Wild Streak Tasmanian Blackheart Sassafras Leads the Fall LTDs Blackwood 500s All-Koa 300s + GS Mini 40 Taylor Innovations Why You Should Plug In When to Change Your Strings 2 www.taylorguitars.com | found in the van was a 6-string. I played ing higher action than desired. I had VOLUME 80 FALL 2014 the guitar myself all throughout the tour True Companion the saddle trimmed twice during that Letters and kept myself entertained in the very I used to play in a hard rock band period to lower the action. The second rare moments of down time we had in the late ’90s in Johannesburg, and last time I had this done was in > WHAt’s INSIDE < Find us on Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube. Follow us on Twitter: @taylorguitars in our hotel rooms. When I turned the South Africa. After several years, just March. When I picked up the guitar, I to hear what it could do! The reborn guitar in at the end of the tour I felt like as things were starting to look up, the immediately noticed that it had lost a 800 Series has made giant steps I was saying goodbye to an old friend, band fell apart after a bizarre punch-up tremendous amount of bass from the A toward a truly acoustic amplified sound. after all eight months together, and I in the recording studio. I didn’t really and E strings. It crushed me — it no lon- Thanks again! was very attached to the guitar. When want to play after that, and my guitars ger sounded like a Taylor. Furthermore, M Kelly Rogers I turned the guitar in to the road man- started gathering dust as other profes- there was very little bridge left, and the FEATURES COLUMNS ager, he had no idea of its existence. sional commitments took over and I adjustment had a damping effect on the Sometimes I wonder if I had just taken started traveling a lot. In 2003, while sustain of my low E string. It no longer 6 THE PERKS OF PLUGGING IN it back to L.A. with me or asked Prince doing some engineering consulting in had that strong bass vibration that I 4 KURT’S CORNER Smoky Satisfaction Even if you don’t play out, acoustic amplification can breathe Kurt recounts the birth of the A few months back I put together a if I could have it, things would have Philadelphia, I decided to buy a small used to hear and feel. new life into your playing. Grand Auditorium 20 years ago. [custom] Grand Concert with grafted turned out differently. Oh well, honesty guitar that could travel with me. I picked I asked Zach if he would take a walnut body, cedar top, and maple is the best policy, and that’s the way I up a mahogany Baby Taylor, and it’s look at it, and despite the fact that it bindings and inlays. It is an all-around conduct my life. flown with me all over the place and was 7:15 p.m., and George’s closes at great-looking, great-sounding and Murray Levy rekindled my passion in music! I’ve 8:00, he agreed. I ran home, grabbed 8 WRITING UPHILL: PORTRAIT OF A 5 BOBSPEAK great-playing guitar, and I’m 100 per- worn the frets flat in places but used my guitar, and brought it back. Zach Bob relates the palate-enhancing flavor cent satisfied. But the big surprise has Ed. Note: Murray, we checked with some shims at the bridge to stop the eyeballed it down the neck and said, NASHVILLE SONGWRITER profile of artisanal craft salt to Taylor’s Success eluded Nashville tunesmith Marty Dodson for years. been the variegated ebony fretboard I Larry Breedlove, who confirmed that a buzz. I love that guitar and ended up “If it were me, I would remove the neck revoiced 800 Series. But he kept writing until he made it. A Welcome Addition decided on after reading about Taylor’s purple 6-string was made in addition to buying another as a gift to my brother and adjust it to get the geometry cor- I just received my Summer 2014 efforts in Cameroon. The light touches the 12-string. Due to the experimental several years later (also mahogany). I rect first, and then put in a new saddle.” issue of Wood&Steel and was delight- in the black wood give the fretboard a nature of our color application tech- still play it regularly, and it now lives at I said, “So I guess I have to ship it to ed to find the addition of the new 150e smoky, three-dimensional quality, and niques at that time, the hues tended to my folks’ place at the coast, so I always Taylor, right?” He replied, “No, I can 27 THE CRAFT 12 40 TAYLOR INNOVATIONS Andy explains why assigning high 12-string Dreadnought. I ordered this the light wood matches the maple bind- vary, and as Larry recalls, the 6-string have a guitar when I go visit. That gui- take care of it.” In honor of Taylor’s 40th anniversary, we spotlight 40 innovations commercial value to tonewoods guitar the next day from a retailer that ing. It’s a terrific effect. featured a less attractive shade of tar and I will continue to grow older And the heavens opened up and 18 that embody our forward-thinking philosophy. had them in stock. I have been look- So why isn’t this part of the stan- purple than the 12-string. It also may together! the angels sang. supports sustainable usage. ing for a 12-string that fit my budget dard line? I am guessing that you might have had the Taylor name inlaid in the Farid Essack About 45 minutes later, my guitar for some time. I have two other Taylor be concerned about the “fretboards headstock (the 12-string didn’t), and Johannesburg, South Africa sounded like a brand new Taylor. Unbe- 6-strings, a 616ce and a Big Baby, and are black” culture in acoustic guitars? at that time Prince refused to perform lievable. And Zach did it for no charge. 26 TIME TO CHANGE YOUR STRINGS? now am looking forward to the 150e. (Electrics have lots of different fret- with instruments that had the maker’s This is probably one of the best cus- ON THE COVER You’re probably overdue. And while you’re at it, you should Thanks for making this guitar available board colors.) Then consider the flip name on them, which might explain Concert Character tomer service experiences I have had in probably clean your fretboard. to players! side: When buying a standard model, it why the guitar stayed in the van — or in I own a Taylor 612ce that I bought my 54 years of life. Writing a letter like 18 THE 2014 FALL LIMITEDS DEPARTMENTS Alan Hecko gives each guitar a unique personality. your hands. It’s nice to know that you secondhand early last year. I play mainly this is not something I normally take the This season’s tonewood specials include sustainably sourced black- Hurst, TX And it’s always visible to your audience enjoyed playing it. jazz (plectrum), and was so impressed time to do, but I felt compelled to do heart sassafras and blackwood from Tasmania. Plus, all-koa 32 CASE STUDY: BLUEGRASS REBIRTH 10 ASK BOB when you play, unlike the wood in the with the 612ce that when I read so in this case. It is so rare that I see 300 Series and GS Mini models. back and sides. So if you’re consider- through the 40-year anniversary issue customer service at this level. I can see A cherished but neglected Dan Crary Signature Model is Wood grain orientation, ES2 nuances, restored to fine flatpicking form. onboard tuners, Taylors for bluegrass, ES2: Rock Without Abuse ing exploring fretboard woods, I heartily Never Too Late of Wood&Steel and saw your new 800 that Taylor is in it for the long haul, and COVER PHOTO: A PAIR OF BLACKHEART SASSAFRAS On weekends I perform covers recommend variegated ebony. I lost my wife to breast cancer Series, I bought a First Edition 812ce. I’m sure your customer base will con- GRAND ORCHESTRA MODELS and T5z electronics. for folks enjoying an afternoon in Half John Lyons about five years ago. When you’ve The body size of the [Grand Concert] tinue to grow. Moon Bay, just south of San Francisco. Roswell, GA been together with someone you love is perfect for my requirements, and the Thanks for sending Zach our way I play a K14ce and a K66ce 12-string for 50 years, it leaves a big void. At Indian rosewood used with the 812ce and for providing him with the tools and 24 SOUNDINGS through a Yamaha PA. My right-hand Ed. Note: We agree, John. “Smoky” 72 years of age, I have always wanted gives it a completely different character training necessary to do a repair like Jimmie Johnson’s GS Mini, country style is very percussive. I’ve had to ebony fretboards are currently a stan- to play a guitar, but life’s distractions than the Big Leaf maple of the 612ce. this on site. You now have another Tay- craftsman Chase Bryant, ES2 raves from pound a bit on the strings and the dard feature on all of our 800 Series kept me busy. So when my love and I never know which one to pick up and lor customer for life.