is older, it’s just by chance. dry climates. So, if he already has a nice guitar, just Harold Hensley it must clearly, undeniably make a dif- tic shop comparing a Taylor 914ce gerboard about once a year or so of the koa trees are not in danger take that one, store it in the case when it’s not being Clarksville, TN ference, and be able to be done in a to a Martin 000-28ec and a Collings to prevent this. This seems to be in and are not being harvested in wholesale, non-toxic way, and safely 0H2. The Taylor held its own very contrast to research that shows that played, and buy the Humidipak system from Planet any way. So, I feel good Harold, it’s nice to know your guitars and economically. And, I may add, it well. When I asked the salesman finishes, such as those commonly about using koa I’ve been playing my Grand Sym- Waves to keep it in good shape. It’s easy and worth are staying in tune. The answer is must not be something that happens how the tone of the three guitars used in guitar making, do not pre- because, out phony a lot lately with a capo on the effort. simply that our design and produc- quickly and naturally on its own, any- would evolve over time he said the vent but only slow the rate of water Got a of all the the third fret, which is where I’m tion methods make a stable guitar. way. We mess around with heating Taylor would not change very much vapor exchange into or out of the comfortable singing. I keep forget- The design itself is in harmony with spruce. It’s called torrefied wood: because of the finish. He told me wood. I even see claims that apply- question for ting to take the capo off when I’m all the forces. Nothing is pulling in an wood that’s been baked, essentially, in the other two had an organic finish ing a finish “nourishes” or “hydrates” Bob Taylor? done playing and just put the guitar awkward way. Then, the wood is dried, an oxygen-controlled vacuum chamber. that changes dramatically over time, the wood. in its stand with the thing still do worry that your guitar is living on not drop everything and dash to cured and treated properly before we It’s done on a commercial scale to whereas Taylor uses a synthetic fin- Linseed or other similar drying Shoot him an e-mail: clamped down. Should I be a stand rather than in its case. I hope the nearest store to buy another build. We build under strict climate some species to stabilize the wood ish that doesn’t allow for a change oil or mineral oil which never dries [email protected] more vigilant about tak- you live in an area that isn’t dry, or Taylor! I have talked in the past with control rules. Our NT design, both for and to darken it. We and other mak- of tone. I found his explanation hard seems to be the primary compo-

ing the capo off? Is it seasonally dry. the great staff at my favorite gui- our neck and our body, is very stable. ers have had some success with this, to believe. Is it true? Are there dif- nent in most available fingerboard If you have a specific hurting anything by tar store, Dusty Strings in Seattle, So in the end, it’s a lot of little things making spruce that acts like very old ferences in the finishes used for “conditioners,” and the information being attached for about my ideas for a Taylor BTO. I that add up to consistency. I must say spruce, or more accurately, acts like a these brands that alter the way they that I could find indicates that both repair or service an extended period, would like something for solo that out of all the guitars made, ours very old guitar. sound over time? of these finishes offer virtually no concern, please call or does it not matter? I finally got around to reading [your fingerstyle with a sonorous, deep are the most consistent and stable. I But in the end, there are other Jeffrey resistance to water vapor exchange our Customer Service Matt Hohmann book] Guitar Lessons. It was an bass but clear midtones and spar- won’t argue sound, because there are much more approachable contributors or water protection, although they department at inspirational read and makes me kling bright highs, and have leaned lots of good-sounding guitars, but in to improving a guitar’s sound, includ- Jeffrey, the Martin and Collings are do make the fingerboard look darker (800) 943-6782, Matt, the only thing that might be admire your company even more, towards a cocobolo back and this area of stability, consistency and ing the bracing, the finish thickness, both fine guitars, and I’d own one in a and richer in appearance, which is and we’ll take a problem is if it wore a mark in the and although I own a 955 12-string, sides with an Engelmann top. Read- playability, we really have done a good the wood thickness, the glue, and, heartbeat. I’m not kidding. They both nice. care of you. back of the neck from being on there an LKSM 12-string, and an 8-string ing about the new Grand Orchestra job. of course, the design. Really good use nitrocellulose lacquer finishes, So if this is correct, then apply- Raw koa boards all the time. Otherwise, no problem. I baritone, it was all I could do to shape has me intrigued. Would guitar-making tends to trump wood but I believe that the Collings uses ing linseed oil or mineral oil to a 13 minimates

A sure sign of a great guitar is level want to have one within arm’s “It started as a guitar you Mini has also spurred a desire control knobs. Wood choices include Each GS Mini will be offered in Premium GS Mini Models L-R: GS Mini-e RW (front shown), The popular GS Mini spawns a when it naturally takes on a life of reach wherever they may be. More can play around the house or go for additional wood options with veneered Hawaiian koa, quilted a limited quantity, and availability GS Mini Koa GS Mini Koa, quilted sapele its own. In the three years since the than 50,000 GS Mini models now camping with, and now players enhanced aesthetic appeal. sapele, or Indian rosewood back will vary by region. All guitars ship GS Mini-e Koa GS Mini-e QS, rosewood limited run of handsome and GS Mini made its debut, it has done populate the world, and the demand are using it as a full-blown stage With both scenarios in mind, and sides, all with a solid Sitka in a GS Mini hard bag. For model GS Mini RW GS Mini-e RW just that, defying the traditional remains as high as ever. instrument,” he says. “Some use it this fall we’re happy to roll out six spruce top and featuring the Taylor availability in your area, contact your GS Mini-e RW stage-friendly spinoffs tonal boundaries of a “travel” guitar, Taylor luthier Andy Powers has as a Nashville high-strung guitar premium offshoots of the GS Mini, ES-T pickup. The koa and rosewood local authorized Taylor dealer. GS Mini-e QS earning legitimacy as a guitar enjoyed watching the myriad ways or keep it in other tunings during featuring alternative wood options models are also available without GS Mini-e Mahogany worthy of pro players, yet all the that players have gravitated toward shows.” and an upgrade to the ES-T pickup a pickup. One other offering is a while projecting a fun, “play-me” the Mini and incorporated it into Beyond live performance currently used on our 100 and 200 version of the GS Mini Mahogany persona that makes players at every their lives. applications, the popularity of the Series, including our three tone equipped with the ES-T. 16 www.taylorguitars.com 2115 The Wood&Steel Interview

CHoAmerica’s favorite food savant, Alton Brown, shares his creative philosophy, ps reveals why recipes are overrated, and explains how playing his Taylor makes

life better By Jim Kirlin

Chances are, if you or someone humor to make cooking a fun and look and feel. But in the middle of it also the host of The Next Iron Chef, very possibly, a white SolidBody Clas- in your family watches “food TV” with accessible pursuit. all, Brown’s gift was helping people and a mentor on Food Network Star. sic with single coils that had recently any regularity, you’ve seen charis- Brown first conceived of the show understand not just the “how-to’s” of His latest program, Cutthroat Kitchen, cast a spell on him. matic food personality/educator Alton while working as a cinematographer cooking, but also the “why’s.” Good applies a knife-twist to traditional cook- In conversation, Brown is exactly Brown. Brown’s prolific presence and commercial video director who Eats would become the first food ing competition shows by introducing what one who knows his TV persona on cable television’s Food Network would watch cooking shows in his program since Julia Child’s to win a an element of culinary sabotage, in might expect: lucid, ebullient and over the past 14 years has coincided spare time. Finding them boring, he prestigious Peabody Award (2006) which contestants are given access to sharp-witted. It turns out that there is with a revolution in food and cook- envisioned a much different type of for excellence in electronic media, and resources to help themselves or under- a mutual admiration between Bob Tay- ing programs, one that has turned program, and one fateful day in 1992 Brown would go on to rack up a heap mine their opponents, with Brown as lor and Brown (see “BobSpeak” this celebrity chefs, for better or worse, jotted down the words “Julia Child, Mr. of other critical accolades, including the host-provocateur. issue). Their kinship reflects clear par- into rock stars and brands. Brown first Wizard, Monty Python” as inspirational the James Beard Award for Best TV We first connected with Brown allels in the way each has pursued his carved out a niche for himself with his guideposts. He eventually left his job Food Personality in 2011. He’s also after he tweeted a drawing of his craft. Both are forward thinkers who popular food-science program Good to attend culinary school in Vermont in a bestselling author, whose award- 214ce-SB with a thank-you note to have had a pioneering influence within Eats, which he wrote, produced and order to fortify his cooking skills, ulti- winning cookbooks have similarly Taylor. We caught up with him by their respective fields. And they both starred in on Food Network from 1999 mately arming himself with the exper- focused on helping people understand phone in mid-July, during an exception- love quality food and guitars. Brown to 2012. The show was a bona fide tise that would anchor the program. the properties of food. ally busy year that has seen him jug- was hoping to make time to visit the game-changer, helping to transform Brown’s unique vision proved to be That sensibility has translated to gling multiple projects, including the Taylor factory when his tour came to the landscape of cooking programs a winning recipe that netted a much his warp-speed expert commentary development of his ambitious live “Edi- San Diego in late October. We’ll be from dry, often snoozy instructional broader audience than cooking shows on Iron Chef America over the past ble Inevitable” tour this fall. The shows sure to keep you abreast of any food/ affairs into vibrantly offbeat culinary had traditionally drawn. His goofball 11 seasons, as he has enlightened will bring him to venues across Amer- tonewood pairings that ensue. “edutainment.” Brown’s creative blue- skits, characters, costumes, props, viewers with culinary play-by-play while ica to share his own unique blend of print blended nerdy food science, food trivia, and fun camera angles — some of the world’s finest chefs face food-science demonstrations, includ- problem-solving techniques, food his- from inside a refrigerator or oven, for off in a “Kitchen Stadium” showdown ing some food-themed songs that he’ll tory, and quirky, cleverly subversive example — added to the show’s playful featuring a secret ingredient. He is be playing on his Taylor acoustic, and continued on next page 16 www.taylorguitars.com 17

How has your summer been? That’s one of the fun things about Considering today’s well-devel- done differently now that I’m older and before. And I looked at him and abso- in North Georgia. I was actually born want to do some of them in the tour the there is sort of this inexorable quality to be able to make the food their own. goes on in my professional life is great- It’s been busy. A little more hectic than you in terms of your creativity, oped landscape of cooking and have a little bit more mileage from which lutely, positively had no idea what to in Los Angeles. My parents were kind next year. Two of the songs I’d written of craftsmanship. I would equate this That’s why I don’t concentrate on reci- ly enhanced by playing, not just daily, what I would call normal. especially with Good Eats — it food shows on TV and compar- to glean my experience, so I just don’t say because I’ve done what I’ve done of like the cool couple that escaped a badly needed to be played on acoustic guitar with my favorite chef’s knife, pes. Recipes are only proofs for larger but several times a day. I play a lot. That seemed like everyone who was a ing that to when you first started do it. In fact, I was working on Cutthroat for 100 percent selfish reasons. Good small Georgia town, went to California guitar, and I started going to music which is made by a company called concepts. And it sounds like one of the doesn’t necessarily mean I’m getting Because of Cutthroat Kitchen? member of the crew was also a doing Good Eats, looking back, do Kitchen, which involves having judges Eats was what I wanted to do, and I for their honeymoon and stayed for stores. I remember the first day that I Cut Brooklyn, which is this exquisitely things that [Taylor] wants to do is to a whole lot better [laughs]. Well, I am Yeah, Cutthroat Kitchen was this cast member. you think of yourself as a pioneer? on, and there’s a young Thai chef was lucky enough to find a network that 10 years, had me, exposed me to all ran into the guitar that’s actually in my machined, simple device. I also have a make people understand what’s going getting better. “maybe we’re gonna do this” kind of Oh, absolutely. In fact, the gentleman I never look back. I mean, I’m a stu- named Jet Tila out in L.A. — great guy. would let me do it, and so I’ve never kinds of cool culture, and then moved left hand right now [214ce-SB]. It was thing for old typewriters. I type, and I on with the instrument and enhance the project that came up back in the win- I’m talking about played one of my dent of history only to a point of other We worked together for about six days, thought about what you’re saying about back to another little town in Georgia love at first strum. Now it’s making me have this beautiful old Hermes Rocket playing experience through that, which Tell me about the musical compo- ter. I was making a show called Food attorneys in over 20 episodes. He’ll peoples’. I find that if I look back, I get and he turned to me at one point and influencing people or the business. because my dad had always wanted a better guitarist, but the nice thing is typewriter. Everything about it is form just empowers people, which is the nent of your touring show. Network Star at the time, and I thought, actually be reprising that role also on caught in what I call a regret loop. said, “Do you have any idea how many Truthfully, I look at myself as some- to own a radio station. My dad was a that it makes me sound so much better and function, and it works so beautifully same thing. When I first walk out on stage, the let’s make a little not-for-air pilot demo stage as well as running my part of the When I look back I see bad things. people you’ve influenced culinarily?” body who’s just trying to survive the of this, just for the hell of it. So we tour — and playing drums. I see mistakes, I see things I should have No one had ever said that to me business [laughs] because everything made one, and it was a lot of fun — a changes very quickly, and I’m not super little too much fun, probably — and I for- happy with where food media is right got about it, and then two weeks later I now, and yet I’m part of it, and so I’m “I would equate this guitar with my favorite chef’s knife.” got a call that Food Network had seen constantly trying to steer a boat that’s the first act of a rough cut and ordered way too big for me. I think all you can 13 of them, to go into production imme- do in an industry like this, and I guess cellist and a trumpet player, and my than I have any right to be. That’s my as a tool. I find that everything about Not to be self-serving, but we do first thing I’m doing is playing a song diately. So I was a bit taken aback. So I’m in a few different industries — enter- mom was a pianist, so I was exposed insurance policy. One of the reasons I this guitar, and your stuff in general, is Road Show events, where we go by myself. It’ll be nothing but me and I spent most of my June in Los Angeles tainment, television, food — is do what to everything very early. My dad would want one of your electric guitars is that so well shopped. The ingredients are out to stores and talk about how the Taylor. The show ends with this working on that, which I just wouldn’t I can do where I can do it. I had the bring demo records and promotional I need something to float me there as all what should be there. Everything is shapes have sounds and tone- big anthem called “TV Chef,” which have done ordinarily. And I’m getting opportunity to do something that was albums home to me from the radio sta- well. [Ed. Note: We later loaned Alton thought out from a material standpoint woods have unique flavors that is a searing satire about the world ready for my big national tour starting very, very different when I made Good tion. I had a little record player in my a SolidBody Classic with single coil in a way that I identify with and I find season your sound. of celebrity chefdom. We’re doing a in October, and Sunday I will trundle off Eats, so what I look for in projects room, and he might bring home Miles pickups. Within a few hours of playing very appealing. You probably hear that I love that analogy. country number called “Airport Shrimp,” to New York to make another season of is originality above all. Or I look for Davis one day, and then I very strongly it he arranged to purchase it. “I don’t a lot. which is about a love affair with airport Iron Chef America. And I’m developing something that plays so much into my remember the day that he just walked know what kind of voodoo you put into It’s a fairly simple concept, and shrimp cocktail that goes bad — it’s a four-part documentary series called strengths. When I took on doing Iron in and without saying a word handed this thing, but it’s spectacular,” he said We do. It comes from Bob’s phi- people get it. We also present gui- a ballad about food poisoning; what Food That Made America. And we Chef America 11 seasons ago, I did me this funky looking record called Sgt. via e-mail. “The tone, the action and losophy as a builder. He wasn’t tar demos and work with people can I say? We’ve got “Cooking Les- launch our podcast this month. So I’ve it because it was a challenge. It was Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. I pickups [are] just fantastic.”] beholden to the past, and he to help them find a guitar that fits son Lullabye,” which is a song that got enough for right now. It has been a every day having to deal with food that knew who the Beatles were, but I didn’t embraced technology as a modern their playing style and musical started as a song trying to teach my year of surprises and complexities. I wasn’t familiar with and processes come out of my room for three months. What did you like about the 214? platform for precision craftsman- needs. It’s gratifying because we young daughter to cook, and how easy that were over my head in a lot of So that was big. Then, when I was First and foremost, this thing was just ship. Of course, there’s an end know that an inspiring guitar can it is, but the real thrust of the song is You’ve done lectures and other ways, so it was like going to culinary in the 5th grade my dad came home beautiful. The sunburst, I looked at it, to that — to create a consistently bring joy and comfort into people’s that cooking is absolutely, incredibly presentations before. Is this the school, but it also played into one of with this funky looking case that he’d and thought, wow, everything about great playing experience for lives. complex. So a simple lullabye becomes first time you’ve strung together a my strengths, which is to talk nonstop gotten from a second-hand store, and that is pretty. But then you pick it up people, to take the obstacles out Have you read Guitar Zero? this big, rambling diatribe on sauce full-fledged tour? without breathing. I took on Cutthroat there was an alto sax in it. I didn’t put and realize that everything about this is of the way for someone when they construction. We’ve got a song called Yes. And it’s the first time that we will Kitchen because it played to certain down the sax for 20 years. I played in meant to be played. The neck structure, pick up a guitar. I’ve heard of it but I haven’t read it. “Pork Chop Blues,” and then we’ve got have put together the kinds of elements characteristics that I have, which is to big bands in high school and college the fretboard, everything. And without Well, yeah, look at it this way: He’s put You should read it because one of kind of a grunge/punk number called that we have. I’ve done large-scale kind be devilishly playful, but it also was a and jazz combos. It was hard to get having to put out vast amounts of a guitar that is better than I deserve the things that’s being written about a “Easy Bake,” which is about my affair of weird demos, but this will be a com- completely new territory of running a work in combo bands because it was sound, the tone quality was so full that to have in my hands. What does that lot these days is the use of music to with Easy Bake ovens when I was a bination. Food-wise there will be some game show. So I’m always trying to the age of rock & roll, so that’s when I it was different from any other guitar do to me? It [makes me] want another preserve your brain function as you get kid that leads into one of the weirdest things that people have never seen steer my skill set toward something I initially learned how to play guitar — if I that I had played. I realize now, having Taylor guitar. older, and that the brains of musicians food demos I think anybody will have before — or hope to ever see again — haven’t done before. wanted to play horn in a band I usually played other Taylors, that that’s the ever seen — and the reason we have to the invention of some very large-scale had to play rhythm guitar or keyboards. sound of a Taylor acoustic guitar. You have sunglasses. There’s a good bit of culinary “things” that will remain a Let’s talk about your food and I had been trained on piano from a very could use words like rich, buttery… acoustic and a bit of electric. secret, that are being built and housed. music background. On the food young age, so that had always been my it’s not an issue of loud; it’s almost like “The creative process that goes on side, your mom and grandmom number one, but I had to pick up guitar signal-to-noise ratio. There’s just more Do any other Iron Chefs or Food I read that ponchos will be avail- inspired you — along the way. But I was never really signal in the guitar. And then I plugged in my professional life is greatly Network personalities play guitar? able to some of the audience. Nah, that’s crap; you read an old bio. any good. into an amplifier, and it was like, oh, this I don’t know. It’s funny because another Actually we’ve had to add some stuff There’s a new one, which confesses actually sounds just like it does when enhanced by playing, not just daily, friend of mine said, “You guys ought to that kit. For the first three rows there to the truth: I learned about cooking in How are you now? it’s being played acoustically. That to get together and see if you’ve got will also be disposable sunglasses college to date girls. That whole mom/ I gave it up for years, and then I decided really, really hooked me, because that’s but several times a day.” enough people for a band.” I’m heading because of some other issues. And the grandmom thing, somebody along the last year that I wanted to get back into really rare in the guitar world, for a there Sunday to start a new round of one that a lot of folks are talking about way made that up. Yeah, I did some music because I found as I approached guitar to actually sound the same both shows, so I’ll ask. I do know that there is that I’m finally breaking down and cooking with my mom and grandmom, middle age that there were some things ways. I don’t understand how the whole As a company we also love helping don’t age the way that other people’s are a lot of chefs who are musicians. performing some of my food songs. So but it’s not like they set me on the path. lacking in me. It’s funny, I wanted to find ES-T works; maybe there’s a genie in people understand and appreciate brains age. That’s something I think Those things seem to go well together. I guess it’s sort of a food-centric variety What set me on the path was trying to ways to slow time down. I’m watching there. tone. We want guitar-playing to be about. I travel a lot, and I find that in show with a lot of moving pieces and get girls, and then realizing that once my daughter, who’s 13 now, and I feel an accessible experience and not my work, I can now travel with a guitar. You might have to be the ringlead- music. you got dumped enough while cook- like this is all happening too quickly for We’ve been on working on some have it be something that’s just for I’m fortunate enough to have my own er for some culinary super group. ing, which actually happened to me, me. I had always remembered the way new pickup prototypes that I think the experts. I think it’s somewhat airplane, so I bring this Taylor with me Or souper group — s-o-u-p. Will you have much of a crew? that cooking’s actually pretty fun by that time changes when you’re play- you’d also really like. I’m curious, analogous to what you’ve done in all over the place. Playing every day As little as possible. The more people itself; you don’t need the girl. That kind ing a musical instrument. So I started have you played the T5? the food world with cooking. actually has changed the way my work you take, the less money you make of launched me into a whole different playing saxophone again, but I travel I’ve played with it [laughs]. I loved it. It’s interesting that you bring that up goes. When I take a break from work [laughs]. I keep trying to pare it down. hobby. so much that I thought, I’ll start playing I’ll be honest: I haven’t touched much because I do believe — as my philoso- to sit down and play, part of my brain My personal assistant should never guitar again, and I bought this terrible of your stuff that I haven’t really liked phy and what I do as far as food edu- is freed up to do other things, and I’m For more on Alton Brown, have let me know that he’s a drummer Did you grow up in a musical little travel guitar and started dragging because everything is so easy to play cating goes — that you empower peo- finding that it’s massively therapeutic. visit altonbrown.com. For because now he’s also playing drums household? it around. And then I started writing and all the materials are all so well ple when you give them the answers Of course I remember always enjoying information on his tour, visit in the show, so it’s one of those deals I grew up in an extremely musical songs on guitar, which I’d never done thought out. I think about the objects to “why.” You’ve got to inform them. it, but it’s different now because I’ve altonbrowntour.com where you try to maximize everybody’s environment. My mom and my dad before. And then I decided that I liked in my life that I really love to work with The more they can understand about got a lot of other duties and responsi- skill set. owned a radio station in a small town some of these songs and that I might and love to be around, and I find that the technique, the more they’re going bilities, and the creative process that 2 0 1 3 F a l l L T D s www.taylorguitars.com Full Figured

Rare curly mahogany inspires a fresh look for fall, rosewood and cedar rekindle their chemistry, and our 200 Series goes pro The creative wellspring of ideas that inspires Taylor’s annual Fall Limited Editions is actually more like a series of separate tributary streams. We liken it to the many different ways we find inspiration as players. Sometimes it arrives in a spontaneous spark of blind discovery. Sometimes it comes from jamming with a friend whose musical sensibilities naturally complement one’s own. Other times it starts with a fundamental concept — say a familiar chord progression — which is thoughtfully refined into a more sophisticated form. That pretty well sums up the ways in which this year’s fall collection came to life. The shimmering figured mahogany you see alongside these words came to us out of the blue and catalyzed the design of our beautiful 500 Series LTDs. Rosewood and cedar, which meet on a pair of 400 Series LTDs, are like a couple of longtime picking pals whose styles comfortably mesh with each other. Our upgraded 200 Series LTDs build upon the basic idea of a reliable gigging guitar, elevating it to the performance standards of a professional player. We hope you get a chance to sample this year’s seasonal treats at your local Taylor dealer. Read on for more details, and look for complete specifications at taylorguitars.com.

500 Series Fall LTDs Woods Back/Sides: Curly mahogany Top: European spruce

Models Grand Auditorium 514e-FLTD, Grand Symphony 516e-FLTD ONE OF THE PURE pleasures of our wood sourcing Based on his earlier experience with efforts is the occasional, random us, he immediately knew whom to discovery of something truly special. contact. He snapped a few photos Such was the case when the as the first, huge slabs were being supplier who had sold us the rare sliced from the tree and e-mailed and beautiful quilted sapele used for them to Andy and Bob Taylor. one of last year’s fall limited edition The images made a strong first offerings once again reached out to impression, as Andy recalls. Taylor master luthier Andy Powers. “We both found ourselves This time, the supplier, who sources staring at the photos going, ‘Whoa, mahogany in Central America, had seriously?’ he says. “We thought, if opened up a harvested mahogany that’s real mahogany with that kind tree to find spectacular curly figure. of figure, we’re very interested.” L-R: Back of a 514e-FLTD, continued on page 20 front of a 516e-FLTD 20 www.taylorguitars.com 21

Though the curly figure didn’t span flamboyant mahogany, paired with this organic like this, something with all- the entire tree, it did occupy a lot of it. spruce that’s relatively austere yet also wood appointments, almost classical The fact that it existed at all was a rarity tells a bit of its life story with the colors guitar-ish.” because that sort of figure in mahogany and bear claw. Together they make a The rosette Andy designed features is a genetic anomaly. warm, elegant take on a classic mahog- a segmented pattern that incorporates “Mahogany grows really straight,” any/Adirondack spruce combo. some of the curly mahogany. To pro- Andy explains. “That’s one of the rea- vide a visual counterpoint, he chose sons we love it so much — the tree A Refined Organic boxwood, an extremely dense, nearly grows large, straight and very predict- Design Aesthetic texture-free wood that has traditionally ably, so you can get a lot of yield for With the wood pairing established, been used for fine appointments like necks out of it. In this case it turned out Andy began to envision the design violin tailpieces, chin rests, and, occa- to be really special.” elements that would help articulate the sionally, knobs. Once the wood had arrived and distinctive personality of the woods. “I wanted it to be somewhat modern Andy and Bob had the opportunity to “Looking at the uniqueness of the but elegant in an almost classical kind see it, Andy knew it would make a won- mahogany and the color and movement of setting,” he says. derful limited edition series. To create of the European spruce, I wanted to do The all-wood treatment continues Flamed maple the right tonal complement, he chose something a bit more organic,” he says. with Indian rosewood binding (body, Spruce top with heavy bear claw soundboards of European spruce, the He found some inspiration during a soundhole, fretboard and peghead), same wood we paired with the quilted trip to New York City. While visiting the along with figured mahogany top trim. sapele last year, to be fortified with Metropolitan Museum of Art, he saw a Andy also designed a new fretboard Adirondack spruce CV bracing. classical guitar that had belonged to inlay, dubbed “Avian,” whose name “European spruce is one of the the late classical guitar virtuoso Andrés reflects the bird-like appearance of his most traditional top woods to use for Segovia, made by Hermann Hauser in abstract shapes. Seeing some of M.C. stringed instruments,” Andy explains. “It 1937. Escher’s artwork at the Met in New has the clear headroom of Adirondack “I was just admiring the guitar for York had influenced his thinking as he spruce, but with a bit of extra warmth a long time,” he says. “The top finish is refined his sketches. and tonal flavor, giving it a little more yellowed with age and cigarette smoke, “The inlay took on this form that I sonic color right out of the box. Some but even that couldn’t cover the shim- really like, a real gradual metamorpho- of these sets also have hints of bear mer of the wildly bear-clawed top [see sis,” he explains. “But if you look at claw, occasionally with a little color bear claw sidebar at right]. I thought, it closely, it’s not just the same form variation. So you’ve got this really I want to build something that’s really graduated. Each one is a little different; Quilted maple

Boxwood/figured mahogany rosette Understanding Figure: Curl, Flame and Quilt with a rosewood-bound soundhole Spruce top with light bear claw on a 514ce-FLTD Figured wood is a beautiful sight to behold, and you don’t have to be a guitar enthusiast to appreciate its striking, three- dimensional visual effect. At Taylor, we showcase it most What is Bear Claw? prominently on our maple 600 Series and Koa Series guitars, It’s a rippling effect in the fibers of wood. In the guitar world, but it occasionally occurs in other woods, such as the curly it’s often associated with spruce tops, particularly European and mahogany used on our 500 Series LTDs. While “figure” is the Sitka. Because spruce tends to be very straight-grained, any broader descriptive term, we often qualify figured woods through deviation in growth orientation is visually noticeable. We asked more specific types of visual patterns, referring to it as flamed, Andy Powers to expound on what causes bear claw and whether curly and quilted. Here are some distinctions: it influences the tonal properties of the wood it inhabits. “Curly” and “flamed” are essentially the same. Curl or flame “Bear claw, or hazelficte, as it is also known, is a small appears like an unbroken band; other terms used to describe striation not unlike a single curl in maple. However, it typically it are “fiddleback” and “tiger-striped.” The effect is the result of is a far smaller grain variation. It usually is only seen in the a tree’s fibers growing in more of a back-and-forth, zig-zag way oldest and densest of spruce trees. The general consensus instead of growing straight. among wood enthusiasts is that the small, irregular movement When a straight board is cut from such a tree, the wood is caused by genetics, but it may also be caused by stressful fibers are essentially severed across the grain. This highlights factors in slow-growing conditions, much like worries adding the undulation visually due to the way the light reflects off the wrinkles to our foreheads. One thing that many guitar makers different directions of the grain, creating an iridescent effect. including myself agree on — whether the grain movement Sonically you won’t hear much difference, although one could itself is the culprit (which I believe to be the case), or simply make the argument that it will be a little looser and therefore a that trees exhibiting bear claw also happen to be older, strong “Avian” fretboard inlay in boxwood little warmer because it’s a slightly less stiff piece of wood. But trees — is that, by and large, the tops with bear claw sound really, the difference is negligible. really good. These tops, nearly without exception, exhibit extra “Quilt” is essentially considered the same occurrence as it’s not just the size but also the form of spruce Dreadnought, although in this current Expression System, the pickup stiffness along and across the grain lines. This is a great recipe curl, but it tends to look less like a rolling, linear wave, as Andy each one that slowly changes. The little case we put them into two more mod- incorporates a studio-grade preamp for a strong and sonorous top. Powers explains. ‘wings’ off the center slowly detach and ern Taylor shapes, our Grand Sympho- and the same elegant roller-style knobs “These grain movements don’t always show definite lines “The growth is more irregular, appearing like undulating, change their shape.” ny and Grand Auditorium, and dressed for refined EQ control. or stripes, but when perfectly aligned with the plane of a top, boiling, rolling liquid, and there are more limitations in terms of Tonally, players can expect a them really elegantly.” Additional premium features on they reveal themselves as a shimmering three-dimensional where and how it appears,” he says. “That’s partly because it is dynamic voice that’s both powerful One other design twist that distin- the 500 Series models include Gotoh look, almost like a slightly rumpled piece of aluminum foil. Many only visible in a flatsawn cut; when a quilt-figured piece of wood and sophisticated, blending the strong guishes this limited edition series is gold tuners and a boxwood Taylor logo makers of both classical and steel-string guitars love these is quartersawn, the figure appears as wide bands of flame. Also, fundamental emphasis of mahogany a new version of Taylor’s Expression inlay in the headstock. Both models are tops for their superb strength characteristics. Visually, this it is often more present in slightly less dense specimens of a with the strength and warmth of the System® pickup. While it won’t formally offered without a cutaway, come with tends to be a cosmetic character trait that is subject to personal particular species. These last two characteristics usually mean European spruce. be introduced until next year, the new a 2013 Fall Limited Edition label inside interpretation. Some players see it as an aesthetic shortcoming, that a quilted piece of wood has the potential to sound slightly “In a way it’s like a refined, almost design integrates everything we’ve the guitar, and ship in a Taylor deluxe while others love the unique visual character it gives a guitar.” warmer and low-frequency-biased than a non-quilted piece of the classical take on a bluegrass guitar,” learned about the way the components hardshell case. same wood.” Andy suggests. “It’s sort of a European of an acoustic guitar move in concert version of a mahogany/Adirondack with each other to create tone. Like our continued on next page 22 www.taylorguitars.com 23

to reunite the two woods due to their yielding a voice that’s sparkly, woody rosewood 12-string unleashes a lush 400 Series Fall LTDs undeniable sonic chemistry together. and complex. tapestry of tone. Woods We’ve sweetened the appeal even “Cedar has all these midrange- “If you’re looking for the sheer Back/Sides: Indian rosewood more by bringing them into the realm heavy overtones that are super audible, thickness of sound that comes from Top: Cedar (6-string) or Sitka spruce (12-string) of our 400 Series price range, in two and because rosewood is going to a 12-string, this has a lot of it,” Andy body styles: the Grand Auditorium accentuate all of those overtones, you says. “If you want to play that one Models 414ce-FLTD and the Grand Symphony can hear everything really clearly,” Andy chord and hear the kind of massive Grand Auditorium 414ce-FLTD, Grand Symphony 416ce-FLTD 416ce-FLTD. notes. “Especially when you approach sound that comes from all these 12-string Grand Symphony 456ce-FLTD The wood pairing especially it more softly like a fingerstyle player octaves and double courses, you won’t rewards players with a lighter touch. would. The voice is really accessible. be disappointed. Tune it down and it’s One of the qualities fingerstyle players You don’t have to hit it hard with a pick.” got a serious rumble to it.” will love is that the overall tone is rich We’ve also crafted the 12-string All three 400 Series models come FANS OF THE RICH, and dynamic right out of the case, Grand Symphony 456ce-FLTD, which with a Venetian cutaway and Taylor warm voicing of rosewood with cedar, cedar-top rosewood models, but without requiring the longer play-in time features a Sitka spruce top instead of Expression System electronics, feature especially fingerstyle players, will be because our current lineup exclusively a spruce-top guitar typically needs. cedar because its stiffness responds a 2013 Fall Limited Edition label inside eager to reach for one of our 400 features spruce tops (though an Rosewood’s broad tonal spectrum better to the extra string tension (as the guitar, and ship in a Taylor standard Series limiteds. In years past, our 700 optional cedar top is available as a and clear, high-fidelity sound match a softer wood, cedar can start to get hardshell case. and Acoustic 7 Series have included standard model option), we wanted nicely with cedar’s strong overtones, slightly distorted). With a Sitka top, a

L-R: 414ce-FLTD, 416ce-FLTD (back shown), 12-string 456ce-FLTD

200 Series Fall LTDs WE LOVE TO ARM players full-voiced amplified acoustic sound. guitar. Recreational Taylor players look- Woods with great tools for gigging. We also We swapped the satin finish typically ing to play a few gigs, parties or open Back/Sides: Indian rosewood laminate know that some Taylor owners might used on our 200 Series backs and mics can leave their other precious Top: Sitka spruce prefer to spare their favorite guitars sides for a full-gloss body to add spot- Taylor(s) at home. And budget-minded from the bump-and-grind of bar gigs light-worthy luster and bring out rose- up-and-comers looking to invest in Models and other real-world goings-on. That’s wood’s beautiful variegation. We also their first real guitar with aspirations of Dreadnought 210ce-FLTD, Grand Auditorium 214ce-FLTD where our performance-ready 200 Series guitars come in. We configured replaced the hard gig bag that normally playing out can rest assured that they’ll a guitar that players at any level can rely comes standard with a black hardshell have a guitar that feels, sounds and on as a strong stage accomplice — one case to better protect it in transit. The looks worthy of a pro. that will sound great, look great, and end result is a guitar that hits the sweet Above (L-R): 210ce-FLTD (back shown), 214ce-FLTD, and black hold up along the way. spot for players at every level. Working hardshell case that comes with the guitars We started by upgrading our ES-T musicians will have a reliable axe that pickup to our Expression System for a can serve as a workhorse or second 24 www.taylorguitars.com

“Bootsy is a great guy,” says Morgan. “I perform regularly with it on Whale- Island Inspiration “Cincinnati is a small town, and I simply bone gigs and it creates an amazing A near-death experience has a Soundings asked him to be a part of it and he said amount of interest both amongst guitar- way of providing a clarifying jolt of life yes. He wrote all of his own narration ists and non-players,” Downs shared. perspective. Singer-songwriter Justin lines. His grandson Vincent is in the “We even had a comment from a deaf James can attest. At age 20 James video, too. And so is my 95-year old lady who said she liked it because she (612ce, 412ce, GS Mini, NS24e, Grandma Lucille.” could feel the vibrations from the bass T5-S) was traveling the world as a pro Morgan used his 812ce throughout notes!” windsurfer, and while out skimming the the recording of the album. He says it’s The guitar is featured prominently on ocean off the coast of South America Scoring Points decade, and his stylistic range is well been a great tool both in the studio the trio’s latest studio release, Runes, with a windsurfing buddy one day, a Earlier this summer, Taylor Director showcased. About half of his most and in the nearly 200 shows he plays along with Downs’s well-seasoned tiger shark attacked him, severing major of Artist Relations Tim Godwin spent recent solo release, God Told Me To, each year. 314ce and his GS Mini Mahogany, arteries in one of his legs and nearly time with fleet-fingered guitarist John 5, is acoustic, and he told Godwin that “It’s a very comfortable instrument playfully nicknamed “Mog.” The band claiming his foot. His friend managed to who was in Los Angeles rehearsing with his next effort also will have a strong to play,” he says. “I love the feel of the has noted that playing as an acoustic get him to shore and help save his life, shock rocker Rob Zombie for the band’s acoustic component. trio without a singer leaves more room though James required multiple blood headlining slot on the Mayhem Festival “I plan to do some Jerry Reed stuff, for the full tonality of each instrument transfusions and 250 stitches. The expe- tour. Known as one of the hottest shred- and then I’ll change it up with crazy to shine. Their instrumental dynamic is rience left him with a permanent limp but ders around, John 5 (formerly John Low- guitar playing, so it’ll be a nice diverse well calibrated for their tastes, giving also a renewed appreciation for life. ery) has played alongside an all-star cast record as I usually do,” he shared, them, as they put it, “exactly the right James had always loved to sing and of hard rock stars over the years, includ- before ripping into a slick-picked ren- combination of both support and space, had performed in cover bands, so during ing Marilyn Manson, David Lee Roth dition of “Jerry’s Breakdown” on the intimacy and richness.” his recuperation he dedicated himself to and Rob Halford (Judas Priest), and his 614ce. “I love that kind of stuff.” It certainly gives the baritone ample bolstering his guitar chops and writing services as a session player are always John-5.com room to shine, starting with the opening songs with a goal of supporting himself in demand. Behind the macabre makeup track on Runes, “Origins,” anchored by as a full-time musician. His perseverance and horror-laced stage theatrics, he’s an the earthy beat of a bodhran. eventually paid off, landing him a record articulate musical omnivore who loves thinner body, and the tone of the guitar “Right from the moment we first deal, although he later opted out to country music (he was first inspired to Barber’s Cuts is very rich and warm. The thing I love heard the instrument, the baritone form his own label. With a few albums, play by watching the TV variety show Grammy-nominated children’s musi- about all of my Taylors, and something evoked for us a sense of connection several songwriting award nomina- Hee-Haw as a kid) and can lay down cian Zak Morgan (612ce, 812ce) I don’t often hear mentioned, is the to something ancient and mysterious,” tions, and song placement on television some sizzling chicken pickin’. dropped us a line in August during fact that these instruments are easy Downs commented on the tune. The shows to his credit, he’s managed to A black 614ce has been John’s a busy summer of shows around his to tune and easy to keep in tune. And two-part track “Justify,” composed by cultivate a steadily progressing career acoustic of choice lately, but he’s also home base in Cincinnati and beyond. they play in tune consistently up and Downs after 18 months of living with as an independent artist. His former life partial to his 912ce, which he received Morgan’s recent set lists have drawn down the fretboard. Before I started the baritone, slowly emerges from as a globetrotting windsurfer proved to as a gift from country singer k.d. lang from the melodic story-songs of his lat- playing Taylors I owned more than one boggy depths before giving way to an be the perfect warmup for being a gig- back in the mid-’90s when he was a est release, The Barber of the Beasts, expensive guitar where tuning was a up-tempo second passage inspired by ging musician, and he’s toured all over member of her touring band. a sharp-witted, family-friendly collection. constant issue and distraction. Taylor is Zeppelin’s “Bron-Y-Aur Stomp.” On the the world over the last decade. These “I just fell in love with it,” he told God- Morgan delights in conjuring outland- a great company with amazing customer traditional tune “Tamlin,” the baritone is days his home base is in the Dominican win. “It’s what I use on all the records ish tales using nimble wordplay, and service, a kind and knowledgable staff, married with DADGAD-tuned rhythm Republic, where he loves soaking up and everything I’ve done ever since. You this album finds him adding splashes awesome quality control and true inno- guitar and fiddle to evoke a surging, the Caribbean lifestyle, and that chill, can see it on her concert video, Live in of chamber-pop instrumentation in with vation, and I love feeling like I’m part of hypnotic urgency. sun-soaked vibe warms his latest studio Sydney.” the country, bluesy and jazzy flavors of the family.” The GS Mini helped spawn “Mog’s release, Islands. The centerpiece of John said he was planning to play his tunes. As a children’s artist, Morgan Zakmorgan.com Reel,” supplying a dusky undercur- James’s breezy island pop is his mel- Clockwise from top left: John 5 with his 614ce; members of Lawson, including Andy Brown and his 814ce; one of his Taylors on a solo acoustic embraces the freedom to be bound- rent topped with Ibberson’s fiddle and low, husky-sweet voice, and his wistful Zak Morgan with his 812ce (photo by Michael Wilson); Whalebone’s Steve Downs with his 314ce; Justin James interlude during the Rob Zombie shows, lessly playful with language through his Downs’s nimble mandolin lines. yearnings on tunes like “All That’s Left (Is and his GS Mini; Paul Shortino and his 655ce and that he recently put both Taylor lyrics, engaging youngsters in a way Other highlights include Downs’s Love),” “Mexico,” and “Boy Overboard” acoustics to creative use while scoring that encourages them to stretch their Whale of a Sound fluid soloing on his 314ce as he lets add extra resonance to the otherwise the music for another Zombie project, powerful imaginations. On the new It’s a thrilling sensation to discover a loose on the foot-tapping “Severn cloudless mood of his tunes. Producer the horror film The Lords of Salem, record, Morgan also turns his lyrics into guitar that unlocks a door to new inspi- Sins,” the poignantly beautiful “The Andrew Williams (Five For Fighting, Old which was released this year. vocabulary lessons, highlighting words ration. Such was the case a few years Birds Are Still Singing,” and a few 97s, Alice Peacock) does a fine job of “Ninety percent of it was done on in the disc’s lyric booklet (also down- back when Taylor pickup developer and reinvented classic rock concoctions: a fleshing out James’s natural melodicism acoustic guitar,” he relayed. “When loadable on his website) and providing man of many hats David Hosler was in version of the Stones’ “Paint it Black” and diversifying the flavors of the record, you’re doing a movie score, you want definitions at the end. Whether it’s an the UK to present a guitar workshop coupled with the trad tune “Devil in the creating a funky R&B feel on “Big Bright violins and cellos and violas and things explanation of “surly” or “brawny” or and introduced guitarist Steve Downs Kitchen” (with an inspirational nod to Sunny Day,” adding horns to groove like that, so what I did with another guy, the meaning behind idiomatic expres- to our Baritone 8-String. Downs rabble-rousing Canadian fiddler Ashley up “More” and “Saturday Night,” and Griffin Boice, which we thought was sions like “through thick and thin” and is one-third of the popular acoustic McIsaac’s punked-up rendition); a richly blending light string embellishments into cool and revolutionary, was tune the “up the creek,” Morgan gives kids and instrumental folk-rock trio Whalebone, textured rendition of “Layla” that brings the radio-friendly “Boy Overboard.” You guitar up to something like a Nashville their parents a cool vehicle to explore whose genre-meshing music with all three of Downs’s Taylors together won’t find much angst on this record — tuning, and I would use an EBow, which language — and music — together. partners Charlotte Watson (guitar) and with mandolin icing the cake; and the just the smooth sounds of an artist who works great on an acoustic guitar. I Morgan teamed up with producer/ Sarah Ibberson (fiddle) taps Celtic album-closing cover of Aerosmith’s genuinely appreciates the importance of would just give it a nice vibrato to sound guitarist Rick Hordinski, with whom he folk and blues-based classic rock and “Dream On,” which feels both intimate living life to the fullest. like you’re bowing. It sounds identi- has collaborated on previous projects, infuses it with fresh arrangements and and orchestral. Justinjamesmusic.com cal to violins. Then I would tune it to a and tapped other talented friends to original compositions to form a signature It’s always fun to listen to accom- regular guitar [pitch], and that would be help out, including mercurial alt-country acoustic brew. Downs instantly fell in plished musicians with great chemistry my viola, and then we put these really renegade Robbie Fulks, bassist Byron love with the Bari 8 and bought it on the and sensitivity to each other. Whale- heavy strings on it; we really filed the House (Robert Plant), singer Karen spot, succumbing to a hypnotic musi- bone honors their influences yet remains Rocking Vegas nut to make space for these big strings, Bergquist (Over the Rhine), and funk cal courtship in which the guitar slowly hungry to build on them in their own Veteran rocker Paul Shortino and that was our cello. And we just did legend and fellow Cincinnati resident revealed its complexities and expressive organic way, and the result is a lively (Rough Cutt, Quiet Riot) e-mailed us everything with the EBow.” Bootsy Collins, who guests on the tonal depth. It has since become an and evocative acoustic soundscape that from Las Vegas to say his 12-string John has also released six solo playfully ghoulish ditty “The Case of the integral part of the band’s songwriting feels richly alive and true. instrumental albums over the last Dry Markers.” palette and live shows. Whalebone-music.com continued on page 26 26 27

655e has been playing and sounding test in 2012. Doyle dazzled the judges, felt that with maple we were already There may be periods of plenty, when ously allowing itself to be used for the great on stage in “Raiding the Rock including legendary producer John halfway there. Especially when you play conditions are optimal and a tree will benefit of many. For a select few, a life Vault,” a classic rock concert experi- Shanks (Bon Jovi, Van Halen), with his with a band and you have bass and make unimpeded growth, gaining size of music will be in order. Many woods ence that began a year-long run at the gutty, heartfelt vocals. Since the release drums and other stuff behind you. It’s and stature quickly. There may be won’t be suitable for the needs of fine Las Vegas Hotel and Casino back in of his full-length self-titled debut album just brighter; it cuts through.” periods of compromise, when growth instruments. Some parts, like a finger- March. The production chronicles 40 with producer Shanks in late 2012, Having toured with his custom GA is hampered, perhaps by a lack of rain board, need dense durability to with- years of rock & roll history through the Doyle has been busy ping-ponging from 6- and 12-strings since 1995, Beckley or by illness. Competition for natural stand continuous contact, as well as late 1980s, and features classic rock his current home base in Nashville to his recently decided it was time to retire his resources may come from neighbor- great strength. Others need a perfect hits from the likes of The Rolling Stones, native country of England to perform workhorses from the road. ing trees that each strive to grow and mix of strength and softness, allowing The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, at great events like Glastonbury, Hard “I know there are acts that play more thrive from the same shared pool of sonorous singing to resonate forth. Still Queen, Van Halen and plenty more. Rock Calling and more, all with his trusty than us, but we’ve been playing about necessities, such as sunlight and rain, others need simple stability; loyalty to Written by Grammy-winning record pro- 814ce in hand. Billboard magazine 100 shows a year for the last 30 years which can slow the momentum of their dimensions. ducer David Kershenbaum (Joe Jackson, recently described Doyle as an artist or so, and [our] guitars really get a work- growth for all. Even of the lumber that is selected, Tracy Chapman, Supertramp) and musi- who “may well be the Next Big Thing on out,” he says. “Also, as much as I have Some trees will vacillate from one there are the little bits that don’t make cian, producer and vocalist John Payne an international level.” my own personal collection of guitars, extreme to the other, experiencing peri- the cut. I often look at the shavings on (Asia), the show’s storyline incorporates Joshdoyle.com and most guitarists do, we don’t mess ods of aggressive growth followed by my workbench and realize how close historical footage and live performances around with what’s on stage; we don’t periods of near-dormancy. The aging they came to being part of a guitar. But from an all-star band that includes like to throw the sound guy too many of others will ebb and flow like the tide in the final pruning, those last slivers of guitarists Howard Leese (Heart, Bad curveballs, so these particular instru- or a boat slowly changing course in a wood just were not in the right place at Company) and Tracii Guns (LA Guns, American Played ments are the instruments. If you go gently rolling sea. A few will grow quiet- the right time. Guns n’ Roses), along with an array of If you’re compiling a road-trip playlist see someone like Jackson [Browne] or ly and consistently, never experiencing The wood of an instrument strikes vocalists including Payne, Shortino and featuring mellow-vibed ’70s-era folk- Lindsey Buckingham, even if it’s a solo a great abundance or a great deficit, me as nothing less than profound. I Robin McAuley (MSG, Survivor). rock, it wouldn’t be complete without show, they might show up with 20 or steadily maturing and reaching upward recognize the balance between the Raidingtherockvault.com a honey-harmonied cut from the group 30 guitars, and each one is almost for with graceful dignity. often centuries-long life experienced America. Although bandmates Gerry a different song, but in our case, I play There will be unexpected intrusions: by these trees and the wood’s second Beckley and Dewey Bunnell didn’t 6 and 12, and acoustic and electric, so a limb that breaks away in a passing life as an instrument capable of sing- discover Bob Taylor’s handiwork until before I’ve even got any spares I’m car- storm; a nail or hook driven in by a ing for an equivalent amount of time. Going Everywhere They Go later in their careers (they bought their rying four guitars.” The Craft person wanting to hang clothes to dry, I also deeply appreciate the absolute Taylor’s marketing manager for first maple Jumbos in 1990), their many Another factor that contributed to or perhaps anchor a hammock. Every necessity of many different types and Above: Gerry Beckley performs with his black custom maple Grand Europe, Dan Boreham, has been work- Taylors over the years have been staples the roadworn look of Beckley’s guitars event and experience will leave its evi- personalities of wood to properly fit Auditorium, which he recently retired from the road (photo by Steve of their live tours and later recordings. was having them built without pick- dence, even if only in some small way. together in order for an instrument to ing with guitarist Andy Brown from Parr); Below: Beckley’s new 12-string maple GA Honoring the Life Stories of Wood the popular UK act Lawson, who says In fact, Beckley and Bunnell can stake guards, partly because he felt like they A streak of color, a curve in the grain live this second life, each part relying his tobacco sunburst 814ce has been an interesting claim in the timeline of slightly dampened the tonal output. Trees reveal their individual character in lines, a scar to be grown over: Each on the suitability of the others in order heavily featured in the band’s live set Taylor history: Not only were they early “As a result, those two Grand Audi- unique ways with each new guitar detail is a page of the story. to function. Without the entire com- on their current “Everywhere We Go” adopters of our Grand Auditorium upon toriums are almost Willie Nelsoned At a certain time, a tree will fall, and munity of wood components playing tour. The band has shared the stage its initial release in the mid-’90s, but they through on the top,” he says. “I’m a pret- once that occurs, the episodes of its their role, each joined with others in a with some big names lately, including spurred the creation of our first 12-string ty heavy picker, and I’ve gone through to guitar can be made from is something even more, although it ence its growth just as the people with life are made plain: the easy growing of grand drama, none would be able to Bruce Springsteen, The Script, Mumford version of it. Beckley reminded us of this almost seeing light through the tops.” materials other than wood. tends to be more difficult to quantify. whom we interact during our lives help summer, the stout resilience amid win- on its own. and Sons and Kings of Leon. At our during a phone call in July, during a brief Beckley recently ordered a pair of A As natural resources such Wood embodies the uniqueness of a shape who we become. ter’s cold, the decades of slow, deliber- This collective uniqueness is the press deadline, the band had embarked break in the band’s summer tour. replacement Taylors — a 6-string maple as timber slowly have become stressed life lived, and as any living thing, each Over the course of a tree’s life, ate progress, the sudden windfalls of personality I see and hear in a guitar on their first tour of the U.S., to be fol- “When I first requested it, I was kind GA (AA flame) with transparent black by demand over time, talk of alternative tree is as individual as a fingerprint. beyond the concentric rings that liter- heavy rain. as I build and play. If ten instruments of lowed by a string of dates in the UK in of told, ‘It won’t work; it’ll be out of bal- finish, and a maple 12-string GA with materials has grown increasingly com- It used to be that I considered a ally mark the passage of each year, For me, at that moment of felling, the same design and species of woods October. Brown says the guitar also has ance,’” he recalls, “so I had to approach a natural finish. Each is essentially a mon. In the marketplace, players can piece of wood strictly for its functional there are seasons within larger cycles. the tree transitions into wood, gener- are arranged in a row, no two will be toured Southeast Asia, coming in handy it from the point of view of, please humor replica of his original custom guitars, find instruments made partly or entirely value. It was simply a material to be exactly alike. They can all be wonder- at radio station performances around me.” with abalone top trim, star inlays, and of plastic laminates, carbon fiber, and used. It would have been of some ful instruments, but they will certainly Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Although the Jumbos (both 6- and Beckley’s name inlaid within a scroll at a host of other reconstituted or man- dimensions, big or small, and its sur- present ten different stories. For this, I Philippines. It’s also been used on the 12-string) had served the band well up the 15th fret. Although Bunnell’s guitars made materials. So why continue using face might have shown telltale marks could not be more pleased. band’s recent recordings, including their to that point, the mid-size GA proved to feature the Expression System pickup, wood? Simply because it has been of the tool which cut it to those dimen- With this consideration of trees, hit “Brokenhearted.” be a better stage guitar for their set-up. Beckley had grown accustomed to used in the past? sions. It was just wood in an elemen- their life, and their transformation, I “It is a fantastic recording guitar,” he And it had to be maple. the Fishman system that was originally The more I learn about woodwork- tary form: boards cut from a tree. They am reminded of an old Latin proverb noted, adding that he wanted to pick up “One thing that’s pretty well agreed installed, so he also had that added to ing and instruments from preceding might be darker or lighter, harder or whose translation declares, “In life I am a GS Mini for traveling and radio station upon is that maple, because it’s harder, the new models. The new guitars are generations, the more I marvel at the softer, but all wood. silent; in death I sing.” acoustic sets during their tour. is brighter, and even with, particularly making their maiden voyage on tour this deep understanding craftsmen had of Since then, I’ve learned more about This fall, we’re especially pleased Lawsonofficial.com with, the Jumbos, so much of the low year. their materials. I’m amazed, though not wood and trees. And the more I dis- to offer our latest collection of limited end is rolled off,” he says. “And I don’t “They’re new, so they’re still a little surprised, when I learn of present-day cover, the more humbled and grateful edition guitars. These models feature mean this disrespectfully, but so much tight, but I’m happy,” he says. “We do week of shows in Italy in September, can be seen playing her GC5e, while scientists quantifying some age-old I become. fantastic tonewoods, crafted with ele- of the full sound of a really fine acoustic a zillion shows a year; I’m sure they’ll and was scheduled to continue in the Decker has a lefty 114ce… Congratula- practice and validating observations In a way, trees are like people. All gantly modest trimmings to be enjoyed Encore Performance is the first thing the sound guy is hack- warm up quickly.” U.S. through the end of November. For tions to Phillip Phillips (GS7), whose made long ago by craftsmen. Build- people are part of a great collective by many. There is also a display of For singer-songwriter Josh Doyle ing out of there. It’s one of the reasons Beckley says the 12-string gets a lot dates, visit Venturahighway.com. debut album, The World from the Side ers from the past developed a close whole we call mankind, just as we the genuinely rare. When a single (814ce, GS Mini), performing at the they cover the holes of stage acoustics. of use during shows. of the Moon, became a certified plati- relationship with the woods they used. might say that all trees are part of a tree, such as the figured Honduras Glastonbury Festival as a solo artist with That booming lower mid might be ideal “I use it on ‘Sister Golden Hair,’ num seller over the summer…In August They knew how to work in harmony “tree family.” There are different “races” mahogany specimen we’ve transformed a backing band proved to be a full-circle, if you’re in a coffee shop, just you and sometimes on ‘Horse With No Name,’ the GS Mini was named the “Best with the different attributes of woods to of tree based on likeness of kind, often into an exquisite offering, reveals such déjà-vu experience. The former frontman your guitar, but the minute you have ‘Sandman,’ and ‘Don’t Cross the River,’” Quick Licks Budget Acoustic Guitar in the World” by accomplish their goals. linked geographically where the tree an extravagant and colorful life story, for the UK guitar-pop hitmakers The bass and Wurlitzer and Rhodes and a he says. “Twelve-string was always a Denver Broncos wide receiver Eric the gear review and artist news website So what separates wood from other grew or where the species originated. it becomes an extra special event to Dum Dums (who broke up in 2001) not lot of other things that are on that same pretty signature part of our sound, even Decker and his wife, pop singer Jessie MusicRadar.com…Guitarist Neil Giral- instrument materials? A person could But on a smaller level, each tree is a witness and savor as a guitar maker — only found himself back at the legendary frequency, it’s just really in the way. If if it wasn’t the main guitar. Even on James, were shown playing their Taylor do (Pat Benatar) recently purchased an correctly cite favorable strength and unique individual, infused with its own and as a player. festival but receiving numerous acco- you look at any kind of preset acoustic ‘Horse,’ the main guitar that Dewey plays guitars in a preview of the E! Network 814ce…Singer-songwriter Christopher weight numbers, durability or working personality based on the life it has lades as well. You may remember Doyle [EQ] curve, right away it hacks away is detuned, but within the first few bars reality television show Eric & Jessie: Cross added a cedar-top 810c to his characteristics, and other properties lived. Circumstance and place certainly as the winner of the Taylor-sponsored a huge part up to the midrange and you can really hear the 12 come in.” Game On, which tracks their lives lead- Taylor arsenal. that enable some woods to make excel- play into the life of a particular tree, as Guitar Center Singer/Songwriter con- boosts the higher-end stuff. So I always The band’s 2013 tour included a ing up to their recent wedding. James lent instrument parts. Yet, to me, there do the trees living near it, which influ- 29 Sustainability Events

US Open of Surfing Perseverance Huntington Beach, CA July 20-28

Given Taylor’s Southern California home base, surfing has always been comfortably enmeshed with our his- tory and culture. In the earliest days and Progress of the company, some of our crew enjoyed a flexible “surf clause” in their work schedules, enabling them to surf Despite the challenges of Cameroon’s rainy season, in the early mornings as long as they got their work done. While things are Crelicam has been laying the groundwork for expansion a bit different these days, the surfing lifestyle still influences our work. Case in point: Andy Powers drawing inspira- By Anne Middleton tion for the design of the new Grand Orchestra from his favorite surf break. With this in mind, it was a no- brainer to fill up the company Yukon Ed. Note: Taylor assumed an owner- ment teams often emerge having spent Investment in Cameroon, its with a cool mix of guitars and drive the ship stake in Crelicam, an African more time in the mud than walking economy and its people remains a 105 miles from El Cajon to Surf City ebony mill in Cameroon, in late 2011. through it! Everything, and everyone, critical objective for Taylor. Thoughtful USA — Huntington Beach — for the US Since then, we have been working arrives covered in mud. But Cameroo- investment in the forest resources and Open of Surfing in July. with our partner, Madinter Trade, to nians are known for their perseverance the people dependent upon them will Setting up a booth directly on the improve the processes of harvesting and strength, and those important qual- help improve their longterm economic sand provided us with an incredible Summer NAMM and processing ebony to reduce waste ities have helped build Crelicam into stability. oceanfront view. To navigate one of Nashville, TN for a test-drive. The folks at Nashville’s and build a more ethical, sustain- the operation it is today. Two-hour hikes Despite all the hard work during the most amazing beaches in South- July 11-13 Soundcheck rehearsal studios were able sourcing operation. Our periodic to reach trees turn into four- or five-hour the week, Taylor is also committed to ern California, our staff worked in suitably impressed, as were guitar- reports will share our latest develop- treks through the dense forest during supporting other recreational activities bare feet, as the depth of the sand There was a fresh buzz — and new ist and Keith Urban sideman Danny ments there. the rainy season. Trucks get stuck, outside the scope of business. Creli- presented its own unique set of chal- convention hall smell — in the air as Rader and all-star repair technician and shipments can be delayed. Yet the cam’s soccer team is ever-improving, lenges — especially in keeping our dis- the Summer NAMM Show moved into Joe Glaser. The guitar even scored aylor’s investment in Cameroon wood always makes it to the factory. and Taylor sponsored Crelicam’s first- play tables level. Once the booth was its brand-new digs at Nashville’s Music a thumbs-up from flatpicking legend is slowly becoming more visible In addition to spending more time ever Yaoundé 5K race up Mt. Febe. set up, the shady canopy and constant City Center, from July 11-13. The Norman Blake, who happened to be T to the untrained eye. In the in the bush, employees have been Crelicam’s Jean Mba finished in fourth ocean breeze kept it cool, the overcast state-of-the-art facility offers expanded at Gruhn Guitars when Andy and Tim most remote villages of Cameroon, busy at the factory, too, as visitors place. sky predictably burned off by early exhibition space, which came in handy stopped in to show George Gruhn and people can now be seen sporting Tay- from our Tecate, Mexico, and El Cajon, afternoon, and the surf was mostly as this year’s event saw a 25 percent his staff, and Blake had a chance to lor Guitars T-shirts and reading about California, production complexes Anne Middleton is Taylor’s Environ- cooperative for contestants. increase in exhibiting square footage sample it. guitar manufacturing in faraway places recently made another trip to Yaoundé mental and Community Relations Man- Our location was along the main and a 12 percent boost in brands like California. to help Crelicam prepare for its big- ager for Crelicam in Cameroon. corridor of exhibition booths, and our represented, according to organiza- As part of Taylor’s ongoing invest- gest endeavor so far: expansion. A neighbors on both sides were local tion officials. As in years past, Taylor’s ment within the communities that pro- new generator and air compressor skateboard and surfboard companies. showcase room was removed from vide us with ebony, Crelicam’s wood were purchased, and a new sharpen- With 500,000 in attendance, the Open the main exhibition hall floor, enabling buyers have been getting dirty — liter- ing room was built. Plans for a new appeals to a cross-section of fans of guests to savor the tonal nuances of ally. As we first noted in last issue’s warehouse and receiving area have Top down: A truck surf, BMX and skate cultures. Thanks different Taylor models. This year’s update, out in the bush, a small but been drafted, and within the next few containing ebony to a huge amount of crossover interest lineup boasted an early preview of our well-trained group of suppliers is now months, employees will eat in a brand- navigates a muddy between fans of extreme sports and Fall Limiteds for dealers, showcased equipped to seal and store the raw new kitchen. This expansion has been road; L-R: Marcelin fans of guitars and music, there was our new all-mahogany 500 Series and material in order to maximize wood yield made possible by a new member of Kono, Charlie Redden, never a shortage of players wanting to mahogany-top 300s, and assembled in the factory. Once cut into billets, the the Taylor/Crelicam team: Matthew Samson Olo’o and strum in the sand. This was our first all of the Grand Orchestra models that wood can be protected from the sun’s Slaughter. Matt hails from San Diego Marcel Geoges Emini year as an exhibitioner, and it was a have been introduced this year, includ- harmful rays to ensure the structural and brings his construction expertise to with the mill’s new pleasant surprise for many attendees ing our rosewood/Sitka spruce 718e integrity of the wood. The suppliers also our team here. In order for Crelicam to blade sharpener; New to discover our booth. “Taylor?! Wow, and 818e. have been outfitted with GPS units in move forward with its plans to dry and addition Matt Slaughter what are you doing here?” was a com- After the show, Taylor’s Tim God- order to mark the location of the ebony plane wood in Cameroon, a new facility (standing, center) with mon refrain. win (Artist Relations) and luthier trees that are felled. This allows us is needed. the team in the new Among the mix of beautiful guitars Andy Powers lingered in Nashville to better track the complete chain of “By investing in more equipment sharpening room on display, a strong-voiced mahogany for a couple of days to catch up with custody. and buildings in Cameroon, we can use 12–Fret was a favorite, as was a some local players and other industry One factor that can complicate the more of the tree,” says Charlie Redden, breathtaking K24ce. More than one friends. Andy was armed with a cool harvesting and transporting of the wood Crelicam’s General Manager. “Improv- person remarked that the deeply fig- guitar prototype — a Brazilian rose- Top down: Strumming on the sand in Huntington Beach; L-R: Flatpicking great Norman Blake and Andy Powers from the forest is Cameroon’s rainy ing our yield and sustainability allows ured koa produced a 3D visual effect wood Dreadnought featuring revoiced at Gruhn Guitars in Nashville; The Taylor showcase room at the Summer NAMM Show in Nashville season, which typically runs from April us to keep more value from the finished that reminded them of ripples of surf bracing and additional tone-enhancing through November. In fact, our procure- product here in Cameroon.” that lay tantalizingly close. features — and enjoyed handing it out 30 www.taylorguitars.com 31

For all the latest Taylor event listings, visit taylorguitars.com/events Waco, TX Neenah, WI Orange Park, FL Pittsburgh, PA Salt Lake City, UT Calendar Monday, October 21, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 8, 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 9, 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday, October 26, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday, November 16, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Guitar Center - Mesquite Island Music George’s Music Empire Music Acoustic Music (254) 751-1312 (920) 725-9000 (904) 777-9393 (412) 343-5299 (801) 531-7066

Farmers Branch, TX Wausau, WI Jacksonville Beach, FL Houston, TX Renton, WA A new season of Taylor Road Shows and Find Your Fit events is already underway, Tuesday, October 22, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 9, 7 p.m. Thursday, October 10, 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday, November 23, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Thursday, October 31, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. with more than 150 scheduled across North America and Europe this fall. Our Guitar Center - North Dallas Jerry’s Music George’s Music Fuller’s Guitar A Sharp Music Company friendly guitar experts look forward to sharing Taylor’s latest developments, (972) 960-0011 (715) 842-3272 (904) 270-2220 (713) 880-2188 (425) 251-5929 including the new Grand Orchestra, plus a fresh array of beautiful custom guitars. Bring your friends, bring your questions, and bring a pick to sample some guitars! Hilo, HI Lansing, MI Keizer, OR Austin, TX Madison, WI Bogart, GA Logan, UT La Crosse, WI Wednesday, November 13, 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 19, 6 p.m. Monday, October 28, 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 23, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, October 10, 7 p.m. Saturday, October 19, 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. Thursday, November 14, 12 p.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday, October 12, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hilo Guitars Elderly Instruments Uptown Music Guitar Center - Austin Madison Music Musician’s Warehouse The Book Table Dave’s Guitar Shop (808) 935-4282 1-888-473-5810 (503) 393-4437 (512) 419-1717 (608) 257-5877 (706) 548-7233 (435) 752-3055 (608) 785-7704

Santa Monica, CA Honolulu, HI Grand Rapids, MI Portland, OR Houston, TX Barboursville, WV Kalaheo, HI Orem, UT Monday, October 28, 7 p.m. Thursday, November 14, 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 20, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 29, 7 p.m. Thursday, October 24, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 12, 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 12, 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. Friday, November 15, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. McCabe’s Guitar Shop Island Guitars Rainbow Music Portland Music Company Guitar Center - Houston Route 60 Music Scotty’s Music Best In Music (310) 828-4497 (808) 591-2110 (616) 774-0565 (503) 226-3719 (713) 952-9070 (304) 736-7466 (808) 332-0090 (801) 802-8022

Santa Barbara, CA Champaign, IL Traverse City, MI Clackamas, OR Corpus Christi, TX Honolulu, HI Tuesday, October 29, 7 p.m. Thursday, October 24, 7 p.m. Thursday, November 21, 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 13, 6:30 p.m. Monday, November 18, 6:30 p.m. Friday, November 15, 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. Santa Barbara Guitar Bar CV Lloyde Marshall Music Guitar Center - Clackamas Sound Vibrations Island Guitars (805) 770-7242 (217) 352-7031 (231) 922-9503 (503) 654-0100 (361) 884-8981 (808) 591-2910

Grand Junction, CO Downers Grove, IL Meridian, MS Keizer, OR San Antonio, TX Alpharetta, GA 18-Month, Wednesday, October 9, 7 p.m. Friday, October 25, 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 29, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, November 14, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 19, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, October 5, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Back Porch Music Tobias Music Mississippi Music - Meridian Guitar Center - Salem Alamo Music Center Ken Stanton Music No-Interest North America Road Shows (970) 243-9711 (630) 962-2455 (601) 693-6317 (503) 304-0923 (210) 224-1010 FIND (770) 670-4424

Fort McMurray, AB Longmont, CO Fishers, IN Hattiesburg, MS Carlisle, PA Boerne, TX Boise, ID Financing Sunday, October 6, 2 p.m. Thursday, October 10, 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 22, 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 30, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 22, 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 20,YOUR 6 p.m. Tuesday, November 12, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Campbell’s Music Guitars Etc. Reno’s Music C&M Music - Hattiesburg JW Music Hearts’ Home Acoustics SALES Dorsey Music Through EVENT (780) 743-8614 (303) 776-8388 (317) 849-5744 (601) 545-2565 (717) 258-6765 (830) 331-9840 FIT 2013 (208) 853-4141 December 31 Huntsville, AL Westminster, CO Avon, IN Asheville, NC Pittsburgh, PA Austin, TX Idaho Falls, ID Wednesday, October 9, 7 p.m. Friday, October 11, 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 23, 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 22, 7 p.m. Thursday, October 24, 7 p.m. Thursday, November 21, 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 13, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Musician’s Superstore IRC Music Musician’s Workshop Empire Music The Fret Shop Strait Music North America FYF Chesbro Music We’re thrilled to offer Taylor (303) 412-9060 (317) 849-7965 (828) 252-1249 (412) 343-5299 (256) 430-4729 (512) 476-6927 Sales Events (208) 522-8691 customers our sweetest- ever financing deal on guitar Fort Walton Beach, FL Monroe, LA Las Vegas, NV Spartanburg, SC Waverly, AL Sterling, VA Tucson, AZ Downers Grove, IL purchases: 0% interest on Monday, November 11, 7 p.m. Monday, October 28, 6:30 p.m. Friday, October 11, 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 23, 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 13, 7 p.m. Monday, November 11, 7 p.m. Saturday, October 5, 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday, October 26, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. purchases of Taylor models in Playground Music Matt’s Music Sam Ash Music Roper Music Spicer’s Music Melodee Music Rainbow Guitars Tobias Music our 300 Series and up, plus (850) 243-2514 (318) 387-3628 (702) 734-0007 (864) 542-2263 (334) 329-7529 (703) 450-4667 (520) 325-3376 (630) 962-2456 all electric models, if they’re paid in full within 18 months. Tallahassee, FL Alexandria, LA Horseheads, NY Myrtle Beach, SC Phoenix, AZ Burlington, VT Santa Barbara, CA Dover, NH The program runs through Tuesday, November 12, 6 p.m. Thursday, October 31, 7 p.m. Monday, October 21, 7 p.m. Thursday, October 24, 6 p.m. Monday, October 7, 6 p.m. Tuesday, October 22, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 30, 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. Friday, October 25, 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. December 31, 2013, and is Music Masters Red River Music Robert M Sides Andy Owings Music Center Bizarre Guitars Advance Music Center Santa Barbara Guitar Bar Ear Craft Music available through participating (850) 224-6158 (318) 443-6365 (607) 739-1559 (843) 448-1508 (602) 248-9297 (802) 863-8652 (805) 770-7241 (603) 749-3138 Taylor dealers in the U.S. only. Whether you’re thinking of a Pensacola, FL Worcester, MA Watertown, NY Saskatoon, SK Flagstaff, AZ Olympia, WA Pasadena, CA Rockaway, NJ Taylor for yourself or for a loved Thursday, November 14, 7 p.m. Thursday, October 24, 7 p.m. Monday, October 21, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 8, 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 8, 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 30, 7 p.m. Friday, November 1, 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday, October 19, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. one this holiday season, this Blues Angel Music Union Music Dr. Guitar Long & McQuade Arizona Music Pro Music 6000 Red Zone Guitar Works Ritchie’s Music Center deal makes it easier to turn that (850) 457-7557 (508) 753-3702 (315) 782-3604 (306) 664-1966 (928) 556-9054 (360) 786-6000 (626) 325-8210 (973) 625-2500 dream guitar into a reality. For complete details, contact your Statesboro, GA Winnipeg, MB Clifton Park, NY Regina, SK Los Angeles, CA Seattle, WA Denver, CO Cincinnati, OH authorized Taylor dealer. Monday, October 7, 7 p.m. Monday, October 7, 7 p.m. Thursday, October 10, 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 23, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 9, 7 p.m. Friday, November 1, 7 p.m. Saturday, October 12, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday, November 16, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sam Ash Music DeLoach’s Music Quest Musique Parkway Music Long & McQuade Dusty Strings Denver Folklore Center Buddy Rogers Music (323) 850-1050 (912) 764-2527 (204) 233-4151 (518) 383-0300 (306) 569-8501 (206) 634-1662 (303) 777-4786 (513) 232-0777

Cerritos, CA Buford, GA Frederick, MD Heath, OH Nashville, TN Bellingham, WA West Palm Beach, FL Eugene, OR Tuesday, October 8, 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 8, 7 p.m Wednesday, October 23, 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 13, 7 p.m. Thursday, October 10, 6 p.m. Monday, November 11, 6:30 p.m. Monday, October 7, 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday, October 26, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sam Ash Music Jackson’s Music Make N Music Guitar Guys Gruhn Guitars Guitar Center - Bellingham George’s Music McKenzie River Music (562) 468-1107 (770) 904-2535 (301) 662-8822 (740) 522-0277 (615) 256-2033 (360) 733-3088 (561) 242-0345 (541) 343-9482

Ontario, CA Makawao, HI Fraser, MI Cincinnati, OH Sevierville, TN Kirkland, WA Orlando, FL Portland, OR Thursday, October 10, 7 p.m. Sunday, November 10, 2 p.m. Monday, November 18, 7 p.m. Thursday, November 14, 7 p.m. Monday, October 21, 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 12, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 8, 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday, November 2, 10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sam Ash Music Bounty Music Huber Breese Music Buddy Rogers Music Music Outlet Guitar Center - Kirkland George’s Music Portland Music Company (909) 484-3550 (808) 871-1141 (586) 294-3950 (513) 232-0777 (865) 453-1031 (425) 814-9640 (407) 352-8000 (503) 228-8438 33 ®

FALL 2013

NEW Inlay Logo T Ernesto, an 18-year Taylor veteran and one of our expert repair technicians, was playfully nicknamed “Cobra” by Authentic pigment dyeing TaylorWare his peers for his agility in attacking any repairs in his vicinity. He wears our softly weathered Inlay Logo T. process creates a natural- CLOTHING / GEAR / PARTS / GIFTS ly weathered look. 100% preshrunk cotton. Short sleeve. Generously cut. (Smoke #1432; S-XL, $25.00; XXL, $27.00)

Opposite Page NEW Color Block Zip Hoodie Soft, comfy eco-friendly fleece featuring contrast- ing hood and sleeves, with drawstring ties and kangaroo front pockets. Taylor logo/banner design on left chest; “74” design on right sleeve. Slim fit. (Gray/Red #2815; S-XL, $44.00; XXL, $46.00)

NEW Ladies’ Long Sleeve Nouveau T 100% combed cotton. Presentation Series inlay motif on front; small inlay element on back below neck. Slim fit. (Asphalt #4610; S-XL, $30.00)

Matt and Angela apply expert finishing touches to our guitars in Final Assembly. Matt, who works the night shift, rocks our two-toned Color Block Zip Hoodie, while Angela, a day shift employee, shows off our ornate Presentation Series inlay on the Ladies’ Long Sleeve Icon T Logo T Taylor Men’s Fleece Jacket Nouveau T. Fashion fit - a slimmer silhouette than the Standard fit - traditional fit, heavyweight T. Features cuffs with thumbholes, front pockets, standard fit T. 100% combed cotton. Short sleeve. 100% preshrunk cotton. and a media pocket with an interior hole for Medium weight. (Navy #1423; M-XL, $22.00; (Tan #1750; S-XL, $20.00; XXL-XXXL, $22.00) headphones. Charcoal with plush black lining. XXL, $24.00) (#2891; S-XL, $65.00; XXL, $67.00) Isaac (right), a versatile building maintenance and repair technician and perennial contender for 35 “Best Mustache at Taylor,” keeps things organic in our Eco-Heather Tri Blend T. Jeff from our night shift Final Assembly team models the classic black Headstock T.

NEW Headstock T Taylor Hats 100% cotton. Short sleeve. (shown below, clockwise Fashion fit. (Black #1481; S-XL, from top left) $24.00; XXL-XXXL, $26.00) NEW Military NEW Eco-Heather Tri Blend T Embroidery Cap Eco-friendly cotton/poly blend 3 100% chino cotton twill, with soft, weathered look and feel. heavy enzyme wash. Pixilated guitar image on front. 7 Adjustable with Velcro Slim fit. (Heather Brown #1460; 6 closure — one size fits 5 S-XL, $30.00; XXL, $32.00) most. White Taylor inlay logo with Quality Guitars 4 embroidered on front; round logo woven on back. (Black #00402, $22.00) 15 Men’s Cap Structured chino twill with Taylor round logo in burgundy and white on front. Adjustable fabric strap with custom 2 14 embossed peghead clip buckle closure on back. 13 One size fits most. (Charcoal #00375, 9 16 $25.00) Taylor Bar Stool 8 Easy assembly. 17 Tattered Patch Cap (#70200, $99.00) 11 Flex fit, two sizes. Add an extra $5.00 shipping 1 (Brown, S/M #00150, 19 20 for each Taylor Bar Stool 10 L/XL #00151, $25.00). ordered. Overnight delivery not available. 12 18

1) Suede Guitar Strap Taylor guitar. Travel-friendly design. Folds 12) Taylor Picks Honey (shown) #62000, Chocolate up to store in gig bags and most guitar Marble color. Ten picks per pack by #62003, Black #62001, $48.00 cases. Accommodates all Taylor models. gauge. Thin, medium or heavy. ($5.00) 2) Musician’s Gear Bag (#70180, $39.00) 13) Men’s Wallet Measures 14” high x 17” wide x 11” 8) Taylor Money Clip Genuine leather with embossed Taylor deep. (#61160, $70.00) Developed with the William Henry logo. By Fossil. (Brown #71302, 3) Taylor Polish Cloth 3-Pack Studio (#71204 Money Clip, Raindrop $40.00) Microfiber with serrated edge. Features Mokume-Cocobolo, $350.00); Koa and 14) Guitar Lessons By Bob Taylor. embossed Taylor logo. 11-1/2” x 9-1/2”. Rosewood clips available. Visit our (Wiley Publishing, 2011, 230 pages; 3-pack (Black, Taupe, Charcoal [shown] website for more information. Each #75060, $20.00) #80909, $18.00); 3-pack (Chestnut, tonewood sample is unique; color and 15) NEW Taylor Etched Pub Glass Tan, Brown #80908, $18.00) grain may vary from photo. Domestic 20 oz., featuring hand-etched round 4) Taylor Polish Cloth orders only. Taylor logo. (#70010, $10.00) Single (Chestnut #80907, $7.00) 9) Taylor Mug 16) Guitar Stand. Features laser- 5) Taylor Guitar Polish Glossy ceramic bistro mug featuring etched Taylor logo, rich satin finish, and Spray-on cleaning polish that is easily the round Taylor logo. Holds 15 oz. rubber pads to protect your guitar’s

and safely wiped away. (Brown with cream interior, #70006, finish. (Sapele/Mahogany #70100, ® 4 fl. oz. (#80901, $12.00) $10.00) $70.00; assembly required) 6) Travel Guitar Stand 10) TaylorWare Gift Card 17) Suede/Web Strap Two Color Embroidery T Antique Logo T NEW Long Sleeve Case Label T Ladies’ Two-Tone Guitar T Short sleeve, TaylorWare Black (shown) #65000, Chocolate Sapele, lightweight (less than 16 Great gift idea for the Taylor fan. Visit our CLOTHING / GEAR / PARTS / GIFTS Burgundy and gold embroidered logo on 100% combed cotton. Short sleeve. 100% combed cotton. Features Taylor’s case 100% combed cotton, featuring gradient ounces) and ultra-portable. website for more information. #65010, $32.00 19) Digital Headstock Tuner. Clip-on left chest. 100% preshrunk cotton. Short Fashion fit. (Deep Burgundy #1458; plate design. Standard fit. (Brown #2081; guitar design on front. Slim fit. (Warm gray (#70198, $59.00) 11) NEW Taylor Mouse Pad 18) Ultem Picks. Ten picks per bag; chromatic tuner, back-lit LCD display. sleeve. Standard fit. (Olive Green S-XL, $24.00; XXL, $26.00) S-XL, $30.00; XXL, $32.00) #4560; S-XXL, $25.00) 7) Black Composite Features Taylor round logo. Non-slip one gauge per bag. Thin (.50 mm), (#80920, $29.00) 1-800-494-9600 #1206; M-XL, $24.00; XXL, $26.00) Travel Guitar Stand rubber base with soft cloth top for a Medium (.80 mm) or Heavy (1 mm). 20) Byzantine Guitar Strap Made from durable recycled ABS precise glide. Measures 8 inches in (Translucent gold with brown Taylor Burgundy (shown #64000, Brown Visit taylorguitars.com/taylorware Visit taylorguitars.com/taylorware to see the full line. composite material to securely hold your diameter. (Black/White #71901, $10.00) round logo, #8077, $6.00) #64030, Black #64010, $80.00) to see the full line. Presorted A Publication of Taylor Guitars Standard U.S. Postage Volume 77 / Fall 2013 PAID Phoenix, AZ | | | Taylor Guitars 1980 Gillespie Way El Cajon, CA 92020-1096 taylorguitars.com Permit No. 5937

The paper we used is certified to Forest Stewardship Council® standards. The FSC is a non-profit organization that supports environmentally friendly, socially responsible and economically viable management of the world’s forests.

Walnut Wedding Grafted walnut’s unique visual character embodies a fusion of two different walnut species — black and English — resulting in a tree with a disease-resistant root system and flavorful nuts. That marriage is dramatically showcased on the back of this Build to Order Grand Orchestra, in the form of a visible graft line where the guitar’s upper bout tapers into the waist. A figured maple mini wedge and binding frame the bookmatched symmetry of the back. The walnut has been paired with an Adirondack spruce top featuring Adirondack spruce bracing, promising to produce a rich acoustic voice with tremendous sonic horsepower, warm overtones, and a broad frequency range.