INSIDE THE WORLD OF TAYLOR GUITARS / VOLUME 73 fall 2012

Fall Limiteds Macassar Ebony & Sinker Redwood Quilted Sapele & European Spruce Blackwood & Cedar

Builder’s Reserve All-mahogany 12-Fret + Uke Figured Walnut GS + Amp 2 www.taylorguitars.com 3

back to the studio and chose the guitar exactly the response I was hoping for. So the wounds from that earthquake that was the most microphone-friendly. This little beauty is amazing. By the way, remain on my guitar. All these years The winner of this little contest was the Jimmy at Daddy O’s gave me a great later. I’ve told the story of those scars to Volume 73 Letters Taylor 612c. Now, 15 years on, it is still trade-in on my like-new Baby, and I am a countless co-writers, session musicians my go-to acoustic guitar for recording. very happy camper. and publishers through the years. And Fall 2012 Find us on Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube. Follow us on Twitter: @taylorguitars Thanks. Now don’t come out with anything that guitar has blessed me in so many More Sustain Tom Wasinger else I can’t live without — I’m running out ways. I have written five No.1 songs on I always enjoy Wood&Steel, princi- of money! it, including the last two Jason Aldean Features pally for the beautiful pictures of wood P.S. My appreciation to Bob Taylor for Jerry Bettis singles, “Tattoos on This Town” and On the Cover instruments (my wife calls this “guitar his work with ethical ebony sourcing in Stillwater, OK “Fly Over States”; Faith Hill’s Grammy- porn”). But I was really taken in by the Cameroon. We in this country more than nominated song “The Way You Love Me,” in-depth showcase of your Cameroon ever need to know what effect our con- as well as many, many songs for Rascal 18 The 2012 Fall Limiteds ebony facility and the details about com- sumerism has on people and resources Scar Power Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Three inspired wood pairings yield a trio of merce, harvest and sustainability that in other parts of the world. While reading through the current Montgomery Gentry, Deana Carter, etc. fresh acoustic voices: Macassar ebony with Bob uncovered in his visits there. Not issue of Wood&Steel, it occurred to me Thank you again for my guitar, the sinker redwood, quilted sapele with European since Ray Anderson and Interface Car- that I have my own story for any aspir- one that made my dreams come true. spruce, and blackwood with cedar. pet have I read such a powerful story of Lifelong Learning ing songwriter, and anyone who owns Michael Dulaney a businessman taking personal convic- I saw a comment by Brian Kennicott a Taylor guitar. Back in 1992, I was a tion to this level, pivoting his entire indus- in Wood&Steel [“Letters,” Vol. 72/Sum- waiter in Los Angeles, dreaming of being try around environmental principles. mer 2012] about buying his first guitar a songwriter and of owning a Taylor gui- Road Rave Stage Presence As an architect, I confront sustain- at the age of 43. I was about that age tar. I saved my tip money, sold some old This is just a note to let you know Dennis Globus’s article on playing ability decisions every day. While I when I bought my first guitar. I don’t gear and guitars, and finally had enough that I feel that Taylor rep Eric Sakimoto an open-mic night for the first time have many supporters, I see plenty of remember what it was, but I’ve owned money to call Taylor and put my order in and Taylor [product specialist] Corey [Vol. 72/Summer 2012] was excep- manufacturers who would prefer that this a Martin D-35, a Gretsch Country on an 810 Dreadnought. It took almost Witt are one of the best sales teams tional. It was like I was right there movement just go away, like a fad. That, Gentleman, a Fender Strat, two Ovations a year, but it finally arrived to my Studio Taylor has going. The passion they both listening to him — almost in concert. It or apply window-dressing to improve (acoustic and solid body) and a Yamaha. City apartment in its cardboard box. I have as guitar players and especially for was well thought out and written with appearances. In February I bought a Taylor 414ce. I was beside myself with excitement as I Taylor guitars is obvious and something loads of helpful information. I am a bit I applaud your research in the field to turned 80 in May and finally have time opened the case: the brand new smell, that cannot be faked (especially to other 6 Profile: Matt Guzzetta older and have been playing guitar understand and react effectively to the to study and play every day. That Taylor the shine, holding it like a newborn, play- observant players). The Road Show Taylor’s longtime industrial design guru helped Bob Taylor transform his since the ’60s with a fair amount of lives and livelihood of the people in Cam- is the best instrument I’ve ever played. ing it, hearing it! is a definite plus in terms of product shop into a world-class manufacturing operation. stage experience, but for the past eroon, as well as the shrinking forests. It Thank you for your commitment to the At that time, I worked at a hotel knowledge on Taylor guitars and every- few years have shied away from new is only by this kind of understanding that industry. restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. I thing that makes guitars sound the way stages for more familiar audiences. His we are able to do more than stop-gap Jack Leach worked the breakfast/lunch shift, which they do. I have learned something each article got me to thinking again about measures to protect our finite planet. I started at 5:30 a.m., so I was usually up time Eric and Corey have been here at 12 Builder’s Reserve VII trying an open-mic night. Thanks! have passed this story on to others who at 4:30 a.m. to get ready for work. That Sparks Music. And thanks for making my It’s an all-mahogany affair as our matched 12-Fret and tenor ukulele together Dr. Jan Michael Nace appreciate the complexity of sustainabil- Plugging In is Optional was the case on January 17, 1994 when 814ce. conjure a rich, vintage aesthetic. ity, and they will appreciate a real suc- My name is Michael, I am 13 years the Northridge earthquake struck at 4:31. Greg Smyer cess story. I own four guitars, each with old, and I live in New York. My first I was holding onto a closet door for dear Arkansas City, KS 14 Builder’s Reserve VIII Sustainable Ebony uniform black ebony fretboards. I had acoustic guitar felt like it was made life as everything in my apartment was In a subtle yet stunning stroke of craftsmanship, a contoured cutaway proves I recently purchased a new Taylor no idea that all ebony did not grow this out of the same wood that my desk at flying around, windows were breaking, less is more on this walnut/cedar GS, paired with a walnut amp. because it sounded great and wasn’t way! It is important work you are doing in school was and had the sustain and tone and ultimately the entire apartment build- Back to the Beach even thinking about the environment your corner of the world, and if I were to of a wet blanket. I was determined to ing was being jolted from its foundation. I bought your 2012 914ce two days 22 Letters and Songs or sustainability when I made my ever obtain another guitar, I would seek get myself a respectable acoustic guitar, In the eerily quiet pitch-black aftermath, ago and still cannot believe it. I’ve been Cover photo: PS16ce-FLTD with Macassar ebony back and sides and sinker redwood top An unexpected letter set in motion a remarkable songwriting journey for investment. Which is somewhat ironic a distinctive, natural and unique look to so for my birthday I purchased a Taylor I somehow found a flashlight and began saving up for this guitar for over a year singer-songwriter Alex Woodard. because, as an environmental engi- celebrate the diversity of ebony — most 314ce. I cannot tell you how much I love looking around. The windows were and am so pleased to own it. I live in neering consultant, I work with numer- likely a Taylor! it, especially after a gig with my band in broken, the refrigerator was all the way Portland, Oregon now but was raised ous public and private companies Peter Saucerman the city. In the middle of a song I realized across the kitchen, all the dishes were in in Redondo Beach, California, so the 12 22 25 Phillip Phillips on environmental and sustainability that my guitar wasn’t plugged in! I later a broken pile on the floor, furniture was abalone trim and inlays remind me of my American Idol’s latest champ reflects on his guitar development and the issues. I even write corporate sustain- walked off stage in a pretty awful mood toppled, and my precious new Taylor… youth spent on the beach, and the tuners next chapter of his career. ability reports for clients to publish A Pair of Winners and asked my parents how it sounded. I held my breath as I opened the door remind me of brass work on old boats — on their website. After registering my I am a three-time Grammy-winning They said that they didn’t even notice! to the room where I had been playing my another reminder of my home near the 26 Backstage Pass: Joe Don Rooney Taylor and receiving my first issue of producer based in Boulder, Colorado. In My Taylor was so loud that even the solo new 810 just the night before. It was a beach. The Rascal Flatts guitarist shares his Taylor story, and we share the story Wood&Steel, I was completely floored 1997 I wanted to find and purchase the was audible. Every Taylor I’ve ever played mess. Books and papers everywhere. A My first guitar was a $100 classical behind the band’s cool new custom guitar. by your article on ebony and your world’s best recording guitar. I took a has been a masterpiece, and you can be floor-to-ceiling oak bookshelf face down 43 years ago, so to own the 914ce now sustainability practices to protect this portable DAT (digital audio tape) record- sure that my next guitar will be a Taylor... diagonally across the room. And sticking feels almost as if I’m dreaming. I abso- resource. The vertical integration of ing machine and a stereo condenser built to order, of course. out underneath: the headstock of my lutely love it and just wanted to share my 29 “Me and My Taylor” Photo Contest We asked Taylor owners to submit a photo that conveys what their guitar your operations and the foresight you microphone to four different music shops Michael Rubin guitar. I was heartbroken. After counting appreciation for the quality workmanship means to them. Here are the winning images. are demonstrating in gaining control in this area and recorded literally dozens my blessings that I was OK, and that that you put into this guitar. of your supply chain is inspiring and of guitars. I recorded instruments made broken things can be replaced, I carefully Debbie Simmons a great example of sustainability in by Martin, Gibson, Guild, Taylor, Santa Playing Big picked up the heavy bookshelf to check 26 practice. It reminded me of how Green Cruz, Collings, Lowden, Breedlove and I have been practicing with my Baby out the damage. The guitar had some Mountain Coffee reached out to its some lesser known makers I don’t even Taylor for about a year. My wife always pretty severe scratches and dents, but it bean suppliers in the video “After the remember. I played the same musical said it sounds mighty thin. I just returned was in one piece. [Soon afterward] I took Departments Harvest.” I have posted a blog about phrase on each guitar and intentionally home from Daddy O’s Guitar in Stillwa- my Taylor to a guitar tech in the Valley. He We’d like to your article and plan to share your placed the mic directly in front of the ter and was enjoying the rich sound of looked at it and told me that the wood hear from you 2 Letters 10 Ask Bob 30 Events efforts with my clients. Your story is soundhole (not where I would normally my GS Mini when my wife came back was not cracked anywhere. After calling great and should be heard by others! place a microphone for recording) in from a luncheon. As she came into the Taylor for me, he told me that they said Send your e-mails to: 4 Kurt’s Corner 16 Soundings 31 Calendar Thanks for thinking of the future and order to pick up any unattractive wolf- room the Mini was blocked from view by the damage would make a better story [email protected] 5 BobSpeak 28 Taylor Notes 32 TaylorWare the enjoyment your product brings me! tone (i.e. resonant frequency) charac- the music stand. She said, “Ah, you’re than trying to refinish it, as it might affect Wayne Bates, PhD, PE teristics. I then brought the recordings playing your Dreadnought.” That was the sound.

4 www.taylorguitars.com 5

Online Volume 73 Fall 2012 Read this and other back issues of Wood&Steel at taylorguitars.com

Publisher / Taylor-Listug, Inc. Produced by the Taylor Guitars Marketing Department Editor / Jim Kirlin Art Director / Cory Sheehan Graphic Designer / Rita Funk-Hoffman Graphic Designer / Angie Stamos-Guerra Photographer / Tim Whitehouse

Contributors David Hosler / Wayne Johnson / David Kaye / Kurt Listug / Shawn Persinger Shane Roeschlein / Bob Taylor / Glen Wolff / Chalise Zolezzi

Technical Advisors Ed Granero / David Hosler / Gerry Kowalski / Andy Lund / Rob Magargal Mike Mosley / Bob Taylor / Chris Wellons / Glen Wolff

Contributing Photographers Rita Funk-Hoffman / David Kaye / Katrina Horstman

Circulation Printing / Distribution Kurt’s Corner Katrina Horstman Courier Graphics / CEREUS - Phoenix BobSpeak

©2012 Taylor Guitars. TAYLOR, TAYLOR (Stylized); TAYLOR GUITARS, TAYLOR QUALITY GUITARS and has taken Spain by storm and who, like future generations. It shouldn’t be only Brand Transcendence Design; BABY TAYLOR; BIG BABY; Peghead Design; Bridge Design; Pickguard Design; 100 SERIES; The View From Here Columbus, has struck out to discover in the Grand Canyon, where the forest When you start and grow a busi- a friend’s Taylor, or an artist they saw around the world through our guitars 200 SERIES; 300 SERIES; 400 SERIES; 500 SERIES; 600 SERIES; 700 SERIES; 800 SERIES; This issue I give you a photo of my the Americas. You should seek him out thrives alongside legitimate use of its 900 SERIES; PRESENTATION SERIES; GALLERY; QUALITY TAYLOR GUITARS, GUITARS AND ness like Bob and I have, a lot of peo- playing a Taylor, or maybe an article and music. CASES and Design; WOOD&STEEL; ROBERT TAYLOR (Stylized); TAYLOR EXPRESSION SYSTEM; chair. To me, my chair is kind of like if you’re interested in some amazing timber, respect for its local people, and ple over time become involved with the they read. In other words, the way in This issue of Wood&Steel features EXPRESSION SYSTEM; TAYLORWARE; TAYLOR GUITARS K4; K4, TAYLOR K4; TAYLOR ES; DOYLE Wilson (the volleyball) in the movie music. His guitar playing is wonderful, the enjoyment of its beauty. Here, in company, whether as owners, employ- which our company or our guitars have a profile of longtime employee Matt DYKES SIGNATURE MODEL; DYNAMIC BODY SENSOR; T5; T5 (Stylized); BALANCED BREAKOUT; Castaway. It’s my trusty friend, and it and his voice is unbelievable. He’s also the U.S., we have grown used to all, or R. TAYLOR; R TAYLOR (Stylized); AMERICAN DREAM; TAYLOR SOLIDBODY; T3; GRAND SYMPHONY; many, of those goals being met. I know ees, vendors, dealers or customers. Or connected with someone and impacted Guzzetta. As Matt prepares to retire WAVE COMPENSATED; GS; GS MINI; ES-GO; V-CABLE; and GA are registered trademarks of the com- has seen many a beautiful place with made Spanish music very accessible to even people who just know about the their life is what Taylor means to them. from Taylor at the end of this year, we’d pany. DOYLE DELUXE; GA MINI; YOUR TONE. AMPLIFIED; and FIND YOUR FIT; NYLON SERIES; me. I take its photo often, showing us Americans. I can’t say enough good it can happen around the world as we company and its products. People who In that sense, a popular brand lives in like to thank him for his many contribu- KOA SERIES; WALNUT SERIES; GRAND AUDITORIUM; GRAND CONCERT; SIGNATURE MODEL; where we’ve been. things about him. improve our attitudes and habits, and people’s hearts and minds, and is much GS SERIES; LIBERTY TREE; LEO KOTTKE SIGNATURE MODEL; DAN CRARY SIGNATURE MODEL; I’ve taken to iPhone photography I decided to get aggressive and do what we like to do at Taylor Guitars, are involved directly add their ideas and tions and years of service, and cel- DYNAMIC STRING SENSOR are trademarks of the company. Patents pending. Prices and specifications talents, and through everyone’s hard bigger than the company itself. The ebrate his accomplishments. subject to change without notice. lately in an effort to travel a little lighter, actually go “get him” to be a Taylor namely to get in for more, rather than work and group effort, the company brand is as big as there are people in Whatever your relationship is with and frankly, to take fewer photos. For player. That’s something I just don’t out for less. survives, grows and prospers. The com- the world who have connected with it Taylor, whether as an employee, vendor, some time I traveled with full gear and do, but this time was different. The ­­ — Bob Taylor, President pany’s course is positively impacted by in a positive and meaningful way. banker, retail salesperson or guitar 2012 Taylor Factory Tours & Vacation Dates came away with a lot of really fine funny thing is, once I got there I found the contributions of each and every per- We’ve been very fortunate over owner, you’ve contributed to the great- A free, guided tour of the Taylor Guitars factory is given every Monday photographs. But I noticed that I kind him already playing Taylor guitars and son, and the company learns from the the years to have a lot of great people ness of this company. We sincerely through Friday at 1 p.m. (excluding holidays). No advance reservations are of missed the trip; I wasn’t there in learned that he’s been a Taylor fan successes and failures experienced come through the door and join us thank you. necessary. Simply check-in at the reception desk in our Visitor Center, located real time. So I’m in a different phase of his whole life. When he got his first travel now. The memories are mostly in recording contract money, he ran out in the lobby of our main building, before 1 p.m. We ask that large groups (more my head, although I’m happy to share and bought a Taylor guitar. ­­ — Kurt Listug, CEO than 10) call us in advance at (619) 258-1207. a few iPhone photos I’ve taken on my Let’s just say that a few more A popular brand lives in people’s While not physically demanding, the tour does include a fair amount of current trip. Taylors are heading his way. He’s got walking. Due to the technical nature, the tour may not be suitable for small hearts and minds, and is much In one of them, my chair is sitting my support and best wishes, and I’m children. The tour lasts approximately one hour and 15 minutes and departs bigger than the company itself. inches from the edge of the Grand proud to hear his voice echo down the from the main building at 1980 Gillespie Way in El Cajon, California. Canyon, the north side, where tourists canyon walls even now. Please take note of the weekday exceptions below. For more information, seldom travel because it’s hard to get Among these huge pines and along the way. Over time, the company as members of the team, and help us including directions to the factory, please visit taylorguitars.com/contact. there. We drove through thunderstorms aspen-filled valleys where I’m takes on an energy and life of its own, grow, improve and evolve the company. We look forward to seeing you! to get to a dry spot. We were lucky, I sequestered, I can’t help but think of and is almost like an independent entity Whether they stay with us for years or guess, because the weather all around guitar wood. This is where much of or organism that transcends the people for decades, their energy and ideas us was quite uncomfortable, and nearly my attention lies lately. As we try to or the ownership. and dedication become part of the Holiday Closures dangerous. Last week 1,700 lighting transition Cameroon into a sustainable You see the external manifestation woof and warp of the company, and Ed. Note: Last issue’s story, “More strikes to the ground were recorded. source of ebony for guitars while of this with popular brands like Taylor. remain with us forever. Just as Bob and October 15 Than a Store,” featured a photo The rain was coming down in buckets keeping their forests in good health of Taylor dealer Spotlight Music Although Bob and I are the owners I couldn’t do this by ourselves and are (Taylor Guitars Anniversary) and the wind was howling. But we saw and also creating some kind of and the sole shareholders, and though fortunate that we each found a partner showing a sign that claimed the blue skies ahead in the direction we economy for Cameroonians, we haven’t we directly employ nearly 800 people with complementary skills and talents, November 22-23 “largest selection of Taylor guitars hoped for. forgotten about all the other species across three continents, I think that we couldn’t do this without all the great (Thanksgiving Holiday) in Colorado.” To be fair, we should My iPhone is multitasking as my around the world. It seems that each when most people think of Taylor, they people who have worked for us, and acknowledge that Wildwood Gui- camera, map, typewriter (as I write this month there are new relationships and don’t think about the people or the who continue working for us. Together, Monday, December 24 tars in Louisville, Colorado techni- article) and music player. Right now, ideas to be developed to improve the facilities. They think about what Taylor we’ve created and continue to create through Friday, January 4 cally has a larger Taylor inventory. streaming via Bluetooth to my Jambox sustainability of the timbers we use. means to them on a personal level. this awesome enterprise that tran- (Company Vacation) are the songs of Pablo Alborán, a It’s quite fulfilling to work on projects They think of their own Taylor guitar, or scends each of us and touches people young Spanish singer-songwriter who that could have positive impact into Top down: Bob’s chair enjoys a view of the Grand Canyon; aspen trees; camping in Lone Pine, California 7 Tooling Around Taylor’s secret weapon, industrial designer Matt Guzzetta, changed the way guitar makers think about tools and helped

spur Taylor’s manufacturing growth by jim kirlin

ob Taylor is sifting through a strong impression on a young Bob. hydroplane racing boat and a 13-foot, twice a month they’d have a big pot hanging out at my shop,” Bob remem- Taylor memories, recalling the “Matt was great,” Bob recalls. “He V-8-powered inboard. After high school, luck, and they’d be roaming around bers, “and where I was able to help him array of guitar companies was older than me and knew a lot of he spent four years in the Air Force, playing music. Then Bob and Kurt do some stuff. At the time I was still the who’ve sent employees to tricky things that I didn’t know how to where he learned Russian and spent the bought the place and ruined it — they only tooling guy we had, so I asked him the Taylor factory over the do. I could go to his place needing a early ’60s working on an army sub-post turned it into a real business,” he if he wanted to spend a little time here years to get an inside look nut or a bolt and rummage through his in Germany intercepting and translating laughs. and get paid by the job or the hour. at our operation. After an coffee cans. He also had a little lathe the conversations of Russian pilots. One of Guzzetta’s valued remnants So he started doing that on a contract in-depth tour, Bob’s guests that I could make things on.” After returning home he enrolled from Taylor’s early era is a 1976 rose- basis — he didn’t want to be an employ- would typically venture home Bob says he’s not sure what trajec- at the Art Center College of Design in wood Jumbo 815 that he received in ee; he hadn’t worked for anyone for a impressed by the proprietary tory his tooling development might have Los Angeles to study car design and a trade for a finish spray booth. It’s number of years.” tools and machines Taylor had developed taken without Guzzetta. for a class project began working on a become a point of half-joking, half- As Matt became more familiar to improve the guitar-making process. “I knew how to make things, but streamliner-style racing car. After gradu- defiant pride that he still has the origi- with Mastercam, the program used to B “Almost every time I’d get a follow- I didn’t know how to make things to ating, he was hired by BSA-Triumph nal strings on it to maintain all-original interface with the computer mill, his up call,” Bob remembers with a smile. make things, which was a big differ- Motorcycles in England, making him parts. collaborations with Bob helped Taylor “They’d say, ‘Bob, I have one question ence,” he explains. “Matt did work that the first American ever hired to work on As Bob and Kurt struggled to keep begin to carve out (often quite literally) for you: Where do I get a Matt?’” had complex shapes and fixtures to their new bike designs. While there he their fledgling enterprise afloat in the a reputation for ultra-playable guitars Matt would be Taylor’s Senior Tool get holes drilled right. He taught me kept the streamliner project going on late ’70s and early ’80s, Guzzetta’s that boasted a high level of consistent and Machine Designer Matt Guzzetta, how to heat plastic and bend it, work the side, and after the company ran into restless creative focus shifted to the quality. Bob could explain the end and who knows what Taylor Guitars with Plexiglas and drill jigs and Bondo financial trouble, he returned to the U.S. development of a super-aerodynamic, result he wanted in some guitar-making might look like today if Bob had never and location pins, and make things Eventually he completed the streamliner, fuel-efficient motorcycle. In 1984, he process, and Matt would apply his met him. Through the lens of hindsight, accurately line up. He taught me about a first-of-its-kind, all-fiberglass 500cc etched his name into the Guinness industrial design expertise to fabricate a there’s no question that Bob pos- drill bushings. I learned how to make a Triumph-powered vehicle, and took it to Book of World Records for riding it tool or machine that would achieve that sessed the passion and raw talent lot of the simple tools we used back in the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, whose from San Diego, California to Daytona goal in a more efficient and consistent to become a successful luthier. His the day from Matt. It made me want to speedway had become the site of many Beach, Florida (2,400 miles) on less way. As they worked closely together, instincts for refining traditional guitar- start making guitar parts that were inter- land speed records. There he met Don than 12 gallons of gas — averaging they formed the nucleus of an in-house making methods surely would have led changeable.” Vesco, a motorcycle racer who had just about 214 miles per gallon. (The bike tooling department that would soon be to fresh innovations. That said, Guzzet- Guzzetta’s world was motorsports, become the first person to break the is currently on display in the San Diego capable of handling complex tool and ta stands out as a key figure in Taylor’s and his innovative design work had 250-mph record. The two became fast Automotive Museum.) machine design. transformation from a small shop to an already made a major impact among friends, and Guzzetta convinced Vesco Though Guzzetta and Bob stayed Guzzetta would eventually come envelope-pushing manufacturer. In fact, competitive motorcycle racers. The to go into business with him manufac- in touch during those years, their paths aboard as a full-time employee, and his indelible contributions — including gas tanks he had designed for off-road turing racing parts. would become more entwined around in the years that followed, his designs his creative mindset — are arguably as racing became all the rage among the Though Guzzetta’s industry was, 1990, at the onset of what would turn would help Taylor grow more sophisti- much a part of Taylor’s forward-thinking sport’s top competitors; at one point technologically speaking, far ahead of out to be a new phase of Taylor tooling cated and facilitate an increase in pro- culture as anyone’s. the vast majority of the Baja off-road- the more traditional world of guitar mak- development. Bob had just bought his duction volume without compromising Guzzetta has officially been with the winning bikes sported Guzzetta’s tanks. ing, he says he had a deep appreciation first computer mill, and Guzzetta, who on quality. Among his designs during company for 20 years, but his associa- “We were selling 10,000 of them for woodworking from the American had moved on from the motorcycle the 1990s were: an aluminum kerfing tion with Bob and Kurt stretches back a year, exporting them literally all over Dream and early Taylor days. industry, had reapplied his creative clamp, which replaced the clothes pins to the seminal pre-Taylor days at the the world,” he remembered in a 1995 “I loved the guitars,” he says. “I focus to archery and the design of a traditionally used by guitar makers to American Dream shop, where Bob Wood&Steel profile. “We couldn’t even didn’t play, but the craftsmanship was revolutionary longbow. Bob offered to hold kerfing strips to the inside of the and Kurt met. Guzzetta ran Don Vesco keep up with the demand.” fantastic.” let Guzzetta use Taylor’s mill after hours guitar body; the fret buck, a device Products, which manufactured motor- Guzzetta’s interest in the physical He has fond memories of the free- and on weekends to make some of the used to support the fretboard exten- Matt Guzzetta, in front of an ultraviolet oven that he cycle racing parts, and his shop was in mechanics of vehicle propulsion was wheeling days at the Dream shop. parts for it. sion and absorb impact when the 14th designed to cure a guitar’s finish; Opposite page: Bythe Jim same Kirlin building, a couple of doors sparked at a young age. By the time “It was like a little hippie commune “It came full circle, where 15 years Taylor’s kerfing clamp, a Guzzetta design down. His ability to design tools made he finished high school, he had built a thing over there,” he recalls. “Once or into our relationship, Matt was now continued next page 8 www.taylorguitars.com 9 through 20th frets were hammered in product development team, can attest. he can go through his mental file cards other guitar companies,” Bob attests. uct development group was also get- Taylor’s innovative industrial design, one “Anyway, with all the eye-hand coordi- place on a neck that was attached to “One of the best things about Matt and think, I saw how they used to “They’re like, ‘Say hi to Matt!’ I’ve got- ting ready to purchase a high-precision of the products that’s most associated nation and other skills required to drive a guitar body (Taylor would later sell is that because of his vast experiences, polish glasses; that might be able to ten more ‘say hi to Matt’ than we prob- injection molding machine. with him at Taylor is the 1969 Datsun the car, I told my doctor I should have UV-Curable Finish these to outside guitar repair techni- he can think way outside the box, and take the wrinkles out of copper when ably get ‘say hi to Bob,’” he laughs. “It’s very small — it’s made for doing 510 he drives to work each day. He been able to write off my investment in In the mid-’90s, Taylor intro- cians in the industry); a fretboard bring ideas to the table that no one we build a pickup. So, he’s a walking “Really.” things like medical stuff,” he explains. bought it new, and despite its compact it as a rehab expense.” duced two innovations involving sander, incorporating a quick-change else would think of,” he says. database of ways to relate non sequi- Throughout Guzzetta’s tenure at “There’s a lot of potential because we size and clean, unassuming look (the The end of this year would appear the use of ultraviolet (UV) light sanding drum attachment for a Longtime finish department man- tur things.” Taylor, as the tooling and machine make a lot of little things, like knobs paint color is “cool vanilla”), he’s made, to mark the end of an era for Taylor and guitar finish applications: One was CNC mill to enable the sanding ager Steve Baldwin agrees. David Hosler, a longtime member operation have grown around him — and other bits that go on a guitar that ahem, a few modifications to it. He’s Guzzetta. Now at age 70, he’s planning the finish itself; the other was a of the fretboard radius; and “What’s been great about work- of Taylor’s product development team our product development group we don’t use a lot of.” got a Ford 5.0 liter V8 engine in it, to to retire, although he suspects he’ll still UV curing oven designed by Matt a vacuum chuck to hold a ing with Matt over the years has who has also done a lot of design includes nearly 30 people, plus a team Listening to Guzzetta delve into the the tune of 320 horsepower, with a be involved in projects. Guzzetta. The type of finish tradi- guitar body securely while been his openness to new work over the years, is also a fan of of ten responsible for equipment repair inner workings of a project or design, Corvette’s rear suspension and plenty “I came into this company as a tionally used had been nitrocel- allowing it to be rotated ideas, and being able to Matt’s design approach. and maintenance — he’s been able to one can’t help but get caught up in his of other fun customized features. He consultant, so maybe that’s the way lulose lacquer, which has several to scrape and level the take an idea I had and make “Matt has become my standard for adapt to the expanded organizational unbridled enthusiasm, no matter how calls it his “street sleeper.” I’ll go out,” he laughs. “Dave Hosler drawbacks. It contains a high level binding. it usable,” he says. “We’ve defining a truly creative industrial art- infrastructure. In return, he hasn’t technical it may be. He has a way of “It’s kind of a cult car,” he says. “It says they’ll probably end up spending of chemical solvents (lacquer thin- One of Guzzetta’s worked on quite a few proj- ist,” he says. “He’s a unique blend of been pushed into a management posi- making almost anything sound like fun. was an economy car that worked out half their time over at my house when I ners), which are released into the most revolutionary designs, ects together, and it’s always genuine brilliance, inspiring creativity, tion, which he acknowledges isn’t And most conversations are peppered really well in racing for 2-3 years, and leave. That would be kind of fun.” air as the finish cures, and such and arguably his crowning been a pleasure to see the and years of hands-on experience. His his strength. To his credit, Bob says along the way by “the Matt laugh,” one it’s got this aura about it. I built it for fun “Nobody here wants to see Matt emissions pollute the environment. accomplishment, was Tay- fruition of those ideas.” willingness to personally engage in Guzzetta’s ego doesn’t demand that of his most distinctive traits. It comes and to mess with BMW and Porsche leave,” says Bob Taylor. “He has a huge, The curing time also was lengthy — lor’s ultraviolet oven, designed Among their collabora- projects on and off the drawing board he be treated like the top dog. As long frequently, often after a wisecrack, and owners, and to annoy other 510 own- rich history in what we’ve done. And more than 10 days — with addition- to cure the finish sprayed on a tions were the development of is amazing. It has produced something as he’s got interesting projects to work offers a constant reminder that work ers,” he adds with a chuckle. “People because of that, he’s a springboard to al solvent vapors released beyond guitar (see sidebar). the work station in which guitars rare and valuable for all of us who on, he’s content to be a designer. and play should be close friends. say you can’t put a big V8 in it because anything that we’re going to do. He’s that, reducing the finish volume Like Bob — perhaps even more so — are robotically buffed and the design work with him. I always think of Matt Among his current projects is the “You can’t look at your work as a it won’t handle anymore. So that was moved from making tools used to make and often leaving an unsightly Guzzetta has never felt beholden to the of a spray cell and exchange station as someone who learned what he design of some fixtures to make a new job,” he insists. “If you do, you’ll never just like putting a big red flag up — I our guitars to helping us invent new appearance. Lacquer also yellows mold of tradition. In fact, he delights in for Taylor’s robotic, electrostatic finish needed to know when information was piezo-style pickup in-house. During get anywhere doing it. It’s not a job; it’s can’t do that? Oh, yes I can!” guitar parts.” over time and is susceptible to bucking it. spraying process. critical and then went to the university one conversation in his office, he pulls like solving a problem. People do video Guzzetta belongs to the Sports Car While Guzzetta doesn’t appear the cold-checking (cracking) with dra- “I like making things differently than Bob Taylor appreciates the innate of ‘doing it.’” up a 3-D image of the pickup and its games. Well, this is like a big, giant Club of America, so every month or so least bit concerned about his legacy matic temperature changes. other people do,” Guzzetta says. “I think depth of Guzzetta’s curiosity and his Guzzetta’s affable personality carrier on his computer, within the video game [laughs].” he takes the car to a driving course in at Taylor — he seems perfectly content Taylor spent about four years that’s where it really came together positive outlook as he dives into a and straight-shooting ways have also design program Solidworks. Want to ignite Guzzetta’s creative the parking lot of San Diego’s Qual- simply to know that he helped create working with outside finish sup- with me and Bob, because neither one project. endeared him to outside vendors and “With the piezo technology these spirit? Tell him something can’t be comm Stadium, where he tests the some cool stuff — it’s clear that his pliers to formulate a UV-curable of us will look at something and say, “One of Matt’s main assets is that other collaborative partners over the days, they make a wire with a piezo done. Even the trademark ponytail that limits of its handling. approach to design has become deeply polyester finish, constituted with ‘That’s it.’ We’ll think, we’ve got to add he’s highly interested,” he says. “He’s years. film on it that’s sensitive enough for still hangs from his head is the remnant “It’s fun to go down there and play,” embedded with Bob’s philosophies considerably fewer solvents, mak- something to that, or we can do some- wonderful at researching things. He’s “We work well with other compa- you to bury them in the ground — of a defiant act. he says. “The course is different every as part of Taylor’s innovative design ing it much more environmentally thing better than that. If you don’t think also willing to change — ‘Oh, you want nies because if they want to try some- they’ll do it at the U.S. border — and it “Years ago, my daughter had a time, and you only get four runs. They culture. friendly. It was also superior in that way then you can’t do what we do.” me to do that now? Great, that’ll be thing, we’ll tell them what we really will detect everything from raindrops to boyfriend with a ponytail, and I made don’t call it a race. It’s a precision driv- “There just aren’t very many people other ways: It was thinner (thus That mindset, coupled with Guzzet- fun.’ Most people aren’t like that.” think, and it won’t be a biased thing,” a truck driving over it,” he says. some comment about growing one,” ing test.” like Matt,” Bob says. “He’s eccentric in enhancing the guitar’s perfor- ta’s industrial design success outside Bob also admires Guzzetta’s ability Guzzetta says. “And that word gets He goes on to explain more about he shares. “She told me, ‘You can’t do It’s an outlet he doesn’t take for a charming way and in a practical way. mance), clearer, easier to sand, the guitar world, proved to be a huge to cross-connect ideas from different out. People want to do business with the pickup and the way it will be made. that.’ You can see how that worked out.” granted, especially after suffering a A lot of people are eccentric but they’re and more stable amid temperature asset that influenced Taylor’s conceptu- areas and reapply them. this company because we do stuff.” Taylor recently bought a solid modeling Even though Guzzetta’s design stroke in late 2005. not practical. Matt’s really practical and fluctuation. al approach to guitar making, as David “When Matt sees anything being “Matt has a huge reputation machine that can make actual parts fingerprints are all over the Taylor fac- “I was in the ICU for four days and off-the-wall at the same time.” The related improvement was Judd, a longtime member of Taylor’s made, he remembers it, and one day among vendors, prospective vendors, from the Solidworks design. The prod- tory and his legacy is enmeshed with walking on the fifth,” he points out. Matt Guzzetta’s customized UV curing oven to dramatically reduce the curing time. Though UV curing Top down: Guzzetta (right) on the aerodynamic motorcycle that he rode into the had been used in other industries Below: A sampling of the guitar-making tools Guzzetta designed. L-R: A vacuum chuck, used to hold a guitar body without damaging the surface of the guitar while excess binding is scraped; a quick-change CNC record books in 1984; testing the limits of his modified Datsun 510 on a closed like printing, it had been limited sanding drum attachment, which enables the fretboard radius to be sanded; (opposite page) the fret buck, designed to absorb impact and protect the guitar when frets are hammered into the fretboard extension course; his streamliner at Bonneville, Utah’s salt flats to flat surfaces because of the way the UV light needed to be focused. Three-dimensional prod- ucts, such as guitars, were not candidates — until new lights were developed with enough power to cover a greater depth of field. Guzzetta’s oven design incorpo- rated a rotating setup along with the new lights, and the results were a dramatic improvement: Guitar finish could be cured in about 60 seconds, which greatly improved the efficiency within the finish department. Taylor’s 3-D UV curing became recognized as a breakthrough in a variety of industries. “We’ve had Trek Bicycles here, we’ve had aircraft people come through here — a lot of dif- ferent companies,” says Guzzetta. “Apparently when people talk about 3-D UV curing in the coun- try, we’re still seen as a pioneer.” 10 www.taylorguitars.com 11

expensive than those made with the days for construction lumber. And that’s spruce all those years ago was and humidify them in the case as No, Loren, I don’t know it, and like an soon-to-be-endangered mahogany. just one mill! because all the Adirondack spruce had needed. Does this guitar, because earlier question, that is a local name. Why is that? It would seem that the Now, let’s take mahogany. I imagine been cut down. (We deforested even of the cedar top, need to be cased For instance, we sometimes use a more prevalent maple would be less that our industry uses a much higher back then!) or protected more than a spruce-top Ask Bob wood called imbuia, which is also expensive because it’s so readily percentage of the mahogany than we Feel free to put Adirondack spruce guitar would need to be? I ask since referred to as Brazilian walnut. But it’s available. do of the spruce, and by the time we on your cocobolo or koa guitars. It will cedar is less dense than spruce. Will actually not walnut at all! Unfortunately Ken Moody-Arndt get to ebony, I can tell you that nearly work fine and sound great. Be sure it be more susceptible to changes Headstock history, 12-string jangle, and I haven’t heard of Coral rosewood. I all the ebony cut is made into instru- to get Adirondack bracing, too, as I in humidity? I would prefer to keep suppose I could Google it, but I think Great question, Ken. The simple ments. So we do have an impact, and believe it makes more tonal difference it on the rack but will case it if campfire conditions you’re really asking if I have experience answer is that maple comes from we must take responsibility for that, than even the top. required. with it and can comment one way or developed countries like the U.S. and and not hide behind other industries. Dan Haws the other. And here I thought I was “the Europe, where things cost more. Much I’m happy to do that, because it gives Olympia, WA Have you ever built a mahogany- Is there any thought of a sunburst much strings affect the sound of the answer man!” Maybe not so much. of the cost of any tree is the cost of us the opportunity to change it for the topped acoustic 12-string? In gen- option for the 100 Series models? guitar is that new strings sound good, getting it out of the forest. Also, the better. The issue of properly humidify- No, Dan, it’s the same as spruce, not eral, I find the “jangly,” “shimmering” I think you would sell quite a few at and old strings sound dead. I invite you only maple guitars you see have flamed ing a Taylor acoustic guitar has less or more susceptible. If you treat it characteristics of the twelve to be Road Shows. to try different strings to see what you figure in the grain, which is representa- been addressed multiple times in the same you’ll get the same results. just a bit overstated, and I’m wonder- Jacob Parks like. It’s a great way to personalize your Bob, I just watched your online video tive of probably less than one percent Wood&Steel, and I’m grateful for how ing if a mahogany top might help guitar. We use Elixir strings on the gui- on the future of ebony. It’s discon- of the maple. This makes it valuable, My grandfather and father were log- clearly you have detailed this impor- offset some of that or darken it up I’m really pleased you enjoyed the Road tars that leave the factory because they certing to hear how this amazing and not viewed as a weed. There is a gers when there was a market for tant aspect of acoustic guitar owner- a bit. Show, Jacob. Wayne can play anything last and last. It really helps the guitar wood is vanishing, but I applaud very big business component surround- persimmon, the American ebony. At ship. I also have a SolidBody Classic I have two wonderful Taylor guitars Dan Colehour and is very inspiring. As for the 100 make it through the selling process, your efforts to manage the resource ing timber. It’s quite complex, and this that time it was used almost exclu- (which I love!) and don’t recall any that I absolutely love: a GS Mini and Nashville, TN Series, they are great guitars and built with dozens of people playing them in the most responsible way pos- makes the prices vary greatly. sively for golf driver heads, but now discussion of properly humidifying a cocobolo GSce-LTD. Seeing as I to deliver value. Part of the winning for- over an average period of three months sible. A couple questions came to the market has disappeared. Is this a SolidBody. Can you please speak am getting on in years and my voice I hear ya, brother. Yes we’ve made mula for the value in that guitar comes per guitar and without having a string me as I watched the video. First, wood appropriate for guitar [fret- to how and why the humidification has gone down in pitch a bit, I can’t them, but that’s not the cause of the with the finish being quick and easy to change. That’s a remarkable feature of what is the life cycle of ebony, and is boards]? requirements may differ from those hit the high notes like I used to. I jangly voice. It’s all those jangly strings! do in the factory. A sunburst is a com- Elixir strings. it possible to replant these trees in a Steve Jordan of acoustic instruments, and how would like to use an E-flat tuning That’s why many players, like Leo plicated and time-consuming finish, so sustainable way? Second, I assume Rochester, NY SolidBody owners can properly on my guitar, or even a D tuning if I Kottke, tune down a couple of steps. It it goes against the formula. One of us the 10 to 1 ratio of trees discarded maintain our instruments? could, but I get some pretty serious turns the guitar into a whole new instru- would lose. Either you’d pay too much to trees milled (favoring black wood) Steve, it’s ebony, but it’s white. I’m still Matthew Davidson string buzz when I tune down even ment. It’s amazing. Also, you should try or I’d work for free, so I think we’ll stick I live on Whidbey Island in Washing- is consistent in other countries thinking about that. I can’t get it out of Chicago, IL to E-flat. I currently use the strings our Baritone 8-String. It has a tone I to the formula. But you’re right, if the ton State and like to take my guitar besides Cameroon. Is it possible to my head. that came on the guitars, Elixir medi- bet you’d like — it has the octave ring, price were right, they’d sell! We just with me on camping trips. On nice go back and salvage these discarded Sure, Matthew. They both need the ums. What can I do to eliminate the but only on two pairs of strings, and it’s don’t know how to get both a good nights we like to sit around the fire trees? I understand fallen wood same care. It’s that simple. If the guitar buzz? tuned low as well. Try one out and see price for you and a good cost for us. and strum our favorite tunes. I had has a shelf life, but ebony being as is properly humidified, the frets won’t Kerry McLerran if it fits. never given much thought to the hard as it is, maybe it’s still usable? I have two Taylor acoustics already: poke out of the sides of the fretboard. West Richland, WA effects this might have on the gui- Thanks for making a difference...and an ovangkol 455 and walnut W10. That said, the SolidBody doesn’t have tar, as I have always brought along great guitars! I’m considering going with your BTO a thin spruce top that could crack, so Kerry, try putting a heavier gauge string I have a string question for you. a cheap guitar that I wouldn’t lose Jason Knott program and had some questions it’s a bit safer from severe damage. on and loosening the truss rod just a bit. I’ve heard that Malaysian blackwood How much of the tonal flavors come much sleep over if something bad Lethbridge, Alberta regarding wood pairings. I’ve noticed That’s why we don’t highlight it as That should solve it. And if you want a is a premium tonewood for guitars. from the strings directly (verses the were to happen to it. However, I Canada with a number of boutique manu- much. purpose-built guitar, try the baritone. Have you made a guitar using this guitar)? Do the strings just act as a recently acquired a new 114e, which I facturers that certain wood pairings You can string that with mediums and kind of wood? I think it would make tool to create the resonation for the love and want to take everywhere. But Thanks, Jason. Yes, it’s possible to Flamed maple back and sides on a 616ce are common. I would like to go with tune it to D, and it will have the exact a beautiful guitar, especially with the guitar to produce the tones we hear? now it’s got me thinking about how replant trees, and we are learning an Adirondack spruce top, which same tension and tone as your stan- sapwood. With all the development in guitars the conditions will affect the guitar. about that. But since the growth cycle seems to be more commonly paired I’d like to buy the first GS Mini in dard guitars, only a full step down. Henry Marksen over the years (new shapes, wood Even in the summer it can get chilly is about 80 years, they need to be Your story about rethinking ebony with mahogany back and sides than nylon. When will it be ready? Then, if you want, you can capo it at pairings, neck technology, bracing at night, so you have the cool outside planted in a forest that will be there in sourcing is inspiring. It got me to with rosewood or cocobolo. Also, I’ve Gary the second fret and have a normally Henry, this is where local names fail patterns, etc.), how come we don’t air along with the heat from the fire. What inspired you to design the now very 80 years. Believe me, we’re working on thinking about all the woods that noticed that you never see Adiron- tuned guitar for when you’re playing to communicate which wood species hear much about the development Is playing around a fire a bad idea? recognizable Taylor headstock the way it is? that. Also, Cameroon is about the last go into building guitars. It’s not dack spruce paired with koa and was I wish I could tell you, Gary. That guitar and not singing. we are talking about. I don’t know of strings and how to make them as David Scott place where ebony is harvested legally, just ebony that’s being used up. I wondering if there was some logical will be a lot harder to make well than Malaysian blackwood. I’ll look into it. tonally superior as possible? There As you know, the headstock design goes a so we are working hard to ensure its understand that for most woods, reason for this. Your advice is greatly its steel-string counterpart. We haven’t We use other woods called blackwood, are hundreds of acoustic guitar vari- No, David, playing your guitar around a long way toward identifying the guitar brand. sustainability. We’re thinking the same guitars account for a minor fraction appreciated — the last thing I would even started on it. an acacia, which is a cousin to koa eties out there, but not nearly the campfire is one of your best ideas. Keep Patrick Thompson thing you’re thinking, and while we stop of demand, but could you give us want is a pairing of woods that was Got a acacia, and it comes from Tasmania. same variety for strings. It makes doing it. Leaving it in the trunk of your the cutting of trees we won’t use, we some insight into how many trees of the equivalent of an “out of phase” And lately we have become interested me think that strings aren’t as crucial car in the sun while you hike, now that’s are also looking at recovering some of various woods are used each year by sound. question for in another Tasmanian timber they call to a guitar’s sonic palate as I once a bad idea. I hope you see the differ- Patrick, you’ll love this. It was designed by those already cut. The jury is still out Taylor? Or, for example, how many Paul Oliva About six months ago I was in the Bob Taylor? black sassafras, which has lots of sap- thought. Please enlighten. ence. Take your guitar anywhere you Sam Radding, the owner of The American on that, but we hope some of them are guitar tops can you get out of a typi- local music store to pick up strings, wood. I guess if I added a footnote, I’d Austin want, play it, and then store it safely in usable. cal Sitka spruce tree? Paul, I think most pairings have to do happened to see a Taylor GA5 Dream, the little guitar shop Kurt and I bought Shoot him an e-mail: say we’re shying away from Malaysian between. Lt. Col. Eric Kolb, USAF with tradition rather than something (cedar/mahogany) on the wall, and [email protected] wood at the moment, until we hear bet- Gladly, Austin. Strings are important. and turned into Taylor Guitars. Sam is a good imperial about the sound. That’s not to was instantly drawn to it. I hit the ter reports of good forestry there. Just make friends with a string maker builder, and practical, too. He looked at his Sure, Eric. Realize, however, that it say we can’t discuss them for hours. first open chord and couldn’t believe If you have a specific and tell them they’re not developing machines and saw a table belt sander with a I was intrigued by your recent dis- depends on the size of the tree. Once, The reason Adirondack spruce is what I was hearing. The instrument strings enough — they’ll give you an ear- I have a friend who owns a 1986 cussion concerning depleted sup- our supplier cut a spruce tree that paired with mahogany and rosewood is was literally full of music that poured repair or service ful! Truly, there may be more develop- Alvarez Yairi. He said the wood for the 2 ½-inch diameter roller on the end. He walked plies of ebony. I knew mahogany yielded 40,000 guitar tops! That was because Martin used that spruce — it out with such purity and clarity of concern, please call I attended the Taylor Road Show ment in strings than guitars, and each back and sides was listed as Coral over and sanded three scoops against the was that close to the endangered a huge tree. But now the trees are essentially grew in their backyard — and tone that it took less than 20 minutes our Customer Service department at in Lexington, Kentucky at Willcutt kind of guitar, like jazz, solid body elec- rosewood. I have been into acoustic sanding roller, because it was easy. There you list, but had no idea all the woods smaller, so one tree probably yields they made mahogany and rosewood of playing to know I had to buy it. Guitar Shoppe, and what a show. Mr. tric, steel-string, classical, etc. has their guitars (made a few and bought a were so threatened. My ques- 2,000-4,000 tops. Let’s put it into guitars then. Now, all these years later, I have a small home recording (800) 943-6782, [Wayne] Johnson was great; it was own strings, and within that there’s a ton) for over 30 years, but Coral rose- have it! tion: As I understand it, maple is these terms: The trees that supply the we still dream of those wood pairings. studio and like to leave my guitars and we’ll take like being at a concert. I was pleased huge competition among string makers wood is not ringing any bells. Do you the tree equivalent of a weed; it’s U.S. market with an entire year’s pro- And rosewood was commonly paired on the rack in the studio rather care of you. that my 114ce was built to the same to be the very best one. know the species? everywhere. Yet guitars with maple duction of guitars would be about what with spruce as much as mahogany. The than in cases. I keep a close eye on standards as the high-end models. Probably the first indicator of how Loren Johnson back and sides are usually more a lumber mill would cut in a couple reason Martin started using Sitka the acoustic guitar tops and necks 13

laying an all-mahogany instru- ment is a bit like getting P together with an old friend — there’s an underlying warmth and famil- iarity, and the conversation can easily get lively and animated. BUILDER’S RESERVE VII With the seventh offering from our Builder’s Reserve program, we fully indulge mahogany’s appealing musi- cal character with an all-mahogany 12-Fret coupled with Taylor’s first-ever Hog Wild all-mahogany ukulele. Incorporating An all-mahogany 12-Fret and tenor mahogany tops brings out the fullness ukulele pair up for a dynamic duet of mahogany’s voice, blending a punchy attack with plenty of tonal warmth. “Both are really dynamic instru- ments,” says Taylor luthier Andy Pow- ers. “They have this really nice balance and sustain to them, with good volume. I was playing the uke in the shop and one of the guys came in and thought I’d put a pickup in it.” Andy says mahogany’s warmth gives the tone an especially friendly, comforting appeal. “It’s not crazy exotic, or some far- away, unusual flavor — it’s really familiar and easy to listen to,” he says. “A fingerstyle player will love the 12-Fret. It’ll sound great playing old ragtime, blues, Hawaiian music — all that kind of stuff. You might think it’s an old-school bluesy guitar, which it is, but it’s not just that. Because it’s inherently pleas- ant to listen to, it will work well with all sorts of music. And the guitar and uke will sound amazing played together. Both sound like you’ve lived with them for a while.” Like the Hawaiian koa guitar/uke Builder’s Reserve pairing from earlier this year, the all-mahogany versions will feature matching appointments. In this case the look is an understated vintage aesthetic, featuring ivoroid binding and inlays, with a vintage sunburst. Each Builder’s Reserve VII guitar/ ukulele pairing will feature a custom label and will be sold to dealers as a matched set. Fifty sets will be made.

Clockwise from top left: Ivoroid Heritage Diamond fretboard inlays; the 12-Fret’s 3-ring ivoroid rosette; mahogany back with vintage sunburst and ivoroid binding; the ukulele’s single-ring ivoroid rosette 14 www.taylorguitars.com 15 Contoured cutaway

he lutherie practiced by our “I really like the profile of our heel,” also had to rethink how we were going Builder’s Reserve team is, says Andy, who designed the new cut- to cut the little inlay cavity for purfling T by design, meant to stretch the away. “Bob [Taylor] and Larry [Breed- and binding because the surface that outer limits of what we can do at Taylor. love] worked on that profile for years, we used to index from isn’t there any- It’s a vital creative arm for us, an envi- and what they’ve come up with is really more.” ronment where our team is empowered elegant. So I decided to start with that Andy sees this as one of the “cruel BUILDER’S RESERVE VIII to explore new ideas and discover the profile and blend it into our Venetian ironies” of design — that making some- next wave of guitar inspiration. The cutaway shape, which I also like.” thing look and feel clean and natural results are made available in very small Andy acknowledges that a lot often requires exceptionally hard work. batches partly due to the limited avail- of people might not even notice the “It’s kind of like playing pedal steel ability of certain sets of wood, but even recontoured cutaway, but certain play- guitar,” he says. “It’s a form of guitar more because the designs are so new ers will. playing made very complicated in order we haven’t yet developed the tooling “When some players pick this up, to sound smooth and simple.” necessary to craft larger numbers com- they won’t see the strap button right As for the wood selection, the Curve pletely in a production environment. there in the heel, and when they play design team opted for sets of beautiful The beauty of such work is that it, they’ll realize that the high portion of flamed Claro walnut for the back and many of the design advances incubated the fretboard is a lot more effortless to sides, with a cedar top braced with here eventually trickle down to other access than ever because your hand Adirondack spruce. They chose a GS Taylor models, whether it’s to our Build or wrist isn’t bumping into the guitar body. Traditional cutaway to Order program or to certain series anymore. “It’s a guitar with a really big per- within the Taylor line. Another reason that someone might sonality,” Andy says. “It gives you the Our BR-VIII guitar showcases a not notice the contour, Andy says, is warm, woody, rich sound of a cedar stroke of master craftsmanship that because it looks “right.” top, while walnut has a nice transpar- certain players and many fellow guitar “When you look at the guitar from ency — it’s uniform and evenly respon- makers will appreciate, even though it’s the back, from the sides, from any sive. It’s really clear, yet with a rich Appeal not easy to spot: a contoured cutaway angle, aesthetically, all the lines flow overtone complement from the cedar that flows cleanly into the tapered into each other,” he says. “It just looks top. Alternate tunings sound great, and profile of the neck heel. If you look at right as a piece of sculpture. It has this it’s one of my favorite combinations for A custom contoured cutaway a traditional Taylor cutaway from the appealing gracefulness.” a fingerstyle guitar.” adds a smooth twist to a beautiful back, you’ll see that the end of the The original inspiration for a con- The appointments follow an organic, cutaway meets the other side panel toured cutaway, Andy says, arrived all-wood aesthetic, featuring rosewood figured walnut/cedar GS, paired at a 90-degree angle, with a capped about 10 years ago when he did some binding with maple purfling. The fret- with a matching walnut amp edge that runs perpendicular between repair work on a Mario Maccaferri- board and headstock inlays are a cus- the guitar’s top and back. Because of designed Selmer guitar. tom design that was inspired at the end the way our heel tapers from the top “They’re pretty rare guitars,” he says. of one of Andy’s ocean paddleboarding to the heel cap below, an extra corner “Django Reinhardt played one. To a sessions. is left between the heel and the end of really small degree, those guitars had a “I was sitting on the board after- Top down: The contoured cutaway features a compound curve that flows wards, floating and bobbing in the kelp smoothly into the neck heel; a traditional cutaway leaves a slight wood “shelf” the cutaway. Taylor luthier Andy Powers funny little bend right there in the cut- between the end of the cutaway and the heel; the walnut back and sides show- wanted to essentially delete that corner away. It was just a little quirk they did to bed, watching the kelp leaves twist and case gorgeous variegation and figure; Bottom right: The sea kelp-inspired by shaping the cutaway differently, giv- make something line up. I don’t know if sway in the bit of surf that was there, “Nouveau Bouquet” fretboard inlay in maple and myrtlewood ing it a compound curve that flows into it was intentional, but I thought it was and it really caught my attention,” he the line of the heel. kind of cool. So I made an archtop recalls. “So I came back to the shop, guitar and put the same little curve in sketched it out, and it turned into this there. I liked the way it felt, and gradu- inlay. I think of it as kelp with a Nouveau ally it started becoming more and more twist.” extreme. So, fast-forward to now, we The inlay woods selected were decided to go all the way and see if we white European maple with accents of could pull it off.” myrtle for a subtle color shading. The He says it wasn’t an easy concept rosette features delicately cut rose- to execute. wood and European maple concentric “This is an elaborately complex rings sandwiched between wood three-dimensional splined surface,” he purflings. explains. “There’s nothing predictable The guitar was paired with an ES- about it. There’s no one uniform radius. AmpTM that features more of the shim- What’s tricky is you need to have a mering figured walnut, treated with a really clear idea of how it will end up satin finish. Andy wanted the wood to as the finished piece, and then work be the aesthetic focus, so he kept the backwards. Everything from the shape design simple, opting for traditional of the side when you first cut it out as dovetailed corners. He liked the way a flat piece of wood has to be differ- the straight lines contrast with the con- ent. The sides have to get bent in this toured cutaway on the guitar. really complicated way. They have to “With those dovetails, the cabinet get lined up just perfectly or it doesn’t reflects that precise, orderly, Japanese work. Then you have to glue them up woodworking tradition,” he says. “And perfectly and make sure everything with this guitar body, there is not one stays in precise alignment. The whole straight line anywhere.” body has to get built around these The Builder’s Reserve VIII will be couple of dimensions that are hard to sold to dealers exclusively as a guitar/ control, but it has to be done or the amp pair, and 30 will be offered. guitar just doesn’t work at the end. We 16 www.taylorguitars.com 17

Andy invited Marro to work in Taylor’s reasons — it drives the front end of comes with a very strong, light, padded, layered work in XTC, with occasional product development design studio, the amp and really helps define the traveling bag, so bless them, they have hints of Brian Wilson’s sweeping har- where prototypes and Builder’s Reserve high mids. The tracks that we used the thought of everything.” monies. Drummer and veteran Keneally models are often born. Marro spent a Taylor on were the easiest to mix. They Idle goes on to reminisce about visit- collaborator Marco Minnemann is a Soundings few long days there in late July, starting had a presence that made them sit well ing the Taylor factory a few years back great match for the material and lends a with rough sketches and then hand- almost immediately, even without any with his friend, country star Clint Black, supple musicality to the tunes. drawing his illustration on the unfinished EQ.” for whom he had written new intro lyr- Like Partridge, Keneally delights in guitar — a cutaway GS with a Sitka Hendrix says the pickups were ics for Black’s cover of the Idle-penned high-end pop craftsmanship, and the Making the Rounds spruce top and makore back and sides — especially well-suited for his effects- tune, “The Galaxy Song.” results are bound to satisfy the cravings in Nashville Glen Campbell, and a slew of pub- using colored acrylic pens. The detail- laden tone. “It’s certainly the first time I have ever of listeners who share an appreciation In early June, a Taylor contingent licists and managers. Alan Jackson rich imagery, which covers the sound- “I need as much help as I can get been in a Board Room where people for melodic details and musical sur- including Director of Artist Relations was also on hand, and his manager board, headstock overlay, and even the to get a strong signal through my maze pulled out guitars for a jam,” he recalls. prises. Keneally works within a modest Tim Godwin, luthier Andy Powers, relayed how much Jackson loves his sides, took more than 70 hours to com- of pedals,” he explains. “These pick- “So thanks Brothers Taylor, for this very 40-minute framework — a nod to albums Communications Manager Chalise new custom Dreadnought adorned with plete. The bridge was added later and ups keep my playing defined through travelable, very fine guitar, which accom- of yore — inviting listeners to reach for Zolezzi, and photographer Tim White- a decorative gold leaf design. “All he the guitar given a gloss finish, adding a the wash of reverbs, delays and fuzz panied me to Henley, Bath, London and their headphones to fully take in a well- house flew to Nashville to spend a few talks about are his dang Taylor guitars,” beautifully rich sheen that enhances the that I drive my signal through. I’ve had Venice, and is now happily accompany- textured listening experience. days meeting with artists, managers his manager quipped. colors. moments live where I am just decimat- ing me to Biarritz for a family wedding in “I’m Raining Here Inside” gets the and other music industry contacts. At an after-show party hosted by Andy was on-hand as Marro pre- ing my signal with every effect I have in a rented Peugeot….” juices flowing as Keneally’s layered They chose the right week, as a con- the Zac Brown Band, our team talked sented the guitar to Mraz at his house a order to get a huge wall of sound. Most www.ericidle.com/blog vocals and cascading piano lay a sur- fluence of big events was on tap, with Jason “Slim” Gambill, the gui- few days before the start of a summer/ guitar signals just turn to mud in a situ- real shimmer over a funky groove. On including the CMA Music Festival (June tarist from Lady Antebellum, Steven fall tour, along with a hand-made “user’s ation like this, but these pickups some- the cover track, Partridge’s space-gun 7-10), an album release party hosted Moore, President of the Country Music guide” that explains the iconography and how manage to keep their articulation drum loop adds to the trippy pop-rock by Zac Brown, and the CMT Music Association, and Bernie Cahill, Presi- symbolism. Mraz was deeply moved and even then.” Wing Man effect. One of the catchiest tunes, “You Awards. Here are some highlights from dent of ROAR Management. said he planned to take it on the road http://bigscienceband.bandcamp.com Madly prolific composer/multi- Kill Me,” is a clever callout of institutional the week: On Thursday evening, Tim God- with him and blog about the guitar as he instrumentalist/vocalist Mike Keneally hypocrisy set to a darkly buoyant, Steely On Tuesday, June 5, Tim and Andy win met with guitarist Phil Brown, spent more time with it. dropped by the Taylor factory in July to Dan-tinged melody. Other standouts met with luthier and in-demand repair an amazing player whose chops have As of our press date, Marro was catch up with us and delivered copies of include the neo-psychedelic meditation technician Joe Glaser at his shop, scored props from Jeff Beck. Brown getting ready to apply his custom art- Diamond Gift his latest release, Wing Beat Fantastic. “That’s Why I Have No Name” and the where Glaser had a chance to demo has been playing our Baritone work to the tops of two GS Mini guitars Neil Diamond’s longtime music A project long in the making, the record gentle, tabla-infused chill-out “Inglow.” a Taylor 13-fret concept guitar they 8-String. to be used for promotional purposes. associate, Sam Cole, reached out to brings to fruition Keneally’s songwriting Keneally balances out the richer com- had brought. He loved it, and we’re Friday morning was spent meeting One was to be offered as part of a prize Taylor after the music legend purchased collaboration with visionary pop crafts- positions with more streamlined tracks in the process of sending him one to with CMT and included a tour of their package for a charity auction to benefit a GS Mini while out on tour earlier this man Andy Partridge from the legend- like “Your House,” a piano ballad soaked share with clients for feedback. Keifer offices and studios. Next was some VH1’s Save The Music Foundation, year. Cole started working for Diamond ary British band XTC. in detached melancholy, and a couple Thompson from the duo Thompson hang time with James Wesley (DN7e) which supports music education pro- as a guitar tech back in 1974, has pro- The two became friends back when of short, palate-cleansing acoustic inter- Square also had a chance to play the and his band (GS Mini, 414ce) after grams in schools. duced some of Diamond’s recordings, Keneally was Frank Zappa’s touring ludes. guitar and had good things to say. their performance at the Chevy River- www.jasonmraz.com and is the chief archivist for Diamond’s guitarist in the late ’80s, and years later, If you’re in the mood for a well- That evening, Tim, Andy and Chal- front Stage. www.jonmarro.com catalog. He says that Diamond loves at Partridge’s suggestion, they convened appointed art-pop record that confi- ise attended a reception to unveil Zac Though it proved to be a whirlwind his new Mini and has been using it as at Partridge’s home in Swindon, UK, dently charts its own course between Brown’s new Southern Ground Stu- week, our team said they had a blast his dressing room warm-up guitar and where they cooked up song ideas and the head and the heart, Keneally’s Wing dios, which, fittingly, kicked-off with a and look forward to spending more for songwriting. During a tour stop in recorded demos over two week-long Beat Fantastic is a voyage well worth pre-release listening party to celebrate face time with our Nashville friends. Scientific Method the Washington, D.C. area, Diamond sessions in 2006 and 2008. Keneally taking. the band’s new album Uncaged. The Chicago’s Big Science blends visited Walter Reed Army Medical brought them home to Southern Cali- www.keneally.com beautifully refurbished studio show- tasteful elements of Krautrock, post- Center and visited with a number of fornia and finally found time to complete cases some signature Taylor craftsman- punk and new wave on their full-length injured American war veterans, several the record in 2011 and 2012, between ship, including floor inlays of the South- An Enlightened View debut, Difficulty. From the somber synth of whom mentioned that they also play his gigs as a guitarist with the popular Clockwise from top left: Jon Marro’s ern Ground and Taylor logos that were In early August, singer-songwriter overtones, fingerpicked guitar notes guitar. Diamond later arranged to pur- death metal band Dethklok, keyboard- hand-drawn artwork on Jason Mraz’s designed and installed by Andy and Jason Mraz welcomed an especially and choral orchestration of the album chase 10 GS Minis, which he donated ist in Joe Satriani’s live band, and his guitar; Mraz samples his playable art; Mike Keneally (photo by Scott Chatfield); Bob Taylor. Brown (custom NS74ce) unique custom Taylor to his guitar fam- opener, “All the Heat Has Escaped,” to to Walter Reed for the recovering vets own projects. Big Science guitarist/vocalist Jason was extremely appreciative of the work ily, thanks to longtime friend, artist Jon the guitar hook/disco beat bombast of to play. Though Partridge doesn’t sing or Hendrix; the Southern Ground logo floor and thanked Taylor Guitars several Marro. Mraz had ordered a custom “American Gravity,” the album is both a play on the record (he did contribute inlay with a Taylor 13-fret concept guitar; times. The Taylor crew spent time with guitar through Taylor luthier Andy Pow- thoughtful meditation on urban malaise several drum loops), his creative input Andy Powers works on the inlay in the the band, radio program directors, and ers, also a good friend, and commis- and an ideal choice for a summer dance helped Keneally further refine the tunes, Taylor design shop Brown’s management team. sioned Marro to decorate the top with a party. Beyond their clever hooks and Idle Plaything and fans will recognize Partridge’s artis- On Wednesday, June 6, Tim, Andy painting of his choice. Marro’s artwork earworm choruses, the band employs We’re happy to add former Monty tic touches, from his lyrical point of view and Chalise attended the sound check has graced Mraz’s albums, T-shirts, sometimes cryptic sound effects, no Python funnyman Eric Idle to the to the melodic and harmonic sophistica- for the CMT Music Awards and spent and stage backdrops over the years, doubt influenced by the sonic land- growing list of blissed-out new GS tion that colors the songs. time with Johnny Lord from Center and the two share a mutual admiration scapes of legendary producers Brian Mini owners. Idle (714ce, K55, K22, A creative union between two artists Staging, who arranged crew access for each other’s work, so Mraz left the Eno and Nigel Godrich, and acts from Baby Taylor) recently blogged about with such fertile avant-pop sensibilities during the festival. Lord backlines most design up to Marro. Both have been on Manchester, England’s famed Factory picking up a Mini from a Guitar Center might seem like a risky proposition. of the major awards shows, including a spiritual path that has embraced Bud- Records roster (Joy Division, New Order, with a birthday gift card given to him by Might their songs collapse under the the Grammys. The Taylor trio also met dhist principles such as compassion etc.). his friend, fellow comedian/actor (and weight of their combined musical ambi- with members of the Rascal Flatts and love (Mraz’s latest release is titled Guitarist/vocalist Jason Hendrix says banjo/guitar player) Kevin Nealon. tions? Not to worry. Keneally distills the team (see “Backstage Pass” on page Love is a Four Letter Word and his that more than half the guitar tracks on “… I found a guitar as good as compositions with great care, serving up 26). That evening, they caught up with signature Taylor has “Be Love” inlaid in the record feature his Taylor SolidBody almost any I have ever owned,” he a sonic feast that is at once experimen- Scott Borchetta and Jimmy Harren the fretboard), so Marro decided to cre- Classic with two full-size HD humbuck- writes. “It’s a Taylor...called a GS Mini, tal and accessible. He handles much of from Big Machine Label Group, along ate an image of a bodhisattva (“enlight- ers, and that the pickups are a great fit and it’s a real beauty. An absolute the instrumentation, including acoustic with one of the label’s emerging acts, enment being”)´ called Avalokitesvara,´ for the band’s music. cracker. I’m crazy about it. I can’t put and electric guitars (514ce, GSMC, The Farm, Keifer and Shauna Thomp- a combination of Sanskrit words that “They push out a ton of signal but it down. I can’t wait to pick it up. It T3/B), bass and keyboards, and his son of Thompson Square (who won loosely translate into a great sound per- still maintain their clarity,” he says. “This sounds great, it’s easy to play, and multi-layered vocal arrangements are at “Video Duo of the Year”), country icon ceiver who “looks down upon sound.” helps a lot in the studio, for obvious the acoustics are magnificent. It also times reminiscent of Partridge’s richly The 2012 Fall LTDs

wice a year we take pleasure in luthiers employ their finely honed sensibilities sinker redwood, with striking results. Our Quilted Sapele Fall LTDs adding seasonal specials to the to tantalize the senses. blackwood 400 Series matches koa’s closest Back/Sides: Quilted Sapele T Taylor Guitars menu. As our With our fall collection we bring you relative with the warmth of a cedar top. And Top: AA-Grade European Spruce design team draws inspiration from our three distinctive wood pairings. After years to reflect the diversity of the Taylor line in Models: DNce-FLTD, GAce-FLTD, GAce-N-FLTD, 12-Fret wood reserves, the unique character of of waiting, we recently had the good fortune this year’s fall limiteds, we’ve included nylon- GCce-FLTD, GCce-N-FLTD, GSce-FLTD, Baritone-8- Three of a Perfect Pair each batch of tonewoods they select to acquire sets of rare quilted sapele, and string and Baritone 8-String models for both FLTD/S informs their artistry and appointments, we paired them with premium European our blackwood and quilted sapele series. ultimately coalescing into a distinctive spruce tops. We also put a fresh spin Our Fall Limiteds are currently in Quilted sapele is an extremely rare find. Rare enough Quilted sapele with European spruce, guitar personality. Like a master chef who on our masterful Presentation Series by stores, and we invite you to sample them that the first and last time we offered it was on a pair Macassar ebony with sinker redwood, understands how to balance flavors and coupling two richly variegated tonewoods, firsthand. For complete specifications, visit of limited edition models to commemorate Taylor’s 25th deliver an inspiring visual presentation, our Macassar ebony and the much heralded taylorguitars.com. anniversary back in 1999. At the time we considered it and blackwood with cedar infuse a one-time fluke, so when we randomly received some this year’s fall limiteds with fresh, figured sapele 4x4s in a shipment for necks about eight years ago, our wood purchaser, Bob Zink, told our cutter inspiring tonal flavors that if he ever encountered it again to call us before cutting it. A year and a half ago, Bob got the call, we were very interested, and an odyssey to procure some of the wood ensued. After being harvested in Africa, the entire tree — a huge old sapele about 6-7 feet in diameter — was shipped to a sawmill in France, where it was cut into slabs with a massive saw. From there it had to be sent to Germany, where there was planer large enough to surface it. The original purchaser of the tree eventually shipped the slabs to his mill in the U.S., and when they finally arrived months later we were called and given first dibs on the wood. By this time there was other interest in it, with some parties offering to pay more, but the owner held it for Taylor since we’d expressed interest first. Within a couple of days Bob Zink and Andy Powers arrived in Cove City, North Carolina, a small port town where the mill was located. Once they were there, they sorted through every slab, selecting the ones with figure. “We went through something like 12,000 board feet — a couple of tons of wood,” says Andy. “Some of the boards we picked out were about four feet wide and in some cases 16 feet long.” They ended up buying about 2200 board feet (the rest of the wood wasn’t quilted). The wood was flatsawn, which is cut 90 degrees different than the quartersawn sapele we typically use for guitar backs and sides. This not only allowed the beautiful figure to be showcased to maximum effect, it also added a unique twist to its tonal response. “Sapele tends to be pretty stiff, and this stuff has a lot more give to it,” Andy says. “You hear a little more power, a little more warmth on the low end compared to most sapele guitars.” For the soundboard pairing, the product development team chose AA-grade European spruce, which was first used for our spring Builder’s Reserve guitar (BR-V) and blends the horsepower of Adirondack spruce with a splash of cedar’s warmth. The design aesthetic for these limiteds aimed to bring out the best of the figured sapele, so the back and sides were treated with the same light stain used on our mahogany 500 Series, which in this case, visually amplifies the depth of figure. The appointment scheme also incorporates the sapele from the same tree, paired with ivoroid. The rosette features a sapele ring edged with ivoroid, ivoroid binding paired with sapele edge trim, and diamond “Solitaire” fretboard inlays that feature sapele outlined with ivoroid. “It’s basically a three-color treatment,” Andy says: “Sapele, ivoroid and then either spruce or ebony. We wanted to keep it really elegant and graceful.” The quilted sapele limiteds are offered in all four body shapes, including a 12-fret GC, along with two nylon-string models and a Baritone 8-string.

L-R: 12-Fret GCce-FLTD, GAce-N-FLTD, GSce-FLTD 21

Blackwood 400 Series Fall LTDs Back/Sides: Tasmanian Blackwood Presentation Series Top: Western Red Cedar Fall LTDs (Sitka Spruce on Baritone) Back/Sides: Macassar Ebony Models: 410ce-FLTD, 412ce-FLTD, Top: Sinker Redwood L-R: Front and back of a PS16ce-FLTD L-R: Front of a Baritone-8-FLTD/B and back of a 414ce-FLTD 412ce-N-FLTD, 414ce-FLTD, 414ce-N- Models: PS14ce-FLTD, PS16ce-FLTD FLTD, 416ce-FLTD, Baritone-8-FLTD/B

For the past two years, the sublime loved the tonal response. We also love pre-war vintage acoustics. Macassar has a tone that’s remi- It’s not quite as youthful or vibrant or We’re unabashed fans of Tasmanian and paired them with Western Red of mahogany, and with a little more strumming, which tends to overdrive many of the appointments, including a appointments of Taylor’s Presentation the way the paua inlay work visually Each of our sinker redwood sound- niscent of rosewood, with a blend of punchy.” blackwood, an acacia wood species cedar tops. It’s a combination we’ve rosewood-like bloom,” Andy explains. cedar, can produce some interesting back mini wedge, the binding, and a Series have embellished our wood sparkles against the warm, dark-toned boards, sliced from huge old-growth fidelity and richness, and it’s a little The Presentation Series Fall Limit- that’s a close cousin of Hawaiian koa. rarely offered, but based on what our “And with the cedar top you’ve got tones. “It’s almost like a low-wattage “fishbone”-style rosette, which together pairing of cocobolo and premium Sitka woods. redwood logs reclaimed from the warmer than cocobolo. Together with eds will be offered in our Grand Audito- Though it might not quite match koa’s product development team heard that springy, woody, warm low end. tube amp breaking up on the low end,” add creamy counterpoints. Small dot spruce. This fall we wanted to apply The Macassar sets we selected depths of Northern California rivers, dis- the redwood, the warmth and complex- rium and Grand Symphony shapes, and cachet in terms of exotic beauty, its from our prototypes, we think the It’s not fuzzy, but its overtone profile Andy says. “It’s really fun.” inlays and a satin finish back and sides that same decorative scheme to an are slightly different from some of the plays a rich spectrum of variegation, the ity equate to a mature-sounding tone, a maximum of 80 total will be made. tonal range is similar, and visually it tonal response will appeal to many has so much going on, all the notes Designed as a seasonal alternative provide tidy touches that lean toward alternative but equally worthy tonewood sets we’ve used before. Rather than result of colors uniquely imparted from says Andy Powers. often exhibits some of koa’s same players. Blackwood takes koa’s basic end up with this real gentle, easygoing to our 400 Series, the blackwood aesthetic simplicity. The blackwood tandem, and our wood reserves once dramatic, high-contrast striping, the silt and the mineral-rich water. The age “I’m not a wine connoisseur, but character traits. Blackwood also tonal profile and blends elements of articulation to them. When combined, guitars feature wood appointments 400s are available in all four body again delivered, in the form of Macassar variegation is more complex, blending and size of these trees translates into sonically it reminds me of a Brunello, is sourced from forests that are mahogany and rosewood, says Taylor’s the blackwood and cedar make for a that support an understated, all- shapes, along with two nylon-string ebony and sinker redwood. We’ve cinnamon, milk chocolate and caramel a tight grain with nice cross-grain stiff- one of Italy’s oldest cultivated grapes,” responsibly managed, making it a Andy Powers. guitar with a relaxed personality.” natural vibe, perfect for an everyday models and a Baritone 8-string with a embraced that combination through color tones with occasional bold lines, ness, so it will tend to have a fairly bold he says. “It has this discernable matu- sustainable wood for guitar making. “It has a distinct personality Fingerstylists are bound to love or performance guitar that players can Sitka spruce top. our Build to Order program (see the calling to mind the buckskin-hued Bra- response, complemented by overtones rity. There’s something there that’s For this batch of limiteds, we because you’re getting that koa kind of the warmth of the cedar top, as will feel comfortable playing out in the back cover of our fall 2011 issue), and zilian rosewood sometimes found on similar to cedar. complicated, but in a really good way. selected some nicely variegated sets sound with some of the dry woodiness medium strummers. Even aggressive world. Rock maple was chosen for 22 www.taylorguitars.com 23

Return to Sender

An unexpected letter altered lex Woodard wasn’t doing so through songs had prompted him to mal jam sessions. The group included in the experience of writing a song “That was the first time I’d really Alex Woodard well. It was 2008, and after offer a unique incentive to anyone who some acclaimed talents — people like about it with someone, and I’d never had nothing to do with it,” he says. “I nearly 15 years of plying his pre-ordered his most recent CD: He Switchfoot frontman Jon Foreman felt that way before,” Woodard reflects. mean, I wrote it, and I was recording craft as a performing singer- would craft and record a song for each (814ce, 614ce, 514ce, GS6, GS5), “I’d always been holding on [to the them and producing the song, but I Alex Woodard’s musical path songwriter, the modest person based on whatever they asked Sean and Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek process] really tightly. With Sean, we’d was completely out of the picture for record deal he’d scored him to write about. In the end he had fame, award-winning tunesmith Jack gotten to be friends, and he’s a great the first time. So I let go of the perfor- had gone sour. more than a hundred takers, and he Tempchin (“Take It Easy,” “Peaceful writer, so I thought, let’s just see what mance side. I started to sense that I when he needed it most. With “It sounds like a typical penned an individual song for every Easy Feeling,” “Slow Dancing”), vocalist happens. And with that first song, ‘For could get a much deeper connection if musician complaint, but request. Jordan Pundik from the pop-punk act the Sender,’ the collaborative thing I just took myself out of it. I remember the label didn’t care,” “I recorded them right here at my New Found Glory, and even luthier/ came not only from the writing but listening to Molly sing and thinking, why the help of some talented friends, he explains from his home in Leuca- kitchen table,” he says. “They weren’t musician and soon-to-be Taylor employ- from the singing, because when we should I be singing this song? By then I dia, California, a coastal community in necessarily fancy, but they also weren’t ee Andy Powers. recorded it, Sean sang it. That was the realized I should just get the hell out of Anorthern San Diego County. “They were 30-second tunes; these were full-on Woodard’s new friends also got to first time that I didn’t sing something I’d the way. Fortunately, in the years lead- he learned to connect with others supposed to be distributing the CD, songs.” know and love Kona, and later offered been involved with writing.” ing up to that, I had developed some but they weren’t really.” Woodard says the requests ran their support when she passed. Months The experience proved to be a skills for producing, arranging and To make matters worse, around the the gamut, from light-hearted topics to later, Woodard was still in the midst of creative catalyst for Woodard, enabling recording. So I feel like everything kind same time, Woodard’s beloved black romantic themes to a few heartbreakers some soul-searching when, out of the him to open himself up to a slowly of prepared me for this, for taking my by letting go of himself. Labrador retriever, Kona, his constant that left him with a lump in his throat blue, Emily’s letter arrived from across unfolding collaborative journey with his hands off the wheel.” companion throughout his entire music when he read the requests. He discov- the country. Woodard didn’t know her, new group of friends. It would lead to Woodard continued to collaborate career, succumbed to bone cancer. ered that he liked the creative process, but his music had somehow found and heartfelt letters from others, which in with his songwriting friends. Emily’s By Jim Kirlin The losses thrust Woodard into which marked a departure from his connected with her. She wasn’t writing turn inspired more songs, eventually letter would inspire two more songs, a period of intense self-reckoning. He largely self-reflective songwriting focus to commission a song, but simply to culminating with an album and a book, one co-written with surfing buddy Jon understood the realities of the music up to that point. thank him for the ones she had heard. For the Sender (Hay House Publish- Foreman, another written entirely by business as well as anyone, and knew “For whatever reason, writing about “I think your songs are gifts,” she ing), in which Woodard poignantly Foreman while he was out on tour and that he’d embraced a career path with other people’s stories came easier to wrote. “Pieces of yourself used to help chronicles his transformative experi- recorded when he was back in town. no guarantees of success. As a survival me,” he says. “My writing had been me- other people with their stories.” ences and the strong connections he In his book Woodard talks about mechanism early on he’d developed a centered for a long time in part because In her letter Emily explained that made with others along the way. the creative liberation he felt from writ- mindset — a protective armor of sorts — I didn’t have any mentors,” he says. her soul mate had passed away several “I would have never, ever thought I ing about others’ stories and recording that kept his music dreams insulated “I probably didn’t think anyone would years earlier and that each autumn — would be doing this,” he admits. “Writ- other people singing. from the sometimes discouraging believe in me besides myself, so I wasn’t their favorite season — she would write ing a book — that was not on my radar. “In this new anonymity I begin to blows of the business. It allowed him to very open. I wasn’t looking for co-writing him a letter to share her thoughts and It wasn’t even a dream.” feel lighter and free, like a door has sustain the belief that success would opportunities or anything collaborative. I memories, even though the letter would Both the album’s song sequence opened into a bright, airy room I’ve eventually come if he stayed positive kind of held everything tightly.” never be sent. But this year she had and subsequently written book follow never seen, one that’s been in my and focused on his craft amid the daily Woodard had moved to Leucadia decided to send it to Woodard to share the natural progression of the song- house the whole time but I always just grind and inevitable setbacks. But his with Kona a few years earlier, after being a piece of herself in gratitude for his writing process. After he and Sean walked past,” he reflects. armor now had a chink in it. If anything, based in Seattle for years, to reconnect music. recorded the song they’d written in Other random encounters led to Kona’s passing was a painful sign that with the ocean and his family up the The letter touched him deeply, response to Emily’s letter, Woodard sent more letters and, in turn, songs. Wood- his long-term dream of “making it,” coast in Long Beach, California. As he both because of its personal nature it to Emily as a thank-you for sharing her ard and Foreman spent time playing for years comfortably set in the open- rekindled his passion for surfing and and because of the realization that his letter. She replied with a beautiful note guitars and hanging out with teens at a ended future of “someday,” might in fact made new friends in the area, he found music had moved Emily. He showed it about how moved she was by the song, homeless youth shelter in Oceanside, have an expiration date. He wondered himself welcomed into a close-knit com- to Sean Watkins, who was also moved, inspiring Woodard to write another California that Switchfoot has helped whether he was actually gaining any munity of accomplished songwriters and and the two were inspired to write a song, “My Love Will Find You,” also support for several years. After the ground on his dreams. musicians. He started getting invited to song together based on the letter. based on her original letter. He enlisted director, Kim, sent a thank-you note to It wasn’t for lack of effort or creativ- regular “family dinners” — potluck gath- “In sharing her letter, Emily was standout singer-songwriter Molly Jenson ity. His desire to connect with listeners erings that inevitably ended with infor- being so giving that I wanted to share and Jordan Pundik to sing it. continued next page 24 www.taylorguitars.com 25 the two for sharing their time, Woodard ful Day’: ‘What you don’t have you don’t shows with some of the musicians wrote back to inquire what led her to need it now.’ And I started looking at who participated in the making of the do the work she does, and she replied the world through that lens, like, what record. He’s done several gigs in the with a heartfelt letter describing her I have right now is what I need, and San Diego area, which made it easier own troubled youth living on the streets these big music dreams, I must not for more of his busy friends to perform as a teenage addict, and of the people need them now; I’m probably supposed with him. The most recent show incor- who helped her repair her self-image to be doing something else. porated multimedia elements, including and rebuild her spirit. It would spawn “And the ironic thing about that, video footage from his visits with Emily, three songs: a catchy, upbeat rocker which is in the book, is that once I let Kim, Alison and Katelyn, voiceover written by Foreman, “Unbroken,” and go of all those dreams, they started to recordings of the letters from the writ- two Woodard-penned tracks, “Love happen, and that’s not for some kind of ers, and live performance. Began as a Whisper,” featuring the narrative convenience. That happened “No matter what form it takes, the beautiful vocals of Molly Jenson, and like it did. Great example: Shawn Mul- start of the show will be the letters,” a lively alt-country stomper, “The Right lins was a hero of mine in the songwrit- Woodard says. “We were talking about Words,” featuring Jordan Pundik on ing world when I was cutting my teeth, doing a Thanksgiving tour with every- vocals. and I tried to get on the road with him body for a couple of weeks, but logisti- Another letter came from Haiti. for something like eight years, but it cally it’s kind of a challenge. We might After a powerful earthquake ravaged ended up [not panning out]. So I kind do just one show and record it, like a the country early in 2010, Woodard of gave up and let it go. A year later he PBS special. had been asked to contribute a song was in my living room through a “I don’t know that it fits into a kind for a benefit record. His tune, “Res- vehicle I could have never imagined — a of traditional paradigm as far as putting cue,” ended up on the Web paired fan of mine gave a CD to his tour man- an album out and touring goes, but I with some video footage of the relief greater context that illuminates the He, Sean and Molly traveled to Con- ager, and the tour manager gave it to love it,” he says. “It’s a complete depar- efforts there, and a medic for Sean inspiration for the songs, the album’s necticut to play their songs for Emily. Shawn.” ture from what I’ve been doing for the Penn’s foundation, Alison, saw it and tracks, which range from shimmering He, Jordan, Molly and Jon went to Woodard’s book and CD were last 10-15 years, and it’s so welcome. e-mailed Woodard to thank him. After balladry to uplifting rock, boast a clarity, the homeless shelter and played their scheduled for release together in The model has just shifted so much an e-mail exchange in which Woodard emotional depth and heartfelt melodic songs for Kim. He brought Nena, Sara September (the CD is included in the that there isn’t a model now, but there’s asked what the conditions were really beauty. With the added knowledge and Jack to play for Katelyn and her book). At the time of our interview in still a lot of people out there who want Phillips in concert with his GS7e like there, she forwarded him a letter of the letters and stories behind the son. And although Woodard couldn’t June, he was working out the details to go see shows and listen to music.” she had written to her parents explain- songs, each track becomes even more surprise Alison in Haiti due to the travel with Hay House for a promotional tour. ing both the overwhelming suffering powerful, revealing a deeper insight logistics, he flew there with his Big Because of the unique nature of the You can read more about Alex or American Idol season 11 How did you find your first Taylor? ings with it and it just has that perfect Has being on AI changed your and the incredible resilience of the into the perspectives of the songwriters Baby to play for her and spent time in project as a book and album, there may Woodard’s project and watch videos winner Phillip Phillips (GS7, I started out playing guitar when I was sound. It’s just it. Right now I’m out playing style? people she had encountered. The let- as they responded to a particular emo- her world. be a mix of events — some speaking at www.forthesender.com and at F 816ce, GS Mini), landing in 14. I had a couple of cheap guitars, on the road playing the GS7 and an Not really. Everywhere I played when I ter inspired two more songs: “Act of tional theme. “I stayed in a tent in the living room engagements with some solo perfor- www.alexwoodard.com. the Hollywood spotlight and being and as soon as I turned 17, I felt like 816ce. They have a similar sound; the was younger and played gigs, someone God,” co-written with Jack Tempchin, Reflecting on the organic, home- of this burned-out house,” he recalls. mance of the songs, and possibly some broadcast to millions of viewers whose I deserved a nicer guitar because 816ce is still full, but lighter. I actually always said, ‘You’re a really good gui- and “Broken Wide Open,” written with grown nature of the project (including “There was no water or electricity. votes controlled his fate was over- I’d played out with my sister a lot. I play that in Drop D, and when I play tarist,’ and I appreciated that. I wasn’t Tempchin and Sara Watkins, who also the recording process in his small Alison’s clinic was in pretty much the whelming exposure. The Leesburg, needed something with a better sound, smaller gigs, like for radio, I use the out there just to be a guitarist. I mean, adds a lovely, plaintive vocal. home studio), Woodard says he was worst part of Port-au-Prince, called Cité Georgia native, who had spent much and I’d seen a lot of great artists play GS7 in open [tuning]. I’m a good guitarist, and I can sing and The fourth letter came from Katelyn, happy with the way the songs held Soleil, so that’s where we spent our of his adult life pursuing a degree in Taylors, so I thought I’d try one. I went play by myself and get away with it, the widow of a police officer who had together as an album, even though the time. She took me around the slums industrial systems technology and to a store in Tallahassee, Florida with On American Idol, your guitar play- but I’m not really a solo type [player]. been fatally shot in Oceanside, near creative approach varied for each song. and we went into schools there. And working in his family’s pawn business, my family and was actually looking to ing transformed popular songs. I just really appreciate it when people

Woodard’s town, a year and a half ear- “I had to adjust to each person despite the conditions, the kids were I dol Afterglow auditioned for AI at their insistence. He get [another brand]. The [sales] guy How would you describe your play- actually listen and can tell I’m not really lier, leaving Katelyn with a young son. It according to what their process is, all dressed up in their uniforms — there never expected to land a top spot in was kind of rude to me, so we went to ing style? strumming chords, [that] I like doing turned out that Woodard had met her but I’m pretty flexible with that kind of was just this resilient spirit. I remember the finals, let alone win. But week after a little place just down the road and When I started playing guitar, my different things. prior to the shooting through a mutual thing,” he explains. “I want the best for that probably the most. I went into week his nimble fretwork and soulful I picked up the Taylor [GS7]. I just brother-in-law taught me the main friend. Katelyn had since remarried, and the song, and that means what’s best these schools and played for kids, American Idol winner take on popular songs endeared him strummed a chord and I said, ‘Oh man, chords. I wouldn’t see him too much, What can we expect from you in having heard through Sara Watkins that for the writer too.” and there were just smiles all over the to viewers, culminating with his pure, that was it.’ I played a lot of guitars that so I’d play CDs or tapes in my karaoke the near future? Woodard was writing songs based on In the book, Woodard weaves his place. When I would start playing they tears-of-joy reaction to winning after day, and I just felt it had that deep, but machine and figure out the songs the I’ve been writing quite a few songs. letters, she wrote him one of her own. own personal stories from different peri- would just stop what they were doing a record 132 million votes were cast not too deep, rich sound. I said, ‘Man, best I could. [I played] a lot of AC/DC. About 15 before the tour started [in She explained that she and her hus- ods of his life into his narrative as he and look up at you and gather around. Phillip Phillips during the final episode. I have to have this,’ so the guy made I love Angus Young — he’s one of my July], and they all have their own sound. band had discussed the possibility of relates to the stories in the letters. He It was pretty powerful. You wish there The song Phillips performed that a deal with me and put a [pickup] in favorite guitarists — and Steve Vai and I try to write something that will con- his being killed in the line of duty, and realizes that he effectively did the same was more that you could do. But some- night, “Home,” debuted on the Bill- there. It’s been my go-to guitar ever all those guys; that’s when I was big nect with people, not just sound good that he would want her to remarry and thing as he was writing the songs. times that’s all you can do, go around board Hot 100 at the number 10 since; I take it everywhere. It’s got into electric. Then I picked the acoustic for radio. I really like to tell a story or give her son a father. That conversation, “The way that I write hasn’t really and be present.” talks about his love spot, and within a week of its release, some battle wounds, but I love it. It’s back up and started listening to John have meaning for people to connect she shared with Woodard, had enabled changed much,” he elaborates. “I just As Woodard looks back on the accounted for nearly 300,000 down- got a smooth feel, and the Indian rose- Butler, Dave Matthews, Damien Rice, with. My new album will be released at her to eventually move on. feel like the source changed. Instead extraordinary way the project unfolded loads, quickly surpassing previous Idol wood is my favorite kind of wood on Eric Clapton and lots of other acoustic the end of November or beginning of The letter inspired Woodard and of being somewhere deep in my gut, and the impact it had on him both records. It would go on to clear the a guitar. There’s something about the guys. Man, I just fell in love with the December. It has a jazz, rock, acoustic Sara Watkins to write the tune “From now the source was on these pages creatively and personally, he says he of acoustic guitar half-million mark, earning Phillips a gold sound I just love. acoustic. It’s a lot different than play- rhythm feel to it. the Ashes.” Woodard comments in his that people sent me. Those are the learned the value of letting go. record. And if you watched any of the ing the electric; you can have so many book that this theme flows through the same thing, really. My story is coming “Maybe your dream isn’t what U.S. broadcasts of the Summer Olym- How does that specific guitar fig- different sounds from an acoustic. You As a guitarist, what is your dream? stories told in each of the four letters — out through those letters, even if I don’t you’re supposed to be doing,” he pics, you might have heard his haunt- ure into your style of music? have to be really precise. I like that I just want to play music and make a as he puts it, “beautiful truths buried in think it is. My hopes and fears and suggests. “And maybe what you’re ing vocals supporting video vignettes Every song I’ve written has that perfect challenge. I didn’t want to be a regular living doing something I love. It’s hap- the wreckage of tragedy.” Katelyn’s let- dreams and all that stuff, it all comes supposed to be doing is something and the road ahead of U.S athletes. sound for me, especially when I record strummer. Ever since I started writing pening now, and it’s such a blessing. I ter would inspire a pair of other songs: out, even when I’m writing about other more beautiful than you could have This past summer we caught up with it — it just has that tone that I look my own songs I didn’t want to play never, ever, thought I’d be doing this. “Begun,” co-written with Jack Tempchin, things.” ever imagined. We all know stories of with Phillips during the American Idol for. I love full-body guitars. I like some regular chords. I would just mix songs It’s just really precious to me. I hope I about finishing what has been started, Woodard’s desire to share the people who go after their dream with Live! tour stop in San Diego, California, cutaways, but I love that full-bodied up, [relying on] what I’d learned over can be doing this for 20 more years, or and “Hush,” a lullaby written for Kate- songs with the letter writers led to blinders on and they get it, and then where he spoke about his connection sound. If I want to put it into Drop D the years — some different chords and the rest of my life, and that people will another decision: to pay a surprise visit the real trouble starts. So for me it was By Chalise Zolezzi tuning it really has a beautiful sound. strumming patterns — and bringing it all enjoy it. lyn’s young son and sung beautifully by Woodard with one of the friends he made during his trip to Haiti with his Taylor, his playing style, and another friend, Nena Anderson. and play the tunes for them in person, a recalibration of sorts. There’s a great the role a karaoke machine played in I play a lot in standard also, but I can together. Even without the benefit of the often with some of his friends in tow. line from Bono in the U2 song ‘Beauti- his guitar development. play in a whole bunch of different tun- 27

ife has been full speed ahead for Joe Don Rooney (GS8e, L 714ce, 810ce) and his band- Backstage Pass mates in Rascal Flatts ever since they Behind the Making of the “Changed” Guitar assembled their harmony-rich country- Unlike most of the other guitar designs submitted for the Rascal pop act in 2000. Their musical resume Flatts “Changed” contest, Peter Geiger’s winning entry was a pho- speaks for itself: nine albums, 21 mil- tograph of an actual piece of industrial art he had fabricated. Geiger, lion records sold, 14 No. 1 singles, 25 an artist who has been designing guitar sculptures out of old license million digital downloads, and more plates for about five years, had cut a few up, rearranged the parts than 40 major music awards, including to spell out “Changed,” and glued them to a wooden template in the a heap from the Academy of Country shape of a Taylor GS body based on dimensions provided on the con- Music (ACM) and the Country Music test entry page. Geiger said he was selective in his composition. Association (CMA), plus a Grammy “Each guitar tells a person’s life story,” he explained after being for 2006’s Best Country Song, “God selected as the winner by the members of the band. “I used those Bless the Broken Road.” A prolific tour- [license] tags because that’s where the band is from — Ohio, Okla- ing schedule along the way has earned homa, and now, Nashville, Tennessee.” them a passionate and ever-expanding Geiger said that as a country music fan, it was exciting for him to global fanbase. win the contest. Comprised of Gary LeVox (lead “It’s the first guitar design of mine that will come to life and be vocals), Jay DeMarcus (bass guitar, played,” he shared. “I can’t wait to see it on stage.” keyboard, piano, vocals), and Rooney Geiger’s prize package included a VIP experience to see Rascal (lead guitarist and vocal harmonies), Flatts live and a Taylor GS8 signed by the band. the band released their eighth studio Completing the guitars took a bit of extra design work on our record, Changed, earlier this year, and end. Geiger shipped the guitar sculpture to us, after which we photo- promptly hit the road for their summer graphed the top. Next, graphic designer and resident Photoshop ace tour. As we noted in our spring issue Rita Hoffman from our marketing team (whose work Wood&Steel read- (“Soundings”), Taylor partnered with the ers get to enjoy with every issue) worked her magic to extend Geiger’s band and Country Music Television to design inward to the edge of the soundhole. (The dimensions we had offer a unique contest and promotion: provided for the contest had made the soundhole area larger to leave Fans were invited to submit a graphic room for a rosette to be added, but Geiger’s design was meant to design for the top of a Taylor GS extend all the way to the edge without a rosette.) Once the graphic file acoustic guitar, and the winning design was complete, she created a scaled-down version for the top of a GS would be incorporated into a custom GS8 that would serve as the official guitar of their tour. cus ended up buying that Taylor from I would say my “crowning achievement” The winning design, created by Shayne. So the good news is I wasn’t has happened a few times now. It’s Peter Geiger from North Carolina, out any cash, and now I can play that when the likes of a few of my musical featured license plates from Ohio, acoustic anytime I’m at Jay’s studio. heroes, like Neal Schon, Vince Gill, Oklahoma and Tennessee (signifying Gotta love that! Steve Lukather and Dann Huff, tell me the band’s roots), including a collage that they like my playing. Talk about treatment that spelled out the word How does your Taylor inspire your cloud nine moments. You can’t help but “Changed,” a nod to the new album. writing and performing? smile when people like that tip their hat The guitar was presented to Rooney Taylor acoustics never stop inspiring. to you. Hearing those guys say those by Taylor’s Tim Godwin (artist relations) The playability and tone are always spot words to me unsolicited is like icing on at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville on. I play a 714ce a lot. Playing live, the cake. during the summer, and besides loving when it’s time to hit the stage, I always the creative design work, Rooney and know my Taylor will show up and per- Changed has been called the guitar tech David Graef had a chance form at its best, and bring out the best “most passionate [Rascal Flatts] to take it for a spin, which elicited a pair in me as well. It’s a two-way street: album,” and you’ve said it was 11 of instant raves. Not long afterward, What you give is what you get, but the years in the making. Why is that? Rooney took a few minutes to talk “get back” is what’s so special with I truly believe the past 11 years and about his first Taylor experience, how these instruments. seven [studio] albums, along with our the guitars inspire him, and the “get experiences and memories over that back” he enjoys with a Taylor in hand. Tell us about your songwriting time, have played into the making of process. Changed. We know what our strengths I do a lot of songwriting on the road are now, and we know what we want to Mini that was also being made for a related promotion with the band. Tell us your Taylor story. When and and at home, and a Taylor is nor- say and how to say it. It’s taken a lot of From there the files and the Sitka spruce guitar tops designated for the where did you discover a Taylor mally my go-to. One of the cuts on the time to get here, but if you really want guitars were sent to an outside print house, which employed a flatbed acoustic? Changed album that I’m really proud to fully understand what Rascal Flatts digital imaging process. Each guitar top was first screen printed with I was on the road in 1999 playing lead of is a track titled “Sunrise.” I wrote is all about, then just sit back and listen white ink. Then the top was placed on a vacuum bed to secure it and guitar for Chely Wright. Around the the first verse and chorus on my bus to Changed and you can hear it. I’m so a digital inkjet printer moved across it to transfer the image to the top. same time Chely hired another guitar by myself with a Taylor. Of course, I proud of it. After returning to the factory, the tops went through the normal body player by the name of Shayne Hill — an enlisted the great singer, songwriter, assembly and finish processes, receiving a gloss treatment that adds a awesome guitarist — to play acoustic. musician and producer Nathan Chap- For tour dates and other information on rich, high-end sheen to the graphic treatment. Shayne brought a 1998 710ce with man to help me carve out the remainder the band, visit www.RascalFlatts.com him. I asked him if I could play a little on of the tune. Needless to say, I don’t leave home without [a Taylor]. it one day [and] after that introduction, Top center (L-R): Rooney with Taylor’s Tim Godwin in Nashville; I believe I played it more than he did! I Above: Peter Geiger with his winning design fell in love with that guitar and became As a guitar player, what would you such a Taylor fan. Ironically, Jay DeMar- call your crowning achievement? 28 www.taylorguitars.com 29

Several employees, in fact, have Into the Forest logs so they can be carried out on their recorded their own hip-hop tracks Another member of our Crelicam heads. The average log coming out of (you can hear a sample in our blog at operations team, Anne Middleton, has the forest weighs approximately 35-45 taylorguitars.com). been busy since relocating to Camer- kg (77-99 pounds). Imagine carrying Taylor Notes These days when Wight travels oon in late spring. In addition to manag- that out on your head with no groomed to Cameroon, some of the employ- ing our compliance and sustainability path; it’s difficult work! I have particular mill manager Jaime Mata Barceló even ees address her as “mother,” both as initiatives, she has been building rela- admiration for our one female sup- Photo FinishWe bring you the best of our “Me and My Taylor” photo contest Tracking Progress met with Cameroon’s Prime Minister, a sign of respect and as a term of tionships with employees, contractors, plier. She’s one tough cookie. in Cameroon Philémon Yunji Yang, along with many endearment. community leaders, government officials Since TLM assumed ownership In last issue’s cover feature on other government officials to talk Among the other employee pro- and others. of Crelicam, we’ve been implement- the future of ebony (“Ebony’s Final about securing the company’s permits grams Wight is focused on are basic As part of its ebony procurement ing new measures to increase both Frontier”), we reported on Taylor’s to legally operate within the forests health care services — finding a vil- model, Crelicam works with two pros- the work standards for the employees ownership stake in Crelicam, an ebony of Cameroon. These early stages lage doctor to treat employees and pectors and 25 local suppliers who and the sustainability of the raw mate- mill located in Cameroon. The story were vital to the success of the new members of the communities in which will help meet its permitted quota for rial. The best example of improved offered a closer look at ebony sourcing endeavor. they live. A plan is also in the works the year. Middleton recently traveled practices has been increasing the and exposed some of the harsh reali- “What I discovered on every trip to eventually establish a non-profit into the rainforest to get a first-hand price of the “déclassé” wood — ebony ties that Bob Taylor discovered there, was that it’s like peeling back the lay- organization to fund various social look at the location of the ebony trees which may have cracks, pinholes or including the way that demand for all- ers of an onion,” Wight says. “At every programs in the communities. But being harvested and the difficult work white streaks. This creates incentive black ebony has led to the widespread turn, there was new information to be Wight understands that any plan must of removing the wood, and followed up for the suppliers to bring in every bit of waste of variegated ebony. Bob acted on.” be tempered with patience. with this report: ebony from the forest, and not only the shared the new ownership’s action Clarity relating to Crelicam’s wood “Everything is a process in Africa,” pitch-black wood. Unfortunately, with plan, which aims to promote such harvesting permits would be crucial. she says. “Truly, if you can accomplish Arriving at an ebony stump took Cameroonian technology, it’s nearly Grand Prize Winner ebony as a viable and valued wood; Though Crelicam was granted about 25 percent of your goal, you’ve been five hours of driving on a paved road impossible to determine the quality of improve Crelicam’s working condi- 75 percent of the country’s ebony successful.” and four hours of driving on a dirt the ebony before the tree is felled. We tions and wood processing capability; cutting permits, there was no speci- While Wight’s work might seem road. These precious trees are not easy are working with the suppliers to help Bo Struye: “Nothing Else Matters” and provide a better ebony product to fication as to where the wood could unusual for a CFO, she says there’s to find, but our skilled team of suppliers them understand that if an ebony tree instrument makers. be cut, effectively making Crelicam a a level of personal investment that knows exactly where to look. Unlike the is felled, bring it in — we want it! That “Nothing will help you escape from the Though progress has been made company with no land. comes with the territory. images of clear-cut rainforests of Brazil message is sinking in slowly. Constant daily worries of life better than a glorious thus far, much work remains. In this In addition to resolving the regula- “It’s so great to be able to work or Indonesia, ebony harvesting is selec- education and monitoring of the sup- evening with your guitar.” update, we note the logistical ground- tory details, one of the most chal- for a company that makes incredible tive. With proper long-term forest man- pliers is necessary in order to main- work that Taylor’s Chief Financial Offi- lenging obstacles to overcome in the instruments while also striving to make agement, the ecosystem dynamics can tain our new methodology, but that’s cer, Barbara Wight, has been laying process, Wight says, has been one the world a better place,” she reflects. be maintained, but we must take great why I’m here, and we have a great This past summer we for future improvements, and relay a of preexisting perceptions. Cameroon “Spending time in Cameroon reminds care to design and implement manage- management team to help reinforce launched the second edition field report from Anne Middleton, our has had a history of foreign companies me to stay humble and show great ment plans which incorporate the many the message. Simultaneously, we’re of our “Me and My Taylor” Finalist environmental and community relations arriving, depleting the country of its care for our team there. Frequently, moving parts here in Cameroon. working out new systems at the fac- photo contest, and once manager, who is based in Yaoundé, natural resources, and then departing when I’m at the El Cajon factory, I Ebony is widely dispersed through- tory to increase yield. Little by little, we again, the volume and range of Elizabeth Bateman: “Me at College the country’s capital. at will. In the wake of such precedents, find myself thinking about our team in out the forests in the southern half of are cutting fewer trees to make more submissions were impressive. Playing my Taylor in the Sunshine” Wight has brought useful opera- establishing a new foundation of trust Cameroon and looking forward to my Cameroon. Crelicam’s suppliers must fingerboards, and our employees are The idea was not just to create tions management experience to the was paramount. next trip.” find the ebony trees on foot, cut them seeing positive changes in their work- a well composed photo, but “I’m a college student at Western Washing- Crelicam initiative. Prior to joining Tay- “Most challenging were the unwrit- down, and saw them into manageable ing conditions. also to capture a mood or ton University. This is a photo of me playing lor in 2009, she served as Chief Oper- ten rules,” Wight explains. “The cultural environment that reflects what my Taylor GS Mini Mahogany in the window ating Officer/Chief Financial Officer of rules, tribal rules, and overcoming a Taylor guitar means to you on of my dorm room. This guitar got me through T-Systems International, Inc., a global fear. Many others have come in with a personal level. It was great a rough year, and I really love my Taylor!” manufacturing company that pro- a big vision only to leave devastation fun to survey the hundreds vides irrigation solutions to growers. and broken trust. It makes it hard for of photos that poured in and Through her work there she became employees; they want to believe, but share them with the rest of well-versed in compliance issues relat- they don’t commit out of fear of being the Taylor community. From ing to multinational manufacturing. disappointed.” inspiring settings to important Once at Taylor, she was instrumental Significant progress has already life moments, your photos in the establishment of our European been made with employees. Upon underscored the many ways headquarters in Amsterdam. Last year assuming ownership of Crelicam, TLM Finalist that playing a Taylor guitar she spent about 60 days in Cameroon, dramatically increased workers’ wages, enriches our lives. We thank including trips with Bob Taylor and on and has begun to provide additional Shari Wilbert: “Shotgun!” everyone who took the time to her own. training that will enable employees to share a photo, and congratulate In early 2011, Wight joined Bob complete more value-added processes “Hannah Claire and her Taylor koa are our winners, as selected by and Vidal de Teresa Paredes (from with ebony. Over time, this will create inseparable. For now, music takes the Bob Taylor and members of our Taylor’s ownership partner, Madinter more jobs and enable local communi- front seat....” marketing team. All finalists will Trade) to meet with Cameroon’s then ties to reap a greater economic benefit. receive a Taylor prize pack, and Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, Elvis At our press deadline, construction of our Grand Prize winner, Ngolle Ngolle. It was one of several a kitchen at the Yaoundé mill that will Bo Struye, will also receive Finalist trips to legally establish Taylor-Listug- provide daily meals to employees was a Taylor GS Mini and a Sony Madinter (TLM) eligibility to become nearing completion. Finalist Cyber-shot® digital camera. Cecilia Gault: “Me and My Taylor” the new owners of the Crelicam mill Another way that Wight found her- You can view these and other and clear the way for the company self bonding with Crelicam employees Hannah Taylor: “My Friend” contest photos online at http:// “Summer day in New York City with my to conduct business in a transpar- and other stakeholders was through a tylrgt.rs/2012photocontest Taylor GS Mini.” ent manner. As Wight discovered in shared love of music. “Life can be so crazy, but when I catch a the course of several trips and many “Music is integral to life in Camer- L-R: Barbara Wight, Anne Middleton, Workshop Chief Eric Serge Biyoghe Bekalle, Crelicam Mill Operations Manager few minutes to just sit in my bedroom and meetings, nothing happens overnight. oon,” she says. “There’s an artistic spirit Jaime Mata, Assistant Operations Manager (Bertuoa) Tabitha Emmanuelle Ngo Nkeng, Operations Manager (Bertuoa) play my guitar I feel such peace. Playing She met several times with Minister that runs through the country and a Guy Patrice Tamdjokam Sah my guitar and songwriting — that’s when Ngolle, and she and Bob, Vidal and great music culture with lyrical people.” I’m truly happy.” 30 www.taylorguitars.com 31 Events Calendar For all the latest Taylor event listings, visit taylorguitars.com/events

Our Road Show and Find Your Fit events continue this Idaho Falls, ID Wilmington, NC Portland, OR Lebanon, MO Guerville, France fall. If we make it your way, we hope you’ll come spend Tue., Oct. 30 7 p.m. Fri., Nov. 9 7 p.m. Thu., Nov. 15 7 p.m. Fri., Nov. 16 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. Thu., Oct. 25 7 p.m. NAMM Summerfest time with our factory experts and sample some guitars. Chesbro Music Music Loft of Wilmington Portland Music Morgan Music Tomahawk Musikmesse Russia their deep love of our brand. I met Milwaukee, Wisconsin (208) 522-8691 (910) 799-9310 (503) 228-8437 (417) 588-1970 01 34 97 04 49 Moscow, Russia several multiple Taylor owners, includ- June 27-July 8, 2012 ing two of Russia’s established rock Kingsport, TN Vancouver, BC Rock Hill, SC Rochester, NY Springfield, MO Dresden, Germany May 16-19, 2012 North American Fri., Oct. 19 7 p.m. Thu., Nov. 1 7 p.m. Sat., Nov. 10 7 p.m. Thu., Nov. 15 6 p.m. Sat., Nov. 17 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Mon., Oct. 29 7 p.m. stars, Garik Sukachev and Alexander This marked Taylor’s third year at Road Shows Tennessee Sounds Tom Lee Music Woody’s Music House of Guitars Springfield Music Zoundhouse Taylor made its debut as a trade Rozenbaum.” Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s annual Sum- (423) 245-4005 (604) 688-8929 (803) 324-9663 (585) 544-3500 (417) 881-1373 0049 351 40768111 show exhibitor at the first-ever NAMM Kaye said that like other metropoli- merfest, billed as the “World’s Largest Musikmesse Russia show, and it tan cities around the world, Moscow Music Festival.” The 11-day event typi- Fort Collins, CO Downers Grove, IL Orem, UT Owen Sound, ON Harahan, LA Portland, OR Hartenstein, Germany proved to be an enlightening experi- has attracted an affluent demographic cally features more 700 bands, and Tue., Oct. 9 6 p.m. Sun., Oct. 21 2 p.m. Thu., Nov. 1 7 p.m. Mon., Nov. 12 6:30 p.m. Thu., Nov. 15 6:30 p.m. Sat., Nov. 17 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tue., Oct. 30 7 p.m. ence in terms of deepening our con- that appreciates (and can afford) high- although a brutal extended heat wave Spotlight Music Tobias Music Best In Music Fromager Music Guitar Center Portland Music Company Musikhaus Markstein (970) 377-8066 (630) 960-2455 (801) 802-8022 (519) 371-9662 (504) 818-0336 (503) 228-8437 0049 37605 68720 nection with the Russian market. Tay- quality items from prestige brands like caused a dip in this year’s overall atten- lor’s European Sales Manager, Frank Taylor. He said the current challenge — dance (to only 805,000), festival goers Colorado Springs, CO Horseheads, NY Florence, AL Renton, WA Keizer, OR Corpus Christi, TX Nürnberg, Germany Stevens, and Trade Show Manager which was the overwhelming topic of were treated to a parade of top-notch Wed., Oct. 10 6 p.m. Mon., Oct. 22 7 p.m. Mon., Nov. 5 6 p.m. Mon., Nov. 12 7 p.m. Fri., Nov. 16 7 p.m. Sat., Dec. 1 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wed., Oct. 31 7 p.m. David Kaye represented the company, conversation among guests — is the talent, including Taylor acts Rascal ProSound Music Robert M. Sides Alabama Music A Sharp Music Uptown Music Sound Vibrations Musik Klier lack of access to our guitars. Part of Flatts, the Dirty Heads, Train, Thomp- (719) 597-9962 (607) 739-1559 (256) 764-3932 (425) 251-5929 (503) 393-4437 (361) 884-8981 0049 911 4399043 and with the help of their translator, Bottom left (L-R): Taylor’s David Kaye and Frank Stevens (photo by Alex Aurora Apushkinskaja, they were able to the trip’s objective was to address this son Square, the Zac Brown Band and Gourin); Above: Singer Alexandra Naples from the band Lovebettie with Grand Junction, CO Dickson City, PA Palm Desert, CA Jamestown, NY San Antonio, TX Utrecht, The Netherlands effectively communicate with attendees. by meeting with music retailers and Hanson. the GS Mini the band won as one of Summerfest’s favorite emerging Thu., Oct. 11 7 p.m. Tue., Oct. 23 6:30 p.m. Mon., Nov. 5 7 p.m. Mon., Nov. 12 6:30 p.m. U.S. Find Your Fit Tue., Dec. 4 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tue., Nov. 13 7 p.m. Kaye said that for a first-year event, the broadening our brand exposure by Taylor co-sponsored the U.S. Cel- acts; Below (L-R): Taylor’s Andy Lund with Zac Brown Band ticket win- Back Porch Music Northeast Music Center Musician’s Outlet Trinity Guitars Events Alamo Music Dirk Witte attendance was strong. cultivating our dealer network there. lular/Emerging Artist Stage, providing ners Christina Sifnaios and her friend Vaso through a co-promotion with (970) 243-9711 (570) 483-4184 (760) 341-3171 (716) 665-4490 (210) 224-1010 +31 30 243 0097 “There was much more traffic than “Once a dealer network is estab- a GS Mini as part of the daily prize Taylor dealer Cascio Interstate Music anticipated, and the interest in our lished, Taylor Road Shows and Find package. During the day, fans voted Sarasota, FL McKinney, TX Montrose, CA Round Rock, TX Downers Grove, IL Austin, TX Noordwijk, The Netherlands guitars was evident in our many con- Your Fit events will be devoured by a (via text message) for their favorite Mon., Oct. 15 6:30 p.m. Tue., Oct. 23 7:30 p.m. Tue., Nov. 6 7 p.m. Mon., Nov. 12 6:30 p.m. Sat., Oct. 20 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Wed., Dec. 5 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. Wed., Nov. 14 7 p.m. Guitar Center Guitar Sanctuary Grayson’s Tune Town Guitar Center Tobias Music Strait Music Music All In versations with people,” he noted. “As musical community thirsty for knowl- band; at the end of the day the winner (941) 351-4008 (972) 540-6420 (818) 249-0993 (512) 244-0101 (630) 960-2455 (512) 476-6927 +31 70 361 5698 with any show we do around the world, edge,” Kaye said. “Russia represents a was announced. Taylor’s Andy Lund our owners and fans are proud to share huge opportunity for growth.” was on-hand for the second half of the Memphis, TN Rockaway, NJ Macon, GA Seattle, WA Grapevine, TX Poole, UK festival (July 3-8) and helped coordi- Tue., Oct. 16 6 p.m. Wed., Oct. 24 7 p.m. Wed., Nov. 7 7 p.m. Tue., Nov. 13 6:30 p.m. Mon., Oct. 22 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. International Wed., Nov. 14 7 p.m. nate a unique partnership arrangement Martin Music Ritchie’s Music Center Ken’s Pro Sounds Dusty Strings Grapevine Guitar Works Road Shows Guitar Mania with Sennheiser to co-sponsor an artist (901) 729-2466 (973) 625-2500 (478) 257-6499 (206) 634-1662 (800) 764-8144 01202 718886 lounge. In past years the lounge (bus) Traverse City, MI Hawkins, TX Greenville, SC West Seneca, NY Hamden, CT Alkmaar, The Netherlands Heerlen, The Netherlands served mainly as a hospitality suite for Tue., Oct. 16 7 p.m. Wed., Oct. 24 6 p.m. Wed., Nov. 7 7 p.m. Tue., Nov. 13 7 p.m. Fri., Oct. 26 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Tue., Oct. 16 7 p.m. Thu., Nov. 15 7 p.m. artists to relax (and cool down) before Marshall Music Co. Action Sound Fifth String Music The Guitar Factory Brian’s Guitars Dijkman Muziek Muziekhuis Guus Arons or after their gig. For Taylor, it has (231) 922-9503 (903) 769-5262 (864) 242-5428 (716) 677-0908 (203) 287-9190 +31 72 515 2511 +31 45 571 7155 proved to be a good spot to connect with artists, front-of-house/monitor Orlando, FL Manalapan, NJ Fresno, CA San Antonio, TX Virginia Beach, VA Roeselare, Belgium Exeter, UK Tue., Oct. 16 6:30 p.m. Thu., Oct. 25 7 p.m. Wed., Nov. 7 7 p.m. Tue., Nov. 13 6:30 p.m. Sat., Oct. 27 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wed., Oct. 17 7 p.m. Thu., Nov. 15 7 p.m. engineers, and tour managers. Sam Ash Musicians Workshop Legend Music Sound Stage Sam Ash Alpha Music Key Music Mansons Guitar Shop This year, Taylor and Sennheiser (407) 599-1222 (732) 972-1118 (559) 224-5277 (210) 530-9777 (757) 486-2001 +32 51 204 344 01392 496379 decided to take the lounge experience to another level. We brought in another Nashville, TN Rockwall, TX Atlanta, GA London, ON Logan, UT Groningen, The Netherlands Haarlem, The Netherlands partner, UniqueSquared, an online Wed., Oct. 17 6 p.m. Thu., Oct. 25 6 p.m. Thu., Nov. 8 6:30 p.m. Tue., Nov. 13 6:30 p.m. Wed., Oct. 31 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Thu., Oct. 18 6:30 p.m. Fri., Nov. 16 7 p.m. retailer that owns a fully equipped Corner Music Peghead Guitars Maple Street Guitars Walters Music The Book Table Tonika Music Muziekhandel Alphenaar (615) 297-9559 (972) 771-1650 (404) 231-5214 (519) 660-1460 (435) 752-3055 +31 50 3120 437 +31 23 532 0244 recording bus. The company provided a sound engineer and a camera man. Lansing, MI Salisbury, MD Hanahan, SC Milton, ON Tuscaloosa, AL Nijmegen, The Netherlands Nancy, France Sennheiser provided microphones. We Wed., Oct. 17 6 p.m. Fri., Oct. 26 6 p.m. Thu., Nov. 8 6 p.m. Wed., Nov. 14 7 p.m. Tue., Nov. 6 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Fri., Oct. 19 7 p.m. Tue., Nov. 20 7 p.m. stocked the bus with guitars, includ- Elderly Instruments B&B Music and Sound Ye Olde Music Shop Guitars and Amps The Guitar Gallery Max Guitar Store Music Challenge ing an 814ce, mahogany Baritone-6, (517) 372-7880 (410) 543-2153 (843) 747-0014 (905) 876-4400 (205) 758-2220 +31 24 360 4582 03 83 32 99 45 GC5e, GC7e, GS5e and T3/B. Over Miami Lakes, FL New Britain, CT Santa Cruz, CA Olympia, WA Bogart, GA Valenciennes, France Luxembourg the course of the six days, 20 artists Wed., Oct. 17 6:30 p.m. Sat., Oct. 27 1 p.m. Thu., Nov. 8 7 p.m. Wed., Nov. 14 7 p.m. Sat., Nov. 10 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tue., Oct. 23 7 p.m. Wed., Nov. 21 7 p.m. were recorded, incorporating a two- Sam Ash George’s Music Center Sylvan Music Music 6000 Musician’s Warehouse Moreau Musique Guit Art camera video shoot that captured a mix (305) 628-3510 (860) 496-9362 (831) 427-1917 (360) 786-6000 (706) 548-7233 03 27 46 84 15 35 2 40 28 32 of performances and interviews that were dubbed the “Summerfest Ses- 0% Financing on Taylor Purchases Extended Through Sevierville, TN Langley, BC Lexington, MA Ithaca, NY Edwardsville, IL Belfast, Northern Ireland Coulommiers, France sions.” Lund says it was a great set-up Thu., Oct. 18 7 p.m. Mon., Oct. 29 7 p.m. Thu., Nov. 8 7 p.m. Wed., Nov. 14 6:30 p.m. Mon., Nov. 12 1 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Tue., Oct. 23 7 p.m. Thu., Nov. 22 7 p.m. Music Outlet Tom Lee Music The Music Emporium Ithaca Guitar Works Mojo’s Music Matchetts Music MDS Audio that everyone enjoyed. December 31 (865) 453-1031 (604) 532-8303 (781) 860-0049 (607) 272-2602 (618) 655-1600 028 9032 6695 01 64 03 67 25 “A lot of artists had a chance to We’re happy to announce that our GE Money Consumer Financing program play a mix of our guitars,” he reported has been extended through December 31, 2012. You can get 0% interest on Northfield, IL Nampa, ID Alpharetta, GA Stafford, TX Ellisville, MO Tinqueux, France Braintree, UK afterwards. “A couple of bands even select Taylor purchases if they’re paid in full within 12 months. Monthly pay- Thu., Oct. 18 7 p.m. Mon., Oct. 29 7 p.m. Fri., Nov. 9 7 p.m. Wed., Nov. 14 6:30 p.m. Tue., Nov. 13 1 p.m. - 9 p.m. Wed., Oct. 24 7 p.m. Tue., Nov. 27 7 p.m. ended up using the baritone as a ments are required. Eligible Taylor models include: Gand Music Dorsey Music Ken Stanton Music Guitar Center Fazio’s Frets & Friends Manoel Musique Peach Guitars pseudo bass guitar.” • All 500 Series/Acoustic 5 Series and up, including Limited Editions (847) 446-4263 (208) 466-5681 (770) 670-4424 (281) 240-4001 (636) 227-3573 03 26 47 36 25 01376 55 016 We’ll be posting some of the videos • T5 Standard and T5 Custom Wakefield, RI Richmond Hill, ON Rolla, MO Dublin, Ireland Brighton, UK • All T3 Models West Palm Beach, FL Victoria, BC on the Taylor website as they become Thu., Oct. 18 6:30 p.m. Tue., Oct. 30 7 p.m. Fri., Nov. 9 7 p.m. Thu., Nov. 15 7 p.m. Thu., Nov. 15 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. Wed., Oct. 24 7 p.m. Wed., Nov. 28 7 p.m. available. • All SolidBody models Guitar Center Tom Lee Music Wakefield Music Cosmo Music Merle’s Music Perfect Pitch Guitar Amp and Keyboard Centre (561) 616-5601 (250) 383-5222 (401) 783-5390 (905) 770-5222 (573) 341-3020 01 6771553 01273 665400 shirts for the 33 ® Taylor fan fall 2012 F A TaylorWare A) Baseball T CLOTHING / GEAR / PARTS / GIFTS Cotton/poly blend for an ultra soft, worn-in feel. 3/4 raglan sleeve, with Taylor Guitars headstock banner print. (White/Sand #2295; S-XL, $28.00; XXL, $30.00) B) Taylor Dri-Fit Polo Dri-Fit fabric draws away sweat to keep you dry and comfortable. Embroidered Taylor logo on chest. Made by Nike. (Charcoal #2705; M-XL, $49.00; XXL, $51.00) C) Men’s Antique Logo T 100% cotton, fashion fit. (Moss #1431; S-XL, $22.00; B XXL, $24.00) D) Men’s Funky Guitar T 100% cotton, fashion fit, G distressed lettering. (Khaki #1488; M-XL, $22.00; XXL, $24.00) E) Men’s Logo T 100% pre-shrunk cotton. Standard fit. (Dark Brown #1920, S-XL, $20.00; XXL-XXXL, $22.00) New C F) Men’s Long-Sleeve Zodiac T 100% combed cotton, ribbed cuffs. Zodiac rosette design. Standard fit. (Navy #2000; M-XL, $28.00; XXL, $30.00) G) Men’s Guitar Stamp T Lightweight, garment-washed 100% cotton jersey with a worn-in H look and feel. Fashion fit. Distressed Taylor guitar stamp design on front. (Gray #1478; S-XL, $28.00; XXL, $30.00) New D H) Men’s Vintage Peghead T 100% combed cotton, fashion fit. (Black #1480; S-XL, $24.00; XXL-XXXL, $26.00) I) Taylor Work Shirt Permanent press, stain-resistant poly/cotton blend. Two front pockets. Distressed screen print over left pocket and on back. (Charcoal #3070; M-XL, $34.00; XXL-XXXL, $36.00) I

Pictured left (L-R): New E Ladies’ Long-Sleeve V-Neck Hoodie Lightweight 100% cotton slub with subtle texture. Features Taylor Guitars script graphic over 800 Series inlay elements. Slim fit. (Black #4501; S-XXL, $34.00) Renee, a night shift supervisor in our Body department, Men’s Long-Sleeve Badge T and Rich, our warehouse manager, each do their part to 100% preshrunk cotton, super ensure an efficient production workflow. Renee adds a soft lived-in look and feel. Generous cut for greater comfort. light layer with our Ladies’ Long-Sleeve V-Neck Hoodie, Rib knit cuffs. (Chili #2070; M-XL, while Rich debuts our new Men’s Long-Sleeve Badge T. $28.00; XXL, $30.00) 34 35

A) Taylor Guitar Beanie great holiday gift ideas Featuring Taylor name with a guitar emblazoned along the side. 100% B F acrylic. (Black #00116, Maroon #00115, $16.00) B) Taylor Scarf Features same embroidery as our Beanie. 69” long x 7.25” wide (Light Gray #00100, Black #00101, $20.00) A G C) Taylor Half Zip Pullover 100% yarn-dyed French rib cotton with embroidered logo, imported by Tommy Bahama. (Brown #2800, M-XL, $96.00; XXL, $98.00) D) Taylor Men’s Fleece Jacket 80/20 cotton/polyester body with 100% polyester Sherpa lining. Features cuffs with thumbholes, front pockets, and a media pocket 7 with an interior hole for head- phones. Charcoal with plush black H lining. (#2891, S-XL, $65.00; XXL, $ 67.00) E) Guitar Hoody Sweatshirt E 50/50 cotton/polyester blend, 1 D drawstring hood, front pouch 6 pocket. (#2898, S-XL, $39.00, C XXL, $42.00) F) Tattered Patch Cap 8 Flex fit, two sizes. (Brown, S/M #00150, L/XL #00151, $25.00) G) Military Cap Enzyme-washed 100% cotton chino twill, Velcro closure, one size. (Black #00400, Olive #00401, $22.00) H) Driver Cap Wool blend, sweat band for added comfort. Label on back. One size fits most. (Black #00125, $25.00) 4 I) Taylor Guitar Straps New 5 9 (L-R): Byzantine (Brown #64030, New 13 Burgundy #64000, Black #64010, New 3 $80.00); Suede/Web (Chocolate 12 #65010, Black #65000, $32.00); GS Mini (Brown/Brown Suede #66500, $32.00); Taylor Swift (#66000, $32.00); Suede Logo (Black #62001, Honey #62000, 2 11 New Chocolate #62003, $48.00) New 10 J) Men’s Funky Guitar T See page 33 for description

1) Musician’s Gear Bag. Over 25 internal pockets, 4) Travel Guitar Stand. Sapele, lightweight (less Watch. By Fossil. Stainless steel, Taylor-branded tin 9 removable section dividers, 3 large side pockets than 16 ounces) and ultra-portable. Small enough to gift box included. (#71025, $99.00) 10) Ultem and outside access to interior compartments. fit in the pocket of a Baby Taylor gig bag. Picks. Ultem is a strong space-age resin with limited Reinforced backpack straps and a strong luggage Accommodates all Taylor models. (#70198, flex that produces a clean, crisp tone. It closely 1-800-494-9600 handle. Measures 14” high x 17” wide x 11” deep. $59.00) 5) Taylor Mug. Glossy ceramic bistro mug resembles real tortoise shell in sound and feel, but New J (#61160, $70.00) 2) Men’s Cap. Pro style cap. featuring the round Taylor logo. Holds 15 oz. (Brown unlike tortoise shell, will not fracture. Ten picks per Structured Chino twill with Taylor round logo in bur- with cream interior, #70006; $10.00) 6) Guitar bag; one gauge per bag. Thin (.50 mm), Medium (.80 Eric handles the ® gundy and white on front. Adjustable fabric strap with Lessons by Bob Taylor. (Wiley Publishing, 2011, mm) or Heavy (1 mm). (Translucent gold with brown fine details of custom embossed peghead clip buckle closure on 230 pages; #75060, $20.00) 7) Guitar Stand. Taylor round logo, #8077; $6.00) 11) TaylorWare Taylor Bar Stool. pickup assembly TaylorWare back. One size fits most. (Charcoal #00375; $25.00) Features laser-etched Taylor logo, rich satin finish, Gift Card. Visit our website for more information. Easy assembly. on our electronics I CLOTHING / GEAR / PARTS / GIFTS 3) Taylor Mouse Pad. Custom shape featuring a and rubber pads to protect your guitar’s finish. 12) Digital Headstock Tuner. Clip-on chromatic (#70200, $99.00) team. That rock high-quality cloth top and soft surface for a precise (Sapele/Mahogany #70100, $70.00; assembly tuner, back-lit LCD display. (#80920, $29.00) Add an extra $5.00 shipping for star hair goes glide. Non-slip rubber base. Measures 8” x 9-1/2” x required) 8) ES-Go™ Pickup. Exclusively for the GS 13) Taylor Etched Mug. 15 oz. mug with Taylor each Taylor Bar Stool ordered. well with our new Visit taylorguitars.com/taylorware 1/4”. (Red/Cream #71900, $10.00) Mini. (#84022, $98.00) 9) Taylor Silver Dial hand-etched into one side. (Black #70007; $15.00) Overnight delivery not available. Funky Guitar T. to see the full line. Presorted A Publication of Taylor Guitars Standard U.S. Postage Volume 73 / Fall 2012 PAID Phoenix, AZ | | | Taylor Guitars 1980 Gillespie Way El Cajon, CA 92020-1096 taylorguitars.com Permit No. 5937

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Sapele Surprise Quilted sapele comes along so rarely that years can pass between appearances. That was exactly the experience of our sapele cutter, who had gone more than six years since encountering any, until opening a huge, old tree and discovering a magnificent windfall. The tree’s journey to us spanned three continents, and our wood experts traversed the U.S. in order to sort through its massive slabs and select the most figured portions. We think it was well worth it. The sapele was flatsawn to bring out the best in its figure, then paired with premium Euro- pean spruce and later stained like our 500 Series mahogany to enhance its natural character. You’ll find it among the choice offerings of this year’s Fall Limited Edition collection. See more inside.